September 8, 2020

Hello Overfield Families,

On behalf of the leadership team, faculty, and board, I want to extend a hearty welcome to our new friends, and a rousing welcome back to our returning friends! We are thrilled to be embarking on new and varied adventures together this year, and can’t wait to see all of the learning, joy, surprises, and friendships that will certainly bloom in this 60th year of educating young children at Overfield.

This weekly newsletter will arrive in your email inbox each Monday, unless there is a holiday (it’s always good to start off with the exception to the rule!) or another scheduled school break. These are intended to keep you apprised of any events, details, or reminders that are relevant to our whole school community. We also hope they will serve to give you a glimpse into the adventures of other pods and classes, and provide a grounding in our school philosophy.

Please don’t hesitate to reply to these email newsletters if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas to share. We are looking forward to a fantastic year!

Best wishes, Beth Poronsky – Overfield Program Lead

Nature News

We completed the first week of the new school year, and after a much-needed three-day weekend we are heading full speed ahead into our second week. The gardens, and plethora of critters that make their home on the Hill, managed to survive the quiet summer, with just a little assistance and encouragement from their two-legged friends.

Thanks to Erin Barsotti for her time, hard work, her crew of inspired young gardeners (Luciana, Zinnia, and Vera), and numerous other Overfield students and their families. Due to their work, the Overfield Vegetable Garden is a multifaceted vision of colors, shapes, tastes, and smells this year. I would also like to thank: the bees, butterflies, and too many to name pollinators that spent time in our garden. This year’s 2020 Garden Mascot is, “The Leopard Frog,” who was regularly spotted patrolling in and around the raised beds for unwary pests; he is known for having the fastest tongue in the garden.

We all have heard the saying “busy as a bee,” but Our Overfield honey bees were super amazing this year. We lost two hives this past winter, however a small swarm arrived in early spring and set up home in the west hive. By summer the young colony had grown to fill the hive, and more space was added for honey. Thanks to our hives located next to the pollinator garden, the vegetable garden, the Hobart Preserve, and our industrious worker bees, we were able to extract 15 gallons of Overfield Honey. We will be offering this year’s Raw Overfield Sweet Honey in 8oz. and half pint jars.

A north side class has taken an interest in insects. Some of our less popular pollinators, known as yellow jackets, took up residence beneath the monkey bars, in a hidden underground shelter. It was brought to the attention of Augusta’s students when there was an altercation with the yellow jackets over who would rule the monkey bars. Despite their sneaky attack, the yellow jackets lost, and the students ruled. The event has spurred an awareness in all things entomological among many of the north side children. I am excited, and can’t wait to see where their curiosity leads them.

There is a lot happening in the world right now, and I am sure Mother Nature is well aware of it. The Pandemic is worldwide; we all must be vigilant, maintaining face masks, social distancing, and hope.

Enjoy the nature around you. Deb – Overfield Naturalist

Facial Coverings

As a reminder, we are required to abide by the Ohio Department of Health Director’s Order regarding the use of face masks by both adults and children Kindergarten age and older. We require that all parents and caregivers wear a mask at both arrival and dismissal, unless they can consistently maintain a distance of six feet from all others.

We ask that parents send their child in a face mask rather than in a gaiter. We are finding that gaiters do not fit properly to the children’s faces, and thus are continuously falling down and having to be readjusted. They are also very distracting to children (they make a great full hood for dramatic play; fun, but not the purpose of wearing a face covering!)

Thank you for your attention to these important safety and compliance measures.