We began Roots in 2006 in an effort to connect with current and alumni families at Spruce. It has proven to be an extraordinarily effective vehicle for just that, due to the hard work of the team of volunteers that have been working on Roots since its inception.

Roots was founded by parents Kate Crowly, Kate Gilbane and Caroline Oberg upon the occasion of our 10th Anniversary. The very next year Pam Baker was added to the team, and Roots has been the product of this talented team ever since!

With 13 children among them, Pam, Kate, Kate and Caroline have continued to apply their extraordinary energy and talent to this small but important newsletter. Together they compile, write, edit and photograph, overseeing the design and production of Roots down to the most minute detail.

Two of these talented women don’t even have children in the school this year, yet Kate Gilbane continues to reach out to alumni and gather and organize their

news, and Pam continues to help with content and edit my ramblings. Maple mom Kate Crowley collects and formats photos, while Willow mom Caroline Oberg keeps us all on track! Each team member takes turns with the layout, and all four give amazing amounts of detailed input along the way. How typical of Spruce that a few committed volunteers quietly make all the difference!

In addition to being photographer and girl Friday in all things Roots, Kate Crowley trains her artistic, child focused eye on each issue. This is Kate’s last year at Spruce, and so this is her last issue! After 6 years and 18 issues of Roots, it’s hard to believe her time with Roots is done. Thank you, Kate, for helping to start a tradition that has so touched all of us!

Truly, Roots has transformed our community, providing the intertwining information that binds us all. I am endlessly grateful to Kate, Pam, Caroline and Kate for their initiative, hard work, and steadfast diligence producing this newsletter three times a year. Surely without them and Roots, we would not be the interconnected community that we are.

Spruce Street Nursery School Newsletter

Roots: A Special Spruce Tradition

Spring/Summer 2012Volume 18

“If I had two wishes, I know what they would be: I’d wish for roots to cling to and wings to set me

free.” - Denis Waitley

A Spring to Remember What a year we have had at Spruce!

It has been one filled with wonder and excitement, learning of lessons both intended and accidental.

The Acorns have gone from quiet islands of exploration to a group of adventurers seeking together. The Willows have transformed from pockets of play to a class of learners. The Maples are challenging one another daily while exploring the art of Calder and Arthur Dove, as the Oaks, our seniors, sign in and read the morning message, experiment with writing and equations and explore artists like Matisse and Keith Harring.

This time of year is a wonder of predictability. There is a happy hum in the mornings, as parents chat, children greet friends and run off to play and morning meetings and lessons get underway. The teachers take their cues from one another without words. The children follow the routine with no reminders, and the energy in the school is settled and productive. The days are full and ripe with anticipation of a time at the park, days at the farm, wings and cupcakes.

Ah, spring. I am so grateful again to be experiencing springtime with the children and families of Spruce!

Yours always,

Christie

Heard on Spruce StreetWith spring blooming all around us, we

asked the Acorn students to tell us their favorite things about spring. Here are their responses:

K Jack: “Playing with balls.”

K Bea: “Having picnics.”

K Sophie: “Eating.”

K Blake: “Having blueberries and picnics.”

K Lucas: “The rain.”

K Anders: “I like it when it stops raining.”

K Darian: “The boats.”

K Myles: “Jumping in puddles.”

K Elizabeth: “Rain.”

K Mae: “Play with my nana and mom in the grass.”

K Mia: “Clouds. Sun.”

K Pete: “The clouds.”

K Sadie: “To see the flowers.”

K Teddy: “The flowers.”

K Kate: “Grass grow.”

K Will: “Purple flowers.”

K Xander: “I like the flowers and kites and things.”

Teacher NewsThis year two amazing Spruce teachers are

flying away. Chelsea Holmes Riccio has been at Spruce since 2007. First a Maple teacher and most recently an Acorn teacher, Chelsea has brought her love for children and families, her extraordinary empathy, enthusiasm and energy with her to school every day, making a positive difference in all of our lives. Chelsea will be greatly missed as she begins her new career as a photographer, but we hope she’ll swing by to take pictures now and then!

Taylor Stevens McIntire joined the Spruce staff in 2008. She spent a year as the Float and then became an Acorn teacher in 2009. Taylor’s organizational skills, love for the profession of teaching and commitment to Spruce and the families here has been transformative in the Acorn class. Taylor will be missed as she heads off to start her own family but will hopefully return as a parent in a couple of years!

Annual Fund 2012The Annual Fund is an important part of

our fund-raising efforts to bridge the gap between Spruce’s operating costs and tuition income. Thanks to current parents, alumni families, grandparents and, for the first time ever, a Spruce Graduate, this year’s Annual Fund has raised $140,655 to date!

We appreciate any contribution, and no amount is too small. Gifts received by June 30th will count toward this year’s drive. Donors’ names (not their giving levels) will be recognized in the Annual Report.

SAVE THE DATE

Monday, July 9th- Friday, Aug. 17th Spruce Street Summer Program

Wednesday, September 5th All School Open House

Thursday, Sept. 6th & Friday, Sept. 7th First Day of School (half day)

Out of This World! Spruce Street Auction 2012

Spruce Street’s 2012 Auction was Out of This World! This stellar event was held at the Ritz, and we were delighted to see so many current, alumni and incoming families! A huge thanks to Andrea Brodeur, Jaime Eisenberg, Erin Lopez and Towne Williams for masterfully piloting this epic event, and to Allan Nasseh for creating an extraordinary movie masterpiece! Thanks to the 100% participation of families past and present, we exceeded our financial goal. Spruce Street blasts off again!

Summer at Spruce! Summer at Spruce is just around the

corner! While camp is great for Spruce students of all ages, it is a particularly good way for new families to ease into life at Spruce.

Here’s what a current parent had to say: “Camp was a perfect introduction for our incoming Acorn. She became familiar with the school, got to know her teachers and met some of her fellow classmates and peers. It was a fun summer experience and really helped with her transition in September. We can’t wait for more Spruce camp fun this summer!”

NEW! Donate Online!www.sprucestreetnurseryschool.com

Click “Donate”

Former teacher Lindsey (Martin) Mancuso writes, “Hello Spruce! We are thrilled to announce the birth of our second son Leonardo David on January 18, 2012. ‘Leo’ and his big

brother Bruno are already the perfect little odd couple, and it is amazing to see them to-gether. Leo is soft spoken, easy going and our little owl, enjoying life from his perch as he soaks it all in. Bruno, now three, springboards into everything! He is an imaginative and deeply passionate superhero who spends his days rescuing many a stuffed animal from mortal peril. My husband Joe now works for EMC Franklin, and I remain a preschool teacher at the wonderful little school where Bruno attends here in Reading. Bruno reads every ROOTS newsletter with me and very much enjoys the stories about the people from Mommy’s ‘first school.’ I would love to have some emails from past teachers/parents/students to share with him as well! Wishing you all the very best this summer!” Lmcuso@gmail.com

Grey ‘05 and Chloe Atkinson ‘07 are finishing up 5th and 3rd grades at BB & N and are ready for some summer fun! Grey has been playing lots of tennis this year and also loves basketball-- he enjoyed catching up with some old Spruce pals over the winter when they played on the same team. Chloe’s passion is for theater and dance, and she just wrapped up a play with the Freelance Players in May. They send a big hello to all their old friends and teachers at Spruce!

Kristen Valdmanis writes, “George Edward (Teddy) Valdmanis was born on March 11,

2012. Lizzie ‘09, Ian and Annie adore him, and he is the easiest baby! We are also moving to Tokyo in August,

which is so crazy and so exciting. We will be abroad for one year minimum and two years maximum. If you know anyone in Japan, we’d love to connect!”

Kim Guerster writes, “This photo was taken in Charlestown on Mother’s Day after Brooke’s lacrosse game when we decided to climb to the top of the monument to see our old house and roof deck! Bey ‘06 is now ten and in 4th grade, playing baseball and flag football this spring. Mason ‘07 (striped shirt) is nine and in 3rd grade. She continues with her horseback riding and is playing U11 Lax for Cape Ann Youth League. Brooke is finishing 2nd grade and playing U9 Lax for Cape Ann as well. They were all on the ski team this winter in Quechee, VT and had a great time despite the lack of snow! This spring has started a new chapter for us with all three participating in at least one town sport. We find ourselves running from field to field or barn to barn, as the case may be! We miss all of our Spruce Street friends but do try to catch up with some from time to time.”

Grace McNeil ‘03 is almost 12 years old and loves living in Wellesley, although she talks about the good old days when she lived on Beacon Hill and attend-ed Spruce Street! She now attends Newton Country Day School and will enter 7th grade next year. She enjoys ballet, dance, art, lacrosse and traveling to see her friends in Miami and Nantucket. Grace’s younger brother Andrew is eight years old. We wish all the Spruce Street people well!

Claudia ‘07 and Vera Cortell ‘09 say hi to all their Spruce friends. They are enjoying

another year at the Park School (Park’s Springfest photo in evidence!). The girls love to read, draw and play the violin (some-times). They are looking forward to a bit of camp this summer, a week in Montreal,

visits to NYC to see family and time at the pool in Wellesley. We hope to run into some Spruce families this summer!

The Cavanaugh-Vilandrie family has relocated to the village of Peacham in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont! Avery ‘05 (12, 6th grade) and Nevin ‘07 (10, 4th grade) are wrapping

up their first year at the Riverside School in Lyndonville. Both had successful ski seasons, with Nevin making a trip to the NH State Championships and Avery scoring podiums in slalom at NH Champs, Eastern Champs and Canadian- American Champs. Avery is now back to swimming, and Nevin is playing soccer and golf, as well as guitar and piano. We are living the country life and would love for friends to visit!

It has been an amazing year for the Casler family! While they miss Spruce dearly, they love living in Weston, especially now that more Spruce families have moved there! Charlie ‘11 and Katie ‘11 spent this past year at North Ave. Nursery School where they made special friendships. Charlie loved taking karate with his friends and playing Little League Baseball. He recently practiced riding the big school bus, which he will take to kindergarden in the fall. Katie had an amazing time in ballet and especially enjoyed working at the barre. She loved her science and building classes at the rec. center this year. Katie will go to Weston Windows Preschool in the fall.

Send your Alumni updates to sprucestreet@rcn.com

Alumni Family Tree

Welcome Spruce Saplings(2011-2012)

Eloise Hood- 8/12/11

Eleanor Thornby- 8/25/11

Maisy Lipscomb - 9/16/11

Winton Williams - 11/2/11

Emerson Boston - 11/11/11

Jonah & Ryder Carver - 11/25/11

Sebastian Cabarrus - 12/28/11

Breaker Seidenberg - 1/30/12

Eliza Lopez - 1/30/12

Olivia Pratt - 6/10/12

FLY AWAY2012

Spruce Street Nursery School 5 Avery Place Boston, MA 02111 617-482-5252

Blake: “Dolls, fun, and playing with friends.”

Teddy: “Playing with blocks.”

Eleanor: “Playing with the dollies.”

Emma S.: “When we do free-play.”

Hannah: “Legos, and I will miss Spruce Street.”

Lincoln: “Playing with Luke Winter.”

Charlie: “Morning meetings.”

Emma K.: “Painting.”

Eva: “Drawing.”

Grayson: “Playing with my friends.”

Loch: “Going outside.”

Louisa: “Playing ninjas.”

Millie: “Freeplay.”

Pheobe: “Making plants.”

Ruby: “Painting projects.”

Tess: “Having lunch.”

Aleisi: “Georges Seurat project and playing with my friends.”

Annie: “Nancy and Kate (and all of the teachers)!”

Carter Anne: “Coloring.”

Butterfly Goodbyes 2011-2012Teachers asked departing students what they love most about Spruce Street

Chase: “Cooking projects.”

Eli: “Magnets.”

Emma L: “The projects.”

Jack: “The Quadro (but probably Al the most).”

Libby: “Legos- especially the witch and the princess.”

Mia: “Playing games with my friends.”

Nola: “Playing with Legos.”

Olivia: “Projects especially Christmas tree patterns.”

Seth: “It never ends. Love never ends.”