A Note from the Principal’s Desk:
Happy April! This month, the children are looking forward to spending even more time exploring the change of season outside. Spring provides a great opportunity for them to learn and grow as they discover new things in their environment. Our teachers are planning so many wonderful activities for the children. We also gearing up for the Week of the Young Child and Earth Day this month!
We will kick of the month with Week of the Young Child with ” FRIENDSHIP THROUGH THE DECADES”. This is an annual celebration hosted by NAEYC to spotlight early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. Our goal is to bring awareness to the importance of high-quality early learning and the critical role early childhood educators play in a child’s development. We have many fun activities planned for Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday.
We also will be celebrating Earth Day with a Ladybug Parade and Release Celebration. Have your child dress in RED and BLACK, as they learn how ladybugs help our earth and gardens grow. Look for more information as is comes closer.
Finally, this month our Open House is on April 27th… so don’t forget about our referral program! When you refer a friend and they enroll, you’re eligible for a free week of tuition, after their 90 days. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Here is to a wonderful month!
Robin Kemmer
Principal
UPCOMING DATES:
April 1st April Fool’s Day
April 8th-12th Scholastic Book Fair
April 8th-12th Week of the Young Child
April 8th Dress Up in the 50’s
April 8th Ice Cream Truck Visits
April 9th Dress Up in the 60’s
April 10th Dress Up in the 70’s
April 11th Dress Up in the 80’s
April 12th Dress Up in the 90’s
April 12th Rock Concert with Music Matt
April 15th-19th Life Cycle of a Ladybug Week
April 22nd Earth Day
April 22nd Ladybug Release Celebration
April 26th Arbor Day
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Spark Creativity and Ignite Imagination
Did you know that some of the best ways for children to engage in play and get their creative juices flowing is by using everyday materials in new ways? Our teachers are always adding recycled materials to all the centers in their classrooms in hopes of planting new ideas, helping students develop an understanding of how things work, increasing their language skills, and learning about the world around them.
Research shows that children who play with recycled materials are more likely to engage in open-ended and imaginary play, have better storytelling skills, and are more creative. So, before you throw away used items, check our list below for ideas on how your child can reuse them.
Creative Expression
Paper scraps, leftover wrapping paper, paper tubes, old newspapers, popsicle sticks, egg cartons, milk bottle caps, and more can all be used to create collages, sculptures, and dioramas. Simply provide your child with these items and some glue or tape and watch them go! Add safety scissors for some cutting practice as well.
Dramatic Play
Use large cardboard boxes as playhouses, forts, and barns for stuffed animals. Medium-sized boxes can be transformed into boats, race cars, spaceships, or puppet theaters. Use smaller boxes for stacking and building to create towns. Add cars to drive through the city.
Music
Have any old pots and pans? Old coffee tins? Plastic containers from take-out food? These all make perfect drums! For the drumsticks, your child can use their hands or wooden spoons.Transform an old tissue box into a guitar by wrapping rubber bands around the opening.
STEM
Gather all sorts of loose parts – spools, cardboard tubes, nature items, plastic bottles, straws, large buttons, old phones, and calculators. Use these items for sorting, counting, building, and more!
Sensory
Take any of the STEM or art materials listed above and gather them into a bin or adhere them to a wall for a sensory experience.
Scientific Exploration
Use milk cartons, soft drink bottles, and ice cream containers as planters. Decorate the containers and add them to your garden. Tend to the plants and observe the changes with your child.
Closing tip!
Don’t forget to talk with your child about how reusing items helps our earth. Be sure to engage in conversation about reducing waste, reusing items in new ways, and recycling materials. As your child works with random items in new ways, say “Isn’t it great that instead of throwing that away, you found such a great way to use that!”
APRIL NEWS
A Note from the Principal’s Desk:
Happy April! This month, the children are looking forward to spending even more time exploring the change of season outside. Spring provides a great opportunity for them to learn and grow as they discover new things in their environment. Our teachers are planning so many wonderful activities for the children. We also gearing up for the Week of the Young Child and Earth Day this month!
We will kick of the month with Week of the Young Child with ” FRIENDSHIP THROUGH THE DECADES”. This is an annual celebration hosted by NAEYC to spotlight early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. Our goal is to bring awareness to the importance of high-quality early learning and the critical role early childhood educators play in a child’s development. We have many fun activities planned for Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday.
We also will be celebrating Earth Day with a Ladybug Parade and Release Celebration. Have your child dress in RED and BLACK, as they learn how ladybugs help our earth and gardens grow. Look for more information as is comes closer.
Finally, this month our Open House is on April 27th… so don’t forget about our referral program! When you refer a friend and they enroll, you’re eligible for a free week of tuition, after their 90 days. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Here is to a wonderful month!
Robin Kemmer
Principal
UPCOMING DATES:
April 1st April Fool’s Day
April 8th-12th Scholastic Book Fair
April 8th-12th Week of the Young Child
April 8th Dress Up in the 50’s
April 8th Ice Cream Truck Visits
April 9th Dress Up in the 60’s
April 10th Dress Up in the 70’s
April 11th Dress Up in the 80’s
April 12th Dress Up in the 90’s
April 12th Rock Concert with Music Matt
April 15th-19th Life Cycle of a Ladybug Week
April 22nd Earth Day
April 22nd Ladybug Release Celebration
April 26th Arbor Day
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Spark Creativity and Ignite Imagination
Did you know that some of the best ways for children to engage in play and get their creative juices flowing is by using everyday materials in new ways? Our teachers are always adding recycled materials to all the centers in their classrooms in hopes of planting new ideas, helping students develop an understanding of how things work, increasing their language skills, and learning about the world around them.
Research shows that children who play with recycled materials are more likely to engage in open-ended and imaginary play, have better storytelling skills, and are more creative. So, before you throw away used items, check our list below for ideas on how your child can reuse them.
Creative Expression
Paper scraps, leftover wrapping paper, paper tubes, old newspapers, popsicle sticks, egg cartons, milk bottle caps, and more can all be used to create collages, sculptures, and dioramas. Simply provide your child with these items and some glue or tape and watch them go! Add safety scissors for some cutting practice as well.
Dramatic Play
Use large cardboard boxes as playhouses, forts, and barns for stuffed animals. Medium-sized boxes can be transformed into boats, race cars, spaceships, or puppet theaters. Use smaller boxes for stacking and building to create towns. Add cars to drive through the city.
Music
Have any old pots and pans? Old coffee tins? Plastic containers from take-out food? These all make perfect drums! For the drumsticks, your child can use their hands or wooden spoons.Transform an old tissue box into a guitar by wrapping rubber bands around the opening.
STEM
Gather all sorts of loose parts – spools, cardboard tubes, nature items, plastic bottles, straws, large buttons, old phones, and calculators. Use these items for sorting, counting, building, and more!
Sensory
Take any of the STEM or art materials listed above and gather them into a bin or adhere them to a wall for a sensory experience.
Scientific Exploration
Use milk cartons, soft drink bottles, and ice cream containers as planters. Decorate the containers and add them to your garden. Tend to the plants and observe the changes with your child.
Closing tip!
Don’t forget to talk with your child about how reusing items helps our earth. Be sure to engage in conversation about reducing waste, reusing items in new ways, and recycling materials. As your child works with random items in new ways, say “Isn’t it great that instead of throwing that away, you found such a great way to use that!”