732 741-3133 ext. 218
April 14, 2024
Welcome to Preschool-3
April seems to be flying by and hopefully the weather will start to cooperate, but April showers bring May flowers, so we can't be too upset!
This week we will be discussing the Earth and how we need to help take care of it since Earth Day is next Monday. Even 3 and 4 year olds can help! We will be having a letter review week ("E" "e"-enviroment, eco-system "R" "r"-recycle, reduce, reuse "L" "l" litter ...). Our Show and Tell this week will be "saving the Earth" .
At this point in the school year there are certain things we will be working on or with daily until the end of the year, so I don't feel it necessary to comment on it every week. Please know that we will be working on Religion, the alphabet, numbers, colors, cutting, writing their name...
It is so nice to see how the children adjusted to the classroom. The are learning the rules, routines and their friends' names. They are all doing it in their own way and timeframe! For some, they "get it" on the first or second try and for others it takes a little more practice. This is perfect. We are all working towards the same goal. Independence, understanding, compassion, kindness, respect, fairness and gratitude are some of our basic goals alongside the academic component of preschool.
Please remember that we have requested a NUT FREE cereal or Goldfish for snack in a small baggie. We have added Nabisco Teddy Grahms, Fig Newtons and small plain Rice Cakes to help give a little more variety, but keeps others safe.
Please remember to make the clothing "easy". A few have already had a hard time with tight sleeves when they washed their hands. We will try to help them push up the sleeves but often they won't go up very far and they get the sleeves wet.
PLEASE put names or initials in all sweaters/jackets/coats etc.
Please remember EASY clothing (sleeves, buttons, snaps, belts)!
Please remember to bring in a new set of "extra" clothes if something is sent home.
CLOTHING
Please dress your child in "easy" clothing. Some are having trouble with snaps, buttons and tight pants. Also, please help your child learn how to undress and dress themselves if they have an accident or spill something.
Remember, children need to be self sufficient in the bathroom (cleaning and changing).
Scholastic Book Order Code P3DBQ
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Have a great week.
Parents have asked about the alphabet series. The series we use is called "Alphafriends". I have seen information about it on the internet but please be aware that there are a few versions. Our "alphafriends" are listed below if you want to make sure you are looking at the same series.
If you have any questions or concern please contact me.
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Our Prayer before meals
"Open shut them, open shut them,
Give a little clap.
Open shut them, open shut them,
Put them in your lap.
Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything."
Here is a list of letters and their characters that we will be working on. Each letter has a character and song that goes with it. It reinforces the sound that is made by each letter. I do not do the alphabet in order, but I will start with the letter "A" for apples. The letter usually coincides with our theme or holiday.
A a - "Andy Apple"
B b - "Bennie Bear"
C c - "Callie Cat"
D d - "Dudley Duck"
Ee - "Edna Elephant"
F f - "Fifi Fish"
G g - "Gertie Goose"
H h - "Hattie Horse"
I i - "Iggy Iguana"
J j - "Jumping Jill"
K k - "Kiley Kangaroo"
L l - "Larry Lion"
M m - "Mimi Mouse"
N n - "Nyle Noodle"
O o - "Ozzie Octopus"
P p - "Pippa Pig"
Q q - "Queenie Queen"
R r - "Reggie Rooster"
S s - "Sammy Seal"
T t - "Tiggy Tiger"
U u - "Umbie Umbrella"
V v - "Vinnie Volcano"
W w - "Willy Worm"
Xx - "Mr. X-Ray"
Y y - "Yetta Yo-Yo"
Z z - "Zelda Zebra"
SHOW & TELL
Week of:
9/11/23 "All About Me" (brown paper bag)
9/18/23 Name
9/25/23 Smile
10/ 1/23 Animals
10/11/23 Favorite animals
10/18/23 Letter "O"
10/23/24 Letter "P" (pumpkin) or favorite Halloween decoration
10/30/23 Letter N November, Native American...
11/ 5/23 Review letters N, A, & P
11/13/23 Letter "T" Thanksgiving turkey...
11/20/23 Favorite Thanksgiving Decoration
12/ 4/23 "M" Mary, merry, mother manger
12/11/23 "J" Jesus, Joseph, jingle, jolly, joy
12/18/23 Nativity (Letter review)
1/ 1 /23 "Y", 2024
1/ 8/24 Winter Weather & Winter Animals
1/15/24 Fairy Tales
1/22/24 Numbers
1/29/24 Catholic Schools Week
2/
2/
2/18/24 What do I want to be when I grow up.
2/25/24 Rhyming-favorite nursery rhyme
3/04/24 Dr. Seuss
3/11/24 Letter "R" "r" (rainbows, rain, robins, rabbits, rose...)
Schedule for Specials ( 2nd Trimester)
MONDAY - Spanish
TUESDAY - Spanish, Music
WEDNESDAY - Music
THURSDAY - Sign, Library
FRIDAY - Sign, Library
My email address is eruane@stleoedu.com
The classroom phone number is 732-741-3133 ext. 218
** Clothing - Please dress your child in clothing that is manageable for your child, clothing that your child can handle on his/her own especially when rushing to use the bathroom. If the girls are wearing a dress or skirt, they may wish to wear a little pair of shorts under it. They will be tumbling, jumping, stretching and rolling around during the day.
**Dismissal - You will be asked who will be allowed to pick up your child other than yourself (Grandparent, babysitter etc.) If this is going to be an ongoing pick-up arrangement just write a note and let us know who and when. If for any reason your child is going home other than the "usual" way, please let us know on that day with a note. Your child will not be dismissed without your permission. If there is an emergency (lost keys, another child is sick, etc.) and you need your child to go home in a different manner, you must contact the school in some way. (732) 741-3133 (office) (732) 741-2241 (fax)
PLEASE REMEMBER 1/2 DAY DISMISSAL IS AT 12:00.
** Sneakers/Shoes - There is no dress code for shoes in the Pre-K classes, but from experience velcro sneakers are by far the easiest and safest for the children. What a sense of accomplishment when they can put on their own sneakers after Tumble Room. Sneakers are also the safest on the playground equipment too. Climbing on the equipment with UGGs, sandals, open-toed shoes or slippery shoes can be very dangerous. Wood chips in the sandals is very uncomfortable!
Phone Number
The phone number for the classroom is (732) 741-3133 ext. 218 The message will say that you have reached Pre-K 3. Please let us know if your child is going to be absent. This helps us prepare our day. Leave a message if you do not get an answer. If necessary, we will return your call as soon as we can.
E-mail
[email protected]
Show & Tell
There will be scheduled days for Show & Tell. Your child has been given a day for Show & Tell. If he/she wants to, they can bring in an item that follows the theme. If they forget to bring it, they can talk about something for that theme. If they bring in something that really doesn't go with the theme, we will try to make some correlation so they feel successful. If there is no school on their scheduled day, they may bring in their show and tell another day that week. If they are absent they will just miss that week of Show and Tell. Please, no weapons or anything scary.
Work or Play?
Activity Centers/Play Stations
The children will be learning that there is a routine and that there are rules to follow in the classroom. While we are working one on one or in small groups with the children, they will be in activity centers. These areas have been created to enhance their learning experiences. If they come home from school and say that they just played with blocks, they forgot to tell you that they were also sorting, stacking, using size order and even balance. The sand table is a lot of fun, but is also develops fine and gross motor skills, eye-hand coordination and even letter writing to mention a few things. Play dough seems like fun and games, but add some “shape” cookie cutters and you continue a class lesson. The children may come home a little tired. Don’t forget that they have been “working” all day. Even clean up time is a learning experience. Did you ever think that growing up was so hard? We just try to make it fun!
Just a Box of Crayons
While walking in a toy store
The day before today,
I over heard a Crayon Box
With many things to say.
“I don’t like red!” said Yellow.
And Green said, “Nor do I!”
And no one here likes Orange,
But no one knows quite why.
“We are a box of crayons
that really doesn’t get along,”
Said Blue to all the others.
“Something here is wrong!”
Well, I bought that box of crayons
And took it home with me
And laid out all the crayons
So the crayons could all see
They watched me as I colored
With Red and Blue and Green
And Black and White and Orange
And every color in between
They watched as Green became the grass
And Blue became the sky.
The Yellow sun was shining bright
On White clouds drifting by.
Colors changing as they touched,
Becoming something new.
They watched me as I colored.
They watched till I was through.
And when I’d finally finished,
I began to walk away.
And as I did the Crayon box
Had something more to say……..
“I do like Red! ” said the Yellow
And Green said, “So do I !”
And Blue you are terrific!
“So high up in the sky.”
“We are a Box of Crayons
Each of us unique,
But when we get together
The picture is complete”