EARTH DAY • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

is a Family Day at Escuela. Join your children from 8:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. to celebrate Earth Day. Please let your child's teacher(s) know if you or another friend or relative will not be able to attend. Remember: school closes at 1 p.m., childcare will not be available.  Please read below for further details:

For nearly one-quarter of a century, Escuela del Sol has made Earth Day one of the highlight events of the school year. Earth Day symbolizes so much of what is at the core of Escuela's educational philosophy: the view of life as an inter-connected web encompassing all creatures and all forms of life in our big, amazing, wonderful universe.

Every year students choose a variety of activities and goals, from raising funds for rain forest preservation to working on local watershed reclamation projects. Learning about sustainability, water conservation, and various alternative energy sources is at the heart of our annual event. Lessons and activities culminate in an annual celebration that includes a neighborhood parade, a musical performance by Escuela students, a family potluck luncheon, and activity booths and games on the school lawn.

Earth Day is one of Escuela's unique traditions - an event that current families look forward to and former students remember with great affection. We encourage all families join us for this celebration of the Earth and our community! Please see below for important details.

Parade
Drummers will lead us in a walking parade around our neighborhood. Students in the Elementary Art Program are creating giant puppets and creative reuse musical instruments for this year's jubilee. Feel free to dress up in celebration of the Earth and Spring. You are welcome to bring wagons for your children or maybe your child can create a special Earth Day banner or sign. The parade will leave promptly at 9:00 a.m. from the south parking lot. Please assemble your family by 8:45. All children should walk with their families.

Earth Day Music Performance
Following the parade, around 10:00, our music performance will begin. Directed by Escuela Music Director, Ms. Cathy Suding, the performance will take place in the front of the Harwood Art Center.

Earth Day Activities
The fun continues with games and other activities after the music performance. Each class is sponsoring an activity. Your child's teachers can provide more details.

BYOP & U (Bring Your Own Plates & Utensils)
For the past three years, we have had a large number of families bring their own reusable plates and utensils for the potluck. We hope to maintain this tradition, especially considering that it is Earth Day. Let's give the landfill a break for a day!

Potluck
The potluck will begin at 11:00 a.m. We'd like to let our youngest students be served first - so Toddlers will head the line, then Primary, Junior Elementary, and finally Senior Elementary. We'll be dining al fresco on the Elementary playground so you might want to bring a blanket to sit on. Since lunch is potluck, we are asking each family to contribute to the feast:

Toddler & Primary Families - Main dish for 8
Junior Elementary - Side dish or salad for 8
Senior Elementary Families - Dessert for 8
Faculty & Staff - Chips (or bread) for 8

Escuela T-Shirt Sales
Escuela t-shirts (and tote bags!) will be available for purchase. Prices vary by size and style.

Earth Day ends and school closes at 1:00 p.m. There will be no childcare available.

Questions? Please contact Elizabeth Marcilla at 242-3033 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).