Welcome to the 2022-23 School Year!

Introductions!

Hello Waverly Families! My name is Milca Adamczyk and I can’t wait to start my
second year at the Waverly School! Last year I was lucky enough to be an Associate
Teacher in the Batty Kid’s classroom, and now I’m stepping into a co-lead role with
Rebecca in the first and second grades. My love for teaching was first ignited while
completing my MFA in Sculpture at Cal State LA. My advisor encouraged me to take
a student-teaching position and I never looked back. Before earning my California
teaching credential, I focused on teaching the Arts at both Center for the Arts in
Eagle Rock and Creative World Art School in Arcadia for 7 years. These experiences
have really influenced my teaching style in that I’ve learned that students gravitate
towards creating a rich and immersive learning experience for themselves, and my
role is to facilitate these moments of growth and curiosity. I’ve also learned that a
holistic approach to teaching and learning is best practice when it comes to children
feeling heard, seen, and valued for their ideas, thoughts, and opinions about the
world they live in.

Hi, I’m Rebecca Blum and I'm thrilled to be co-lead teaching first and second grade
this year. It is my fifth year at Waverly and my 19th year of teaching. Starting out in
Early Childhood Education for 7 years, I learned to love creating warm, caring
classroom environments where every student’s strengths get a chance to shine. After
teaching in San Francisco, Brooklyn and now Los Angeles, I have had the privilege of
learning all about education from many different types of school communities. I
have been so happy to land at Waverly and I’m particularly looking forward to
getting to know your children and your families as we all learn together this coming
year.

Theme:
Woven Together:
Connections we share with
ourselves, our environment, and other living things.

Using Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory of Development as a model,

this theme will begin with an exploration into self-identity (and a study of our daily lives
and those of children around the world) and how each of us are woven into the many
social ecosystems of our local and global communities highlighting our dependence and
connectivity to our environment. The second semester will shift from the social lens to a
biological one. We’ll come to learn about the Food-Web, Transfer of Energy,
Photosynthesis, and much more about what roles living organisms play in their
environment.

First and Second Class Supply List:

​
Brought by families: Please write your child’s name on all their personal items.

● Backpack*, without wheels.

● Water bottle

*a note about backpacks* We will be using hooks to hang backpacks, because your
student’s backpack will be hanging on a hook we will want to keep it light. It will
really only need to hold the following:

Lunch, snack, water bottle, an extra jacket or sweater as the weather changes.
 Family Questionnaire:
In the beginning of the school year we will be building our classroom community. We
will be taking time to talk about our hopes and dreams as a class and each child will
reflect on these ideas.

As an integral part of our community, we believe that parents should include their
hopes and dreams, too. This helps us as teachers know what to be aware of when
working with your student, as well as being able to speak to your concerns during
parent teacher conferences. As you think about previous years, specific challenges
that arose from hybrid school, in-person, and the upcoming year, we ask that you
take time to reflect on your hopes and dreams for your child.

Parent Names:

What do you feel will be most important for your child in school this year?

In what ways would you like to see your child grow socially?

In what ways would you like to see your child grow academically?

Anything else you want us to know right now?

Please email your responses to us at rebeccab@thewaverlyschool.org and
milca@thewaverlyschool.org. If you prefer to handwrite, you can also mail them to
the school, or even drop them off!
Student Questionnaire

Here are some questions we would like you to answer. Your grown ups, or you, can
write them in, email can go to rebeccab@thewaverlyschool.org and
milca@thewaverlyschool.org and mail can go to school, or you can drop off!

Student Names:

What is your favorite book? Is there one you have read over and over?

Where is your favorite place to go play near your home?

What is something you feel like you’re really good at?

What do you like to build with or explore when you play?

Fort building? Block creations? Dress up? Imaginative play?
What is your favorite activity to do outside?

What is your favorite quiet activity?

What kind of art do you enjoy doing? What do you like to make?

What are you hoping to learn more about next year in our classroom?

Is there anything you are feeling nervous about for next year?