An Update From Farmer Max

For those of you who purchased a CSA from Sunflower's Farmer Max, please check out the guest post below. 

Howdy Sassparillas,

This is your farmer typing.  It's been a rainy day, and it was nice to get out of the muck for a while and write to you all.  It would make my day if you grabbed a beer or a lemonade, and sat down to read this most recent of the farm blog posts...

http://missoulagvc.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/talkin-watertown-blues/

This chronicle of the first month has important implications for what the first few weeks of deliveries will shape up to be for you all.  It's the nitty gritty - I didn't pull too many punches about what the experience has been like up there.  But then again, you don't want anyone to sugar-coat what goes in your mouth anymore.  You've made it clear with your financial support that you have a different vision of what you want to grace your plate, and the plates of people you share a meal with.

This is farming.  And it's our first year in business.  The first spring, really, for the apprentices and I to be out on our own.  Although in the first few weeks of June you won't exactly be able to invite your whole neighborhood in to feast, we will make it up to you all in time.  I'm thinking of the months of July, August, September and October when these rains of water turn into rains of fleshy fruits. It will come.

Thanks for bearing with us on this journey, and I look forward to seeing many of you again (and some of you for the first time) super, super soon!

Peas and Purple Carrots,

Max

Information Round-Up

 Reminder: Graduation is this Friday at 10:00am. The original blog post with all the details can be found here. Remember to bring a blanket and a covered dish. Katie and Correy are still looking for a few volunteers to help with set-up. If you're interested and available, please let us know. 

Don't forget that Sunflower is closed for Summer Break for the week of May 27-May 31, with classes resuming on June 3.

We've got spirit, yes we do. We've got spirit, how 'bout YOU?!? Sunflower has a competitive adult softball team. The team is stocked with returning members, but they're looking for a cheering section. Captain Jeremy Watterson can fill you in on all the details over at the team's facebook page, but we'll also be posting the game schedule here. There's no family dinner this month (we're busy enough with graduation), but maybe we can all meet up at the team's first game on May 29th. More info to come.

Missoula police seem to be cracking down on speeding along Orange Street, and frequently, there are officers stationed at Orange & 1st, and Orange & Front. The speed limit along that stretch is 30mph. I can tell you from personal experience that there's nothing worse than getting a ticket with your preschooler in the car. Every morning since it happened, she's asked, "Hey, remember that time that you were driving too fast and the policeman made you stop and gave you that piece of paper and you were so mad? And then the same thing happened to Dad the NEXT DAY?!?" Yeah, it rings a bell.

See you at graduation!

-Brooke

Practical Life / A Message from Ms Melodie

Hello!  Some of you know me from the Parent's Association, and still others of you may know me as Ovi or Lio's mom.  I am now teaching Practical Life for the Sunflower kids (3-5 years) as Ms. Jessi is moving to Helena.  During the month of May, I work with Ms. Lindsay's class on Mondays, Ms. Indima's class on Tuesdays, and Ms. Sam's class on Wednesdays and Fridays.  In addition to Ovi, who is almost 7, and Lio, who is almost 5, I also have baby Mo who just turned 1.

While "Practical Life" frequently translates to arts and crafts projects, the chief objective is not to teach art, but instead to give the children ample opportunity to find their way toward independently completing common day-to-day activities.  This week, for example, I am working with the children to make sidewalk chalk.  But the two skills we are focussing on are stirring (not too fast!  not too full!) and pouring (steady with the spout down.)  We are also working on our clean-up skills (as I expect we will do every week!)  Last week we made Mother's Day cards*, but focused on learning the practical steps you need to take to mail a letter.  You can extend our Practical Life activities at home by asking questions which draw your child's attention to the process behind the product, such as:

1) What did you do first to create this project?

2) What was the most difficult part of this project for you?

3) Could you teach me how to do this project?

The recipe for the chalk, by the way, is:

1 cup plaster of paris, available at hardware stores (much more expensive at craft stores)

3/4 cup water with about a Tbsp of tempura paint mixed in

Mix until the mixture resembles a milkshake, pour into molds (silicon baking cups work great!) and allow to set for at least 1 hour. (Note that plaster of paris dust is not great to inhale- I did the initial mixing of 1/2 of the water into the plaster to calm the dust.  There is still ample amounts of stirring to do after the rest of the water is added, and it's a dust-free experience.)

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at melodiestenger@gmail.com.  Next week we will be working on making a "Summer Bucket List."  

Warmly,

Melodie Stenger

*Ms. Sam's class- we didn't get to make Mother's Day cards last week because I had a sick kid at home.  So sorry!    

Curriculum Notes: SUNFLOWERS (Ms Lindsay's Class)

MAY

We will be finishing up the last of our continents this month with the study of Antarctica.  The animals & sea life found in/near Antarctica will be part of our study.

This month we will learn the “Months of the Year” song.

What’s new in science curriculum? Space, the final frontier!  We are excited to explore the planets & solar system.  We will be reading a book called The Universe.

Curriculum Notes: SPROUTS

Notes from Miss Jenn and Miss Kim:

MAY

This month we will be talking about springtime. We will also talk about our mommies and do some special projects for Mother's Day! 

Our new song this month is "A Butterfly Song."

In science, we will be growing sunflower plants and studying butterflies. While outside, we will be looking for bugs with magnifying glasses.

For practical life this month, we will be taking care of plants by planting, pruning, watering them and washing the leaves.

Our special book this month will be I Love You, Mommy by Jillian Harker.

Special note from the teachers: With springtime brings the sunshine! Please apply and bring sunscreen, sun hats, sunglasses etc for your child. 

JUNE

This month we will be talking about water safety. We will also be talking about our daddies and be doing some special projects for Father's Day!

Our new song this month is "Five Green And Speckled Frogs"

In Science, we will be doing a drip painting activity and milky color explosions. With droppers, we will teach them about gravity, simple color recognition, and color mixing.

For practical life this month we will continue encouragement in working in the garden. We will also be doing a fishing activity and water transfer work.

Our special book this month will be the I Love You, Daddy by Jillian Harker.

Special note from the teachers: This is the perfect age to start swim lessons for water safety if you haven't already started. 

Curriculum Notes: SEEDS

According to Ms. Kate, here's what's going on in the Seeds house:

MAY

1.) Song:  "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes"

Lots of videos to choose from, but this one was the creepiest

2.) Life Skill: Body Parts (identifying, accurately pointing to)

3.) Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

JUNE

1.) Song: Ring around the Rosie 

2.) Life Skill: Basic colors

3.) Book:  Planting A Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

From Ms. Kate: "I'd like the children to be able to hold hands and walk in a circle during "Ring around the Rosie."  I would like children to be able to point to or pick up items when asked questions like "Can you bring me the yellow ball?".  The book Planting A Rainbow would tie in with learning colors and its about the process of seeds growing into flowers which I think would be relevant to the season and Sunflower!"

________________________

ON A PERSONAL NOTE TO SEEDS PARENTS - 

You know when you go to a big, cheesy arena concert (for purposes of an example, we'll use Lionel Richie) and Lionel invariably asks from the stage, "Where are all my pretty ladies tonight?" And then there's a high-pitched squeal from half the audience?

When it comes to school events like Parent Forums and Family Dinners, I feel like if Lionel asked, "Where are my Seeds families tonight?" we'd hear crickets. 

Don't feel like you shouldn't participate because your student is "only" in the infant program. We'd love to have you! Love, love, love. Get involved now so we can form friendships that will last through our children's time together at the school. Lionel would want it that way. 

-Brooke

GRADUATION & YEAR-END PARTY DETAILS

Here are the details for next month's Graduation Ceremony & End Of Year Party:

• Pollen, Seeds and Sprouts will have a normal school day, with normal pick-up times. 
• Sunflower and Elementary students will walk to Sacajawea Park with their classes at 10:00am.
• Each child will need a parent present - parents should go directly to the park.
• If you also have a child who's in Pollen, Seeds or Sprouts, you can bring them along at your discretion - the whole family is welcome. 
• Parents should bring a covered dish and a blanket to sit on. Drinks and servingware provided. 
• There will be a short music & drama presentation by the students.
• Only the students moving up from Sunflower to the Elementary school will be "graduating," but every student will be involved in the performances. 
• After the performance and lunch, school is dismissed. 
• Katie and Correy will say, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!" thank you all for coming, and for another great school year. 
• REMEMBER: School will be closed the following week (May 27 - May 31) for Summer Break.

Any questions? Anything I left out? Let me know!

-Brooke