Header Image

April News

A Message From the Principal:

Dear Parents,

April showers, Bring May flowers!  At least that is what we are hoping.  This month we have a few outside activities so we will be happy for some warm and sunny weather!  This month, we will be celebrating “The Week of the Young Child” with many fun activities.  Please stay tuned for more details.  Also, we have a Mystery Reader scheduled, our highly anticipated Ladybug Release and a St. Jude’s Trike A Thon.  To top it off, we will be working with our kindergarten students to collect pennies for the “Pennies for Penguins” fundraiser to help support the local Lehigh Valley Zoo.  Kindergarten is working on a display for the front lobby and I know I am excited to see it and hope you are too!

Early Bird registration concluded in the month of March, but there is still time to reserve a spot in our classrooms for the 2015-2016 school year.  Also, we are registering for summer camp.  Please don’t hesitate to contact management with any questions.  We have sample camp shirts to help decided on the size shirt your child will need for camp.

Please continue to check your emails regularly, as well as, the front lobby parent board for the most current informaiton.

It is exciting to see all of the positive things we have ahead of us!  If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Some additional reminders:

  • We are a PEANUT FREE facility.  If you bring any food for your child, please make sure it does not contain nuts.
  • Parent Referral Program.  Did you know if you refer a family, you could receive up to a free week’s worth of tuition after 3 months?
  • Illness Policy: If your child is sent home with a fever, vomiting or diarrhea, they must be 24 hours symptom and medication free before returning to school.

Have a great day!

Michele Somishka
Principal


 

From the Education Department

Appreciating the Wonders of Mother Nature

Spring is here and Earth Day is right around the corner, providing a wonderful opportunity to connect chidlren with nature and reinforce the importance of preserving and protecting the world around us.

Our Links to Learning curriculum uses hands-on activities to cultivate a deeper connection to the earth and foster academic, physical and social skill development.

Below are activities we implement in our classrooms to get children excited about nature, as well as activities and books to read with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS

  • In the classroom: Our teachers provide natureal objects, such as leaves, pinecones and flowers for the children to see and touch.  We help children associate words with the concrete objects they represent.
  • At -home activity: Allow your child to experience different textured fruits, such as an orange, watermelon and cantaloupe.  Talk about what he sees, smells, tastes and feels.
  • Recommended reading: “Colors from Nature” from PlayBac Publishing and “The Earth Book” by Todd Parr

BEGINNERS (Ages 2-3)

  • In the classroom: Around age two, children begin to understand interdependencies in nature.  For instance, thy learn that ladybugs feed on insects that are harmful to gardens, trees and shrubs.  On Earth Day, many of our students have the opportunity to release ladybugs to help local gardens.
  • At-home activity: Take a walk outdoors with your child and play a game of “I Spy.”  Ask him to point out objects found in the springtime, for example a red flower, a blue bird or a colorful butterfly.
  • Recommended reading:  “Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli & David T. Wenzel and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

INTERMEDIATES – (Ages 3-4)

  • In the classroom: As our Intermediates gain a greater understanding adn appreciation for how living things grow, the class may adopt a pet such as a fish or bunny.  Students develop math, science and language skills by measureing the pet’s food, observing the pet’s behavior and habitat, and learning new vocabulary.  Research shows that when children have the opportunity to care for animals, they practice nurturing behaviors that help them interact in gentle ways with people also.
  • At-home activity:
    Create a small garden and allow your child to help you plant and water seeds, either outdoors or indoors.  Ask him to predict what the plant will look like by drawing pictures in his journal.  Check the plant regularly so he can observe and measure changes in growth.  Discuss the importance of watering and caring for the plant.
  • Recommended reading: “Our Earth” by Anne Rockwell and the poem “Sarah Cynthia Sylvis Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out!”  by Shel Silverstein

PRE-K/PRE-K2- (Ages 4-5)

  • In the classroom: Teachers encourage our older preschoolers to reuse recyclable materials in fun and unconventional ways.  For instance, our students use cardboard boxes to create a castle, milk jug lids to sort and match, and plastic bottles to create beautiful, unique artwork.
  • At-home activity: Set up a recycling station using cardboard boxes, and label each box with the words “metal”, “plastic” and “paper”.  Throughout the month, ask your child to help sort your family’s recyclables by placing the items into the correct box.  Explain that recycling is just one way that we can be kind to the earth.  Ask him to name a few other ways, such as conserving electricity, picking up litter and planing a garden.
  • Recommended reading: “A Tree is Nice” by Janice May Udry and “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss

We create a path for lifelong learning by providing numerous opportunities for children to study and explore nature.  These hands-on experiences lead to growth in all areas of development as students transition into elementary school and beyond.

Lauren Starnes, PhD-Manager of Curriculum and Instruction

This entry was posted in Bethlehem. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.