February Newsletter

February 2015 Newsletter

Happy Groundhog Day!

On Monday, we talked about Groundhog Day and how this furry, little critter can predict a long or short winter.  The children had to predict whether the groundhog had seen his shadow.

President’s Holidays

There will be no school on Monday, Feb 16^th for President’s Day and Tuesday, Feb 17^th for a Planning day. This month we will be discussing the role of our current president of the United States as we include the history of past presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  We will read Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell and George Washington , Our First President by Garnet Jackson.

100th Day of School

On Tuesday, February 11th, we will celebrate our 100th day of school we will do fun activities using the number 100!

Chinese New Year

We will celebrate Chinese New Year with our dragon parade on Feb 20^th at 11:15 am, please join us in the hallway to see our parade.

Gung Xi Fat Choy! (Happy New Year)

Valentine’s Day Party!

On Friday, February 13th, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special snack and exchange Valentine cards.  We will have the children make one valentine in class to exchange at school on Valentine’s Day.   We will put all the children’s names in a basket.   Each child will choose a name of a classmate and give their valentine to that child.   We will use this as an opportunity to practice our manners.   We will have a treat to share at group time.  Anyone interested in providing this treat (strawberries or apples?), please let me know.

Parent Observations

February is a great time to come and observe your child in action in the classroom.

Parent –Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be held at the end of March or beginning of April , I will send you more information about signing up soon.

February finds us finishing our study of amphibians, Asia and the Solar System

Dates to Remember

Feb 20^th -Chinese New Year Parade at 11:15 am

Feb 16^th and 17^th – No School

January Newsletter

Welcome back and Happy New Year!!

We hope your time home with your families was a special one.

Thank you so much for your generosity and thoughtfulness this holiday season.  

We have had a wonderful first week back at school. The Practical Life shelves are stocked with exciting new works with colors reflecting the season. The children have been busily engaged with the physical skills of tweezing, pouring, spooning and twisting.  These exercises help to strengthen the fine motor muscles in the hand and the “pincer” grasp a child needs in order in to hold a pencil properly for handwriting 

In January we’ll learn about:

·         Africa

·         Martin Luther King

·         Winter /Snow/Snowflakes/Animal Tracks

·         Hibernating Animals

·         Amphibians

·         Antarctica

·         Penguins

 

Author and Illustrator Study:

Jan Brett- we will get to know this author and illustrator while enjoying some wintry stories. We have already read the ‘The Gingerbread baby’ in December, and last week we read, ‘The Mitten’ and the “The Three Snow Bears”.

 

Sound of the week:

‘O’-Olive the Octopus

 

Reminders:

Scholastic Orders due on Fri, Jan 16^th, 2015

No school on Mon, Jan 19th - MLK Day

A pair of shoes to be worn in the classroom

Change of clothes in the lockers

Water Bottle

Qualistar:

Thank you for completing the online survey. They will be here any day now to observe our classrooms, please remember to send snacks from two food groups.  

Snack Ideas from Each Food Group

Grains	dry cereal, whole grain crackers, mini rice cakes, sliced bread, mini bagels, graham crackers, whole wheat tortillas
Vegetables	veggie "matchsticks" (thin sticks) made from fresh carrots* or zucchini,* bell pepper rings, cherry tomatoes*, steamed broccoli, green beans, sugar peas, avocados
Fruits	apple slices*, tangerine sections, strawberry halves, bananas, pineapple, kiwi, peach, mango, nectarine, melon, grapes*, berries, dried apricots*
Dairy	cheese slices or string cheese, mini yogurt cups, milk, cottage cheese
Protein Foods	egg slices or wedges, bean dip, hummus, slices of lean turkey* or chicken*, shelled pumpkin seeds, sun butter

*If not prepared correctly, these foods could be choking hazards.  

More snack ideas that combine two or more of the food groups:

·         yogurt topped with diced peaches or berries

·         whole grain bread spread with sun butter and sliced bananas

·         graham crackers and yogurt

·         apple slice with cheese

 

 

Happy January!!!

 

Ms. Sheela, Ms. Kelly and Ms. Paula