Teacher Appreciation Week – May 2nd -May 6th Be sure to celebrate the teachers in your life!
Mother’s Day Celebration – we would like to invite all Moms to stop by with your children Thursday, May 5th 4:00-6:00 during your normal pick up. Stop by the Kids Campus we will be having a Cinco De Mayo of treats. Be sure to stop by so we can celebrate YOU!!
Sunscreen – please be sure to complete a sunscreen form so that we can apply sunscreen as needed; forms will be good through October 2016.
Pre-K Graduation
We will be hosting a small graduation ceremony for our Pre-k Graduates Thursday, May 20th from 3:00-4:00.
Splish & Splash!! Classes will begin water days and FUN summer activities beginning May 23rd!
Preschool / Pre-k Summer Activity Fee
Summer Program for Preschool/Pre-k classes will begin Monday May 23rd – be sure to complete your packet and turn in the summer activity fee- this activity fee is for the entire 12 weeks of summer and is a one time fee based on your whether you attend 2 days, 3 days or 5 days. Themes for the weeks were included in the packet. We are currently working on the summer calendar of events and you should receive those by mid May – Please see Kris or Julie if you have questions.
Love our school- Be sure to Share your review- Thanks – In today’s connected world, many families turn to online reviews to learn more about the reputation of schools. That is why we are reminding you that you can find us on Great Schools, Google+, Facebook, Yelp and other online directories. Feel free to take a few minutes to visit one of the review websites and share the wonderful experiences you have had with our school.
From the Nobel Education Department:
Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
May 2016
Teacher Appreciation Week – May 2nd -May 6th Be sure to celebrate the teachers in your life!
Mother’s Day Celebration – we would like to invite all Moms to stop by with your children Thursday, May 5th 4:00-6:00 during your normal pick up. Stop by the Kids Campus we will be having a Cinco De Mayo of treats. Be sure to stop by so we can celebrate YOU!!
Sunscreen – please be sure to complete a sunscreen form so that we can apply sunscreen as needed; forms will be good through October 2016.
Pre-K Graduation
We will be hosting a small graduation ceremony for our Pre-k Graduates Thursday, May 20th from 3:00-4:00.
Splish & Splash!! Classes will begin water days and FUN summer activities beginning May 23rd!
Preschool / Pre-k Summer Activity Fee
Summer Program for Preschool/Pre-k classes will begin Monday May 23rd – be sure to complete your packet and turn in the summer activity fee- this activity fee is for the entire 12 weeks of summer and is a one time fee based on your whether you attend 2 days, 3 days or 5 days. Themes for the weeks were included in the packet. We are currently working on the summer calendar of events and you should receive those by mid May – Please see Kris or Julie if you have questions.
Love our school- Be sure to Share your review- Thanks – In today’s connected world, many families turn to online reviews to learn more about the reputation of schools. That is why we are reminding you that you can find us on Great Schools, Google+, Facebook, Yelp and other online directories. Feel free to take a few minutes to visit one of the review websites and share the wonderful experiences you have had with our school.
From the Nobel Education Department:
Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education