PARENT NEWSLETTER—JULY 2010

TEACHING AND LEARNING

MONTHLY THEME

In the month of July, the children will learn about the importance of living a healthy life style. They will learn proper methods of exercise and nutrition and expand their knowledge of exercise through soccer conditioning (discussion of self-determination, self-image and athleticism), dance and yoga instruction. The children will learn the food pyramid and incorporate delicious vegetables and fruits during lunch preparation (individual student volunteer) and cooking sessions. Students will be encouraged to cook a healthy meal or appetizer at home and bring to our family pot luck on Thursday, July 15 at 4:30pm.

Students will continue to focus on language development through writing exercises (journal writing, classroom labels, etc.) and concepts of print (literacy readiness). Please continue to facilitate these areas of child development at home, by implementing teaching strategies mentioned in the article sent home during parent conference day (last year). Thank you.

LESSON PLAN


Week of July 5--- PPLA will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Monday July 5, 2010, Parent Conferences will take place in the month of August (dates TBA), Student evaluations will take place this month with Maestra, parents sign up for a dish for the potluck

~Why exercise? Students will watch a short sports video and make an exercise chart—what is your favorite sport?

~Introduce new exercises during yoga (veggie and fruit pose), movement (choreography for new songs in Spanish) and soccer class (warm up exercises and cooling down exercises) reflection (writing exercise)—I warm up before playing soccer, like this_____________________.
I cool down after I play soccer, like this____________________________.

*Gg, #14, Bronze, Sphere, exercise

Week of June 12---Preschool graduation ceremony on July 15 at 4:30pm, potluck at 5:00pm and school camping event at 6:00pm with RSVP, PPLA WILL BE CLOSED FOR SUMMER BREAK FROM JULY 19-30 AND STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY AUGUST 2ND, your formal photo shoot with Ms. Alisa will take place at 3:30pm on July 15th, with parent approval,

~Why eat nutritious foods instead of junk food (video, rhyming riddles)?

Students will create rhyming riddles about their favorite fruits and vegetables (for example:
I'm yellow and I'm sweet.
I'm what monkeys like to eat.
I grow in trees.
Serve me with peanut butter, please!
What am I? _______________________________)


~Introduce new foods during cooking class (use PPLA’s garden foods) and student lunch preparation, finish the mural project, gardening class and violin lessons,

*Hh, #15, Copper, Cone, nutrition


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 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.


2. The summer concert has been canceled as most of the Pre-K children have ended their
stay with PPLA and are either on vacation or enrolled in a summer program elsewhere.
We just did not have enough time to put together a clean performance for the families.

3. For safety purposes, we ask that children leave their wear flip flops and other open toe shoes, with lack of foot support, at home and bring comfortable shoes to wear in school.

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 turn in a medicine administration form (place inside Maestra’s mail pocket). All medicines should be placed inside the kitchen and on top of the food counter (preferably on top of the microwave). Your medicine should be labeled with your child’s name.

*We ask that parents administer the first dose of medicine at home, before school hours.

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. We ask that parents leave their shoes in the front porch (inside the pot). 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. On Thursday July 15th, 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. Congratulations preschoolers and happy kinder days! If your child is in the preschool classroom, he/she may also participate in the camping event with RSVP. Thank you.

Wish List

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. *Classroom wall mounted shelves for organizing of art materials, etc.
6. *Multicultural dolls
7. *Imaginative play furniture—, washer and dryer, cash register, phones, cooking accessories, etc.
8. 3 Classroom storage outdoor baskets/containers (for outdoor classrooms)
9. Building blocks (large wooden, bristle, etc.)
10. *Indoor play house/play structure (for Toddler classroom)
11. *DISHWASHER AND INSTALLATION
12. 2 tires and chains for student swings (to be mounted on trees)
13. Outdoor floor mats
14. *SAND OR BEANS FOR THE SANDBOXES
15. *PARENT LABOR FOR SCHOOL MAINTANENCE

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