Important Dates…

Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27: School CLOSED for Thanksgiving Break. School will resume on Monday, November 30.

Tuesday, December 1: Giving Tuesday. Please remember Overfield in your charitable giving!

Tuesday, December 8: Night Tree for Toddlers, 5:30 pm; Night Tree for K/1, 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, December 9: Night Tree for South Side, 5:30 pm. Night Tree for North Side, 6:30 pm.

Thursday, December 10: Night Tree for 2nd/3rd Grade, 5:30 pm. Night Tree for Alumni, 6:30 pm.

Winter Weather Procedures

Although we’ve enjoyed an amazingly beautiful and warm fall so far, we know that winter weather could be looming around the corner! Please be advised that the children will play outside as long as temperatures are 20 degrees or above. In order to enjoy the outdoors they need to come equipped with heavy coats, hats and gloves, as well as snow boots/pants in snowy weather. Also, please make sure that your child’s extra clothes are appropriate for cold weather.

With the chances for winter weather becoming more possible in the forecast, we wanted to remind everyone to please use caution when driving on the hill to or from school. This is pre-treated when winter weather is anticipated, and plowed and salted as soon as possible. Even when treated the hill can be slippery, so please be aware and take the proper precautions when driving in snow or ice.

Overfield families will be notified via One Call Now by 6:30 a.m. if classes are cancelled due to inclement weather. Information may also be found by watching or logging on to the local news, WHIO Channel 7. We do have a delay policy in place again this year. If we delay, it will be a 2 hour delay. In this case, Toddlers and Before Care will be closed. School would open at 10:30am. and morning classes would still dismiss at noon, as usual.

We encourage you to use your own discretion when needed. Your safety is always first priority. Bundle up and stay warm, everyone!

Nature News

Bright warm, sunny days, clear, crisp nights; I vote this year’s Indian Summer as the best ever! Now, comes the crusty cold days from Thanksgiving to the beginning of winter. Fortunately, we will have “Night Tree” planning and preparations at the Overfield, keeping us engaged until the glow of the traditional winter holidays.

Beth Beane’s Kindergarteners have been modifying/repurposing a lamp in their classroom (the lamp had been relegated to the basement after its unique shade had been damaged). We talked to the students, and they decided to save it. Using a nature theme of trees and wildlife, they created materials to cover their lampshade. We are looking forward to seeing the finished product.

I met Melissa Anderson’s North Side group in the vegetable garden last week to discuss the water cycle, one of my favorite topics. I love to share the concept of how long water has been on our planet, how it circulates (evaporation, condensation, precipitation), and that we may be drinking the very same water that the dinosaurs did.

Erin Luring’s 2nd/3rd grade class recently spent time with Julia Hobart learning the history and art of making “Corn Dollies”. Julia shared her collection, and family memories, ensuring the knowledge, and perhaps the tradition, will continue.

Our vegetable garden is apathetically heading for winter, with beds that still need tending. I am hoping we can accomplish these projects before Thanksgiving break.

The deer family have finally polished off the last of our decomposing pile of Jack o’ lanterns. Squirrels have been observed breaking into the last of the pumpkins waiting for adoption outside the vegetable garden.

I hope all our friends are ready to weather the winter. Deb – Overfield Naturalist

If you are looking for ways to wear your love of Overfield on your sleeve, check out this spirit wear shop that carries Overfield gear! You can find t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, hats, and more. Thank you for showing your support of Overfield!

As a reminder, it is very important that children are picked up at the stated dismissal time of their class. A child who is picked up late can get anxious, and teachers need to be able to count on this dismissal time so they can clean their classrooms and take care of other responsibilities within the parameter of their stated hours.

If a child is not picked up within 5 minutes of dismissal, they will be brought to the office in the main building to await pickup. This is especially crucial this year, as drop-in aftercare is not available due to COVID concerns. If no one has has arrived to pick up the child and the parent cannot be reached by phone within 15 minutes, we will call the emergency contact(s) listed on the child’s enrollment forms. We appreciation your cooperation on this matter!

Posted by: overfield on November 17, 2020.