Picture Day: We will take pictures on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th
If your child attends both days, please send them dressed for pictures both days.
If your child doesn’t attend either day, please call the office to find out when you should bring them for pictures.
Policy Reminders from the Office!
SCHOOL CLOSINGS & MORE FOR NOVEMBER:
- There are 4 Fridays for pizza in November, so please send in your $15.00
- Tuesday, November 5th, Election Day (Parent Teacher Conferences, please go to the website and sign up for your time.) Please specify in comments if you would prefer a phone conference and add the phone # the teacher should be calling you at, otherwise we will assume you are coming to meet the teacher in person.
- Monday November 11th Veteran’s Day, CLOSED.
- Thursday, November 28th & Friday, November 29th for Thanksgiving Recess.
School closes at 2:00 PM sharp on Wednesday, November 27th, we will begin signing out at 1:15pm at the church. Please be sure you are on time.
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION*
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES:
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5th IN PERSON OR PHONE CONF. SIGN UP FROM OUR WEBSITE: GO TO THE SCHOOL ICON THEN NEWS & UPDATES AND LOOK FOR YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER. REMEMBER TO PARK AT ST. RAPHAELS PARKING LOT AND COME IN THROUGH THE BACK GATE. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT COME TO THE CONFERENCE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO, PLEASE BRING IN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH YOU ON 11/5:
All Classes:
- EMERGENCY RELEASE FORM WITH PHOTO ID- DRIVER’S LICENSE.
- A PHOTO OF THE FAMILY
- WINTER CLOTHING (PANTS AND LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS) WE WILL GIVE BACK THE SUMMER CLOTHES IN EXCHANGE FOR THEM.
- ALL CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A “INSIDE SWEATSHIRT” THAT WOULD STAY AT BIG CHIEF UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO AND NEED TO PURCHASE A BIG CHIEF SWEATSHIRT, PLEASE STOP BY THE OFFICE, AND SEE MS. LUANNE OR MS. JOSEPHINE.
Andrea, Patti, and Andrey’s Classes:
- A PHOTO OF YOUR CHILD IN FRONT OF THE CAR, YOU DROP THEM OFF IN.
- A PHOTO OF YOUR CHILD IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE
Katya’s Class:
- A PHOTO OF YOUR CHILD APPLE OR PUMPKIN PICKING ALONG WITH A DICTATION-4 SENTENCE PARAGRAPH USING YOUR CHILD’S WORDS- ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.
- AT THANKSGIVING, PLEASE TAKE A FAMILY PICTURE AND SEND IT IN WITH A DICTATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S EXPERIENCE.
Both dictations should be on the back of the picture illustrating the events.
IT’S TIME TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS!!!!! WE WILL BE COLLECTING ALL TYPES OF CLOTHING THE WEEK OF 12/2 TO 12/6. ALL DONATIONS WILL BE PICKED UP 12/6.
TUITION:
Your tuition is due and payable on the first of every month! There will be a late charge of $25 added to your bill for any tuition received after the 10th. For those of you who have been late in the past, we ask that you remit your payment on time to avoid this unnecessary charge. Reminder: there are no make-up or swap days, nor monetary credit for days absent.
RETURNED CHECKS:
If we receive a returned check from the bank, you will be charged the $30 bank fee. You will be required to come in and pay in cash for the tuition and any bank charges.
REMINDER: Children should have a clean diaper as they get out of the car in the morning.
Parents please be sure that your child finishes his/her breakfast before getting to the front gate or coming onto the red gravel driveway. Please do not have your child coming out of the car eating breakfast.
EMERGENCY RELEASE FORMS:
If you have not yet done so, please fill out your Emergency Release form with current pictures attached on the form. (ex. Driver’s license) and return ASAP.
EXTENDED HOURS FOR WORKING PARENTS:
School hours are 9:00 – 4:00, 9:00 – 12:00, 9:00 – 2:00, and 11:00 to 4:00. Do not drop off any earlier than the time indicated. If you need extended hours, the rates are as follows:
Morning: The fee is $220 per month if you drop your child off any time between 7:00 & 8:00 AM. If your child attends this session, please note that breakfast is served at 7:30 and finishes at 8:00. If you drop your child off any time between 8:00 & 9:00 AM, there will be a charge of $110 per month. Breakfast is not served at this time and your child should eat before coming to school. This price is based on a 5 day a week schedule. Call the office for prices for 2,3 or 4 days.
MORNING DROP OFF AT THE FRONT GATE: AFTER 8:35AM, THIS GATE IS CLOSED. IT REOPENS AT 9:00AM FOR PARENTS WITH INFANTS ONLY. ALL OTHER DROP OFFS MUST GO AROUND AND GET IN LINE AT THE CHURCH. PLEASE TRY TO BE ON TIME.
Afternoon: Children need to be picked up by 4:00. If you pick your child up any time between 4:00 and 5:00 PM, the fee is $110 per month. If you pick up your child any time after 5:00 and up until 5:45pm, the fee is $220 per month. Again, this price is based on a 5 day a week schedule. Call the office for prices for 2, 3 or 4 days.
AFTERNOON PICK UP: AFTER 3:35PM YOU MUST USE THE DRIVEWAY. THE FRONT GATE CAN ONLY BE USED BY INFANT PARENTS.
Both Sessions: The fee for both XXAM (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM) and XXPM (4:00 PM – 6:00PM) is $395 per month.
Pick-up and drop off: Remember the back gate open at 8:45am and close at 9:15am. At the end of the day, it opens at 3:45pm.
NO TOYS OR BACKPACKS ARE ALLOWED TO COME TO SCHOOL!!!!
Important Message from the Office
If any information, such as your home, work or cell phone numbers have changed since you registered your child for school, please notify the office immediately at
- Thank you.
MEDICALS EXPIRING:
Please make sure that you make your child’s doctor appointment at least one month before their medical expires.
PROGRAM
MISS TAMMIE’S CLASS:
Theme: Fall, Thanksgiving and Nursery Rhymes.
Social & Independent Skills Continue to teach washing their hands, picking up our toys and putting their shoes on and off.
Nursery Rhymes: Continuing Old McDonald, Itsy Bitsy spider.
Science: Planting Bulbs, looking for acorns and leaves.
Stories: “Spot’s Thanksgiving,” Going on a leaf hunt and other books related to our theme.
Art: Making a turkey, easel painting, fall leaves, spiders, acorn rolling and farm animals.
Physical: Running in the field with balls, collecting and jumping in the leaves.
Music: Dancing and marching around our classroom with instruments and scarves, exercising and parachute fun.
MISS ALEXANDRIA’S CLASS
Theme: Fall and Thanksgiving and Nursery rhymes.
Language Arts: Reading stories about fall, Thanksgiving and sharing. “Twinkle-Twinkle little star” and “I’m a little tea pot.”
Science: Observing the weather/leaves, collecting acorns, sticks and leaves. Continuing our nature walks and planting bulbs.
Art: Comparing the colors of the fall leaves. Introducing the color Orange. Collage with yellow for Twinkle-Twinkle little star, feather painting Turkeys, and making fresh playdough weekly.
Music: Finger plays such as “Twinkle-Twinkle little star,” “I’m a little tea pot,” “Grey Squirrel,” “Mr. Five little Turkeys” and “A Turkey is a funny Bird.” We will also be scarf dancing, marching with our instrument and parachute fun.
Physical: Coloring and painting with fall colors to help our fine motor skills, playing outside by throwing balls, running around, and tossing leaves to stimulate our gross motor skills. The children will be climbing ladders in the playground and going up and down the steps. Tearing newspaper to strengthen our small motor skills.
Social Studies: Continuing our hand washing before meals and after outdoor play, learning to wait on line. Continue working on taking our sneakers off when entering the classroom, lining up and waiting for friends when on the playground and during snack time. Noticing our cubbies with our picture.
Special Note: Please send in a 4 x 6 photo of your child for their cubby.
MISS JENNA’S CLASS
Theme: Fall and Thanksgiving and Nursery rhymes.
Language Arts: Reading stories about fall, Thanksgiving and sharing. “Ba-Ba Black sheep” and “There was an old lady who lived in a shoe.”
Science: Observing the weather/leaves, collecting acorns, sticks and leaves. Continuing our nature walks and planting bulbs.
Art: Comparing the colors of the fall leaves. Giving full creative control and using stickers for fine motor skills. Finger painting turkeys and making fresh playdough weekly.
Music: Finger plays such as “Mr. Turkey Gobbler,” “A Turkey is a funny bird,” We will also be working on our Nursery Rymes, scarf dancing, marching with our instrument and parachute fun.
Physical: Playing outside by throwing balls, running around, and tossing leaves to stimulate our gross motor skills. The children will be climbing ladders in the playground and going up and down the steps.
Social Studies: Continuing our hand washing before meals and after outdoor play, learning to wait on line. Continue to practice putting on our coats and shoes by ourselves.
MISS PATRICIA’S CLASS:
Theme: Family, Fall, and Thanksgiving
Language Arts Books relating to our theme such as “Just Me & My Little Brother,” “Fall Changes,” “It’s Thanksgiving Day,” “Who is in my family.” Nursery Rhymes.
Art: Creative art, corn cob rolling, feather painting, fall collage and creating individual turkey paper plates.
Music: Marching with instruments, continuing our parachute activities and fall songs, “I’m going to eat on Thanksgiving Day,”
Physical: As much outdoor time as possible to ride tricycles, run and play with balls in the fields and continue climbing.
Science: Gathering items for our fall collage during our nature walks. Planting bulbs, visiting our farm animals outside and making playdough.
Social Studies: Having conversations about our families—where we go together, who our family members are, their names, pets, grandparents etc.
Cooking: Apple pie
Theme: Family, Thanksgiving healthy foods.
Art: Corn rolling, painting with feathers, making a fall collage, playdough, corn leaves print and fall leaves texture painting.
Language Arts: We will read books about families and Thanksgiving. Among them will be “Franklins Thanksgiving,” “I am thankful,” “How to celebrate Thanksgiving,”
Physical: Scarf dancing. Imitating leaves and trees blowing in the wind. We will work with scissors and crayons to strengthen our fine motor skills and muscles. We will jump and run to strengthen our large muscles.
Math: Counting Boys and Girls at circle time. Counting and sorting healthy foods, pumpkins, and pine cones.
Social Studies: We will learn about families, who are the people in our family, how many people are in our family and where do they live. Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates being with family and friends.
Blocks and Housekeeping: Making houses and role-playing family members. Cooking for friends and eating meals together. Working on our independent skills, taking our shoes off and putting them on, using the bathroom, washing our hands, using a spoon and fork, and drinking from an open cup.
Science: Taking nature walks to observe the changing weather and environment. Planting bulbs, acorn rolling, corn on the cob rolling and collecting flowers to make a fall collage.
Music and Flannel Board: We will learn various songs, flannel board stories and fingerplays. “A Turkey is a funny bird,” “The turkey wore a red feather,” and “We get to eat Turkey.” Acting out stories such as “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”, and “The Three Little Pigs”.
Cooking: Pumpkin muffins and pumpkin biscuits.
***PARENTS PLEASE SEND IN A FAMILY PICTURE OF THANKSGIVING DINNER. HAVE YOUR CHILD DICTATE TO YOU ABOUT 4 SENTENCES OF WHO WAS THERE, WHERE DID YOU HAVE DINNER AND WHAT DID YOU EAT. ***
Theme: Family, Thanksgiving, and food groups.
Social Studies: Discussing different types of families, how many people are in our family and extended family. Thanksgiving is a time of sharing and being with family and friends. Talk and read about different ways family celebrate and where each family has dinner.
Language Arts: Books relating to Families, “, “What Mommies Do Best,” “What Daddies Do Best,” “The Napping House,” “Corduroy’s Thanksgiving,” “Five Silly Turkey’s,” “Turkey Trouble.” Non-fiction books on fruits and vegetables. “Fruit Groups, Vegetable Groups.” Telling Thanksgiving stories and taking dictation about our families. Thanksgiving finger plays.
Music: Listening to Native American music, having parades, learning songs like “She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain” and “To Grandmother’s House We Go,” “Thanksgiving Feast,” “Ten Little Turkeys” “Albuquerque Turkey,” “Turkey in the Straw,” “Turkey Freeze Dance,” and “The Bear went over the mountain.”
Art: Nature collage, practice cutting, and corn rolling. Creating turkeys.
Math: Counting in our circle & during lunch/snack times. Counting objects while setting the table and counting the members in our family. Sorting fruits/vegetables, refrigerated/dry, breakfast/lunch/dinner food.
Physical: Dancing & marching to music, obstacle course in our playgrounds. Using the instruments for parades and using the parachute. Jumping in the leaves.
Block Area & House Area: Building and re-creating our own homes and families. Pretending to cook in the house area and/or creating an oven/table. Working on our independent skills, using the bathroom, washing our hands, blowing our noses, using a spoon and fork, and drinking from an open cup.
Science: taking nature walks and collecting fall items for our science center, such as leaves, grass, sticks and straw. Discussing the changes that are taking place outside. Taking care of our birds and our Big Chief farm animals, Lily the goat, Tilly the turkey, and Coco the duck. Planting bulbs.
Cooking: Making playdough and cornbread or pumpkin muffins.
***PARENTS PLEASE SEND IN A FAMILY PICTURE OF THANKSGIVING DINNER. HAVE YOUR CHILD DICTATE TO YOU ABOUT 4 SENTENCES OF WHO WAS THERE, WHERE DID YOU HAVE DINNER AND WHAT DID YOU EAT. *** ALSO, FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER INSTEAD OF SENDING IN TWO FRUITS PLEASE SEND IN 1 FRUIT AND 1 VEGETABLE FOR US TO TASTE AND TALK ABOUT.
MR. ANDREY’S CLASS
Theme: Family, Thanksgiving, and food groups (Veggies, fruit, dessert, and meat).
Social Studies: Discussing different types of families, how many people are in our family and extended family. Thanksgiving is a time of sharing and being with family and friends. Talk and read about different ways family celebrate and where each family has dinner.
Language Arts: Books relating to Families, “, “What Mommies Do Best,” “Corduroy’s Thanksgiving,” “Five Silly Turkey’s,” “Turkey Trouble.” Non-fiction books on fruits and vegetables. “Fruit Groups, Vegetable Groups.” Telling Thanksgiving stories and taking dictation about our families. Thanksgiving finger plays.
Music: Listening to different cultured music, having parades, learning songs like “She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain” and “To Grandmother’s House We Go,” “Thanksgiving Feast,” “Ten Little Turkeys” “Albuquerque Turkey,” “Turkey in the Straw,” “Turkey Freeze Dance,” and “The Bear went over the mountain.”
Art: Nature collage, practice cutting, and making headbands.
Math: Counting in our circle & during lunch/snack times. Counting objects while setting the table and counting the members in our family. Sorting fruits and vegetables.
Physical: Dancing & marching to music, obstacle course in our playgrounds. Using the instruments for parades and using the parachute.
Block Area & House Area: Building and re-creating our own homes and families. Re-creating and pretending to have a Thanksgiving Feast. Pretending to bake in our kitchen area and/or creating an oven/table in block area, making fruit salads and mud cups (pudding).
Science: taking nature walks and collecting fall items for our science center, such as leaves, grass, sticks and straw. Discussing the changes that are taking place outside. Taking care of our hermit crabs and our Big Chief farm animals, Lily the goat, Tilly the turkey, Big Red the hen, Coco the duck. Planting bulbs in our garden.
***PARENTS PLEASE SEND IN A FAMILY PICTURE OF THANKSGIVING DINNER. HAVE YOUR CHILD DICTATE TO YOU ABOUT 4 SENTENCES OF WHO WAS THERE, WHERE DID YOU HAVE DINNER AND WHAT DID YOU EAT. *** ALSO, FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER INSTEAD OF SENDING IN TWO FRUITS PLEASE SEND IN 1 FRUIT AND 1 VEGETABLE FOR US TO TASTE AND TALK ABOUT.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM:
MISS KATYA’S & MISS CHELSEA’S CLASS
Theme: We will be starting our senses, taste, touch, and smell. Talking about Thanksgiving.
Language Arts: Reading stories: “Books on the Senses” by Maria Rues. “Tasting Party” by Richard Allington, “What is your Favorite Thing to Touch?” by Myra Gibson, “Touch will Tell” by Marcia Brown.
“Thanksgiving Day” by Maria Child, “Arthur’s Thanksgiving,” “Thanksgiving Magic” by Rowen Bennett. “The First Thanksgiving.”
-Language Dictation: “What are we thankful for?”
Fingerplays: Gobble, Gobble, One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims, Five Little Turkeys.
Science: Senses – taste, touch, and smell.
-Different things have different tastes, textures, and smells. How are they alike & how are they different?
Exploring our world through these:
-Learn about our taste buds
Use our senses outside
-Take a “feely” walk to identify tree textures, leaves, etc.
-Categorize hard, soft, rough, and smooth.
-Taste testing – identify various tastes such as, sweet, sour, bitter and salty.
-Planting bulbs
Art: We will be making a mouth and labeling it with the taste buds. Fingerpainting with rice and sand painting. We will be making playdough with different smells- such as cinnamon, orange peels and lemons. Making Thanksgiving Day place mats.
Block Area:
–Make a lemonade stand for taste (sour).
–Making a teepee, long houses & log cabins, etc. with blocks.
-Making a restaurant to taste our foods (pretzel shop, bakery).
-Make a large feely box for sense of touch and guess what it is.
House Area: Working with our Senses -Making lemonade (sour), -Individual Rice Krispy treats (sweet). Here are some ideas you can use at home to explore the senses, Pretzels (salty), unsweetened tea (bitter). We are also having the children practice pouring their own drink, pretending to have Thanksgiving, setting the table, and making a menu. We will set up a candle shop for our sense of smell. Making a Thanksgiving Day dessert.
Math: One to one counting and sorting & classifying.
Pre Reading: Auditory Discrimination. In order to understand and speak a language, and later to read it, children need to be able to distinguish differences and similarities in spoken words. Working on writing their names. First letter Capital and the rest lower case.
HERE ARE A FEW RECIPES FOR YOU TO TRY AT HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY
PUMPKIN DIP
This is a recipe that I make nearly every year. It is the kind of recipe that you do not have to print out for elaborate measurements. Just dump and stir the ingredients until the desired consistency. I have served this to toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, teenagers, tweens, and adults. This is also a great recipe for kids to make themselves. Add your own combination of fall seasonings for a memorable dip.
Ingredients:
½ cup nut butter or seed butter
½ cup plain yogurt
2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 Tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (Optional)
½ teaspoon cinnamon (Optional)
Instructions:
Mix with a spoon until creamy. If you would like a whipped texture then use a food processor. Serve with any combination of sturdy fruits and veggies. We like jicama sticks, carrots, pea pods and apples.