OCTOBER 2008 NEWSLETTER
    We are so pleased with how well the children are doing in their adjustment to school!  You are certainly blessed with some special children…they are so cute!!  I can NOT believe it is Oct. already!  Please remember some general items like:
        Don't send your child to school ill.
       Listen to your radio when weather days are questionable (including fog).
        Dress them in easy clothes for restroom breaks.
       Label coats and jackets with names.
       I am reminding you about our web page if you have internet.  It does have the newsletters, calendars and pictures on it. We have a new person who has joined our staff.  Mrs. Susan Zirkle is helping maintain our web page this year and will be making changes on Wednesdays.  It might be fun to check the website over the weekends with your children to search for new pictures.  We are glad to have her!   I also want to remind you about our "Roaming Library Card"!!  It is available for checkout and will provide hours of entertainment for your family!!  It's very simple, so give it a try!
    Our tasting parties are this week and the children will have alot of fun!  It is always fun to encourage them to try something new.  When I look at our calendar, I feel like we have a very busy month.  We look forward to a visit from the "Silly Safari’s"—Jungle John! This will be so much fun!!  ALL pre-schoolers come to school for this special event. We will not have normal class schedule at all, on that day only!
    “Picture Day” is next week.  I do want to say that it is a normal school day and even if you don't purchase pictures, please send your child to school.  Look on the calendar for your child's day.  M-W-F moms: you may bring in siblings of "our" children, if you would like their pictures taken, on Fri. immediately following class.  For siblings of the Wee Ones, as well as siblings of the afternoon PK class, anytime between 11:00 -12:00 on their picture day would be fine.  The order sheet has been sent home and prices are the same for siblings.  We need picture money by the day that pictures are taken, if not before. The following week (after pictures) is our first “Healthy Foods Day”.  Thank you for sending goodies in, if you are to be called this month!!  During that week, we will be sending home our Candle Fund Raiser packets.  Please share them with anyone you would like!  It is our only fundraiser so I will not be bothering you again!  The order forms are due back Oct. 27th and 28th—no grace days here.
         Please notice conference days and Fall Break, when we will have no school.  If your schedule does not allow you to come in for conference days, but you would like to see how your child is doing, let me know. . . my schedule can be flexible.  The sign up sheet for conferences will be on the pre-school bulletin board in the entryway next week.
         We will have our Noah's Ark party at the end of the month and Miss Brenda will be sending home your child's animal note.  We will have the animal masks up in the hallway for you to see.  My "class moms" will contact you if you have signed up for this party.  I thank them for all their help this year!  The parties are the 30th & 31st.  You may watch us parade through the parking lot as soon as Noah has visited (about a 1/2 hr. AFTER school starts--Noah is a surprise to the kids!!), if the weather cooperates!!  Thank you to Keanna's dad for being our "Noah"!
I would like to remind you that we are planning ahead for Operation Christmas Child! Please be collecting “goodies” to put in the boxes!!  We can also use donations of Christmas paper to wrap the shoeboxes in.  If you have time to wrap, please stop by the pre-school office to pick up some shoeboxes!
         You will find that once in a while I speak my opinion even though you don't ask for it.  Here I go again. . one real concern I have for the children today is what they are exposed to through the television.  The violent and scary movies, shows and even newscasts seem to be especially bad this month.  It also seems the movie rating system means very little to some parents.  The children are VERY impressionable at this age and are learning through every experience.  If I may suggest that before you watch that movie you might ask yourself
            *Is this show educational?
            *If your child is just going to watch T.V., at least make it fruitful.  Suggestions:  Clifford, Reading Rainbow, Barney etc.
            *Is this good for my child to see?
            *Does this movie teach my child how to treat people in the way they should be treated?  Does this show contain alot of violence?
            *Will my child be happy and feel good after she has watched this program?  There are so many other things that children can do besides sitting stagnant in front of the T.V.
     One other concern I have in this newsletter is observing what children are eating and drinking.  I hope you consider that children’s nutrition is very important!  I have seen many children drinking soda with their meals (instead of milk—the “bone juice”) and then parents are confused as to why the children can’t sit still.  Do you know that caffeine has a much stronger effect on children than adults?  These are very formative years and children are being taught lifetime eating habits…are you giving them all the nutrition they need in these very busy years?  Enough of my opinion . .

PRE - K NEWS
        We are learning about shapes and looking at colors.  The children have done very well with learning to recognize their names and trying to write them!   We will talk about things that are real and pretend.  I know these children will have as much fun making masks for the Noah's Ark party as previous classes have had.  I will be doing quite a bit of testing for conferences, so we hope to see you there.  Please note there is no school that whole week. (Oct. 15-19)   The sign-up sheet is in the entryway for "Mom Helpers".  This person comes to school (usually Weds.) for the whole session and works with the children on areas they need some extra help in.  I have the lessons all planned; you only need to give your time.  You may sign up one time during the year or you may sign up as much as you can.  This is not a lifetime obligation but the children love having their parents come and see what we do.  It's a great way to see how your child is doing in comparison to the others and also to meet their little friends they talk about.  Thanks for helping us out!!
WEE ONES NEWS
        These little guys need to recognize their names in print and I encourage putting signs over their beds, toothbrushes etc with their names on them.  We will be busy making our masks for our "Noah" party also.  The masks are on display in the hallway, if you would like to see them.   Please notice that there is no school on Oct. 16 & 18.  Have a restful few days off!  Please let me know if you ever have any questions!
 
 

        I've learned that if your children feel safe, wanted and loved, you are a successful parent.”


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