Fall News - October 2011
This newsletter is also available as a downloadable pdf file
Welcome Back!
The staff at Blue Spruce would like to welcome back all our returning students and also extend a warm welcome to all our new students and their families. We look forward to another great year filled with memorable moments and great progress.
News From The Classroom
September was our usual busy month with our new children adapting to their new environment. We made it and I’m happy to say that everyone is feeling comfortable and happy and lots of new friendships are being made. We enjoyed some sunny days and we were excited to get an opportunity to visit the garden. There is a lot of activity our there with our herb garden, sunflowers climbing high and vegetables growing. We brought in some herbs to dry and make herb smelling sachets. We are also looking forward to collecting sunflower seeds to plant next year.
We have been practicing lots of grace and courtesy in the classroom and reminding children to wash hands after they use Kleenexes and before eating snack. Also children have been trying very hard to put on their own shoes and jackets and fastening snaps and zippers.
Earthquake Kits & Forms/Fire Drills
Please return earthquake kits, outstanding copies of Birth Certificates & Immunization forms if you have not done so. We will be practicing both earthquake drills and fire drills with the children every month. Please reassure your children at home that these drills are just practices. Some children do get a little anxious.
Punctuality
Thank you to all our families for making every effort to arrive on time. We will begin accepting students at 8:40 a.m. / 12:40 p.m. the door will be closed and we will accept no late arrivals after 9:00 a.m. / 1:00 p.m. If however a situation arises that is out of your control and causes you to be late please notify us ahead of time and we will be empathetic. We hope that you appreciate how disruptive it can be spending 30 mins. at the door greeting children, and how disruptive it is to have the class interrupted every 2 mins. for late arrivals. Children arriving late are missing valuable learning time and socializing in the cubbies with their friends.
Scholastic
We hope you are enjoying the scholastic book club, the first months order has already arrived and we would like to thank everyone for their support. We received a $200 bonus coupon and will use this to buy some new books for the library and a new electric pencil sharpener.
Parent Education Evening – A look at the classroom materials for the first year student.
Please mark you calendars Thursday, October 20 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. We will be holding a parent educational evening to show you the materials in Math, Language, Sensorial, Practical Life and Culture. We are going to take a look at the Montessori curriculum in each area of the classroom in depth. These are the activities that your child will likely work with during their first year in the classroom. We hope to see you all there.
Field Trip
We are planning to visit the Richmond Country Farm pumpkin patch for our Fall field trip. Please see attached letters.
School Closed
Friday, October 7th & Monday October 10th School will be closed for a PD day and Thanksgiving.
Class Lists
Class lists are attached to this Newsletter, they are sent home so that you can get to know your fellow classmates and set up play dates for your children.
Laundry/Flowers
Thank you to all our families whom are helping with the school laundry and bringing beautiful flowers for the children to arrange, it is much appreciated and helps to ensure the smooth running of the school and the program.
Class & Individual Photos
On Monday November 7th, Danny Yee will take both individual and class photos of the children. Packages will be available for purchase in time for sending with Christmas post.
Usborne Book Fair
On Thursday, November 10th we will be holding an Usborne book fair at school. Usborne make award winning fictional and non fictional books that are sold through schools and home parties and some select book store.
9th Christmas Annual Craft Fair / Bake Sale – Thursday, December 1st
Christmas is always a great time to help and think about those less fortunate than ourselves. This year we are going to donate the proceeds from this event to Richmond Christmas Fund. We would like to make this a successful event so we are asking everyone to help out. We will send home letters and appreciate any contributions you can make either making crafts or donating items to the raffle and bake sale.
September/October Birthdays
Fall birthdays - Louie Kwok, & Neil Gill turned 3 in September. In October Nathan Tang will turn 4, and Melissa Fung will turn 3. Happy Birthday everyone!
Books / Finger Plays / Poems
In a Montessori classroom there is always a lot of Language happening as children love to learn new vocabulary. Mrs. Stan works with small groups of children and teaches them poems & finger plays, and reads stories too. Mrs. Stan has provided a list of books and poems and finger plays that she has been teaching the children in September and October.
Thank you - from all the staff at Blue Spruce Montessori.