Author: Membership Coordinator

Dear Oak,

“I hate everyone!” The small angry mouse roared in their very biggest voice which didn’t come out very much louder than a squeak really.

The squirrel heard and chattered and chittered angrily, “I hate everyone!” The racoon heard and hissed angrily, “I hate everyone!” The bobcat heard and snarled, “I hate everyone!” The bear heard and roared in a fearsome roar, “I hate everyone!” Rainbow school shook.

While the angry ouchy booms caught and spread like a fire gusted by the wind, you skipped merrily carrying your baby and keeping them safe. I heard you singing, “…I love you. I love you in the morning. I love you in the noon. I love you in the evening and underneath the moon …”

I noticed the bear went quiet listening. The bobcat listened. The raccoon listened. The squirrel listened. The mouse listened. Soon they were scampering and running and climbing. They’d caught the love for love is stronger and fiercer and more powerful than even the biggest bear’s fearsome roar.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

One of you helped me fold up the box. They wanted to put scissors in the box and deliver the package to their house. The scissors were red. Red is their favorite color. Scissors stay at the scissor table. No problem. They found cars to put in the box for special delivery.

Three of you unfolded the box. All three took the box to the Music Garden. They painted it. They painted the cars. They drove the cars through the paint making tire tracks through the paint.

Another person waited on a bike for someone to drive them. Emergency! Emergency! Two people came over to help. One drove. One gave pushing help. Uh oh! The bikers reached the three painter drivers. The bikers wanted to go. The painter drivers were in the way.

No problem. The painter drivers directed the bikers to drive through the paint after they moved the cars and their toes out of the way.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

I want to spin. You want to swing. Spin. Swing. Spin. Swing. Louder and louder. We could spin and swing at the same time. No? No. First, let’s spin. Then we will swing. Okay? Okay.

You can get on here. We have to stop the swing, so they can get on. There’s room for you.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

You were putting on your jacket. You asked for help from each person in Oak before you asked me. I helped, and someone helped me help you. We take care of each other at Rainbow School.

Two people had different ideas. The yes and the no got louder. Someone got boomed. I got sand in my mouth and eyes. It’s hard to wait your turn. Corinna helped and someone helped Corinna help. We take care of each other at Rainbow School.

Someone asked me if I was okay. Thank you. I wasn’t. I don’t like sand in my face. I had a hard time getting it out of my eyes. Someone made me soup with rice to help. It was delicious. Sometimes things go wrong, but we can check in on people and make things right. We take care of each other at Rainbow School.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

I saw you sweeping leaves and dirt into a dustbin. You were taking care of Rainbow School. I grabbed a broom and started to help. When I had a little pile of leaves, you held the dustbin, and I pushed the leaves into it. Another person came along. They wanted to help take care of Rainbow School too.

They asked me for my broom, and I gave it to them. They wanted to push the leaves into your dustbin. You announced that you wanted to sweep by yourself. I got another broom and dustbin, and they swept leaves into their own dustbin. I brought over the green bin for leaves and food scraps and used paper like tissue or paper towels.

You both dumped your bins in. We were taking care of our planet by using the green bin. We were taking care of each other by helping each other sweep. We were taking care of ourselves by letting each other know how we wanted to help and be helped. We were taking care of Rainbow School.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

Our three Rainbow School rules:

Number 1: We take care of ourselves.

Today, I saw someone come to the snack table when they were hungry, sit down, and eat squishy red pink snacks. I wonder what things you did today to take care of yourself.

Number 2: We take care of each other.

Today, I heard someone asking about how to help someone be safe when they want to get somewhere they can’t get themselves. I wonder what things you did today to take care of others.

Number 3: We take care of Rainbow School.

Today, I saw someone go over to our sink and turn the water off. I wonder what things you did today to take care of Rainbow School.

We’ll have a special Taking Care edition of Oak Rainbow Rocket News on Friday where you can share the ways you take care.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

Hmmm… I’m feeling hungry. It feels like there’s a tiny dinosaur with a big roar stomping around the empty cave of my belly. I think that I’ll catch me some shrimp and make a shrimp quesadilla with cheese and spicy salsa. That will be just the ticket!

First, I have to catch the shrimp. Before that, I need to sail my ship to where the shrimp live. Aha! There’s some shrimp. Wait a minute! These shrimp are a lot harder to catch than I thought they’d be. They run so fast.

Phew! I finally caught about a half dozen. Let me get them on top of my tortilla. Now, I’ll put on the cheese and spicy salsa. Last, I’ll put on the top tortilla. Gadzooks and crocodiles! My shrimp are running away. Maybe, I better just have an almond butter and honey sandwich instead.

Uh oh, now where did that almond butter get to?

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

You found the Rainbow School Horse right away and showed them to your dad. After your dad left, another person joined you, and you told stories. Rhino and Horse listened. Rhino’s person wanted to be Horse’s person. That was hard, but you decided to take turns.

Rhino’s person left, and another person joined with their baby. The horse played with the baby. Baby road in a backpack on their grownup’s back, while Horse galloped alongside. You went up Rainbow Mountain, through the Sleeping Barn, through the Pine Forest and into the kitchen. I wonder if Baby and Horse were hungry. They played all morning.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

(Read in robot voice.)

Dear Robots,

I feel so glad. All robots survived the wave. I feel so glad. Scary non-robots did not saw robots into two pieces. I feel so glad. Scary non-robots did not hammer robots and break robots. I feel so glad. Robots stayed safe inside robot bodies.

I feel so sad. Robots shared robot treats robot to robot. I did not get any treats. What is this water coming from my robot vision field?

Love,
Teacher Robot

Dear Mulberry,

Welcome E! E has joined us on Fridays, so we’ve gotten to play. Today was special. E joined Mulberry and stayed and played the whole day! Yay! E heard our new song, “You gotta ask me first.” E shared news.

E pulled anyone who wanted to ride in the wagon. E cut some paper. E made some swirly marks with a few of us who were cutting and gluing and marking. E built towers with almost everyone. E hung out in the sandbox. E observed.

E helped sing the Goodbye Song. E hugged Mama hello. E waved goodbye.

Love,
Teacher Michelle