We are rounding the corner of 14 months. 14 months of wearing masks, physical distancing, no hugging, no gatherings, no anything! 14 months of trying to figure out the “new normal”. 14 months of uncertainty, and fear. It seems impossible that the Corona Virus has been a part of our lives for what feels like forever, but in the same breath feels like yesterday!

14 months ago we began to prepare to bring teachers and children back into our school. It took a long time to create an environment where we would all feel safe not only for ourselves, but for the children and their family. In fact, it took us until July 6, 2021 to bring everyone back together again! It sure looked different, but boy, it felt GREAT!

We stumbled and tripped our way through the first few months. New policies to learn, old habits to break. Trying to learn how we could physically distance from young children (you can’t!) and how to help children learn to physically distance from each other(you can’t!). How to keep surfaces as clean as possible and the greatest of all feats, getting young children to wear masks!

But, here we are almost 14 months later and we are doing it! Not only are we doing it, we are doing it really, really well! Children and teachers alike show up each day. They arrive with smiles; we can tell by their eyes, excited to see what the day has in store. The “new” policies are old hat by now. Physical distancing is still not much of a thing with the children even though we try. And, the masks? Well surprise, surprise, the children adjusted to the masks much faster and with less complaint than we adults! Not surprising as children are very resilient. I don’t like that they have had to be as resilient as they have in these past 14 months, but that is the reality.

A new excitement has come to all of us, vaccines! Vaccines are a game changer for all of us who have been in class, in person every week since July 6th. We all speak of the fact that this vaccine just may allow us to spend time as a staff, together exchanging ideas and thoughts. It just may allow all of the teachers to create a connection with each child in our community, not just those in their cohort (I really can’t wait to delete this word from my daily use!) and maybe, just maybe it truly is a giant step towards operating as we had always operated in our school. We are a bit away from all of that, but it’s so close I can feel it!

We have all grown in these 14 months. We have all changed in these 14 months and most of all we have all gained an appreciation for life, health and each other. There are silver linings every where. We are moving in the right direction and with us we are towing not only the hardships, but the silver linings, different for each person, yet still there. I don’t want to go back to the old normal, I want my new normal to be built from all I have learned in the past 14 months.

The KHS community has truly shined in the past 14 months. There is no other community I would want to be a part of. Each of you has played a major role in what has turned out to be a giant silver lining! The sense of respect, love and appreciation has lined the past 14 months with sterling silver! May we all continue to walk with grace.

Martha

I have been reading and hearing so much about the social/emotional development of young children; the importance of developing connections and attachment.  This is nothing new to the practices at Knight Hall School.  Knight Hall School, since 1929 has been placing a huge emphasis on connections and attachment.  To say it is one thing, to practice is another.

I look around me at all of the different early childhood education and early care programs and it saddens me that many programs don’t focus on relationships, connections and attachment.  They say they do, but their practices tell a different story.  So, as a perspective family how do you know if the school you are looking at for your child promotes relationships, connections and attachment?  You ask about their business practices!  You ask about their personnel practices.

Knight Hall School spends a lot of time developing relationships, connections and attachment, it doesn’t happen over night.  I am going to provide a list of things that Knight Hall practices that promotes our strong belief of the importance of relationships, connections and attachment.

1. Knight Hall School has 5 classrooms with 2 full-time educators in each class.  98% of our educator’s have at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.  The importance of having a teaching staff with a degree in early childhood education is imperative.  Would you go to a lawyer who does not have a degree in law?  If the people educating your child are not educated in the field of early childhood education how effective can they truly be?  Our average teacher tenure is 10 years.  We recogonize that our teaching staff are true educational professionals and respects them as such!  Each educator receives a competitive salary, paid vacation time/personal time/sick days/holidays, life insurance, short term disability, medical benefits, and reimbursement for continuing education hours.
2. Knight Hall School sets a schedule so that one teacher in each classroom is here to open the classroom at 7:30AM and their co-teacher stays until our closing time, 5:30PM.  This allows for the families to connect with someone who has been with their child throughout the day.  We do not use an outside service for substitute teachers when a full-time classroom teacher is out.  We have three full-time support staff with degrees in Early Childhood Education that assist in the classrooms on a routine basis.
3. Children are enrolled in a classroom for a full year.  Remaining in the same classroom for a year, allows the children, teachers, and families to form strong attachments, create connections and develop trusting relationships with adults and other children.  We never move children for the sake of ratios or developmental milestones.
4. All three preschool classrooms have been trained in and practice the RULER approach daily to help support children’s emotional development.  The RULER approach is supported by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.   Discover more about the RULER approach here:  http://ei.yale.edu/ruler
5. Knight Hall School values the connections made with one another and therefore, we have a very strong sense of community.  Families are invited to participate in our monthly family “meet-ups” (i.e. Saturday morning playdates at the library, Mom or Dad’s Night Out, etc.) and our  various school sponsored events (Parent discussion groups, Annual Art Show and Fundraiser, Back To School Nights, Spring Celebration, etc).
6. We encourage families to take an active role in their child’s day here at Knight hall School.   We welcome families to do this in ways that work best for their family structure–whether it is a daily phone call or email, joining the classroom for group time or a field trip, we strive to build a strong family-school connection.

We know that it takes a village to raise a child and look forward to being a part of that village!

When a person walks into our school they can’t help but notice the children playing.  People typically comment how nice it would be to play all day.  I usually nod and agree; knowing full well that I will have the opportunity to help that person understand what is happening as children play.  By the time they leave Knight Hall they will have learned that imbedded in all of that play is learning.  They will learn that each and every material is in the classroom for a specific reason and quite possibly for a specific child.  Once people understand that “play is the work of  the child” –  Maria Montessori, they begin to understand the importance and that not only is it nice, it’s necessary!

Each fall I find that I spend a lot of time helping perspective families understand why Knight Hall School is so deeply entrenched in the belief that a child must have the opportunity to learn through rich, thoughtful play experiences.  I have learned that families what their child(ren) to be happy and have the opportunity to play.  However, they find themselves worrying about early reading and writing.  The social pressures tend to outweigh their own inner understanding of their child.

I get the question; “how do you get my child ready for kindergarten?”  or “How do you teach my child to read?”.  My response is typically; ” We don’t”.  Our job, as early childhood educators is to help a child be the best they can possibly be for where they are developmentally at that moment.  If we get a child ready to be the best 3 year old they can be then they will becoming the best 4 year old they can be and that in turn will allow them to be ready for kindergarten and all that comes with that stage of development.  We build the foundation for reading, writing and math concepts.  It’s because they have a quality early childhood education that they become active and interested learners.  It’s because they are engaged with early childhood professionals that they have the opportunity do be involved in constant research projects!

Books on my shelf:

A Child’s Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play – Vivian Gussin Paley

Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children – Miriam Beglovsky

Beautiful Stuff!: Learning With Found Materials – Cathy Weisman

I am sitting in my office and I can hear the youngest children in our school (1 year olds) literally bouncing off of the walls!  This winter has been such a challenge for all of the children in our school, and their teachers!  We firmly believe that children have the right to be outside as much as possible!  However, this winter has thrown so many obstacles in our way to provide that right.  The cold and the depth of snow have been our major challenges.

I have watched as the teachers come up with new and inventive ways to help the children exert energy in ways that are safe, yet satisfying.  The 2 year olds have been working on a larger than life, paper mache alligator.  this allows them to use big body motions, large brush strokes,  constant motion uses up some energy.  The 1 year old class has see-saws, ride on toys and climbing stairs.  They also have been filling their sensory table with snow!  A great way for the children to experience the lovely white fluffy stuff without having to actually be in the stuff!  Our preschoolers have created obstacle course, created large building with big heavy blocks and most peacefully practiced yoga.  The preschoolers have had a few opportunities to get outside; when the temperature cooperated!

Teaching young children is all about flexibility and creativity!  The teaching staff at Knight Hall works hard to bring meaningful play into the classroom, no matter what the obstacles may be!

So, let’s hope that winter is on its way out and spring is on its way in!

Knight Hall was recognized within our community as the #1 Most Loved preschool in the West Hartford area!  We are humbled and grateful!

We are currently number 3 in a national running!  If Knight Hall is voted the #1 Most Loved preschool in the country we will win a $15,000 playground!  We are so excited!  If you would like to vote for Knight Hall go to Hulafrog.com, click on preschools, scroll down to find Knight Hall and click on the heart!  It’s easy and fast.  Hulafrog is an awesome website for families.  They provide a wealth of activities for young children and many of the activities are free!!!!

We’ll keep you posted!!

We are 3 weeks into our new school year!  The children are all beginning to settle into their new classrooms, getting use to their new routines and new teachers.  It can be a bit of a wild ride, but we all know it does settle down about 3 weeks in!

I’m constantly in awe of the trust shown us by not only the parents, but by the children as well.  Starting with a new team of teachers, in a new classroom is a bit overwhelming even for our children and families that have been with us for years!  We work hard to help build a trusting relationship with the entire family.  Please know that your child’s teachers are always willing and open to hear from you!  Please feel free to email them or give them a call.  The best time to reach the teachers is between 1:30-2:30.  We will also be having Parent/Teacher Conferences during the week of Oct. 20.  Keep an eye out for the sign up sheet in your child’s classroom.

Thank you so much for sharing your child or children with us!  we are so honored to be a part of your child’s early years!

Last night the parents and teachers of Knight Hall School had a wonderful opportunity to learn about the importance of nutrition not only for their child, but for themselves as well.  There were many questions about picky eaters, serving sizes and varieties of food.  A lot has changed since the day of the Food pyramid!  My Plate is the new “Food Pyramid”!  To learn more about My Plate, please go to myplate.gov

A few people asked about cookbooks.  I am providing a list of my favorite cookbooks to use with children.  If you click on the links you will be redirected to Amazon.com  If you purchase a book from the link, Knight Hall gets a small percentage of your purchase!

Kinder Krunchies by Karen S. Jenkins

Honest Pretzels By Molly Katzen

Pretend Soup by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson

Happy cooking!

Each and every child at Knight Hall School is a marvel.  Each and every day each teacher helps every child see just how spectacular they are.  Please take 2 minutes to watch this video.  It will brighten your day!

Please click on this link to see Ann’s amazing accomplishment!

ann