10/27 Classroom Update

We had so much fun on our field trip to Schwallier's Country Basket yesterday! Thank you to all of our drivers and parents who joined us for making it such a special day for our preschoolers! Here are some picture highlights from the trip:

Feeding the goats!

Feeding the goats!

Hanging out in the pumpkin patch

Playing with Water Pumps

Picking the perfect pumpkins

Class picture on the hay tower

Picking apples

It's hard to believe that November is already next week! Next week, we will be engaging in lots of fun Halloween learning centers that work on patterning, syllables, identifying/writing numbers and more!

Important Dates/Reminders:

Halloween Costumes: Students are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes to class on Tuesday 10/31. Please keep weapons and scary masks at home!

Halloween Party: We will be having a Halloween Party in our classroom this coming Tuesday, October 31 from 2:45-3:15 pm. Costumes are encouraged :) Thank you to all of the parents who have already signed up to help out with our party! We are still looking for someone to bring a fun, short Halloween story to share with the class. If you are interested in helping out with the party, please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-halloween

Preschool Conferences: Conferences for the 5's class will be held on Wednesday, November 8 from 3:30 - 6:50 pm, and conferences for the ECSE class will be held on Monday, November 13th from 3:30-7:00 pm. Here are the links for conferences:

• 5's Parent Teacher Conferences Sign Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-fall1
• ECSE  Parent Teacher Conferences Sign Up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-fall

Picture Retakes: I sent home school pictures this week. If you would like your child's picture retaken, please let me know! Picture retakes will be held on Wednesday, November 15th. To order pictures, please follow the instructions on your child's picture proof flier.

Have a great weekend!

10/20 Classroom Update

This week, we had so much fun exploring our five senses! During circle time, we learned about how our five senses help us learn and be aware of the world around us. We sorted things based on how they feel (hard vs. soft), smell (good vs. bad), and look (big vs. small). We also tried to identify different everyday sounds and  guess items using only touch. During center time, we worked on developing concept of word by reading about our five senses and tracking the words with our fingers. The five senses books came home in folders this week, and you can continue to practice this skill at home! Here are some picture highlights from our week:

Labeling Mr. Potato Head's senses

Creating Mr. Potato Heads using five sense spinners

Painting Horton after reading Horton Hears a Who

"Tasting" delicious food in kitchen

Reading about our five senses

Playing with kaleidoscopes

Next week, we will be talking about feelings and what we can do when we feel certain ways. We also have our field trip on Thursday!

Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

Country Basket Field Trip: Our field trip is coming up this week! On Thursday, October 26th, we will be visiting Schwallier's Country Basket for a fun afternoon learning about the farm, pollination, and growing apples and pumpkins. At Schwallier's students will get to pick a pumpkin and apple, pet and feed baby goats, and explore different outdoor play stations.

• Plan to get to class a few minutes early on 10/26. We will be leaving promptly at 12:30 pm.
• There is a fee of $5 per child that will be charged to your monthly preschool account. Adults attending will pay $5 at Schwallier's.
• All children will need to be transported in a car seat. Please bring booster seats pre-labeled with your child's name on the day of our trip. 
• Please dress your child in layers as well as boots/shoes that can get muddy the day of the field trip. Right now the forecast is partly sunny with a high of 55 degrees. Let's hope for no rain!

Halloween Party: We will be having a Halloween Party in our classroom on Tuesday, October 31 from 2:45-3:15 pm. Costumes are encouraged :) We are looking for parents to help out with planning fun activities, as well as bringing in materials for the party. If you are interested in helping out with the party, please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-halloween

Preschool Conferences: Conferences for the 5's class will be held on Wednesday, November 8 from 3:30 - 6:50 pm, and conferences for the ECSE class will be held on Monday, November 13th from 3:30-7:00 pm. Here are the links for conferences:

• 5's Parent Teacher Conferences Sign Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-fall1
• ECSE  Parent Teacher Conferences Sign Up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-fall

Picture Retakes: School picture proofs should arrive within the next week or so. If you would like your child's picture retaken, please let me know! Picture retakes will be held on Wednesday, November 15th.

Have a great weekend!

10/13 Classroom Update

This week, we learned all about pumpkins and how they grow. During circle time, we compared pumpkins and apples, as well as their life cycles. We learned the "5 Little Pumpkins" rhyme and also completed rhyming riddles. During center time, we practiced our scissor skills, played a fun pumpkin counting game, decorated Mr. Pumpkin Heads, sorted words by beginning sound, and much more! Here are some picture highlights from the week: 

Playing "Race to Fill the Pumpkin" math game

Playing with Mr. Pumpkin Heads

Sorting words by beginning sounds

Practicing our cutting skills

Painting pumpkins

Next week, we will be learning about our five senses and how we use our five senses to explore our world. We will also have another visit from Ms. Janet!

Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

Country Basket Field Trip: On Thursday, October 26th, we will be visiting Schwallier's Country Basket for a fun afternoon learning about the farm, pollination, and growing apples and pumpkins. At Schwallier's students will get to pick a pumpkin and apple, pet and feed baby goats, and explore different outdoor play stations.

• Plan to get to class a few minutes early on 10/26. We will be leaving promptly at 12:30 pm.
• If you are interested in driving on the field trip, please sign up on the bulletin board outside our classroom indicating the number of children you can drive or send me an email at kbillmei@egrps.org.
• There is a fee of $5 per child that will be charged to your monthly preschool account. Adults attending will pay $5 at Schwallier's.
• All children will need to be transported in a car seat. Please bring booster seats pre-labeled with your child's name on the day of our trip. 

Field Trip Drivers: Any adult transporting a child other than their own will need to fill out a self-reporting form and provide proof of insurance, driver's license and registration in the office. All parent volunteers for the field trip must fill out a volunteer form. This form can be found at www.egrps.org under Quick Links.

Halloween Party: We will be having a Halloween Party in our classroom on Tuesday, October 31 from 2:45-3:15 pm. Costumes are encouraged :)  If you are interested in helping out with the party, Ms. Carly and I will be sending out a link to sign-up next week!

Picture Retakes: School picture proofs should arrive within the next two weeks. If you would like your child's picture retaken, please let me know! Picture retakes will be held on Wednesday, November 15th.

Preschool Conferences: Conferences for the 5's class will be held on Wednesday, November 8 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm, and conferences for the ECSE class will be held on Monday, November 13th. Next week, I will send out a link to sign up for conferences. I'm looking forward to meeting with everyone!

Have a great weekend!

10/6 Classroom Update

This week, we learned all about apples and how apples grow. Our preschoolers were very surprised to learn that apples begin as flowers! During center time, we sorted apples by beginning sounds, practiced cutting and ordering the life cycle of an apple tree, sorted pairs of rhyming words, and created tissue paper apple trees changing through the seasons after reading The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree.

Sorting apples by beginning sounds

Making apple trees through the seasons

Learning about beats and playing the sticks with Ms. Janet

Rhyming Words Sort

Next week, we will be learning about pumpkins and the life cycle of a pumpkin. We will also compare how apples and pumpkins grow! 

Important Dates/Reminders:

Spirit Week: We will be having a spirit week here at WECC this week (October 9-12). We invite students and families to dress up according to each day's theme!

• Monday 10/9 - Wear your Favorite Team Day
• Tuesday 10/10 - Fancy Day/Dress Up Day or Blue/Gold Day
• Wednesday 10/11 - Fancy Day (for pictures!)
• Thursday 10/12 - PJ Day

Picture Day: Picture day is this coming Wednesday October 11th! ECSE students will be taking their pictures in the morning with Ms. Carly, and PM 5's students will be taking their pictures in the afternoon with Ms. Katie.

Scholastic Book Orders: Last week, I sent home Scholastic Book orders in your child's folder. October book orders are due by Thursday, October 12th. You can order books online by completing the steps below. You may also turn in your paper order and payment to me and I will input your order for you.

1. Go to the Scholastic Reading Club Website here.
2. Click Connect to your Teacher and enter our class activation code: PJFBX.
3. Then click to order from this month's flyer. Our default flyer is the "Early Childhood" flyer; however, you may order from any of the flyers. You can view more details about each book and add them to your cart by clicking on them in the flyer. 
4. After selecting your items, click on the cart to create an account or sign-in to your existing account in order to check-out.  
5. October orders need to be placed by this coming Thursday, October 12.

Country Basket Field Trip: On Thursday, October 26th, we will be visiting Schwallier's Country Basket for a fun afternoon learning about the farm, pollination, and growing apples and pumpkins. At Schwallier's students will get to pick a pumpkin and apple, pet and feed baby goats, and explore different outdoor play stations.

• Plan to get to class a few minutes early on 10/26. We will be leaving promptly at 12:30 pm.
• If you are interested in driving on the field trip, please sign up on the bulletin board outside our classroom indicating the number of children you can drive or send me an email at kbillmei@egrps.org.
• There is a fee of $5 per child that will be charged to your monthly preschool account. Adults attending will pay $5 at Schwallier's.
• All children will need to be transported in a car seat. Please bring booster seats pre-labeled with your child's name on the day of our trip. 

Field Trip Drivers: Any adult transporting a child other than their own will need to fill out a self-reporting form and provide proof of insurance, driver's license and registration in the office. All parent volunteers for the field trip must fill out a volunteer form. This form can be found at www.egrps.org under Quick Links.

Have a great weekend!