Message from the Principal:
Can you believe it is December already? Tis’ the season to be jolly! I am sure you are finding yourselves quite busy getting ready for the Holiday Festivities. Along with the holidays comes vacation time! If your child will be on vacation, please stop by the front office and fill out a vacation request form.
During the month of December we will be partnering up withThe Spirit of Sharing- helping our local military families. We also will be hosting our annual Winter Festival on Thursday, 12/11/14 at 5pm. Please check out our December Calendar to ensure you do not miss a thing this holiday season.
– Cheryl Bowman, Principal
Discovery Isle Adopts a Military Family for the December Holiday, 2014
This year we will be partnering up with the Spirit Of Sharing. Spirit of Sharing provides need based holiday assistance to active duty military families (and some veterans) in southern California. Please see the tree in our lobby for more information on the family that we are adopting here at Discovery Isle. The family’s wishlist will be available throughout the month of December for you to purchase items.
Thank you in advance for your help!
San Diego Food Bank’s Holiday Food Drive 2014
We will be working with the San Diego Food Bank this November to help provide food for those less fortunate this holiday season. Please drop-off nonperishable food items to the front office. The food will then be delivered directly to the San Diego Food Bank warehouse. The food is then distributed to people in need through 300 partner charities which include: churches, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, low income daycare centers, rehabilitation programs and senior centers.
Suggested Items:
- Canned Meat
- Canned Soups
- Canned Fruits & Vegetables
- Peanut Butter
- Canned Beans
- Spaghetti
- Dry Cereal
- Rice
- Mac&Cheese
The Food Drive will take place throughout the whole month of November & December. Thank you in advance for your help!
Important Dates:
- Our Holiday Carnival will be held on Thursday, December 11th from 5-6pm.
- Discovery Isle will CLOSE at 4PM on Wednesday, December 24th and December 31st.
- We will be CLOSED all day December 25th & 26th and January 1st & 2nd.
Reminders:
- PICK UP AND DROP OFF PROCEDURES SAFETY is our first priority. When entering and exiting the parking lot, please remember to drive with caution. Keep in mind children are always present; please reduce your speed accordingly.
- As a licensing requirement, please remember to always sign in and out with a full signature on your child’s attendance sheet. Also, please have your children walk with you at drop off and pick up times. For everyone’s safety, your child is not allowed to enter and exit the building without you.
From the Education Department:
Enter the World of Imaginative Play
Think of the last time your child pretended that a paper towel roll was a magic wand, or put on a hat and became a cowboy. Young children are naturally wired to learn through imaginative play. Sometimes, imaginative play may appear to be just idle time, unstructured or less productive than educational activities such as music lessons, dance class, or karate. Yet, it is through imaginative play experiences that children make sense of the world, establish important self-regulation skills, and process academic content at a higher level.
Below are some ways that we encourage imaginative play in the classroom and some ideas to try at home.
Provide time for unstructured play. In our classrooms, we give students the opportunity to choose from various structured learning activities, while also allowing time for imaginative play. During circle time, for example, children may become very interested in a story about farm life. The teachers then allow them to go outside, create their own “farm” in the sandbox using props, and pretend to be farmers. Through this activity, children develop cognitive skills such as sustained attention, problem solving and sequential memory. At home, you can make up an indoor campsite with your child using sleeping bags, pillows, toy food, cooking utensils and pots. Ask your child “What should we make for dinner?” or “What games do you want to play while we camp?”
Give children a variety of materials so they can make their own props. In our classrooms, students use cardboard boxes and art supplies to create pirate ships and castles. Some students may create a kitchen out of boxes and pretend to be chefs in their own restaurant. They practice writing skills by creating a menu, and use culinary-themed vocabulary to communicate with their restaurant patrons. By participating in this activity, students practice taking turns, sharing and listening to others. Give your child art supplies and a box at home and see their imagination run wild. Let your child’s interests lead and shape the play.
Engage in imaginative play, but don’t direct it. As children create an imaginative experience, our teachers allow them to make the rules, define the play experience and direct roles. For instance, they may choose a student to decide how the class should move around the room. Should they move around like bumblebees, mice or robots? The teacher doesn’t direct the play, but instead asks questions such as “What can I be?” or “What should I do?” As the students move around, they practice balance, coordination, body control and spatial awareness. You can do the same at home by asking your child to choose a different animal for both of you to imitate.
In summary, imaginative play is not only fun for children but it is vital for their development. It allows children to take the lead in a world that is usually very directed for them, and to learn and play through self-expression.
— Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education
December News
Message from the Principal:
Can you believe it is December already? Tis’ the season to be jolly! I am sure you are finding yourselves quite busy getting ready for the Holiday Festivities. Along with the holidays comes vacation time! If your child will be on vacation, please stop by the front office and fill out a vacation request form.
During the month of December we will be partnering up withThe Spirit of Sharing- helping our local military families. We also will be hosting our annual Winter Festival on Thursday, 12/11/14 at 5pm. Please check out our December Calendar to ensure you do not miss a thing this holiday season.
– Cheryl Bowman, Principal
Discovery Isle Adopts a Military Family for the December Holiday, 2014
This year we will be partnering up with the Spirit Of Sharing. Spirit of Sharing provides need based holiday assistance to active duty military families (and some veterans) in southern California. Please see the tree in our lobby for more information on the family that we are adopting here at Discovery Isle. The family’s wishlist will be available throughout the month of December for you to purchase items.
Thank you in advance for your help!
San Diego Food Bank’s Holiday Food Drive 2014
We will be working with the San Diego Food Bank this November to help provide food for those less fortunate this holiday season. Please drop-off nonperishable food items to the front office. The food will then be delivered directly to the San Diego Food Bank warehouse. The food is then distributed to people in need through 300 partner charities which include: churches, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, low income daycare centers, rehabilitation programs and senior centers.
Suggested Items:
The Food Drive will take place throughout the whole month of November & December. Thank you in advance for your help!
Important Dates:
Reminders:
From the Education Department:
Enter the World of Imaginative Play
Think of the last time your child pretended that a paper towel roll was a magic wand, or put on a hat and became a cowboy. Young children are naturally wired to learn through imaginative play. Sometimes, imaginative play may appear to be just idle time, unstructured or less productive than educational activities such as music lessons, dance class, or karate. Yet, it is through imaginative play experiences that children make sense of the world, establish important self-regulation skills, and process academic content at a higher level.
Below are some ways that we encourage imaginative play in the classroom and some ideas to try at home.
Provide time for unstructured play. In our classrooms, we give students the opportunity to choose from various structured learning activities, while also allowing time for imaginative play. During circle time, for example, children may become very interested in a story about farm life. The teachers then allow them to go outside, create their own “farm” in the sandbox using props, and pretend to be farmers. Through this activity, children develop cognitive skills such as sustained attention, problem solving and sequential memory. At home, you can make up an indoor campsite with your child using sleeping bags, pillows, toy food, cooking utensils and pots. Ask your child “What should we make for dinner?” or “What games do you want to play while we camp?”
Give children a variety of materials so they can make their own props. In our classrooms, students use cardboard boxes and art supplies to create pirate ships and castles. Some students may create a kitchen out of boxes and pretend to be chefs in their own restaurant. They practice writing skills by creating a menu, and use culinary-themed vocabulary to communicate with their restaurant patrons. By participating in this activity, students practice taking turns, sharing and listening to others. Give your child art supplies and a box at home and see their imagination run wild. Let your child’s interests lead and shape the play.
Engage in imaginative play, but don’t direct it. As children create an imaginative experience, our teachers allow them to make the rules, define the play experience and direct roles. For instance, they may choose a student to decide how the class should move around the room. Should they move around like bumblebees, mice or robots? The teacher doesn’t direct the play, but instead asks questions such as “What can I be?” or “What should I do?” As the students move around, they practice balance, coordination, body control and spatial awareness. You can do the same at home by asking your child to choose a different animal for both of you to imitate.
In summary, imaginative play is not only fun for children but it is vital for their development. It allows children to take the lead in a world that is usually very directed for them, and to learn and play through self-expression.
— Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education