Tuesday 6 October 2015

October Newsletter



HANSEL & GRETEL PRESCHOOL
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Dear Parents,                                                                  
What a great first month of preschool we have had! We were lucky enough to go outside most days and explore the changing of the season; gathering leaves, listening to the wind and the sound of crunching leaves. Our children also learned that using our senses allows us to see, feel, hear and even smell fall. Many of you have heard us singing our song “Herbst ist hier” at the park. We will keep an eye out for geese flying in a V shape, and leaving for warmer places.
We practiced fire drills last month, and last week one of our classes was present when Brevoort Park School had their first “Lockdown drill”. This is when the doors lock, the blinds close and we quietly hide in a corner and pretend to be “bears that are going into hibernation and sleep”.
If you have any specific questions in regarding Fire Drill/Lockdowns/Shelter in Place/ Evacuation of School policies, please contact us. Our preschool follows the Brevoort Park School emergency guidelines.
Last month we read the book How To Fill a Bucket with our students.  It is so rewarding to see our children filling buckets every day by using their gentle hands, using kind words, sharing and taking turns. If we catch them “scooping” instead of filling their friend's buckets, we provide them with tools and teach them how to “refill a bucket”.  Reflecting on our own behaviour or choices, and saying  “sorry” can sometimes go a long way! J
We took pictures of our students during playtime as they were sharing, taking turns, picking up toys, inviting each other to play and having fun together. We are working on making our own “Fill a Bucket Book” and the pictures will be displayed in our classroom.
We are still waiting for a few family pictures to add to our “The Kissing Hand” picture book. If you have not provided us with a family picture yet, please bring it to class ASAP.
OCTOBER THEME: HARVEST and THANKSGIVING,
Many of our October activities will revolve around “Harvest”. Our students will learn about different seasonal vegetables. The children will cut open pumpkins and look at the inside; counting seeds and getting their hands sticky. Many of our centre activities will include counting, sorting and classifying different fall items. Thanksgiving Holiday is coming up this weekend and we will take the opportunity to think about what we are all thankful for.
FIELD TRIP to DUTCH GROWERS HAY MAZE
All of our classes will be going on a chartered field trip to Dutch Growers Greenhouse Hay Maze.
Thank you to all the parents who have already signed up to volunteer that day. 
T-Th class: Thursday, October 29th
The bus will be leaving at 9:10 a.m. and we will be back at 11:00a.m.
M-W- F a.m. class: Friday October 30th
The bus will be leaving at 9:10 a.m. and we will be back at the school at 11 a.m.
M-W-F p.m. class: Friday October 30th
(We are still looking for 4 more parent helpers!)
The bus will be leaving at 12: 35 p.m. and we will be back at 2:30 p.m.
·      Children will be dismissed at their regular end of class time. Please inform your teacher if you are taking/picking up your child earlier (e.g. after the actual field trip) that day.
·      Instead of a ‘Halloween Party’ in the classroom, we invite children to wear their favourite costume on our field trip. We can’t wait to watch our little goblins running through the maze.
·      Snacks will be provided on our field trip day. However, if you would like to bring a special snack to share with our class, please let us know.
LETTER RECOGNITION
We will introduce our students to the letters of the alphabet throughout the year. The most exciting activity for each child is to identify the letters of their own name. Many of the children already recognize some letters in their name, and often choose to sit on the first letter of their name on our circle/centre carpet.
The children will explore letters through many hands on activities that will support letter formation, and letter sounds.  Our letter bunny will pull wooden lines and curves out of his magic hat which he will use to form letters!  We also have a variety of songs that make learning about letters really fun.
THANK YOU
·           Thank you for taking your child to the bathroom before class starts. We have had way more playtime and less bathroom traffic lately.
·           Thank you for teaching your child how to get dressed. We see many of your children trying really hard to do it “all by myself”. 
·           Thank you for always checking your mailbox after class.
·           Thank you for taking off your (and your child’s) wet footwear when you walk inside the building.
·           Thank you to Gretchen Peterson, Jessamy Foulds and Jennifer Sherman for creating a class directory for the parents.
PARENTS IN THE CLASSROOM
Parents are always welcome to come and be part of our preschool! You may stay for circle time or other parts of the day. Please let us know if you are interested in joining us on a specific day.
Parents and/or the designated pick up person of the day are invited to join us for the last 10 minutes of class at the end of a preschool day. That is when our children will be sitting on the carpet for our last circle time. You will get to listen to a story and watch us dancing, singing or reflecting on what we have explored and learned that day.
DATES TO REMEMBER (please mark on your own calendar!!!!)
October
Friday Oct 9                                      PD Day ( no class)
Monday Oct 12                                  Thanksgiving Day Holiday (no class)
Wed/ Thurs Oct. 14/15                     Scholastic Book Orders are due
Thursday Oct 29                               Field Trip to Dutch Growers Hay Maze*
Friday Oct 30                                    Field Trip to Dutch Growers Hay Maze*
(*We need 6 parent helpers/chaperones for each class!! There is a sign up list hanging in the hallway.)
November
Wed Nov 11                                       Remembrance Day (no school)   
Thu/Fri, Nov 12/13                           no school                 
Mon Nov 23, Tue Nov 24                  Picture Day

As always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Uli Hecker, Ruth Skinner       
Susanne Pachal, Samina Roohi