*JUNE 2010 PARENT NEWSLETTER*

TEACHING AND LEARNING

MONTHLY THEME

Welcome to our second summer program extravaganza! This month the children will discover the beauty of outdoor play through nature walks, soccer shots program, gardening and cooking, as well as, field trips and the mural art project. The children will experience specialized afternoon activities by parent volunteers and outdoor organizations. The children will also continue with their monthly theme lesson plan and afternoon enrichment program.

The purpose in the summer program is to provide students with a wide range of stimulating, open-ended and hands on activities, with the emphasis on using various teaching techniques that reflect student’s diverse learning styles. We want each child to explore their creative capabilities and strengthen their social and emotional skills.

The theme for this month will be focused around weather patterns and outdoor safety. Students will learn about pool safety, traffic signs and nature walk procedures, as well as, school emergency disaster plans (fire and earthquake drills, and updating emergency kits), and what should your child do, if he/she is approached by a stranger.

LESSON PLAN

Week of June 1—Continue with Asian and Pacific Islander heritage month themed projects and circle time discussion (readings), M-Pacific Islander culture and the hula dancer/warrior, T- Genghis Khan reading and music appreciation/Chinese alphabet (decorate Rr), W-tracing activity, TH-tracing activity, F-tracing activity, mural project, gardening and soccer class begins this week, tracing activity (literacy development activity),
*Rr, #9, Parallelogram, Teal

Week of June 7---Parent Participation Field Trip to La Pena Cultural Center (see field trip schedule blogged on December 16, 2009), pool safety coloring book, summer program reflection (soccer ball, pot and plant arts & craft), nature walk
*Ss, #10, Trapezoid, Olive

Week of June 14--- Happy Father’s Day (making dad a tie!), Students will discuss traffic signs (making a traffic sign) and observe road conditions (map making), nature walk
*Tt, #11, Octagon, Emerald

Week of June 21— Summer Equinox and weather pattern, Students will discuss and read about natural disasters and rehearse PPLA’s emergency evacuation plan (brochure, http://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/archives/02-1/lesson032.shtml); students will discuss why not to speak to strangers (comic book), nature walk
*Uu, #12, Pentagon, Jade

Week of June 28--- Students will read and discuss pool safety and swimming techniques (collage), PPLA will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Monday July 5, 2010, Parent Conferences will take place in the month of August,
*Ff, #13, Hexagon, Asparagus

ACADEMIC STUDENT STANDARDS

The following standards have been incorporated in the development of student activities and in daily interaction with school children, parents and staff.

*for a detailed description of each standard, please refer to the booklet on California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1, 2008. You may download the booklet at no charge by visiting http://www.cde.ca.gov/. The booklet was also sent to your email account as an attachment in the fall of 2008.

Language and Literacy Development

Listening and Speaking
-Language Use and Conventions, 1.0
-Vocabulary, 2.0
-Grammar, 3.0

Reading
-Concepts about Print, 1.0
-Alphabetic and Word/Print Recognition, 3.0
-Comprehension and Analysis of Age-Appropriate Text, 4.0
-Literacy Interest and Response, 5.0

Writing
-Writing Strategies, 1.0

Social- Emotional Development
-all sections

Mathematics
-all sections

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS

1. .We are now enrolling student who are interested in the soccer program starting in June. If you are interested in enrolling, place your name on the list of interest (see parent’s bulletin board). Thank you.

2. We still have plenty of space available for the Parent’s Night Out! If you would like to enroll, place your information on the enrollment form (attached to the parent’s bulletin board). The children will eat pizza and play games, as well as watch a children’s movie before pick-up.

3. PPLA is now seeking parent volunteers for the summer program. We are looking for musicians, dancers and artists to assist with the PM enrichment program. We are also looking for parents who would be interested in making costumes for the spring concert.

4. We ask that your child carry a labeled lunch box to school and store inside the kitchen and on his/her assigned hook. Children who bring food to school will be given an additional hook to store their lunch box daily.

5. If PPLA will be administering herbal and non-herbal medicine to your child, please write down directions inside the student observation log and remember to place a medicine administration form in our files (place inside Maestra’s mail pocket). All medicines should be placed inside the kitchen and on top of the food counter. Your medicine should be labeled with your child’s name. In addition, we ask that parents administer the first dose of medicine at home and before dropping off their child.

6. As the weather warms up, we ask that child arrive to school with applied sunscreen, in order to protect the children from the sun rays.

7. In order to keep a safe atmosphere for our students we ask that only adults handle doors and light switches at all times. As a precaution measure we ask that parents maintain all school doors and gates closed at all times. In addition, we ask parents, relatives and visitors to leave shoes and large personal items on the front porch area (strollers may be stored on the side of the school house). All hand bags (purses) must be hung on front door hooks or placed behind the child safety gate at the foot of the staircase. Thank you for your continued support!

8. We ask that parents sign in and out daily—parents will place the time or arrival and departure, as well as initial the student observation log.

9. In an effort to further improve communication and social skills, the children may participate in the weekly show and tell session during PM circle time. If your child is a Part Time and Full Time student, he/she may bring an item from home for show and tell. Your child may only participate one day per week and parents must notify teachers of the item before leaving to work. In addition, parents must sign up their child in order to participate in show and tell. The sign-up sheet will be placed on the parent’s bulletin board this week.

The item may only be used during show and tell and will be placed inside your child’s art project shelf or cubby after show and tell. We understand that children are very excited to show and tell about their favorite toys and are willing to share with their peers. As a result we ask that children leave all toys at home, if they are not participating in their show and tell session. PPLA is not responsible for lost and/or damaged personal item from home.

10. In an effort to improve the environment of our school and maintain a competitive Teachers Assistant salary, as well as provide professional development opportunities, PPLA will be increasing monthly tuition fees in the near future. Effective September 1, 2010, PPLA will be increasing monthly tuition fees for both P-T and F-T care. To view an updated tuition fee schedule, log on to the school blog and read the postings under the date, December 16, 2009. Thank you.

11. The updated field trip schedule has been emailed to all parents and will also be posted on the school blog (see December 16, 2009 posting).

12. Parent conferences will take place in the month of August and there will be a date sign-up sheet available for parents in the weeks to come.

13. During the week of July 12th, the preschool classroom are welcome to participate in the summer program camping event (on school site) and graduating ceremony for Jair, Abel, Karen and Andrew.

Wish List

14. We are asking for parent assistance in maintaining a stimulating school experience for our children. Due to our limited funds, we are asking parents to donate what they can from the list of items below. We appreciate your commitment to the program and value your support and understanding in these harsh economic times. Thank you!

1. Outdoor large sea animals
2. *Outdoor storage shed
3. Indoor costumes and rack
4. Indoor mirrors
5. Bulletin board
6. Multicultural dolls
7. *Imaginative play furniture—, washer and dryer, kitchen with sink, cooking accessories, etc.
8. 3 Classroom storage outdoor baskets/containers (for outdoor classrooms)
9. Building blocks (large wooden, bristle, etc.)
10. *Outdoor play house/play structure
11. 2 Tricycles
12. 2 tires and chains for student swings (to be mounted on trees)
13. Outdoor floor mats
14. *Parent labor for school repairs

*An asterisk has been placed next to the item (s) in most need.