What do we value?
As we prepare for our Open House (Feb 25, from 10-12), and begin the process of registering for next year, I have been thinking about what we value as a school and as a group of families. One thing we certainly value is involvement, whether it's in our child's classroom or in supporting each other on our parenting journey, ICP families care about being there. We care about how our school runs, and what activities our children have the opportunity to do, and we come together to make things happen for our children. A great example of this is the fabulous playground we created together. This amazing environment would not have been created without the commitment of the parents at ICP.
We value the natural world around us, and all of it's plants, animals, creatures, and mysteries. We enjoyed an impromtu lesson yesterday from a parent about douglas fir cones, and which cone is the boy cone, and which cone is the girl cone. Another parent caught a big spider and put it in a jar for us to examine and squeal about. Every day the children turn over the handmade stepping stones in front of our school to search for worms, or they sing a "Squirrelly" song to the squirrels we feed on our playground. We have built an army of young "Ivy Police" who know that ivy is not a good friend to the forest.
We value the community we have developind in our school, as well as our larger Island community. Parents have given baby showers, and created meal trains for families with new little ones. They have stepped up to help each other when life gets crazy and the schedule becomes too hard to manage. They have been there for each other with care, support, and wisdom when a child has been struggling with an issue. We have had winter clothing drives, and cereal or pet food drives for Helpline House. We have given a third of our crop of potatoes and pumpkins, grown on our farm plot, to feed the hungry in our community. We value supporting and uplifting each other.
I know... a school is a school, but it can also be an extension of the family network. It can be there when grandparents and other family members are far away. It can share some of the same values that you strive to teach your children in your families. Island Co-op is a special place, and we are lucky to be a part of this family.
We value the natural world around us, and all of it's plants, animals, creatures, and mysteries. We enjoyed an impromtu lesson yesterday from a parent about douglas fir cones, and which cone is the boy cone, and which cone is the girl cone. Another parent caught a big spider and put it in a jar for us to examine and squeal about. Every day the children turn over the handmade stepping stones in front of our school to search for worms, or they sing a "Squirrelly" song to the squirrels we feed on our playground. We have built an army of young "Ivy Police" who know that ivy is not a good friend to the forest.
We value the community we have developind in our school, as well as our larger Island community. Parents have given baby showers, and created meal trains for families with new little ones. They have stepped up to help each other when life gets crazy and the schedule becomes too hard to manage. They have been there for each other with care, support, and wisdom when a child has been struggling with an issue. We have had winter clothing drives, and cereal or pet food drives for Helpline House. We have given a third of our crop of potatoes and pumpkins, grown on our farm plot, to feed the hungry in our community. We value supporting and uplifting each other.
I know... a school is a school, but it can also be an extension of the family network. It can be there when grandparents and other family members are far away. It can share some of the same values that you strive to teach your children in your families. Island Co-op is a special place, and we are lucky to be a part of this family.
Teacher Ellen