Spring Fair May 7th!

Spring Fair Poster

Posted in Announcements on April 25th, 2011 | Comments Off

View our slideshow!

dragonflyslideshow2010.m4v

Posted in Slideshow on April 25th, 2011 | Comments Off

Weekly Update 4-24-11

Dear Families,

Hope you had a lovely weekend.

DATES TO LOOK OUT FOR:
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2:50-3:15- QUICK-START TENNIS DEMONSTRATION on our basketball court-John Damgard and Sebastian Suarez of the Santa Fe Tennis Club will show their programs for kids preschool through high school age. The focus is on a wide variety of skills such as balance, movement, agility, coordination, throwing, catching and hitting, cooperating and sharing with others. Tracking and making contact with the BALL!!! ALL COURT DEVELOPMENT. Programs all summer long and through the school year. Come check it out!
THURSDAY,APRIL 28, (9:30-12:30? ask your teacher)-ASPENS AND SPROUTS VISIT THE PILATOS HOUSE in Tesuque. Hiking, gallery visits and wonderful surprises. Dress for the event, please.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29-SAPLINGS FIELD TRIP TO VIEW THE SANTA FE PETROGLYPHS off Airport Road. Students will hike and enjoy Ice Age-style foods as a picnic as they round out studies of this time period in Northern New Mexico. Chaperones appreciated!
MONDAY, MAY 2-NO SCHOOL! TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY. A day to rejuvenate and rev up for May(hem).

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 10-2-SPRING FAIR. Save the date!! We’ll need many hands to make light work and so much fun! Please plan on spending at least part of your day at Dragonfly this day. Sign-up sheets are in classrooms now to help you choose a task best suited to you and your schedule. Updates coming shortly. We could really use your help in asking the community for donations of items for our silent auction. Any item or service of $25 value or up is wonderful! Donations are tax-deductible (Thank you letter attached.) Thank you!!
TUESDAY, MAY 10- Sprouts Field Trip to Rancho de las Golondrinas. Wear walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat that won’t escape in the wind!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11-FRIDAY, MAY 13- ASPENS CAMP AT THE SANTA FE TREEHOUSE CAMP. Children will need a parent to attend. Details as the date approaches.
THURSDAY, MAY 12-FRIDAY, MAY 13-SAPLINGS JOIN THE ASPENS TO CAMP AT THE SANTA FE TREEHOUSE CAMP. Children will need a parent to attend. Details as the date approaches.
Posted in What's New on April 24th, 2011 | Comments Off

Weekly Update 4-16-11

Dear Families,
We are moving into our busy spring season. It is thrilling to be out and about in the world and in nature as it blossoms and greens. The new irrigation system is in place and operational in our garden (thanks to our landlord, Dee Gregory!), which will allow us to continue our work there throughout the summer and to include early fall harvests for studying, tasting, cooking and sharing. Classes have been planting spring crops outdoors and starts for transplanting after the last frosts. We look forward to adding grape vines and at least one more fruit tree to the mix this year.
After much contemplation, Natalie Gober has decided to take a sabbatical from teaching next year and so will not return to teach the Sprouts at Dragonfly. We will greatly miss her enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to sustainability. We wish her a restorative break from teaching and will be sure to get the maximum enjoyment out of her last months here. We are also sending out the word to welcome in the next great teacher for our students. We will keep you updated on staffing for the coming year as our plans solidify.
DATES TO LOOK OUT FOR:
SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 8PM- House Concert IV: this chamber concert will feature string quintets by W.A. Mozart (K.515) and Jeremy Bleich (our music teacher!) performed by the Santa Fe String Quintet @ One Artist Road Fine Art Gallery 142 Lincoln Ave. (@ Marcy st., SW corner) 505.988.5866
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, MORNING-INDIVIDUAL SPRING PHOTOS with David Pascale. EEK! Sorry for the short notice! These will be outdoor photos, with only one package option:(1) 8×10 mounted on a canvas panel, (2) 5×7,(2) 3×5, (8) wallet for $25. Must be pre-ordered and pre-paid. Money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied. Pick up an order form in your classroom.
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 10-12-EARTH DAY FLASH FLOOD-Please join us as Dragonfly students  will populate our dry Santa Fe River with artistic renderings of water, fish and other river-habitat wildlife in their own version of this past fall’s Flash-Flood event and to promote a flowing, clean and healthy river environment. We will bring our lunches and picnic along the river as a whole school.
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 3-4:30-SPRING FAIR PLANNING MEETING-The time is drawing near! We will be checking in on auction, marketing, entertainment, booths, food and volunteer coordination. Please come and help us iron out details and embellishments!! Please RSVP to this email for complimentary childcare while you attend this meeting.
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 6:-8-SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING- All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to this email for complimentary childcare while you attend this meeting.
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 10-2-SPRING FAIR. Save the date!! We’ll need many hands to make light work and so much fun! Please plan on spending at least part of your day at Dragonfly this day. Sign-up sheets will soon be in classrooms to help you choose a task best suited to you and your schedule. Thank you!!
Simple Deviled Eggs Recipe (just in time for Easter)

1 hard boiled egg
1 tsp. mayonnaise
1/2 tsp mustard
pinch salt
pinch pepper

sprinkle with paprika or dill  for a festive look

Peel egg and slice in half lengthwise.  Remove yolk and mash.  Add other ingredients. Mix well. Return to white cavity.

The Saplings also made corn tortillas this week: Buy Masa de Maiz and follow directions on the bag! How simple! (Saplings also ground corn on the matate and with a hand-cranked grain grinder.This activity was presented in conjunction with the reading of a variation of the classic story of the little red hen, “Burro’s Tortillas”.)
Stephanie Smith
Preschool Director
Dragonfly School
(505)995-9869
stephanie@dragonflyschool.com
Posted in What's New on April 16th, 2011 | Comments Off

Weekly Update 4-9-11

Dear Families,
We want to formally welcome our newest student, Ayannah Chavez, and her family, to the Sprouts class. Our students are doing a wonderful job of welcoming her into the fold this past week.
Please be apprised that we will begin helping continuing students transition into their next classroom experience by facilitating visits between classrooms throughout the remainder of the school year. If your child will be moving on to a new school next year, please communicate  details to your teacher so that we may support them in such a transition, as well.
Get your business name out as a SPONSOR of our Spring Fair by contributing $100 or more towards the expenses of the fair. Thanks to our sponsors so far: Los Alamos National Bank, Play (children’s clothing and toys) and Recycled Revival.
Hope your hands are enjoying the new handles on our parking lot gate. Thanks to Jason Hall for noticing the need and doing something unasked to improve our daily experience. (We are constantly amazed at the breadth and depth of skills and altruism to be found in our community. You are truly an amazing bunch!)
DATES TO LOOK OUT FOR:
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 7-9PM-JULIA VON BRIESEN AT THE SECOND STREET BREWERY AT THE RAILYARD-Teacher Julia will be accompanied by a fiddle player for this show.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13- SEEDS AND SPROUTS VISIT RANDALL DAVEY AUDUBON CENTER 9:00-12:30- The Discovery Walk is scheduled from 10-11:30, after which they will enjoy lunch on the lawn there, weather permitting. Please arrive in a timely way, as we will be loading vans at 9:15 and would like to snack and circle prior to that. Remember to buckle seats into the van, with boosters in the seats with shoulder harnesses. Please note that others will need to fit their seats in, also, and try to be courteous in placement of seats. Thanks!
Remember, the following is a list of items each student should bring:
□ An extra layer—don’t forget clothes that can protect from cold, heat, rain or snow.  A jacket or a sweatshirt is a perfect option
□ Wear shoes that are comfortable for hiking—no sandals or open-toed shoes.  Wear shoes that can get dirty!
□ A full water bottle—we will be out hiking in the dry climate.  NO SODA or SPORTS DRINKS please.  Water is the best thing to keep us hydrated.
□ No waste lunch! Something simple to manage picnic-style. (ie-yogurt & applesauce discouraged.)
□ Sunscreen—even in the spring it is possible to get sunburned.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14- BABY BUNNIES VISIT THE SEEDS CLASS-Thanks to Antoine and Lyn Martel for this special opportunity to meet their young bunnies.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15-PAJAMA  DAY-Just roll out of bed and head in to school!
MONDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 18-24-TV TURN-OFF WEEK-Go ahead; take the challenge: Turn it off and keep it off. This includes all manner of electronic media. Parents, see if you can do it, too!
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 10-12-EARTH DAY FLASH FLOOD-Dragonfly students (and families are invited!) will populate our dry Santa Fe River with artistic renderings of water, fish and other river-habitat wildlife in their own version of this past fall’s Flash-Flood event and to promote a flowing, clean and healthy river environment.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 6-8PM-SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING- All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to this email for complimentary childcare while you attend this meeting.
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 10-2-SPRING FAIR. Save the date!! We’ll need many hands to make light work and so much fun! Please plan on spending at least part of your day at Dragonfly this day. Sign-up sheets will soon be in classrooms to help you choose a task best suited to you and your schedule. Thank you!
Posted in What's New on April 9th, 2011 | Comments Off

Weekly Update 4-3-11

Dear Families,
Hold on to your small children or they could blow away! Also, remember to sunscreen them thoroughly before you leave them for the school day. We are (sometimes) shedding layers as the weather changes. It is also time to have sun hats on hand (preferably with a chin strap to keep it on the head).
If your child is part of our Dragonfly aftercare program, please double-check to be sure your child has enough food to make it through the longer day. Thanks!
Thanks to the special few who have donated and/or solicited items for our Spring Fair silent auction. If you are thinking of donating or sponsoring ($100 sponsorship gets your logo on all print advertising), please let Lauren Whitehurst (whitehurstrankin@mac.com) know what items will be given, along with the retail value. ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. Thank you for your support!! (Thank you letter attached and hard copies available in your classroom.) I have also attached the list of donations we have already secured, along with past donors already slated to be asked or donations in progress.
Also special thanks to Kurt Wegner for leading (and Jaime Smith for helping with) the pigeon-proofing project on our stage, and to Sprout Sierra Garman for helping to rescue the little towhee who found its way into the unfinished project on Friday and had trouble finding its way back out. The project is now complete and all the birds should be safe and happy (in the trees; not in the rafters of the stage…) Our many thanks to all our untiring volunteers who work so hard to make Dragonfly the amazing community that it is. Give yourself a pat on the back!
DATES TO LOOK OUT FOR:
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 10:30-12:30-SPROUTS VISIT  THE SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER. Shelter opens at 11:00.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, (10-11:30?)-SEEDS AND ASPENS WALK TO THE FEED BIN to see the baby chicks and check in with the river. Aspens may combine river clean-up with this outing. PARENT HELP WELCOME!
THURSDAY, APRIL 7,3:30-SPRING FAIR PLANNING MEETING-Free aftercare for those attending this meeting to pull the details together for the big event. Please RSVP to Stephanie, particularly if you need childcare. WE CAN”T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU! THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!
FRIDAY, APRIL 8-NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS: TEACHERS IN-SERVICE-Planning for the end of our busy school year and the year to come.
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 7-9PM-JULIA VON BRIESEN AT THE SECOND STREET BREWERY AT THE RAILYARD-Teacher Julia will be accompanied by a fiddle player.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13- SEEDS AND SPROUTS VISIT RANDALL DAVEY AUDUBON CENTER- The Discovery Walk is scheduled from 10-11:30, after which they will enjoy lunch on the lawn there, weather permitting. PARENT CHAPERONES APPRECIATED!! Please let your teacher know if you can attend. Thank you!
FRIDAY, APRIL 15-PAJAMA  DAY-Just roll out of bed and head in to school!
MONDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 18-24-TV TURN-OFF WEEK-Go ahead; take the challenge: Turn it off and keep it off. This includes all manner of electronic media. Parents, see if you can do it, too!
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 10-2-SPRING FAIR. Save the date!! We’ll need many hands to make light work and so much fun!
Be well,
Stephanie Smith
Preschool Director
Dragonfly School
(505)995-9869
stephanie@dragonflyschool.com

Posted in What's New on April 3rd, 2011 | Comments Off