Teacher Margaret's "View From My Window" - January 8th

“Seeing isn’t only for visionaries. Every person called to follow is called, first and foremost, to come and see. The Light dwells with all of us, opening our eyes. The Light widens the circle of welcome. We are all seers. The Light beckons: Come and See…….What do you see today?”

Diana Butler Bass, A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance. 

Dear Friends,

Every day at Westfield, I see reminders that we are all beautiful, complex works in progress and that we all belong – these reminders, big and small, are an antidote to the divisive, reductionist voices from the news, podcasts, social media, and even the grocery store line. We have only been back a few days, and already, children are busy learning new things and enjoying being together. Our robotics teachers, John and Jillian, shared with me how well the Seventh and Eighth-grade students completed their initial VEX robot programming tasks. They were given help with the first set of commands, then they had to stretch what they had learned and apply it to code a second, more complex set of commands. Everyone succeeded! 

Third-grade students are finishing their mystery unit in language arts and will soon share with older and younger students which mysteries they have solved. Be sure to ask them who their favorite mystery writer is and why. Fifth-grade students are reading Turning Fifteen on the Road to Freedom. The book provides a window for them to see the power they have as doers and creators of history. They have also begun a special winter class in creative writing. They are starting with micro stories and moving up to longer pieces. Can you tell an entire story in one or two sentences? That is the first challenge for Fifth-grade.

Preschool Two students are beginning an extended look at how animals in New Jersey survive winter - some hibernate, some migrate, and some adapt. I anticipate creative explorations on our campus and within the classroom as students consider how to survive winter. Second-grade students are building upon what they already know about animals and habitats in New Jersey from their trip to Cedar Run Animal Refuge to their study of habitats across the globe - forest, water, desert, rainforest, and grasslands. This is a part of their combined non-fiction literature, writing, and science study. At the end of their exploration of five distinct habitats, they will produce an informational text and travel brochure.

We will celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday over the course of two weeks with a look at local dreamers and doers. Along with a child who has started their own charity, storyteller Melinda Bradley will share with Prek-1st-grade students the  story “John Woolman, Gentle Abolitionist.”  Dr. Daisy Century will bring her one-woman show about Harriet Tubman to Second through Eighth grades. I encourage you to consider joining one of the many service opportunities in our communities designed to honor Dr. King - including the 20th Burlington County MLK Challenge hosted at the BCLS main branch. 

Holding you in the Light,

Margaret

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Our January Query will focus on the Quaker Testimony on Integrity. In Meeting for Worship this week, we considered what others had to say about the Testimony on Integrity. 

• Integrity is “living as whole people who act on what we believe, tell the truth, and do what we say we will do.” PYM.org
• “Truth is like the North Star: it points the way.” Robert Lawrence Smith, A Quaker Book of Wisdom
• Robert Lawrence Smith, A Quaker Book of Wisdom
• “[Integrity] calls us to be truly who we are and not to be two-faced by trying to be something or somebody we are not.” Faith & Practice, 1997, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
• “Truth is the only safe ground to stand on.” Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Announcements:

• 1/9 Preschool Parent Evening - see your email for more details
• 1/12-1/16 Family Council Coat Drive
• 1/14 Family Council Meeting on ZOOM - Teacher Leo will join to talk about Restorative Practice at WFS
• 1/19 WFS closed for MLK Day. Think of doing service with your child
• 1/22 Step Up Night Preschool-8th Grades - meet your child’s teacher for the 26-27 school year and learn about that grade’s program
• 1/25 Family Council Roller Skating Party
• 2/27 Open House - spread the word in your community