What a magical and joyful first few weeks of school. I can hardly believe how fast time flies when you’re busy with work and play! Taking a moment to sit with the past few weeks, I cannot help but smile. I feel such love as the faces of the children move through my mind.
The first day of school was full of anticipation and excitement. As new friends opened the garden gate and began the walk through the garden and down to the schoolhouse, I watched the different expressions. Some children ran ahead of their parents, others hung back unsure of what it would be like to be away from mom and dad. As they entered the garden gate, Scott handed each child a round of wood that he painted just for them. The wood is from a walnut tree in our backyard. Scott cut a medium-size limb and sawed it into 3/4 inch rounds then gently sanded the top smooth. Watching him do this was such a treat. He sat down, surrounded by the blank pieces of wood. I watched him close his eyes and bring each child into his mind. He then took this and gave the children each their own animal symbol. They then walked through the garden and to the schoolhouse, where they found their cubbies and spot in the circle marked with their new symbol.
Our first week in the schoolhouse went really well. Much to our delight, the schoolhouse is very comfortable with 11 children, 2 adults, and 1 baby. The round space as an amazing way of feeling full yet open and large.
Our first week of school, we all learned the routines and rhythms of the day. Scott and I delighted in seeing all the smiles as the children as they did their work–making dresses and forts with the dyed silks…creating a home for sleepy children in the loft…lining up acorns and seashells to be sold in the market…chopping vegetables for snack. Play truly is the work of childhood!
Here are some photos of our first few weeks to enjoy.
Wooden carts, hills, and children are a wonderful combination.
Children and gardens are another lovely duo.
The children jumped right into the work and chores that we do daily at the Little Round Schoolhouse. Children are active participants in the daily and weekly rhythms–shaping and baking bread, chopping vegetables, sweeping and doing laundry with the washboard, just to name a few. It is joyful to fill the schoolhouse with the sounds of singing as we wash and chop and play.
