Monday, March 23, 2009

SPRING PRE-K NEWS

SPRING PRE-K NEWS

Hello Morning Pre-K Parents--

We hope that you have been enjoying a restful and fun-filled Spring Break with your families. Spring has arrived and now we just need the weather to realize this! It is difficult to believe that we are entering the final segment of the school year. Rest assured, the next two months will be busy in Pre-K!  Below we have provided you with some information, highlights, and important dates for the remainder of the school year.  Thank you for taking the time to read and digest this information. See you Monday! 

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY   
During the months of April and May, we will spend time studying the life cycle of a butterfly. Our study will include:
*learning the 4 stages of the butterfly life cycle
*learning the characteristics of the 4 stages of the butterfly life cycle
*learning and comparing the similarities and differences between 
  butterflies and moths
*learning some basic anatomy of the butterfly and how it uses those
  body parts
*learning about the concept of symmetry using butterfly wings
*observing live caterpillars go through the life cycle until each 
  caterpillar emerges from a chrysalis as a butterfly
*transforming our dramatic play area into an imaginary butterfly
       garden
We have some wonderful fiction and non-fiction literature, art activities, computer activities, math activities, and science activities to support our learning about the butterfly life cycle.

SOUND OF THE WEEK
We have 2 more consonant sounds to study and then we will move on to studying the vowel sounds.  Be sure to check the Pre-K Blog on Mondays to find out which letter sound we are studying for the week. 

"BOOK IN A BAG"
Beginning Monday April 27th, we will begin our "Book In A Bag" activity.  We will send home a letter in your child's folder further explaining the purpose, rationale, and guidelines for this activity.
 

PARENT OBSERVATION OF LEARNING CENTERS
Monday April 6th @10:30
We are extending an invitation for you to come in and observe the children engaged in learning centers.   If you are unable to attend, we are tentatively planning to have another observation day for learning centers in May.  Date and time to be announced.

PRE-K OUTDOOR WEEK
April 20th-24th
Throughout this week (weather permitting) we will be taking our learning outside! Children will not need to wear dress code during outdoor week, but should wear clothes appropriate for outdoor learning and play. 

SWIMMING  
We are in the process of scheduling a day to go swimming in the Academy pool.
We welcome and appreciate any parent volunteers who can assist us in the pool or on deck with supervising the children.  Once we have the date scheduled, we will send home information and a permission slip that will need to signed and returned via your child's folder.

SPECIAL FRIENDS' DAY
Friday May 8th
This is a special day set aside for your child to invite a special (adult) friend (grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, babysitter) to accompany him/her to school for a morning of Pre-K learning and fun!  Look for a packet of information further explaining this event to come home in your child's folder in mid-April.

KINDERGARTEN PLACEMENT
As we approach the end of the school year, the Pre-K teachers will begin working on organizing the Pre-K children into Kindergarten classes for next year.  There are 4 Kindergarten classes and each class will be a combination of students from this year's morning Pre-K class, this year's afternoon Pre-K class,  and the new incoming students.   In April, you will receive a letter from Dan Vorenberg further explaining the placement process.   Dan's letter also provides parents with the opportunity to write down and send in any thoughts and feelings you would like the school to consider as we make decisions about your child's Kindergarten placement.  The class lists are finalized over the summer and parents will receive notification of their child's class/teacher assignment 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the school year.  
 






   


 

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