Hi Everyone,
We hope that everyone is enjoying our Winter Break. This time of year certainly gets very busy. Although much of this newsletter was composed during our last week of school, pictures had not been added. We did want to share some of the fun activities we did during the week, even though this letter is being sent after a day of shoveling out from today’s wide spread Nor’ easter. We hope you like it.
During the holiday season, sparkles come to mind. On Monday, the children painted with colorful glitter paint. Rather than hanging them up in the classroom, we thought you would enjoy them at home. Later in the day, we started cutting out snowflakes to decorate our windows. This is a very tricky task and it takes lots of practice. The results are beautiful! Rumor has it that our very own Mr. Lindenmaier is an expert snowflake maker. After the break we will invite him to give us a demonstration.
On Tuesday, we celebrated Miss Guerette’s Star Day! Miss Guerette’s mom, Wilma, dad, Rob, and two sons, Cameron and Trevor joined us for Morning Meeting. Wilma read us Miss Guerette’s Star Day Interview and we learned that when she was a baby, she loved to suck her thumb and jump up and down in her crib! Now that she is “older,” she loves to sing and listen to music. We also knows that she loves to do the hula-hoop! On the weekends she likes to go to the movies and when she is on vacation at Disney World, she likes to meet the characters and go on all of the rides. She had a very special book that her mom helped put together. It is filled with photos of Joni growing up. The children were amazed when looking at pictures of her as a tiny baby. Rob read us Miss Guerette’s favorite story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. Next, Cameron read us The Bernstain’s B Book. For snack Miss Guerette brought in some very delicious cookies with frosting and, of course, sprinkles. Happy Star Day, Miss Guerette!
Later on Tuesday, we worked on some “top secret” projects. The children worked very hard on these projects. We hope your family enjoys these gifts of Peace. Children who left earlier in the day on Friday will bring these gifts home on Monday, January 3rd.
On Wednesday, we talked about Christmas. Some of the children whose families celebrate Christmas shared some of the special things they do during this time of year. We also made sculptures and ornaments from air-drying red clay. We wrapped them in newspaper and placed them in your child’s backpack, as they are very fragile.
On Thursday, we made pomanders by inserting cloves into oranges. We used toothpicks to make it easier to insert the cloves. We then attached a piece of ribbon so that you may hang them in your home. The scents of oranges and cloves are very calming and peaceful. We expect that they should last for at least a couple of weeks. We also visited Letterland and met Munching Mike the mechanical monster. He says “Mmmmm,” when he eats something he likes. He enjoys munching on magnets, metal, marshmallows, and melons! Strange! After a review of Munching Mike’s sound, when we return to school, we will meet the “Notorious” Noisy Nick.
Thank you for sending in all of the treats, snacks and supplies for our Winter Solstice Party. Everyone enjoyed the treats and happy atmoshere. The children made bird feeders by spreading Crisco on pine cones and then rolling them in bird seed. We thought they would prefer taking them home to hang them on a tree closer to home, so that they can watch the birds enjoy some treats. The children also made jewelry, such as bracelets, necklaces and headbands. Making and sharing jewelry is also a custom practiced during Kwanzaa. Since the rest of the school was celebrating in the afternoon, on Friday, we decided to shake things up by having our very own “Dance Party!” For the final moments of the school day, we played some children’s disco songs and we put on our dancing shoes! We are certain that this will not be the last Dance Party of the school year.
Some of the Books we Read:
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
I am Snow, by Jean Marzollo and Judith Moffatt
The First Night, by B.G. Hennessy, Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
The Tree That Came to Stay, by Anna Quindlen and Nancy Carpenter
The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Moore
Important Reminders:
- Please replenish your child’s supply of extra clothes. Everyone needs: long sleeve shirt, long pants, a pair or 2 of underwear and 2 pairs of socks.
- Young children need a variety of foods and plenty of them! We want to ensure that everyone has a full and content tummy!
- Water bottles are encouraged, as we can refill them when needed.
- Library Books need to be returned on Fridays.
- Older students have outdoor time until 12:40 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please wait until that time to allow Preschool children to play on the playground, as this is the only time they have to be outdoors during their busy day.
- **Please remember to enter the classroom via the Coat room and everyone please remove wet shoes and boots before entering the classrooms. **This way our floors will stay dry, as we sit on them. Thank you!
- Please send items to be heated up in a container that can be microwaved. If you do not have such a container, you may send a separate bowl or small plate with your child’s lunch.
- Please remember that items that contain nuts, peanuts, pesto or sesame oil need to be heated up, are labeled so that we can do so in an alternate microwave, as our Preschool/Kindergarten kitchen is nut-free.
- Please be sure your child has a snowsuit or snowpants, hat, boots, gloves or mittens, and a warm jacket, as we try to go out everyday to play in the snow.
Dates of Importance:
- Monday, January 3rd, Classes Resume…Happy New Year!
- Friday, January 7th, Ski Friday begins, Preschool dismissal at 12:45 p.m.
- Friday, January 14th, Ski Friday, Preschool dismissal at 12:45p.m.
- Monday, January 17th, No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Happy Holidays! We’ll See You Next Year!
Ellie and Joni
