Valentines!

Valentines Day is tomorrow – we will be decorating bags and exchanging Valentines.  Please bring 15 cards with your child’s name – no need to address them individually.

Show and Tell

We will be sending the show-and-tell bag (green with polka dots) home again starting February 15.  Please help your child choose “something special” to put in the bag and bring to school the following day.  If the “something special” is living, please do not put it in the bag, make arrangements with Miss Michelle.

Work that children are enjoying:

Tangerine peeling, stickers, shape puzzle, peg board, put and takes, books and transfer work.  We went for a walk on Wednesday the 8^th.

If you didn’t know, we have eleven toddlers in this classroom: 7 girls & 4 boys.  You may have noticed that it is common to find your child wearing different clothes when you pick-up in the afternoon because they are all so enthralled with the sink and all the water works.  The other day, one of the toddlers placed his hat down over his face and walked around the playground just feeling with his hands all the equipment, the kids, and how to maneuver walking down the one inch step onto the mulch.  Talk about adventure.  What a curious spirit!

The kids have been enjoying dancing to “Shoe Fly, Don’t Bother Me” and insist on hearing an oldie but a goodie:  “Three Little Ducks” every morning.  You may have heard a few of these tunes lately.  If you want to learn the words, stay put in our room for a moment or two to listen to the chorus so that you, too, can join along when your child pipes up.

Circle time has included lessons on how to “catch your cough in your elbow” and how to use Kleenex for blowing our noses.  Always good reminders, right?

It’s been a joy to see how well our toddlers eat.  It truly makes a difference in their energy and behavior throughout the day.  We can tell that their lunches are packed with care.  The variety has included such items as steak ‘n pasta, fresh blueberries, quesadillas, kiwi, fettucine alfredo and broccoli, rice buns…all the things that make our mouths water with envy!

Future Work: The next theme is Transportation.  This will include puzzles, books, sorting, picture cards and etc.

Reminders: Please bring snow pants and boots so your child can explore the snow without getting too cold or wet.

Yearly Auction is February 25^th from 6 to 10pm

Thank you for sharing their days with us.  They continue to make us smile as they grow and shine.

Quote:

The adventure of life is to learn

The purpose of life is to grow

The nature of life is to change

The challenge of life is to overcome

The essence of life is to care

The opportunity of life is to serve

The secret of life is to dare

The spice of life is to befriend

The beauty of life is to give

The joy of life is to love

Author unknown

Inside the classroom we are preparing for Valentine’s Day. We will be having a Valentine card exchange in the morning on Tuesday, February 14th. Each child is asked to bring a small valentine for each of the class members (9 minus themselves). Please have your student sign the cards (or “help” them if needed) but addressing them to each child is optional. If you wish to do so, please see the email containing the class list. Your student is to bring the cards to class the morning on the 14th. If your student will not be at school that day, he/she may bring them in on Monday. We will make sure that the cards will be passed out during the card exchange and that we collect their cards from the other students and save them for your child’s return. Tuesday morning we will decorate bags to collect Valentines in. Please note that we will not be having a party but will be discussing the origins and traditions of the holiday. This day provides everyone with the chance to let others know how much we care about them.

The days and year seem to be flying by. The students are really working hard. Many are doing regular sound lessons and beginning reading exercises. Our older students have started work on the decimal system. We have been focusing as a class on the world map, learning the names of the continents and some of the animals and famous places found on each. They are really enjoying geography and several have started learning the names of the territories in Australia.

One final note; there is no school on Friday, February 17 for a staff in-service day and Monday, February 20 for Presidents Day. Have a wonderful 4 day weekend with your children!

Peace, Ms. Melissé

From grasping and tummy time, to rolling over and crawling, the new infant room is a place for all  babies to flourish and grow.

The classroom is set up with the infant child in mind. Each material is beautiful and easy to grasp.  The room is filled with natural light and calming music. Each infant is cared for according to his/her needs at the time.

All furniture is at eye level for the infant to touch and explore.  Maria Montessori called the infant classroom the “Nido.” This means “The Nest.” Much like in the womb, the infant should feel warm, safe, and healthy in the classroom.

Here is a list of a few works that will be in the infant room

-Transfer works (placing balls in a cup)

-Posting rings

-Puzzles

-Gross motor materials (Push cart, pull-up bar)

-Sensory materials (texture boards, balls, grasping mobiles)

-Mirrors

-Rattles

-Small infant chairs and tables (this allows the child’s feet to touch the floor)

-.Teething objects

-Objects for stacking (aid in fine motor development and eye hand coordination)

-Soft areas for lying down, rolling over, and crawling

The materials in the Infant Classroom are given to the child with the development for a particular function in mind.

The Montessori Infant classroom allows the infant to fully develop with nurture, love, and independence!

- Miss Lauren

We talked a lot about musical instruments in preparation for the Tiny Ttots concert.  The highlight was when Cora’s father came to play his cello for us.  He and his wife brought a violin, viola, and cello to show us.  It was a musical and educational treat! After the concert, Tegan brought in a melody harp to donate to our class, and the children have really been enjoying playing it.

We have been waiting for a non-snow day to go outside to introduce “biomes”.  Next Wednesday for sure!  The children will discover what makes up a biome by seeing, feeling (perhaps tasting, but not on purpose)  air, energy, water, soil, plants and animals.

We are starting to do a Spanish lesson at one of our line times so that they hear Spanish daily. Ask your child about pequeno, mediano, and grande.

Show and Tell is now on Tuesday because that is the one day that all of our children attend.  We appreciate your support in this area!!!  It has been so fun to see the amazing objects the children bring.  Show n tell for the next four Tuesdays are:  2/14 – “h”    2/21 – “i”  (short vowel sound)  difficult to find, please start looking!,     2/28 – “g”  and     3/6 – “c” (k sound)

This Tuesday is also Valentines Day!  We will exchange valentines.  Please have your children bring 15 signed, but not addressed valentines.  At line time, the children will drop a valentine in each of the children’s bags.  Please do not send candy.

Quote of the month:  A child asked me, “Where is Miss Lucy?”  I told him that she had gone home for the day.  He looked at me in disbelief and said, “Teachers live at the school.”  The things they say and a little hug can really make our day!!!  Thanks for sharing them with us!

Miss Kathy, Miss Lucy, and Miss Amy

MSKC 2012 Auction & Casino Night Invitation

Mark your calendars now!  This is when we will enrollment applications and deposits are due.

Looking forward to seeing you all return for Summer Camp 2012 and Fall 2012-13!
Call the office if you have any questions,
Ms Jenelle
720.981.7465

Hair Cuts for Kids

at MSKC

Thursday, February 9th, 9am-11am

Ms. Cassi Bauer, Hollan’s Mom

From Indulgence A Salon

Will be offering haircuts for all MSKC students

If your family is interested, please fill out the form sent by email & return it to MSKC with your donation & your child.

$11 suggested minimum

All proceeds benefit MSKC!  THANK YOU Cassi!

It’s the last few days of the semester, so we gotta remember a few things at my school:

·         Plz take home my slippers and bedding to be laundered
·         Plz take home my lunchbox to be cleaned out over break (pee yew!)
·         Plz check my bathroom cubby to see if it’s gotta warm change of clothes for when I return

HINT, HINT:  PLZ TAKE HOME MY “WORK” in my cubby or in your parent folder,…there jes’ may be a lil’ somethin’ in there for you and the holidays.

If needed, sign me up for ‘daycare days’ over the next two weeks (Tues, Wed, Thurs) of each week.  It doesn’t have to be all day, just a few hrs in the morning so you can run my errands (Toys R Us anyone?)…or grab a cup of coffee or finish a project for work.  Miss Jenelle says to call her.

Plz give a gentle hug or a high five to my teacher for a loving and fun-filled Fall 2011 semester.  She’ll love it, I promise.

Kindly,
Your MSKC student
NO SCHOOL MONDAY, Dec 19-MONDAY, Jan 2, 2012
First day of the Spring semester is Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Dear MSKC Parents,
Planning is underway for our largest fundraiser of the year! The MSKC Auction is a wonderful night for parents and friends to come together and raise money for our exceptional school. All funds raised will be used for necessary school operations including teacher education, classroom materials and playground updates.
There are many ways you, as parents, can help make this a successful event. Any and all volunteer time will be put towards your 25 hours of work bond. First, consider joining the auction committee to assist in the planning and implementation of the event. Second, secure donations for the auction (HINT: after the holidays, stores will definitely want to donate items!). No item is too large or too small. Any donated item with a value of over $25 will result in one hour maximum of volunteer time toward your work bond. And lastly, plan on attending this fantastic event with friends and enjoy great food & drink in the company of our incredible parent and teacher community.

The first committee meeting will be announced soon but in the meantime, if you have questions or would like to get involved, feel free to contact Betsy Bellissimo (Sadie’s Mom).
Thanks and here’s to a memorable & successful auction!!