The Little Years School
February 2016 Newsletter
Program
Can you believe the school year is half way through? The children have grown so much already and are proud of their accomplishments. From asking to be excused from the snack table to recognizing patterns on the monthly calendar, to learning how to handle and “read” books, the children are making gains all the time and it is a pleasure to be part of it.
We have recently been busy creating new name tags for our daily sign-in. The children will continue creating their own name tags each month. We will tie these name tags into our colour day themes for the month, but the focus will be on letter formation of the letters in each child’s name.
Our dinosaur science centres have been busy with learning and playing. Each classroom even had the opportunity to be scientists for a class and create their own volcanic eruption. What fun! Our science centres will now be focused on the 5 senses. The children will be able to see, touch, smell and hear a variety of items to spark their senses.
Upcoming Events
February 1Staff P.D. Day (prep. for parent/teacher meetings March 23/24) School Closed
February 11Red/Pink/Purple Day – 5 day/2 day classes
February 12Red/Pink/Purple Day – 3 day classes
February 15Louis Riel Day – School Closed
Registration
Thank you to all current and alumni families who registered at The Little Years School for the upcoming school year. Our Open House was a success with many new families touring the classrooms and registering to join us for 2016/17. Thank you to all of our Board of Directors for your assistance with the Open House evening. Your attendance was appreciated by staff and new families alike. We still have many afternoon spaces available in our 3 day, 5 day and 2 day/week programs. Please help us fill these spots by letting your friends and family know about our preschool. Thank You
Scholastic
Scholastic Book orders will be due February 8 and 9 this month. Please be sure to have the order form complete with child’s name and teacher’s name.
I Love To Read Month
February is “I Love To Read Month”. We will continue to have story time included in our daily schedule, but we will also be listening for the Ralph Maybank school daily announcement to drop everything and read. We may get 2 story times in our classes this month!
Some authors that we have read at school that are very popular with the children include Eric Carle, Robert Munsch, David Shannon, Jonathan London and Dr. Seuss.
Did You Know…
Reading to your preschool child every day is very important. We do this in our preschool program each and every day, but you can support your child’s learning at home with a simple night time story routine.
- Students who are exposed to reading during their preschool years are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education.
- Reading to young children reinforces the basic sounds that form language.
- Children who are read to begin to understand the basics of how to read a book.
- Reading time helps children gain the knowledge that reading is fun!
- Story Time encourages enhanced concentration and discipline.
- Books allow for acclamation to new experiences. Stories relating to new experiences help children prepare for the unknown.
- Listening to stories encourages better communication skills. Children learn how characters relate to one another and communicate their ideas and feelings.
Friendship Day Celebrations
Thursday, February 11 and Friday, February 12
Children encouraged to wear pink, red or purple
Fun games and activities – “Find the Heart”
Healthy snack time as usual (no treats please)
Bring “mailboxes” by Thursday, February 4or Friday, February 5
Try to bring friendship cards the day before celebration day
Class lists of children’s names attached to Newsletter email
Friendship Day
The Little Years School will be celebrating Friendship Day on Thursday, February 11 and Friday, February 12, 2016. We encourage all children to wear red, pink or purple on this day. We will be filling this fun day with games, activities and sharing.
We ask each family to provide friendship cards for the other children in your child’s class. These cards can be homemade, creative masterpieces or traditional Valentine cards sold at the store. This is a great opportunity for printing practice and discussion about letter recognition and the formation of letters. Please be sure to include every child on the list so that no child feels left out.
Also, we ask each family to provide a “mailbox” for your child to receive his/her friendship cards. These mailboxes can easily be made out of a kleenex box and decorated by your child. Don’t have an empty kleenex box? Make a game out of emptying a kleenex box with your child and counting each tissue as you remove it! Be creative – stickers, glue and tissue, paint – anything goes, but be sure to include your child’s name on the box. We anticipate the decorations of these boxes will be as unique as the individual children who create them. We would like these decorated boxes returned to the school byThursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5.
Parents will be asked to assist their child in “delivering” their friendship cards to their friends’ mailboxes at the beginning of class time on Friendship Day.
We look forward to the fun and excitement of this special day as we celebrate the friendships we have made at The Little Years School.
Mrs. Morris-MacLeod, Mrs. McLennan, Mrs. Witiuk and Ms. Wiebe