Gratitude

I have had the good fortune in my life to be around a great many generous people and they inspired me so much that the unit of inquiry “Generosity Abounds” arose from my desire to understand it more.  Learning from the minds, hearts and actions of our little ones is inspirational. 

I was reminded of generosity once again when Anamaria called me yesterday to say that she and her boyfriend Stefan were doing the furniture shopping that she and I had planned to get done this week. What I learned was that not only was she taking her day off to do the shopping.  In fact she and Stefan were putting everything together and setting up the furniture so that the teachers and children would have things in order for Monday.  Such acts of generosity abound at Creative Minds.  From families helping keep the sinks running well, to smart board instruction and the filming and making of the concert DVDs, to paper recycling, kind words of thanks and boxes of chocolates (from our favourite places!)

This is my opportunity to thank everyone at Creative Minds who make this space such a place of warmth and joy.  Each day we come to work we know that we are appreciated and we want you to know that you are appreciated as well.  You grace us with your trust that we will care for your children and you share your laughter in so many ways.  It is this that makes the work light.

In gratitude,

Kate

Beautiful Moments

Hello Families,

The teachers and I have been reflecting on the events of the summer and giggling in the retelling of the stories about camping trips in the forest, bike riding accomplishments, water play and cake days!  It was a great summer wasn’t it?  Kathryn shared a story with us about one of the children’s sense of history while at Creative Minds.  We were astounded to hear that the young child could retell, in order, the units of inquiry that have taken shape over the last 2 years!  Can you imagine it?  I can’t even name them all in order.  It may be because his mother has copies of all of the photo journals but I don’t think that explains it all.  I think part of this spectacular re/membering comes from the child’s complete immersion in the moments of play, conversation and exploration alone and with others.  It seems to me that while we are busy photographing, collecting and recording there is a part of us that is removed from the event.  I’m sure you have noticed this too as you video record or photograph your children’s special events.  It made me wonder.  There is a emphasis at Creative Minds on recording the learning process in order to develop reflective practice, to support the children’s unique and individual learning needs and to celebrate with children and families, the wonderful events that grow out of our time together.  This seems reasonable, purposeful and important to continue.  In the middle of this thinking I came upon a quote from one of my favouite authors, Toni Morrison.  She wrote, in Tar Baby,

"At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough. No record of it needs to be kept and you don't need someone to share it with or tell it to. When that happens — that letting go — you let go because you can."

I am reminded to take the time, like our young learner, to be with the beauty of the moment.  To let it sit with me, wash over me and become part of me.

As we ask you to bring in photos of your child know that we are making this request while holding Morrison’s thought of the beauty of the moment in mind. 

Wishing you all a restful long weekend.

Kate

Child Honouring

Hello Families,

As the teachers and I sat together for brunch on Saturday (thanks to you for the gift) we discussed the ways we support the children to enter into conversation with one another and with each of us.  We pondered the deep relevance this action has for the children.  It is central to our connection with them and what we hear them say plays an important role in the curriculum that develops.

As I continued to think about our role and the value of the conversations we all have at Creative Minds I came upon some work by Raffi.  Many years ago I participated in a conference at UBC where Raffi was the guest speaker.  At first his words seemed just that, words, with little connection to my work as a teacher of 25 children in primary classroom.  Today,  I ponder how Raffi's commitment to children has taken shape.  I also reflect on how Creative Minds has taken shape and I am grateful for the warmth, appreciation and support so many families has given us in our process.

I share these with you as an opening to even more conversation:

Here is the short clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp61lUu8VaA&feature=player_embedded and here is the web site: http://www.childhonouring.org/covenantprinciples.html

Enjoy.

kate

The concert was a wonderful event for us all

Thank you everyone for entrusting your children to our care.

It was delightful seeing them on stage wasn't it?

Thanks to Doug for all his care and attention to the filming (and often the hours of editing to make a great DVD!)

Thanks also to Sean (Kai's dad) who worked with a friend to create the wonderful music for The Lollipop Tree.  We were in a tizzy because we couldn't find anything on the web that worked for the children and he was quick to create a wonderful version for us.

When it was clear that the children needed some support with the song our good friend Annette Coffin sang the song for us to practice with.

It's so great when we all come together like this right down to the clearing up at the end of the evening.

Thank you for your kind words and the gifts.

We love working with the children and can't wait to add those family photos to the current photo book.  Let us know if you want to order one.

Warmly,

Kate

Ecology Workshop by SFU

The children had a wonderful time at an Ecology presentation by SFU Science Alive.  Mary brought a few children to the SelfDesign Learning Centre on 4th Avenue where I held a presentation for some school age learners.  It was delightful to see our little ones moving so confidently in a space with children ages 5/6/7.  At first they were tentative but they participated well and a couple of them also played the ecology movement game outside on the grass.  They are shown here completing the survey about the session and were very able to give descriptive feedback.  It was great also to have the connection with outside communities.

Authorization Visit

Hello Families,


We had a bittersweet day today.  The Authorization team left with the comment that our program is one that exemplifies an Early Years IB program.  The children were enthusiastic learners and did a wonderful job demonstrating their reading of the musical score for the song we are doing for the concert.  The teachers explained in clear and concise ways how they improve the planners we develop for every unit of inquiry.  The parents shared their enthusiasm for the excitement that their children display at home as a result of the units of inquiry.  They shared that the children were being supported to be life-long, internationally-minded learners.


At the end of the day the team met with the Principal and the Co-ordinator to share some general comments.  The Authorization team did not share the outcome of the visit but the school will be made aware within 90 days.  There was some sense of hope shared so they feel they are on their way to making Southlands a strong IB Programme.


Creative Minds' position in the Authorization has been challenged however.  It appears that there were some irregularities in the first application 4 years ago (we may not have been adequately included).  Further, the fact that we are an independent body from the school poses the IBO some problems as far as who governs what.  I am not quite certain how this will play out and I have to say that I was rather taken aback by it all given that I provided the information for the final application and it was made clear that we were requesting Authorization as PART OF the school application.  I am disheartened by the lack of systems or policies to support such public/ventureventures especially ones that are in the best interests of all children.  


I don't know what will come of this I am reminded of the message in this quote:


We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~ Frederick Koenig


I appreciate that we have parents who are as wonderful as you all are and I will gaze upon the roses we just got from Caroline knowing that we will continue to see the beauty in all of this.


Kate

Mindfulness and the Care of the Centre

I spent time in the Centre this weekend polishing the floor with my son.  The easy rhythm of our work compelled me to go back in the evening and do some simple tasks.  When there, in the quiet of the evening, I experienced an awakening to the space and to my senses within that space.  It was a reminder that in the care of the toys, the windows, the floors, I am showing the children my care for them.  It made me think about all the hours parents of Creative Minds children have given to the care of the building.  From plumbing help and the scrubbing of windows and walls to the organizing of the 3000+ books and the sorting of all that Lego!  Each of you have given so much to Creative Minds and the importance of the time you have given has not been overlooked.  In fact, each time we have a collective gathering to care for the space we, as teachers, experience a reawakening of our senses in that space.  As  Kabat-Zinn puts it " ...our primary connection to life is through our own interiority — the experiencing of our own body and all our senses, including the mind, which allow us to touch and be touched by the world, and to act appropriately in response to it."  Thus, our care of the space supports our care of the children in ways that go far beyond their safety and the programming.

I felt you might like to know that Tuesday is not just a work party, but an opportunity for us all to celebrate our care for the children.  

Kate