"We must therefore create a favorable environment that will encourage the flowering of a child's natural gifts." - Maria Montessori

My day was filled with much excitement as I got to meet all the new families today! I believe our journey together will be filled with laughter, and probably some tears, but together we will form a partnership to help each individual child become the best version of who God intended them to be.     

"We must therefore create a favorable environment that will encourage the flowering of a child's natural gifts." - Maria Montessori

 Our daily schedule

Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally - it comes from what you do consistently.

"The more you read, the more things you'll know." - Dr. Seuss

 "You'll never be bored when you try something new. There is really no limit to what you can do!" - Dr. Suess

"Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do-it-yourself character that our future needs." - James L. Hymes, Jr.

 Hopes and dreams 

 "The things that makes me different are the things that make me." -Winnie the Pooh 

 Each of us is a flower, growing in life's garden...

" You must first teach a child he is loved, only then is he ready to learn everything else". - Unknown

 "Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." - A.A. Milne

"Art speaks where words are unable to explain." 

Looking forward to our staggered entry September 4,5,6th.       

The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.
- Loris Malaguzzi 

Children use "loose parts" for sorting and counting.These open-ended materials are beautiful and natural, deepening the child's sense of wonder with the natural world. Your child will use these materials to make  designs and represent the world as they see it.

Open-ended activities strengthen:

- Imagination

- an understanding of the world

-creativity

- problem-solving

- divergent reasoning

- enjoyment of life

Welcome to the 2018-2019 School Year!

Welcome to the 2018-2019 School Year!

My name is Mrs. de Witt and I will be your teacher!

I little bit about me….

When you first meet me, some of you might think that I sound funny when I speak.  I sound different than most of you mommies and daddies, because I  lived in a country far away.  When I want to visit my family on a special long holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas, I can't even drive to their house in my car! I have to fly for two days in the biggest airplane. Maybe we can search on a world map to see if we can find South Africa. Did you know that lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras, leopards, rhinoceros and hippopotamus live in the wild in Africa? Their home is  the African  Savanna where it is always sunny and hot. My house was not close to the wild animals, because that would have been way too dangerous! I lived in a town just like High River. My big brother and I could walk to school and on super hot days our principal allowed children to go to school without shoes. Strange, right? It is because children don't like sweaty feet. On rainy days we could play in mud puddles during recess. Some of my friends splashed in the puddles and got really dirty! Sometimes, we would even bake mud pies. Imagine  climbing in your mommies car with muddy feet, hands or maybe even mud on your nose.
When I was little like you, we didn't have a TV or an i-pad, but we were always happy to go on nature walks and play outside. I still love being in nature and admire the beautiful world that God created for us to live in, and take care of. Although it is much colder in Canada, I still go on nature walks and I get so excited when I see the grass turns green after the long, snowy winters. Or when I see baby ducklings follow their mommies to the pond in Spring time. At my house in High River, I even feed the little wild birds and squirrels each day.  We bought a heated bird bath, so that the water will not freeze during winter months.
I still  go on nice long walks each day and  I make sure I bring my camera.  I like to take pictures of the river, flowers, ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies, trees, deer, birds and squirrels. I am always worried  when the little animals scurry away, and I wonder if they feel scared?  I feel nervous when I have to meet new people or visit places I've never been before. Do you feel worried, scared or nervous to come to big school? You shouldn't because we will explore and discover new things together. I like to think our class a special little garden. Strange, right? But listen to this:

"In our garden, we are great friends, architects, risk takers, 

den builders, explorers and nature detectives."

Here is a  little peek into our day in Pre-Kindergarten

"The phrase CHILD'S PLAY is part of our language. It ought to mean that quality of spontaneity, imagination, wholehearted concentration, and joy which should mark all children at play. " 

-Charlotte Mason