Garden Gazette August 2023

~ Bulletin Board ~

Events, opportunities and resources for our Garden community.

New Parent Luncheon Gazette

To all parents with a student new to the school, please join us

Thursday, September 7
from 1:00-3:00 pm
at Teacher Donna’s home in Issaquah

1430 Sycamore Dr. SE, Issaquah, WA 98027

Enjoy a staff served lunch while getting acquainted with other new families and what to expect at The Children’s Garden. This is an adult only event (babes in arms are welcome). We hope to have one parent or caregiver from each new family attend.

 

Garden Drawing Watercolor

Start of  School

Visit our Start of School page for our Start of School checklist and important information for the beginning of the school year.
Work Party Gazette

Saturday, September 9
9am-12pm

We ask one adult from each household join us at the school and help get our campus ready for the new year. This is an adult only event with tools and heavy equipment. We’ll top the day off with a beer and hot dog lunch.

Sign up and let us know how you can help out.

~Save the Date~

Apple Fest

Welcome to School Apple Fest

Join us, Thursday, September 14,  5:30-7:00 pm at the school 

Bring the kids for this fun event! Enjoy a pot luck dinner, press apples for fresh cider, play with your child as they show you around the playground all while getting to know some of the other families at the school.

Look for a sign up sheet in the gazebo on your first day of school.

Homecoming

Save the date for our Homecoming Celebration
(Adult only event)

Friday, September 29
5:30 – 9:30 pm
Trinity Tree Farm

Veraci Pizza Food Truck
Happy Camper Cocktail will serve beer and wine for purchase
Enter the bakeoff to win a special Garden prize!
Show your school spirit and come dressed in your Garden gear!
 
Garden Gear Spirit Wear Pop Up Shop
August 30 – September 13
Limited time only to get your official Children’s Garden merchandise!
All orders will be delivered to school by September 27!
Look for a link to our pop up shop next week!
 

~ Garden News ~

Garden Staff Summer Recap

We hope all our families are enjoying a wonderful summer! We sure are, included everything from grand adventures to relaxed sunny days.

We are all excited to get back to school and can’t wait to see you all at the new parent luncheon, work party and/or first days of school. 

Read on to see how the Garden Staff are spending their summer.

Donna

I have been having such an amazing summer! We celebrated and hosted my oldest son’s wedding in our backyard – It was such a beautiful day, and we are now counting down to my youngest child’s wedding day – my daughter gets married in Banff in February. We found the dress of her dreams, picked out the venue and are enjoying all the planning that goes into another memorable family event! I’ve spent the rest of the summer cleaning out my garage, tending to my garden and having a few little getaways (Montana, California) to visit family and friends. The staff hosted our Auction Mediterranean dinner at my home, as well as a few Fairy Days.  I loved seeing so many of you at the Kids and Pets Parade on the 4th of July and I have been enjoying this amazing Pacific Northwest Summer! I am looking forward to gathering with my dear friends at our staff retreat at Cari’s family cabin on the Hood Canal the last week of August, and can’t wait to be with you all again! 

Cara

I am having a wonderful summer break.  The exact same day as our Honeybee Graduation, my eldest son, Josh, graduated with his Masters in Computer Science from Western University.  It was wonderful to celebrate Josh with our family and friends and let him know how proud we are of his dedication to his future career.  Then, a week later, our younger son, Luka, graduated with his undergrad in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.  He will be starting his Masters program in Construction Engineering from San Diego State this August.  What a way to start my summer!

I was so lucky to then celebrate Donna’s son wedding in her backyard.  Donna had worked endlessly to make to most magical setting for John and Jackie.

My husband and I have been to many (50 or more) Grateful Dead concerts in our life and knowing that the band was having their final concerts, Chris and I went to see them for 2 shows at the Gorge (with Bonnie and David) and then 3 shows in San Francisco.  We were also spoiled by our good high school friend by taken on a sailing trip around the Golden Gate bridge which was breath taking.

Once I got home from SF, I had a wonderful evening at Donna’s house celebrating the Staff Dinner that was won during our Auction.  We had a great evening with 6 amazing women from our school.  Then I left to head to Idaho for a family reunion with our dear family friends. A few days after that Chris and I headed down to our cabin near Truckee where we spent most of our time relaxing on the lake.

The last days of summer will include a Staff Retreat, which is always a wonderful time with my dear teacher friends.  Chris and I will be celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary to end the summer break.

I hope all of our families have had an adventurous, safe and relaxing summer voyages.  I look forward to spending time with you again in September.

Brook

To kick off our summer our family took a road trip to Salmon ID, to visit my uncle who has a ranch. Our entire family loved the change of scenery- the high mountains, tractor rides, All the critters (horses, cattle, dogs, chickens, cats) not to mention the wildlife and of course the 4-wheeler adventures. Upon our return, we were excited to greet 7 dear friends who came to visit from Switzerland. We had the pleasure of introducing them to rodeos, tumbleweeds, John Prine, Raffi, and Eddy and Coco! (my 2 & 4 year old). In August I’m excited to load up the kids for a train ride down to Silverton OR, to visit one of my favorite preschool teachers, Debby Smick, who worked at The Garden 1983-2016. Other than that I am simply soaking up my time with my kiddos, I still struggle wrapping my head around the fact that Eddy is entering his Honeybee year and Coco is becoming a Ladybug! Time flies! See you all soon!

Cari

What a beautiful summer we’ve had here!  For us, it’s been so nice to have our whole family together because our boys have been home from college.  A ton more food has been needed! 😊  Sadly, they are leaving again soon.  Cate, our daughter, has traveled some for soccer and we were able to make the tournament in San Diego which was really fun.  I took a girl trip to Arizona and went to my HS reunion in Moses Lake.  So fun!  Otherwise, have just been catching up with family and friends around here.  I’m looking forward to this next school year and seeing everyone again and meeting all of the new little ladybugs!  Enjoy the rest of your summer!!

Emily

This summer has been so fun and seems to be going by way too fast! I’ve been able to see a few of the graduated honeybees and loved spending every minute with them. My brother visited from Kentucky and we went to his favorite spots: Pinball Museum. Uwajimaya, and Levitate. I’ve gotten to start my very first and very epic garden. It has been so joyful to spend time tending to it each day and so rewarding to eat all of the fresh veggies. I’ve been very busy working on painting commissions, planning a baby shower, and creating very special gifts for a niece that will be arriving in September. I cannot wait to be an auntie! I’ll definitely be fitting in some last minute camping as well. As much fun as summer is, it has without a doubt highlighted how much I love spending time at the Garden with students and how amazing it is to be surrounded by such compassionate, intelligent, and hilarious teachers. Excited for the new Honeybees! 

Brin

It was a busy work summer. I had the honor of photographing two weddings, including the beautiful wedding of Teacher Donna’s son John and his lovely wife Jacquie. Donna held this wedding at her home so you know it was truly magical!

I had a very fun time in Michigan visiting my daughter Sage. My husband and I spent many a day driving around in my cute classic car and taking it to a few car shows. We also took some lovely weekend getaways. Lastly, I’ve been getting to know my house guest bearded dragon. I’ve become quite attached. Who knew a dragon could be so cute!

~ From the Office~

A Note About Fees and Tuition

Materials Fee and September Tuition will be billed at the beginning of September through Brightwheel.

Payments can be made electronically through Brighthweel or electronic check from you bank. You can also pay in person at the school via check.

Starting in October your Brightwheel account will send you a payment request on or just prior to the 1st of each month through May 2023. (Your June 2023 payment was prepaid with your enrollment fee.)

Payments are due by the 15th of each month. 

~ Upcoming Events~

Please mark your calendar with these important dates.

School Starts the week of September 11

Honeybee First Day of School
Monday, September 11
12:15-3:15 pm

Ladybug Meet Your Teacher
Tuesday, September 12
Students and their parent/caregiver will meet in two separate groups for an hour and get to know the school and their teachers. 1st Group, 8:15-9:15 am / 2nd Group 9:30-10:30 am
Look for an email with a link to sign up for your time slot next week.

Cricket First Day of School
Wednesday, September 13
8:15-11:15 am

Ladybug First Day of School
Thursday, September 14
8:15-10:45 am


Daily Class Schedule

Ladybugs
Tuesday and Thursday  8:15 – 10:45 am

Crickets
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:15 – 11:15 am

Honeybees
Monday-Thursday 12:15 – 3:15 pm

September
September 7: New Parent Luncheon – 1:00-3:00 pm at Donna’s House (adults only event)
September 9: Work Party – 1st Group 9:00 – 11:30 am / 2nd Group 11:30 am – 2:00 pm (adults only event)
September 11: Honeybee First Day of School – 12:15-3:15 pm
September 12: Ladybug Meet Your Teacher 1st Group, 8:15-9:15 am / 2nd Group 9:30-10:30 am
September 13: Cricket First Day of School – 8:15-11:15 am
September 14: Ladybug First Day of School – 8:15-10:45 am
September 14: Welcome to School Apple Fest 5:30-7:00 pm at the school (family event)
September 29: Homecoming 6:00 pm at Trinity Tree Farm (adults only event)

October
October 3: Ladybug School Pictures during class time.
October 3: Honeybee School Pictures during class time.
October 4: Cricket School Pictures during class time.
October Class Pumpkin Patches will be organized by room parents.
October 30: Cricket Halloween celebration during class.
October 31: Honeybee Halloween celebration during class

November
November 16: Honeybee Harvest Feast during class time
November 17: Cricket Harvest Feast during class time
November 22-24 Thanksgiving Break (no school for students and staff)