Preschool News

We've been busy.  These last couple weeks we've transitioned to a fall leaf theme.  We have taken nature walks around our school to collect leaves.  We've played with corn in our sensory table.  We've explored the fall colors of brown, red, green, yellow and orange.  We've read many fall stories and talked about season changes.  We are practicing putting on our own jackets and zipping all by ourselves.  Our dramatic play center has been busy since we've added baby dolls and dress up clothing.  Next week it'll become a pumpkin farm!  We've completed many craft projects.  One that we sent home already was the corn letters.  Each child explored the first letter of their name in a new way by gluing corn kernels on paper.  Teaching literacy with the young child can be done in so many fun ways such as the corn tactile letters but also by making letters out of play dough or practicing letters in finger paint.  There are many stages of literacy development.  Some children are still scribbling which is a completely normal developmental stage.  The key in literacy development is to celebrate each stage.  Look for a handout soon in the take home folders with the stages of literacy development. 

Our fall celebration will happen on October 30 and 31st from 1-2 p.m.  You are invited to join us for a special snack, group time and a little trick or treating.  Due to allergies in the class please wait until I send home a list of safe treats to bring in or send in with your child.  More info about the parties will be coming soon. 

Any questions please never hesitate to call, email or write me a note.  I am very much looking forward to this school year.  Both our classes are full of fantastic students who are creating great friendships. 

Here are some photos of our fun finger painting sensory experience from this week. 

We painted with apples!

During group time we talked about all the things you can do with apples.  The students were happy to hear that painting was one of them.  We painted with apples on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. 

Snapshots of our classroom

Here is our reading center.   We are fully stocked with books all about apples.

This is one of our language charts.  We will work on simple adding and subtracting.

This is one of the first songs we will sing in the morning.  This helps with name recognition.

"I Spy" center.  Each bottle is filled with little objects to spy.  This helps with communication and cognitive skills.

Our math game.  Students will be able to roll a die, take turns, sort apples and so much more.  Ms. Sandy made this game and I'm sure the students are going to enjoy it.

This is our science center.  The students will be able to experiment with magnets.

The dramatic play center will be a kitchen for the next couple weeks.

The manipulative toy area where we work on fine motor and problem solving skills.

Your child will have an opportunity to sign his or her name everyday at our sign in center.  Remember scribbling is one of the first stages of writing.

This is the writing center.

This is our chart where your child will place his or her name to let us know he or she is at school.

Another language chart which works on color recognition.

Welcome

Hi Families,

I am so excited to start this school year.  I'm also excited that you are checking out our class blog.  I think this blog will be a great tool for you to use to stay connected. 

Thank you to all of you who sent in paperwork and stopped by these last two weeks.  If you haven't turned in your paperwork make sure you do so by your child's first day of school.  The earlier the better.

Remember to send in:
A family photo (you can email me one and I can print it if you'd like)
Nap items in a bag to keep at school
A change of clothes for accidents or big spills
Diapers, pull-ups, wipes etc... if needed

Many of you already have your child's communication folder in hand.  If not, you will receive it on the first day of school in your child's backpack.  Make sure you check your child's folder and backpack regularly.  At the beginning of the year there seems to be a lot of paperwork that needs to be sent back and forth from home to school but I promise this slows down as the year progresses.

Update on Ms. Janie: As some of you know she had back surgery over the summer.  She also ended up with a couple complications that have caused her recovery period to be a little longer.  She will not start the year with us but she plans on returning as soon as she can.  Ms. Lynda Higgins will be our classroom assistant while Janie is out.  Ms. Lynda has substitute taught for both Janie and I in the past.  She's a great fit for preschool.

Ms. Sandy Lemmink will be our student teacher until December.  Her and I have been very busy setting up the classroom.  She is fantastic.

We are starting out our year learning about apples.  Photos to come soon.  We will paint with apples, sort apples, taste apples, read books about apples, and so much more. 

Remember you can always call, email or write in the communication folder with any questions or concerns.

Transportation

Please see Mr. Thacker's post about transportation tag pick-up.  It is my understanding that all student will get a new tag and number this year.  

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Beginning of the School Year 2012

August 2012

Dear Families,

            I hope your summer is moving along safely and happily.  Janie and I are thrilled to begin a new school year. 

            We know many of you are looking ahead to the new school year and we will be here every step of the way to make sure that it is a smooth transition for both you and your child.

            The first day of preschool is September 18^th but we hope to have contact with you prior to then.  Teachers reported back to school on August 29th for professional development.  Our days will be filled with trainings and preparation, but we will be available for any questions or concerns. 

Please bring to open house or the first day of school:

-          Please make sure you send in an extra change of clothes (including socks) in your child’s backpack.  We will store the clothes at school and return at the end of the year.

-          Diapers, wipes, pull-ups.  Please send enough for at least a week of school. (if needed)  We will notify you when our supply is getting low.

-          Family photo to post in our room

-          Clothing: Preschool can be messy at times because we participate in all types         of hands-on activities such as painting, coloring, water play, play dough etc…  Please make sure that the clothes your child comes to preschool in are play clothes.  We wear smocks during our messy activities and cannot promise stainless clothing. 

-          Shoes:  We run, jump, climb, etc… Please make sure your child wears comfortable shoes that do not slip off.  Mulch will get into open toed shoes and sandals on the playground therefore we ask that your child wear closed toe shoes such as sneakers.

-          Backpack-large enough to transport nap items and standard sized notebooks and folders.

Important Information

-          Open House Thursday September 6^th from 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.   You are invited to stop in anytime during the 2 hours. This will be a good opportunity to ask questions, see the classroom, return paperwork etc…

-          Lunch-Your child will have the opportunity to purchase or pack a lunch to eat at school. We are very excited about eating lunch at school, as it will provide even more opportunities for communicating, teach self-help skills etc…  We will be eating lunch in our classroom.  Your child may also purchase milk or “extra” items to go along with the packed lunch.  If your child buys a lunch Ms. Janie or I will pick it up from the cafeteria and bring it to the classroom.  If your child packs a lunch we cannot heat items up or keep them cool so please pack accordingly.  Please do not pack any lunch items containing Peanuts or Peanut Products.

-          Rest Time: After lunch we will have a rest period.  Each child will have a cot to rest on.  Your child may bring in a small blanket and/or small pillow for his or her cot.  We ask that you provide a large resealable plastic bag to keep the rest items in.  The items will be kept at school and returned periodically for a wash. 

-          Transportation: Please do your best to attend a meeting with Mr. Thacker.  A letter should be arriving soon regarding the meeting.

-          Communication Folder: Your child will have a communication folder provided by preschool for any important paperwork.  A communication notebook is not required this year.

-          Snack: We will provide snack daily.

-          School Supplies: There isn’t a mandatory school supply list but donations are always welcome (disinfecting wipes, tissues, paper towels, glue sticks, crayons, washable markers)

Please never hesitate to call or email with questions or concerns.

Graduation

The last day of preschool for the 2011-2012 school year was so much fun.  Whether the student was finishing his or her preschool career or successfully completed a year of preschool we celebrated.  Here are some photos to remember our special day.  I look forward to seeing all the returning preschoolers in the fall and hearing about how well the Kindergarteners are doing!