Welcome, Mrs. Maffin!

We're thrilled to introduce our new Pre-K/Kindergarten teacher, Kim Maffin, to the St. Philip Lutheran School community!

We know that the first few days of school can be both exciting and a little nerve-wracking, so we wanted to take a moment to introduce Mrs. Maffin and give you a glimpse into the wonderful educator she is.

What excites you most about teaching Kindergarten?

Getting to see little ones as they encounter so many things for the first time!

How do you create a positive and engaging learning environment for young students? 

Mrs. Kang has helped me out by leaving a beautiful, happy classroom space. I also plan to have many hands-on manipulatives and activities to encourage learning with our whole bodies and will incorporate music and play as much as possible.

What teaching methods or philosophies do you incorporate into your classroom?

I'm looking forward to incorporating "loose part play" into our days to encourage creativity and out of the box thinking. I believe that students thrive when they are known and know they are cared for; relationship building, and social emotional learning will be a big part of our year.

Can you give parents a sneak peek at some of the themes or topics your class will explore this year?

We'll start the year off with an "All about Me" theme so I can get to know the students well, and we'll be covering wide ranging theme topics such as apples, changing seasons, holidays, plants, insects, and musical instruments, to name a few.

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of teaching? I love reading, baking, and spending time with my family (my husband Chris, son Sam (11), daughter Katie (7), and our dog Bruce).

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I was pretty clumsy as a kid, and have broken both of my wrists, and both of my pinky fingers, though not all at the same time!

Why did you choose to become a Kindergarten teacher?

There is so much beauty and joy in Kindergarten. The kids are at the very beginning of what I hope will be a lifelong love of learning, and to get to start them off on that path is an honor.

What's your favorite children's book and why?

It's hard to pick just one, but The Bear Snores On series by Karma Wilson holds a special place in my heart. It was the first series of books to gab my son's attention, my daughter loved them as well, and they both have treasured stuffed bears they would read the books to/with. The vocabulary and imagery Ms. Wilson employs are just beautiful! I have many fond memories of reading and rhyming through those books with my kids.

What are you most looking forward to this school year?

Getting to know my students and their families!

Come stop by and meet Mrs. Maffin at Back to School Night on August 15th starting at 6 PM!