Friday Letter - 10.05.2012

10/5/12

Dear RiverRun Families,

This has been a very exciting week. Our overnight trip to Seneca Falls was fantastic. We needed another day (or two). I know I plan on going back to see some of the sites I missed and to revisit the Seward house and Harriet Tubman’s home once it is restored. I know the children learned a lot just from the casual conversations I hear between them. I am sure those parents who were unable to attend have gotten an earful. There is no better way to bring history alive then getting out and visiting the places where history was made. We are so lucky to have the engaged community we do. You all make it worth the effort in planning. Thank you all for making this a school like no other.

This week I also presented the History of Math, one of the Five Great Lessons. This lesson is fun, and gives the children a clear picture of how important math is to society. Image a day without numbers. Is it possible? The Hindus people back in the year 500 figured out a formula for the square root that is still in use today. Our children are learning how to square every time they use the long bead chains.

Today we talked about Christopher Columbus. We looked at the world map to trace the four journeys he made from Spain. We also discussed how he captured some of the native people of the Caribbean islands he landed on and sold them into slavery. We talked about how we felt about this.

On October 9th we will be meeting off site at the Emmanuel Friedan Church on Nott Terrace. The children can be dropped off at 8:35 and pick up will be at 3:05. We will use the opportunity to cook in their kitchen. At this time the lunch menu will be curried chick peas with potatoes (Chole), chicken in a yellow curry sauce, rice with lentils and vegetable; and rice pudding. These recipes are from India. My parents will come to help us prepare the meal. Please send in $5/person for the purchase of the ingredients. Please feel free to join us if you would like.

We are short a yoga mat, if anyone has extra please send it in.

Enjoy the long weekend,

Amy