Amber Newsletter - Blue Mountain School

Amber Family,
We have ourselves quite a hard working group of students! I am so very proud of the work they put in this week. As I am becoming a more veteran teacher here at Blue Mountain School I’m learning more and more about what genuine student led learning and project work really is. Their leadership is amazing. Their teamwork is awesome. They envision, plan and execute so very well and each day their confidence and skills grow. I’ve had a few parents express that their Ambers are nervous about this work and our upcoming exhibition. I encourage you to have a conversation with them about this type of expression and feeling as it is so very relevant to their future! I connect with them by telling them times I felt anxiety and how I kept to a plan and then finally when the job was done I was both relieved and satisfied that I did something important. Social Emotional education isn’t just I’M ANGRY or WOW I’M SOO SAD… there are so many emotions and social interactions that are foundational to a much more complex life (life that is sooner than they realize!). Just as we scaffold reading and math concepts, so too are we preparing them by having them experience big feelings such as apprehension and/or nervousness about our important work put into our class project fair.

This week we’ll continue to collaborate, work, read, explore our nearby forest, practice and set up our room for the Amber Natural History Museum. I look forward to supporting them and hosting you all (invite friends and family!) this Wednesday evening from 5pm to 7pm. Thank you all for your support for me and this special group of Ambers!
Important Reminder: Please help our Ambers remember to leave “precious” things at home. Materials such as jewelry, money, toys, makeup and family heirlooms are such special gifts when they go missing at school it is truly very sad… and we all know if they have money we don’t want them to lose it so that they can buy lots of BOOKS! If for any reason they do have something they brought and have forgotten to leave it with a parent or at home they can always check in with me and I’ll keep it safe and return it at the end of the day.
May has already been quite a month! I’m happy to share our monthly photo album with you that shows just how diverse and exciting our days at school are. Enjoy!