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Welcome to our K/1 multiage classroom website. Eight years ago, Ms. Goldstein and I took a risk and started HHE’s multiage family. We researched and visited schools with thriving multiage programs and couldn’t help but fall in love with the philosophy. The smiles on the faces of the kids and their parents as they spoke about their love for their school's program were unforgettable. The multiage configuration seemed to give the children and their families “more.” More time with their teacher, more time with their classmates, more family activities and opportunities to bond outside of school, and more focus on character and leadership in the family structure of the classroom. Each year’s vibe is slightly different, but I am always amazed by the connections the children make and the ways they inspire one another.

K/1 multiage is a special place where magic happens each and every day!

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This year's multiage theme: 'I can do hard things.'

Every summer our team selects a theme to embrace throughout the school year. We love how the theme creates an immediate sense of community within our students. This year’s theme is “I can do hard things." This simple phrase is a growth mindset mantra that reminds us we can accomplish tasks first perceived as "too hard." It reminds us to try new things, push ourselves and grow our minds.

Growth mindset is not exclusive to the classroom, and it can be carried into your home dynamic. Research shows that a growth mindset impacts student performance and ultimate success. Parents are their child's first and most important teachers. If you want to learn more about growth mindset and how you can model it in your home, check out the links below.

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Take a look at our Amazon wish list.

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Every year, generous families just like yours ask if there is anything we could use in our classroom. For years I never knew what to say, not wanting anyone to feel obligated. I isimply smiled and said we didn't need anything. Fast forward a few years, and I built up the confidence to respond with a couple items. However, I ended up receiving those same things from nearly every family and struggled to find space to store everything. But then Amazon wish list became a game changer.. Since adding a wish list, my students have benefited immensely. If you want to see what's on our list, click the big star on the left or the small amazon icon on the upper right corner of our website. Each wish list item includes a brief description of how it will be used in our classroom this year. No pressure to purchase, but if you can help, have the item shipped to your house and your child can deliver it to me at school.

Throughout the years, countless Parkland families have contributed supplies to make our Beach Buddy classroom the cozy, book-filled, and truly unique space it is today. As the saying goes...it certainly takes a village.

New Year...New Website...Same Beach Buddies!!

As you may have noticed, BeachBuddyKids.com got a makeover this summer! The look and navigation of the site is new, and I've tried to create the page in a way that makes "multiage mom'ing" as easy as possible. The icons in the upper right of the site are my favorite. They are shortcuts to send me an email, add money to your child's cafeteria account, online field trip payment and more! I really tried to think of everything you might need.

Teacher Tip: We use the 'kid links' page in our classroom every time we login to our laptops. I suggest bookmarking it on your home computers and tablets. It provides access to different educational sites, browsers, and games. Because it is mostly icons, children are able to navigate it with little to no support, fostering a sense of independence.

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