This month's newsletter topics
Special Guests and Winter Fun – Themes This Month – Dates to Remember – Valentine Celebrations – Summer Camps and Fall Preschool Registration – Parent Teacher Conferences – Kindergarten Round-up
This month's newsletter topics
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Last Month
This last month has gone by so fast! Our students were busy while they were in class. We had fun building igloos with mini marshmallows, shaving cream and ice, painting with ice cubes and we enjoyed learning the story of Balto. The students also learned about polar animals and had fun doing a science experiment. We wondered why polar bears don’t get as cold as we do when we have our “paws” in ice even though our body temperature is the same? It was really fun and the kids were amazed to see how the blubber/fat kept their paws warm.
We also learned about Martin Luther King JR and why we celebrate his birthday. Our class had some really nice conversations about being fair and treating people equally and with kindness no matter what they look like, where they come from, if they are a boy or girl. These kids are great and have many thoughtful things to say.
We also explored our classroom globe learning about the North and South poles and the equator. At circle time we enjoy reading from a book that has pictures of children from around the world. The kids have a chance to choose a place on the Earth and then we open the book to learn about a child that lives in that country. We see that even though they may look and dress differently and speak another language we have many similarities. Each page includes a favorite food and toy, siblings, parents or guardians and information about the house and school. We find that the kids are very interested in learning about children from around the world and that they will stay in circle time for a long time. We think it is a great lesson for children to see that our world is made up of many different kinds of people and that we share so many similarities.
Special Guests and Winter Fun!
This winter we are lucky to have Aaron Nigel Smith join us for several weeks in a row. We are learning about music, musical notes and some new songs. We will also continue to enjoy music from around the world once a month with World Fusion Events. In January we were treated to another great program with Maria and Eduardo and their group, Huehca Omeyocan. Tallulah’s Daddy also joined us in the classroom. Our students love singing and dancing and it is great to have a variety of artist join our classroom!
Also visiting our class this month is Loann Wong. She has joined Hands On for many years now to help our class learn about Chinese New Year and cook with the children to make a fabulous feast! Everyone is welcome to join us at noon on February 6th. Please RSVP at school on the sign up list so we know how people will be joining us for lunch.
Looking ahead we will have a group of Japanese college students visit our class on March 6th. They will be visiting several preschools while they are in Portland and other parts of Oregon. They will help our class learn about Japan while sharing crafts and stories with our students. The program joined us last few years and it was a very fun and memorable part of the year. Parents feel free to join us for any of these experiences, and of course, if your child doesn’t attend that day you and your child are welcome to join us.
Themes this Month
- Groundhog’s Day
- Presidents’ Day
- Chinese New Year
- Friendship and Valentine’s Day
Where do you live? What are your parents’ names? Addresses and learning about Portland, OR
Dates to Remember
Friday, Feb. 1-
Registration for fall and summer programs begins for new families.
February 1st – 12th –
Bring in Valentine’s Day cards (more details below)
Saturday, February 9th-
Open House 10 AM to Noon.
Wednesday, February 6-
Chinese New Year Lunch, noon
Wednesday and Thursday, 13 & 14-
Valentine’s Day parties, we will make friendship fruit salad for snack.
Monday, Feb. 18-
NO SCHOOL – President’s Day
Valentine Party
Please bring in Valentine’s cards By Feb. 12th.
Please do not address cards to specific children having all the cards the same and signed by your child really helps when they are passing them out. Bring in as many cards are feel comfortable making. We have about 45 families, 24 kids each morning and 10 in the afternoon preschool, so everyone will have plenty! Cards can be store-bought or homemade.
Summer Camps and Fall Preschool Registration
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Hands On is currently accepting registration from current students and younger siblings.
Current students will know the camps and classes they are in by Feb. 1st. Camps and classes fill up fast, so turn in your registration soon for your first choice of days.
New students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis beginning February 1st.
Please feel free to call us at 503-239-8521 or email us with any questions you have, as always.
Parent Teacher Conferences
We invite you to join us for parent-teacher conferences. Each conference, with two of your child’s teachers, will last 15 minutes. Parent-teacher conferences are a great time for families and teachers to get to know each other. It is a time to celebrate each child’s strengths as well as bring up any concerns. We are lucky that teachers and parents can check in with each other daily, but sometimes it is nice to have 15 minutes of uninterrupted time to talk about how school is going. If your schedule doesn’t fit with the conference calendar, let us know and we will set up another time. Conferences are optional. If you want to meet, the sign-up sheet is located on the school door.
Kindergarten Round-up
Kindergarten Round-Up is an opportunity for you to learn about the school your child will attend for kindergarten.
At Round-Up, you will likely tour the school, meet the kindergarten teachers, and register your child for school. Take this opportunity to ask questions about parent involvement and school events you and your child can attend before the start of school.
Schools schedule visits every winter in February through early March. For more information about your school and to register your child, go to https:https://www.pps.net/Page/11877
