I am sorry I am only getting to this now. There is a bit to read but it is all important.
Tomorrow we will have an earned PBIS school wide celebration. From 10:00-11:50ish, the kids will be carving pumpkins in teams, They will then have lunch and an all school recess. The students and their families are invited back for a pumpkin lit walk on the recreation path. The lanterns will be placed along the path and lit between 5:30 and 6:30. We will have flatbread pizza (thanks to a generous donation from American Flatbread) for snacking and be pressing cider. Please note that this will be an all outside event, so dress warmly! Today we spent are writing time talking about the Lorax (read a loud from last week). I asked the students what caused all of the changes in the story's environment. They noticed that the trees were al cut down and the water became mucky. They also pointed out the smoke that polluted the air. We eventually connected that the pollution changed the climate of the town. The kids made before and after posters and will finish their writing tomorrow or Wednesday.
This week's focus, for our climate project, is how to avoid/solve effects of climate change. Today we had a visit from Suzy Hodgson. "For the last three years, Hodgson has worked at the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, where her main project is studying how farmers react to climate change. The goal is to learn how farmers can keep their organic soil healthy during both wet and dry periods." Today she talked to the kids about water and how to use techniques to preserve soil/moisture during heavy rains and dry spells. We looked at our garden, the brook on the north side of the school and walked to the pocket garden to observe the river bed. The students did a great job and Suzy was impressed with how wonderful the group was. 
PARENT CONFERENCES: Our conferences our schedule for Wednesday October 25th and Thursday October 26th. This Thursday, your child will bring home a goal setting form that will help me prepare for the conference. I will not send home any other work that night but rather ask that you sit with your child and fill out the form together. Please return it the next day. The conferences are goal setting conferences. The students are required to attend the first part of the conference as we set a student chosen and teacher selected goals for them for the next 1/4 of the year. The rest of the conference will be a chance for us to meet and to talk about the start of your child's year.
The following already have conferences scheduled. If you haven't please schedule your's online by Wednesday.
SCHEDULED: Caroline, Steele, Liv, Sam, Kai, Lev, Anna Mae, Noah, Carley, and Kane.
MINDFULNESS UPDATE: The students have been enjoying our mindfulness time. Classroom visitors have been impressed with how the kids use it to regulate their energy. Yesterday I heard from our friend in India has been in contact. He has had to postpone our session until November and wrote to us yesterday.
Dear Tommy,
It seems I might have to request you again for postponing our class. 18th is the festival of Deewali and the time we have set is the busiest time for the festivities with lots of fire crackers and prayers. Its my mistake in proposing the date and if its not inconvenient can we postpone it just once more.October 25th the next Wednesday, I am meeting a group of devotees from US on their way to the cave of their Guru. Its close to our place and they want to visit our Center. So, should we plan for a date in November; is there a Wednesday that works for you and the class.
best regards and apologies....
I look forward to our November session with him.
That is all for now. Have a great week and I hope to see you at the pumpkin event Tuesday evening.
Peace,
Tommy
