December's Here!!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I did. It was very busy, with travel to south Georgia and SHOPPING, along with a couple of Thanksgiving meals closer to home! It's time to get back into the swing of things, so here we go. As I look, I realize I have a month's worth of pictures to upload. I will be very busy today!!

Thanks for helping to make our Thanksgiving feast a success! We did have PLENTY of food, and I am thankful for that. I learn a little more each year, so next year, we won't have quite as much, but it was much better to have plenty than to run out! I thought the kids did a great job!! I need to give a special shout out and a HUGE thank you to Jeff Renner and Dean Castile, who returned all the chairs to all of their various places all over the church (even to the 3rd floor!!) and got the fellowship hall back in order. Also, I think we'd still be in the kitchen cleaning if not for Hope Mitchell and her sister Diane!! They stepped right in to help and we got it done by 2:00. I can not tell you how much I appreciate your help!!!! I could not have gotten it done without you!

As December begins, we are going to begin to learn about Christmas and why we celebrate it. We are also going to learn about how different families around the world celebrate at this time of year. If you or someone you know has some unique traditions you would like to share, please let me know. This can include traditions right here in America or from around the world. This is not going to be a time that we discuss different religious beliefs, as we are a Christian preschool, and we will be focusing on the meaning of Christmas being the birth of Jesus. Instead, this will be a time to learn about different customs - Santa Claus, toys left in shoes, the Mexican celebration (I can't remember the name) that ends with a pinata celebration, etc. Please help make this fun by sharing your customs with us.

The parade is right around the corner!! We will be working on this a good bit this week. Robbie's dad has a trailer, and Caylin's dad is building a frame for us to use with it. We will be hanging lights from this as well as covering everything in snow! The best idea I can think of now to keep all of these lights lit is to use a few battery chargers. There may be a better idea. I'm open to suggestions! I have one charger (the kind that you can use to charge a car battery). If you have one we could use, please let me know. Also, we need lots of white lights. If every family sends one or two we should be in good shape. Also, we are going to need LOTS of white fiberfill (snow). I bought some at WalMart for $3 and $4 this weekend. I'd appreciate every family sending a bag or 2 for this as well. Also, I'm hoping you got the note that told you this on Tuesday, but my internet was down, so I didn't send it in email. The kids need white sweatsuits, at least white sweatshirts. I understand that this can be hard to find. I will check with Sideline Sports Monday morning to see if we have time to order some and get them here. Please let me know if you bought one or if you need one. I am not sure how much they will cost. I will check with him and let him know. I think they are $5 or $6. We will use these for the parade and then, I think we will keep them to make our Christmas sweatshirts. Please let me know as soon as possible whether or not your child will be in the parade. I think it is at 6 pm, but I will confirm that Monday morning as well. There is not a while lot we can do ahead of time, but we will need some help putting this all together. I am thinking it makes the most sense to work on this Friday afternoon/evening, but please give me your input on this. I figured that, by doing that, if I needed to run to get anything else, I could do that Friday night or Saturday morning.

Tuesday night is our Family Fun Night at Destination Book Fair. I hope you will all plan to come for this. We will have some games, storytelling, snacks and shopping! If you would like to volunteer to bring a snack or to read a book, please let me know. We can use anyone who is willing. This is a fun way to have some family time and get to know some of the other parents as well. Please invite your family and friends to come out and enjoy this as well. The time for this is 6-8 pm. You can come and stay for as long (or as short) a time as you'd like to. We have allowed the kids to go to the book fair and put some books on a wish list that might make your shopping easier, but there are also LOTS of books that they haven't even seen, which is why I encourage you to come look around. There are books for all ages. Also ,we have created wishlists for the classrooms. These are books that we will purchase with the profit from the book fair sales. However, if you would like to purchase one or more of these for us, then we would love that, and your child's name will be in a book at Preschool for a long time to come. This helps us in a few ways. 1 - We get a book we'd like to have for our classroom. 2- We can use the $ we would have used to buy that book to buy other books or resources instead. 3 - This adds to our overall sales, which is how our profit is determined. It helps you by 1 - allowing your child to give something to their class 2 - adding to your child's classroom library and 3 - if you keep up with this, it can be a tax write off!! So, everybody wins! The book fair will be open all week for you or others to come in and shop. If you have friends with young children who may not have been able to go to a book fair, please invite them to come anytime this week.

The last week of school brings lots of fun celebrations. Thursday, Dec. 17 is our Christmas program and party. The program will be in the sanctuary, followed by a party downstairs, where, hopefully, Santa will make an appearance. (This only happens if the kids do their best upstairs!;-) The following parents are responsible for the party afterwards. 1. Amy Johnson 2. Angelia Davidson 3.Mandy Anderson 4.Heidi Amundson 5. Joni Taylor 6. Jennifer Leebern. There will be a lot of people at this party. I would suggest keeping snacks simple. These parents will need to be responsible for setting up for the party, making any plans for something to go on while kids wait to meet Santa, goody bags for the kids and clean up. Thanks! I understand that we are already running into a scheduling conflict on this evening, so I am working on figuring out what time we will have our program, so as to cause as little trouble as possible.

On Friday, we will have a birthday party for Jesus. The parents on this party are 1. Jessica Mitchell 2. Cathy Maddox. It seems like I added another parent to this list, but I don't have the paper copy at home. I will check when I get to school. If you know I added you to this party, please let me know. This is a small but very important party. This is when we remind the kids one more time the real reason we celebrate Christmas. We will have cake and ice cream, sing some songs, read the story of Jesus' birth and exchange gifts. The kids drew names on Tuesday. If you did not get your note, please pick it up Monday morning so that you will know whose name your child drew. I am not sure about the younger class, but in my class, girls drew girls and boys drew boys. We have decided to ask that the kids exchange books this year. I'd like for everyone to get a book for around $5, but I ask that you PLEASE do not spend more than $10 for this. I like for the kids to enjoy giving to each other and to understand the value of a book.

Assuming that the weather will be nice, we will go caroling down Main Street. This is a fun time, and we just hope hope hope that it is not too cold!! The kids will wear their Christmas sweatshirts for this.

Any of you are more than welcome to join us for any and all of these events.

Well, I think that's all I can think of for now. Check back this week for LOTS of pictures! See you Monday!

Rain, Rain Go AWAY!!

Goodness gracious!! We are seriously getting wet!! Even in the rain, we had a good day today. We are enjoying learning all about the Thanksgiving story and why we celebrate! I visited in the younger class today for a while. Devon's youngest son, Logan, has been sick again, so keep them in your prayers. I hate for her to be out, but it is fun to spend time with the little ones. When I first walked over, I couldn't get ANYONE to hug me, but then along came Mara. Once she hugged me, it was "cool," so they all had to get in on it! I know that lots of people think I am crazy for loving my job like I do, but I will tell you, there is nothing like all those little people just loving you and sharing such fun times with you! I wouldn't trade it for anything! Of course, I often tell people that mine is the only job short of a professional athlete in which it is a routine occurrence that I get a round of applause and cheers just for walking in the door in the morning! Thanks for allowing us to get to know and love your child!

We are getting ready for the Thanksgiving feast! It's going to be such fun! We will begin our program at 11:00 am. It will last about 30 minutes, and then we will eat. The meal can last as long as you'd like it to, but if you do need to go back to work, that is the time frame we are working in. I have 2 people signed up to help with clean up on that day - Hope Mitchell and Dean Castile. If there is one more person who might be able to stay and help with clean up on that day, please let me know. It is a HUGE job for a couple of us, but, with some help, it could be MUCH easier!!

Today in the 3 & 4 year old class, I was just so proud of the way they are improving in every area. I have to share this tidbit. Our block center has been closed for a week, because of some problems following directions last week. We made a big deal of opening that back up today, along with the science center and the writing center, with dry erase boards and markers. Do you know that 10 of the 14 that were here today chose writing?? Then, I was incredibly proud when they were all actually writing and drawing, not just banging markers. I walked next door, and when I came in, I saw that Landen and Charlie were in the Housekeeping center, which was closed. I said to them, "Boys, that center is closed. Why are you over there?" They very proudly answered, "We're looking for words!!" They were walking around, like the Pre-K kids do, looking at labels and trying their best to write them down!! Isn't that great?? I just wanted to share!!

We are working on the letter B this week, and on Friday, we will have a Beary Special Day with our Bears. Please allow your child to bring a teddy bear on Friday. We have lots of fun activities planned. Before you ask, if your child doesn't have a teddy bear, another stuffed animal is fine. It will be fun!!

Finally, our Square One Art is in! I want to thank Noelle for doing this with our kids! They are so cute!! If you didn't already get it, the packet is in the pockets or with the 2 year old teachers. There is a sheet of stickers made from your child's artwork inside! You may order any number of items that are personalized with your child's art. These are great gift ideas! These orders need to be in by Nov. 18. Noelle is allowing His Kids to receive the proceeds from the products that we buy, so you help us and get neat stuff!

I hope everyone stays dry and has a great Wednesday!

Happy November!

It's hard to believe that November is here and in full swing. I love this time of year!! It is SOOOO beautiful! I say this as there are flash flood warnings everywhere! We are having lots of fun learning all about Thanksgiving. For the parents in the older class, ask your child to tell you about the story of Thanksgiving. It is fun to listen to them retell it! We have also been talking about miracles and the story of Moses. It's fun to listen to them give their versions of these stories. I am so proud of the progress they are making in their handwriting skills as well as so many other things. They are using great interpersonal skills as they work out their problems more and more without tattling as much. (I said as much!! They haven't totally quit!!)

I hope you are all making plans to attend the Thanksgiving feast on Monday before Thanksgiving. If you have not signed up to bring a dish, please do that. The signup sheet is outside the 2 year old classroom. Also, please let us know as soon as possible how many people are coming on this day. We usually have a big crowd, which I LOVE, so I just need to know how many to prepare for. I want everyone to plan to come and share this time with your families. I would like to ask, if possible, if your child will have more than 4 guests, if you would mind bringing more than one item. I just want to insure that we have plenty for everyone. If this is a problem, please let me know. I don't want this to prevent anyone from coming.

Also, if you have not picked up your feather for the family project, please ask us for it. I hope to have one for everyone on display for the feast.

The kids in the older class also need to send a picture of your family by Monday. I just need one, and you can decide who you consider family for the picture. This is going to be a class book that we will keep on display all year.

Just a reminder - tuition will be late after tomorrow
candle orders need to be turned in no later than tomorrow


Have a great day!!

One more thing

Of course, there is one more thing!! We have a project coming up where we will use the clear plastic cups (like pudding or jell-o comes in). If you use those, could you please save them for us and send them in? We will need 30-40 of them.
Thanks!

Latest News

Hi everyone! I had a few things I wanted to be sure to share with you as soon as I could, so here goes!

We have a field trip scheduled to Rock Ranch on Tuesday, Nov. 17. This is always a fun field trip, and I hope everyone will be able to go. The cost for this trip is $8 per person. Two year olds will need a parent to accompany them on this trip. Please let me know as soon as possible if your child will be able to go, and if a parent will be accompanying them. We will leave around 9 and be back around 2. The children will need a sack lunch for this day.

Candle orders have been sent home. These are due on Friday, Nov. 6. I hope that you will all try to sell as many as you can. We have samples of all of the scents at the church, if you would like to try them out. Also, if you would like to take the samples to work one day, you are welcome to pick them up in the morning and bring them back after work. Sometimes, giving people the chance to smell them makes a difference.

We will be having our Scholastic Book Fair from Nov. 30 - Dec. 4. On Tuesday evening, Dec. 1, we will have a Family Fun night for all of you to come and shop the fair while enjoying a fun night with your family. This will be a great opportunity to get to know some of the other families as well. I will be asking for some help with this event. On Friday, Dec. 4, we will have donuts with Dad. Dads, granddads, uncles and other important men in your child's life are invited to stop in for a quick bite and a few minutes to share a book with your child.

Months ago, we were asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and sing at the Veteran's Day luncheon on Saturday. I have not heard more about it. I have put a call in to them to see if they still want us to do this or not. With such short notice, it is not required, but anyone who can be there is certainly encouraged to be here for this, if we are still on the "agenda." I'll let you know.

Monday, Nov. 23, we will have our annual Thanksgiving program and covered dish feast. This is a fun tasty event, and I hope you will all plan to come. We are asking for RSVP's by Nov. 18 so that we will know how many we will have. By the way, if anyone out there wants to volunteer to smoke a ham or turkey or both, please let me know. We can always cook it here, but I just figured I'd ask!!

Finally, I am sending home a large feather with each child. Please let this be a fun family project. You and your child can decorate your feather in any way you'd like to tell about your family and/or what your child is most thankful for. We will need these back by Friday, Nov. 20.

I think that's it for now!!
Thanks!

Can you believe November's here??

Wow!! We had an exciting last week of October! Our field trip was lots of fun, and our party was awesome!! Thanks to Asa's mom, Katelyn's mom, Arley's mom and Caylin's mom for a great time!! We had fun Halloween music playing. First, we made the cutest little handprint bats you have ever seen!! Then, we ate and ate. We had hot dogs, cheese puffs and spooky green punch. The kids loved it! We had the best time jumping for donuts!! Don't worry, I have LOTS of pics to help explain that one!! Everybody played that game. It was great! Powdered donuts are a hit with everybody. Everytime I looked up, another child was sneaking into the bag!! We finished up with popcorn and cotton candy! Amazingly enough, almost all of the kids still took a nap after that!!
It's time to get November started. We will begin talking about the Early Settlers this week. Go ahead and mark your calendars. On the Monday before Thanksgiving, we will have our annual Thanksgiving program and covered dish feast. I will have the list to sign up for that this week. It is always a wonderful time for everyone. Everyone is invited!

We are beginning something new in our older class, and I can't wait to begin to see the results of this effort. A couple of parents and I have looked into the idea of Philosophy for children. I have looked into a program created at Mt. Holyoke University, and I am FASCINATED! They use children's literature to create question sets that encourage deeper thinking, philosophical thinking. I am interested in seeing changes in children when they are taught to look beyond the simple answer, to find deeper meaning in things. We started this week with my favorite book, Harold and the Purple Crayon. It was interesting to me that the children, across the board, answered that the moon in the story was not real, because it was a different shape than the moon we see, but if it had been the same shape, it would have been real. They also said that he almost drowned because the water was deep, and the reason he didn't was because he had a boat. If you are not familiar with the story, I have it at His Kids for you to see. It's about a little boy who basically creates his world with a purple crayon. It will be interesting to me to see if they answer differently at the end or the school year.
I am enjoying a long weekend in North GA with my family, but I will be back on Tuesday. I hope to have Halloween pics added soon. I look forward to a great week!