A Note from Our Principal
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a healthy and happy holiday season. Thank you for your incredible generosity last month. The teachers, administrative team, and I truly appreciate all the gifts and notes we received. These thoughts of appreciation mean so much to us and bring a huge smile to our faces. We also thank you for your participation in our holiday giving initiative. We were able to support 5 families this year! I am so very proud to be a part of this awesome Limerick giving community!
We can’t wait to spend 2023 with your children!
All my very best,
Kathleen McCall
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January is a great time to reflect on the important work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Although we explore diversity and inclusion all year, we have many activities planned this month to celebrate his life specifically. We’ll be reading books, making arts and crafts, discussing the importance of acceptance and belonging, and much more.
Priority Re-Enrollment
It may be only January, but it’s time to start planning for the fall! There has been an overwhelming demand for our January 21st open house, so we want to make sure you secure your child’s spot for next school year. Priority re-enrollment will run from February 6th through March 18th. More information will be sent via Links 2 Home.
Love Our School? Review Us
In today’s connected world, many families turn to online reviews to learn more about the reputation of schools. Just a reminder that you can find our school on Facebook, Google, Yelp and other online directories. We’d love more families like yours, so please consider spreading the word about our school.
Join us for our Virtual Potty Training Workshop on January 12 at 12PM PST / 3PM EST
Are you ready to take that next step? Do you need ideas or support to make your child’s potty training a success? Learn tips and techniques to ensure a successful, positive experience. Sign-up at https://conta.cc/3F1sgfo.
Winter Cubby Refresh
The winter season is here. Please be sure to dress your child accordingly, including hats and mittens. Also, be sure that your child has extra clothes available in their cubby for the winter weather. This is a great time to check sizes too!
Important Dates
- January 2 – School closed for holiday
- January 16 – Classroom activities for MLK Jr. Day
- January 31 – End-of-month folders go home
New on Our Preschool Blog
What Scientific Exploration Looks Like in Our Preschool Classrooms
Soda bottle geysers and volcanoes made from baking soda and vinegar might be just some of the things that come to mind when you think about science education for young children. It’s important to note that even simpler activities and everyday experiences can introduce children to scientific concepts and help them gain an understanding of how things work.
Science also helps children to develop important life skills, such as communication, collaboration, perseverance, analytical reasoning, and most importantly, a sense of wonder. We believe science education is critical in the preschool years, and we do so by tapping into children’s natural curiosities to explore the world around them.
Below are ways we foster this in each of our classrooms.
Toddlers (1-2 years)
The Scientific Exploration component of our curriculum begins in our Toddler classroom. Teachers provide toys and materials that allow toddlers to experiment with cause and effect, such as buttons that push to make a sound, knobs that twist to open, and levers that slide open to make an object appear.
Beginners (2-3 years)
Our Beginner students begin to explore engineering concepts. They design and build small structures using various materials, such as toothpicks and playdough or craft sticks and small paper cups. As students design and build, teachers ask open-ended prompts, including, “Tell me about what you made” or “What are you going to do with your new structure?”
Intermediates (3-4 years)
While our Intermediate students are engaged in science activities, teachers offer a variety of tools and technology to support and enrich the learning. For example, when learning about living things, they may explore with magnifying glasses, paper, and writing utensils. While studying the Earth’s environment, students may use balances, thermometers, rain gauges, and sifters.
Pre-K (4-5 years)
Students in our Pre-K classrooms love learning about different animals and their life cycles. After reading related books, students use playdough, paper, and writing utensils to create a 3-D representation of the life cycle of their choosing. They label the different stages and share their unique models with their classmates. Afterward, they write about the life cycle in their science journal.
Monthly Highlight: Fairness
As educators, it is part of our responsibility to our students and their families to instill the practice of fairness into their daily routines and peer relationships. Fairness is recognizing and respecting the opinions and practices of all people. As students become more exposed to the concept of fairness, they will grow to be more considerate of others’ needs and more aware of their own. Learning and applying the concept of fairness will stretch a student’s ability to be patient and lay the foundation for developing empathy and sensitivity towards others. As a role models, it is critical that we model fairness for them and encourage their understanding.
Resources:
- Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
- The Red Hen by Rebecca Emberley
January Newsletter
A Note from Our Principal
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a healthy and happy holiday season. Thank you for your incredible generosity last month. The teachers, administrative team, and I truly appreciate all the gifts and notes we received. These thoughts of appreciation mean so much to us and bring a huge smile to our faces. We also thank you for your participation in our holiday giving initiative. We were able to support 5 families this year! I am so very proud to be a part of this awesome Limerick giving community!
We can’t wait to spend 2023 with your children!
All my very best,
Kathleen McCall
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January is a great time to reflect on the important work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Although we explore diversity and inclusion all year, we have many activities planned this month to celebrate his life specifically. We’ll be reading books, making arts and crafts, discussing the importance of acceptance and belonging, and much more.
Priority Re-Enrollment
It may be only January, but it’s time to start planning for the fall! There has been an overwhelming demand for our January 21st open house, so we want to make sure you secure your child’s spot for next school year. Priority re-enrollment will run from February 6th through March 18th. More information will be sent via Links 2 Home.
Love Our School? Review Us
In today’s connected world, many families turn to online reviews to learn more about the reputation of schools. Just a reminder that you can find our school on Facebook, Google, Yelp and other online directories. We’d love more families like yours, so please consider spreading the word about our school.
Join us for our Virtual Potty Training Workshop on January 12 at 12PM PST / 3PM EST
Are you ready to take that next step? Do you need ideas or support to make your child’s potty training a success? Learn tips and techniques to ensure a successful, positive experience. Sign-up at https://conta.cc/3F1sgfo.
Winter Cubby Refresh
The winter season is here. Please be sure to dress your child accordingly, including hats and mittens. Also, be sure that your child has extra clothes available in their cubby for the winter weather. This is a great time to check sizes too!
Important Dates
New on Our Preschool Blog
What Scientific Exploration Looks Like in Our Preschool Classrooms
Soda bottle geysers and volcanoes made from baking soda and vinegar might be just some of the things that come to mind when you think about science education for young children. It’s important to note that even simpler activities and everyday experiences can introduce children to scientific concepts and help them gain an understanding of how things work.
Science also helps children to develop important life skills, such as communication, collaboration, perseverance, analytical reasoning, and most importantly, a sense of wonder. We believe science education is critical in the preschool years, and we do so by tapping into children’s natural curiosities to explore the world around them.
Below are ways we foster this in each of our classrooms.
Toddlers (1-2 years)
The Scientific Exploration component of our curriculum begins in our Toddler classroom. Teachers provide toys and materials that allow toddlers to experiment with cause and effect, such as buttons that push to make a sound, knobs that twist to open, and levers that slide open to make an object appear.
Beginners (2-3 years)
Our Beginner students begin to explore engineering concepts. They design and build small structures using various materials, such as toothpicks and playdough or craft sticks and small paper cups. As students design and build, teachers ask open-ended prompts, including, “Tell me about what you made” or “What are you going to do with your new structure?”
Intermediates (3-4 years)
While our Intermediate students are engaged in science activities, teachers offer a variety of tools and technology to support and enrich the learning. For example, when learning about living things, they may explore with magnifying glasses, paper, and writing utensils. While studying the Earth’s environment, students may use balances, thermometers, rain gauges, and sifters.
Pre-K (4-5 years)
Students in our Pre-K classrooms love learning about different animals and their life cycles. After reading related books, students use playdough, paper, and writing utensils to create a 3-D representation of the life cycle of their choosing. They label the different stages and share their unique models with their classmates. Afterward, they write about the life cycle in their science journal.
Monthly Highlight: Fairness
As educators, it is part of our responsibility to our students and their families to instill the practice of fairness into their daily routines and peer relationships. Fairness is recognizing and respecting the opinions and practices of all people. As students become more exposed to the concept of fairness, they will grow to be more considerate of others’ needs and more aware of their own. Learning and applying the concept of fairness will stretch a student’s ability to be patient and lay the foundation for developing empathy and sensitivity towards others. As a role models, it is critical that we model fairness for them and encourage their understanding.
Resources: