May: flowers, fun, and finales!

May is here.  Can you believe it?!  The end of the year is coming fast and it will be here before we know it.  I sure have had a wonderful school year with all of you and I am ever so thankful for your help, effort, time, and children.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of this community.  

This month will see us studying butterflies, celebrating our mothers, playing in the grocery store of the dramatic playroom, talking about pizza, celebrating summer birthdays, making a volcano and exploding it, and saying goodbye for the summer.  It will be tons of fun and packed to the gills from beginning to end.  We will have a few field trips in the month, a Mother's Dessert, a day of school OUTSIDE, and a promotion ceremony for the children flying off to kindergarten.  Here we go!

May 4-May 8: The classes will be studying the life cycle of a butterfly and preparing for our Mother's Dessert.  For the dessert the 4s will meet in the Fellowship Hall Wednesday the 6th at 7:00 pm, and the 3s will gather on Thursday the 7th at the same place, same time.  The 4s will have their 3rd and final Nature Walk at Teacher Anne's farm on Friday the 8th at 1:00 pm, ending at the farm at 3:40 pm.  Fingers crossed for nice weather.  Please bring a snack and dress in layers with sturdy boots or muck shoes.  All are welcome to join.  

May 11-15: This week we will talk about grocery stores and where our food comes from.  We will read some books about pizza and make and eat pizza in the class.  On Wednesday the 13th the 3s class will have a field trip!  We will start class at the school at 9:00 am and leave the classroom at 10:30 am.  We will travel to Wait Park and gather together in the play area closest to the the library.  You will either need to be available to transport your child to the park or arrange a ride for them.  We will play, eat snack, and play some more.  We will end school at the park at 11:40 a.m.  The 4s class will also go on a field trip on Wednesday the 13th.  The 4s will play at Wait Park and walk to Cutsforth's Thriftway.  We will meet at Wait Park at 1:15 pm, play, eat snack and play some more.  At approximately 1:50 pm we will walk together to Thriftway.  At the store we will receive a tour of all the behind-the-scenes excitement at a grocery store.  School will end at the store at 3:40 pm.  We will not be at the physical location of the school today.  School will start at Wait Park at 1:15 pm and end at Thriftway at 3:40 pm.  Please send a snack as usual and dress for the weather with sturdy walking shoes.  

May 18-May 22: This week we will learn about volcanoes.  The classes will work together to make a team volcano that we will watch erupt on Friday.  The children will put pictures in their scrapbooks on Wednesday.  On Friday we will move our classroom outside and have Outdoor Classroom Day!  We will also celebrate summer birthdays on Friday.  If your child has a birthday after May 29 you have the option to  bring something to share with the class.  The children will get a crown and we'll sing to them.          

May 25-May 29: This week will be short and sweet.  There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.  We'll study sea life for the rest of the week.  The last pictures we have will be put into scrapbooks on Wednesday and Friday we will say goodbye.  The 3s class will have a gathering in the last 20 minutes of class.  I will give the children a small gift and a certificate to commemorate the completion of their 3s year.  The 4s class will have a ceremony celebrating their promotion from preschool to kindergarten.  The ceremony will start at 2:45 pm and will occur in the Fellowship Hall.  The children will walk into the hall procession-style and sit in chairs in the front.  We will sing a couple of songs, award certificates and have photo opportunities with the teachers.  It will be a fun celebration of all the hard work they have done this year.  We'll have a short visit time and I will give them a small gift  at the end of the day.  We will remain in the Fellowship Hall after Teacher Andy's class returns to her classroom.  DON'T FORGET THE ALL SCHOOL POTLUCK DINNER TONIGHT AT 6:30!  

I know I say it over and over, but thank you SO MUCH for sharing your children and your lives with me.  I have learned so many lessons and gained so much appreciation for all of you and your abilities, time, assistance, and dedication to our school.  I will miss you all tremendously.  Please keep in touch.  I will never forget you.  With tremendous love and deep gratitude to each and every one of you past and present, farewell.  ~Anne.  

April Showers?

     Oh my goodness golly gracious, April is here!  The time is flying by.  The school year will be over before we know it.  I can't bear it!  J

We have lots of fun adventures planned for this month.  The weather will not deter us from being outside so make sure to send your child with appropriate clothing for outdoor play.  Also, the season of eating snack outside seems to have started so please make sure to send your child with at least a light jacket.  Even if the sun is shining and warm it is often a touch chilly when sitting under the cover at the picnic tables and a jacket or sweatshirt for the children's arms is always helpful.  Thank you!

     We will have conferences this month so make sure to look for the sign-up sheet in the hallway near sign-in.  These conferences will be a sit down face-to-face meeting in the classroom that will last 20 minutes.  I have many time slots available.  If none of the times work for you let me know and we will try to work something else out.

     Don't forget the auction coming up.  April 11 is the big day.  It will be a fun event so don't miss it!  If you have a job the night of or leading up to the day please make sure you know what the responsibilities are.  Thank you so much.

     Thank you again for all your time and dedication to our little school.  I am so appreciative of your efforts.  Thank you for sharing your children with me.  I am having such fun with them!

     The following is an idea of what we will be doing for the month.  We have lots of fun things planned. 

March 31-April 3: Elmer!  We will learn about the patchwork jokester elephant named Elmer depicted in the book by David McKee.  Elmer teaches us how to work together and to be accepting.  We will read stories about him all week.  On Friday we will have an Elmer's day parade and plant flowers in the garden beds outside our classroom windows.  If you are willing and/or able you may send a small flower (i.e. pansy, geranium, primrose, small annuals, etc.) to plant in the beds.  We will refresh the bird feeders and put out nuts for the squirrels and generally "spring" things up a bit.

April 6-April 10: This week we will learn about nocturnal animals.  The 3s class will read a story called Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson.  It tells the tale of three baby owls wishing their mommy will come home.  The 4s classes will read various stories of nocturnal animals with the book Owl Moon by Jane Yolen being our focus.  It is a story about a boy getting a chance to out owl hunting for the first time.  On Wednesday the 4s class will enjoy a visit from the Talk About Trees lady and make their very own paper!  The 4s class will also make a nocturnal animal journal and both classes will go hunting for animals of the night on Friday.  This event is lots of fun and something that the children get a kick out of.

April 13-April 17: This week will be my last chance to finish up any assessments that I have left.  We will revisit some of the children's favorite things such as color mixing, play dough and scrapbooks!  I will be asking the children some questions about all the things they know.  There will be NO SCHOOL Thursday the 16^th and Friday the 17^th for the conferences.  Don't forget to sign up for a time slot!  J  

April 20-April 24: This week we will learn about ponds and frogs.  On Wednesday we will have a Nature Walk for the 3s and Outdoor School for the 4s at Molalla River State Park.  The 3s will start school as usual at 9am in our classroom and leave the classroom at either 10:15 or 10:45 depending on the weather.  Someone will need to be available to transport your child to the park.  If the weather is clear we will eat snack at the park and if it is raining we will wait until after snack to leave.  The children will walk around the large pond, stop for snack, then walk around the smaller pond area.  School will end at the park at 11:40 am.  All are welcome to join us.  Younger siblings need to stay with their parent/s, please.  If the weather is truly inclement we will postpone until Friday.  If it is just a light rain we will go with rain gear, boots, and a positive attitude.  J  The 4s will start school at the park at 1pm and remain at the park for the remainder of the day.  There will be four stations for the children to visit: birds, trees/plants, ponds, and an obstacle course.  We will have snack at the park and school will end at 3:40pm at the park.  Again, if the weather is really bad we will postpone, otherwise please send your child with appropriate clothing/gear.

April 27-May 1: This week we will learn about a little girl that plants a garden and deals with a pesky rabbit eating all of her peas.  It is a delightful story that I hope the children are able to recount to their family members.  The 3s class will make a story folder to help them tell the story at home and the 4s will make props to tell the story to their grandfriends on Friday for Grandfriend's Day.  The children will invite their grandfriends to class, show them around, and tell the story of Pickin' Peas with the props they made.  Afterward we'll share a cookie with them.

Important Dates To Remember:

April 3: CLASS PICTURES~Wear your red shirts!

April 8: TALK ABOUT TREES lady comes to visit with the 4s.

April 11: AUCTION~Fiesta! Clackamas County Event Center, 4-H building, doors open at 4:30pm

April 16-17: CONFERENCES~Please sign up for a time slot

April 22: NATURE WALK (3s) 10:15am and OUTDOOR SCHOOL (4s) 1pm

May 1: GRANDFRIEND'S DAY (4s)~Invite a special someone (or two or three!) to visit the school.  Children will make invitations to send/give out to the special people in early April.  Watch for them.

Thanks again,

Anne.             

 

 

 

Marching Right Along

     It sure seems like spring has sprung.  I hope you are finding time to get some family outside time.  This is a great time to see the results of the long winter's rest.  The cherry trees are blooming, daffodils are popping up, the Indian plum is peeking out; I've even seen nettles growing in the forest!  You should really try to get outside and experience the sensory explosion that spring can be.  It's a magical time. 

     This month the dramatic play room has become the fuselage of an airplane.  The children are inspired by flying and the ability to go up in the air in a plane.  It is fun to see the play that happens with this topic.  In the art center we will have "take aparts."  The children will use common hand tools to take apart household items such as hair dryers, VCR machines, keyboards, computers, etc.  If you have any broken items such as these around you can bring them to the school and we will disassemble them for education's sake.  J

     The following is an idea of what we'll be doing this month.  The school year is going to fly by at this point so try to remember to cherish every moment:

 

March 2-March 6: This week will mostly be spent on starting the process of making Mother's Day gifts.  We work very hard and long on this project and the children play a huge part.  It is tons of fun.  The 3s class will make gifts, do some free painting, and color mixing.  The 4s classes will make gifts and learn about beavers as we will start the process of sending home Castor the beaver.  Castor is a stuffed beaver puppet that each child will have a chance to take home and have adventures with.  The child will then let the class know about their adventures through the journal that comes home with Castor.  Each child will have ONE WEEK to have fun with Castor, log the fun in the journal, and return Castor to the class for the next child to take him home.  For the remainder of the school year we will send Castor home with a new friend on each Friday.  This week will be dedicated to learning about beavers and their environment.   

March 9-March 13: Transportation Central!  This week we will talk about airplanes and race cars.  The 4s class will learn about airplanes, make paper flyers of all sorts, and make a picture telling about their own airplane creation.  The 3s class will learn about racecars and make a racecar picture holder.  We'll race around a course in the playground on Friday.  Start your engines!  

March 16-20: We'll celebrate rain, rainbows, lucky leprechauns, and umbrellas this week.  The 4s class will make a magic leprechaun cake and try to catch a leprechaun before it gets away on Monday.  The rest of the week will be dedicated to learning about rain and making rain pictures atop a tall ladder as well as making rainbows.  The 3s class will make pictures with raindrops that come from high in the sky and make rainbows with dot markers.  We'll have an UMBRELLA MARCH on Friday, March 20.  Please send your child to school with an umbrella and rubber boots (or shoes that can get wet) on this day.  CCP red shirts would be fun too.

March 23-27: NO SCHOOL-SPRING VACATION-NO SCHOOL-SPRING VACATION.  Have tons of fun and be safe!!

March 30-April 3: This week we will learn about a patchwork elephant named Elmer.  This is a story of friendship, cooperation, and fun.  We will spend the week cleaning up the garden beds outside our classroom, planting flowers and beautifying the area for the school and the church.  If you are willing and able you could send a flower to school with your child.  Something small and simple will do, e.g. a pansy, primrose, small perennial, or the like.  It doesn't have to be large or expensive, just something to make our garden beds perky and pretty.  I will have a few extras for children that don't bring one so that every child can plant something.  Friday is class picture day.  PLEASE SEND YOUR CHILD IN THEIR CCP RED SHIRT ON FRIDAY.  CLASS PICTURE DAY-FRIDAY, APRIL 3.

 

     I want to say thank you to all of you for being overwhelmingly supportive of my decision to move on from CCP.  It has been a hard decision to make, and to announce.  I will miss my friends and the sense of comfort that has been CCP for the last ten years.  Both of my children went through this program and I have had a deeply fulfilling experience while being a teacher here.  It has truly been an honor to get to know and love your children.  They will live in my heart forever as will all of you.  You have taught me so, so much and I am tremendously appreciative of your time, effort, love, and cooperation.  This school will live on with great success because of people like you and your children will benefit from your ability to volunteer with a clear understanding of how to be helpful in the classroom and beyond.  I am so proud of all of you and your unique gifts.  Thank you for allowing me a glimpse into your lives and families.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Love, Anne.   

            

But baby, it's cold outside!

     Happy New Year!  January is such a great time in the classroom because suddenly, magically, the children change and evolve in such a way that makes a teacher smile.  They start to play together cooperatively, they exhibit developmental improvements in leaps and bounds, and they start to communicate with each other in a way that makes the classroom a happy place.  It is truly a magical time.  

     Please remember to send your child with hats, coats, gloves, boots, etc. in order to make them comfortable while playing outside.  We will go outside most days even in the wake of cold, wet weather.  

     What follows is a rough plan of what will be happening this month.  I love this unit that we are starting.  We will be talking about ice and snow and bodies.  Bodies that amaze and support us.  The 4s will work on a special project that will become a part of the classroom decor and the 3s will do a smaller project and look forward to the big one.  We'll have tons of fun and enjoy magical things happening in the classroom every day. 

Monday, Jan. 5-Friday, Jan. 9:  This week we will explore and experiment with ice.  We'll ask questions and observe and play with ice in lots of different ways.  At the end of the week we'll have an ICE cream party.  Yahoooo!

Monday, Jan. 12-Friday, Jan. 16: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!  This week is all about snow.  We'll make snowflakes with popsicle sticks, paint paper plate snowflakes, make snowpeople, and learn lots of songs and finger plays about snow and snowmen.  I will be out of town on Friday and Julie O'Connor will be my stand-in.  She is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful and your children will fall in love with her (if they aren't already).   

Monday, Jan. 19-Friday, Jan. 23: For the 4s class this week is all about bodies.  We will talk about how our bodies work and what is inside of them.  The children's body will be traced on a large piece of paper and they will draw what is inside of it.  The bodies will eventually be covered with clothing  of the child's choosing.  This is always such fun.  The children make choices that make me smile.  In the past I have had a child that chose to wear roller skates, a bikini, and a hat and scarf!  The 3s will talk about hats and we will learn the story of Caps For Sale.  There is NO SCHOOL ON JANUARY 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Enjoy...get outside!  :) 

Monday, Jan. 26-Friday, Jan. 30: The 4s classes will be putting clothing on their bodies all this week.  They'll make smaller bodies that they can take home as their larger bodies will stay in the classroom for the duration of the school year.  The 3s will cut out and decorate small body shapes and talk about what is inside of them.  On Wednesday will be BAREFOOT DAY!!  We will shuck our shoes and walk around with our tootsies exposed.  If that doesn't work for your child have them wear slippers.  We will do activities with bare feet so best not to wear tights today.  Friday will be PAJAMA DAY!!   Wear your favorite jammies to school today.  (Wear or bring shoes that can go outside so we can end the day with outdoor festivities.)  Slippers are encouraged (or you can go barefoot again), and one small stuffed animal or blanket can be brought.  We will have a pancake party in the art center.  If your child loves pancakes no snack is needed today.  (If there is an issue with pancakes please let me know right away so we can work out an alternative.  Gluten free will be available.) 

     A few housekeeping items: we are concerned about the illnesses that have been floating around lately so we are asking that all children get a small squirt of sanitizer as they enter school and before they eat.  Also, we will ask the parent helpers to bleach doorknobs, chair seats and the sign-in table at the end of the day every day for the next few weeks.  If you smell the lovely scent of "swimming pool" when you arrive for pick-up this is why.  Please bear with us as we are trying to keep all the children safe and sound. 

     Please be checking your cubby in the art center for important messages from the auction team, fundraising opportunities, and the like.  Also, DON'T FORGET YOUR CHILD'S POUCH OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.  It often has special messages from Teacher Anne as well as artwork your child has masterfully created.  

     The auction donation deadline is quickly approaching.  Please get all your donation requests tied up and ready to present by the Jan. 16 deadline.  If you are needing help don't hesitate to contact either Heather Zagyva or Mindy Tilden our fearless auction team leaders.  They can help!  Don't feel like you have to do it alone.  If you are struggling they can point you in the right direction.  The second auction meeting is January 8 at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall of the church.  Raffle ticket sales need to be turned in by April 3.

     A note about snack: please remember to send ONLY WATER for drink in your child's snack.  Also, remember that snack time is only about 10-15 minutes long and the longer we stay eating the less time we have outside.  Also, I have recently encountered a problem I have not experienced before.  It had increased in the last weeks before the break AND has continued into the new year.  Many of the children (in both classes) have had snacks packed with sugary treats.  Most of the snacks also have nutritious items included but, inevitably, the children eat the treat (and vocally advertise it) and leave the nutritious stuff to the last or not at all.  Let's work together!  How about if the treat is VERY small and limited to one or two very small treats.  OR it could be left out all together.  OR we could have one day a month that is Treat Day!  Sound off!  Let me know what you would like to see.  I am all about a treat now and then, but wonder if it is needed at every school day.  Let me know what you think about this situation.  I am happy to work cooperatively about it.  :)   

Lastly, if you have a very limited schedule for parent helping please think about contacting your classroom rep and getting your parent help days on the calendar for the entirety of the school year.  Ask me about this if you have questions.

     Thanks again for sharing your child with me.  I am having so much fun with them.

~Anne.     

December?!

Hello CCP families~  

I can hardly believe it, but the holiday season is here.  The school year is in fast motion and moving along much quicker than I am comfortable with.  Does anyone else feel things are too moving fast?  

Regardless of the speed with which the school year is progressing, I feel the children are growing and learning with each other just right.  The classroom environment makes me happy.  The children fill my bucket daily and are learning the best way to do so for each other as well.  I am so thankful for them and their open minds.  

This is one of those fortunate years that we have three whole weeks in the month of December.  We will spend the time making gifts, learning about space, planets, and moons, and reading gingerbread stories together. 

What follows is a loose schedule of what will happen in the classroom this month.  Use it as a guide to start a conversation with your child about what happens at school.  As always, if you have a question or concern don't hesitate to ask!

Here goes...

Monday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 5: This week we will introduce the planets, the solar system and rocket ships.  As a school we will make spaceships for the dramatic play room.  The play room is a space station and the ships help to complete the scene.  We will cut, paint, and decorate rocket ships.  We will also talk about gift-giving and the children will make a gift for their family. 

Monday, Dec. 8-Friday, Dec. 12: This week will be devoted to learning about our moon.  We will read a special story by Eric Carle and sing a song about a man that lives in the moon.  Gifts for the family will come home this week.  The 4s class will make a story board about the Eric Carle story and will hopefully be able to tell the story to those outside of the school.  The 3s class will make a picture of Aikendrum, the man who lives in the moon.  We will learn about the phases of the moon.  The moon is full right before this week begins so it will be a good chance for the children to see the phase changes for themselves.  Please help them extend this lesson by taking them outside to see the differences from night to night.  You might even want to make a sketch of what it looks like each night.  Or make a photo essay of it by letting your child take a picture each night.  Or both!  The moon is new again on the 22nd so they should be able to discern fairly big changes if given the opportunity.  Ask me how to make this happen at home if you need help!

Monday, Dec. 15-Friday, Dec. 19: This will be our last week together before Winter break starts and the new year begins!  The 3s class will have a make up day on Monday of this week.  3s class will meet on Monday, December 15 for a make up day from 9:00-11:40 a.m.  Please mark your calendars and make sure to look for it as a parent helper sign up on VolunteerSpot.  We will read lots of stories of the gingerbread man genre this week.  We will learn about the gingerbread man, boy, girl, cowboy, baby, cookie, friends, etc.  There are lots of renditions of this story so please extend this into your home by picking up a book or two from the library.  We will cut, paint, and decorate a gingerbread ornament and make gingerbread cookie dough.  On Friday, December 19 in the last 25 minutes of class we will have cookies and cocoa together before the break.  We will need some supplies from the families so be looking for a sign up sheet by the sign-in clipboard.  Thanks so much for your help with this.  

Thanks again to all of you for your help and support over the last few months.  It has been a delightful school year thus far because of you.  I couldn't do it without you.  Any of you!  Thanks.  ~Anne :)    

  

November is falling fast...

Hi families-

I apologize for the delay in getting this information out to you.  I can't believe it is not only November already but almost half-way through it!  I hope you are finding some time with all this beautiful weather to get outside, enjoy the colors of the leaves, and see the changes the new season brings about.  The 4s class has been talking a lot about seasons and what they are so it is a good talking point for you as parents to point out the visible and tangible changes that you are noticing.  The 3s too can see the changes.  Include them in this exciting time!  

What follows is a description of what to expect for the rest of the month.  We will have a visit from the local fire station, make pictures out of leaves, have some homework, have a friendship feast, and enjoy some time off with family.  It should be a quick and fun month.

Week of November 10-14: We will finish up some projects we have been working on lately and talk about fire safety and firefighters.  The dramatic play room is a fire station and the children are having fun pretending to be firefighters.  On Wednesday the 3s class will have a visit from the firefighters from the Canby station.  The class will get a chance to walk around the engines and look inside one of them.  Make sure to send your child with a warm coat and possibly a hat as the visit will occur outside.  Wear your red shirts today!  The 4s class will leave school around 2:40 pm to visit the fire station's physical location.  PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE SCHOOL AROUND 2:30 TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD FOR TRANSPORT TO THE STATION.  Our tour will start as close to 2:45-2:50 as possible so we need all parents to arrive at the school on time.  If you can not be available to transport your child please arrange a ride with another parent in the class or with another adult.  Wear your red shirts today!  :)  At the end of the week we will have a fire drill and finish the fire trucks,etc. that we started on Wednesday.  Talk with your children about using 911 for emergencies and about your family fire plan.  It will all make a little more sense to them after they have seen the firefighters and their equipment.  If you don't have a family fire plan, this is a good time to start the conversation.

Week of November 17-21: This week we will talk about becoming a community and helping one another.  We will celebrate at the end of the week with a Friendship Feast.  On Monday the 4s class (Friday, November 14 for the 3s class) will hear a story called Stone Soup.  It is about a community coming together to help a hungry beggar and enjoy a potluck-style feast.  The children will choose a vegetable that they would like to bring to add to the soup we will make.  On Friday we will make items to go with our soup and have a feast together at the end of the day.  The schedule for the Friendship Feast will look something like this:  The 4s class will hear the Stone Soup story on Monday and at the end of the day will choose a vegetable they would like to add to the soup.  The 3s class will have heard the story the prior week and will choose a vegetable to bring to class at that time.  On Wednesday, Nov. 19 the children in both classes will bring their vegetables to class.  If your child chooses a vegetable such as a carrot, onion, potato, or any vegetable with a tough texture please bring it to class par-boiled so it is easier for the children to cut into bite-sized pieces.  Celery, tomatoes and the like do not need to be cooked.  We will assemble our soup on Wednesday during class and I will cook it at home.  On Friday during class we will make cornbread, mini pumpkin pies, and honey butter.  At the end of class (11:00 am and 3:00 pm) we will go to the fellowship hall in the church and eat our feast together.  All families are welcome to attend.  I will need some things donated by the families so please be looking for the sign-up sheet near check-in.  All the items on the sign-up sheet need to be back to class NO LATER than Friday, November 21.  We will be using the items that day for our feast.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. 

Week of November 24-28:  Monday is our only school day this week.  The 3s will have a makeup day today.  School will start at 9:00 am and end at 11:40 am as usual.  It will be a normal school day.  We will have open school, play, and enjoy each other's company.  The 4s class will have the first of three nature walks.  I like to have a nature walk in each of the three seasons that we are in school.  We will go rain or shine so please dress your child appropriately.  Rubber boots or the like are a must.  In the past we have traveled to the Canby City Park on the nature trail.  This year I would like to walk in my woods.  We will gather at my house and walk on a trail to the Mushroom Wood.  If the weather cooperates we may go to The Beaver Pond.  The children will carry their collection bags from our Leafman project and collect along the way.  They will have a nature book and pencil to document interesting finds.  We will either eat snack outside or in my house depending on the weather.  We will begin and end class at my house (the address will be on the permission slip).  Please send your child with a snack, comfortable, appropriate footwear, and layers of clothing.  I think we should expect rain.  :)  It should be tons of fun.  THERE IS NO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY OR FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK.  Enjoy the time off with your family.  Travel safely if that is part of your plan. 

Thanks again for sharing your children with me.  I am enjoying them so much.  They light up my day, no matter what is happening outside of school.  I am seeing the magic children can bring to us on a regular basis.  They are learning together, working together, and loving together.  As corny as that can sound...it is truly happening in the classroom.  They are becoming such good friends.  I am so thankful for them.  Thank you.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.  Have a great month!  ~Anne.               

October is here!

Happy Fall!  Autumn has come even if it doesn't feel like it.  We have been very fortunate to enjoy this Indian summer and soak in the last few days of beautiful sunny weather.  I hope your family has been able to get outside and enjoy it. 

The classroom is buzzing with all kinds of fun work and play and the children are really doing well with each other and with the routine.  I am so proud of them.  It has been such fun to make new friends and to reinvigorate old ones.  The classes are well matched and the children are starting to become very good friends.  It is a delight to watch.  Thank you so much for sharing your children with me.  I appreciate your effort, time, and commitment. 

The following schedule is the framework for what we will be learning about this month.  Please remember that it is a skeletal framework not a schedule set in stone.  I try to flow with what the children need day-to-day.  I provide this so that you may have a talking point with your children.  It allows you to ask questions that might spark a conversation. 

This is the main way that I will use to communicate with you about what is happening or any needs we might have in the classroom.  The website will be your go-to for information about what is happening at CCP.  Please check it often.

 

Monday, Oct. 6-Friday, Oct. 10: We're talking about apples this week.  The 4s class will make applesauce on Monday and enjoy tasting it on Wednesday.  The 3s class will make an apple cake on Wednesday.  The 4s class needs to bring an apple for applesauce making and tasting.  One apple per child please.  We will measure the peels and chop them up for our goodies.  We'll also make apple necklaces and continue to finish our face pictures.  NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10~STATEWIDE INSERVICE DAY

Monday, Oct. 13-Friday, Oct. 17: This week we will study farms and the animals that might be found on a farm.  The 4s will make a book about farm animals that we will start on Monday and work on throughout the week.  The 3s will work together to paint a barn and talk about the animals that might live in it.  They will play with tractors in shaving cream and mud.  Fun!  Both classes will put pictures in their scrapbooks on Wednesday. 

Monday, Oct. 20-Friday, Oct. 24: Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!  We'll learn about pumpkins this week.   The 4s will work together with a friend to finger paint a pumpkin that will become a jack-o-lantern by Friday.  They'll learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin and make a representation of that.  The 3s will also make a jack-o-lantern out of a pumpkin shape and make pumpkin necklaces.  Both classes will go to Teacher Andy's farm on Wednesday, Oct. 22^nd. 

Pumpkin Patch Trip Details:

The 3s class will meet at the farm at 9:00 a.m. We will not meet at school on this day.  We will start and end school at Teacher Andy's farm.  School will proceed as normal while at the farm.  We will play, choose a pumpkin, look at the animals, eat a snack, and go for a short walk around the field.  Send your child in sturdy shoes and layered clothing. Please send a snack as you normally would remembering that children should have only water in their snack pack. 

The 4s class will meet at Teacher Andy's farm at 1:00 p.m.  We will start and end school at Teacher Andy's farm.  The children will go for a nature walk near the end of the school day (if the weather permits) so please send your child in sturdy shoes and layers of clothing. 

There will be apple and pumpkin treats to enjoy at the farm during snack.  All family members, etc. are welcome to join us for this event.  If the weather is particularly inclement we will postpone until Friday.  The address for Andy's farm will be available at the school as the event draws near. 

Monday, Oct. 27-Friday, 31: This week is all about monsters and spiders.  We try to talk a lot about things that make children feel scared and hopefully keep some of the fears children feel about the Halloween holiday at bay.  The 4s class will learn about spiders and their life cycle and the 3s class will talk about a green monster from the book Go Away Big, Green Monster by Ed Emberley.  They'll make a book and pretend to be monsters.  The 3s class will have a makeup class on Monday, Oct. 27.  Class will start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 11:40 as usual. NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 FOR PHONE CONFERENCES.  Phone conferences give me a chance as a teacher to let you know how things are going in the classroom and gives you a chance as parents/caregivers to ask questions, voice concerns, give more information about your child, and generally check in.  I will hand out sign-up sheets the second week of October. 

                I hope all is going well with your transition back to school and that your child is enjoying school.  If you have any immediate questions or concerns don't hesitate to contact me via email or catch me after class.  I will do my best to address your ideas, concerns, and inquiries.  Thanks again for choosing CCP as your child's first school!  See you soon, Anne. J