The first month of school seemed to fly by and now we’re off and running!
September was the month for getting acquainted. We’re getting to know the routine, our school and each other. We’re making new friends and learning how to get along in our classroom.
Last month we had a lot of fun playing with different tactile materials that offered a sensory experience as well. We scooped and poured coffee sand and colored rice at the sensory tables. We shaped and molded playdough and kinetic sand. We painted with mashers, cars, our hands, feathers, berry baskets, golf balls and salad spinners.
We’ve been focusing in on the children’s interests and have some great themes planned for the future months. Our themes coming up in October are Autumn, Harvest, Pumpkins and Halloween.
Songs We’ve Been Singing…
Ram Sam Sam
Hickety Pickety Bumble Bee
Aikendrum
Willoughby Wallaby Woo
Slippery Fish
Alligator Pie
Books We’ve Been Reading…
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
Fidgety Fish by Ruth Galloway
Clumsy Crab by Ruth Galloway
Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway
The Night Pirates by Peter Harris
Peanut Butter & Cupcake by Terry Border
HALLOWEEN PARTY
We will have a Halloween party on Thursday 10/28. Wear your costume to school today! Bring a change of clothes if you stay all day! If your child does not come to school on Thursdays they’re welcome to join us from 9:00am – 11:30pm. Please let us know in advance if your child is coming so we can set a spot for them at our party table. We’ll share our costumes, play games and parade around the yard at 10:15am.
Due to COVID restrictions parents will not be allowed to view our parade in person but we will be setting up a Zoom meeting so you can view the parade virtually. Zoom meeting information will be sent via email the week of October 25th.
PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST
It’s time for our annual Family Pumpkin Decorating Contest! If you are interested in participating you’ll need to register, so be sure to look for the sign up sheet. Remember, we’re looking for FAMILY produced entries. Make sure your child is an active participant in the decorating process. Pumpkin entries may be dropped off at the preschool throughout the week of the 18th but ALL entries must be submitted by the morning of Thursday 10/21 to be considered for judging. Our judging will be based on 3 categories–Silliest, Spookiest and Most Creative. We need you to help us choose our winners. Please vote (one ballot per family please) for your favorite in each category. More information regarding our contest will be sent home later in the month.
PROGRESS REPORTS & FALL CONFERENCING
This month you will receive a report regarding your child’s preschool experience over the last few months. There will be a calendar posted on the sign in/out board for you to schedule a conference if you would like one. Conferences are conducted in the afternoons/evenings and will only be available to those who schedule an appointment.
To protect the health and welfare of our Growing Years community, please keep your child home if they are showing ANY symptoms of illness.
This past month we*ve had children out with runny noses and coughs. We appreciate that our families have been keeping their children home, sometimes for extended periods of time as a precaution.
As we enter cold and flu season, we ask that you remain vigilant and continue to conduct well checks at home each morning and keep your child home if they are showing any symptoms of illness.
If anyone in your household is awaiting the results from a COVID-19 test or has tested positive for COVID-19, please keep your child at home and contact Growing Years when you have the results of the test.
We greatly appreciate your ongoing efforts to keep our Growing Years Community safe.
Watch for Symptoms (From The CDC)
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported * ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
**Fever or chills
**Cough
**Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
**Fatigue
**Muscle or body aches
**Headache
**New loss of taste or smell
**Sore throat
**Congestion or runny nose
**Nausea or vomiting
**Diarrhea
HAPPY FALL TO ALL!
Miss Shalimar & Miss Ashley