February 2012

It was a genuine pleasure to talk with each of you during conferences, and share information and insights about your child. You will be receiving a written copy of the conference notes this week. 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.

Please note the following dates for Show and Tell.
Feb. 6th Charlotte and Noah
Feb. 7th Brady and James
Feb. 9th Emily and Kyle
Feb. 13th Isabella and QB
Feb. 16th Delaney and Chris
Feb. 21st Kevin and Sager
Feb. 27th Mrs. Alexander
Feb. 28th Mrs. Sanders

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. 2nd In-house registration for current families begins
Feb. 7th Scholastic book orders due
Feb. 14th Chapel at 9:30am in the Sanctuary and class Valentine’s party
Feb. 20th No school—President’s Day holiday
Feb. 23rd Visit from the Fire Department
Feb. 28th Chapel at 9:30am in the Sanctuary

This month we will be focusing on fire safety and dental hygiene. The fire department will present a puppet show on tools for children (crayons, scissors, glue, etc.) and tools for adults (matches and lighters.) We will be practicing “STOP, DROP, and ROLL.” Now is a good time to let your child help you change the batteries in your home smoke alarm and discuss a family evacuation plan.

To highlight how a healthy diet contributes to healthy teeth, we will be doing an experiment demonstrating that soda is not a good choice for children. (One of our cooking activities will be 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. 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. Can you tell from their shape which is which? Brushing teeth is a terrific independent living skill and a healthy habit to work on at home. Don’t forget to floss, too!

On Valentine’s Day, we will have a class celebration. We will have a card exchange and a special snack with pink lemonade. Since many of our friends only recognize their own name, please leave the envelopes of the valentines blank. Each child will get to be the postmaster and deliver the cards to the other children’s mail bags. There are 12 children in our class.

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 2012

Welcome to 2012! 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 gathering information, making predictions, 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. As long as it’s not raining, we try to get to the playground every day for at least a few minutes. Please tuck a few tissues into a coat pocket as well. The cold weather seems to make a lot of little noses run! The children are doing a great job with putting on their coats, hats, and mittens on their own. A few have even mastered zippers! However, sometimes they are befuddled by inside-out sleeves. A few extra practices at home will help manage this problem

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, January 10th, 17th, and 24th. On each day, we have 4 time slots, beginning at 12:30pm. 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.

Our theme for show and tell this month is “student choice.” The children can bring in any item or picture 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. 9th Charlotte and Noah
Jan. 10th Brady and James
Jan. 12th Emily and Kyle
Jan. 17th Isabella and QB
Jan. 19th Delaney and Chris
Jan. 23rd Kevin and Sager
Jan. 24th Mrs. Alexander
Jan. 26th Mrs. Sanders

Chapel for this month will be on Tuesday, January 10th and 24th at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. You are welcome to join us.

Scholastic book orders will be due on Thursday, January 12th.

There is no school on Monday, January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Also, following the Fairfax County school calendar, the preschool will be closed on the 30th and 31st.

School-wide Pajama Day will be on January 19th. No need for the kids to get dressed that morning. Just roll them out of bed, and they can come as they are! (They will need to wear sneakers for the playground.)

The preschool will be participating in a “Shoeboxes for the Troops” program this month. More information about this program will be sent home in the daily folders. Our class will be making a shoebox filled with small, non-perishable items for an active duty soldier. We encourage each student to participate and bring in one or more of the requested items. Families may also pick up empty shoeboxes and fill them at home, returning them to the preschool by January 27th for shipping.

December 2011

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 3rd in the Fellowship hall. 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 made an advent candle wreath that will be used as a table centerpiece. Also, look for our stylish class snowman. The Santa breakfast is free of charge. There will be a collection of canned food for the needy.

Tuesday, December 13th 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!

12/1 Charlotte and Brady
12/5 Emily and Kyle
12/6 James and Isabella
12/8 Q.B. and Delaney
12/12 Kevin and Noah
12/13 Chris and Sager
12/15 Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Alexander

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.

School will be closed from December 21st 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.

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.

November 2011

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 and cranberries. 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 15th with Mr. James. 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 10th. Please note on your calendars that school is closed on November 7th and 8th following the Fairfax County schedule, and on November 24th, Thanksgiving Day.

The theme for this month’s Show and Tell is “My Favorite Book.” Each child is encouraged to bring in a special book and tell us about what happens in the 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. 1st Mrs. Sanders
Nov. 3rd Sager and Mrs. Alexander
Nov. 10th Noah and Charlotte
Nov. 14th Brady and James
Nov. 15th Emily and Kyle
Nov. 17th Isabella and Delaney
Nov. 21st Chris and Kevin

Next month, we will be looking for parent volunteers to attend the Tiny Tots Holiday Concert at Robinson High School, on Tuesday, December 13th. 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 tunes with your preschooler.

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

October 2011

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 10th - Columbus Day holiday—no school
October 13th - Scholastic book orders due
October 20th - Class photos
October 25th - Chapel in the Sanctuary at 9:30 a.m.
October 26th - Evening Open House from 6:30 pm to 7:30 p.m.
October 31st - 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 3rd - Mrs. Cohen
October 4th - Charlotte and Noah
October 6th - Brady and James
October 11th - Emily and Kyle
October 13th - Isabella and Q.B.
October 17th - Delaney and Chris
October 18th - Kevin and Sager
October 20th - Mrs. Alexander
October 24th - Mrs. Sanders 

On the evening of October 26th, 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 Monday, October 31st. 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 11:40 a.m.. 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.

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.

September 2011

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. Any notes for us should be put in the folder. Tuition payments should not go in the folders but sent directly to the office.

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.

Please provide a snack for your child each school day. Virginia Department of Social Services recommends that snacks contain two items that come from two different 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. 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
• Pudding, yogurt, applesauce and graham crackers
• Fruit and crackers
• Muffins and fruit
• Cheese cubes and goldfish

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:

• 9/12 Mrs. Sanders
• 9/13 Mrs. Alexander
• 9/15 Charlotte and Noah
• 9/19 Brady and James
• 9/20 Emily and Kyle
• 9/22 Isabella and Q.B.
• 9/26 Delaney and Chris
• 9/27 Kevin and Sager
• 9/29 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.) 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 13th.

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, but we will be happy to meet with you at any time during the school year. Out of respect for your child’s privacy, we ask that you not discuss individual issues with us when you drop off 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

9:30-9:50
Movement with Mrs. Wilcox on Mondays
Chapel with the Pastors once/twice per month
Group Music on Thursdays

9:45-10:15
Big Room Explorations

10:15-10:45
Snack

10:45-11:15
Circle Time with story and Show and Tell

11:15-12:00
Playground, Outdoor Explorations, Trikes and Bikes

12:00
Dismissal

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