It is that time of year – back to school.
It is a busy time. A time of expectation. A time of getting ready and making plans. Teachers and families are both dreaming of what will come.
At preschool there is much that has already happened and still lots to happen in the next week and a half.
Floors are waxed. Rooms are switched (remember the Red class is now in the Old Sanctuary and the Yellow & Oranges classes are in the room at the end of the hall.) Wall paint is touched up. Storage areas are re-organized and inventoried. Student files are being checked (although I know they’ll be re-checked again – that’s how Kendra rolls.) New mulch is on the playground (a full semi load to be exact.) And yet, we still have long “to-do” lists.
This past week our staff attended the Christian Early Childhood Association conference. We each now have many thoughts, ideas and new understandings. We are considering how those will affect changes in the classroom, our actions or our policies and procedures. It is a good thing. Our brains and hearts are preparing themselves for welcoming children into a wonderfully successful year of busy, connecting & learning.
Our preschool board members are already planning for the year. They are dreaming about new ways and improved approaches too.
I am busy planning our back to school staff meeting. I take this time seriously and see it as an important part of preparing the staff and growing them as we head into each new year. I’ll share more about how we practiced what we preach in our preschool classes. We will learn through play.
This is just a small part of what is happening at preschool. In our next post I will focus on our families: what I imagine you are doing and also some helpful ideas of what you can do to prepare young children for beginning a new year.
Aldersgate Preschool 