Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for joining us for our Annual Mommies’ Day Breakfast on Thursday.  The children were so excited to bake and help set up the classroom.  This event has been looked forward to by all for quite some time.  The children made blueberry and corn muffins, as well as Southwestern corn bread to go along with the frittata and “crispy bacon.”  We also had fresh melon, watermelon, strawberries, grapes and oranges.  We even enjoyed left overs on Friday.  Mrs. Cooke and some of the B3 children made fruit smoothies in a blender.  As a special surprise, the children shared a jazzy medly of “Twinkle,” “ABC’s,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” and “Frere Jacques!”  Their opening number was “Skidamarink-a-Dink.”  It was fabulous!  Pre K also decorated tin pails with special paints, in which they potted yellow marigolds, for their moms.  In addition, they also prepared some other special surprises for mom, which I will not reveal in this newsletter!  We talked a lot about what we like to do with our moms, why we love them and things we can do for them on Mother’s Day.  Once, again, I will not share what they might do for their moms on mother’s day, but here are some of their thoughts:

Sadie ~ “I love my momma because she gives me ice cream.  I like to read with her and swim with her.”

Duncan ~ “I like to sit next to my mom and I like to play with her.  I like to play animals with her.”

Vincent ~ “I love my mommy because she is loveable.  She is so nice and she is beautiful.  I like to play everything with her.”

Neal ~ “I love my mommy because she takes care of me and she loves me.  I like to play train games with her, like the toy trains I have at home.”

 

 

While most of our time this week was devoted to getting ready for Thursday’s event, the children continued talking and learning about insects.  We played “The Insect Pokey,” and we sang, “Head, Thorax, Abdomen.”  We also sorted beetles according to their type and color.  When organizing them into groups, the children needed to pay attention to the shape of the wings, colors, antennae, as well as the mandibles, or jaws.  We also played Insect Lotto.  Using our jeweled insects, the children sorted them and then did a number of simple and complex math problems.  Another popular practice is lining up a variety of like toys and then measuring other toys, or bodies, next to them, to see how long things are.  Mr. Lindenmaier happened along one morning and they even measured him!  Math is bubbling up everywhere!  For fun, we practiced counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s.

 

 

 

Some of the Books We Read:

  • Five Minutes’ Peace, by Jill Murphy
  • T. Rex and the Mother’s Day Hug, by Lois B. Grambling and Jack E. Davis
  • Don’t Wake Up Mama! by Eileen Christelow
  • What Mommies Do Best,by Laura Numeroff and Lynn Munsinger
  • Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
  • I Love You, Little One, by Nancy Tafuri
  • Llama, Llama Red Pajama, by Anna Dewdney
  • The Mother’s Day Mice, by Eve Bunting and Jan Brett
  • Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears,by Verna Aardema, pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon
  • The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Bugs, by Nancy White, based on The Magic School Bus books by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
  • What Do Insects Do? by Susan Canizares and Pamela Chanko
  • Bees and Their Hives, by Linda Tagliaferro

It is hard to believe that we only have four more weeks of school.  I wanted to make sure you are aware of a few special days that will take place more toward the end of the school year.  On Tuesday, May 28th, Pre K will have lunch with Mrs. Patel.  Although it is referred to as “Move Up Lunch” in the higher grades, we refer to it as “Lunch with Mrs. Patel.”  During the last two weeks of school we will be talking more with the children about the fact that the end of the school year is coming and we will discuss the various activities they may be able to do during the summer months.  Some children will be going to camp, some children will be going on vacation and some children will be staying home with their parent(s) or other care givers.  We talk about how each family has a special plan for him or her.  We also begin talking about where everyone will be going in the fall.  We even mention that some families have not yet decided what their plans will look like.  Conversations are always kept light and positive, as change can be intimidating for some children.  It would be a good idea to initiate these conversations at home in the next couple of weeks.  Let me know if you have any concerns or questions.  Also, please let me know how I can support you and your child regarding approaching transitions.

Field and Fun Day is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29th.  On this day, children are invited to wear their bathing suits under their clothing.  We will have some fun in a preschool size water slide and pool after lunch.  Earlier in the morning, we will play games and do crafts with the entire Lower School.  Children can wear sneakers in the morning and flip-flops for when we play in the pool.  In addition, please send in a towel and clothes to change into before rest.  We will have a group snack, but please send in drinks, water bottles and extra snacks if your child will not eat what is offered.  There will also be an all school cookout.  This is a very fun packed day!  Let us know if you have any questions.

Closing Ceremonies for the entire school will take place on the last day of school, Friday, June 7th, at 11:30am in Fitzpatrick Hall.  The  All School Family Picnic will commence at 12noon.  You may want to lay out your picnic blanket a bit early to claim a good spot on the lawn.  Families should also bring their own picnic and beverages.  Ice Cream Sandwiches will be handed out, as always, by Mr. B and Mr. Lee.  Children will be dismissed to parents or designated adults at 12noon.  If you cannot make it to the picnic and your child rides the bus, please let us know.  The buses will depart at 1:00pm.

Important Reminders:

  • Preschool goes outdoors each day.  Please be sure to send boots, if it is muddy and an appropriate weight jacket for playing outdoors in the morning.
  • Please replenish extra clothes when necessary.  Children should have a full set of clothing, including socks, undergarments, shirts and pants. 
  • Leaving a sweatshirt or sweater for days that may be chilly indoors may help your child feel more comfortable.
  • Please be sure to send in a refillable drink container for us to fill with water.  In our efforts to be green, we try to refrain from using plastic cups.
  • Please be sure to send appropriate flatware in your child’s lunch.
  • Including a variety of snack items is encouraged for young growing children.
  • If your child needs to have an item warmed up, please be sure it is in a microwave safe container.
  • Leaving an extra pair of sneakers or other shoes in school is a good idea.
  • Please return Library books on Wednesdays.

Dates to remember:

Thursday, May 23rd, 8:15am, Compassion Assembly with B3s and Lower School (for children only) Please arrive by 8:05am.

1:45pm, Diabetes Walk for a Cure with Lower School

Monday, May 27th, No School, Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 28th, Lunch With Mrs. Patel

Wednesday, May 29th, Field and Fun Day, details TBA

Friday, June 7th, Last Day of School, Closing Ceremonies, All School Family Picnic.  Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch for your family to share on the grounds of BCD’s campus.  Dismissal is at 1:00pm.

On Thursday, we discovered a sweet poem in the bookMother’s Day Mice. Sing it to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star :

We have brought a song to say,

Happy, happy Mother’s Day.

No one’s mother is so nice,

Love from all your little mice.

We have brought a song to say,

Happy, happy Mother’s Day.

 

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Ellie