First Day School activities are planned for each week, with supervised “Free Play” about once each month.  If you are not on the FDS mailing list and would like to get a weekly mailing of the upcoming schedule, send an email to Anne Anderson.
Some highlights:  The big news is that we kicked off a Dungeons and Dragons group for our older children on October 13.  The first character-building session got high-fives from the participants. We are so grateful to Adam Hurley for coordinating this activity! Dungeons and Dragons will continue on a schedule to be worked out with Adam and parents.  The younger children had a supervised “Free Play Day,” which is an effort to allow parents and the usual leaders to spend some time in Meeting for Worship.

On October 6, Lee Miller told the children about Nepal, and his upcoming trip there.  He has been collecting used clothing to take with him to give to the people in the valley he will visit.  FDS contributed to the FUNdraiser on October 20 by collecting natural materials to use in building “fairy houses.”  That is also a way to appreciate the native plants and objects in our environment. We read a story about migrants and looked on a map to see where migrants come from. 

We celebrated October birthdays and heard the Hunter Full Moon story.  On November 3, we will celebrate the Hindu Festival of Light, Diwali, which has connections in the meaning of “light” to Quakers.  We will eat traditional Diwali treats, light diya lanterns, and draw “rangoli” patterns with colored powders.  We may also sponsor an “Ofrenda” for Dia de los Muertos.  Everyone is invited to bring a photo or memento of a loved one who is no longer with us to share.  We will also have photos of meeting members who are no longer with us.
On November 10, following Meeting for Worship, parents will meet together with Ministry and Counsel to talk about how to better engage our young children in worship.  We also want to try to include Quaker themes more explicitly into our weekly programs.