November 3, 2025
Important Dates…
Monday, November 3: OFP Andy’s Garden Fundraiser poinsettia orders due.
Tuesday, November 11: Evening appointments for Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 12: School CLOSED for Parent-Teacher Conferences.
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.
Insights from the Outdoors
Last week the children, teachers, and I gathered to read The Leaf Thief, by Alice Hemming, drank apple cider, talked about what fall means, and searched for signs of Fall. This is one of my favorite moments during the school year. I love gathering together and talking about how nature is changing with the children because what they see is always eye opening. The children noticed the air had become crisp and chilly, walnuts falling, frosty mornings, and the leaves changing color. The children took some time to find signs of fall and found spotted, multicolored, striped, and a rainbow of leaf colors. They also found leaf skeletons and different shaped leaves.
Fall is a lovely time to explore nature and go on microadventures. Remember, microadventures are simple and short adventures to enjoy nature. A few fall microadventure suggestions are:
Make a leaf pile and play in it together!
Explore leaves around school after pickup. Can you find a red one? Yellow? Star-shape? Or how about a fan-shape? Sort them into different colors and shapes or take a few home and press them in a book to make a leaf collection.
Pack a picnic dinner, flashlights, and watch the sunset together at a nearby park.
Make a trail mix together, go on a fall hike, and look for signs of fall. The trail mix could include pumpkin and sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and apples, Chex, and walnuts. Look for signs of fall: seed pods, fallen leaves, deserted nests, migrating birds, active squirrels, and fungus on trees.
Robin Ramsey – Naturalist
Parent-Teacher Conferences November 11-12, 2025
It is hard to believe, but Parent-Teacher Conferences are fast approaching! Our teachers have already been preparing to meet with you by diligently observing each child, and will be creating photo files that will be used to support discussion with you during your scheduled conference time.
These Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, November 11 and all day Wednesday, November 12.
There will be NO OVERFIELD CLASSES on November 12th as parents meet with teachers. You should have received an electronic link via email, where you can reserve your meeting time with one of your child’s teachers. These sign ups will remain open until November 7th.
This Parent-Teacher Conference is for adults only. It is a time allotted for us to discuss your child’s progress, and since it is not appropriate to discuss a child in his/her presence unless you are talking to that child, please make sure you make other child care arrangements for your child during this meeting. Children may not be unattended in the building during these conferences, as this poses a safety concern.
Each conference will be 30 minutes in length, and it is important we stay on schedule. We will discuss our observations about your child and any questions or thoughts you have for us. If you feel more time is needed, we can immediately schedule another conference for another date.
We are looking forward to meeting with you all, and discussing all of the wonderful children we are fortunate to spend time with at Overfield!
Substitute Teachers Needed
Our Overfield families and friends are always such a great resource, so we thought we would start by asking you: do you know someone who would be interested in joining our Substitute Teacher list? If so, send them the information below!
The Overfield School is seeking enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and imaginative Substitute Teachers for our Preschool and Primary classrooms for the 2025-2026 school year. The successful applicant will be well-versed in best practices for teaching young children, and passionate about working in an arts and nature based school. Desired characteristics and experience includes:
– Experience in Early Childhood Education or related field is preferred.
– Understands and supports philosophy, policies, and goals of the Overfield School.
– Believes in the importance of active, play-based programs for young children, and has an image of children as strong, capable, and deserving of having a central voice in their own learning.
– Ensures a safe and inviting environment for children and parents.
– Displays the ability to work independently and in a team environment.
– Assumes share of routines for preparing materials and food, assisting children, and cleaning up.
– Promotes the health and safety of the children.
– Treats each child with dignity and respect, accommodating individual differences and working with the individual child when need arises.
– Is interested in the arts and nature, and is willing to use these as an integrated part of the curriculum.
Interested candidates, please send a cover letter and resume to Beth Poronsky at bporonsky@overfield.org.
