Welcome to December

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I know my family enjoyed it!

December will bring many things to our little shining stars.  We have begun our unit on The Shoemaker and the Elves.  Our new focus color is green and we are working on circles and squares.  We will begin doing some basic abab patterns because there seems to be so many patterns around at this time of the year.  Ask them to show you different patterns.  You can encourage colors, but also cans, blocks, shapes, sizes like big little big little etc. 

Advent has begun.  Each Monday, we will have a prayer service and "light" one candle in the school hall.  Yesterday, I sent home a colored wreath for you to do with your child.  The candles go purple on weeks 1&2, then pink and the last candle is purple.  Try to connect school and home in the manner as well.  Also, regarding church, don't forget to bring your "MASS PORTS" to church during Advent.

The children are starting to spend more time in their new "groups".  We hope that the classroom is ready the week of December 13 sometime.  We have already seen the huge benefits of these smaller groups for the children.  Remember, I will continue to do the Rowland program with all the older 4s and 5s while Ms. Kim will work with the 3's and young 4s.  This will be daily for about 20 minutes.  The gym classes will be seperate, but Spanish, Art and Library will continue to be together. 

We just celebrated Victoria F's birthday. Our next is Olivia on Dec. 9.  If your child comes home with extra snacks or with their snacks not eaten, that is because someone has brought in a birthday snack. 

As always, stay warm and be happy!
Tanya