“For the child. . . it is not half so important to know as to feel. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of early childhood are the time to prepare the soil. Once the emotions have been aroused – a sense of the beautiful, the excitement of the new and the unknown, a feeling of sympathy, pity, admiration or love – then we wish for knowledge about the object of our emotional response . . . It is more important to pave the way for a child to want to know than to put him on a diet of facts that he is not ready to assimilate.”

We have been blessed to have been apart of the children’s journeys, and on these journeys, there comes a point where they must leave Turning Sun. It is a bittersweet feeling- not of loss. This feeling is from a joy that we know that they are ready to fly, and we only wish we could be there every bit of the way. Congratulations, Rising Suns! You will always be loved! We are so proud and so inspired by you, everyday.

Cake made by a parent for the graduating class

Walking hand in hand to the graduation ceremony

Director’s speech to the graduating children and families

Excited graduates seeing themselves over the year

On Tuesday May 7, educators and the Oakhurst class and families visited the MARTA headquarters for a meeting with the “CPO” to share their ideas on how to increase ridership. You can read about it on MARTA’s website.

We encourage you to take the time to read our proposal of how the children plan to change the culture of Atlanta through their love of MARTA. Their ideas are powerful and inspiring.

Sharing ideas with Keith Parker about MARTA

Waiting for the train

Educators getting ready to present the children’s proposal

Welcome, MARTA HEROES!

Taking MARTA to meet the CEO

The fluctuating weather has challenged us as educators and parents to think about outdoor play in the winter months. The hallway is always bustling from the children and teachers putting on and taking off their jackets, hats, and mittens. We take the extra time to go through this process so that we are able to go outside even for a short while to say hello to the winter sun. Turning Sun School had its first garden harvest this January and celebrated by making harvest soup with the children. Turning Sun School celebrates the seasons and encourage children to be engaged in nature in what can sometimes be framed as “bad weather.” With the proper attire, children recognize being warm (in the cold) is a gift.  Warmth is helpful in the realm of physical illness and in the sense of individual strength and contentment. We share warmth beyond layers of clothes- through hugs, our classrooms, and music and yoga.

Listening walk in the woods

Harvesting tat soi from the garden

Playing games on the playground

Painting together

Cooking the harvest soup

Children get excited for Fire Truck Friday

Waiting to visit the firemen

A fireman shows his fire suit

The children wave good-bye to the firemen

Children gathered to meet Fire Station #8′s firemen in all of their red sweaters and hats in spirit of Fire Truck Friday. They were excited to see the big fire truck and learn about what to do in a fire emergency. One of the firemen demonstrated how to put on a fire suit and answered questions like, “Why do you get hot?” The children enjoyed the brief demonstration and waved good-bye when the firemen got called in on a real emergency! It was a pleasant and chilly winter solstice at Turning Sun School.

Children walk by the lanterns as they enter the school

Lanterns made by the children displayed in front of the school

A child adds to the school’s collaborative nature mandala

Adding holly to the nature mandala

Turning Sun School celebrated winter today. Children made lanterns to represent the light inside of them. They are at front of the school inviting families to gather for a peaceful moment. Beautiful collections of natural materials are laid out in the garden for children to work on a collaborative nature mandala. It was a beautiful day for all of us to welcome the winter solstice.

Children arrived to school in their pajamas today. It was a day to warm our bodies with oatmeal sundaes and build sheet forts for quiet places in the classrooms. Mr. Michael played winter music for each class. It was a peaceful and warm Monday.

It appears that the effect of physical temperature is just not on how we see others, it affects our own behavior as well… Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also cause us to be warmer- more generous and trusting- as well
.

Aviva Kessler, a mud builder, came to Turning Sun School to teach the children cobbing, a technique of building with mud. She joined them for morning meeting to answer questions the Oakhurst class brainstormed. Then they got to their dirty work. The children measured sand and dirt and then dumped the mixture onto the tarp. The next steps included adding water and using feet to mix in the straw.

Sharing her tool with Ms. Aviva.

Measuring out dirt

Dumping the mixture onto the tarp

Mixing straw into the mud

Squish, squish, squish

 
The children have been building with blocks and recycled materials, and now they are earth builders.

Excited to see Turning Sun’s work with National Food Day spotlighted in Georgia Organics November Farm to School Newsletter! We are also excited to announce that we will be speaking at the GA Organics Farm to School Summit on February 21st.

A project is an in-depth investigation of a real-world topic worthy of the children’s attention and efforts. A part of our school’s philosophy is connecting our work to our city so field trips are integral to the projects. Teachers and parents brainstormed places that would bridge the work happening in the classrooms to Atlanta, and then in October and November classes and families took trips to these places. The field trips are more than happy and exciting experiences. Teachers work to make field trips reflections of the children’s work- they are intentional, open-ended, and joyful. These real-world experiences become another catalyst in engaging the children in making their work deeper and complex, and they create a stronger sense of community and connection. The children see the city in a context that is meaningful and powerful to them. Parents’ participation allows for them to be plugged into the learning processes and witness the wonder with their children.

Teachers and children made lanterns for the lantern walk. The walk was an event to symbolize that each of us has a light inside of us that radiates. The darkness allowed us a special anonymity to really be ourselves and with each other. Our lights truly led the way.