May 2025
Clan Updates
Water Clan
These kids have been so flexible with Ms. Heidi this Spring. It has been so hard to hold down two jobs at forest school. Ms. Kate and Ms. Christina have devised a better plan: Kate and Bri Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Ms. Heidi popping in and Thursdays with Christina and Ms. Heidi and our crazy forest families and crafting.
Earth Clan
I can’t believe it’s already May! The students have pushed through the hardest parts of the year and have made it to the warm sunny days. It has been a joy to watch them noticing the forest come back to life. We have been spending our Monday science lessons learning about the rock cycles and the three main types of rocks. As we wrap up our geology unit this year we will inviting students to choose a topic they learned from and create an in depth project about it between school and home. These final projects will be shared near the end of the year with their families and to each other. I am looking forward to getting started on these and seeing what they come up with! Also, with the sunny weather it also brings the heat. Please send your students with cooler layers to wear for later in the day, water bottles and sunscreen on them if that is your preference. I am excited to move forward into our last full month in the forest.
Air Clan
Hi Air Clan families. It’s May, we are quickly winding down the school year and have so many fun things to look forward to as the kids finish this year! May Day was beautiful and everyone seemed to have a wonderful day. On Mondays this month the kids will be focusing on the project aspect of our geology unit from the year - much of the work we can help them with at school but it would be wonderful if they could have some help with their projects from home as well so look for outlines and deadlines to come home so we can help them have a fantastic project to share with parents in early June. We have some special guests this month including a rock hounding grandparent, Jacob, and a new Contra dance instructor. It should be a month filled with great things! As always, reach out with any questions you have!
Fire Clan
The Fire Clan is gearing up for a busy final six weeks of school before summer! We have four big projects we will be working on during this time. In literacy, students are finishing up reading their chosen novels and will begin working on a final project to show their insights and learning. Our Monday Geology lessons will morph into time working on a culminating research project based on deepening their understanding of one of the subjects taught since January. We WILL finally be going to the library in the next few weeks, keep a lookout for more information. Predator/Prey is coming up quickly as well - the giant game of hide and seek we play as a whole school. Students will be making maps and writing directions for all the younger students to use (with volunteer help!) to help find them hidden in the forest. Lastly, we’re working to get 2-3 more issues of the Nettle News out every two weeks or so. These kids are working so hard and I can’t wait for them to be able to share it all with you!
Teacher Jacob’s visits are such a hit! He will be visiting once more this spring. We hope he will come back in the fall! He has some programming of his own in Corbett if you’re interested.
Did you know Ms. Audra use to be a geologist? Here she is sharing her knowledge with the kids.
This is how you create a culture of reading. Thanks to the grown ups who send their kids to school with cool books!
What’s Coming Up
May Day was a success!
Thank you to all the volunteers who made this day so special for our students!
Predator- Prey Forest Family
This will be our last Forest Family activity of the year, and it’s a big one! The Fire Clan has park trail maps that they will use to mark their secret hiding spot on. Each forest family gets a packet of maps and works together (with parent volunteer help) to find all of the Fire Clan kids wherever they are scattered through Mary S. Young! It’s a fun time, and we need at least 9 volunteers to help. Please let Audra or Heidi know ASAP if you are available.
Contra Dancing Class
We have a new Contra Dance caller this year and she has offered to come visit us two times prior to our celebration. We would LOVE for some parents to join in and learn a few of the dances ahead of time!
SNOW MAKE UP DAYS
All School Geology Project Invitation
All students K-5 will be working on a project that delves deeper into a geology concept we’ve taught about that students want to learn more about. They will be working on these projects at school and home. We are inviting families to come to the shelter to interact with, view and appreciate all their hard work!