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CALENDAR
APRIL
Friday, 4/1 - Friday 4/29 Month of the Young Child
Saturday, 4/2 - WorkDay, 9:00am-2:00pm
Monday, 4/11 - Friday 4/15 Children’s Art Show at Children’s Corner
MAY
Monday, 5/2 - May Pole Dance & Picnic, 11:30am-12:30pm.
*Families invited to bring a picnic
lunch
Saturday, 5/14 - Pet Parade, 10:00am
WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION
If your contact information (home phone, work phone, address, people who are
allowed to pick up your child, etc) has changed, please be sure to let the office know. It is
very important (especially in case of an emergency) that we have up-to-date information
for each of our families.
FEBRUARY WORK DAY THANK YOU
Children’s Corner would like to send out a huge thank you for the parents who
volunteered their time by participating in the February Workday. They did a great job
and got a lot of work accomplished. Thank you!
Room 5 (Terrific 2s &3s) Update
We want to invite you to take a look at the children’s creative art work displayed
in the classroom. Art activities are wonderful opportunities for children to explore
different kinds of materials as well as express ideas and emotions.
We appreciate all of you who keep your children home when they are sick.
Sometimes lack of energy and inability to cope are good reasons to stay home. We also
appreciate when you let us know if your child is ill.
We would like to extend a big thank you to all our families for their donations
(wipes, tissues, toys, fruit, and valentine cookies)
Please remember to sign in and out as you enter and leave the classroom. Also
bring extra clothes for your children.
Finally, please check the lost and found box outside
of Room 5.
ROOM 6 (Thrilling 3s and 4s) Update
In Room 6 we had a wonderful Valentine’s Day and after Valentine’s Day is
Spring. We can hardly wait to go without our jackets and leave our shoes off while
outside.
This time of year means art projects, circle time activities, and stories about new
plant growth, insects, and color changes. Perhaps you will hear a new song or rhyme that
your child could teach you.
We encourage you to share any information about your child that could make their
day more successful. This information could aid the teachers in understanding a mood or
behavior. As teachers, we want to support all of the children so they all can feel
successful.
As friendships develop, we are learning the power of our words. Sometimes
conflicts occur which include yelling, crying, or hitting. The teachers are assisting the
children with using language as a more acceptable means of making their point. Words
are powerful.
Thank you for sharing your child with us as it is such a pleasure watching them
grow.
Laura, Jeff, and Pauline
Classroom Wishlist
Room 6 would like flower seeds for planting.
Room C would like white paper for drawing, fruits and vegetables for snack, and 35mm
film for taking pictures.
Young Fives would like an iron for craft projects.
Room C (Fabulous 4s & 5s) Update
The children in Room C are having a wonderful time. Teachers are preparing specific
learning materials to continue enhancing the development of each child.
Table time has evolved into an exciting time each day at school. When
announced, children are very enthused to learn about numbers (math), letters (written
word), increased vocabulary skills, matching, grouping, comparing, measuring, cutting,
following directions, and more! All of the skills described here will help your child be
successful in kindergarten.
Teachers continue to help children build on self help skills like washing hands,
knowing where personal items are, remembering not to run inside the classroom, tone of
voice inside vs. outside, and being kind to friends.
Children are also learning to cooperate with peers, be more patient with peers, and
help a friend if needed.
All children are eager to learn, however, children learn at many developmental
levels. It is important for you to be aware of your child’s level of development. Teachers
can help you plan for kindergarten and are available for conferences. Please see your
teachers available conference times posted on the Parent Board in Room C. Conferences
provide
Please remember to label all lunch boxes and clothing including socks, shoes,
jackets. Unfortunately, items do get lost at school.
Finally, we would like to thank Albert’s family for the film, Amanda E’s family
for the oranges, Sarah S’s family for the heart crackers, Kira’s family for the film
developing, and Clarissa’s family for the blackberries and cupcakes.
- Ada, Iris, Lynn, and Chris
Young Fives
February was another fun and exciting month for Big Fives. Our trip to Gems Galore, the rock shop, was wonderful as usual. We chose geodes that the children were able to watch being cut, and after the tour we were able to wander at will to see everything up close. We purchased a few new rocks to add to our collection at school, and each child was given a piece of silicon to take home. We also learned about Chinese New Year and celebrated the first day with a Chinese lunch and the last day with Chinese long noodles to promote long life. We also received special candies wrapped in gold paper from teacher Nancy and "luck money" in traditional red envelops from my Goddaughter, Ming. In addition to Chinese New Year, we also had Valentines Day. We enjoyed sharing Valentines and a special snack before joining the other Children's Corner families at the Valentine Potluck.
We reached our goal of 100 cans of food to celebrate our first 100 days of school, and in fact surpassed our goal. Ainsley's mom, Tamara arranged a special event for us on March 3. The Second Harvest Food Bank is sending a representative to our school to pick up the cans and the Town Crier is sending a reporter to cover the event. The children are very excited about the possibility of being in the newspaper!
We have so many people to thank for their generous response to our wish list last month. Charlie's mom, Erin, brought us Kleenex, glue sticks, and heart cookies. Zachary's mom, Jeanette, provided Mardi Gras beads for each child to go with the masks they made for our parade, and also purchased duplicates of the children's favorite Zoophonics Beannie Babies so sharing is easier. Theo and his mom, Beth, brought us delicious oranges from their tree, and Tejas and his mom, Poornima, brought a huge box of glue sticks. Glue sticks are very popular with our group and we go through them very quickly. Ainsley and her mom, Tamara, brought in Kleenex, glue sticks, ribbon and disposable cameras for us to use to document our projects and outings. The children love to see the pictures, they are a wonderful was to revisit the activities and share them with families and friends. Collin and his mom, Joan, brought us stamp pads and a fabulous collection of stamps that the children have really been enjoying. We also want to thank all of our children and families for their donations of cans of food for our 100 Days Food Drive. Their generosity made the event a success. Again, thank you to all of our families for your generous donations and support. Your support is what helps make our program special.
In March we are looking forward to working with our Zoophonics friends, Robbie Rabbit, Sammy Snake, and Timothy Tiger, in addition to exploring spring, eggs and animals that hatch from eggs, and insects. And March wouldn't be complete without stories of Leprechaun Lore and lots of green snacks. As you can see, it will be another fun-filled and busy month.
Referral Program
This month will be the last opportunity to win a prize for referring a family to visit
Children’s Corner. Get it while you still can!!
Director's Corner
Trying to decide each month what to share in my newsletter article is the most difficult
aspect of my newsletter contribution. Sometimes I just read something that sparks an idea or
we’ve had a lot of questions from parents and I search for answers. This month I’d like to do
something different—praise the teachers! Most of you probably are not aware of all that the
teachers do to keep current and prepare the program every day for your children. So, I am going
to share just some of the things that our wonderful teachers are doing. I also want to emphasize
that much is done on their own time.
Four of our teachers are taking the second college class in a series on inclusion—helping
meet the needs of all children in their classes. Three teachers have been participating in a mentor
teacher program helping newer teachers in the field get more practical experience. One teacher
attended the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference and four
attended the California State Conference. We currently have one teacher who is qualified and
participating in the California Mentor Teacher Program which allows Children’s Corner to serve
as a practicum site for De Anza College. We also have another teacher who is ready to apply.
In addition to furthering their own education and mentoring others, many of our teachers
regularly go to (and spend their own money at) RAFT, the Resource Area For Teachers. They
get inexpensive supplies for their classrooms thereby extending their classroom budgets so they
have more for the children to use. RAFT also provides classes and ideas on how to use the
available materials in the classrooms.
Teachers also use their “free” personal time to visit other programs and meet with other
teachers to share ideas. They spend their evenings prepping art projects, reading child
development journals, new books and classics in the field of Child Development, and writing and
preparing for Parent/Teacher Conferences. They also use their talents to crochet and knit finger
puppets, blankets, hats, etc. for the classrooms and sew, mend, and wash dramatic play clothes.
Teachers often shop on their own time for snacks and special items to support their classroom
curriculums and have spent many hours creating and painting scenery and bulletin board
backgrounds.
Many teachers come into their classrooms on the weekends and/or evenings to clean,
rearrange their rooms, or set up areas and bulletin boards that they weren’t able to finish during
their work hours.
They do all these things because they are dedicated professionals. Teachers choose this
profession because they love working with young children and their parents, and because they
want each child to have the best chance for future success. Teachers are definitely not working
in the field of Early Childhood Education for the money, as these teachers are in one of the
lowest paying professions that require a college education. It is a hard job working with young
children and putting in so many extra hours. It takes a lot of dedication and at Children’s Corner
we are extremely fortunate to have so many dedicated professionals.
Thank you teachers!
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LA-MVCC
Newsletter
Current Quote
"Tis education forms the common mind;
Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined."
- Alexander Pope
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