Dear Parents,

Hosannas were heard at school today as we begin Holy Week.  This morning each student received a palm, and we all went out to the hall to cheer on Jesus as King. Holy Week is high drama in the preschool as each class is involved in telling a part of the story of Holy Week.  We begin on Friday with everyone as we tell the story of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  

As at Christmas, this is a season when we are confronted with mysteries beyond our comprehension.  God comes to be with us in a very personal way, suffers our pain, and triumphs over death to lead us into new life.  As the children enact the biblical stories of Holy Week, they show us vividly that this is our story also.  

We will be dramatizing these worship stories during our regular worship time in the Sky classroom, and each class will hold a reception the day they present the worship story.  If it is your child’s day to present the story, you are welcome to stay in your child’s classroom until the teachers give you a signal and ask you to find a seat for worship.  If you have an item for the reception following worship, please give it to the parents organizing the reception in the hall.  As you do so, please consider that other families will be walking through the hall and need to pass by.  Worship will begin at 8:30AM as usual.

There will be no Whistle next week, as we will begin our vacation next Friday.  If your child is usually here until 2:50PM, remember that dismissal next Thursday is at 12:00PM for most students.  If your child has an older sibling who is attending Passover, your child will be dismissed at 1:00PM.  

Blessings,

Shanna   

Dear Parents,

I have been thinking a lot about stories these days.  When I was on sabbatical one of my goals was to write about the school, but the more I wrote, the more it became clear to me that knowing the values of Mustard Seed School are best learned and heard about in our stories.

One time, when we were interviewing someone for a position at the school and we were trying to get to know this candidate, I felt like I was living the story of the seven blind men and the elephant.  We all tried in different ways to elicit a response that would provoke a story, not just a report of what she had done.  Finally, one person said, "We are a storytelling culture."  Even that did not elicit a story, but it did cause me to reflect on the truth of that statement.

I remember being at a church retreat where Madeleine L'Engle, a friend of our school, was presenting.  She gave us a series of facts and asked us what we would conclude from those facts.  We all came up with a similar ending.  Then she told us a story with the same facts, which made us see the facts with a different perspective, resulting in a very different ending to the story; her point being that stories tell truth in a way that facts alone cannot.

This past week the Rocks and Rivers teachers presented some of the documentation of student work to the Sky and Trees teachers for review.  As I recorded the work, it was very clear that there were two stories going on at the same time.  One was the story of the children and how they were learning as they made pancakes, the second was the story of the teachers and how they were learning to immerse young children in research.

Each day during Lent we are hearing stories from the life of Jesus, and as the children draw their prayers we are invited to become part of the story.  The story of God and his people encompasses all of us beyond biblical times.  Next Friday we will be invited to enter Holy Week with the children leading us in telling the stories.  Each class will have a turn in telling a part of the story of Christ's passion, and I hope you will be able to join us as the children lead our worship.  Please check the calendar for the time when your child's class will be leading and hosting a reception.  

Blessings,
Shanna
   

Dear Parents,  

It has been such a delight to see many of you and your children again. My time away was refreshing, and I am grateful for that opportunity.  As many of you know I began my sabbatical in Japan, visiting my daughter who is teaching there and two schools that seemed of interest.

The schools I visited had beautiful architecture.  One public school is featured in a Ted talk for its design. This suburban kindergarten is oval shaped with trees growing within the structure and a roof for the children to run around on.  The classrooms can be totally opened to the interior grassy courtyard which has some water features.  I just happened to be in Tokyo on one of the five days that the public could visit.

This school was very sparse in their materials.  Only one room out of the five had any work of the children on display.  My passport was checked but other than that there was no interaction with me as a visitor.  There were a few all class photos of excursions they had taken but there was no evidence of the learning that was going on.  While the space had all sorts of potential, it was difficult to sense what the children were learning.

The other school is a private early learning center within Tokyo itself. This space, too, was beautifully designed by an architect from the United States, each classroom with their bathrooms and small kitchen facilities. There was even a parent lounge.  Their written materials were beautiful. The staff here was very friendly and welcoming and I was given freedom to roam throughout the classrooms and speak with teachers.

This school seemed to be moving towards trying to be more innovative, but the classes seemed more isolated with each teacher following a set curriculum.  Teachers seemed to have different opinions about their roles and how they worked these out with their teaching partners.  While teachers were taking more professional development, there seemed to mixed views of how students should be working and learning.  I was asked a number of times by both teachers and the director for suggestions of what I thought they could do better.

My hope in these visits was that I would be inspired and learn something new, but I think what I received was an affirmation for the work that the teachers and students are doing at Mustard Seed School.  In fact, had I stayed and been present for the sessions Ms. Sytsma led in my absence on deepening project work, I am sure I would have been inspired and learned right alongside the teachers here--which says a lot about the teachers at Mustard Seed. There are so many excellent teachers here that want to develop the art of teaching, so we keep learning from each other.  Indeed, I keep telling Michele that she should do a count of how many of our parents are teachers.  I think that says something about our school.  

So here are a few of my takeaways:  The grass is not greener on the other side of the world.  Exteriors allow for possibilities, but it is the people inside who make those possibilities reality.  Warm welcomes promote exchange of ideas.  Making learning visible helps us all learn more. Freedom within structure for teachers as well as students promotes a vibrant learning community. I am happy to be back and learning among you all.

Blessings,
Shanna