“At Spruce we believe that each child proceeds along a predictable path at a somewhat unpredictable rate. It’s our job to figure out where each child is and then support them along their unique path.” I have said that countless times to families, but what does it really mean?

Development is inevitable. Nearly all children walk, talk, interact and construct knowledge. What differs is the rate at which they achieve these milestones. A child who recites a book at two may have walked later than many of her peers, while a child that can hit a ball at three may not yet be speaking in full sentences. Since the range of what is developmentally appropriate in these early years is so wide, it is like cracking a code to figure out where children are in each of the main developmental domains: Social Emotional, Language, Cognitive, and Physical. Teachers must pay close attention to each child as they work and play, while still keeping an eye on all of the children! No wonder they “have eyes on the back of their heads!”

One strategy that Spruce teachers use to help crack the code is notes. Taken

on an iPad, post-it note, or in an old fashioned notebook, notes help recall specific instances where the child succeeded or struggled. Another valuable tool is photos. A picture is worth a thousand words was never a more apt adage than in Early Childhood! These bits of documentation are entered into our assessment tool, Teaching Strategies Gold. This normed assessment helps us reach a clear idea not only of where each child’s areas of strength and challenge lie, but also how the school is doing overall.

Mary Lund, who has been teaching at Spruce since 2009, has a new role this year of Learning Specialist. Her role is to ensure that we are meeting all of the students’ needs. She is also helping to coordinate visits with our new Speech and Language Specialist, Amy O’Neill of Time 2 Talk. Amy is working with children at Spruce one day a week

on a broad range of language-based skills. We are excited to offer Amy’s services to Spruce families at school!

While development may not always be purely linear, it does happen. As we learn more about each little Sprucer through careful observation, we are able to help them along their own winding road of growth and learning.

Spruce Street Nursery School Newsletter

The Winding Path of Development

Fall 2014Volume 25

“Look up at the mountain for your pattern and colors, and your quilt will be the only one of its

kind.” Carolyn Sherwin Baily

Here’s to Fall! The bustle of fall is upon us, with apple

picking, cider donuts, hayrides and pumpkins. Fall is a wondrous time to be a child, the trees magically change from green to red and yellow and brown, the air is chilly on the way to school but warm by the time you go out to play, and the leaves make such a satisfying sound when you push them along the paths with your feet. The smells of fall are evocative, apple crisp and toasted pumpkin seeds, and the slightly acrid smell of dried leaves.

Life is full in fall, all of the back to school potlucks and curriculum nights and play-dates, and all of the celebrations of being back together after the long summer. Fall is busy and fun, but it is also hard work for children and their parents, as we navigate new classes, friendships and challenges.

It is a time for a renewed sense of connection, a time to reset priorities and to aim high. New Year’s Eve has nothing on fall! This sense of intention and dreams yet to be fulfilled drives each school year, and motivates us all as we embark on a year of purpose and fun, discovery and dreams. Here’s to fall, and to the striving and celebration the new school year brings!

Thank you, and Happy Fall! Yours Always,

Christie

Heard on Spruce StreetThis fall, the Acorns have been exploring

dramatic play. A bountiful farm stand has set the stage for imaginative exchanges between the Acorns. Most exciting has been the artful transformation of the Quadro by teachers Al and Kelly. It now resembles a snug little house complete with two adorable window boxes!

Here are some of the charming comments that have been overheard while the Acorns have been busy at play:

D Alexander: “Where’s the school bus?”

D Anna: “I’m looking for the living room.”

D Audrey: “My turn, yay!”

D Augusta: “I have no time!”

D Bobby: “I’m from Toronto! Look at my pants!”

D Boden: “I’ll be the old guy.”

D Breaker: “Excuse me, I’m going to be a superhero.”

D Eliza: “I’m painting me! It’s a star!”

D Henry: “House!”

D Jake: “I went to see the baby cows with Papi.”

D Makenzie: “Yes, you’re silly!”

D Penelope: “I want to build.”

D Ruby: “Your mommy is at work.”

D Sebastian: “Wanna see a joke?”

D Sonia: “Where’s Mena?”

D William F: “All the friends!”

D Will M: “We do not hit our friends.”

Congratulations Marybeth and Pat!We are so delighted to share news that

Willow teacher Marybeth and her husband Pat welcomed Millie Elizabeth into the wrold on on September 12, 2014! Millie has already made her first visit to Spruce (the first of many, we hope) and we all fell in love with her. We are so happy for you Marybeth and Pat! Teacher Updates

This summer, Willow teacher Christine Augustyn had the teaching opportunity of a lifetime - in Africa! For two weeks, Christine traveled with the Barkan family (Jacob ‘07 and Oliver, and Seth ‘12 and Lila ‘13) to support the Ouko Community Initiative (OCI), a non-profit organization that provides food and educational support in the rural and impoverished town of Koru, Kenya. Christine teamed up with local Koru teachers to share knowledge on co-teaching, interactive teaching techniques, and technology. Laura and John Barkan, their children Jacob and Oliver, and Laura’s parents taught classes at the Menara Primary School while Christine supported teachers in improving teaching

practices and professional goals.“Teachers at Menara do so much with so

little,” said Christine, “and it is amazing to see how happy the children are at school, especially about the lunch program.” Before OCI became involved with Menara, many of the 600 students suffered from malnutrition, illness, and parasites. Now, with full stomachs, the children are better able to concentrate on learning and there are far fewer absences.

“From teaching classes, to serving children lunch, it was the most rewarding experience that I have ever been a part of.” Christine plans to incorporate many elements that she learned in Koru at Spruce and hopes to help the Barkans with their fundraising in support of the lunch program. If you are interested in supporting OCI, please see Christine!

SAVE THE DATESaturday, November 1stAdmissions Open House

Friday & MondayNovember 7th & 10th

Parent-Teacher Conferences - No Classes

November 11thVeteran’s Day - No Classes

November 19thBirthday Celebration

November 27th-29thThanksgiving Holiday

Saturday, December 6thHoliday Party

December 22nd -January 2ndHoliday Break

Thank you Spruce Families!Thanks to the generosity of last year’s

families, alumni families, grandparents, and friends, the 2013-2014 Annual Fund raised over $177,000! We are thrilled to report that over 75% of current families and 20% of alumni families participated in this effort.

We also are grateful for all of the time, service, and in-kind donations that families provided last year. With your help, we are hoping for another banner year! The amazing Spruce community is one that will be part of our lives forever. Thank you for all of your past and future support! xo The Development Team

Chloe ‘13 and Chase ‘14 Eisenberg have moved to Old Greenwich, CT! The kids love their new home with a backyard and thoroughly enjoy playing with all of the kids in the neighborhood. Chloe has started first

grade at Old Greenwich Elementary School and Chase is happy and loving his 3s program at Selma Maisel Nursery School in Greenwich. The kids have jumped right into Connecticut life with la-crosse, tennis, and soccer, coached by David! Jaime writes, “We miss Spruce Street and we are looking forward to a visit to Boston soon. There really is no place like SSNS!”

Hill House keeps the Spruce love alive long after the kids fly away. From beautiful fall days spent on the soccer field to winter ice hockey or baseball in the spring, Spruce friendships

remain strong thanks to “our backyard in the city.” Pictured here is a gaggle of Spruclings at lacrosse on

the Esplanade. From left to right Aleisi Jilani ‘12, Carter Anne Williams ‘12, Robby Baker ‘11, Jack Winter ‘12, Jack Williams ‘13, and Eleanor Pedersen ‘12 (Olivia Brodeur ’12 is also part of the gang, just not pictured here).

A full circle moment happened at this year’s Spruce Family Potluck Dinner on the Boston Common! John Dickie (dad to Nola ‘12, Kearney ‘14, Johnny, current Maple, and Mack) and Morgan Lintz (mom to Spencer, current Maple and twins Clarke and Carter) were pre-school classmates at North Ave Nursery School in Weston from 1981 - 1983. As we like to say at Spruce . . . make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold!

The Barkan, Curry, Dickie, Lawrence, and WIlliams families gathered at Nickerson State Park on Cape Cod in early September for their annual Campapalooza. With sixteen kids ranging in age from 8 years to 8 months, it was a mini Spruce reunion of sorts. Highlights of the overnight camping experience included fishing, biking, glow-in-the-dark ring toss, and, of course, s’mores. Although last year’s trip ended with a quick trip to the ER to remove a fish hook, this year was injury free and the crew is still “hooked” on Campapalooza!

Former Spruce parent Tess Atkinson writes, “I am happy to report that Grey ‘05 and Chloe ‘07 are doing very well. Grey is now at Milton Academy and in the 8th grade and Chloe is a 6th grader at BB&N. Both are enjoying

their fall school sports - football and field hockey. They had a wonderful summer, the highlight of which was a trip to Kenya. They remember Spruce fondly and see their old friends Catherine ‘05 and Wilder Crosier all

the time. Catherine is in 9th grade at Milton and Wilder just started at Milton in the 6th grade. Grey and Chloe send big hellos to the Spruce family and teachers - especially Eliza, who still remains a favorite in this house.”

Former teachers Kristin Lyons Jones, Chelsea Holmes Riccio, and Taylor Stevens McIntire (also a new Acorn mom), met for a baby playdate where major adorablness ensued. Pictured left to right: Carolina Jones, Eloise Riccio, and Cutler McIntire!

Another Sprucer is off to college! Christie and Tom’s son Nate Guevin ‘01 began his freshman year at Bennington College in Vermont. Nate is settling in nicely and is studying Computer Programming, Theater and is playing a lot of ultimate frisbee and dodge ball. While he misses Boston, Nate has been enjoying the quiet and beauty of autumn in Vermont. We wish you the best of luck Nate!

While not a member of our alumni group, Acorn teacher Al Hogan’s brother Tyler Hogan is

certainly a part of our Family Tree. A City of Boston Firefighter, Tyler has visited Spruce for the past several years with his

amazing assortment of firefighting gear. The kids were able to try on Tyler’s helmet, jacket, and overalls. While a bit big for the Sprucers, they certainly got into the spirit of being a firefighter. Thank you Al for sharing your brother with Spruce. We love you Tyler!

Walker Stressenger ‘04 is a freshman at Tabor and is loving his new friends and experiences (although mom is not too happy

to have him living away from home!) He loves the sunrise over the harbor and can’t wait for sailing season to begin. SSNS class-mate, Clark Begley ‘05, is one of his closest friends - thank you Spruce!

Maxie Stressenger ‘06 is in 7th grade at Southfield, playing soccer and lacrosse, dancing every chance she gets and loves hanging out with her friends including some SSNS alums. Carter Begley ‘07, Grace Santoro ‘06, Kate Wilson ‘05, and Colton Maris ‘06 are among some of the Spruce friends she still runs around with.

Send your Alumni updates to admin@sprucestreet.org

Alumni Family Tree

FAMILY POT LUCK 2014!

SPRUCE STREET NURSERY SCHOOL’SNinth Annual Alumni and All-School

Ice Skating Party

Old and new friends Pizza and drinks

Saturday, March 7th10 to 12 pm

Steriti Memorial RinkBoston’s North End

Spruce Street Nursery School 5 Avery Place Boston, MA 02111 617-482-5252