Onward and upward

Okay, so we are delaying the start of the school for 1 year and we will begin with the Adult and Family Professional Development Center in the spring of 2011. What to do now…

Well besides piles of laundry, dinners and lunches to make, diapers to change and wash, gardens that need tending and a house that needs constant organization, there is lots that can be done now. For starters I will continue my reading of educational approaches, because that just makes me feel good. Right now that is “The 100 Languages of Children” about the Reggio approach. What I am really intrigued by there is that all the learning they do in the Kindergarten classes is project based, child directed project based learning utilizing as many different mediums as possible. Some of the projects these 5 year olds do would blow your socks off, totally amazing. If you live in the Portland area, I highly recommend a tour of the Helen Gordon Child Development Center, they are Reggio based and they are doing some incredible things with their Kindergarten classes.

In addition we are still in the process of reworking our brand and identity. Owen Jones and Partners is doing an amazing job with that. The peeks they have given us have taken my breath away and I look so forward to sharing those with you when they are ready for the big reveal. But I can tell you there is a new look, feel and name coming your way soon!

So, as you can see there is plenty to keep me busy. Oh, of course there is also the whole Conditional Use Permit that is still in process and we are working closely with the owners of the space and their architects to get that through the city. Right now that looks like lots of meetings with the Neighborhood Association and the actually neighbors who live within 400 feet of the building. And then there is spring all around me reminding me of the continuous cycles of the natural process of death and rebirth. Boy am I grateful for all that I have been able to manifest so far… keeping you posted.

Postpone

For those of you not in my immediate circle, you may not have heard yet. We are in fact postponing the opening of our little venture here until March 2011. Instead of leading with the K-8 school, we open the Adult and Family Professional Development Center first. This development is due to several things, but mostly due to the building we are hoping to be in. It needs a Conditional Use Permit and that takes time. Since we won’t know about the permit for sure until July, we can’t possibly start a school in September.

So, one more year of school for my little one in another setting, one more year of my husband in a job he likes, but that does not feed his soul and one more year of precious time with my littlest one before I am back to work full time. Although I have to say that starting a project of this magnitude, having an 8 month old and a 4 year old and being involved in a cooperative preschool pretty much takes up all my time.

I was a little disappointed at first, but honestly I think it is really the right choice. There is plenty to do in the meantime. Gives me more time to read about Reggio Amelia for example, what an amazing place that seems to be, and plan my classroom. More time to watch the spring explode around me and remember that life’s one consistency is change.

Getting closer

We are moving ever closer to our goal. In addition to almost having found a place to have our school, we are have starting working with Owen Jones on our Marketing. All peices are slowly coming together. This process is a stange one moving in fits and starts. One week there will be nothing happening, then the next I have a pile on my desk and no idea how I am going to get through it all with two small children pulling me in seven different directions as it is. And, I just want to say one thing abou time. It has boarded the bullet train. I was having a glass of wine with a friend last night whos daughter is turning 18 and going off to college. I know that it is just right around the corner for me and it makes me think about what is really important, what really matters most to me. Closeness. The closeness of being in true relationship with myself and with my family members. Reminds me again why I am doing this.