December 8, 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 World of Words and Melodies
Lost Words
In 2007 the Oxford University Press (OUP) decided to remove over 100 nature-related words from their newly-edited pages of the Oxford Junior Dictionary, a widely used dictionary in schools around the world. Some keen-eyed reader noticed and before long there was an outcry from authors, teachers, naturalists, and parents across the world. Such words as “acorn,” “wren,” “dandelion,” “apricot,” “fern,” “lavender,” “porcupine,” “feather,” “ladybug,” “bluebell,” “blackberry,” “otter,” “panther,” “starling,” “invertebrate,” “willow,” (and many more) were gone. The editors cited that these words no longer have any relevance for children in today’s modern world. They were replaced with words like “broadband,” “cut-and-paste,” “blog,” “chatroom,” “celebrity,” “attachment,” “voicemail,” and “MP3 player.” The public response was overwhelming with a slew of letters sent, begging and demanding the editors to reconsider this drastic measure. The OUP defended the changes, stating they were made to reflect how children use language in this modern, digital age. It also countered by saying some of the words, like “gerbil,” “acorn,” and “dandelion” could still be found in other dictionaries.
The concept of words being “lost” struck me profoundly, especially words that reflect the natural world. Words get lost because they are no longer being used, right? Because nature is such a significant element in the identity of Overfield, this bold action seemed unthinkable, absurd to me. We have not lost these words at all! At Overfield we are surrounded by nature, and everyday the children experience acorns and feathers and dandelions. We are blessed beyond measure with a full-time naturalist and a faculty whose lives are devoted to bringing awareness of life and wonder both within and beyond our doors. When the children are here, they are immersed in the outdoors. They experience the changing of the seasons and all kinds of weather, recognizing there is a time and importance for each. They see how the animals are impacted by these changes, watch them prepare for winter, and worry for their welfare. The children witness the miracle of watching seeds germinate, take root, and grow into tasty food. They are involved in planting and tending the vegetables that grow in the garden. In the process, they are experiencing what it means to care for these things, what it means to be a steward. They see the worms and the ladybugs and know their worth in the grand scheme of life. They know the birds and many recognize the song of the chickadee, the cardinal, and robin. Sadly, that is not the reality of many children.
It is common knowledge that children need a genuine connection with nature more than ever before, and research repeatedly confirms its importance in child development. So, why remove these words because someone deemed them irrelevant? Then, it struck me how many children are separated from the outdoors. They are mesmerized by the digital world and what it can offer. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, cites a survey asking children where their favorite place is. One young boy said it was inside because that’s where the electrical sockets are to plug in a device. We have a responsibility to guide children in the proper use of technology as a tool for creativity and for seeking knowledge, not as an obsession. And certainly not to the exclusion of their relationship with nature.
What can we do to counter the loss of these words and their value in our world? We will do what we have always done at Overfield. We will advocate for children and nature and all things good. And, that seems to be happening across the world as more folks recognize the benefits of nature-based programs for children. In 2017 in response to hearing the news of these words being removed, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris collaborated to make a stunningly beautiful book, The Lost Words: A Spell Book, that would reclaim twenty of these lost words. Through verses and exquisite paintings, they revealed the infinite beauty of each plant, bird, and creature excluded from the dictionary. Since then, they have made the verses into songs and have inspired an explorer’s guide to the book for teachers. Similarly, in 2020 Brooke Smith wrote a children’s picture book, The Keeper of Wild Words, to counter the action. She writes, “I decided to write a book where some of these lost wild words would be celebrated beyond the pages of the dictionary. To make sure they always stayed an integral part of our language and our children’s stories.”
Here at The Overfield School, we will never ”lose” these words or any words that reflect the great outdoors. Rather, we will help children know and experience nature. We will speak, draw, write, sing, and dance about them. As long as we exist, we will nurture children’s love of and responsibility for being stewards of the earth and all that live within it. They will know “buttercup,” “starling,” “invertebrate,” “heron,” “lavender,” and “otter.” In partnership with you, parents, we can instill in our children the invaluable responsibility we all have in protecting the natural world and help them realize the multitude of blessings we reap from this connection. You are their strongest, most devoted advocates. Let us demonstrate our love and regard for all the plants, animals, and little creatures that share life on the earth with us. Or, as Robert Marfarlane says, “What we don’t love, we will not save.”
“May we raise children who love the unloved things-
The dandelion, worms, and spiderlings.
Children who sense the rose needs the thorn,
And run into rainswept days
The same way they turn toward the sun…
And when they’re grown
And someone has to speak for those
Who have no voice
May they draw upon that wilder bond,
Those days of tending tender things
And be the one.”
~Nicolette Sowder
Carla Briggs – Librarian and Music Leader
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 off to 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
