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CALENDAR
MARCH
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
CALENDAR CHANGES
Please note the following calendar changes:
August 2005
Thursday, 8/18 Room C End of Year Party, 11:30am-12:30pm. Families Invited!
Friday, 8/19 Room 5 & 6 End of Year Party, 11:30am-12:30pm. Families Invited!
Monday, 8/22 - Tuesday, 8/23 Children’s Corner closed for new school year preparation
Wednesday, 8/24 New School Year Starts!
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
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
Next year, the Big Fives Class (our Young Fives Program) is scheduled Monday-
Friday from 12:30-3:30pm in Room C. We will be using an animal based phonics
program called Zoo-phonics as we have done the past two years. The animal theme is
used because it is universal and because children relate readily to animals. The
configuration of the letter is remembered in association with a picture of the animal. The
sound comes through the first initial letter sound of each animal’s name. A body “signal”
is given to mimic each animal character. Each Zoo-phonics animal becomes a friend and
a tool for the children to use in developing reading, spelling, and writing skills.
Here’s how:
1. Children first see the shapes of the lowercase letters through the shapes of the
animals.
2. The sounds of the letters are taught through the names of the animals: “allie
alligator”=/a/, “bubba bear”=/b/, etc.
3. Because children wiggle naturally, a body movement (called a signal) is given to each
letter that relates directly to the animal, locking the shapes and sounds into memory.
For example, allie alligator opens and closes her jaws as she smiles.
Thus, the eyes, ears, mouth, and large muscles provide the vehicle to access information.
Zoo-phonics encourages the children’s natural tendency to wiggle and to express her/
himself, channeling it all for learning. Children learn by touching and doing, and Zoo-
phonics gives them this outlet.
Current brain research indicates the importance of a young child’s exposure to the
arts. Children benefit from exposure to the developments in the fine arts over the years.
Children can develop an appreciation and understanding of the works of famous artists.
Through the use of art masterpieces, represented by eight artists, we will be exploring six
themes: color, shapes, lines, numbers, animals, and places. Developmentally appropriate
projects and materials are thematically webbed throughout the curriculum. Activities will
be offered for group time, at art, language, match and science centers, and at snack time.
Problem solving and cooperative learning are used throughout the activities. The artists
selected span history, represent both male and female, and are not only painters, but also
sculptors and architects.
We will also be including seasons, holidays, and festivals in our curriculum all
year. As you can see, we will be busy! We like to invite and encourage parents to plan to
come to class and share some of their family’s holiday traditions. This is not limited to
December holidays. Hearing about other children’s celebrations is a wonderful, concrete
way for children to learn about other cultures and traditions.
Each Friday is sharing day. If children want to participate in sharing, they can
bring something that relates to the letter of the week or the animal that represents it.
Science and nature items are always welcome. On weeks where no letter is introduced,
children may bring anything they would like to share.
New next year, we will be introducing a “Star of the Week” and let each parent
know in advance when their child will be featured. An “All About Me” Poster is
provided for each child prior to his/her “Star Week”, and each child may bring something
to share every day that special week.
We try to have a field trip every month and provide a list of field trips and dates as
soon as possible after the school year begins. In the past, we have taken trips to the park,
pumpkin patch, The History House and Museum, a nursery, a rock shop, and Redwood
Grove. We enjoy having parents participate in these activities so we offer sign-ups for
parents participation.
We are looking forward to another exciting year, We have been receiving
wonderful feedback from local kindergarten teachers about the children coming out of our
Young Fives Program. We will be accepting 10-12 students in this program in the
2005/2006 school year and will try to balance the number between girls and boys as much
as possible. If you want more information, contact the office at 650-948-8950. Also,
since our best advertising is word-of-mouth, if you know anybody who would be
interested in our program, please give them this article!
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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
To Arrange a Tour
Call:
(650) 948-8950
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