Winter has officially arrived! Pretty soon we will have enough snow to make snow angels, build snowmen, turn bushes into ‘caves’ etc. We will continue to go on (short) nature walks at the end of the day. Our ‘magic forest’ will provide shelter for us while we are fuelling up with oxygen and strengthen our immune system.
Thank you, parents for dressing your child warm enough that he/she can fully enjoy our daily part of outdoor learning!! Once the wind chill makes it difficult to play and explore outside, we will of course spend most of our teaching days inside! For now, we will play it by ear and just try to keep outside time fun, for as long as we can.
NOVEMBER
ANIMAL “WINTER HEROES”
This month most activities will evolve around different animals and how they use their amazing powers for winter survival. We will provide our children with lots of ‘hands on’ activities to grasp weather protection strategies of our ‘animal heroes’. We will be looking for footprints in the snow outside and pretend to be bears that are looking for caves to hibernate. Inside the classroom children will be counting and sorting nuts for squirrels, berries for bears and rocks for penguins to make their nest. Can’t wait to see our students, tracing letters and names in shaving cream and creating their little ‘winter scenarios’ at the literacy table.
HIBERNATION DAY NOV 22/23 (wear your Pj’s)
The highlight of this winter unit will be “HIBERNATION DAY” when our classroom will turn into an animal shelter place. Tables will turn into caves and card boxes into burrows for our little ones.
In order to add some coziness, we invite all children to come in their PJ’s. I am sure there will be loud snoring going on that day! I will bring lots of blankets to keep our little bears warm and toasty.
Part of this umbrella theme will be winter crafts and science experiments with ice and snow. Paint brushes will transform snow into winter art and ice into ‘magic paint’.
FUNDRAISER: MOM’S PANTRY (orders are due Nov 19)
Thank you for considering, to support our annual fundraiser to raise funds for our Non-Profit preschool. MOM’S PANTRY is a great opportunity to purchase high quality food and baking products for yourself, friends or family.
Thank you very much to Brianne Semenchuk (fundraiser committee) for helping our preschool to find ways to maintain a high-quality Early Childhood Learning Program!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS
Thank you, Miranda Lettrari for taking care of the monthly Scholastic Book orders. This is another unique way to support literacy skills and to foster your child’s love for reading!
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
A friendly reminder to from now on wear: (please label all winter clothes items, big & small)
· warm snow pants or snow suit
· warm and water repellent mittens (long enough to cover wrist)
· warm winter jacket, toque, (if necessary, face cover)
· warm snow boots
Our little ones are getting so good at dressing themselves! Thank you so parents for teaching them how to. It truly does save us precious play time!
DATES TO REMEMBER
NOVEMBER
Nov 18: Annual General Meeting @ 8 p.m. (zoom meeting)
Nov 19: Mom’s Pantry Fundraiser order are due
Nov 22/23: Hibernation Day (wear your PJ’s)
DECEMBER
Dec 6/7: Visit from Nikolaus (I will send out a separate note about this special event)
We are excited that this year we will be able to have Nikolaus visit our children in person. We will send out a little video to all parents after his visit.
Dec 16/17: Last day of school
Dec 21 – Jan 3: Christmas Break no school
JANUARY
Jan 4/5: School resumes
Jan 4-19: Currently enrolled families can pre- register for the 2022/23 Preschool Year
Jan 17: PD Day (no school)
Jan 20: Registration for 2022/23 will be open to the public, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Winter Words in German
Schnee (snow)
Schneemann (snowman)
Schneeflocke (snowflake)
Schnee Engel (snow angel)
Jacke (jacket)
Schneehose (snowpants)
Muetze (touque)
Handschuhe (mitts)
Schal (scarf)
Stiefel (boots)
Nikolaus (Nicholas)
We will continue to provide you with pictures of our fun activities at preschool and hope that being part of the What’s App group helps you to get an idea of what we are doing. (I am looking forward to the days that we will be able again to invite parents for our last circle time in class)
Uli Hecker will be gone for the last week of school in December and the first week after the break. Larissa Lorenz (306 220-4830) will be lead teaching and assisted by Ruth Skinner and Jocelyne Gareau.
Please spread the word about the registration night for the 2022/23 school year on your social media!!!
As always, if you should ever have any questions or concerns, please contact us!
Stay safe! Stay warm! Stay happy!
Uli Hecker & Larissa Lorenz
