A New School Year in Younger Preschool!

Hello Younger Preschool Families,

I hope that you are all doing well! We had a wonderful first week at school and all of the children have been doing great getting into the swing of things. This week we focused on expectations and routines for our classroom, which include taking care of our things, ourselves, our teachers, and our friends. Everyone is adjusting very well to the school schedule and enjoying their time at Jack and Jill.

Here is a look at what we did in centers this week:

At the math table the children sorted and counted bears by color.

At the art/writing center the class made handprint first day of school pages and began a paper plate racoon craft to go along with a book we read in class this week- The Kissing Hand. The kids related to the feelings discussed in the book and were very excited to get busy and messy with paint while making their projects! We also had first day of school coloring pages and free draw.

At the art easel the class decorated the first letter of their names with markers and stickers. These will be hung in the hallway for you to see next week alongside their all about me pages.

At the discovery center the class used magnetic rods and spheres for building and exploration.

This month we have red playdough at the playdough center that is cinnamon scented, as well as fall shaped cookie cutters and rollers.

During music and movement times this week we danced along to The Silly Bear Hunt, Shake it Off, and Animal Action. The kids loved dancing like animals and making their corresponding noises!

The books we read in class this week were:

                            The Kissing Hand

                            Fishy Fishy Goes to School

There are a few things we would like to mention in order to allow your child's transition into school, as well as yours, an easy one.

Please be sure to check your family mail boxes located at the bottom of the stairs daily for important school wide information.

Please remember to label everything that your child comes into school with, especially water bottles, jackets, lunch boxes, and backpacks. Many children have similar or identical items and so this will ensure that everything goes home with the right families.

For comfort and active play, please make sure your child wears shorts or bike shorts under skirts and dresses.

On Monday, please begin displaying your child's name card in your windshield for pickup. This will help to identify each family during dismissal times. The cards were placed in your mailboxes on Thursday. Please let us know if you will need any additional cards for family members or other caregivers who will be picking up at school.

For our younger preschool class, please send your child into the classroom at drop off with their water bottles and snacks. Snacks should be labeled with your child's name and put in its own bag or container, separate from lunch boxes.

In the event that you need to reach out to myself or Mrs. Haynes, please do so through this email address only. Messages sent through Facebook cannot be responded to.

Thank you all very much for your time and consideration. This week was wonderful! We had a great time beginning to get to know the children, and all of you! We hope that you enjoy your weekend and look forward to seeing everyone next week. Please reach out with any questions or concerns you might have.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mackenzie and Mrs. Haynes