Monthly Newsletter



Happy February!! 

  We receive lots of positive feedback regarding the signboard in the front window that informs parents of the day’s lesson or activity at opening circle.  We hope that it serves as a good “springboard” for discussion with your child about his/her day at school.  The “title” of a lesson often does not communicate the many concepts that each lesson is meant to convey to the class.  We hope the children are sharing some of the things they have learned with you.  It may seem like we have done a simple art project, but in the lesson there were opportunities to introduce and discuss concepts like symmetry, seriating, etc.  Creativity, refinement of the aesthetic sense and just plain fun are the goals of many circles. In a discussion about the animals of a particular continent, we may discuss concepts such as habitat, migration, or endangered species.  Lessons provide exposure to new vocabulary and language skills in general. Circle activities are important to develop concentration and listening skills.  The comments and interest level of the children can take a planned lesson in a whole new direction.

    This month we will be finishing our (long) unit on Animal Adaptations and moving from our studies of Antarctica & Winter to units on Reptiles & Amphibians & a new Fine Art unit exploring the use of “Color in Art”- both later in the month. Add Valentine’s Day cards, activities, and a small Class Valentine’s Day Party on the 14th, and it will be a busy month! 

   If your child would like to bring Valentine cards, they can bring them anytime between now and the 13th. We will have bags at school and the children can “mail” them to their friends. (No candy, please!) Writing the names on the envelopes is an appropriate writing activity for older children only (4 ½ and up). If your child is younger than 4 ½ please DO NOT label each of their cards with a classmate’s name. We strongly prefer that they just bring in all “generic” cards (no name but their own) and then he/she can deliver his/her cards independently into all classmate’s bags. Teachers cannot possibly help all the younger children deliver personally labeled cards into appropriate bags. A class list is will be sent home with your older child to help with copying personalized names onto cards.  You will see some new names on the list. If you write the names or help your (older) child write the names, please use an upper case first letter and lower case for the rest so your child can match them to the names on the bags.  Writing all the names at once can become an arduous task and doing a few at a time can make it more fun.  If your child cuts the list into separate names, children less enthusiastic about writing can glue them on the envelopes.

 Your child does not have to bring Valentines.  All children will have a bag and all children will receive Valentines, but some are too young to be interested and it shouldn’t become your task.  Many of the youngest children are not interested in doing more than just a few cards. This is perfectly fine. Everyone receives a bag full of cards. They are young enough that they really do not notice of they didn’t get one from every member of the class. All children are always overjoyed with their own bags and do not “compare”.  Please send Valentines in small batches or early in the week.  It takes 10-15 minutes for each child to “mail” their Valentines so they cannot all do it at once.
 
  On Tuesday, February 14, we will have the Valentine Party & Card Exchange.  All children are invited.  The card exchange is meant as an exercise in the value and enjoyment of friendship. For this reason, please do not send candy along with your child’s Valentine cards. When there is no candy in the bag, children slow down and take the time to enjoy each card for its own sake, often stopping after each one to thank the child who sent it. A very lovely thing…But, in years past, when we have allowed children to distribute store bought Valentines with candy attached, we have witnessed children obsessing about the contents of their bags during the entire week prior to the party. It also often results in a frenzied free-for-all when the time comes to open the bags. Children pay little attention to who sent the cards, and only rip and toss each card in an effort to eat as much candy as they possibly can. In short, it is not pretty, and does little to reinforce our goals of grace and courtesy.
(Little tokens such as stickers or a glittery pencil are fine.)
 
It is cold outside.  We go outside even on cold or drizzly days. (Sometimes we even get caught in a downpour and all squeeze into the playhouse or under the big tree to watch and listen…very exciting!) Please help your child choose a coat that is suitable for 30 minutes outside.  Please do not tell your child he has to keep his coat on.  This often invites a power struggle and some children think they have to wear it all day.  Dressing in layers helps the children regulate their own comfort level. If they have a jacket they can use their judgment as to whether they need to wear it.  Children do not catch colds by being outside in cold weather. Please, please, please! label jackets, coats and sweatshirts.  Initials on the inside tag are fine.
 
Please take the time to help your child learn to dress and undress him/herself.  We have many children who cannot take care of their own clothing issues while at school.  We commonly observe situations such as a child standing helplessly in front of the extra clothing shelves at school, unsure of where to begin- even when it is just a simple matter of removing their shirt. There are some children who come to us every time they need to use the bathroom because they can’t mange the fasteners on their clothing. And still others who cannot take their jackets on or off without help.
•We know (all too well) that it takes time and a fair amount of patience to help a child learn to do it himself.  But supporting independence in preschoolers is the road to their confidence and self-esteem. •A child who can’t take care of some of these basic needs on his own does not feel capable and empowered while ‘out in the world’.
•Allowing enough time in the morning for children to accomplish dressing is important. A rushed child will be much less likely to be successful.
•Choose somewhat “roomy” clothes with simple fasteners- much easier to get on and off.
•Stay with your child and coach him through how to do things as he dresses. (Keep it fun) This helps the child who wanders off task if you leave him on his own to accomplish it. Most children love this kind of attention anyway. At least they sure seem to when we teachers sit with them in the bathroom and coach them through a dress-yourself lesson.

Teachers have recently been assembling children’s portfolios at school. This is a remembrance book that each child takes with him when he leaves Garden School. It includes some photographs taken of each child as the year progresses and some examples of the child’s work. At this time some children have very little of their work to include in their books. We understand that many of our graduates enjoy looking at their books for many years to come after they have moved on to elementary school. Parents also enjoy having this record of their child’s experiences and skill level at this age. Portfolios are so much nicer if they include both preschool activities and photographs. Please help us by gathering up what ever pieces of work you may have at home, putting them all into an envelope (labeled, please) and send them back to school so that we can put them into your child’s portfolio.
 
 
  Returning children packets have gone out.  Please return your contract for next year if your child is returning to Garden School.  If you have neighbors or friends who are interested for next year, have them call the school.  We have openings in both classes. Kindergarten information also went out last month.






Garden Montessori School, Preschool, Danville, Ca.