Only two weeks left!
18 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: cinco de mayo, mothers day, review
This week we celebrated our Spiritual Emphasis Week with the school. Our theme for the year has been Hands and Hearts to Serve: Growing like our Savior. This week we focused on Growing in Christ. We began the week with a special chapel to introduce the theme and we received a special plant called a Resurrection Plant or Jericho Flower that we brought back to our room. It looked like a dried up ball of twigs but when we put it in water it unfurled and we could see a green plant growing. We talked about how Christ is Living Water that helps us grow.
We also thought of all the ways we can grow in Christ and drew pictures of them on leaves that we used to decorate our tree in the hallway. Be sure to check it out. On Friday we wrapped up theme week with a chapel where we celebrated how we are growing in Christ and sang worship songs together.
In your child’s folder today I put information about our June 1 Preschool picnic to celebrate the last day of school. It will be at 10:30. For more information and to sign up to bring something go to this website: http://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GCFQ5569.
Upcoming Events:
Monday, May 28 – No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 1 – Last day of Preschool – Family Picnic
¡Feliz día de la madre!
11 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: cinco de mayo, mothers day, review
We had a lot of fun this week getting ready for our Cinco de Mayo fiesta. We finished up our special decorations for the ceiling (papel picado) and we made both salsa and Mexican Wedding Cookies. We also practiced our Mexican dance several times to prepare. But it was even more fun to share these things with our special guests on Friday. Thanks so much to all that were able to come. We had a great time and hope that you did too!
Because we are so close to the end of the year (can you believe it!?) We have been pulling all of the different vocabulary words we have learned throughout the year. We are reviewing them all during our whole group time, by playing different games and by pulling up some our old memory games on the SmartBoard. I will be putting together a list of summer resources that will be posted on the website for you to use during the summer.
As the end of the year approaches it is time to start thinking about how to celebrate it! We will be having a combined party with Mrs. VandenBosch’s class on the last day of school – Friday, June 1. We would love for you to join us if possible. More information will be coming home next week.
Upcoming Events:
Monday, May 28 – No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 1 – Last day of Preschool – Family Picnic
Happy May!
04 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: announcement, cinco de mayo, mothers
What a busy week in preschool. We have been working away on special projects all week!
¡Feliz cumpleaños Adysen!
This week we learned a little bit about Cinco de Mayo and began making some special decorations for our upcoming fiesta as well as a special surprise for our moms. We also learned a special dance to some Mexican music. We are very excited to share all of these things with you at our fiesta next Friday. Remember that aunts, grandmas or other friends are also welcome especially if mom cannot make it. Please let me know if your child will not have a special guest so that I can pair them up with a friend.
We continue to marvel at the beauty of God’s creation around us as we measured our plant growth this week and saw some butterflies emerge from their chrysalises (these are from a unit kindergarten is studying). We also enjoyed our time outside and sharing stories about the rain. In Bible we saw how the Holy Spirit continued to work through the disciples as Peter healed a crippled man during his travels to share the Good News of Jesus.
On a personal note, I am excited to share with you that my husband and I are expecting our first child in November. We are very excited and would appreciate your prayers for the continued health of the baby.
Upcoming Events:
Friday, May 11 – Mother’s Tea (Fiesta!), 8:50-9:50
Monday, May 28 – No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 1 – Last day of Preschool
Thanks for the Sunshine!
27 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: mothers, nature, planting, signs of spring, spring, unifix cubes
What a beautiful week in Preschool! We enjoyed the sunshine this week and all of the spring signs that we have finally been able to enjoy. Be sure to check out the vocab page for all of the springtime words we have been working on.
This week we were excited to see that our grass has sprouted! We continued to take care of our plants and track their growth by measuring with unifix cubes. We plan on sharing these plants at our Mother’s “Fiesta” on May 11.
On Wednesday we went for a walk in the neighborhood around our school to look for all of the signs of spring that we have learned how to say in Spanish. We had to be very patient when we heard birds chirping so that we could actually spot a few. We also saw squirrels, leaves, green grass, trees and lots of beautiful flowers. It was a so wonderful to see the beauty of springtime and practice some Spanish too!
In Bible this week we read the story of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. The preschoolers were particularly interested in how the disciples were able to speak in languages they had never learned to share the story of Jesus with others. I agree with one preschooler who commented, “I wish we could do that!” Oh, if only it were that easy for us to learn Spanish!
Upcoming Events:
Friday, May 11 – Mother’s Tea (Fiesta!), 8:50-9:50
Monday, May 28 – No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 1 – Last day of Preschool
April Showers…
20 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: mothers, planting, restaurant
We had an awesome field trip this week to the Electric Cheetah. We were able to see how the kitchen works, talk to the cooks and even visit the prep kitchen to see how things are stored and then prepared. And of course we got to have a little snack! The preschoolers loved the trip and have enjoyed playing in our restaurant area at school even more now that they have a good example to follow. Thanks to Lucia dad, Mr. Maher, for letting us visit the restaurant.
This week we planted grass seeds and placed them in a sunny spot in our room. We have been watering them each day and observing any changes. We drew pictures of what they look like now and what we think they will look like soon. The children look forward to being able to trim their own grass when it gets tall enough.
On Friday, May 11 we would like to celebrate Mother’s Day by inviting a mom, grandma, aunt or other female relative or friend to our classroom. Because this date is so close to Cinco de Mayo our celebration will be a Mexican Fiesta. The children will help prepare the decorations and food. We would love to have visitors come from 8:50 – 9:50.
Upcoming Events:
Friday, May 11 – Mother’s Tea
Monday, May 28 – No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 1 – Last day of Preschool
Welcome Back
13 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: restaurant
I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable break. It was great to see everyone again and hear about all of their fun activities over the break. We spent a lot of time sharing with each other about the things we did when we didn’t have to be at school.
In Bible this week we read about Jesus’ resurrection. His friends were so happy when they arrived to find the tomb empty. They ran and told everyone that Jesus had risen!
We jumped right back into our restaurant work and were very excited to plan a field trip to the Electric Cheetah. Lucia’s dad works there and will be showing us how the restaurant works along with some other employees there. We have been thinking up many questions that we would like to ask. On Monday we will review those questions and add any new ones so we are ready for our trip.
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, April 17 – Field Trip to Electric Cheetah
Friday, May 11 – Mother’s Tea, more info to follow
Monday, May 28 – No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 1 – Last day of Preschool
Spring Break
29 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: Easter, restaurant, Spanish Immersion
I can’t believe it’s Spring Break! The year seems as though it’s flown by! I pray that everyone has a relaxing break and safe travels.
A big thank you to those of you who were able to come in and read to us. We really enjoyed it!
This week we continued to enjoy the use of our restaurant area. We added a refrigerator to store food and worked out the roles of waiter, cook and customer through play in the restaurant. We are looking forward to a field trip to a restaurant soon after Spring Break.
This week during Bible we read stories about the events leading up to Jesus’ death. We heard how Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples, he went to the garden to pray, Judas betrayed him and he was taken by the soldiers. But we remember that there is happiness to come on Easter when Jesus rises again. We celebrated this happiness on Wednesday during our all school Easter chapel.
I hope everyone enjoys a relaxing break and joyous Easter!
Upcoming Events:
March 30-April 8 – Spring Break
Restaurant, T-Shirt Day and Buddies
23 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News Tags: Palm Sunday, restaurant, Spanish Immersion
First off a big thank you to all of the parents for your care and appreciation this week! We really felt your love. Thank you for all of the kind notes, flowers and covered recesses. A special thank you for all of your kind wishes and treats on my 1/2 birthday 
I really appreciate having parents like you to partner with.
This week we have been busy making our restaurant better and better. The decoration team met early in the week to create hanging lights and candle holders. Then the waiter group met to create a spot in the restaurant to store paper, pencils, cleaning supplies and trays for waiters to use. The menu group completed the menu by combining the best parts of everyone’s original menu and proudly presented them to their friends in the restaurant. The kitchen team has been discussing ways to make the kitchen bigger and as a first step moved some of the furniture around to allow for more space. Our next step will be the creation of a refrigerator and freezer…
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- Inspecting the new waiter’s shelf
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- Creating the hanging lights
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- Printing out the menus
On Wednesday we met with our 2nd grade buddies. They read us some picture books in English and a Spanish book that they worked on in their Spanish class. We had a great time with them!
This week during Bible we talked about Palm Sunday. When Jesus arrived in the city the people welcomed him with shouts of joy and celebration. But we know that this time of celebration will not last. We saw that the leaders of the town did not like all of the attention Jesus received and they made plans to hurt him. But as the preschoolers were quick to point out “He came back!” on Easter Sunday and his friends were happy again.
This week a parent passed along a great article from the New York Times about the benefits of bilingualism. It’s always nice to read articles such as these that reaffirm the chose to be in Spanish Immersion! Be sure to check it out.
Upcoming Events:
Be sure to turn in the green ice cream scoop by Thursday or earlier to get your free book!
Thursday, March 29 – Shorts and Shades Day
March 30-April 8 – Spring Break
Restaurant Play
16 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News
Since introducing food vocabulary and some new plates and silverware to the house area the preschoolers have been very interested in playing restaurant. We brainstormed all of the things we might need for a restaurant and divided the class into four groups: menu, waiters, kitchen and decorations. Each group met at least once this week to do some more brainstorming about what they might need and some even began preparing the needed materials.
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- The decoration groups researches lighting options
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- Porter and Fletcher serve Sra. Lopez
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- The menu group begins first drafts
This week during Bible time we heard the story of a faithful man whose friends lowered him through a roof so that he could see Jesus. Jesus healed him and he was able to walk! We reenacted this story together by carrying friends in a blanket to Jesus so they could be healed. We had to act it out several times to make sure everyone that wanted a turn got one! On Friday we gathered together all of the preschool classes in library for a community worship time. It has been a long time since we’ve done that and the preschoolers all really enjoyed it.
Upcoming Events:
Friday, March 23 – Read a T-shirt Day
Thursday, March 29 – Shorts and Shades Day
March 30-April 8 – Spring Break
Hat Day
11 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Weekly News
This week we were all very excited to finally put our clay creations in the hallway for everyone to see. I hope you had a minute to take a look and respond to the question on the board – thank you to all who did!
A few new things appeared in our room this week. Now that we know the names of most of the shapes we have the overhead projector and some transparent shapes that the children have enjoyed using to make pictures and “abstract art.” We are now beginning to work on food vocabulary (yum! I see some special snacks in our future….) Check out the Vocab page to see a list of the words we are working on. This led to some new things in our house area. The addition of new plates and silverware as well as a few new play food items sparked the children’s interest in playing restaurant. We will continue to develop our restaurant in the next few weeks.
On Thursday we had our community worship time with Mrs. VandenBosch’s class. This was a big highlight of our week!
Keep sending in an ice cream scoop for our March is Reading Month program. We can’t wait to see our ice cream cone growing in the library!
Here’s an update from the tamale sale, overall the family received $1200 with $630 of that coming from GRCS families. This letter was sent from the family:
To the parents of Grand Rapids Christian, We want to thank you for helpings us in this difficult time. We received from Sra. Lopez the money raised from the tamale sale. This helped us so much and we are so grateful for your good hearts. God Bless You! Marco Matienzo and family
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, March 14 – Funny Sock Day
Friday, March 23 – Read a T-shirt Day
Thursday, March 29 – Shorts and Shades Day
March 30-April 8 – Spring Break
