Welcome Fall! Our summer has been great! From Back to School & Science Night, Color celebrations each week, Cooking and Zumba classes, and more have been so much fun. Thank you for participating in all of our events. We are looking forward to all Fall has to bring.
Links to Learning has started! Please be sure to check outside your child’s classroom door to see the weekly skills and read the “What we learned today.” At the end of each month you will receive a curriculum folder that contains monthly skill sheets that detail the previous months’ concepts, activities, and goals we work to meet. The folder will also contain samples of your child’s work that shows the growth and development and can also be linked back to the monthly skills sheet. The Links to Home sheet will give you a preview of what is to be expected in the next month to come. A monthly Spanish poster will also be included in the folder to highlight the words your child has learned that month. This is just one of the ways our school makes you a vital part of your child’s learning experience.
Sincerely, Stephanie Gill/Principal
Dates to remember in September
Sept. 7 School Closed
Sept. 10 Whatever Little Pony pictures for Infants, Toddlers & Beginners
Sept. 11 Whatever Little Pony pictures Intermediates & Pre-K 1 & 2
Sept. 11 Grandparents Luncheon
Sept. 11 Mini Kickers Soccer starts
Sept. 25 Johnny Appleseed day festivities
Sept. 30 LTL folders ready to go home
Grandparents Day Celebration!- Please join us on Friday, September 11th from 11:00-12:30 for a spaghetti luncheon with your grandchild/grandchildren. Parents, you’re welcome to attend!
Whatever Little Pony Photos!- Whatever Little Pony will be here September 10 & 11. Each child will have the opportunity to ride one of the ponies and take a special photo. Sept. 10-Infants, Toddlers & Beginners/Sept. 11-Intermediate & Pre-K. Photos will be available for purchase appx. 2 weeks after.
We’re proud to offer our Mini-Kickers soccer program at Merryhill Harbour Point for Fall 2015! – MiniKickers is an exciting program focusing on the development of children aged 2 – 5 years old. Our soccer experts and child development professionals have designed an innovative curriculum that introduces your young soccer stars to the basic skills needed in soccer as well as developing their motor, social, and psychological skills. Sign up at minikickersoccer.com for your child to participate in our 8 week soccer sessions which start Sept. 11.
Johnny Appleseed Day!- We will be celebrating Johnny Appleseed on Sept. 25th with apple tasting and apple activities in the classroom.
Student File Folders and Immunization Records- We have many children that have incomplete or empty student files here at school. Because we are licensed, it is very important that these files are kept up to date and are complete. Each year the state of California Health Department requires us to do an audit of each child’s immunization record. Please provide us with an updated immunization record as soon as possible. We would be happy to photo copy this here for you. Thank you
Education Article: Developing Balance Skills in Young Children From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3): In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
-Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
September Newsletter
Welcome Fall! Our summer has been great! From Back to School & Science Night, Color celebrations each week, Cooking and Zumba classes, and more have been so much fun. Thank you for participating in all of our events. We are looking forward to all Fall has to bring.
Links to Learning has started! Please be sure to check outside your child’s classroom door to see the weekly skills and read the “What we learned today.” At the end of each month you will receive a curriculum folder that contains monthly skill sheets that detail the previous months’ concepts, activities, and goals we work to meet. The folder will also contain samples of your child’s work that shows the growth and development and can also be linked back to the monthly skills sheet. The Links to Home sheet will give you a preview of what is to be expected in the next month to come. A monthly Spanish poster will also be included in the folder to highlight the words your child has learned that month. This is just one of the ways our school makes you a vital part of your child’s learning experience.
Sincerely, Stephanie Gill/Principal
Dates to remember in September
Sept. 7 School Closed
Sept. 10 Whatever Little Pony pictures for Infants, Toddlers & Beginners
Sept. 11 Whatever Little Pony pictures Intermediates & Pre-K 1 & 2
Sept. 11 Grandparents Luncheon
Sept. 11 Mini Kickers Soccer starts
Sept. 25 Johnny Appleseed day festivities
Sept. 30 LTL folders ready to go home
Grandparents Day Celebration!- Please join us on Friday, September 11th from 11:00-12:30 for a spaghetti luncheon with your grandchild/grandchildren. Parents, you’re welcome to attend!
Whatever Little Pony Photos!- Whatever Little Pony will be here September 10 & 11. Each child will have the opportunity to ride one of the ponies and take a special photo. Sept. 10-Infants, Toddlers & Beginners/Sept. 11-Intermediate & Pre-K. Photos will be available for purchase appx. 2 weeks after.
We’re proud to offer our Mini-Kickers soccer program at Merryhill Harbour Point for Fall 2015! – MiniKickers is an exciting program focusing on the development of children aged 2 – 5 years old. Our soccer experts and child development professionals have designed an innovative curriculum that introduces your young soccer stars to the basic skills needed in soccer as well as developing their motor, social, and psychological skills. Sign up at minikickersoccer.com for your child to participate in our 8 week soccer sessions which start Sept. 11.
Johnny Appleseed Day!- We will be celebrating Johnny Appleseed on Sept. 25th with apple tasting and apple activities in the classroom.
Student File Folders and Immunization Records- We have many children that have incomplete or empty student files here at school. Because we are licensed, it is very important that these files are kept up to date and are complete. Each year the state of California Health Department requires us to do an audit of each child’s immunization record. Please provide us with an updated immunization record as soon as possible. We would be happy to photo copy this here for you. Thank you
Education Article: Developing Balance Skills in Young Children From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3): In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
-Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education