2026 Back to School Parent Newsletter
Welcome back to Forest School! We have been enjoying getting to know each other and settling into our new school year.
NATURE PLAYSCHOOL: Fall is beginning to show in our outdoor classroom! We have loved watching the transition from Summer to Fall and all the changes we are beginning to see, both in our students and in the nature that surrounds us. We have already started to have colder mornings and begun to see the leaves change on our classroom trees.
Since the start of our School Year, we have been spending our days getting familiar with Forest School and all the “new” that comes along with it. Teachers spend their mornings helping kids find ways to communicate and gain confidence in themselves , as well as get familiar with our 3 Agreements (Play Safe, Play Fair, Have Fun). It is always so fun to watch the kids get to know one another and find new friendships, to watch them gain trust in their teachers and their surroundings, and to see them settle in to their new roles at School. It is about this time of year that the excitement and anticipation of the new school year begins to ease and the kids start practicing the skills that they will be learning in Playschool all year long. Teachers help students learn ways to take care of their lunches, gear and bodies. Some of our current Learning Topics are “patterns” and “rhyming” and the kids are enjoying reading stories, playing in our mud kitchen, bubbles, chalk and exploring our outdoor classroom.
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING: At this point in the year, the weather is beginning to shift and that means that we are beginning to learn about the changing seasons, weather and the uniqueness and joy that different days can bring! As the changing weather brings the need to take care of our bodies, we are putting into play all the we have practiced at the beginning of the school year. This includes how to take care of ourselves and our belongings, listening to our bodies, empowering ourselves through difficult emotions, and building confidence in ourselves and our friendships. We continue to practice our three classroom agreements: Play Safe, Play Fair and Have Fun. We are enjoying the colder mornings and love running around, spending time in the sun, and staying close to teachers and friends to warm up our bodies each day. Our teachers spend their mornings exploring, observing and joining in games with the kids and making sure everyone is safe and fair with their play. We practice teamwork and encourage personal empowerment with the kids in all that we do.
* Remember to check Brightwheel for ALL updates and communication as well as updates and personal pictures of your kiddo in class throughout the school year!
NESTLINGS: Our new Nestlings Program has officially started! It as been so enjoyable getting to know such a great group, and it only seems to be getting bigger and better as we go! It has been so incredible watching both the moms/ dads and their littles being to connect and find true friendships in each other as we gather each week. Our Summer session was full of lots of low energy activities and water play for the babies to stay cool, and the group is looking forward to the Autumn semester and cooler temps so we can incorporate more hikes, walks and fall fun into our Thursday mornings.
*Please check your emails next week for some exciting Nestlings updates!
UPCOMING CLOSURES:
* Indigenous People's Day/ Columbus Day (Monday, Oct 12th)
*Fall Break: November 23rd - November 27th (one week)
*Winter Recess: December 21st - January 1st (two weeks)
COMMUNITY EVENTS: Calling all Playschool and Nestlings families! Join us on Saturday, October 3rd up Big Cottonwood Canyon for our Forest School Fall Celebration Community Night! Enjoy an evening of storytelling and s’mores around the campfire with teachers and families, get to know each other, and explore nature together! We will be meeting from 4:00pm-Sundown.
Location: Fire Pit #5 & #6, Ledgemere Picnic Area, 5103 E Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City
See you there!
START THE YEAR WITH THE RIGHT GEAR: It’s time to start preparing your child’s gear for the upcoming cold season! Check out our attached gear list, handbook for layering information and this link for recommendations: https://outdoorschoolshop.com/collections/cool-mornings-become-warm-afternoons and you can use our school code GRATEFULGATHERING when shopping. We love Reima, Oaki, Rei and more!
BOOK OF THE MONTH:
Kids Book Club: Will You Be My Friend? By Sam McBratney
Parents Book Club: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
*Parents & Kids Book Club is an open invitation to read some of our Parents, Teachers and Creators most highly recommended books at home!
If you have a book you’d like to recommend, please send us a message through Brightwheel!