Getting Ready for the Start of a New School Year

At ICP we follow the Reggio Emilia belief that the environment is the third teacher. This means that the things in our environment should be well thought out; inspire and provoke exploration, inquiry, and creativity; reflect the people who use this place and their questions, observations and learning.

We try to provide new ways of looking at ordinary or interesting items, maybe by adding or changing the light, or creating shadows or reflections.

Nature should be a part of our environment, both in items we can touch and use, or in living things like plants and pets. Of course, time spent outside in nature is enjoyed every day.

As you approach our school you see flowers the children planted interspersed with child-made stepping stones full of special treasures. The front wall is hung with wonderful art we created using paint and recycled bottle tops of all shapes, colors, and sizes.

It is important to get our outside spaces ready for school, too. Many families attended our Outdoor Tidy and Family BBQ recently. There were many helpers to assemble a new wagon for the playground.

We all worked together,

and after the work, we ate dinner together. What a great start to a new year!