What's in a name?

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title.”

We are all familiar with the lament of Juliet who so beautifully expresses that the Montague name has kept her away from her beloved Romeo. Although Juliet is expressing that she would love Romeo no matter his name, the two families divide is eternally linked with that very name. Names are important. They help us identify, distinguish, and bestow uniqueness on an individual or group.

In the preschool setting, the directors work very hard to learn 160 names in the first few weeks of school because we realize how important that name is to a little person, and the true connectedness we hope to attain. Likewise, we understand that when our preschoolers go outside to choose a favorite class tree, the name they choose for it will instill a much deeper connection and love for nature than simply calling it “tree.” Many of our classroom teachers send home a stuffed animal pet for the children to take on family outings so that they may initiate journal entries and photos. The class will choose a name for this inanimate pet, so the children might think of their stuffed buddy as a friend. Each spring when we unveil our school-wide life cycles unit, the school seeks name ideas for our fuzzy chicks and votes for a favorite. Last year our chicks were named “Peanut Butter and Jelly,” while the previous year we housed a yellow chick named “Salt” and a gray chick named “Pepper.”

It is with that same knowledge and understanding, that our website blog has acquired a name. We hope the LANK community will connect, identify, and feel the significance of the words in print, and refer to it by name. The Bear Necessities seems the perfect choice to convey news, educational thought, tips, and all things LANK. The Bear Necessities will continue to appear on the first Wednesday of each month; looking forward to sharing more on November 7th!