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IN THIS ISSUE:
back to school checklist / family orientation picnic / volunteers needed! / meet the staff / family spotlight / summer camp success / facilities spotlight / events
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It's time to get ready for the school year!
The last newsletter had many of the important back to school reminders in it, and you can find that email here. We'll highlight a couple of points below, and reach out to our admin team with any questions.
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Family Orientation Picnic
Monday, August 28th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
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This year, we are holding a new event- the Family Orientation Picnic! Come to campus to visit the classroom spaces, drop off school supplies, picnic on our campus, and meet and greet other families and students. It's the perfect time to set your child up for a smooth transition on the first day of school. You'll get a chance to pick up important orientation information, and get a special back to school Gardner gift!
We're excited to have the Steakburger On the Go food truck on campus for families to purchase lunch if they would like, or bring your own picnic basket. Don't forget the sunscreen and picnic blanket!
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Working Together
Volunteering at Gardner
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Family involvement takes lots of forms at Gardner, from being a reading buddy in class, to attending events and driving for field trips, and in some cases, bringing your alpacas for a special guest speaker presentation! Our goal is to connect parents and grandparents to volunteer work that is meaningful to them. Please complete this survey to share your interests and availability for helping at Gardner.
Here are some current needs:
- Garden and landscaping clean up
- Can happen any day, for any length of time. Reach out to Courtney Tomlinson, Assistant Head of School, to share when you'd like to volunteer.
- Helping teachers get classrooms reset after painting and flooring work
- Time and dates to be finalized as work wraps up, but opportunities available immediately! Reach out to Head of School, Emily Davis, for more details.
- Setting up our new outdoor gazebo space
- Likely a day long job for 4-5 strong and handy folks. Plan on Saturday, August 19th at 8:00 am. Reach out to Gardner parent Andy Call to express interest and confirm plans!
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Staff Member Introduction
Miranda Malagon, Mazama Assistant
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Miranda first knew she wanted to work with children when she was 17 and volunteered in her high school’s day care program. She graduated Clark College with her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education in 2017, and has worked professionally in the field off and on since 2015. Miranda comes to us with experience as a lead teacher, nanny, coach (mentoring ECE students), peer mentor, and assistant teacher.
Miranda is first and foremost a mom to her 4 year old daughter named Harper (and dog mom to her 6 year old Australian Shepherd - Ozzie). She prides herself on having many passions and hobbies. She is a certified personal trainer so fitness plays a huge role in her daily life. When not working, she enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible with her dog and daughter. She also keeps herself busy with all things active such as indoor cycling, trail running, hiking, and lifting weights.
Miranda’s teaching philosophy is based around the belief that the classroom curriculum, environment, relationships, and community should reflect and honor the unique qualities of each child.
“I believe in individualizing my teaching and guidance strategies to meet the needs of each child. Not only is the child unique, but so are their families! I believe in building the bridge between home and school by honoring each child’s diverse background and their family's core values. When this happens, children are able to feel secure and have a sense of belonging. This is when the magic happens! I believe that through curiosity, investigation, and most importantly - PLAY - children are learning in the most organic ways!”
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Family Spotlight
The Davis Family
Our Head of School, Emily Davis, joined the Gardner School in 2016 as the Klickitat teacher, and is entering her 5th year as our Head of School. Together with her husband, Andrew, their family lives on a homestead in Woodland and they love to garden, raise chickens, explore their woods, bike, create art, and run around outside with their English Shepherds, Ginny and Luna.
Eleanor (8) started at the Gardner School as a little Tumtummer, and is entering the 3rd grade Wy'East classroom. She loves to draw, play music, PE, and is currently obsessed with Harry Potter. Theo, or Teddy (5), is entering Kalama and is known at Gardner for his creative constructions and willingness to get muddy. Laurelin (3) is entering Tumtum this year, and her family is excited for her to experience Gardner School, too!
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Wrapping up the summer
Summer Camp Success
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Gardner School Summer Camps are unique because our talented teachers plan and run play-based, hands-on, and brains-on activities for kids, creating memorable experiences for all ages. We're heading into our last week of camps this week, and our Tumtum, Mazama, and Kalama readiness camps help our students make those big transitions a little smoother.
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Facilities Spotlight
Our campus has been busy this summer! You'll notice lots of updates throughout the buildings, including many new tables & desks, new paint, security cameras, improved fencing, a newly painted yellow Farmhouse, and more! Thank you to our awesome handyman, Tom Akers, for all his work getting the school set up for the year. Thank you also to Gardner parent Weston Howe and his company, Interior Resources, for facilitating the current and future flooring projects. It looks great around here! |
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Upcoming Events
Monday, 8/28
Family Orientation Picnic 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Come enjoy time on campus with classmates and families! The Steakburger On the Go food truck will be available for families to purchase a meal, or bring your own picnic basket. This is a great chance to say hi to old friends and meet new ones, and don't forget to pick up your back to school materials and gift!
Wednesday, 8/30
First Day of School!
We can't wait to see you all! Plan on a little extra time for first day transitions. Details on what drop off looks like will be shared at Parent Orientation, and we'll see you at 7:30 for Before Care and at 8:15 for normal drop off.
Friday, 9/1
Parent Coffee Social 7:30- 9:30 am
We're welcoming the Bluum Coffee Truck back on campus! Come a little early to pick up a cup, and stick around to chat if you're able! Drinks are free, but donations are welcome to help us host more events like this throughout the year. Beverages are for grownups only, please.
Monday, 9/5
Labor Day, No School
Thursday, 9/7
Early Childhood Field Day
Students will have a blast playing extra outside today! Stay tuned for newsletters from your child's classroom with more details.
Friday, 9/8
K-6 Field Day
It's going to be an afternoon of outdoor play for our kindergarten through 6th grade students! Expect kids to get a little extra messy, and an extra set of clothes and a towel should be sent from home.
Friday, 9/15
Wheels in School
Wheels in Schools is a favorite event at the Gardner School! Your child can bring their non-motorized bike or scooter, along with any safety gear for fun at recess time. Helmets are required to ride. Please allow for some extra time at drop off and pick up for loading.
Monday, 9/18- Friday, 9/22
Back to School Parent Meetings, 3:00 pm (EC) and 4:00 pm (K-6)
Each class will have a scheduled in-person meeting to review curriculum, meet other families, and connect with your child's homeroom teacher. Free extended care is provided for the meeting time!
Monday, 9/18- Klickitat and Wy'East (4:00 pm)
Tuesday, 9/19- Mazama and Tumtum T/Th class (3:00 pm)
Thursday, 9/21- Loowit and Pahto (4:00 pm)
Friday, 9/22- Tumtum M/W/F (3:00 pm) and Kalama (4:00 pm)
Thursday, 9/28 and Friday, 9/29
Picture Day
Paul Quackenbush Photography will be here to take pictures of individual students, classes, and siblings! More information and ordering packets will be sent home from your child's homeroom teacher.
To see and subscribe to our calendar of events, click below!
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