News from the NW Preschool Classroom: Dec12/Jan13

NEWS FROM THE NORTHWEST PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM

December 2012/January 2013

HOLIDAYS, HOLIDAZE

With the Holiday season here, days are filled with different activities, excitement, and anticipation. While at school, we try to maintain your child's routine in the classroom to be as normal as possible during the month of December. It has been our experience that children function best with predictable routines. It is helpful to prepare children for variations in the normal routine by giving them simple facts (e.g., regarding travel plans, what to expect at a particular function you may be attending, visitors in your home, etc.) The more informed the child, the better able they are to cope with out-of-the-ordinary experiences. When possible, we encourage you to keep a somewhat normal routine at home (i.e., meal times, bedtimes) during our Winter Break, with a balanced schedule of celebration with family and friends, along with some quiet "down' time. This may assist in providing a smooth transition when it's time to return to normal routines and schedules after Winter Break. Cornerstone Montessori will be closed for Winter Break, Monday, December 24, 2012 through Friday, January 4, 2013.

Classes will resume on Monday, January 7, 2013.

CRAZY COLORADO WEATHER

What a privilege it is to live in Colorado! However, we all know Colorado weather is very unpredictable. We kindly request that children bring winter outer wear with them to school each day to make sure they can enjoy playground time. Children without proper winter wear (snow pants, boots, gloves, hat, and jacket) will experience natural consequences of choices being made as they will stay dry by remaining on the deck area of the playground. We ask that children take their winter clothing home with them at the end of each day. Also, please check your child's clothes cubby to make sure it is supplied with seasonally-appropriate clothing.

MID YEAR PHONE CONFERENCES

After the Holidays, we will be connecting with each family to do a check in, check up, catch up, and any other catchy phrase you fancy. A sign-up sheet will be placed on the Sign In/Out table in mid-January so families can schedule a time for us to call you. We will be calling families to touch base and discuss how we as a team (family and teachers), are doing with keeping up with the goals and objectives we set at the beginning of the school year. We encourage you to ask questions, express concerns, make suggestions. We want to make sure we are working together to keep your child's progress successful and ensure that his/her learning experience is positive and in his/her best interest.

THANK YOU

Thank you to all of the families that gifted our classroom with items from the Small Hands catalog and the Barnes & Noble Book Fair. The children are enjoying use of the new materials. We also thank you for taking time to get some lessons from your child by attending "Our Afternoon". Thank you for sharing your children with us!

Español

Hola Amigo! Como estas hoy?

What we are learning this month?

Los continents: The Continent (song)

Tarara, tararara,tarara rarararararara

America del Norte, America del Sur

Africa, Europa, Asia y Australia

Antartica esta abajo

Y hace mucho frio

Y solo los pinguinos

Puede vivir ahi.

Tararara,tararara,tarara rarararararara

Como estas amigo? How are you friend? (song)

Como estas, amigo como estas?.... Muy bien

Este es un saludo de amistad........Que bien

Haremos lo possible por hacer nuevos amigos

Como estas, amigo como estas?.....Muy bien.

La familia ( The family)

Grandfather: Abuelo, Este dedo es el papá

GrandMother: Abuela, Este otro la Mamá

Father: Papá, Viene detras el hermano mayor

Mother: Mamá, Lleva un anillo la coqueta hermana

Son: Hijo, El bebe viene atras

Daughter: Hija, La familia unida esta.

We wish all of you a wonderful holiday!
Bill, Gaby, & Rada


UNITS OF STUDY FOR JANUARY:
Continent: South America
Study Unit: Reptiles
Artist: Frida Kahlo
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

SOUND OF THE WEEK:
Jan 7 –11: R
Jan 14 - 18: L
Jan 21 – 25: V
Jan 28 – Feb 1: E