Happy New Year & Happy Winter!

Dear Gather Families,

As winter settles around us and we step into 2026 with grateful hearts, we want to take a moment to celebrate the magical autumn we shared together and look ahead to the wonder that awaits us in these colder months.

Autumn Reflections: What We Explored Together

The Journey Within: Head, Heart, and Hands

One of the highlights of our Autumn was when our Gather children embarked on a beautiful exploration of what it means to be fully human. We began with the granny midwives—those sacred keepers of life and birth—and journeyed through our own birth stories, discovering how we each entered this world. From there, we turned our attention inward, studying our physical selves through biology: learning about brains that think, hearts that beat, and hands that create.

But we didn't stop at the science. We asked deeper questions: While a doctor can see your brain, only you can know your mind—your dreams, your passions, your inner light. We honored the whole child through this integration of head, heart, and hands, weaving together knowledge of our bodies with awareness of our spirits.This prepared our hearts and minds for the lantern walk. Our Lantern Walk -a celebration of light, community, and the inner fire that guides us through darker days. Families walked together, lanterns glowing, connecting to ancient traditions of honoring the light within during the turning of the seasons. It was a profound reminder of what Gather creates: not just educational programming, but genuine community built on presence, beauty, and shared values.

Creative Exploration in Nature

Our outdoor classroom became a studio for creativity as children wove vibrant fibers with natural materials, created art under autumn trees, and explored the changing landscape around them. We draped our spaces in warm colors—orange fabrics, hanging paper leaves, carefully curated baskets filled with possibilities. Children engaged in hands-on creative work that honored the season while developing fine motor skills and artistic expression.

Building Community Beyond the Classroom

One of the most beautiful aspects of Gather is how our community extends beyond our school days. Each month this autumn, we created opportunities for families to gather together outside of regular school time:

• September - Camping adventures under the stars

• October - Mama hang out, building connections among parents

• November - Our Thanksgiving feast, sharing abundance together

• December - Montessori Practical Life session, The Lantern Walk and EOY skating celebration

These gatherings are just the beginning. Our families have taken the spirit of community even further, creating their own spaces for connection: EEC clubs, enrichment classes, and special celebrations that weave our children and families together in ways we could never orchestrate alone. 

This Winter We are Excited About:

Movement as Medicine

As research shows, younger children (ages 6-15) are naturally resilient to the mood challenges of winter—but they still thrive when we prioritize what their bodies need most during this season: movement, fellowship, and outdoor time.

Our emphasis on outdoor activity, movement, and community connection helps support children through winter. While we may still find time for independent reading and focused lessons, our main priorities shift to staying active, building fellowship, enjoying each day's offerings, and exploring hands-on learning. Make sure you're getting outside too!

The Beauty We Create Together

Gather has always been about more than curriculum. It's about creating beautiful spaces where children can be themselves, explore freely, and develop authentic connections with nature and community. It's the orange fabric on picnic tables, the carefully organized supplies in woven baskets, the paper leaves hanging from trees, and the presence we bring to each moment together.

This winter, we'll continue that tradition—creating spaces of beauty, nourishment, and wonder, even as the temperatures drop and the days grow shorter.

The Gather Crew

Gather Forest School offers nature-based education for children ages 4-12 across Atlanta. We integrate Montessori methodology, Waldorf philosophy, and environmental justice themes to create experiential learning spaces where children develop ecological literacy, creativity, and a sense of community.