PreK Press
January 9th - January 26th
DINOSAURS CONTINUE TO INVADE PREK
The children are thoroughly enjoying learning about dinosaurs! Every day is filled with opportunities to explore a variety of dinosaur manipulatives, puzzles, mazes, play figures, excavation tools in the sand table, skeleton models, sewing cards, stencils, etc. We have been working to identify many of the different kinds of dinosaurs, learning about their individual characteristics, developing our dinosaur vocabulary, and clapping out the syllables in these long names. We are already halfway through our 50 dinosaur book challenge, have learned a couple of different dinosaur songs and fingerplays and have completed our dinosaur mural. In STEAM they are learning about what a paleontologist does, the special tools that are used to excavate dinosaur skeletons, and what fossils are and what we can learn from them. They also learned that dinosaurs hatched from eggs and we have worked together in our STEAM groups to make “dino-dough” which was then used to make their own dinosaur eggs which will eventually “hatch” baby dinosaurs. There is still so much more to come….
CELEBRATION OF LEARNING - DINOSAURS
As noted in our previous newsletter, the PreKers will be having a Celebration of Learning - Dinosaurs as a culminating experience for our study of dinosaurs. On Monday, March 5th please plan on joining your child for this wonderful celebration that will be held in our classroom and extend into the lobby and STEAM lab. It will begin at 8:00 AM and run through 8:30 AM. Please arrive as close to 8:00 AM as possible so you have enough time to check out all the activities. Parents, siblings, and extended family are all invited. Please ask if you have any questions.
IDEA DAY FOLLOW UP
IDEA Day (Interpreting Diversity Education through Action) was a wonderful day for PreK and the entire TCS community. Each PreKer began the day by cutting out and decorating a small fish. These have been combined with fish from every lower school student to create one big mural. We then headed to our Lower School Radio Show where Mrs. Wepler led us in a sing-a-long of “This Is Me” followed by Mrs. Hornyak reading Leo Lionni’s SWIMMY with special guest performances by all the PreSchool through 4th grade teachers. After snack the PreK and Kindergarten children combined in groups to participate in 2 workshops about diversity. With Ms. Kiely they focused on the book It’s Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr. PreK and Kinder students paired together and discussed various ways they are the same and ways they are different. Then they created portraits in the style of Todd Parr. With Ms. Hard the combined age groups worked together as each child created their own fish using pieces of celery to apply the paint. Cooperative learning took place as together we talked about diversity and recognized that while these fish had some similarities they also had some differences - just like people. These are all on display in the Clark House lobby labeled “We may all be a little different but in this “school” we swim together!
BOOKS FOR BINGO
Please help support TCS’ Bingo for Books event! It is scheduled for Friday, February 9th from 5:30 - 7:00 PM. The book collection for this event is now taking place so please bring in your gently used books for all reading levels PreSchool through adult. There is a collection box located in the Clark House lobby for your convenience. Thanks in advance for your book contributions and your participation.
PARENT CONFERENCES / CHILD CARE
Thank you to all who have signed up for parent conferences. It is always beneficial and fun to have these opportunities to discuss your children and their growth. For families who need childcare that day, TCS will provide Owl's Nest Enrichment from 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. Register your child by February 9, so it can be staffed accordingly. (There must be a minimum of five to run the program.)
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, January 28th - TCS Open House 1:00 - 3:30
Friday, February 9th - PTA sponsored Bingo for Books event 5:30 - 7:00
Wednesday, February 14th - Valentine’s Day
Friday, February 16th - Parent Conference Day
Monday, February 19th - No School
Monday, March 5th - PreK Celebration of Learning - Dinosaurs 8:00 - 8:30 AM
VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION
The PreKers will be having a small Valentine’s Day celebration on Wednesday, February 14th that will include a special snack (a sign-up sheet will be posted in the hallway next week) and the passing out of valentines. There is no need to send your child’s regular snack on that day. Please send your child to school with valentines for each child in the class and have them sign their name on each card. The children may also address them if they want to but it is not necessary. We will be helping them distribute the cards. They will also be making valentine holders in class so there is no need to send in any type of container from home. Here is a list of all the children in the class for your convenience:
Avery Eli
Cameron Felix
Celia Fiona
Charlie Giuliana
Cole Leia
Colton Liv
Conrad Max
Daniel Noah
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