Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and our preschoolers are getting into the holiday spirit by reading books, engaging in group discussions, and creating beautiful artwork centered around the theme of gratitude. Cultivating gratitude has been shown to help increase children’s happiness and self-esteem, while also improving their relationships with[.....]
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From the Front Office
Hello Families,
November has arrived and we have many exciting activities planned for this month. We are starting a new initiative to help our senior citizens in the community. Read all about the We Care Packages and what you can do to have an impact on the lives of others.
November is Child Safety and Protection month. After reading the enclosed article be sure to stop by the front desk and get your child safety packet; it’s filled with pertinent information regarding the safety of all our children in all situations.
We also are starting a monthly nutrition corner. Each month new information will be available on helpful tips to get your children to eat healthily, cook on a budget, and save time. A child friendly recipe is also included so you can involve your child in the preparation of meals they will enjoy.
And of course it is Thanksgiving time. Spend time with your little ones making family traditions, helping others, and enjoying the season. We hope you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with those you love.
Upcoming Events
11/2-We Care Packages drive starts
11/4-Open House/Kid’s Day Out
11/17- Fall Feast Potluck Party
11/20- Fall Camp starts for school
age
Spirit Days/Week
11/7- Sports Team Day
11/22- Pajama Day
11/28- Fall Colors Attire Day
Tina’s Reading Corner
This month I have chosen to focus on Thanksgiving. Reading stories about Thanksgiving and all its rich traditions is a wonderful way to impart grateful feelings while participating in authentic literacy experiences. Here are some classic Thanksgiving picture books.
–The Night Before Thanksgiving
by Natasha Wing
–The Story of the Pilgrims
by Katherine Ross & Carolyn Croll
–Thanksgiving is For Giving Thanks
by Margaret Sutherland
–Just a Special Thanksgiving
by Mercer Mayer
–Llama Llama Gives Thanks
by Anna Dewdney
-The Thankful Book
by Todd Parr
-The Berenstain Bears’ Thanksgiving Blessings
–One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims
by B.G. Hennessy
Announcing Meals on Wheels We Care Packages Drive
During the holidays Meals on Wheels provides senior citizens with a special gift box to say “We Care.” Meals on Wheels is a well established organization that provides meals and necessities for senior citizens who can’t get out and about. We have enclosed a list of what items are needed for the packages and how to assemble them. Involve your children with this project so they can learn how to help others and develop a sense of empathy. Look for donation boxes in your child’s classroom. Thank you for your participation and bringing a smile to the senior citizens in our community.
Reminder
We are closed on the following days:
11/10-Professional Development
Day
11/23 & 24- Happy Thanksgiving!
November is Child Safety and Protection Month
This annual campaign reminds us we should always be vigilant about the safety of our children at all ages. There is a lot of information regarding the many areas of safety, the following is just a small sample.
-Pay close attention when children are around water, they can drown in as little as 5 cm of water
-Keep all poisons and medications out of reach
-Check your household to avoid falls, heavy furniture from falling over, and tie up loose blind cords
-In the kitchen keep pan handles on hot stoves turned away, make sure food is bite sized to avoid choking, and do not let electrical cords dangle in a child’s reach
-Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are properly working
-Scan outdoor environment to avoid any injury risks
-Wear helmets when riding bikes, roller skating, and skate boarding
-Follow all road safety rules and remember children can easily wriggle free from many restraints
-Teach your child appropriately about stranger danger
Please stop by the front desk as we have informative handouts about keeping your child safe in all situations! Remember, safety first!
Making Thanksgiving Family Traditions
Thanksgiving is about family, friends, food, and giving thanks. It is also a great time to start and continue cherished family traditions. Here is a list of some ideas to help you create treasured memories.
-Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
-Create a gratitude tree; write thanksgivings on cutout leaves and put on a paper cutout tree
-Design a family cookbook and let the children decorate; add new recipes yearly
-Create a gratitude chain using fall colored paper strips
-Volunteer and give back to the community. Check about serving Thanksgiving dinner at a local shelter or soup kitchen
-Make place mats adorned with hand prints, drawings, seeds, stickers, and grateful messages
-Visit the elderly at a local nursing home; many elders do not have family to celebrate the holidays with
-Donate to charity; have the children help and decide what old toys and clothes they no longer need and find a worthy organization. Or collect food for the local food bank.
Children’s understanding of Thanksgiving should include helping others while being grateful for what they have.
Have fun!
Thanksgiving Cornucopias
Often called the “Horn of Plenty”, a Thanksgiving cornucopia has come to be a symbol of giving and sharing. It is a cone-shaped ornament that signifies a good fall harvest and makes a great centerpiece. Let your children assemble the goods in the basket and along the center runner of your table.
Buy a cornucopia shaped basket at your local craft store. Place the cornucopia on a flat tray or basket on the table. This way the whole arrangement becomes portable.
If you have any autumn leaves from your yard, gather them up and clean them off and place them on the tray. If you don’t want to do that, buy some colorful fabric that has leaves printed on it. Cut out the leaves and place them on the tray or flat basket.
Straw, tulle, and raffia are excellent to use as filler in the back of the cornucopia. You want the vegetables and fruits to have a bed of some kind to lay on. This will also cut down on the number of fruit and vegetables you will need to fill the cornucopia.
Place the largest vegetables and fruits to the back to serve as the backdrop. Layer smaller ones in front.
Here is a brief list of fruits and vegetables you can use: pomegranates, gourds, miniature pumpkins, small apples, pears, yams, peppers, dried ears of Indian corn.
Don’t over pack the cornucopia, but put enough in so that some of the fruit and vegetables “spill out” onto the tray or flat basket, on top of the leaves.
Now sprinkle some nuts in their shells and berries over the whole arrangement. Cranberries are nice and hardy and help fill tiny cracks and spaces.
To finish, tuck extra leaves in amongst the fruit and vegetables.
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November 2017
DIY Gratitude Journal for Preschoolers
Read More »
From the Front Office
Hello Families,
November has arrived and we have many exciting activities planned for this month. We are starting a new initiative to help our senior citizens in the community. Read all about the We Care Packages and what you can do to have an impact on the lives of others.
November is Child Safety and Protection month. After reading the enclosed article be sure to stop by the front desk and get your child safety packet; it’s filled with pertinent information regarding the safety of all our children in all situations.
We also are starting a monthly nutrition corner. Each month new information will be available on helpful tips to get your children to eat healthily, cook on a budget, and save time. A child friendly recipe is also included so you can involve your child in the preparation of meals they will enjoy.
And of course it is Thanksgiving time. Spend time with your little ones making family traditions, helping others, and enjoying the season. We hope you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with those you love.
Upcoming Events
11/2-We Care Packages drive starts
11/4-Open House/Kid’s Day Out
11/17- Fall Feast Potluck Party
11/20- Fall Camp starts for school
age
Spirit Days/Week
11/7- Sports Team Day
11/22- Pajama Day
11/28- Fall Colors Attire Day
Tina’s Reading Corner
This month I have chosen to focus on Thanksgiving. Reading stories about Thanksgiving and all its rich traditions is a wonderful way to impart grateful feelings while participating in authentic literacy experiences. Here are some classic Thanksgiving picture books.
–The Night Before Thanksgiving
by Natasha Wing
–The Story of the Pilgrims
by Katherine Ross & Carolyn Croll
–Thanksgiving is For Giving Thanks
by Margaret Sutherland
–Just a Special Thanksgiving
by Mercer Mayer
–Llama Llama Gives Thanks
by Anna Dewdney
-The Thankful Book
by Todd Parr
-The Berenstain Bears’ Thanksgiving Blessings
–One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims
by B.G. Hennessy
Announcing Meals on Wheels We Care Packages Drive
During the holidays Meals on Wheels provides senior citizens with a special gift box to say “We Care.” Meals on Wheels is a well established organization that provides meals and necessities for senior citizens who can’t get out and about. We have enclosed a list of what items are needed for the packages and how to assemble them. Involve your children with this project so they can learn how to help others and develop a sense of empathy. Look for donation boxes in your child’s classroom. Thank you for your participation and bringing a smile to the senior citizens in our community.
Reminder
We are closed on the following days:
11/10-Professional Development
Day
11/23 & 24- Happy Thanksgiving!
November is Child Safety and Protection Month
This annual campaign reminds us we should always be vigilant about the safety of our children at all ages. There is a lot of information regarding the many areas of safety, the following is just a small sample.
-Pay close attention when children are around water, they can drown in as little as 5 cm of water
-Keep all poisons and medications out of reach
-Check your household to avoid falls, heavy furniture from falling over, and tie up loose blind cords
-In the kitchen keep pan handles on hot stoves turned away, make sure food is bite sized to avoid choking, and do not let electrical cords dangle in a child’s reach
-Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are properly working
-Scan outdoor environment to avoid any injury risks
-Wear helmets when riding bikes, roller skating, and skate boarding
-Follow all road safety rules and remember children can easily wriggle free from many restraints
-Teach your child appropriately about stranger danger
Please stop by the front desk as we have informative handouts about keeping your child safe in all situations! Remember, safety first!
Making Thanksgiving Family Traditions
Thanksgiving is about family, friends, food, and giving thanks. It is also a great time to start and continue cherished family traditions. Here is a list of some ideas to help you create treasured memories.
-Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
-Create a gratitude tree; write thanksgivings on cutout leaves and put on a paper cutout tree
-Design a family cookbook and let the children decorate; add new recipes yearly
-Create a gratitude chain using fall colored paper strips
-Volunteer and give back to the community. Check about serving Thanksgiving dinner at a local shelter or soup kitchen
-Make place mats adorned with hand prints, drawings, seeds, stickers, and grateful messages
-Visit the elderly at a local nursing home; many elders do not have family to celebrate the holidays with
-Donate to charity; have the children help and decide what old toys and clothes they no longer need and find a worthy organization. Or collect food for the local food bank.
Children’s understanding of Thanksgiving should include helping others while being grateful for what they have.
Have fun!
Thanksgiving Cornucopias
Often called the “Horn of Plenty”, a Thanksgiving cornucopia has come to be a symbol of giving and sharing. It is a cone-shaped ornament that signifies a good fall harvest and makes a great centerpiece. Let your children assemble the goods in the basket and along the center runner of your table.
Buy a cornucopia shaped basket at your local craft store. Place the cornucopia on a flat tray or basket on the table. This way the whole arrangement becomes portable.
If you have any autumn leaves from your yard, gather them up and clean them off and place them on the tray. If you don’t want to do that, buy some colorful fabric that has leaves printed on it. Cut out the leaves and place them on the tray or flat basket.
Straw, tulle, and raffia are excellent to use as filler in the back of the cornucopia. You want the vegetables and fruits to have a bed of some kind to lay on. This will also cut down on the number of fruit and vegetables you will need to fill the cornucopia.
Place the largest vegetables and fruits to the back to serve as the backdrop. Layer smaller ones in front.
Here is a brief list of fruits and vegetables you can use: pomegranates, gourds, miniature pumpkins, small apples, pears, yams, peppers, dried ears of Indian corn.
Don’t over pack the cornucopia, but put enough in so that some of the fruit and vegetables “spill out” onto the tray or flat basket, on top of the leaves.
Now sprinkle some nuts in their shells and berries over the whole arrangement. Cranberries are nice and hardy and help fill tiny cracks and spaces.
To finish, tuck extra leaves in amongst the fruit and vegetables.