Pre-K News!
May 31st, 2013
Dear Families,
We had a great trip to Winterthur this week! Thank you chaperones, Brandon Bell, Rachel Gaskell, Kim Dolan, Rossana Gardner, David , and Harry Jones for your help, and for coming with us. The children loved having you along and we really appreciated your help! The trip included meandering around the Winterthur property, stopping to admire different types of trees, shrubs, plants and moss, the house (with its 175 plus rooms), the reflecting pool, the fish pond, and best of all, The Enchanted Garden. If you haven't visited this beautiful garden, you might want to consider a visit. It is a playground of sorts where the children are free to explore the misting mushrooms, the troll bridge, the sleeping Giant, the labyrinth, the rock garden, the GIANT bird nest, the witch hat tree house, the serpent, and the playhouse. It is a playground for all ages. There is a slide show of pictures on the photo page.
In addition, we wrote in our journals, worked in Handwriting Books, and are working on a Year End Book that encapsulates a snap shot of our year together. It is time to hold on to your hat, if you aren't already. We are heading into the last week of school! Below please find information about upcoming dates and events. Please be sure to answer the email about dismissal plans following Field Day. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Thanks for a wonderful year together,
Sue and Sarah
We had a great trip to Winterthur this week! Thank you chaperones, Brandon Bell, Rachel Gaskell, Kim Dolan, Rossana Gardner, David , and Harry Jones for your help, and for coming with us. The children loved having you along and we really appreciated your help! The trip included meandering around the Winterthur property, stopping to admire different types of trees, shrubs, plants and moss, the house (with its 175 plus rooms), the reflecting pool, the fish pond, and best of all, The Enchanted Garden. If you haven't visited this beautiful garden, you might want to consider a visit. It is a playground of sorts where the children are free to explore the misting mushrooms, the troll bridge, the sleeping Giant, the labyrinth, the rock garden, the GIANT bird nest, the witch hat tree house, the serpent, and the playhouse. It is a playground for all ages. There is a slide show of pictures on the photo page.
In addition, we wrote in our journals, worked in Handwriting Books, and are working on a Year End Book that encapsulates a snap shot of our year together. It is time to hold on to your hat, if you aren't already. We are heading into the last week of school! Below please find information about upcoming dates and events. Please be sure to answer the email about dismissal plans following Field Day. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Thanks for a wonderful year together,
Sue and Sarah
Field Day - on Tuesday!Our class will enjoy field day with the rest of lower school at the upper school fields on June 4th. Afterwards, you are invited to join us in front of lower school for a picnic. Here are some of the details:
Clothes: We will get wet! Children may wear bathing suits to school under shorts and shirts, and bring an extra set of clothing. We will change when we return. (One-piece bathing suits or tankinis are acceptable for girls). Shoes: Sneakers or water shoes are best. Crocks should be avoided because they are slippery. Water and Towels: Sarah and I will carry water and towels so your child does not need to bring them along. Sunscreen: Sunscreen should be applied at home (liberally if it is sunny). Picnic: We hope to meet you between 11:45 and noon near the front door of the lower-school for an all school picnic. We will be waiting on picnic blankets in the shade (hopefully!). Please bring a lunch for your family and enjoy water ice, which is provided. After: You are welcome to take your children with you after the picnic, or they are welcome to stay at school for afternoon activities. Questions: Please don’t hesitate to ask! |
Dates and notes:Library Books:
All library books are due back. Summer Birthday Bash: We are excited to celebrate all summer birthdays next Thursday. Thank you to 'parents of children with summer birthdays' for your help with this. It will be a great day! Lost items: If you notice that clothes are missing, please ask us, or stop by the beautiful collection of outerwear and clothing in the Lost and Found. Year End Work: We will send extra clothes, journals,blankets, and year-end work home next week. Please send your child’s backpack each day, and empty it in the evening. Thanks! Last Day of school: Friday, June 7th is the last day of school. It is a half day and carpool will begin at 11:45. |
Next week's specials:Monday - Gathering and Science
Tuesday - Field Day Wednesday - Spanish Thursday - Meeting for Worship, Music and PE Friday - Gathering, Art and PE, 11:45 dismissal |
Pre-K News!
May 24th, 2013
Welcome to outer space!
Dear Families,
There were so many highlights this week, it is hard to know where to begin. For Sarah and me, it was most definitely the delicious Teacher Appreciation Lunch on Thursday. Sarah and I thank you very much! We enjoyed every minute and every bite, and it was fun to catch up with colleagues. A special thank you to Amanda Hay and Amy Bell for staying with the children during lunch. We felt much appreciated and want you to know we appreciate you, as well.
Highlights for the children included adding a new Space Center to the classroom. This helped support the counting and writing of numbers (10, 9, 8, 7… BLASTOFF), and offered fun dramatic play, as well as the chance to talk about outer space – a common interest at this time. The children made constellations outdoor with their bodies. They created space pictures, played rocket ship math games with dice, matched uppercase letter rocket ships with lower case letter stars, and other space related activities designed to support the children’s growing math skills.
We also visited DuPont Theater to see Click Clack Moo which was fun and very funny. There was lots of music, laughing and clapping, and we were proud of the kids for sitting and enjoying the show for an hour!
On Friday, we enjoyed Pajama Day and read lots of books. One of the books read by Teacher Sarah was egg drop by Mini Grey. This developed into an egg launch from the top of the playground Big Toy. To protect their eggs and cushion the fall, children had to find a way to protect their egg.
Please enjoy pictures on the photo page!
Thanks again for the delicious lunch, and please see important dates below.
Have a wonderful LONG weekend!
Sue and Sarah
There were so many highlights this week, it is hard to know where to begin. For Sarah and me, it was most definitely the delicious Teacher Appreciation Lunch on Thursday. Sarah and I thank you very much! We enjoyed every minute and every bite, and it was fun to catch up with colleagues. A special thank you to Amanda Hay and Amy Bell for staying with the children during lunch. We felt much appreciated and want you to know we appreciate you, as well.
Highlights for the children included adding a new Space Center to the classroom. This helped support the counting and writing of numbers (10, 9, 8, 7… BLASTOFF), and offered fun dramatic play, as well as the chance to talk about outer space – a common interest at this time. The children made constellations outdoor with their bodies. They created space pictures, played rocket ship math games with dice, matched uppercase letter rocket ships with lower case letter stars, and other space related activities designed to support the children’s growing math skills.
We also visited DuPont Theater to see Click Clack Moo which was fun and very funny. There was lots of music, laughing and clapping, and we were proud of the kids for sitting and enjoying the show for an hour!
On Friday, we enjoyed Pajama Day and read lots of books. One of the books read by Teacher Sarah was egg drop by Mini Grey. This developed into an egg launch from the top of the playground Big Toy. To protect their eggs and cushion the fall, children had to find a way to protect their egg.
Please enjoy pictures on the photo page!
Thanks again for the delicious lunch, and please see important dates below.
Have a wonderful LONG weekend!
Sue and Sarah
Field Day - Tuesday 6/4
Our class will enjoy field day with the rest of lower school at the upper school fields on June 4th. Afterwards, you are invited to join us in front of lower school for a picnic. Here are some of the details:
Clothes: We will get wet! Children may wear bathing suits to school under shorts and shirts, and bring an extra set of clothing. We will change when we return. (One-piece bathing suits or tankinis are acceptable for girls). Shoes: Sneakers or water shoes are best. Crocks should be avoided because they are slippery. Water and Towels: Sarah and I will carry water and towels so your child does not need to bring them along. Sunscreen: Sunscreen should be applied at home (liberally if it is sunny). Picnic: We hope to meet you between 11:45 and noon near the front door of the lower-school for an all school picnic. We will be waiting on picnic blankets in the shade (hopefully!). Please bring a lunch for your family and enjoy water ice, which is provided. After: You are welcome to take your children with you after the picnic, or they are welcome to stay at school for afternoon activities. Questions: Please don’t hesitate to ask! |
More dates and notes...
Library Books:
All library books are due back by May 31st Trip to Winterthur next week - Wednesday, May 29th: Please have children wear appropriate clothing and footwear. If it is sunny, please apply sunscreen. Lost items: If you notice that clothes are missing, please ask us, or stop by the beautiful collection of outerwear and clothing in the Lost and Found. Year End Work: We will send extra clothes, journals, and year-end work home during the last week. Please send your child’s backpack each day, and empty it in the evening. Thanks! Last Day of school: Friday, June 7th is the last day of school. It is a half day and carpool will begin at 11:45. |
Outer Space!
If your child enjoyed talking about space this week, you might want to download an ipad or iphone app called Star walk, recommended by Logan’s dad, Harry. It allows you to point your device at the sky in any direction (even down) and see the stars, constellations, galaxies, planets, etc. in that direction, for $2.99!! Next Week's Specials: Monday - Memorial Day - No school Tuesday - Gathering, Music and PE Wednesday - Trip to Winterthur Thursday - Meeting for Worship, Spanish and Library Friday - art and PE |
Pre-K News!
May 17th, 2013
Dear Parents,
It was wonderful seeing so many of you at the concert. Thank you for coming and being part of our day. Thanks to those of you who contributed food and made our party delicious, and thanks to all of you for being a wonderful group of parents!
Pre-K enjoyed three highlights this week. The first was obviously the wonderful, energetic concert that we all loved! The second was a visit from Heddy Franke, who visited Monday and taught us about composting. We were able to explore a variety of compost material and hold and watch the worms at work. Take a look at pictures on the photo page.
The third event was a walk to the river where we collected rocks, explored currents, looked for insect larvae and jumped from rock to rock. It is exciting to see the learning that accompanies exploration and play. After returning, we washed our rock collection and spent a lot of time sorting, weighing and comparing groups of rocks. Pretty/ugly, smooth/rough, big/small, light/dark, were some of the attributes used to sort.
In addition we have been reviewing and practicing skills to ready ourselves for kindergarten! It is hard to believe how quickly the year has flown. Have a wonderful weekend,Sue and Sarah
It was wonderful seeing so many of you at the concert. Thank you for coming and being part of our day. Thanks to those of you who contributed food and made our party delicious, and thanks to all of you for being a wonderful group of parents!
Pre-K enjoyed three highlights this week. The first was obviously the wonderful, energetic concert that we all loved! The second was a visit from Heddy Franke, who visited Monday and taught us about composting. We were able to explore a variety of compost material and hold and watch the worms at work. Take a look at pictures on the photo page.
The third event was a walk to the river where we collected rocks, explored currents, looked for insect larvae and jumped from rock to rock. It is exciting to see the learning that accompanies exploration and play. After returning, we washed our rock collection and spent a lot of time sorting, weighing and comparing groups of rocks. Pretty/ugly, smooth/rough, big/small, light/dark, were some of the attributes used to sort.
In addition we have been reviewing and practicing skills to ready ourselves for kindergarten! It is hard to believe how quickly the year has flown. Have a wonderful weekend,Sue and Sarah
Pre-K News!
May 10th, 2013
Dear Families,
What a wonderful Grandparents and Special Friends Day! It was nice to meet so many special people on this fun and exciting day. The morning flew by with a short concert, delicious snack (many thanks to those who contributed!) and the sharing of our work and classroom displays with grandparents and friends. We visited the Art Show, gave gifts, and ended with a Meeting for Worship here in the classroom. Our week was full of preparation, Mother's Day activities, a trip to Ashland Nature Center, writing in journals, and number practice. Another busy week!
The trip to Ashland Nature Center on Wednesday was wonderful. We explored and learned about three habitats – a marsh (where we caught tadpoles and saw a water snake and a snapping turtle), a stream (where we caught different types of insect larva), and a meadow (where we saw flying insects, different types of birds and their eggs). We learned about the beauty and fragility of these ecosystems, and were lucky to have such a talented group of leaders sharing there expertise with us. We also thank Chris (Rupi’s dad), Sue (Jack’s mom), Harry (Logan’s dad), and Yoki (Cereniti’s mom) for coming with us. We appreciate your help! Enjoy the pictures on the photo page.
Next week invite you to our classroom following the spring concert on Thursday at 10:00 in the Meeting Room. The children are excited! We will also focus on a review of some of the academic concepts we have explored this year. Sounding out words s-l-o-w-l-y to isolate sounds, associating letters and sounds, writing letters and numbers (starting at the top!), math, and solidifying recognition of lower-case letters, are some of the skills we will be practicing.
Next week our specials are:
Monday – Gathering and Science
Tuesday – PE, Art and Library
Wednesday – Spanish
Thursday – Meeting for Worship, Spring Concert and PE
Friday – Music
Have a wonderful weekendd an a very Happy Mother's Day!
Sue and Sarah
What a wonderful Grandparents and Special Friends Day! It was nice to meet so many special people on this fun and exciting day. The morning flew by with a short concert, delicious snack (many thanks to those who contributed!) and the sharing of our work and classroom displays with grandparents and friends. We visited the Art Show, gave gifts, and ended with a Meeting for Worship here in the classroom. Our week was full of preparation, Mother's Day activities, a trip to Ashland Nature Center, writing in journals, and number practice. Another busy week!
The trip to Ashland Nature Center on Wednesday was wonderful. We explored and learned about three habitats – a marsh (where we caught tadpoles and saw a water snake and a snapping turtle), a stream (where we caught different types of insect larva), and a meadow (where we saw flying insects, different types of birds and their eggs). We learned about the beauty and fragility of these ecosystems, and were lucky to have such a talented group of leaders sharing there expertise with us. We also thank Chris (Rupi’s dad), Sue (Jack’s mom), Harry (Logan’s dad), and Yoki (Cereniti’s mom) for coming with us. We appreciate your help! Enjoy the pictures on the photo page.
Next week invite you to our classroom following the spring concert on Thursday at 10:00 in the Meeting Room. The children are excited! We will also focus on a review of some of the academic concepts we have explored this year. Sounding out words s-l-o-w-l-y to isolate sounds, associating letters and sounds, writing letters and numbers (starting at the top!), math, and solidifying recognition of lower-case letters, are some of the skills we will be practicing.
Next week our specials are:
Monday – Gathering and Science
Tuesday – PE, Art and Library
Wednesday – Spanish
Thursday – Meeting for Worship, Spring Concert and PE
Friday – Music
Have a wonderful weekendd an a very Happy Mother's Day!
Sue and Sarah
Pre-K News!
May 3rd, 2013
Letting the butterflies go!
Dear Families,
I attended an Environmental Sustainability conference on Thursday and Friday of this week at Westtown School and Sarah held down the fort with the help of Teacher Tracy. During the conference, I shared your children's good work in pre-k! Composting, recycling, trash clean up, avoiding paper products at snack, and respecting the insects and other living creatures that sometimes share our classroom and playground was fun to describe. I believe that these values, when planted at this young age will last a lifetime and help inform the decisions made by these leaders of tomorrow!
Important:
Please look for additional emails regarding Grandparents and Special Friends Day. We look forward to hosting our special guests on Friday! Please let us know if you have any questions about this wonderful day. Also, please return permission slips for the upcoming Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center on Wednesday.
To make things easier for all of us (!), I am going to let the following pictures share the highlights of the week, because there were many! If you click on the picture, you will see a short description.
I attended an Environmental Sustainability conference on Thursday and Friday of this week at Westtown School and Sarah held down the fort with the help of Teacher Tracy. During the conference, I shared your children's good work in pre-k! Composting, recycling, trash clean up, avoiding paper products at snack, and respecting the insects and other living creatures that sometimes share our classroom and playground was fun to describe. I believe that these values, when planted at this young age will last a lifetime and help inform the decisions made by these leaders of tomorrow!
Important:
Please look for additional emails regarding Grandparents and Special Friends Day. We look forward to hosting our special guests on Friday! Please let us know if you have any questions about this wonderful day. Also, please return permission slips for the upcoming Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center on Wednesday.
To make things easier for all of us (!), I am going to let the following pictures share the highlights of the week, because there were many! If you click on the picture, you will see a short description.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Sue, Sarah and Tracy
Next week's specials:
Monday - Gathering, Spanish and Library
Tuesday - Music and PE
Wednesday - Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center
Thursday - Spanish
Friday - Grandparents and Special Friends Day
Sue, Sarah and Tracy
Next week's specials:
Monday - Gathering, Spanish and Library
Tuesday - Music and PE
Wednesday - Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center
Thursday - Spanish
Friday - Grandparents and Special Friends Day