January 2017 Newsletter by Ecole Claire Fontaine

ECOLECLAIREFONTAINE January 2017 Newsletter 352 Westminster Ave. Venice 90291 clairefontainela@aol.com (310) 314-9976 laclairefontaine.org

CONTENTS CALENDAR P4 BIRTHDAYS P5-8 M ULTILINGUALISM P9 ARCHITECTURE P10-19 ARTS & CRAFTS P3

PLAY DOUGH NEW STUDIO ARTISTS AT WORK

SOAP M AKING & SELF-SUFFICIENCY P22-25 FLAVORS P20-21

PESTO & POPCORN P26 JANUARY FLOWER P27 SOCCER

GRANDPARENTS CLUB & GALETTE DES ROIS P29-31 COMMUNITY N EWS P28

CALENDAR

THUR-FRI JAN 5/ 6 LE GOUTER DE LA GALETTE DES ROIS - CHILDREN ONLY THURS JAN 12 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS CAMPER CAMPUS 12:30PM / ABBOT KINNEY 1PM FRI JAN 13

CAUDALIE FUNDRAISER FOR ECF 6-8PM , RSVP BY JAN 10 1416 ABBOT KINNEY BLVD

M ON JAN 16

SCHOOL CLOSED - M ARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY

BIRTHDAYS

LET' S CELEBRATE OUR CHILDREN WITH JANUARY BIRTHDAYS ON THE 12TH * 12:30PM ON THE CAMPER CAMPUS * 1PM

ON THE ABBOT

KINNEY CAMPUS

PLEASE KEEP THE SUGAR AND ICING LOW, AND NO NUTS OF ANY KIND ALLOWED

RYU EMIL VIVIAN HASTINGS SARA 4

MU L T IL IN G U A L IS M EXPANDINGHEARTSANDMINDS

PEACE AND I NT EL L I GENCE T H ROUGH L ANGUAGE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK SEVERAL LANGUAGES INCREASES UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLE, AND IT MAKES US BRIGHTER.

THE INTELLECTUAL AGILITY

DEVELOPED BY THE ACQUISITION OF MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE ENHANCES BOTH HEARTS AND MINDS.

WHEN WE LEARN ONE ANOTHER?S LANGUAGE, WE DEEPEN OUR HUMAN CONNECTION AND CAPACITY TO CONSIDER THE TRUE INTENTION OF OTHERS.

WE COME

TO REALIZE AND RESPECT OUR ALIKENESS AND DIVERGENCE.

LANGUAGES ARE THE ROOTS OF OUR HUMANITY; THEY REACH DEEPLY INTO THE BRAIN , SPRINGING FREE OUR LATENT KNOWLEDGE. THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NEURONS IN A CHILD? S MIND SPARK AND MOVE, EVEN POSITIVELY AFFECTING THE ABILITY TO DO MATH. PACIFIC STANDARD NOTES, ?LEARNING MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TRAINS THE BASAL GANGLIA TO SWITCH MORE EFFICIENTLY BETWEEN THE RULES AND VOCABULARY OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, AND THESE ARE SKILLS IT CAN THEN TRANSFER TO OTHER DOMAINS SUCH AS ARITHMETIC.? (continued)

WHEN MUSIC IS INVOLVED THE MAGIC INCREASES. THE CHILDREN AT ECOLE CLAIRE FONTAINE LOVE SINGING FRENCH SONGS IN CHOIR, AIDING IN LANGUAGE RETENTION IN NON -FRENCH SPEAKING HOUSEHOLDS. WHERE ANOTHER LANGUAGE IS FIRST IN A FAMILY, CHILDREN OFTEN LEARN A SECOND THROUGH SONG. M USIC AND LANGUAGE UNITE FOR GREATER RECALL. RESEARCH SHOWS US THAT ALL LANGUAGE ACQUISITION INCREASES INTELLIGENCE. OUR VOCABULARIES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES ARE STRONGER IF WE LEARN LANGUAGES FROM THE EARLIEST STAGES IN LIFE, HOWEVER IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DEVELOP.

THE ADVANTAGES FOR MULTILINGUAL CHILDREN REACH BEYOND VERBAL COGNITIVE ABILITIES, AND INCLUDE PROBLEM SOLVING THAT REQUIRES CONTROLLING THE ABILITY TO PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS. IF A CHILD LEARNS TO DO MATH IN ONE LANGUAGE, THE CONCEPTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN ANOTHER.

EXECUTIVE CONTROL IS AT THE CENTER OF MUCH OF INTELLIGENT THOUGHT. (continued)

M ULTILINGUAL PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER GENERALLY HAVE MORE ADVANTAGES, WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND THE COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WITH WHOM THEY CAN RELATE. IN LOS ANGELES ALONE, 225 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN , AND MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS ARE ON THE RISE. COMMUNICATION

BEGINS LONG BEFORE LANGUAGE IS ACQUIRED, AND IN THE FULL BATH THAT IS THE HOME

ENVIRONMENT WORDS COME AS A NATURAL STEP IN A YOUNG CHILD? S RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR PARENTS.

WE NEED

TO GIVE CHILDREN ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, TO USE THIS VALUABLE HUMAN TOOL.

THERE IS ENOUGH SPACE IN THE BRAIN FOR TWO OR MORE LANGUAGES WHEN WE OPEN THE BRANCHES OF POSSIBILITY. BY ORGANIZING THE TRUNK OF THE HUMAN TREE OUR INTELLIGENCE INCREASES, AS DOES OUR UNDERSTANDING AND ABILITY TO NAVIGATE OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY. THE ADVANTAGES FOR CHILDREN ARE BOUNDLESS WHEN WE INVEST IN THE POWER OF LANGUAGE. END

W E BUI L D ! ARCHI TECTURE CLASS Using blocks, magnetic tiles and boards, the children are able to experiment with visualization, planning and results. Materials used in class and free play are varied so that differing weights and shapes move the individual and collective imagination. T he children also create structures using small model building techniques, improving fine motor skills. Team work and problem solving are highlights of Architecture at Ecole Claire Fontaine. Watch for an expanded class this semester.

ARTS& CRAFTS

OVERHEARD ON CAMPUS:

"THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE."

LET?S M AKE PLAY DOUGH OUR CHILDREN LOVE TO COOK AND BAKE; THEY LOVE TO CREATE. HOWEVER NOT ALL KITCHEN ACTIVITIES NEED TO REVOLVE AROUND FOOD, SO TAKE SOME TIPS FROM OUR SCIENCE AND BOTANY TEACHER EMILIE AS SHE DOES EXPERIMENTS THAT CREATE SMOKE OUT OF SOAP, OR FROM CAROLINE WHO HELPS THE CHILDREN MAKE ERUPTING VOLCANOES? AT

HOME TRY MAKING PLAY DOUGH WITH THE SIMPLE FLOUR AND SALT RECIPE WE HAVE INCLUDED

BELOW, AND EXPERIMENTING WITH THE NATURAL WORLD TO FIND GORGEOUS COLORS FOR DYE (KEEPING IN MIND THAT MANY OF THESE NATURAL COLORS CAN STAIN HANDS SO GLOVES MAY COME IN HANDY).

GET OUTSIDE WITH YOUR CHILDREN TO COLLECT FROM THE FIELDS OR MARKETS: OAK TREE BARK, ROSE PETALS, CRANBERRIES, BLACK TEA, GRAPE JUICE, ORANGE PEEL, BEETROOT, RASPBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES, PAPRIKA AND TURMERIC. FOR THE FRUIT AND PETALS CRUSH ABOUT 1/2 CUP, ADD TO A CUP OF WATER, COOK FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN STRAIN . FOR THE SPICY COLORS TRY A TEASPOON , BUT ADD MORE IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR INCREASED PIZZAZZ (REMEMBER, THIS MAY TEMPORARILY STAIN HANDS). IF YOU WANT TO TRY TURMERIC FOR COLOR IN YOUR PLAY DOUGH KEEP IN MIND THAT IT IS AN ACID-BASE INDICATOR - IF YOU ADD BAKING SODA IT WILL TURN RED, WHILE ADDING LEMON JUICE TURNS IT BRIGHT YELLOW. UPPING THE BAKING SODA IN OUR BASIC RECIPE WILL INCREASE THE PH AND CAUSE THE COLOR FROM RED CABBAGE LEAVES TO TURN BLUE INSTEAD OF PURPLE? WOW! WE HAVE ALSO

HEARD ABOUT, BUT NOT YET TRIED, ADDING A TABLESPOON OF COCOA POWDER TO THE

DRY INGREDIENTS AND USING WATER TO MIX (GREAT COLOR AND SMELL).

RECETTE DE LA

PÂTE À MODELER IF

YOU CANNOT MANAGE THE WINTER FORAGING OR DO NOT WANT TO RISK STAINING YOUR HANDS, TRY THE

NATURAL FOOD COLORING AVAILABLE AT OUR AREA MARKETS.

OUR BASIC PLAY DOUGH RECIPE: 1 CUP OF FLOUR 1/2 CUP OF FINE SALT (THE FINER THE BETTER TO REDUCE GRITTINESS) 1 TBSP BAKING SODA 1 CUP OF COLORED WATER 1 TBSP OIL OF YOUR CHOICE ON MEDIUM

LOW HEAT, USING AN OLD POT, STIR INGREDIENTS UNTIL A STICKY BALL BEGINS TO FORM .

ONCE

THE DOUGH HAS COOLED A BIT, KNEAD IT WITH PLENTY OF FLOUR ON A CUTTING BOARD.

REFRIGERATION

ISN ' T NECESSARY - SALT ACTS AS A PRESERVATIVE.

COOKIE CUTTERS &

TOY MOLDS AWAIT!

A TIP: IF

YOU EVER COME ACROSS A RECIPE YOU LIKE THAT ASKS FOR GELATIN , JUST SUBSTITUTE ONE TABLESPOON OF AGAR (SEAWEED) POWDER FOR A TABLESPOON OF GELATIN . IT WILL SET A CUP OF LIQUID. ANOTHER TIP FOR A GELATINOUS CONSISTENCY AND NICE COLOR IS THIS EASY: ?IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS ADDING AGAR TO FRUIT JUICE AND WAITING FOR IT TO FIRM UP.?

EMBROI DERY, SEW I NG & ART

Embr oider y teacher Geor gina and Ar t teacher Emma ar e helping the childr en discover advanced techniques - the sewing machine is a new favor ite. "I t is impor tant," a student explains, "to keep your finger s on the thr ead only, away fr om the needle, and gently pr ess the pedal."

OUR NEW ART ST UDI O

Cr eating costumes

T hr eading a gr een tr ee for hanging on a wall

W H AT I S H APPENI NG I N T H E NEW ART ST UDI O ON T H E ABBOT K I NNEY CAMPUS? SEW I NG, EMBROI DERY, CRAFT S, PAI NT I NG, PI ANO L ESSONS

Ar tists at Wor k

SO A P M A K I N G - A CLASS I N SELF- SUFFI CI EN CY ?I

MADE THIS FOR YOU!? WE ALL LOVE SEEING GLEAMING EYES AND OUTSTRETCHED PALMS AS WE ARE

PRESENTED WITH THE LATEST CREATION , BUT WE DO NOT ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE INSIDE THE CHILD.

THEY

HAVE HATCHED THEIR IDEA, FORMULATED A PLAN , INVESTED IN

MATERIALS, FABRICATED THE PROJECT AND UPON PRESENTATION , THEY SEE IT ACTUALIZED.

CHILDREN

FEEL THEIR OWN POWER WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO TAKE AN IDEA TO FRUITION .

CRAFTS SUCH

AS SOAP MAKING WORK AS LESSONS IN SELF-SUFFICIENCY, STRENGTHENING A CHILD' S GROWING SENSE OF THEIR ABILITY TO FOMENT CHANGE IN THE WORLD.

THEIR

SELF-CONFIDENCE BLOOMS WHEN THEY ARE

ABLE TO USE WHAT THEY HAVE MADE AND SEE OTHERS ENJOYING IT TOO. (CONTINUED)

I N SOAP M AKING,

THE CLASS BEGINS WITH A LARGE BLOCK OF GLYCERIN .

THE CHILDREN DECIDE ON THE COLORS AND SCENTS WHILE FOLLOWING SEASONAL THEM ES. THE SHAPES VARY, HOWEVER THE CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY FOND OF THE SM ALL HEARTS THEY FORM FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. THEY ALSO CREATE LARGER SOAPS THAT ARE SOLD AT OUR EVENING POTLUCKS ON THE ABBOT KINNEY CAM PUS. AT ECF WE DO NOT CHARGE ADDITIONAL FEES FOR SUPPLIES OR M ATERIALS, SO BY SELLING HALF OF WHAT WE PRODUCE IN CLASS WE ARE ABLE TO BUY M ORE M ATERIALS TO CREATE AND ENJOY M ORE - ALL THE WHILE TEACHING SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

JUST AS WE TEACH ORGANIC FOOD GROWING TECHNIQUES IN OUR GARDENING CLASSES, IN SOAP M AKING CHILDREN APPRECIATE M AKING SOM ETHING OF HIGH QUALITY, VIRTUALLY GUARANTEED IN PURITY - ADDING SCENT WITH ESSENTIAL OIL, COLORS WITH FLOWERS, FRUITS OR SPICES, AND M OISTURIZING WITH COCONUT OR OLIVE OIL. WE USE ORGANIC INGREDIENTS THAT ARE ETHICALLY SOURCED AND CAREFULLY RESEARCHED TO ENSURE THAT THE ESSENTIAL OILS USED ARE NOT HARM FUL TO THE M OST DELICATE SKIN WHEN USED TO M AKE SOAP, LOTION OR HEALING OIL.

CREATION

SOAP M AKING WE HAVE FOUND AN EM POWERING PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OUR SCIENCE AND BOTANY TEACHER EM ILIE KARSENTY HAS TAUGHT THE CHILDREN THIS GENESIS ? CONCEIVE, DRAFT, M ELT, M IX, STIR, POUR AND M OLD. IS CRITICAL TO

DEVELOPM ENT,

?THE KIDS REALLY UNDERSTAND

AND IN

HOW TO M AKE SOAP NOW; THEY KNOW THE PROCESS OF M ELTING,

AND THEN ADDING SCENT AND COLOR BEFORE POURING IT INTO THE M OLD.?

CLASS PROJECTS OFTEN CONCENTRATE ON SEASON , USING CINNAM ON , NUTM EG, PUM PKIN , WHITE CHOCOLATE AND M INT, AS OF LATE. A STUDENT ASKS, ?CAN WE EAT IT?? A NOTHER REPLIES, ?N O, IF YOU EAT IT YOU ?RE GOING TO M AKE BUBBLES!? EM ILIE EXPLAINS, ?WE HAVE REALLY BEEN FOCUSING ON SCENT. THEY ARE BEGINNING TO M AKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SM ELLS THEY HAVE NOTICED IN FOOD, LIKE CINNAM ON . W HEN WE USE CINNAM ON POWDER I ALSO BRING IN A CINNAM ON STICK SO THEY CAN OBSERVE IT IN SEVERAL FORM S, AND NOTICE IT HAS BOTH SCENT AND COLOR. THEY ALSO DON ?T NEED TO ADD COLOR WITH NUTM EG, LEM ON OR ORANGE; WITH M INT WE JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN FOOD COLORING. THEY REALLY LEARN HOW TO CREATE SOM ETHING VERY NATURAL AND WONDERFUL.? ?I

NEED MY SMELLS-GOOD SOAP!,? A CHILD CALLS FROM THEIR BATHTUB AT HOM E

? WHAT

POWER

COM ES TO CHILDREN WHEN REALIZING WHAT THEY HAVE IM AGINED.

THIS M ONTH

WE WILL BEGIN COLLECTING BROKEN CRAYONS IN ORDER TO M ELT

THEM AND M AKE NEW SETS ? THE CHILDREN LOVE THIS PROJECT.

END

FLAVORS Basic PESTO t o make TOGETHER Olive oil, Peeled Gar lic, Basil f r om t he Gar den, (CAN ADD CHEESE & PINE

FRESH FROM

OUR ADVENTURES WE RETURN TO THE

GARDENS IN UNITY AND PEACE TO WISH YOU A

2017, ACCOM PANIED BY A SALAD OF LAUGHTER, A SOUP OF HAPPINESS, AND A TRAY OF KINDNESS WATERED WITH A M AGNUM OF GOOD YEAR. BOUNTIFUL

EXPLORING THE PROCESS THE CHILDREN IMPEL IDEA INTO ACTION

M AKING POPCORN BEGINNING WITH THE COB

1) DRIED CORN COBS - PLENTIFUL IN THE MARKETS OR DRY YOUR OWN . 2) PICK OUT THE KERNELS - TAKES TIME! 3) USE AN AIR POPPER OR PUT A POT ON A MEDIUM HIGH STOVE WITH A BIT OF OLIVE OIL, ADD KERNELS.

4) WHEN POPPED, ADD A LITTLE SALT, CURRY, PEPPER OR PAPRIKA - EXPERIMENT WITH FLAVORS!

THE FLOWER FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY IS THE CARNATION. ALTHOUGH UBIQUITOUS, THIS SIMPLE FLOWER IS OFTEN UNDER APPRECIATED. HOWEVER, ITS SYMBOLISM IS GRAND: LOVE, FASCINATION AND DISTINCTION. 26

SOCCER I N

T H E PARK ON

F RI DAYS

LEARNING COOPERATION & COORDINATION

M O V EM EN T

T H RO U GH SPO RT I S A M O M EN T O U S PA RT O F ED U C AT I O N

I T I N C REA SES

M EM O RY BY EN H A N C I N G T H E A M O U N T O F O X YGEN PU M PED I N T O A C H I L D ?S B RA I N A N D H EL PS C L EA R T H E M I N D , M I T I GAT I N G M EN T A L EX H AU ST I O N I N C H I L D REN W H O A RE B U SY L EA RN I N G H O W T O B E I N T H EI R B O D I ES

M A N EU V ER T H EM SELV ES.

GALETTEDESROIS AS THE MONTH BEGINS, THE CHILDREN ARE PREPARING FOR THEIR CEREMONY ? LE GOUTER DE LA GALETTE DES ROIS. CREATING CROWNS OF PAPER DECORATED WITH SMALL GEMS, KINGS AND QUEENS ARE MADE. AT ECF A LOVELY BRIOCHE IS REPLACING THE USUAL FRANGIPANE TART DUE TO THE HIGH ALMOND CONTENT, BUT TREASURES FOR TWO WILL STILL BE HIDDEN INSIDE.

IN FRENCH

TRADITION THE YOUNGEST

CHILD HIDES UNDER THE TABLE AND TELLS THE CAKE CUTTER TO WHOM EACH PIECE SHOULD GO, AND HE WHO FINDS THE GEM HIDDEN IN THEIR CAKE, BE IT A TOY, BEAN OR ALMOND, BECOMES FOR THE DAY.

HERE AT ECF ALL KINGS AND QUEENS. THE

CHILDREN

WILL

KING

WE ARE

ENJOY

THE

CELEBRATION THAT DATES BACK TO THE

14TH CENTURY DURING WEEK OF JANUARY.

THIS FIRST

GRANDPARENTSCLUB JOIN OUR GRANDPARENTS CLUB! PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE CLUB AND BE ADDED TO OUR MAILING LIST IN ORDER TO RECEIVE OUR FANTASTIC

N EWSLETTER.

COMMUNITY NEWS IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. PLEASE DRESS YOUR CHILDREN WARMLY, SERVE EXTRA VITAMIN C, AND DO NOT WASH THEIR HAIR AT NIGHT.

M ERCI! 29

CAUDALIEFUNDRAISER privateshoppingevent tobenefit ECF swag, wine&facials! Friday, January 13th 6-8pm

RSVPHEREbyJAN10 1416Abbot Kinney Complementary mini facial treatments, hand massages and wine tasting. 20% of the proceeds will be donated to ECF.

VENICE HIGH SCHOOL JACKETS OF EXCELLENCE

IS A

32-YEAR TRADITION HONORING VHS STUDENT

ACCOMPLISHMENTS BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM .

WE WILL GATHER WITH THE STUDENTS AT 12:45 ON JANUARY 27 IN THEIR CAFETERIA. IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR OUR FAMILY OF SCHOOLS TO DISTINGUISH ITS STUDENTS EMERITI, WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE RENOWN OF VENICE.

language la langue? ?? idioma

2017