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What a busy time!  We have wrapped up our penguin unit.  The children (and I) learned an amazing amount about penguins in a short time.  Their interest remained high throughout the month, and they had many fine questions.  We were especially fortunate to have Sally Eagle come in.  Sally and her husband Dan Mead are both well-known photographers, and they’ve recently returned from a month-long trip in Antarctica.  Sally offered to present a slide show of her photographs to the kindergarten.  The children were mesmerized for nearly an hour, and had lots of question for her.  It was a real treat to see her slides – they were truly spectacular.

The children continue to make excellent progress in Project Read.  They now have six consonants and one vowel (short a) in their “toolbox”.  We’ve been sounding out, reading, and spelling words all week.  The class got their first look at some short stories, exactly tailored to match the letter sounbds they know.  They were thrilled to really be decoding and reading!  Next week we’ll look at more stories and add some more consonants.

Next Wednesday is Alaska Day.  This is a beloved BCD tradition.  We’ll spend most of the day outdoors.  You’ll be receiving an email soon with some more details about the day, as well as how to dress your child so they stay warm all day.

On Friday, we’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Valentines can be brought in any day next week.  Please make sure that they have one for every member of the class.  We’ll have a class party from 9:45-10:45.

Last week we had a great Lunch Bunch, courtesy of Jamie’s family.  The class enjoyed apple-chicken sausages, mac and cheese, cheddar bunnies and clementines.  Thank you, Courtney, for a most delicious lunch!

At rest time this week, I played Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint Saens.  I explained each section as it played, and the class loved listening for all the musical references and jokes. We’ve listened to a lot of classical music this year, and the class is starting to develop quite an appreciation.

Just a reminder that there will be no school on Monday and Tuesday, February 15 and 16.

Have a great weekend!

Andrea

Hi Everyone,

This week seems to have flown by!  Punxsutawney Phil has proclaimed that he saw his shadow and therefore, there will be at least six more weeks of winter.  (We knew that!)  On Groundhog’s Day the children made pop-up groundhog puppets and we learned some silly groundhog finger plays and poems.  Each child received a Groundhog Day book to take home.  We also visited Phil’s website to see the actual announcement.

Also this week, we worked on a special project (TBA.)  We also set up poster paint at the easel and we turned our Art Center into a Valentine Center.  We have a special basket with Valentine rubber stamps and pads, words we may want to include in a special card for a friend or loved one and some special Valentine paper.  I have found that providing the children with time and a variety of art materials to explore enables them to make their own special creations.  As they work they talk of who this card or that picture will be for.  They also make pictures and valentines for one another.  It is a very sweet time in Pre K.

This week we met the Letterland character Peter Puppy.  Peter loves playing in the Letterland park.  He loves it when it rains, because then he can paddle in the puddles with the penguins.  He also likes to pop into the pool with his puppy pals.  He likes to eat peaches and pears with them and play “Pass the Parcel.”  The children had fun trying to guess what was in Peter’s present.  Next week we will meet Quarrelsome Queen and perhaps Red Robot.

On Thursday afternoon, in Miss Guerette’s absence, Viv Caputo, veteran music teacher and long time Music Department Head at BCD, joined us as a guest teacher.  She taught us the song, “One Red Valentine.”  Thank you for joining us, Mrs. Caputo.

In addition this week, our Peer Readers joined us on Wednesday and we joined Kindergarten in the gym on Friday.  We love times that we have to integrate with other children on our campus.

In French class this week, the children have been learning about Mardi Gras.  We learned about the three colors of Mardi Gras, purple, gold and green; about the King Cake with a hidden plastic baby; and about the beaded necklaces.  We also read the tale  Town Mouse, Country Mouse in preparation for the French play next week.  We will be reading The Three Billy Goats Gruff

next week to get ready for that play also.  The Middle school French classes are putting these plays on the morning of  Friday, February 12th at 8:30am, sharp, so please arrive at school by 8:15am.

BCD’s traditional Alaska Day will be held next Wednesday!  This is a fun morning filled with traditional Alaskan activities, games and a slide show.  We have indoor and outdoor activities, including s’mores at the bonfire by the pond!  The children need all outdoor clothing, boots, hat, snow pants, gloves and a warm jacket to fully enjoy this fantastic day.  We will be gathering with Lower School for a Morning Meeting and brief history of Alaska Day at 8:20 to kick off the morning, so please be at school by 8:10 a.m.

As stated in last week’s newsletter, we will have a Valentine’s Day party with the B3s on Thursday, February 11th.  Children are invited to bring Valentines in for their classmates.  If your child is going to bring in Valentines, please be sure that all of the B3s and Pre K students are included.  Thank you for signing-up for party items.  Everything is now accounted for.  Please remember that if you are sending an edible valentine, do not send anything with peanuts or tree nuts.  Thank you so much for your consideration to this matter.  You may bring Valentines in beginning Wednesday, but we will not open them until our party on Thursday.  Here is a list of the children’s names:

Beatrice     Charles       Daniel     Gabriel        Jolie

Olivia          Petra            Devan     Gabrielle    Jaidev

Lyle             Margaret    Max         Ray               Ruby

Miss Guerette has also sent home new book orders.  There are two flyers from which to order books this month.  Orders and payments should be in by Thursday, February 18th, so that the books will arrive before our March Break.  Thank you so much for your orders.  Our classroom collection of books has been nicely enriched because of the Bonus Points we earn each time.

Books we Read:

• Pigs Make Me Sneeze, by Mo Willems
• Valentine Cats, by Jean Marzollow and Hans Wilhelm
• The Valentine Bears, by Eve Bunting and Jan Brett
• Ground Hog Day, by Betsy Lewin
• Hi!  Fly Guy, by Tedd Arnold

Reminders:

• If you are sending in something to be warmed in the microwave, please be sure it is in a container that can be microwaved.  Anything with tomato sauce should come in a glass container.
• Please send needed flatware with your child’s lunch.
• Update and replenish your child’s extra clothes.
• Bring Library books on Fridays.
• Please remember to remove wet shoes or boots before entering the Preschool rooms.

Dates to Note:

Have a Great Weekend!

Ellie

What a wonderful start to February!  We started our week with Groundhog Day and viewed a real picture of Phil the groundhog on the computer.  We all learned that Phil did see his shadow and declared: “Six more weeks of winter, there shall be!”  The children are hoping that there will be more snow, too. 

In French class this week, the children have been learning about Mardi Gras.  We learned about the three colors of Mardi Gras, purple, gold and green; about the King Cake with a hidden plastic baby; and about the beaded necklaces.  We also read the tale  Town Mouse, Country Mouse in preparation for the play next week.  We will be reading Three Billy Goats Gruff next week to get ready for that play also.  The Middle school French classes are putting these plays on the morning of  February 12th. 

The children have made beautiful glittery hearts to decorate our room. They are made from white paper and the children added white glue and spread it around with their fingers and then they chose what color glitter to sprinkle on.  The hearts are on display in our classroom.  We also made new white play dough, to which we added silver glitter!  The children remarked that it sparkles like the snow!

BCD’s traditional Alaska Day will be held next Wednesday!  This is a fun morning filled with traditional Alaskan activities, games and a slide show.  We have indoor and outdoor activities, including s’mores at the bonfire by the pond!  The children need all outdoor clothing, boots, hat, snow pants, gloves and a warm jacket to fully enjoy this fantastic day.  We will be gathering with Lower School for a Morning Meeting and brief history of Alaska Day at 8:20 to kick off the morning, so please be at school by 8:10 a.m.

 We will have a Valentine’s Day party with Pre K on Thursday, February 11th.  Children are invited to bring Valentines in for their classmates.  If your child is going to bring in Valentines, please be sure that all of the B3s and Pre K students are included.  We have posted a sign-up sheet for party treats and supplies in the coat room.  Sometimes Valentines are edible.  Please remember not to send anything with peanuts or tree nuts.  Thank you so much for your consideration to this matter.  Any Valentines with candy will not be eaten in class.  Here is a list of our names:

Beatrice, Charles, Daniel, Devan, Gabriel, Gabrielle, Jaidev, Jolie, Lyle, Max, Margaret, Olivia, Petra, Ray, and Ruby! 

A new book order form with 2 fliers was sent home on Friday and are in the cubbies of our Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday children.  It is not required to order anything, however, if you do choose to, please send in the completed form with full payment no later then February 18th.  Please speak with Miss Guerette if you have any questions.

A sample of some of the books we read this week:

If the dinosaurs came back, byBernard Most

The Smallest Stegosaurus, by Lynn Sweat & Louis Phillips

Groundhog Day, by Betsy Lewin

Snow day! A winter tale, by Joan Holub

How do Dinosaurs go to School?

by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

Reminders:

• If you are sending in something to be warmed in the microwave, please be sure it is in a container that can be microwaved.  Anything with tomato sauce should come in a glass container.
• Please send needed flatware with your child’s lunch.
• Update and replenish your child’s extra clothes/shoes/slippers.
• Bring Library books on Fridays.
• Please remember to remove wet shoes or boots before entering the Preschool rooms.

Dates to Note:

Enjoying the winter weather!