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Mangrove February Update

by Erin Melia · March 27, 2019

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6210 Crestwood Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34231

School Hours:
Nursery: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
VPK: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
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Grades: 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
1:30 pm on Thursdays

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mangroveschoolofsarasota

Fostering a community of warmth and support for pa

Fostering a community of warmth and support for parents, and a nurturing atmosphere of joy and respect for young children.💗

Our Little Clamshells program is currently accepting new families for our winter session!

Each morning is a rhythmic experience of seasonal songs and stories, free play, and handwork projects, enjoyed by parents and children alike.

Take a peek into your child's development and interactions with other children in the same age range in a community setting, during this distraction free, parent and child special time together. 🌿

The class meets each Friday morning outdoors, from 9:30-12, and is led by Ms Renée

Message us for more info, or full out the registration form on our website, under "Apply Now".
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"Nature's peace will flow into you, like sunshine

"Nature's peace will flow into you, like sunshine flows into trees" ~ John Muir

Time in nature, especially quiet times spent patiently observing, daydreaming, and reflecting, can stimulate a child's sense of beauty, appreciation, wonder, and peace.🕊

Here Grandmother Oak lends her strong arms for some relaxing time in Forest Kindergarten🌳🌴🌲
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📷 by Ms Amanda

“I asked the leaf whether it was afraid to fall,

“I asked the leaf whether it was afraid to fall, since it was autumn and the other leaves were falling. The leaf told me, "No. During the whole spring and summer I was very alive. I worked hard and helped nourish the tree, and much of me is in the tree. Please do not think that I am just this form, because this leaf form is only a tiny part of me. I am the whole tree. I know that I am already inside the tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish the tree. That is why I do not worry. As I drop from the branch and float down to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon.’"

~ Thich Nhat Hanh in “The Other Shore” (Parallax 2017)

In honor of wise and beloved teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, with love and gratitude for all he offered to humanity. Peace, peace, peace.🕊

"When we're in touch, when we're fully aware of the wonder of walking on the Earth, each step nourishes and heals us."
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Let's spread love, far and wide! Thanks to our s

Let's spread love, far and wide!

Thanks to our sweet Sandpipers, these wooden tokens of love, joyfully painted, were shared among their families and our classes last week, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr and his contributions to humanity. He believed anyone could serve, and so do we! Even the smallest hands can be helpful and lift others. 💗

“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”

Sending peace, love and reflection as we honor Dr King today.🕊
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This Forest Friday 🌳 brought an opportunity for

This Forest Friday 🌳 brought an opportunity for some of our students to expand their connection to a unique area, where Manatee river meets Terra Ceia and Tampa Bays, with a salt water fishing clinic, thanks to Manatee County and Palmetto Bait Shop!

They learned to tie a few knots, practice fish identification skills, and learn the basics of catch and release fishing in Florida, by casting their lines at Emerson. Each student was also offered fishing handbooks should they choose to explore this skill further.

This was new territory for us, but we love having the opportunity to introduce children to different types of outdoor activities that enhance their naturalist practice.

Besides gaining an understanding of fishing, which is pretty popular here and certainly an important aspect of our local history, they learn how to do it safely, and how to recognize responsible participation and stewardship for our natural resources. 🌊
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"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accompli

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."

~ Lao Tzu

Slow, unrushed mornings were meant for childhood.🌿 Imagine all that can be taken in when sitting here in the sand, when present and aware, open to the surroundings. Not hurrying to get somewhere else, not worrying about what you'll do next...

And if you're lucky, you get some in as an adult too!!😅 🙏

Happy Forest Friday 🌳🌴We are so glad to be back!

Have a beautiful weekend; we hope it finds you outside, and unhurried!🥰
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📷 Ms Amanda

It's a new day and a new year, let us all be grate

It's a new day and a new year, let us all be grateful and delighted by the fresh air we breath, the soft grass to walk upon, the warm sunshine, its rises and sets...

Life can be so hard sometimes, but there are so many hidden treasures if we open our eyes to see them, in nature, and in us(!)... children laughing, singing, really playing, sharing their wisdom, learning together, growing together, making up games...these surround us every day and we are so, so very LUCKY!

Please join us in making this first day of 2022 one of gratitude and intention. What do you want to grow this year? What can you do today that supports that? It can just be one tiny thing, but by doing so, we show up for ourselves, and this makes us much more able to show up for others, too. Our families, our friends, our community, etc.

Wishing everyone more love, connection, fun, community, peace, and miracles in 2022. May all beings be well and happy.🌠
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Sincere gratitude to our Tender Root Forest Kinder

Sincere gratitude to our Tender Root Forest Kindergarten families who contributed to a fundraiser by Ms Birte and Ms Amanda, for a favorite organization, @heiferinternational
They are sending:
1 goat 🐐
honeybees 🐝
a flock of chickens 🐓
to families in need across the 🌎

Thank you Tender Root families!💗

Pictured here is one of the cutest of cute baby goats at @cmnc_in_old_miakka, one of the most special places in the area..and a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle. Visit if you haven't! 🌳💚🌳
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"Deep Mid-Winter drawing near, Darkness in our Gar

"Deep Mid-Winter drawing near,
Darkness in our Garden here.
One small flame yet bravely burns
To show a path which ever turns.
Earth, please bear us as we go,
Seeking Light to send a-glow:
Branches green and moss and fern,
Mark our path to trace each turn.
Brother animals, teach us too
To serve with patience as you do.
We walk with candle toward the Light
While Earth awaits with hope so bright.
In the Light which finds new birth
Love may spread o'er all the Earth.
Deep Mid-Winter drawing near,
May Light arise in our Garden here." ~ Nancy Foster

❄ Happy Winter Solstice ❄
A few pictures after our winter spiral last week🌠

One by one, each child ambles through the spiral path of greens, gazing at the various elements of each kingdom on earth hidden among the palms and cedar. 🌴🌲

Once they reach the center, their source of light, they light their candle, then begin the journey out of the spiral, leaving their light along the path, illuminating the way for those who will follow them. 🌿

Sitting under Live Oak dressed in Spanish moss, glowing under the full moon, with music by the Sandhill Cranes soaring east for the night, peace envelopes us, as we collectively hold these dear children of our community in their tender, gentle steps of reverence.💗

Spiraling in, we embrace the darkness that allows us to rest and quiet ourselves, finding our inner lights in the center, then spiraling out in light... embodies the gesture of nature this time of year, no matter where you are, in the Northern Hemisphere at least.😊

We don't have the long, cold winter here in Florida, but shorter days bring a sense of retreating in, and patience as all beings together await the return of the light..and all along, if we choose to, we can kindle our own light, deep within us, and share this with loved ones and strangers alike.🤍✨🤍
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Santa Lucia, Thy light is ☀️G L O W I N G☀

Santa Lucia, Thy light is

☀️G L O W I N G☀️

Our sweet second graders offered their very first community wide act of service last week, for our Santa Lucia festival, bringing bright citrus and uplifting song to each class on campus.🍊🎶🍊

This is a tradition we have carried for many years, yet also have adapted for our time and geographic location.

We offer oranges instead of Santa Lucia buns in order to be inclusive to all diets, as well as being true to "the land of the sun" and what is local here.💗
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And we're off! So grateful for a blissful last "of

And we're off! So grateful for a blissful last "official" Forest Friday of 2021 today.🌳 Wishing everyone in our community and beyond a peaceful and relaxing winter break! ❄🏝🌊
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Some Saturday morning sweetness for ya!🥰 Our f

Some Saturday morning sweetness for ya!🥰
Our first graders, in their very first assembly for our community, demonstrating the qualities of numbers, the patterns we see in nature...and what better way to do that, but in a song 🎵 😍
Guided by Ms Kerry💗
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Do you think they are just playing catch? 😄 Fr

Do you think they are just playing catch? 😄

From Mr Jon, upper grades teacher extraordinaire:

"Breath controls all aspects of life. While taking our morning walk, unless students in the 7/8 class spend the entire 1/2 mile talking, we are expanding our lungs and walking in a rhythmic manner. When we return to our gathering area, students stand in a circle with several foam balls lying before them. The first ball is picked up and helps us find our pathway, the order in which we toss the balls, for the day. Once established, we then see if we can spend the entire time the ball makes its way around the circle inhaling only once, and repeat the process exhaling only once. In order to accomplish this task, one must take a complete and full breath.

Humans are in the habit of only upper chest breathing. These breaths are quick and shallow, allowing only minimal exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in our lungs. Why do we breathe so inefficiently? One reason is probably because of the quality of our presence or lack thereof (anyone ever get lost in thoughts?). We open up our lungs not only to maximize essential respiratory functions, but to become more present. Enable more oxygen to reach every cell in our body, and we are literally more alive.

Well us forgetful humans may breathe several full breaths only to return to shallow breathing when our minds are covered or contracted by a thought about the past or maybe a concern about the future. To give our minds a direction and a purpose, the 7/8 class cycles through four variations of breathing. First we breathe in through and out of our noses. With one ball being tossed underhand around the circle, we breathe, catch, throw, and bring to mind things for which we are grateful. Reminders are given to breathe slowly and deeply. A quick judgment of another in our circle or a self-reprimand about an ineffective attempt at catching a ball can steal or take our breath away. There is an association between thought and breath that can be learned through this experience.

Read on in the comments...

"To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracl

"To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles." ~ Mary David

It's very easy to get caught up in the grand gestures of nature, a magnificent sunset, a clear turquoise spring, a majestic hundred year old tree...all of these things are of course so valuable and miraculous, but...

A worthwhile endeavor can also be to challenge yourself to search for the smallest miracle you can find. This practice truly awakens a child like curiosity that enlivens our spirit beyond mere appreciation...it creates a connection we aren't likely to forget. 💚 This is what children naturally do...it's best we follow them on this!🥰

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Another gorgeous Forest Friday yesterday!🌳 Perf

Another gorgeous Forest Friday yesterday!🌳 Perfect weather for lots of physical activity, such as this self guided experiential physics lesson 😄
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Happy Hannukah! 🕎 Last week a lovely mama and

Happy Hannukah! 🕎

Last week a lovely mama and daughter duo in our community shared their own heartfelt traditions and brought a deeper understanding of the festival of lights to our 3rd and 4th graders, who also happened to study the Hebrew scriptures last year, rich with wisdom for humanity.💗

Hearing the three blessings for the first night of Hannukah, singing, eating delicious potato latkes, playing the dreidel, listening to stories, and rolling beeswax candles...this was a touching, enlightening, playful, meaningful experience for our students for sure!

We are so grateful when parents share such special, reverent, nourishing, activities in our community. 🥰
What a gift! 💗💗💗
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Green Friday crowds💚🌳 Free stress relief an

Green Friday crowds💚🌳

Free stress relief and inner peace at a woods near you.😘

Did you #optoutside today?
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You'll find much cooler things out there!😄 Mak

You'll find much cooler things out there!😄

Make it a Green Friday!!🌳🌊 Join us in the growing movement of opting outside...connecting with the land, and to nature, rather than hitting the stores on Black Friday. This is the best deal out there anyway - pay no entry fee or a very modest one, and receive restorative effects on your whole being 💗🙌 Lots of wins here!

Tag us in your Green Friday pics!💚
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Gratitude can always be found if you're looking fo

Gratitude can always be found if you're looking for it.🥰

We wish you all open hearts for recognizing and honoring all that can be appreciated in your life, especially in harder times when it's so easy to do the opposite.💗

We are so, so grateful to be a part of this heartfelt community of learners...teachers, parents, and kids...an incredible collective of humans, all striving for a reverent and meaningful present and future. What a gift each day! We hope you all have a nourishing Thanksgiving with your families. 🙏🍂🌠

What are you thankful for?
Drop an emoji in the comments!🌳
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When it rains in the forest, we improvise. 💚 G

When it rains in the forest, we improvise. 💚

Going with the flow, making what we need, embracing the weather, rather than only enjoying "good weather"...many gifts to unwrap, if you're willing.🥰

Enjoy the misty morning forest friends!
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Mangrove School of Sarasota fosters a capacity for self-knowledge that is grounded in a lifelong love of learning. Our inspiring, comprehensive learning environments, trained teachers, and committed, active parents and volunteers, awaken the students' innate aptitude to be well-versed in practical, artistic, social, and academic skills. Recognizing each individual as a unique expression of body, mind and spirit, we seek to engage students through a developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to strengthen their intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities, so they may meet new opportunities in a creative and responsible manner.

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