During Circle, we reviewed Passover. Annabelle liked the matza, although she found it salty. She reported that she drank both grape juice and wine. Yannai told us he drank some wine. Anslee had sparkling juice. Becker didn't like the matza too much, but he did enjoy the grape juice--he had two cups!
Caleb's matza had no "burns" on it, and Yinon found the afikomon. (Yinon also came back with a beautiful sea-shell from his Pesach Florida vacation--sweet!) Annika and Ezra also told us about finding the afikomon.
Did the children sing at the Seder? Evan told us he did, "a little bit!"
We expected this kind of news. This is what occurs on Pesach. Then we noticed some unexpected happenings:
All the children looked taller than ever. Some had new haircuts, or new spring clothing, or both. Natalie told us, "Look, I'm wearing open-toed shoes!"
And, was it just us, or did all the children seem more capable, more mature? As in Garrison Keillor's town of Lake Woebegone, all the children seem above-average. Seriously.
Lily drew a face during Morning Arrival Time. She included two letter Y's, in place of eyes, on the face. Maddy cleaned up her table area, all by herself, without being asked. Sammy showed us her Geoboard with the careful arrangement of rubber bands. She proudly announced, "Look it's an X!" Evan engaged in a serious conversation with a Morah during free time.
Morah India and I noticed the elaborate Magna-Tile construction on the rug. "Did you add to this?" I asked her. No, she didn't. The children had built the intricate structure completely by themselves. They included one little plastic "person" in the building. No adult assisted in the building, and no adult offered any suggestions. The structure was totally designed and built by the Kitah Gimmelniks.
At the end of the day, we played Ants in the Pants, a take-off on tiddly-winks. There was a small glitch; there wasn't enough of the little plastic ants to go around. Now what? The children quickly offered to share their "ants" with those who didn't have, and the problem was quickly solved. Such cooperation! (And, need we add, the children came up with the solution by themselves!)
Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Susan, with Morah India and all the Yeledim of Kitah Gimmel
