June 2014

This  month,  we  say  goodbye  to  Amy  Stoeber,  who  has  

been  our  Board  president  for  9ive  years.  

Amy  came  to  Marylhurst  when  she  and  (then)  two-­‐year  

old  Sophia  joined  my  Two’s  class.  Sheila  and  I  were  the  

Two’s  teachers  back    then,  having  ourselves  a  daily  

laugh  riot  together,  hanging  out,  carousing  and  pretty  

much  just  living  it  up  down  there  in  the  classroom.    

When  I  read  the  enrollment  papers  from  Amy,  I  called  

Sheila  and  said,  “(A  Very  Bad  Word)”.  

“Why?”  Asked  Sheila,  “what’s  wrong?”  

“There’s  this  mom  coming  into  our  class,  and  get  this  –  

she’s  a  Child  Psychologist!”  

“And…that’s  bad?”  Sheila  ventured.  Sometimes  it  takes  

The

Marylhurst School

June 2014 Honoring the journey of each child

Calendar!!June 11th ~ Last Day for Before or After Care.!!June 12th ~ Last Day of School. No Before or After Care.!!July 7-10 ~ Week 1 Summer Camps!!July 14-17 ~ Week 2 Summer Camps!!July 21-24 ~ Week 3 Summer Camps!!July 28-31 ~ Week 4 Summer Camps!

Thank You Amy Stoeber by Ann Brown

June 2014Sheila  a  while  to  see  Impending  Doom.  Whereas  I  see  nothing  else.  We  were  the  perfect  

teaching  pair.  

“(Very  Bad  Word)  –  A,  it’s  bad,”  I  said.  “I  can’t  teach  anything  to  a  Child  Psychologist!  

She’s  gonna  be  a  total  know-­‐it-­‐all,  and  she’s  gonna  refute  all  the  stuff  I  say,  and  (Very  Bad  

Word),  it’s  just  going  to  be  terrible.  I’m  quitting.  I  don’t  need  this  kind  of  stress.”  

I  was  already  a  bit  tightly  wound,  having  recently  learned  that  Sally  Skelding,  a  

former  Marylhurst  director,  was  also  coming  to  the  class  with  her  granddaughter.    A  former  

Marylhurst  director  AND  a  Child  Psychologist  in  my  parenting  class?  A  class  where  most  of  

my  research  data  comes  from  watching  “Nineteen  Kids  And  Counting”  and  “Ma9ia  Wives”,  

and  catching  any  current  events  I  can  catch  on  NPR  on  the  drive  to  school,  to  use  as  a  topic?  

With  my  degree  in  ETHNOMUSICOLOGY,  for  God’s  sake?  I’m  supposed  to  teach  those  two  

something  they  don’t  already  know?  

I  had  been,  as  they  say  in  the  Ma9ia,  made.  

September  arrived,  and  having  not  quit  my  job  (I  had  a  kid  in  college),  I  waited  to  

meet  this  Dr.  Amy  Stoeber.  I  imagined  a  stern,  bespectacled,  hair-­‐in-­‐a-­‐bun  chick  with  a  

permanently  disapproving  look.  

She  walked  in  the  classroom.    She  was  young.  Her  hair  was  long,  blonde  and  perfect.  

She  was  wearing  lipstick.    At  nine-­thirty  in  the  morning.    I  wasn’t  sure  I  had  even  brushed  

my  teeth  that  morning.  

And  her  shoes.  

Oh.  My.  Gawd.  Her  shoes.  

Black,  with  gold  embroidery.  Super  pointy  toes.  Slip-­‐on  mules.  Heels  that  were  at  

least  two  inches  high.  Shoes  that  Sheila  and  I  immediately  coined  as,  “kitten-­‐with-­‐a-­‐whip”  

boudoir  shoes.    

I  hated  her  on  the  spot.  

“She’s  an  actual  psychologist,”  I  told  the  class,  when  we  assembled  for  our  9irst  

parenting  discussion  that  morning,  “so  you  are  probably  going  to  want  to  ask  her  your  

questions.”  

Amy  rolled  her  eyes  and  snorted.  “Please,”  she  said,  “I’m  here  as  a  Mom.  I  have  no  

idea  what  I’m  doing.  I’m  a  wreck.”  Just  at  that  moment,  Sophia  grabbed  a  toy  from  another  

child  and  made  the  child  cry.    

June 2014“Great.”  Amy  said.  “And  now  you  all  think  I  taught  my  daughter  to  steal  toys.”  She  

sighed  a  long,  deep  sigh.  The  sigh  of  a  mother  of  a  two  year  old.    “I’m  so  tired,”  she  said  to  

her  pregnant  belly.    “And  I  really  miss  beer.”  

I  noticed  she  had  a  booger  on  her  blouse.  

I  fell  in  love  with  her  on  the  spot.  

And  I  have  only  grown  to  love  her  more  as  the  years  have  gone  by.  

Amy  came  to  the  Board  leadership  at  a  time  of  great  change  in  our  school.  We  were  a  

school  in  turmoil,  in  the  throes  of  self-­‐determination,      with  a  huge  job  ahead  of  us  to  

rebuild  our  name  and  identity.  The  Board  president  was  going  to  be  in  the  center  of  the  

maelstrom,  and  would  have  to  move  us  into  a  healthy  future.  It  was  a  herculean  job.  

  “Be  the  Board  president,”  I  encouraged  Amy,  “it’s  a  no-­‐brainer  job.  You  go  to  a  few  

meetings,  show  up  at  the  auction,  shake  a  few  hands,  and  that’s  that.”  

  I  pretended  to  be  very  busy  with  the  buckle  on  my  sandal  so  I  wouldn’t  have  to  look  

her  in  the  eyes  while  I  fed  her  a  big  fat  lie.  A  ways  to  a  means,  I  told  myself  in  justi9ication.  So  

I’m  under-­describing  the  job  a  wee  bit;  she  will  be  great  for  our  school.  

  Dr.  Amy  was  no  fool.  She  knew  the  job  was  going  to  be  a  much  bigger  responsibility  

than  it  had  been  in  the  past.  And  still,  despite  raising  two  young  kids,  running  a  private  

practice  and  leading  a  very  full  life,  she  said  yes  to  us.  

  We  wouldn’t  be  here  -­‐  a  vibrant  preschool  and  a  growing  grade  school,  a  happy,  

healthy  community  –  without  the  limitless  work  of  a  (mostly)  merry  band  of  faculty,  staff,  

and  parents  –  who  led  us  through  the  disequilibrium  and  growing  pains.  Amy  Stoeber  has  

been  a  stalwart  leader  of  the  band.    

She  brings  wisdom,  patience,  curiosity,  creativity,  enthusiasm,      and  high-­‐octane  

energy  to  her  position  as  Board  president.    She  gives  her  all  to  the  school.  She  even  provides  

the  faculty  with  continuing  education  workshops,  sharing  her  knowledge,  talent  and  skills  

as  a  Child  Psychologist.  

Amy  is  my  friend,  my  colleague,  my  co-­‐host  on  The  Motherload  parenting  show,  and  

an  inspiration  to  me.  Even  though  she  is,  like,  a  gajillion  years  younger  than  I  am,  I  hope  to  

be  a  lot  like  her  when  I  grow  up.  

Except  for  the  shoes.  I  will  never  be  able  to  walk  in  those  kitten-­‐with-­‐a-­‐whip  heels.  

And  anyway,  trying  to  9ill  Amy’s  shoes  is  impossible.  

June 2014

SAVE THE DATE! !The Marylhurst School 27th Annual Auction &

Dinner March 7, 2015

The Oregon Golf Club !If you are interested in being on the 2015 Auction Team please contact Erica Fry at esgfry@gmail.com

Library Books !Please return any found TMS Library books ASAP. We would appreciate your help to gather up books you borrowed so we can get them back on the shelves in the library and ready for next year. 

Medication Pick-Up If you have registered medications to Linda for your child for the year please pick them up before the end of the school day on June 12th.

Lost And Found

Our lost and found is over flowing with

various items that have been found on the

playground and in the hallways.  Please

come by and shop for any items that you

and your child might be missing. All items

left behind will be donated to a worthy

cause on June 16th.

Summer Camps! We still have openings in our summer camps.

Registration forms are available online and in the office.

June 2014

News From The Admissions Desk !2014-15 enrollment is looking wonderful for The Marylhust School.  We are honored that so many of our currently enrolled families are returning in the fall!  

Preschool placement letters, including class names and assigned faculty members, will be mailed at the end of June.  Our teachers take great care and consideration when forming classroom communities.  School will begin the week of September 1.  Towards the end of August each teaching team will send out a start-up schedule with specific information related to their class.   

We still have space in our threes and parent/child twos programs.  As many of you know through your own experience, this community is one of our most powerful marketing tools. So please, spread the news! 

The Buzz From The Bee Hive !It’s  hard  to  believe  that  the  year  is  coming  to  a  close.  As  we  discussed  what  worked  and  what  we  can  improve  this  year  in  the  Bee  Hive,  we  reflected  on  what  a  great  space  we  have  been  given  to  run  the  a?er-­‐school  program  in.  It  gives  us  the  flexibility  to  uBlize  the  gym  when  energy  runs  high,  provide  an  array  of  acBviBes  such  as  art,  wriBng,  building  and  construcBng  and  dramaBc  play.  We  are  also  close  enough  to  the  playground  and  meadow  that  we  have  been  able  to  take  nature  walks  and  stay  outside  when  the  weather  permits  to  play  with  the  primary  children  as  they  are  excused  from  school.  The  main  building  has  seen  a  lot  of  us  too.  We’ve  used  the  kitchen  for  cooking  our  snacks,  finding  books  in  the  library  when  we  researched  bugs  and  needed  some  quiet  Bme  at  the  end  of  a  long  and  busy  day.  Many  great  friendships  have  been  forged  as  children  from  the  3’s  and  4’s  programs  intermix  with  the  primary  children.    

Nothing  makes  my  heart  happier  than  when  I  hear  children  asking  for  new  friends  they  have  made  in  our  wonderful  a?er-­‐school  program.    If  you  sBll  haven’t  tried  out  our  a?er-­‐school  program  there  will  always  be  next  year.  I  hear  children  negoBaBng  with  Linda  in  the  office  that  they  are  sure  their  parents  have  signed  them  up  and  phone  calls  being  made  to  advocate  for  them  selves.  We’ve  had  parents  give  the  Bee  Hive  as  a  birthday  gi?  to  make  it  a  special  event  for  their  child.  To  be  the  luckiest  teacher’s  in  the  building  is  a  Btle  we  make  sure  to  share  with  all.  Thank  you  for  sharing  all  your  children  with  us  this  year.  Have  a  fun  summer  with  your  families.  We’ll  see  you  again  next  year!  

                Warmly,  

                Teachers  Kim,  Karlie  and  Hanna

June 2014

Summer BBQ Idea From Our Very Own Rachel Fredricks!!!Grilled Burgers with Bacon Tomato Jam!

Chef Rachel Fredricks!!! Summer’s here and it’s time to fire up the grill! Want to serve the perfect burger at your next BBQ? Here is how to make my favorite burger, like most recipes this one is more about technique than exact measurements and ingredients.!!1. Choose meat with some fat, leaner beef will end up producing dryer burgers as the fat cooks out. 80/20 works well - I like 3/4 ground beef and 1/4 sausage blended!2. Don't over handle the meat, gentle mixing is all that is needed!3. Flatten the patties to 1/2" thickness with a small dimple in the middle, the burger will shrink while it cooks and you want it to fit the bun!4. If you add internal ingredients like garlic or onions, make sure that the pieces are small, minced or grated, to help keep the patty from falling apart. ( I like to add a panade, bread soaked in milk)!5. Use a preheated, very hot 450-500*F. Don't overcook and let the meat rest for 4-5 minutes after cooking. A 1/2" patty will cook in just 2-3 minutes per side.!6. Don't squash patty with spatula while it is cooking.!7. If you are using cheese, grate the cheese and add at the very end. !!My Favorite Burger Recipe! 1 lb. ground beef, 80/20!1/4 lb. sausage! 2 pieces sourdough bread, (crust removed) torn into pieces!2-3 Tablespoons milk! 1 clove garlic minced! 1 teaspoon paprika! Freshly ground black pepper! Kosher salt!!Preheat grill to high heat. Clean and oil grill racks. Soak bread pieces in milk for 20-30 minutes, squeeze excess milk out of bread and add this panade to the beef and sausage. Add garlic and spices. Mix gently, just enough to distribute the panade and spices. Form 4 tennis ball size balls and flatten out into 1/2" thick patties. Slightly depress center of each patty, creating a dimple. This helps keep the burger from shrinking on the grill. Place patties on the preheated grill and cook over high heat without disturbing the burger for 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook to desired doneness. !!Tomato Bacon Jam !!! ! 1/2 lb bacon diced into small pieces!! ! 3 C ripe tomatoes-diced (4-5 tomatoes, or use cherry)!! ! 1/2 cup onion- diced!! ! 2 T tomato paste!! ! 1/2 cup brown sugar!! ! 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar!! ! 2 t paprika!! ! salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste!! ! !Cook bacon in a skillet until it is crispy and brown. Using a slotted spoon remove the bacon, drain it on paper towels and set it aside. Reserve about 1 ½ Tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan. In the same pan, heat bacon fat on low-medium heat, add the onion, tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil stirring often. Add the bacon back to the pan with the tomato mixture.!Simmer, stirring often, until it starts to thicken and the onions get soft and caramelized. Cook for about 30- 40 minutes or until most of the water evaporates and you are left with a thick jammy texture. Put in mason jars or a bowl and refrigerate.!

June 2014

As another school year comes to a close and we busily scramble to put together class memory books, we can't help but reflect on our year together. Photographs lay spread across the classroom carpet, sorted into categories such as; the studio, sensory play, field trips, and construction. We desperately try to encapsulate the year into 28 tidy pages. Yet some of the best classroom moments are never documented, too fragile to stop and get the camera or a notepad. These are the memories we treasure.

Each September a group of parents, children and teachers enters the classroom with their own personal story, identity, and unique qualities. We begin a journey of discovery, getting to know each other as we laugh, cry, solve problems, take risks, conquer challenges, and develop our Mice Class Agreements to guide how we are together.

Together, over time, we build friendships, share our gifts and talents, and begin to trust. Children begin to use the word, "Let's.” This social invitation makes magic happen. What follows is the goal of the play based curriculum, a group of sociable, motivated minds working together. Invitations starting with "Let's" this year led to ship building using every block in our block area. “Let’s” resulted in the

dictation of plays acted out by groups of children complete with handmade props, costumes, and musical accompaniment. “Let’s” inspired the building of an elevated walkway that began in blocks and led out the classroom door. Children got up on the walkway and patiently waited while each child in front of them gingerly made their way across. If a block toppled or a child fell, others would

Mice

June 2014step off and help out. “Let’s” allowed for too many cooperative easel paintings to count as painters squeezed over to make room for a friend to join in.

Flexible, loose parts are crucial to the preschool curriculum. Unit blocks, a creation station stocked with found materials, tape of all kinds. Cardboard became an indispensable material children used reveal their creativity and ideas throughout the year. As the cardboard came in the classroom, the play began. Children created a house, a restaurant, a fort, even a movie theater. In the theater, classroom chairs were placed for the movie goers, paintings from the easel became the movies, and the painters narrated the movie for the audience. Cardboard also provided multiple levels of play in the

sensory table, became an opportunity for a giant marble paintings, and even provided an addition for our house area. The children devised everything from spy glasses and light sabers, to space ships and mini landscapes. They worked with cardboard scraps to build a mouse trap for mice in the fall and a mouse house to welcome our mascots Walnut and Acorn's Mice family from the meadow this spring.

Floating crackers in water at snack became a provocation for other sink or float experiments. "What might happen if we put some other items in water?” Will they float or sink? What happens when we add an eraser, paper clip, apple slice, grape, and a cork in water? What if we add oil? What if we add molasses? What happens over time? Sink and float experiments and a fascination with ship building led to an investigation of the two. Children tried building ships using a variety of different materials to see what design and material worked best.

Nothing ever goes according to the teachers' plan in a preschool classroom. If we are doing it right it goes according to the children's. It can sprout from a

June 2014bug, a leaf, an owl pellet, or a story brought from home. This spring we had two new baby brothers to welcome into our Mice class family. Their births inspired a whole baby exploration, complete with baby visits, baby observations, baby measurements, and a baby wall with all of our baby pictures and baby stories.

"Mice are Nice!” is a refrain often heard in our room as children explore the power of their words or actions to help someone throughout the day. This idea evolved as we explored superheroes in our stories and plays. After our Class Agreements were made, we began a kindness chain using multicolored plastic links, each link symbolizing kind words and deeds. Our goal was to create a kindness chain that would wrap our classroom with love. As of this week, our kindness chain stretches around three walls of our classroom.

This month we extended our kindness to the children at the Annie Ross House, a homeless

family shelter. A toy drive was inspiration of our classmates, Luke. The children contributed a toy, puzzle or game to help stock a new play room at their center.

This week, with a mixed feeling of excitement and a reluctance to let go of the small caterpillars we became attached to, we made wishes for the newly emerged butterflies and slowly lifted the door. As they took flight the children chased them through the meadow as long as they could until each one was beyond their grasp. The butterflies are a perfect metaphor as the children leave the Mice class. We have no doubt as this group of children "flies off" to their summer vacations and new classrooms next fall that kindness will follow.