Ashley Read '05, Head of Early Childhood

 

September 13, 2024

 

Dear ECC Families,

This week, the students have been working on active listening. Students learned that wherever the eyes go, the brain follows. When we look into someone’s eyes while they are talking to us, we are showing respect and demonstrating that we are fully engaged and interested in what they have to say. We practiced active listening with engaged eyes, ears and body language. 

Books that teach active listening:
Look Out, Patrick! by Paul Geraghty
Come Along, Daisy by Jane Simmons
Pay Attention, Emily Brown! by Linda Burton
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. 

Why Recess?
“Recess is critical, say experts in childhood development. Recess is a period of the school day set aside for the physical, social, and cognitive pursuits. It is equally as vital for what they are not doing, namely math, reading, or science.” (Excerpt from The Best Schools.) We view recess as a necessary part of our student’s day and provide two to three 20-minute recesses daily. Recess is a time when our students can develop as whole children and create a solid foundation that will lead to well-rounded readers, scientists, and mathematicians. Our students can be found climbing rock walls, playing soccer, and riding the tricycles around our “Oakridge Village” while stopping to get gas or grab a burger from the “cafe.” Students lead their learning, work through disagreements, take risks, play imaginatively, and develop their motor skills all of which build the foundation for learning in all domains. 

What’s happening around campus? 

Join OPC! What is the OPC?
The OPC is The Oakridge Parents’ Club, or Oakridge’s version of a “PTA.” Our OPC consists of Oakridge parents and grandparents who donate their time to events around campus such as our Fall Festival (“Owlfest”), Teacher Appreciation lunches, the Book Fair and much more. Please consider joining. If you join at the $75 level, your child(ren) will receive a non-uniform dress day.  

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Best regards,

Ashley Read, Oakridge Class of 2005
Head of Early Childhood