THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD
A former well known television personality, Art Linkletter, used
to host a program where he carried out a dialogue and discussion
with young children, usually between the ages of 3-6 years. The
show was intriguing on multiple levels as the children responded
in ways which revealed humor, depth, and insight and as Linkletter,
with genuine amazement, often said, "Children say the darnedest
things!" He always asked the children when they would have
their birthday and how old they would be at that time.
Friends of mine at Mountain Oak, Alex in first grade and Stone
in Merry-Gold Kindergarten, had birthday's this past week. I got
to thinking about a child's view of birthdays and all the wonderful
expressions I have heard over the years from this young age group.
It is truly wonderful to see how young children perceive birth
and the birthday experience. Of course, they cannot fully tell
us, but sometimes they express an image or thought that is full
of insight. I remember once hearing a child say to his kindergarten
teacher, "Soon my birthday is coming down." Later, that
early childhood educator shared with me that when she heard that
expression, she suddenly saw all the children's birthdays circling
above her like a mighty zodiac, each descending to us at the right
moment.
Other children speak knowingly of the rainbow bridge that they
crossed at the moment of birth. My own daughter, I remember, once
looked at a rainbow in the sky and said with joy to her mother,
"Oh look, Mommy, a baby is being born." I recall another
young child born in New Hampshire, but early on moving to Maine,
once asked his mother with some concern, "Mommy, how are
babies born in Maine? There are no rainbows." Another child
drew an earthly garden with a rainbow above it and a child sliding
down the rainbow into the garden. A six-year old recently drew
a series of pictures as an end-of-the year gift for his kindergarten
teacher. The first was a rainbow, and with it he began dictating
a story to his mother. Next, he drew a door with a knob in the
middle and said, "This is the door to the earthly garden,
and every child needs a door on his or her birthday."
At Mountain Oak School we are most fortunate to have a rich early
childhood program. The Rosemary and Merry-Gold Kindergartens truly
represent the kingdom of childhood and the children's garden.
Birthday's are celebrated and observed in a very special way.
The early childhood teachers prepare the kindergarten room in
a most beautiful way and as all gather around, the parent's will
recount the coming to the earth birth-story of their child who
nearby, happily and proudly wears his/her birthday crown and cape.
Even those children whose lives are very difficult see the earth
as wearing a beautiful, glowing mantle, especially at the time
of their birthdays.
So, the next time you happen to be around a 4,5, or 6 year old
at the time of their birthday, be sure to engage them in dialogue
and like the aforementioned television personality, be prepared
to be truly amazed at the response you might receive. It is the
child's gift to us.
- Merrill Badger, Principal |
Happening This Week:
Wed., Aug. 25th 3:15 pm 2nd grade parent
meeting.
Fri., Aug. 27th 7:45 to 8:30 am Tea Garden,
everyone is welcome to nourish our appetites and our MOCS family
community together.
Mon., Aug. 30th Picture Day is coming.
CPR and First Aid Classes
Wed. 9/1/04 1pm - 4pm (CPR) Wed. 10/6/04 1pm - 4pm (First Aid)
Classes are $15 each or only $25 for both. Pre-register with Beni
in the office or call 541-7700.
|
Drop off and Pick up Procedures
Remember everyone, when dropping off and picking up our children,
if you are pulling around the loop drive in front of the school,
please unload your child immediately. If they are not ready, pull
out of the drive and return to the loop when they are. This will
help keep the flow of traffic moving more smoothly and it is safer
for everyone. Also, keep in mind our next door neighbors, the
Credit Union and please do not park in their lot during business
hours.
A note from Fun-Raisers
Tea Garden, our Friday morning social opportunity is up and running.
If you haven't already, please sign-up once, twice, or three times
to bake or buy a semi-healthy breakfast treat for this year round
fundraiser!!!
Last year Tea Garden made over $1500 fun and easy dollars for MOCS.
If you are wondering what sort of wonderful things happen with these
funds, here is something recent the funds went toward...Mtn. Oak
was able to provide violin scholarships to those families that needed
support with that expense.
Thank You to last weeks contributors: Meg Bohrman, Annette Dunbar,
Birute Upchurch, Diane Murphy,
Kim Martin, Gail Martin, Eugenia Sarratea, and of course our Chief
Baker -- Nancy Reid-McKee |
Week of August 23
