From the Principal’s Office
Tis’ the season to be jolly! As the holidays approach, our time becomes consumed with traveling, relatives and making holiday preparations. Planning ahead is the key to staying organized which will make the holidays run so much smoother.
I know many of you will be on vacation this month. Please sign the sheet on your sign in folders if your child will be absent this month. This helps me in approving time off for staff.
We have so much to look forward to this month. We start the month off with “Kids Night Out’. This is a great opportunity for you to get a start on the holiday shopping or just have a little parent time alone.
Next our creative staff will begin creating their “ themed Wreaths” to go up for auction coming up in the middle of the month.
Then, come join us for our Annual “Winter Wonderland Festival”. Of course Santa will make an appearance and we will have lots of holiday crafts to do. In addition, it is a great opportunity for our Discovery Isle families to connect around the Hot Chocolate and make new friends. Don’t forget to bring your cameras so that you can take lots of pictures with Santa.
Lastly, calling all School Age children, Camp Zone Winter Break begins on Dec. 21st -January 8th. Camp spaces are limited and are filling up fast!
Until next month.. Christy Lang
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Back by popular demand!!!
Kid’s Night Out
Friday, Dec. 11th @ 6:00pm to 10:00pm
$25/ $20 siblings
Invite your friends and family. Dinner included, bring PJs, and a party attitude! Waitlist for under 2 years old.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Winter Wonderland Festival
Thursday, Dec. 19th @ 5:30pm to 7:00pm
We love to host Our Annual Winter
Wonderland because it is such a great way for our families to meet and connect with other families & our staff. In addition, what perfect opportunity for our students to show off their Links to Learning skills while doing a variety of planned creative activities.
Discovery Isle will be transformed into a magical “Winter Wonderland”. Santa is ready for all the girls and boys to tell him how “good” they have been and what is on their list! So bring your list, he’s checking it twice! So don’t forget your cameras and smiles!
Come share our holiday tradition.
*Hot Cocoa Social *Cookie Decorating *Ornament making *Necklace making*Holiday Card Crafting*Musical Chairs Game*Reindeer Chow recipe* So Much Fun!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
It’s Time for Discovery Isle’s Annual Wreath Auction!
Each team of teachers will be designing and creating a beautiful wreath to put up for auction. All parents are welcome to bid on any of the wreaths. These wreaths can be any theme the teacher’s choose to use. Get ready for some creativity juices to start flowing and the
magical creations produced. Auction week will be the week of
Dec. 14th to Dec. 18th. Good Luck! …………………………………………………………………………………………………
Christy’s Creations
Hot Cocoa Mix Ornaments!
Ingredients
1 single serving package instant hot chocolate mix in the flavor of your choice.
1 clear plastic fillable ornament. (I suggest finding ones that are food safe)
Sprinkles- chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peppermint chips Jet Puffed Mallow Bits (Kraft Brand – usually can be found by hot chocolate mixes)
tag or note on how to make the hot chocolate (mix with 8 oz. hot water)
mugs are optional
Start with a clean ornament and take the top off.
Fill each ingredient into the ornament using a funnel.
Start with the hot cocoa mix, sprinkles, chocolates
and lastly the mallow bits. Put top back on. You will need to deliver these standing upright or wrap the top with plastic wrap to keep contents inside. It’s ready to go. Just gift it alone or with the other items recommended! Easy and fun!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
From the Education Department
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others. Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home. BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
~Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education
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December News 2015
From the Principal’s Office
Tis’ the season to be jolly! As the holidays approach, our time becomes consumed with traveling, relatives and making holiday preparations. Planning ahead is the key to staying organized which will make the holidays run so much smoother.
I know many of you will be on vacation this month. Please sign the sheet on your sign in folders if your child will be absent this month. This helps me in approving time off for staff.
We have so much to look forward to this month. We start the month off with “Kids Night Out’. This is a great opportunity for you to get a start on the holiday shopping or just have a little parent time alone.
Next our creative staff will begin creating their “ themed Wreaths” to go up for auction coming up in the middle of the month.
Then, come join us for our Annual “Winter Wonderland Festival”. Of course Santa will make an appearance and we will have lots of holiday crafts to do. In addition, it is a great opportunity for our Discovery Isle families to connect around the Hot Chocolate and make new friends. Don’t forget to bring your cameras so that you can take lots of pictures with Santa.
Lastly, calling all School Age children, Camp Zone Winter Break begins on Dec. 21st -January 8th. Camp spaces are limited and are filling up fast!
Until next month.. Christy Lang
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Back by popular demand!!!
Kid’s Night Out
Friday, Dec. 11th @ 6:00pm to 10:00pm
$25/ $20 siblings
Invite your friends and family. Dinner included, bring PJs, and a party attitude! Waitlist for under 2 years old.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Winter Wonderland Festival
Thursday, Dec. 19th @ 5:30pm to 7:00pm
We love to host Our Annual Winter
Wonderland because it is such a great way for our families to meet and connect with other families & our staff. In addition, what perfect opportunity for our students to show off their Links to Learning skills while doing a variety of planned creative activities.
Discovery Isle will be transformed into a magical “Winter Wonderland”. Santa is ready for all the girls and boys to tell him how “good” they have been and what is on their list! So bring your list, he’s checking it twice! So don’t forget your cameras and smiles!
Come share our holiday tradition.
*Hot Cocoa Social *Cookie Decorating *Ornament making *Necklace making*Holiday Card Crafting*Musical Chairs Game*Reindeer Chow recipe* So Much Fun!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
It’s Time for Discovery Isle’s Annual Wreath Auction!
Each team of teachers will be designing and creating a beautiful wreath to put up for auction. All parents are welcome to bid on any of the wreaths. These wreaths can be any theme the teacher’s choose to use. Get ready for some creativity juices to start flowing and the
magical creations produced. Auction week will be the week of
Dec. 14th to Dec. 18th. Good Luck! …………………………………………………………………………………………………
Christy’s Creations
Hot Cocoa Mix Ornaments!
Ingredients
1 single serving package instant hot chocolate mix in the flavor of your choice.
1 clear plastic fillable ornament. (I suggest finding ones that are food safe)
Sprinkles- chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peppermint chips Jet Puffed Mallow Bits (Kraft Brand – usually can be found by hot chocolate mixes)
tag or note on how to make the hot chocolate (mix with 8 oz. hot water)
mugs are optional
Start with a clean ornament and take the top off.
Fill each ingredient into the ornament using a funnel.
Start with the hot cocoa mix, sprinkles, chocolates
and lastly the mallow bits. Put top back on. You will need to deliver these standing upright or wrap the top with plastic wrap to keep contents inside. It’s ready to go. Just gift it alone or with the other items recommended! Easy and fun!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
From the Education Department
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others. Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home. BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
~Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education