May/June 2011

Whew! It’s hard to believe that this is our last month of school! It seems like just yesterday we were dealing with the children’s beginning of the year adjustments and separation anxiety issues. As we get closer to the end of the year, it is Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Cohen who will be having separation issues! We have thoroughly enjoyed our year with your children, and thank you for bringing them to Lord of Life to play and learn with us.

As the weather continues to get warmer, we will be spending more time outside. Please check the supply of extra clothes in your child’s tote bag. Many bags still have winter outfits and some of the outfits may not fit anymore! Because there will be more outdoor activity, it is important that the children have appropriate shoes for the playground. Sandals, rubber crocs, and slip-on shoes are NOT SAFE for climbing, and get filled with mulch and sand which is uncomfortable. Please send them to school in tennis shoes.

We are having a wonderful time exploring the world of insects, bugs, and wiggly things. Perhaps your child has reminded you to “Be Nice to Spiders,” or that crickets chirp to find another cricket friend. Our painted lady butterflies will be released outside to find nectar in the spring flowers. Mrs. Sanders will be bringing in her vermicomposting bin, and we will all learn which end is a worm’s head and which is its tail. We have been learning and singing many new songs for which we have included lyrics. We hope the “Baby Bumblebee” song isn’t too explicit for parental ears. The kids love it!

Our final cooking activity for the year will be Friendship Fruit Salad. We would like each child to bring in one type of fruit—banana, apple, orange, berries, pineapple, etc. Even something exotic like kiwi or mango would be great. Canned fruit is also acceptable. The children will be cutting, mixing and sharing the fruits to make a tasty, healthy treat. Please send in the fruit on Monday, May 16th.

We would like to offer parents, grandparents, or other special adults the opportunity to be a “guest story reader” in our classroom. There will be a sign up sheet at the door for school days in May, or you may call Mrs. Sanders to be added to the schedule (703-425-9172.) We have story time at 10:30 am, except on Tuesdays when it is at 10:15 am. You may select a book yourself, or we can suggest one that the children will enjoy. Sharing a book with the class does not require that you rehearse and perfect your oral reading skills. Your enthusiasm and enjoyment of children’s literature is all that is required.

There is no school on Memorial Day, May 31st. Our class Water Day is on Tuesday, May 31st. For Water Day, please send your child to school in a T-shirt and shorts. Please pack a change of clothes in their tote bags, too. Sandals or water shoes are the desired footwear for this day. We will have water tables, squirt guns, bubbles, and lots of fun.

On June 2nd, the last day of school, you are invited to join us at 11 am for a Family Picnic. Please bring a sack lunch and drink for your child and anyone else attending. We will gather at the picnic tables near the playground for our picnic. Cross your fingers for pleasant weather. If it is rainy on that day, we will have to cancel this event as there is not an indoor location to accommodate our crowd.

We are not scheduling formal, end-of-the-year conferences as in January, but if you have any concerns about your child’s development, progress, or placement for next year, we would be more than happy to meet with you.

P.S. The show and tell schedule is as follows:
5/16 Julie and Ali
5/17 Maddy and Philip
5/19 Avalyn and Cameron
5/23 Riley and Zain
5/24 Brennan and Emily
5/26 Grant and Jesse

There is no set theme for this month. Just bring in something nifty that you want to share with the class. Same rules apply—no family heirlooms or anything fragile. Also, no weapons!

April 2011

This past month was busy, busy, busy with cooking, art explorations, and visits from both the firefighters and a mischievous leprechaun. We are anticipating more exciting classroom visitors this month!

Mrs. Davis, (Julianna’s mother) will be in class on April 5th to help the children make a bunny visor, complete with ears and whiskers! Many thanks to her for sharing her time and talent with us.

Reptiles Alive, an award-winning, live animal program will be here on April 7th. The program features dynamic wildlife educators and live reptile specimens. Their website provides a place for kids to learn more about reptiles. Check it out: http://www.reptilesalive.com/kids/kidswelcome.html

On April 14th, we anticipate a visit from a furry friend with long, white ears and a little cotton tail. We will be making Easter baskets for our egg hunt on the playground that day.

Please join us on April 6 – for a fundraiser at Chik-Fil-A restaurant at Fairfax Circle. The preschool will earn a portion of the sales that day, and will use the funds to purchase new safety mats for the playground.

Our focus at the end of April and throughout May will be “Bugs, Butterflies, and Creepy Crawly Things.” For all you squeamish types: Get ready! Highlights include making our own bug jars and searching for live specimens, reading many of Eric Carle’s wonderful “critter” books, preparing and eating “ants on a log” (celery with peanut butter and raisins), and exploring the contents of Mrs. Sanders’ vermicomposting bin. We will also be watching the metamorphosis of caterpillars into Painted Lady butterflies.

If anyone can locate some frog eggs and/or tadpoles in a local stream or pond, we would love to observe their growth in a classroom aquarium. I will return them to a local pond when we have finished our observations.

The theme for show and tell this month is “Signs of Spring.” Examples of this could be something from the great outdoors that signals the change of season, a book about a spring happening, a new piece of clothing that takes the place of winter gear, or a picture of a springtime activity. Enjoy the warmer weather and wander with your child in the great outdoors. Let us know what you discover!

The Show and Tell schedule is as follows:
April 5th: Ali and Julianna
April 7th: Maddy and Philip
April 11th: Cameron and Avalyn
April 12th: Riley and Zain
April 14th: Brennan and Emily
April 25th: Jesse and Grant

This spring, as we notice the new growth of plants and animals, we also notice how much our class has grown since those first days in September. The children have made great strides in independent skills—washing hands, putting on coats, cleaning up after snack. They are continuing to make progress with social skills—sharing, taking turns, listening to each other, using words to convey wants/needs, and problem solving when things aren’t working out quite right. We are so proud of their accomplishments. They are blooming before our very eyes!

We would like to offer parents, grandparents, or other special adults the opportunity to be a “guest story reader” in our classroom. There will be a sign up sheet at the door for the remaining school days in April and May, or you may call Mrs. Sanders to be added to the schedule (703-425-9172.) We have story time at 10:30 am, except on Tuesdays when it is at 11:15am. You may select a book yourself, or we can suggest one that the children will enjoy. Sharing a book with the class does not require that you rehearse and perfect your oral reading skills. Your enthusiasm and enjoyment of children’s literature is all that is required.

Included below are songs that we are learning this month. Some may be familiar to you. Your child can teach you the ones that are not.

March 2011

They say March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Hopefully, somewhere between the roaring and the baa-ing, we will get some nice warm days to be out on the playground. After last month’s snow, we all have a bit of cabin fever.

This month, we will be watching the weather, and noticing the changes that the approaching spring brings to both animal and plant life. We will also be watching for those tricky little leprechauns that make mischief in our classroom! Our cooking activities for this month will be Monkey bread, pretzels, Irish soda bread, and deviled eggs.

The Show and Tell theme for this month is “Something You Are Good At.” By this we mean, show us something you can do, like a somersault or a karate move. Sing us a song or bring in something you have made. Count to ten (or five!) in a foreign language. Bring in a trophy or ribbon you have earned. Be creative! Have fun! (Each child will have two chances to show us their stuff!) Here are the Show and Tell dates for each child:

March 1 Mrs. Cohen
March 3 Mrs. Sanders
March 7 Ali and Julianna
March 8 Maddy and Philip
March 10 Cameron and Avalyn
March 14 Riley and Zain
March 15 Brennan and Emily
March 17 Jesse and Grant
March 21 Ali and Julianna
March 22 Maddy and Philip
March 24 Cameron and Avalyn
March 28 Riley and Zain
March 29 Brennan and Emily
March 31 Jesse and Grant

Scholastic Book orders are due on March 17th.

Included in this email are two new songs that we will be learning in the upcoming months. The children have been enjoying the classic “Where is Thumbkin?” song/fingerplay, and are getting really good at incorporating sign language into “Jesus Loves Me.”

During free play time, we have been playing CD’s with both classic and contemporary children’s music. If your family has a favorite CD of children’s songs that you would like to share, please let us know. We love to expand our repertoire. We would also love any musicians in our midst, who would like to come in and play for us, to make yourselves known. We are a friendly audience that applauds, cheers wildly, and shouts “Bravo!” with gusto. So, don’t be shy if you would like to show us an instrument and perform for us!

Songs We Are Learning

Five Big Cookies
Five big cookies in the bakery shop.
Round and fat with sprinkles on the top.
Along came _________ with a penny one day. (insert child’s name)
Bought one cookie and took it away.

Four big cookies in the bakery shop.
Round and fat with sugar on the top.
Along came _________ with a penny one day. (insert a new name)
Bought one cookie and took it away.

Repeat song, counting down to the last cookie. When we sing this song at school, the children pretend they have a penny and pantomime bringing to me to pay for their cookie. When they give me their penny, I pretend to give them a cookie.

Everyone Counts
Uno, dos, tres, one, two, three. I can count in Spanish up to three.
Uno, dos, tres, one, two, three. I can count in Spanish up to three.

Un, deux, trois, one, two, three. I can count in French up to three.
Un, deux, trois, one, two, three. I can count in French up to three.

Everyone counts, in small and large amounts.
Everyone counts in this world.
From north to south, from east to west,
Everyone counts in this world.

Continue with other languages:
Japanese—ichi, ni, san
German—eins, zwei, drei

We also get silly and count in dog, pig, and rooster language. Ask your child how this sounds.

February 2011

It was a genuine pleasure to talk with each of you during conferences and share information and insights about your child. The growth and development of the class, since the beginning of the school year, is remarkable. We have many more learning adventures and creative activities ahead.

In-house registration for the 2011-2012 school year will begin on February 2nd. If there is a delayed opening on February 2, registration will start at 10:00 am. If there is no school on February 2, registration will start on February 3.

Please note the following dates for Show and Tell.
Feb. 3rd Ali and Julianna
Feb. 7th Maddy and Philip
Feb. 8th Cameron and Avalyn
Feb. 10th Riley and Zain
Feb. 15th Brennan and Emily
Feb. 17th Jesse and Grant

The theme for Show and Tell this month is “Something Red”—for Valentine’s Day and just because it is our favorite color! Be creative! Surprise us! The red item can be something as simple as red painted fingernails or a red necktie, a red strawberry or a red marble. Language development (improving both speaking and listening skills) is the goal of show and tell.

The following are additional important dates to mark on your calendar:
Feb. 1st No School
Feb. 8th Hat Day-bring a favorite or funny hat to school. We will sing “Happy Birthday” to Mr. Lincoln and learn about his tall, black hat.
Feb. 10th Chapel at 9:30am in the Sanctuary
Feb. 14th Valentine’s Day celebration
Feb. 16th Chicken Out “Fun-Raiser”—More information to follow
Feb. 17th Chapel at 9:30am in the Sanctuary; Scholastic Book orders due

This month we will be focusing on dental hygiene and ways to keep those pearly whites healthy. We will be doing an experiment to demonstrate how soda is not a good choice for our teeth. (One of our cooking activities for this month is fruit smoothies—a nutritious alternative to sugary drinks.) At home, let your child use a small, hand-held mirror to examine his or her teeth, and then let them take a look in your mouth, too! Count how many teeth each of you have. Talk about the different shapes and sizes. Some teeth are good for biting, and some are good for chewing. Brushing teeth is a terrific independent living skill and a healthy habit to work on at home.

On Valentine’s Day, we will have a class celebration starting at 11:30 a.m. You are invited to join us for a card exchange, a yummy treat, and pink lemonade. Since we have been practicing recognizing each other’s names, it would be fine for an adult to print the names on the envelopes, or you may leave them blank.
These are the friends in our class:
Ali   Juilianna
Maddy   Philip
Cameron   Avalyn
Riley   Zain
Brennan   Emily
Jesse   Grant

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child or our classroom activities. As we mentioned to many of you during conference time, our classroom door is always open for you to come in and observe. Thank you for sending your child to Lord of Life to play and learn with us.

January 2011

Welcome to 2011! This month we will talk about what birds, animals, and people do during winter—how they adapt to cold temperatures. We will be doing some interesting science experiments with scarves, feathers, and Crisco! The children will be making predictions, gathering information, and forming conclusions based on their results.

Please be alert to the daily weather forecast so that your child is dressed appropriately for the playground. Although Mrs. Cohen doesn’t like to go out when it is cold, we try to get to the playground every day for at least a few minutes. Please tuck a few tissues into their coat pockets as well. The cold weather seems to make a lot of little noses run!

A reminder about the inclement weather policy for the preschool:

• When Fairfax County schools are closed, the preschool will also be closed.
• If there is a one or two hour delay, class will meet from 10 a.m. until 12 noon.
• If the Fairfax County schools close early, we will meet as scheduled from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.

In January, we will be scheduling informal, 15 minute parent-teacher conferences designed to share information about your child and our preschool day. Conferences will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 11th, 13th, 18th, and 20st. On each day, we have 3 time slots, beginning at 12:20pm. These conferences are optional. If you would like to meet, we will post a sign up sheet outside the classroom door, or you may call me (703-425-9172) to sign up. Please arrange for child care during your conference time. (In previous years, parents who have conferences on the same day have traded off watching each other’s children while you meet with us.) If you prefer, phone conferences or email conferences can be arranged instead.

Registration for the 2010-11 school year will begin for currently enrolled students and their siblings on February 2nd at 9 am. We encourage you to consider what class you prefer for your child, and take the opportunity to complete the paperwork before February 7th when we begin accepting applications from the general public.

Our theme for show and tell this month is “student choice.” The children can bring in any item they would like to share. Surprise us! Be advised that the show and tell item is passed around for all to see. If the item is too fragile or too special to be shared in this way, consider an alternative choice.

Jan. 10th Ali and Julianna
Jan. 11th Maddy and Philip
Jan. 13th Cameron and Avalyn
Jan. 18th Riley and Zain
Jan. 20th Brennan and Emily
Jan. 24th Jesse and Grant
Jan. 25th Mrs. Cohen
Jan. 27th Mrs. Sanders

School-wide Pajama Day will be on January 11th. No need for the kids to get dressed that morning. Just roll them out of bed, and they can come as they are! Slippers are optional, but remember to send playground shoes, too.

Chapel for this month will be on Tuesday, January 13th and 27th at 9:30 a.m.

There is no school on Monday, January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Also, following the Fairfax County school calendar, the preschool will be closed on January 31st and February 1st.

Scholastic book orders will be due on Thursday, January 13th.

The children are comfortable with our classroom and school routines. They are growing and changing from week to week and becoming quite a social bunch! But, do not be surprised if some of the initial anxieties, experienced at the beginning of the year, resurface again after the winter break. This is not uncommon, and this, too, will pass as we all get back into our predictable routines. We feel so lucky that we get to play and learn with these delightful children three times each week. Thank you for sharing them with us. We look forward to more fun in the new year.

December 2010

We hope you had a delicious and relaxing Thanksgiving. Did your child help you in the kitchen? They are very good at cooking. In December there is going to be a lot of excitement and activity in our class. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Are you ready??

Breakfast with Santa is an annual event sponsored by the Preschool. This year the gala will be held on December 4th in the Fellowship hall from 8:30am to 11am. Children and their families are invited for goodies and a chance to share their wishes with Santa. (A great opportunity for that “Kodak moment” photo!) Our class has decorated two spectacular gingerbread houses that will be used as a table centerpiece. The Santa breakfast is free of charge. There will be a collection of canned food for the needy.

Tuesday, December 14th is the Tiny Tots concert at Robinson High School. Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to drive and chaperone. The concert starts at 9:30 am, so we must leave school as soon as possible that morning. Please arrive at school by 8:45 am on the 14th and pull into the parking spaces in front. Do not use Kiss and Ride. If you are not driving your own child, please have your car seat labeled and help install it in the chaperone’s car. If your child is not coming to school that day, or is unexpectedly ill that morning, please call us so we know not to wait: 703-323-5581. After your car seat is installed, please take your child to the restroom. Dismissal will be at our regular noon time back at Lord of Life.

The Show and Tell theme for December is “holiday decorations.” Each child is asked to select one special item from home that is used during the holidays. This could be a non-breakable ornament, a paper chain they helped make, a jingle bell necklace, a nativity piece or dreidel. Please do not send in any family heirlooms or fragile items! (I’m looking forward to sharing Billy Bass, the fish that sings “Jingle Bells!”)

12/6 Julianna and Maddy
12/7 Ali and Philip
12/9 Cameron and Avalyn
12/13 Riley and Zain
12/14 Brennan and Emily
12/16 Jesse and Grant

Scholastic order forms will be sent home on December 3rd. The order forms will be due back on Monday, December 6th. This quick turnaround will insure delivery before school closes for the holidays.

As we move into the winter season, we encourage you to keep your child well rested and dressed appropriately for the weather. We go outside as often as possible. Being prepared for the weather will help your child enjoy it to the fullest. Please label everything that comes to school. Tucking a few Kleenex into a coat pocket is a good idea, too.

Don’t forget our annual Sing a Long in the Sanctuary on December 16 at 11:40 a.m. Bring your voices!

School will be closed from December 20th through January 2nd. Our first day back in the classroom will be January 3rd. We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a New Year of health and happiness.

Kimberly Sanders and Jeneen Cohen

There Was A Little Baby

There was a little baby, oh my Lord.
There was a little baby, oh my Lord.
There was a little baby, oh my Lord.
Way down in Bethlehem.

They laid in a manger, oh my Lord.
They laid in a manger, oh my Lord.
They laid in a manger, oh my Lord.
Way down in Bethlehem.

They named him baby Jesus, oh my Lord.
They named him baby Jesus, oh my Lord.
They named him baby Jesus, oh my Lord.
Way down in Bethlehem.

Our month ahead will be focused on recognizing, naming, and giving thanks for the many blessings we have received. We will be preparing and sharing delicious corn muffins, cranberries, and pumpkin pies. Turkeys, of course, will figure prominently in our artwork.

In upcoming projects, the children will be using scissors. Using scissors effectively takes a great deal of fine motor control. We have been working on scissor “snips,” as well as scissor safety. Practice at home with a quality pair of children’s scissors (Fiskars). Have them keep their thumb up rather than twisting their wrist. Small snips are more successful than large cuts. You may need to help hold the paper while your child is first learning to manipulate the scissors.

Thank you for sending in small, two-part snacks. Snack time is going more smoothly with less spillage. The easily accessible containers are a great help, as is opening the cheese sticks just a little. Snack time allows us to focus on hygiene (washing hands before and after eating), manners (saying please and thank you), and socialization. We offer a simple blessing before eating and clean up after ourselves when finished.

Chapel for this month is on November 11th and November 18th. Families are always welcome to come and share this special time with the class. We meet in the sanctuary at 9:30 am. Scholastic Book orders are due on the November 11th. Please note on your calendars that school is closed on November 25th, Thanksgiving Day.

The theme for this month’s Show and Tell is “My Favorite Book.” Each child is encouraged to bring in the special book and tell us about what happens in his or her favorite story. Book mark with a sticky note, your child’s favorite illustration. We look forward to reading some great stories. The schedule is as follows:

Nov. 4th Mrs. Sanders
Nov. 8th Julianna and Maddy
Nov. 9th Philip and Cameron
Nov. 11th Avalyn and Riley
Nov. 15th Brennan and Emily
Nov. 16th Grant and Jesse
Nov. 18th Ali and Mrs. Cohen

Next month, we will be looking for 4 parent volunteers to attend the Tiny Tots Holiday Concert at Robinson High School, on December 14th, with us. We will need 4 parents to help transport and chaperone our class. If you would like to join us, please stop by the office sometime this month and provide your driver’s license and insurance information. We must have this information on file if you are transporting children other than your own in your vehicle. We will also need to know how many car seats will fit into your vehicle. If you are chaperoning for our class, you will not be able to bring any additional siblings with you. If you would like to come with siblings, you are more than welcome to join us, but not as an acting chaperone.

The songs included with this newsletter are ones we will be singing in the classroom and/or at Group Music time. We hope you enjoy learning some new songs with your preschooler.

We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and many blessings for your family.

Kimberly Sanders
Jeneen Cohen

October 2010 Newsletter Mon., Tues., Thurs. Class Room 4

Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Cohen

Dear Parents,

It has been wonderful getting to know your children and showing them that preschool is a lot of fun! There is so much to learn and explore—new faces, names, toys, climbing equipment, riding vehicles, water and light tables, stories and songs.

Most of the children have adjusted to the school day, while a few need a little extra support to make the transition. Everyone settles in after the first few minutes and we continue on with happy smiling faces. If the morning drop-off has been upsetting for you, or your child, you may call the Preschool office to check on your child’s status. Mrs. Deloose will come to the classroom, observe, and report back to you.

October is an especially exciting month at Lord of Life Preschool. Here are some important dates for your calendar:

October 7th Chapel
October 11th Columbus Day holiday—no school
October 12th Scholastic book orders due
October 14th Chapel
October 20th Evening Open House from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
October 21st Class pictures
October 28th Halloween Costume parade at 11:45am.

The theme for October’s Show and Tell is “Something from Nature.” This could be a beautifully colored leaf, an interesting rock, a shell from a beach vacation, a pinecone or a gourd. Even an insect critter in a tightly sealed bug jar would be terrific! A goal of Show and Tell is developing oral language skills. Talk to your child about the show and tell before coming to school. What would they like to tell their classmates? One or two interesting facts (What is it? Where did it come from?) is sufficient to get the conversation started.

October 4th Mrs. Cohen
October 5th Julianna and Maddy
October 7th Philip and Cameron
October 12th Avalyn and Riley
October 14th Zain and Brennan
October 18th Emily and Jesse
October 19th Grant and Ali
October 21st Mrs. Sanders

On the evening of October 20th, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, we welcome you to our classroom Open House. Please come to see our artwork on display, enjoy squishing some play dough, build a Lego tower, string beads, and learn how our school day is organized. Your child will be proud to show you the classroom!

We will have a costume parade on Thursday, October 28th. The children are welcome to come dressed in simple, “easy-to-wear” costumes. Please avoid masks, weapons, slippery shoes, long tails, or accessories that would prevent participation in the classroom activities, outside playtime and/or independence in the bathroom. Weather permitting, we will parade out the Kiss and Ride doors, down the sidewalk and back in the pick-up doors at 11:45 am. Parents are requested to remain outside on the sidewalk with your cameras ready!

Included in this email are some new songs for October. Most of the songs have familiar tunes and hand motions to go along with them. Singing together is a terrific (and fun) way to build language, memory, and confidence. It doesn’t matter if you can’t carry a tune!

Many thanks to you all for sending your children to play and learn at Lord of Life Preschool. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me via a note or a phone call. The school number is 703-323-5581 and my home number is 703-425-9172.

Kimberly Sanders

P.S. I am looking for a family who would like to donate a large pumpkin to us for a classroom project. It will be returned to you before Halloween, looking slightly different, but ready to be displayed on your front porch.

Halloween Songs and Finger Plays
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,
The first one said “Oh my! It’s getting late.”
The second one said “There are witches in the air.”
The third one said “But we don’t care.”
The fourth one said “Let’s run and run and run.”
The fifth one said “I’m ready for some fun.!”
Then whoosh went the wind,
And out went the lights,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

 

Bats are sleeping. (Sung to Frere Jacques)
Bats are sleeping.
Upside down.
Upside down.
Waiting for the night to come.
Waiting for the night to come.
Then they fly around.
Then they fly around.

 

One little, two little, three little witches,
Flying over haystacks,
Flying over ditches.
Flying over moonbeams without any hitches,
Hey-ho Halloween night. (CLAP!)

One little, two little, three little witches,
Flying over barbed wire,
Tore their britches,
Had to go home and get some stitches.
Hey-ho Halloween night. (BOO!)

Welcome to Lord of Life Preschool. We are happy you have chosen to join us and are looking forward to getting to know your child. We will do our best to make the summer to school transition as smooth as possible. We strive to make our class a safe, nurturing environment for children to play and learn.

We encourage you to use “Kiss and Ride” as soon as you and your child are comfortable with that process. Until that time, you may bring your child to the classroom. The period of adjustment to school may cause tears and emotional upset in some children. Please know this is not uncommon at this age. If your child is unhappy when you leave him with us, please feel free to call the school office at any time during the morning and they will check on your child and provide you with an update.

Each child has been given a school tote bag and assigned a hook outside the classroom. Bring the tote bag each school day. Please select a complete set of clothes (shirt, shorts or pants, underwear, and socks) that can remain in the bag, but is available in case of accidents or spills. We will check the tote bag each morning for notes from home, show and tell, and daily snack.

Tote bags, folders and mail slots are used to distribute projects, artwork, and memos from the class and the office. The mail slots are individually labeled and should be cleared each day. Classroom newsletters are sent via email at the beginning of each month.

Each child is asked to provide for himself a snack for each school day. Virginia Department of Social Services requires that snacks contain two items and come from two food groups. We provide the beverage (water), napkins, and utensils. Please pre-cut and package your child’s snack so that the food is easily accessible. Label their snack bag with the date and their first name. Do not send food items that need to be refrigerated. With advanced notice, special treats for birthdays are welcome. We will notify you of any allergies in our class. Here are some ideas for snacks:

• String cheese and teddy grahams
• Yogurt or applesauce with graham crackers
• Fruit and crackers
• Muffins and fruit
• Cheese stick and goldfish

Please avoid cookies, candy, marshmallows, or other sweet treats. Whatever you choose to send, please make sure your child can get into the snack with minimal assistance. Snip the tops of cheese sticks, granola bars, and fruit snack packages or pull them open slightly to help your child get started. Package veggies and fresh fruit in easy-open containers or Ziploc bags and remind them not to throw away your Tupperware!

Each month, we will have a show-and-tell theme. Our September theme is “Stuffed Animal Friends.” On your child’s assigned day, he is welcome to bring in a stuffed animal to show the class. We will stimulate conversation by asking questions like “What is your friend’s name?” “Did someone special give him to you?” “What color is your friend?” The class will be able to ask their own questions as well. The schedule for September is as follows:

• 9/13 Mrs. Sanders
• 9/14 Julianna and Maddy
• 9/16 Philip and Cameron
• 9/20 Mrs. Cohen
• 9/21 Avalyn and Riley
• 9/25 Zain and Brennan
• 9/27 Emily and Jesse
• 9/28 Grant and Ali
• 9/30 Make-up day

We use the playground or are outside every day the weather permits. Please have your child wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable and allow them to use the bathroom independently. Tennis shoes are the best year-round choice for footwear. Mulch gets stuck under sandals and in rubber crocs. Snow boots make climbing and running difficult. Pull-on pants without zippers and belts are the best choice for children who are striving for independence in the bathroom. We have smocks for paint projects, but play clothes that can take splashes and spills are recommended.

Scholastic book orders will be sent home each month. They offer a wide selection of high quality, reasonably priced books for purchase. If you wish to place an order, fill out the form on the back of the pamphlet, and return it to school with a check made out to Scholastic. We will process the orders and distribute the books at Preschool. Ordering is optional, but is a great way to supplement your home library with age appropriate books at a discount price. This month’s order is due on September 16th.

We will strive to maintain open lines of communication throughout the year. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your needs and concerns. Conference times will be available in January and May, but we will be happy to meet with you at any time during the school year at a mutually convenient time. For you and your child’s privacy, we ask that you not discuss individual issues with us when you drop your child at school. We will be focused on the plans for the school day and will not be able to give you the attention you deserve. Thank you for sharing your child with us. We look forward to an exciting school year.

Typical Classroom Schedule

9:00-9:45
Free Choice Activities
Art Projects
Cooking (Mondays) Group Music (Thursdays)

9:45-10:15
Big Room Explorations

10:15-10:30
Snack

10:30-10:50
Movement (Tuesdays)

10:50-11:20
Playground, Outdoor Explorations, Trikes and Bikes

11:20-12:00
Story Circle
Group Music (Mondays)
Closing Activities

12:00
Dismissal

Chapel is scheduled twice monthly and held in the Sanctuary. The church pastors lead our service. We have Movement class, taught by Mrs. Wilcox, once a week on Tuesdays. This is an addition to our curriculum that we are very excited about.

Best Regards, Kimberly Sanders and Jeneen Cohen