Photoblog: Scenes From SMP's Baking and Cooking Class

Yes, I'm not yet done documenting this part of her summer. I'm happy that now the nurturers at SMP try their best to document the kids' activities through photos so the parents get a glimpse of what's happening inside the classroom. Thank you, Titas!

All photos were grabbed from SMP's facebook page. 

DAY 1: Break making (Waldorf bread with basil and raisins)

Tools of the trade all ready to start their adventure!

tito alan, the day care's kitchen master joins the kneading fun!

ready for the oven!

Day 2: Turning Japanese - Learning to make maki/rolls

the photo caption in SMP's page went something like: "she had the last piece"
she did say she liked the cupcake rice (because she insisted they were making cupcakes that day).
and  honestly, it was her first time to eat maki rolls. she liked! yay!

Day 3: Cookies and Cupcakes Galore!

they paired the cookies with a refreshing mango-banana smoothie.

scrapping off mangoes. she never does this at home. and she was never fond of mangoes.
but after this,  she volunteers to help 'slice' and serve during mealtime.

masa! masa! 

freshly baked goodies

They also had a group picture during the last day of this 3-day class. That one goes to my growing collection of 'class' pictures. I hope someday, when she sees those photos she will still recall how fun her summers were because of activities like these.

Happy Days are at ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE for Summer 2013

Summer is always spelled F.U.N. in our household. It's when we get to hie away from the city and take a week off to just play lazy (in it's truest essence). We're not very fond of the beach but since summer is always equated to it, yes we still look forward to some beach time as well. And summer also means fruits are abundant. Yay again for this family who is striving to be healthier and healthier by the day. (still a loooong way to go, but we're getting there)

Apart from those however, another thing that makes us really look forward to summer are the myriad of activities that kids can enjoy during summer. For us, one summer activity that we really look forward to would be the summer classes at St. Michael Playhouse in Makati. We've spent 2 summers there. I've written about that here and here. And it seems, the kid has now programmed herself to spend some time there during summer. Just before St Michael announced the activities they're offering this summer, she already declared she's enrolling in baking and cooking. This kid of mine is starting to master the art of dropping hints. 

Happy days are indeed coming because I just received this via email this weekend. So if you still have no plans for your kids this summer, why not enroll them at St Michael. Slots are very limited though so best to get in touch with them the soonest time possible. 

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ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE, the first Waldorf-inspired Playhouse in the country, hopes to bring delight and wonder to your child this Summer!

We have our Playhouse Program to gently stimulate your child's creativity, from as young as 3 years old to until 8!

Plus, there's our Parent-Child program for toddlers till 2.5 years old, accompanied by one parent.

And we have classes on Doll-making and Basic Crochet for Adults!

Scroll down to see information. The upper part is for the children's program, and when you scroll all the way through, you'll see the classes for adults. (The images may take a little time to load.)

Please fill out the attached Summer Enrollment Form and email back to St.Michael.Playhouse@gmail.com, or text 0939 925 0848 for more details ... Slots very limited, only full payment guarantees a seat!

See you at ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE for Summer! Please do forward to your friends!

What's even great is they have activities for adults too!

ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE
G/f, ISIP Center, 6241 Palma cor Mañalac Sts.
Bgy. Poblacion, Makati City (near Rockwell)
Mobile: 0939 925 0848
st.michael.playhouse@gmail.com
Facebook: Look up 'St Michael Playhouse Makati'

"Where is the book in which the teachers can read about what teaching is? The children are this book." – Rudolf Steiner

Woodwork and Gardening Class At St Michael Playhouse

traditional photo by the daycare door

Maia recently finished Woodwork and Gardening Class At St Michael Playhouse (A Steiner inspired daycare). The class was only intended for 12 students and the slots were already filled when I called to sign up. But since we were just so eager to join, they decided to accept us. I just love everyone behind this daycare (and I bet so does Maia). 

I initially planned to have Maia join the first 2 classes - Baking and Cooking then Arts and Crafts - but I just couldn't escape my deliverables at work so I had to push plans until finally, I got clearance to at least take a day off so I could bring Maia to the first session of this last class. The class ran for 3 days - Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 2-415 in the afternoon (which was just perfect since Maia's active during this time of the day).

The class was to be Maia's first official kiddie class where she will be left on her own. I was all kinds of emotions when I was bidding her goodbye on the first day of class but she proved my fears wrong by showing to me how ready she was to be in school. When I came to pick her up she was all cheerful and just excited to tell me about the things they did in school. She showed no sign of dislike whatsoever. 

This class however being the least of my choices among St Michael's 3 offerings this summer had me setting my expectations at lowest (on second thought, it was even to none). I only had three goals enrolling Maia into this class:

- To establish a summer tradition/routine. I wanted her to have something to look forward to every summer and having already gone to summer class last year, I wanted to make it a yearly thing for her.

- To check and reinforce her independence. With her officially starting Kindergarten this June, I wanted to see how emotionally ready she was. And she did great. She was more than ready to take the plunge. Some friends were even kidding me that it's probably me who is going to suffer separation anxiety come June (and that's probably very true).

- To have fun. I really wanted for Maia to get the chance to mingle with kids other than the ones she's always with in our village. And St Michael (in my personal opinion) is one of the best places to do that because Maia gets to be in a school set up and yet don't get really burdened with school work. And I am leaving her in the hands of well-trained nurturers. Plus she gets to bond with mostly Waldorf kids who (again in my personal opinion and experience) have gentler demeanor. It wouldn't hurt if she gets to pick up some of that gentleness (I know that's shooting at the stars with only three days of exposure but...) as well. :)

I'm glad I didn't set any expectations as this turned out to be a really great, awesome experience for Maia. Till next Summer, St Michael! I hope there's going to be a repeat next year! 

one of maia's favorite activities - the freeplay! she never forgot the toys
and their 'sleeping' quarters and the minute she learned she was coming back,
she immediately planned on raiding this part of the classroom. lolz

Leaving you with photos of Maia in class (that I grabbed from St. Michael's Facebook page):

They had a wonderful class photo but I have yet to ask permission to post the photo here since it has faces of the other kids and I don't know if the parents would permit me to post them here. 

GARDENING

Getting some potting mix into her pot of Stevia plant

Day 2, "Hello There Planty!"

Day 3, "We're going home to Cavite today Planty!"

WOODWORKING

Kids helping and observing Tito Robert and a classmate at work

playing with the car wheels

the kids' creations (we aren't sure though if maia indeed made her car,
she kept saying i wasn't ready to slice mommy (which i reckon means
she didn't like the sawing part - she developed a fear of knives and
pounding lately)

ST. MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE is located at the 
Ground Floor
6241 Palma cor Manalac Sts.
Bgy. Poblacion, Makati City 1210
(just two minutes from Rockwell Drive)

Call now to schedule a school tour.
Call or text 0917-847-0848 or email 
st.michael.playhouse@gmail.com

Bring Happy Days to your Child this Summer at ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE!

I received this on my email yesterday and my heart (honestly) skipped a beat when I learned they're now offering classes for adults! Yay! Only downside is they're on a weekday so I will have to figure out my work schedule before I can really do a happy dance for Maia and me.

BUT, if you are all free this summer and is still looking for things to do I encourage you to try a class. I'm am sure you won't be disappointed. Fees are very affordable as well. Sulit na!

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Happy Days are at ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE for Summer!

ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE, the only Steiner-inspired Playhouse in the country, hopes to bring delight and wonder to your child this Summer!

We have our Playhouse Program to gently stimulate your child's creativity, from as young as 3 years old to until 7!

Plus, there's our Parent-Child program for toddlers till 2.5 years old, accompanied by one parent.

And we have classes on Doll-making, Moving Storybook, and Basic Crochet for Adults too!!

Scroll down to see information. The upper part is for the children's program, and when you scroll all the way through, you'll see the classes for adults.

Please fill out the attached Summer Enrollment Form and email back toSt.Michael.Playhouse@gmail.com, or text 0917 847 0848 for more details ...

See you at ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE for Summer! Please do forward to your friends!

St. Mikael Playhouse - Summer Events and Talk With Dr. Cricket Chen

I received this from the mail. Some parents might be interested to learn about Waldorf kindergarten here's your chance to get a glimpse of it. And Dr. Cricket is also Maia's pediatrician and we love her! You might just learn a lot from her on this talk too.

Dear Parents!
 
Join us on Thursday, March 8 and learn more about Summer events and programs for the upcoming school year at
ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE!
 
And we're honored to have pediatrician Dr Cricket Chen as our guest speaker, who will talk about common childhood illnesses, and how they contribute to your child's over all development. Dr Cricket's practice is a combination of conventional and natural medicine, with great emphasis on the promotion of health, essential to the incarnating child.
 
Email St.Michael.Playhouse@gmail.com to reserve your seat! Or text 0917 847 0848.
 
See information below. Feel free to forward to those that may be interested!

--
ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE
G/f, ISIP Center, 6241 Palma cor Mañalac Sts.
Bgy. Poblacion, Makati City (near Rockwell)
Mobile: 0917 847 0848
st.michael.playhouse@gmail.com
Facebook: Look up 'St Michael Playhouse Makati'

"Where is the book in which the teachers can read about what teaching is? The children are this book." – Rudolf Steiner
   

Maia is going to be overaged for the Parent-child program but if this daycare is anyway nearer where we live, this would definitely come first on my prospective school list. Maia had so much fun last summer she still have fond memories of her friends there and of the nurturers. She still calls St Mikael her 'school'. 

But for now, I am shelving my dream of sending my kid to a Waldorf school  but who knows it could still happen one day. 

Open, Shut Them

Our summer school program proved to be a great bonding activity for Maia and me. In the past few weeks I've started seeing positive changes in her. She's become more gentle and more organized. And most importantly, she has started learning lyrics to songs unlike before when it takes her a long time to pick up song lyrics. She always ended up humming instead of singing.

It was probably how the songs are sang in school where hand movements are incorporated with each song they sing that makes them remember the words.

This song is one of her favorite circle time song in summer school. I'm sharing the lyrics here since I'm also learning to memorize it so we can include it in our pre-bedtime repertoire.

Open, shut them (Open both hands and then make a fist)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap. (Clap hands together)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Fold them in your lap. (Fold hands in lap)


Creep them, creep them (softly sung, walk fingers slowly to your chin)
Creep them, creep them
Right up to your chin (have fingers on chin)
Open wide your little mouth
(fast)
But do not let them in.


Open shut them, open shut them,
To the shoulders fly,
Then let them like the birdies
Flutter flutter to the sky


Falling, falling, slowly downward
Almost to the ground
Then quickly raise the fingers
Turning turning round and round!
Faster, faster.
Slower, slower.
Turn them round and round!

Crocheting for Dummies

Since Maia started going to Waldorf Kindergarten this summer, I have forced myself to learn being crafty. I've had my short crafty moments when I was younger (learned embroidery, cross-stitching, bead-making to name a few) but those were mostly fueled by boredom so I never got to really passionately learn them or develop a skill. I easily dropped them when something new came up and never really looked back. 


Now that I'm a mom to a very curious and adventurous preschooler, I sort of regret not developing that crafty side of me. 


But, thank God for You Tube! At least I had online tutorials for my weekly projects. 


From cutting and pasting and tying japanese lantern paper, I've decided to move the scale a notch higher and aim for more ambitious projects. I've listed down several projects that the little girl and I can do together, but I wanted to do something like a dolls or a toy maybe for Maia to play with.


Since Maia is fond of our storytelling activities I decided to try my hand at crocheting finger puppets. I have yet to really start on it but I am hoping to jump into it when Maia finishes her summer sessions. 


For now, I leave you with this tutorials from You Tube. I do hope I can make similar puppets to this one video.







And maybe I'll make crocheted flowers like these too. Yay, I'm getting quite excited at the thought of it! I can't wait to start on this project! I promise to post pictures once I've completed at least one.

Parent Introductory Afternoon at St Mikael Playhouse

I received this email from Sujata (the school director) yesterday and thought I'd share it here since you might be interested with Waldorf and this is a wonderful venue for you to get a clearer picture of what Waldorf kindergarten is. Ms Bella Tan is very accommodating and when we attended a similar intro talk we were able to ask all the questions that we needed answers to.

I encourage you to sign up if Waldorf is an option that you have for your toddler.

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Dear Parents!

We've scheduled another Parent Introductory Afternoon on Saturday, May 21, 2pm to 5pm at ISIP Center!

We know that some of you attended our Intro Evening last February, or are already enrolled in one of our programs. However please do pass on the information below to other parents of young children that may be interested, or those who were unable to attend then.

Or you may be a new parent exploring ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE as an option for the coming school year.

First-time attendees to this Intro may have an opportunity to avail of a free trial class!

Not only will you learn about the offerings of ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE starting this June 2011, including dates, daily rhythm, and tuition, you will also get to hear about the unique features of Steiner early childhood education from one of its pioneers, Ms. Bella Tan of Rudolf Steiner Education in the Philippines.

Reserve early!

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ST MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE
G/f, 6241 Palma cor Mañalac Sts.
Bgy. Poblacion, Makati City (near Rockwell)
Mobile: 0917 847 0848
st.michael.playhouse@gmail.com
Facebook: Look up 'St Michael Playhouse Makati'