December 1, 2025
Important Dates…
Tuesday, December 16: Night Tree for Toddlers, 5:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place. Night Tree for Kindergarten, 6:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place.
Wednesday, December 17: Night Tree for South Side, 5:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place. Night Tree for North Side, 6:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place.
Thursday, December 18: Night Tree for 1st-3rd Grade, 5:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place. Night Tree for Overfield Alumni, 7:00 p.m. in the Gathering Place.
Friday, December 19: Last day before Winter Break. School CLOSED December 20-January 5th; school resumes Tuesday, January 6th.
Tuesday, January 6: School resumes after Winter Break.
Insights from the Outdoors
December’s Night Sky
Pack up a blanket, hot chocolate, and your family’s favorite snacks and head outside because December is a great time to explore the night sky with your family. December is an ideal month to get outside at night because it is usually not too cold and the sun sets early. The first astronomical event is the full Cold Moon on December 4, 2025; so called because it is when the coldness of winter begins to settle in. It is the last supermoon of 2025 when the moon looks extra large and bright. You should not need a telescope to view it. Binoculars are also an easy way to look closely at the moon and the binocular eye pieces are typically easier for children to look through than a monocular lens. When looking at the moon’s surface ask your child(ren) if they see any patterns on the moon. Some people see a man on the moon while others see a rabbit or a squirrel holding a nut. Can they see any craters or mountain ranges? What do they think the dark areas on the moon are? NASA is a good source if you want to look up answers to questions.
If you wish to explore more of the night sky, pick a night later in the month away from the bright full moon. Give yourselves 20-30 minutes to adjust to the night sky and ask your child(ren) if the stars make any patterns or if they can connect them together to create a picture? Use a night sky app, like Stellarium Mobile, to explore the night sky further and name different constellations they see. Next look for: Jupiter rising in the eastern sky before sunset; Saturn in the southern sky just after sunset; and Mars in the east-northeast sky, again, just after sunset.
Get those wishes ready, because there are also meteor showers to enjoy throughout the month. Find a dark sky location away from city lights to enjoy the Geminid meteor shower December 13-14. You could see around 100 meters an hour between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m from the constellation Gemini. End the year with the Ursid meteor shower December 21-22. You will need to get up very late or before dawn for this meteor shower and will see around 5-10 meteors per hour. Exploring the night sky together is a fun and adventurous way to explore a side of nature your children do not have access to on a regular basis.
Robin Ramsey – Naturalist
Night Tree Celebration, 12/16-12/18
Each year around Thanksgiving break, we prepare for our annual winter celebration, Night Tree, which is based on the book of the same name by Eve Bunting. The children research our local animals and prepare food for them. They create beautiful art and gather natural materials to transform the Gathering Place into the forest depicted in the story. On the night of the celebration, families enter into this space to sing and celebrate literature, nature, and the simple joy of being together. We can’t wait to celebrate this wonderful tradition with all of you in the Gathering Place this week at the class times detailed above in the Important Dates section!
Annual Fund Update
Dear Families,
We send heartfelt thanks to everyone who has participated in our Annual Fund drive so far!
We are happy to report that 12% of our families, along with faculty and board members have donated $9,280 in cash and pledges to date. What a great start toward our goal of $35,000!
If you have not yet contributed, please consider giving. Your participation matters far more than the dollar amount you give. Please help us reach our goal of 100% family participation.
Thank you!
Erin Johnston – Finance Lead
We hope all former Overfield students and families will join us for Alumni Night Tree on Thursday, December 18th at 7 pm. String treats, make art, sing songs, and hear Eve Bunting’s beautiful wintertime story once again. Bring a blanket and a flashlight, and wear warm clothes. Let us know you’re coming and find out who will be there on Facebook @overfieldalumni.
We are looking forward to giving back to our community this holiday season, and hope you will join us!
Overfield will begin collecting food items and personal care items that will be donated to the First Place Food Pantry here in Troy. Donation barrels will be located in the Gathering Place, and baskets for donations will also be placed in the Toddler, Kindergarten, Primary classrooms. We will begin collecting items starting Monday, November 17th and ending on Wednesday, December 10th. We have attached the list of items that are being requested. Please consider donating as you are able. Thank you for helping involve our children in the act of giving, and for helping those in our community!
Food Items Requested:
Ramen Noodles
Canned Fruit
Canned Soup
Packages of Noodles or Pasta
Cereal
Pasta Sauce and Canned Pasta Meals
Rice Side Packets
Dry Milk Powder
Canned Vegetables, Canned Tomatoes
Canned Tuna
Ketchup or Salsa
Baby Food
Macaroni and Cheese
Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil
Peanut Butter
Instant Potatoes or Stuffing Mix
Velveeta Cheese
Personal Care Items Requested:
Toilet Paper
Toothbrush
Band Aids
Q Tips
Baby Wipes
Dish Soap
Deodorant
Bar of Soap
Shampoo
Disposable Razors
Laundry Detergent
Toothpaste
With your participation, Overfield Family Partnership raised $111.56 for our school at the Buffalo Wild Wings Dine to Donate. Thank you!!
