Sometimes a new year starts off slowly-moving with a peaceful vitality, a sense of hibernating like many other beings (animals, trees, plants). Other times it starts off with a burst of energy, brewing and bubbling inside and out. It seems 2023 has started off with a bit of a force! The educators and children are rested, ready to explore and learn together in 2023!

In the fall,  our team attended a workshop through NAREA. After deep dive discussions into curriculum, space and emergent learning, our team knew we wanted to make some changes to our programming- inside and out. Since then we have explored different forms of offering materials, compiling and writing documentation, and now a refresh of our indoor space. This past week our team rolled up our sleeves, put on the kettle (but we were too busy to ever actually make tea) and moved every piece of furniture, carpet, and shelf around the room. We wanted to re-imagine this beautiful space- how do we want to support learning in this home? When we place furniture and design activity centres, we are thinking about: how will children use the space? What kind of play will it invite? How many children can the space accommodate? How can this space encourage creativity and exploration? How can an area promote a calm sense of well-being? So, with all these ideas in mind, we talked, we debated, we moved and alas we came to a layout that feels right! Feel free to check it out when you have time!

Enjoy some photos from this past week- re-connecting with each other; finding dead birds, telling their stories and creating theories; challenging our bodies by climbing, leaping, and running; and cuddling up.

In gratitude,

Emily