Growing Our Learning Environment

Home Sweet Home has the opportunity to reflect on this year of growth and joy. We have been new on this journey together: first year director, first year teaching team of 4, first year for over 50% of our families; first year with two classrooms; first year of Music Committee; first year of Sweet Moments community building fundraiser; first year for field trips; first year for Alumni Days; first year with two air conditioners! (The list could continue. . . . .) How we reflect on our learning grows our capacity, now and for years to come.

A lot of committee work is going in to planning for New Family Orientation in July. This is a welcome opportunity to apply our learning from this first year to truly represent Alternatives in Action culture; Home Sweet Home policies, procedures and practices; and (most importantly) connect new parents and children with Big Friends, teachers and veteran families to aid in a seamless transition.

Home Sweet Home has two electronic surveys out: one to evaluate the Big Friend Program and on to assess Nature Education. Admittedly imperfect, these tools reflect a collaboration between Big Friends and HSH teachers and will provide some information to aid our understanding of program. Please take time to complete the surveys, as we seek at least 40 responses. HSH also encourages parents to write a letter to communicate a strong response to a Big Friend's performance.

This year all our Home Sweet Home staff were celebrated with thoughtful Teacher Appreciation events and gifts. The choice for busy families to take time to express gratitude means so much, and we are very grateful that our efforts have inspired this sharing of appreciation. June is bittersweet - while Home Sweet Home is a 12 month, year round program, we recognize that June is the month of subtle shifts in focus for the field of Early Care and Education. Families go on vacation. Children seem to return two feet taller and ten years smarter. Teachers steel themselves for the transition of children and families out of the preschool and on to new adventures. It is rarely spoken of, but often documented among directors: the June Staff Grumpies. Teachers often hide behind schedule, or tasks, or planning for next year, but we are really just staying very busy to mitigate the pain we feel in saying good-bye. Naming it goes a long way to understanding it. Teachers are proud that children are ready to step out of our learning community and in to the great wide world. But we wish we could go along for the ride and continue to watch the glorious evolution of body, heart, mind and spirit. So, please plan to stay in touch and visit us for many years to come. Brown Bears will have a formal graduation on August 19th, planned to perfection by our PAC Events Committee. Included in this is the key ceremony, a symbolic representation that every HSH child is always welcome to come back "Home".