Indoor Voice 1/14/2019

A Word from Our Director

Community Goal
Our community goal this week is to commit to making this an awesome year for all of the families and children. It is hard to believe, but the Spring Semester is here! This time of year brings us to a cross road. We can keep proceeding as usual and have a perfectly pleasant year. Or we can kick it up a notch and create a transformative community of connection. It wouldn’t take much to really leave this school year feeling as if you were a part of something very special. This week, let’s talk a bit how we can really step up our already awesome game.

On your workday this week, please let us know a bit about what your committee is doing, something you have enjoyed on your workday and a community event you have enjoyed. Finally, we’ll ask you each to share something you hope to accomplish for the community this year.

Thank you!
Last week was a whacky week but by the end of the week we had made great and wonderful strides towards improving Laurel Hill as a great place to learn through play and connection. Thank you for your trust and patience. Here is what we did:

Flipping the PreK Schedule has improved our Prek Program a great deal. The children are able to explore nature earlier in the session when they have more focus and energy. The preschool children get to enter into a gentler space and warm up before our energetic 5 year olds get the ball rolling.

Eat If You Are Hungry Time is coming together. We noticed that this snack time needs to last the entire program if the children are going to learn to listen to their bodies. The kids seem to get the new program just fine, but we grown ups are going to need some time to trust the process. That’s ok. Your questions and suggestions are really helpful.

Group Meeting Time – just gets better and better. We have found a great way to take pressure off of children who find the transition into Group Meeting difficult and then shortly after we make them transition to gate. Giving the children the option to spend 5 minutes at gate chatting with a teacher takes the pressure off of having to sit and listen.

Parent Meeting. I’m so glad we are finding the time to connect. Unfortunately we have lost our huge Blue Room Space, and now we have to cram into Yellow Room. But if this is the worst bit, then things aren’t so bad.

Just because – an oldie but a goodie, reprinted from 2012
Hopefully there is something that you have learned here at Laurel Hill that you can bring home. Here are a few tips that work at school and home.

“Adults need to be less egocentric than children.” Bev Bos. Yep, it’s true: It’s all about the kids. They aren’t trying to manipulate or get over on us in any way. They are simply egocentric at this stage. It isn’t their job to make us feel good about ourselves, and their challenging behavior shouldn’t make us feel bad about ourselves.

Your work as a parent is important and deserves support. Have a plan for yourself. Know whom you can turn to when you are not able to think clearly.

Set limits with clear, direct, and loving limits. Hold those limits!

Know that children want to be loved, and are eager for our joyful interactions. They signal for help with “off track” behaviors. Setting limits and listening well will help the children get back on track.

Get low, be present, and offer developmentally appropriate activities.

Modeling good manners goes much further than demanding them.

Let the children play!

Enrollment
We are making a whole community effort to streamline our enrollment process and to make the school as inviting as possible. I’ll be sending a quick survey out soon to collect any thoughts you might be having.

- Maria Chew, Director

Scheduling
Parental Leave Coverage – Two Shifts Left to Cover!!!
There are only two shifts we are still seeking Parental Leave Coverage for. Sign up for these Monday PM shifts in February right here.

And again, thank you so much to those who have volunteered for a parental leave shift. No work hours are given for covering a shift, and we are incredibly grateful to those who have picked up a shift to help out a fellow co-op family. A *HUGE* shout out to Molly Livingston, Kirsten Surber, Marjolaine Decoodt, Sona Gevorkian and Heidi Spanier who have volunteered for multiple shifts (sometimes three or more!). And to everyone who has signed up, thank you thank you thank you.

- Jessica Duque, Scheduling Chair (Olivia/AM)

Program Enrichment
Laurel Hill is proud to display your child’s art in the children's section of the San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch. The exhibit will be from January 14th to the end of March 2019. Make sure to visit with your child! They will love seeing their and their friends' art on display!

We are looking for on-site visitors to come to Laurel Hill for 10-20 minutes, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and show something to the children. This can be anything from a juggler to a doctor to a beekeeper.

So far this school year, we’ve had the police, firefighters with their truck, a beekeeper and her live bees, a cello player and her cello. Even Jerome (Max’s dad) came in to show children how to make juggling balls and juggle.

If you know anyone who would be interested or have any ideas, please email programenrichment@laurelhill.org. Thank you to everyone who brought an on-site visitor or who has been the on-site visitor!

Auction
Donation Items due this week!
Turn in your donation by Tuesday, 1/15. If you have a plan but don’t physically have the item yet please contact us at auctionfundraising@laurelhill.org so we can make arrangements by Friday, 1/18. Every item submitted must have a Donor Form to go with it.

Please bring all larger items to Lower Purple and place on the Auction shelf as noted with the BIG yellow folder that says "Auction." If you need to make another arrangement for picking up the item, please email us at auctionfundraising@laurelhill.org .

This is part of your co-op obligation – every family needs to submit $100 (retail value) worth of goods.

New families that joined in January, your item is due by February 5th. Please reach out if you have any questions!

Program Family Ads
Looking for another way to

show your love and appreciation for Laurel Hill? Here is your chance! Auction program family ads are a great way to say thank you to a special teacher, share a favorite Laurel Hill moment, mark the milestone of your child's first day of nursery school, or say goodbye before moving on to kindergarten. You can even use an ad to advertise your business. All you need is a message and a high quality photo.

A full page ad (5.5"w x 8.5"h) is $60, and a half page ad (5.5"w x 4.45"h) is $40. Just fill out the attached form (you will also find one in your mailbox) and drop it with your payment in the Jaden (Wong) mailbox. Forms and photos can also be emailed to meishun.wong@gmail.com . The deadline is Friday, February 1st. Below is an example from last years' program. FamilyAdForm Here

Auction Tickets On Sale
Details: Saturday March 2, 2019 at 5:30pm at the Generals’ Residence in Fort Mason

Buy Auction Tickets Here

- Cody Olson (Bubba/PM PreK) & Meghan Cordes (Roger/PM)