What is the most important lesson of preschool? Is it learning the ABC’s or the 123’s? Is it using the potty or sitting in a circle? Perhaps mastering the preschool coat flip or cleaning up after yourself? While all of these are valuable lessons of the preschool years, the most important lesson is one of love and friendship.

Play is the most effective vehicle for developing friendships at Spruce. Acorns arrive at school wholly egocentric and playing next to each other but eventually find shared interests and begin to engage in simple dramatic play. The Willows take it to another level, playing “home” complete with parents, children and pets. The Maples and Oaks expand the dramatic play scenarios even more, pretending to be knights or pilots, princesses and veterinarians.

During play, complex negotiations take place, and friendships are solidified. Teachers work with children to acknowledge their feelings, to help them use their words to resolve conflicts and to include everyone. The rule at school is “You can’t say you can’t play.” You can play independently, but if you play with one friend, everyone is welcome.

While we scaffold the children’s interactions to support kindness, we also actively teach kindness at Spruce. If a child hurts another, we ask him to look at the other child’s face, observe how that person is feeling and understand that his actions upset the other child. We then ask him to make amends by offering a hug, or a turn with the desired object or a boo boo bear. By exploring the consequences of their actions, children learn kindness.

The close friendships formed in pre-school often extend beyond the walls and years of Spruce. Our alumni establish book clubs, play on sports teams or take music or dance classes together, despite attending different schools. Many alumni families get together socially years after their Spruce days have ended. Even our high school alums still see friends from Spruce, and the skills they learned while tussling over the pink princess dress serve them well as they negotiate their increasingly complex worlds.

Friendship and love is the foundation for a lifetime of learning, and preschool is where it all begins!

Yours always,

Christie

Spruce Street Nursery School Newsletter

Learning: Love and Friendship at Spruce Street

Winter 2013Volume 20

Above Christie, with husband Tom and son Nate ‘01, at this year’s Holiday Party

“Spruce Street is the place where we can learn and play. Exciting things are happening here everyday. Friendships here are built to last. Time goes by here way too fast.”

- from the Spruce Street theme song by Maggie Magner

SAVE THE DATE!Auction 2013

Friday, April 26 at 6:30PMRitz-Carlton Ballroom

Planning for Auction 2013 is well underway! With a record number of new families participating on the committee, the Eric Carle-themed event is looking to be one of our best community-builders to date. The festivities will take place on Friday, April 26th at the Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common starting at 6pm. New attractions for this year’s party include a DJ to keep everyone on their toes!

This annual fundraiser is critical to the financial health of the school and a true all-Spruce effort. Its success depends on the creativity, dedication and generosity of the entire community.

You will be hearing from the co-chairs soon about how to place a fabulous photo of your child in the Program, but if you have any other questions (or contributions!) before that, please email Kate Gilbane (Acorn), Courtney Winter (Oak) or Susan Boney (Acorn). Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Auction kick-off party on January 24th. It was an amazing preview of the Spruce spirit that powers the Auction. Finally, here is a sneak peek at some of our best items:

l Nantucket Wine Festival 2013 Weekend Getaway for three lucky couples.

l Wine Dinner For Ten by The Catered Affair in the privacy of a Spruce family’s Boston home.

l Palm Beach Couples Getaway with fabulous accomodations on Worth Avenue, dinners at two of the hottest local restaurants, shopping gift certificates and more .

Heard on Spruce StreetThis winter the Acorns learned about love. To help show their love, the Acorns wrote friendship letters and then took a trip to the mailbox to send the letters to their friends. We asked the Acorns how else they show their love. Here are their responses:

♥ Henry: I give my BFF LuLu a two finger tap.

♥ Lizzie: So much hugs and kisses.

♥ Sarah: I love them hugs and kisses.

♥ Dillan: Hugs and kisses.

♥ Field: I tell my Mommy and Daddy.

♥ Hugh: I play with friends.

♥ Cora: Hugs.

♥ Deven: I give them hugs.

♥ Sophie: I love you pinch and kisses.

♥ Max: Kiss.

♥ Peter: Hug.

♥ Mena: Mamma.

♥ Luke R.: Play cars Will!

♥ Stella: Love you.

♥ Sly: Give hugs.

♥ Garrett: Play Thomas with Mommy.

♥ Tessa: Momma.

♥ Luke A.: Give kisses.

Teacher NewsAs busy as our teachers are in the

classroom, they still have found time for some major life changes outside of Spruce Street.

We are delighted to announce that two of our teachers are engaged!

Marybeth Miller (Willow teacher) is engaged to marry longtime boyfriend Patrick O’Keefe (the couple pictured above left).

Over the December holiday, Lauren Jaquin (Float teacher) got engaged to boyfriend Brendan Merrell (the couple, above right).

Spruce Street congratulates Lauren and Marybeth! Best wishes to both teachers from the entire Spruce community!

Fun Continues at Extended DayKick off your new year with fun and friends

in Extended Day. Our current theme is Disney, and the children have had a blast making 101 Dalmatians, decorating magic mirrors, eating Mickey Mouse pancakes, and flying on magic carpet rides. The next unit will provide even more exciting adventures: Dinosaurs!

Annual Fund Starts StrongThe 2012-2013 Annual Fund is off to

a fantastic start! Thus far, we have raised $148,350 in contributions, gifts generously made by 32 current families, as well as many alumni, grandparents and friends of the school. Thank you all for your incredible kindness and devotion to Spruce. As always, our goal is one of participation— we hope to reach 100% participation from our current families and have a record year for alumni participation. Please consider a gift of any size! You may send your donations to:

Spruce Street Nursery School 5 Avery Place

Boston, MA 02111

Or donate online at sprucestreet.org. The Annual Fund will close on June 30th, 2013. Thank you!

Family to Family Thanks SpruceAgain this year, Spruce families

partnered with Family to Family, a charity started in 2006 by Spruce alumni India ‘06, Henry ‘04 and their mother Tricia Claudy after they lost their father to colon cancer. India, Henry and Tricia write as a thank you for our support:

“Thank you for being a part of Family to Family this year! You gave us an incredible gift in remembering our father, and you touched the lives of so many families through your thoughtfulness and generosity.

It is a hectic season and your stopping to make a difference in the lives of these families facing cancer is so greatly appreciated.

We wish you a very happy holiday and all good things for a healthy, wonderful New Year.”

SAVE THE DATE

Monday, February 18thPresidents’ Day - No School

Tuesday, February 19thStaff Development Day - No School

March 18th - 29thSpring Break

Thursday & Friday, April 11th & 12thParent Teacher Conferences

Monday, April 15thPatriots Day - No School

Monday, May 27thMemorial Day - No Classes

Wednesday, June 12th Ending Ceremonies- Fly Away

The Shaws wish all Sprucers new and old a very happy new year. After six magical years,

it has been very strange not to drop off at Spruce every morning. It has been wonderful, however, to have all Shaws under one roof for the first time at Shady Hill School in

Cambridge. James ‘08 is in 4th grade study-ing ancient Greece. He is in the orchestra and already thinks he may be a composer! Julia ‘09 is in the 2nd grade studying the Charles River. She has become an avid reader and also enjoyed being part of a cross-country running team this fall. Emma ‘12 is a Beginner with more attitude than Shady Hill can handle! She has Pheobe Crowley ‘12 by her side to ease the transition into a new school. The kids are never far from their old Spruce friends and see them in the soccer fields and on the bus to summer camp. The Spruce days will always hold the dearest of memories.

The Kerrigans have settled in Cambridge right around the corner from BB&N. Jack ‘08 is happily in third grade playing hockey and soccer, skiing when possible and keeping busy. Max ‘11 entered Kindergarten this year and enjoys school tremendously—partly because of his four Spruce buddies in the same classroom (Robbie Baker, Ryan Farokhzad, Cole Oberg, Carter Anne Williams). The boys love having a yard and often help Jeff mow the lawn. Lisa is slowly adjusting to the idea of having grass out the window. We all miss nursery school and are forever grateful for the magic of Spruce.

It was a bittersweet fall for the Crowleys as we entered the school year without a Sprucer for the first time in seven years. Although we missed the familiar routines of Spruce, we love having all three kids together at Shady

Hill! Pheobe ‘12 was thrilled to finally be going to school with “the boys” and hit the ground running the first

day of school. Charlie ‘10 is in first grade and Danny ‘08 is a third grader. Both boys are busy this winter playing hockey and on the ski team. Everyone is doing great!

“There’s no place like home!” After living in Zurich, Sydney, and London, the Madisons are back in Boston. Jamie ‘09 and Tommy ‘06 just started in third and sixth grade at BB&N and are excited to be with many of their old SSNS friends. Jack is attending boarding school in Zuoz, Switzerland (near St. Moritz) and is skiing and snowboarding on a daily basis. They look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Former Spruce teacher Abby McClure Lewis reports: I am living in Rumford, RI with my hus-band Chadd and our three girls. Life feels like a whirlwind most of the time, but we are all healthy and very happy, and that is all we can ask for. The girls, Piper (8), Scout (6) and Walker (4) are loving school and busy with swimming, act-ing, tennis and soccer. It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since I was a teacher at Spruce. I always look forward to getting the Spruce Street Roots in the mail. The girls and I enjoy looking at the photos, catching up with what is currently happening at SSNS and, of course, reading about what all the alumni and their families are up to.

Chandler ‘09 and Tuck ‘11 Gilbane are in second grade and kindergarten respectively at Park, where they stay connected with lots of fellow Spruce alums! Chandler loves reading, art, gymnastics and anything that involves a microphone. Tuck enjoys Lego, board games, math, skiing, skating and anything that in-volves a ball. Tom is assistant coaching Tuck’s Ice Mice hockey team in Brookline this winter, and Kate has been practicing teaching yoga in both kids’ homerooms, hoping to finish her Lit-tle Flower Yoga certification by next fall. Both

big sibs are proud and envious of Hugh’s Acorn year so far. They had a blast at the December birth-day celebration where

they saw old teachers, listened to Christie read “Happy Birthday, Moon” and watched Hugh blow out the candles. Here they are with longtime sitter, friend and former Spruce teacher Chelsea Holmes Riccio, who is still a huge part of our lives.

Former teacher Audrey Shea is still living in NYC after a trip to Brazil this winter. After working at a few different types of schools in New York, Audrey reports that Spruce is still the most warm and special place. “All schools say they are a family,” says Audrey, “but Spruce really is!”

Former Acorn teacher Jessica Niessink Pratt writes: We have had a wonderful 2012,

the highlight being the birth of our beautiful daughter Olivia Kathleen. Chris and I are having so much fun with Olivia

watching her little personality come alive. I love being at home, but I miss teaching and everyone at Spruce. I can’t wait to show Olivia what a magical place it is!

Spruce alums Leyla ‘06 and Max Ewald ‘07 say hello from across the street! Yes, we are still loving living on Avery Street. We’ll know the thick of winter is over when we see adorable Spruce kids (and teachers!) back in the Common playing. Leyla and Max are still thriving at Park School. Leyla is enjoying the independence of 6th grade and traveling to classes, as opposed to having a homeroom teacher. She is busy swimming competitively in her free time. Max is in 4th grade, and his favorite class is Woodworking. He still loves all sports but has hit the slopes particularly hard this winter and is skiing a ton. We send lots of love to the entire Spruce family.

The Leavitt boys, Sam ‘02 and Will ‘02, are 14 years old and attend an English Senior school, King’s College School in Wimbledon. We just moved to South Kensington in London, and the family still enjoys the amazing city, even after 5 years. At school the boys excel

in Math, History and Religious Studies, and they are learning Chinese. They are on the school ski team,

competing around Europe, and they also play rugby and field hockey. The past couple of years have been fantastic in London. The photo shows Sam and Will on the ends with cousins celebrating holidays in Florida.

Send your Alumni updates to admin@sprucestreet.org

Alumni Family Tree

Please join us forSPRUCE STREET NURSERY SCHOOL’SSeventh Annual Alumni and All-School

Ice Skating Party

Steriti Memorial Rink561 Commercial Street

Boston’s North End

Saturday March 2nd4:00-6:00 PM

Pizza and drinks will be provided. Please bring helmets.

Skate and crate rentals available.

Hockey sticks and pucks will be allowed on one end of the rink for the annual Alumni Hockey Game.

Holiday Party 2012

Spruce Street Nursery School 5 Avery Place Boston, MA 02111 617-482-5252