Stepping Stones Newsletters January 2010 Theme Our class has been learning all about penguins.  We learned that penguins live at the South Pole.  Also, the chicks are gray when they are little and when they grow up they turn black and white.  The chicks get around by standing on their dad's feet because they do not have blubber yet.  We did a science experiment to see how blubber keeps penguin feet warm.  We measured to see who is taller than a penguin, who is shorter, and who is the same size.  Ask your child about penguins to learn more! We are still learning about a new letter each week.  We have learned about L, M, N and O.  If you and your child find something at home that starts with the letter of the week, they are welcome to bring it in to share with the rest of the class at circle time.   Dates to Remember Pajama Day is Friday, February 5th.  Wear your favorite pajamas to school! February Vacation is the week of 2/15.  We will be closed all week. HELP! We need your empty cereal boxes for a Valentines Day project.  Please send an empty cereal box to school with your child.   Board of Directors         Stepping Stones Board of Directors is looking for new members. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 11th at 5:15 pm. Parents are welcome to attend board meetings.     Valentines Day Party On Friday, February 12th we will be having a Valentines Day party.  Children will be able to exchange valentines, play games and make a craft.  If your child does not regularly attend on Friday, but would like to come to the party, please speak to us about switching days for that week.            Book Orders         Our next book has been sent home.  For each book you order, our school earns points that we can redeem for school supplies or new books for our class library.  Please consider helping us by buying your child a book.   December 2009 Thank You!! Stepping Stones staff and students would like to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who gave donations and participated in our fundraisers so far this year. Todayís tough economic conditions make it difficult for Stepping Stones to meet all its needs without the generous support of our families and community members. Thank you to the following: Flower Power- $107.50 Christopherís Restaurant- $5,000 Christine Balch for organizing our Pampered Chef fundraiser- $278.15 Christineís Summit Soapworks donation- $207.59 Thanksgiving Pie Sale- $350.00 Cavendish Community Fund Grant for Spanish program- $600.00 Child Development Division Grant for NAEYC accreditation fees - $1575.00 WSWSU Collaborative Grant for NAEYC publications and classroom and office supplies needed to meet NAEYC accreditation - $700 *and all the parents who have brought in tissues, bleach, Clorox wipes, paper,  special snacks and other needed supplies for our Wish List. Theme The class learned about many holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.  A parent came in to teach us about Hanukkah, play dreidel, and have a special snack.  The students also read several books about each of the holidays and made many crafts.    We have learned about I, J, and K as well. Dates to Remember Winter Break starts on December 24th.  We will return to school on Monday, January 4, 2010. January 18th there will be no school in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Maricel Lucero On Monday, January 11, Maricel Lucero will be visiting our school.  She will be sharing Cuban music, movement, and instruments with our class.  Children who do not regularly attend school on Monday are welcome to join us at 10:30 for this special guest.  Parents are also invited to come to the presentation.   November 2009 This month we learned about the letters F, G and H.   We sang frog songs, learned about germs and had a fun hair day.   We have also been reading about turkeys, Pilgrims and Native Americans.  We have talked about what we are thankful for.  Check the turkey display in our classroom to see what your child is thankful for. This week we will also make our own butter, just like the Pilgrims!     October 2009 Theme         This month we have had fun talking about fall.  We have done leaf rubbings, leaf wreaths, autumn observations outside, pumpkin carving, pumpkin seed tasting and many other fall activities. We have also learned about the letters B, C, D and E.  As a part of our letter of the week, your child is welcome to bring in an item from home that starts with the letter of the week to share at morning meeting.            Pie Fundraiser         Stepping Stones pie fundraiser will be on Wednesday, November 25, 2009.  We need volunteers to man the booth as well as make pies.   Summit Soap Works         On December 5th, Summit Soap Works will be donating a percentage of their proceeds to Stepping Stones Preschool. Food Pantry         We are now collecting nonperishable food items to donate to local food shelves.  If you would like to donate to this cause, you may bring in nonperishable items, and put them in our basket in the hallway.   Dates to Remember Stepping Stones will be closing at 12:30 on November 25th, and will be closed all day on November 26th and 27th for Thanksgiving break.   We Reached Our Goal! Our class reached our goal of reading 200 books.  Because we met our goal, Scholastic will donate books to a school in need in our name.  Each student was able to pick out a book to take home as well! Book Orders Scholastic book orders were sent home last week.  This will be the last order before the holidays.  These books make great holiday gifts for your children and your order will help our classroom buy new supplies. Our Website         Stepping Stones Preschoolís website is up and running.  Please go to wswsu.org/Preschool/SSP/ to find updates and pictures of your children busy in the classroom.   September 2009 Theme We have finished our apple theme.  Students made many apple crafts, baked apple muffins and tasted red, yellow and green apples.   We are now learning about community people.  The class enjoyed the field trip to the fire trailer.  We have talked about firemen, police officers, cooks, and teachers so far.   We have also begun to learn about the letter A.  Students have practiced writing the letter A in shaving cream, painted on As, and learned words that start with the letter A.  We also learned a funny poem: A A is for apple A is for ant                                                                                                 A is for alligator on my pants Spanish         We have started Spanish on Monday mornings.  Please look at our Spanish bulletin board in the classroom to see what Mrs. McLean is teaching us. Library  On Tuesday afternoon the librarian, Mrs. Welch, comes to read us a story and do an activity.  Mrs. Welch has been reading stories by Laura Numeroff.   Second Step We have started using Second Step. Second Step is a program designed to teach students social-emotional skills.  Our first unit is about learning how to identify our own and others feelings.  We will also practice how to show care for others.  Some feeling words we will be learning are happy, sad, angry, scared and surprised.  Ask your child to make these faces for you.   Book Orders Scholastic book orders will be sent home at the end of October.  For every book you order our school earns points to buy books and materials for our classroom.  Please consider helping us by ordering your child a book.