November 17, 2025
Important Dates…
Thursday, November 20: Overfield Family Partnership Meeting, 6:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place.
Wednesday, November 26-Friday, November 28: School CLOSED for Thanksgiving Break. School resumes Monday, December 1st.
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.
Insights from the Studio
One of the delights of my job is watching children’s work develop and switch directions as they respond to what they’re experiencing in the moment. I get to see the beautiful curlicues of paint that turn into muddy puddles as the child becomes transfixed with mixing them together or hiding them with new colors. I get to hear the child’s narrative as he turns a simple small portrait of his mom into a striking radial pattern, simply, it seems, for the pleasure of carefully filling his paper with parallel lines. I get to hear him look back at it as we share our work with one another and observe, “I think she needs a haircut.”
Making art sometimes includes creating an exciting end product, but the focus is just as likely to be the dialog between the child, the material, and the persuasive pull of transformation. I was reminded of this in October when I helped Kindergarteners create arthropod costumes for the Jake Lockwood residency. One boy, who wanted to be a grasshopper, was inspired by some narrow, hinged cardboard cartons that would bend just like joints. We strapped one on each of his legs with some elastic, he gave a quick hop, and presto! He was a grasshopper with his own magnificent hind legs. This small alteration on the outside triggered something totally magnified on the inside. You could see on his face that he felt utterly transformed.
This ability to see and feel transformation with only slight physical cues is something to which children are uniquely attuned. It makes sense. It taps into where they are developmentally. They are malleable and in a constant state of transformation themselves. Every day is new to them. They are in touch with transformation because of their short lives. Their brains have incredible neuroplasticity that allows them to adapt and make connections rapidly.
And because I’m in a privileged position of getting to see so many artistic moments pulse and sometimes disintegrate visually, I invite you when you have the chance to just sit and watch your child make art. Enjoy the process and don’t worry about the destination. It can be a wonderful way as an adult to continue to tap into the sweet magic of childhood.
Elizabeth Perry – Atelierista
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
Cold Weather Guidelines
The campus at Overfield is rich for play, exploration, and adventure. Children are outside on a daily basis if the temperature is 20 or above. If the temperature is below 20, adjustments will be made for the length of time of outdoor play.
In order to ensure that play is fun and safe for children, we ask that children come suitably dressed for outdoor play with warm outdoor clothing including coats, gloves/mittens, and hats. When there is snow or very cold weather, children should also have snow boots and snow pants. Even if there is not snow on the ground, snow pants and boots help keep children warm and comfortable, and so should still be sent to school. Please label all clothing items!
As we say at Overfield, there is no bad weather, just bad clothing! Thank you for helping us make sure children can enjoy nature in all types of conditions.
Also, with the chances for winter weather becoming more possible as we get deeper into November, 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.
Delays, cancellations and early dismissals will be conveyed via WHIO (Channel 7), social media(Facebook & Instagram), and a One Call Now text/voice message.
In the event of a delay, the modified schedule is as follows:
Overfield will delay for 2 hours if delayed.
Before Care is closed.
Students arrive 2 hours after the original start time of their class.
All classes dismiss at their regular time; After Care is available until 5:30pm, as usual.
MT & ThF Toddler classes will not eat lunch at school.
The initial decision to delay or close will be made no later than 6:30am.
The decision to close school after a delay will be made by 9:00am.
We encourage you to use your own discretion when needed. Your safety is always first priority. Bundle up and stay warm, everyone!
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!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank you all so much for taking the time to meet with us to discuss your wonderful children. We really appreciate this time of connecting home and school! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything further you would like to discuss–our door is always open!
