October Newsletter
2016 - 2017 Academic Year
Welcome October!
Fall Assessments
During the months of October and November, we will conduct our Fall assessments for the 2016-2017 academic year. We will be using the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment throughout the school as the age range is from birth - Kindergarten. Each year, this assessment is completed in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. It is kept in your child's portfolio throughout the year and sent home at the end of the academic year. We also keep a record in your child's personal file in the front office. We will be using the Child Assessment Portfolio Summary Form by Teaching Strategies GOLD. Parents are always welcome to check out their child's assessment booklet, however they cannot leave the school property. We are also always happy to schedule a conference either in person or over the phone to touch base should you wish. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Story Stretchers
Pumpkin Parties & Parade
On Friday, October 28th, The Cottages will be having our Annual Pumpkin Parties & Parade. The festivities will begin at 3:30 pm with a school parade around the pond in front of Church of Motion and Impact Basketball. Please meet around the pond first as the whole school will be leaving directly from their cottages for the parade. Families are invited to watch the school parade and then follow your child’s class to their cottage for the Pumpkin Party. There will be a sign-up sheet posted in your child’s cottage if you would like to contribute an item for the party. If you would like to help out with the party, please let your child’s teacher know. Please remember, we kindly ask that children do not wear costumes to school that day. You'll want to be on the lookout for more information from your child's Teacher and the Room Parent. We hope to see you there!
Pumpkin Palooza
A la Carte Enrichment Classes
Professional Day
On Monday, October 24th, The Cottages will be closed for a Professional Day. Our teachers and administrators will take part in trainings to learn new ideas and activities to bring back to your children at school. Thank you for supporting our efforts and commitment in staying abreast of the latest and greatest in early childhood education! We sincerely appreciate your understanding of how crucial it is for us to continue increasing our knowledge and education in this field in order to provide the very best for care and education your children.
Good Cents Fundraiser
Here's what will be available through the Good Cents fundraiser:
Cookie Dough, 3lb. container - $12.25
Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Crinkle, Sugar, Molasses, Monster, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodle
Regular Pie, 9 inch - $13.75
Apple, Dutch Apple, Blackberry, Cherry, Peach, Pumpkin, Rhubarb, Strawberry-Rhubarb, Key Lime, Custard, Lemon Meringue, Banana Cream, Black raspberry Cream, Butterscotch Cream, Chocolate Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream, Coconut Cream, Peanut Butter Cream, Red Raspberry Cream
Premium Pie, 9 inch - $14.75
Pecan, Black Raspberry, Red Raspberry, No Sugar Added Apple, No Sugar Added Cherry
Tis' the Season for Colds and Flu
Thieves essential oil blend was inspired by the legend of four 15th-century French thieves who formulated a special aromatic combination composed of clove, rosemary, and other botanicals they used while robbing the dead and dying. Young Living's one-of-a-kind Thieves blend, crafted in the spirit of that legendary combination, can be found in all of the Thieves products and is a safe alternative to commercial cleaners.
We use the cleaner daily in each of the classrooms and any time there is an outbreak we diffuse Thieves essential oil at night and on the weekend. Thieves essential oil is a strong anti-germ blend that smells lovely this time of year! However, Thieves essential oil should be avoided diffusing and applying topically to young children under 10. Both Rosemary and Clove contain a chemical constituent called cineole 1, 8 and menthol. Menthol and cineole stimulate cold receptors in the lungs, and this triggers a reflex in young children which slows breathing significantly. Clove should not be used topically on children under 2 years of age, cInnamon bark essential oil should be avoided topically as well as it is too irritating to the skin, however cinnamon leaf can be used instead.
As long as precautions are made around young children, the Thieves line of versatile products offers you a non-toxic option to clean your home effectively and to support your family's wellness.
For more information on the Thieves line of products, stop by the front office to pick up a Thieves booklet or feel free to email me at michelle@thecottagespreschool.com with any questions or if you would like to place an order.
Clean Hands Save Lives!
Join the Clean Hands Campaign to stop disease at your fingertips! Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to avoid colds, flu and spreading germs to other people. In vulnerable groups, some kinds of flu can have severe complications and even cause death.
Even if you think you know all there is to know about hand washing, you may be surprised. We encourage you to browse the Clean Hands Campaign website to learn more. You can join the Clean Hands Campaign as an individual, business or school. When you do, you will receive a specialized toolkit with hand washing information. Practice Clean Hands to keep yourself and those around you healthy! Clean hands save lives!
HOW TO WASH HANDS... the right way
You think you are washing your hands correctly, but is your hand washing technique really getting the job done? To effectively remove flu and cold causing germs, follow all of the steps below:
- Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if available.
- Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
- Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend!
- Rinse hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
October Birthdays!
A birthday in October can be a special treat,
the harvest has begun of pumpkins, gourds and wheat.
So on your happy day here's a birthday wish for you -
May you gather joy and laughter,
love and friendships too.
Happy Birthday to all of our friends born in October!
- 10/1 Sofia L. (Dragonfly Cottage)
- 10/6 Alyson F. (Dragonfly Cottage)
- 10/9 Madilyn H. (ButterflyCottage)
- 10/14 Ms. Ashley (Cricket Cottage)
- 10/18 Tommy K. (Butterfly Cottage)
- 10/19 Ziva S. (Caterpillar Cottage)
- 10/22 Charlotte T. (Caterpillar Cottage)
- 10/23 Evan B. (Dragonfly Cottage)
- 10/23 Noah B. (Dragonfly Cottage)
- 10/30 Ms. Felicia (Caterpillar Cottage)
- 10/31 Ms. Michelle (Office)
Cricket Cottage News
Welcome New Friends
We would like to welcome our new friends Connor and Vivian to the Cricket Cottage. Vivian has an older sister in the Butterfly Cottage and Connor is new to our program. We are so glad that you're here!
Room Parent Needed
The Cricket Cottage is in need of a room parent. If you are interested, please see Ms. Judy. Thank you!
Topics
This month we will continue to explore textures in the Cricket Cottage. The Fall season gives us many opportunities to explore items such as pumpkins, leaves, pinecones, and acorn shakers. We will also explore our sense of smell using "smelly jars" with vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice.
Fall Song
The Leaves are Falling Down (Sung to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green, and brown
The leaves are falling down
Halloween Fingerplay
I saw a little ghost (hold hands over eyes)
And he saw me too! (point to self)
When I said, "hi" (wave hand)
He said, "Boo!"
Art Experience
We are going to get messy while working on gross motor skills with our younger infants and fine motor skills with our older infants. We will be adding paint in Fall colors on a piece of wax paper and encourage our friends to paint with either their feet or hands. We will use the artwork to create leaves that will hang in our window to catch the sunlight.
Sign Language
During the month of October, we will be learning the sign for "all done".
Ladybug Cottage News
September Recap
During the month of September, the Ladybugs worked on both fine motor and gross motor development by playing with hair rollers and participating in a few group-oriented coloring activities. The children used different colored egg-shaped crayons to bang on a white poster board, making all sorts of marks! Our art is being displayed on the left side of the refrigerator for your viewing pleasure. The children seemed very engaged and excited as we sang and clapped along to different felt board activities. A group favorite was, "5 Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree."
Room Parent Needed
The Ladybug Cottage is in need of room parent for the 2016-2017 academic year. If you are interested, please let Ms. Sami or Ms. Kaitlyn know. Thank you!
Pumpkin Exploration
The children will be exploring a pumpkin this month! We will talk about the textures and colors on the outside and insides of the pumpkin. The children will be introduced to new words such as pulp and seeds.
Painting Pumpkins
The Ladybugs will have the opportunity to work on fine motor development as we paint pumpkins using paintbrushes and our fingers! We will work on color recognition as we talk about the different paint colors. Also, we will begin practicing size recognition as we compare big pumpkins to small pumpkins.
Pumpkin Bowling
Pumpkin bowling is a fun, exciting way to work on gross motor skills and eye hand coordination. It also gives us a chance to incorporate some outdoor exploration as well. We will set up bowling pins and the let the children roll the pumpkins to knock the pins over.
Literacy: Fall-Themed Books
- You Are My Pumpkin
- Pumpkin Time
- Biscuit's Pet and Play Halloween
- Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin
- Boo!
- Llama Llama Trick or Treat
Pumpkin Song
(Sung to the tune of "Are You Sleeping")
Mr. Pumpkin, Mr. Pumpkin
Big and fat, big and fat
I am gonna eat you, I am gonna eat you
Just like that, just like that!
Donations
- Artificial Fall leaves
- Fall decorations for buggy for parade (please see Ms. Sami for details)
Caterpillar Cottage News
September Recap
Another successful month as we fall into Fall. The children have learned about feelings and emotions and how to use them with their friends. We made faces, hand prints, and face collages for our special activities this month. As the month of October is coming up, we will be focusing on Fall items, pumpkins, and of course Halloween!
Special Events Coming Up
We have some special events this month! For Pumpkin Parties and Parade, the kids will be making fun shirts and painting pumpkins for the parade. Parents please bring in a plain orange shirt with your child's size and name on the tag. We will also need each child to bring in a small pumpkin to decorate for the parade.
New Songs for October
I'm a Little Pumpkin (Sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")
I'm a little pumpkin short and round
I grow on a vine and on the ground
I start as a seed and grow, grow, grow
Soon I'm ready to be carved and glow
Scarecrow, Scarecrow (Sung to the tune of "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear")
Scarecrow, scarecrow, turn around
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch the ground
Scarecrow, scarecrow, reach up high
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch the sky
Scarecrow, scarecrow, bend down low
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch your toes
Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (hold up 5 fingers)
The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late!" (hands on cheeks)
The second one said, "There's a chill in there air." (arms around self)
The third one said, "But we don't care!" (swing pointer finger)
The fourth one said, "We are ready for some fun!" (swing arms in air)
The fifth one said, "Let's run and run and run!"
So "whooooo" went the wind (make a whoooo sound)
And out went the lights (make a loud clap)
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight! (roll hands)
Gross Motor
It's the time of year where the leaves are changing colors and the weather satarts to cool. For dramatic play, the kids will pretend to rake leaves and make "apple pies". We will also be doing ghost bowling, which includes empty water bottles stuffed with cotton balls and a ball to knock them down with.
Snacks
What better way to celebrate Fall with some fun snacks! As we come closer to Halloween, we will be having oranges with celery, apple bites with caramel, and pretzels. Please look out for a sign-up sheet for our snack donations.
Portfolios
We are so excited to capture your child's memories and put an amazing portfolio together. In order to make this happen, we will need all parents to bring in the following:
- 2 inch 3 ring binder
- Dividers
- Clear sheet protectors
The sooner we get these items, we can get started on portfolios. Also, please make sure you label your child's name on the items. Thank you!
Butterfly Cottage News
Recap of September
During the month of September, our theme was family and friends. We created pictures to give to our loved ones. We practiced talking politely to our friends and teachers. We read books about animal families and played with oobleck which was ooey gooey fun!
October Topics
October is going to be spooktacular! We will be learning about the Fall season with pumpkin activities and using our imagiantion in Dramatic Play as we dress up in costumes. The children will also enjoy tasty treats such as pumpkin ice cream and goodies at our pumpkin parade and party.
Dramatic Play
We will be transforming our Dramatic Play center into an apple orhard and pumpkin patch during the months of October and November. We will be posting a donation list of items we will need for these fun activities. Please keep an eye out for this list. Thank you.
Fall Yoga
Our poses for the month of October will be related to the Fall season. We will be practicing "Warrior 3 Pose" in which we will be birds flying south for the winter. While practicing the "Squat Pose", the children will pretend to be squirrels collecting acorns. A third pose called "Child's Pose", will be practiced to pretend to be a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch. Check out Shutterfly to see the pictures!
Reminders
When dropping off items such as materials for the class, diapers, wipes, extra clothes, etc., please label the item with your child's name. Items have been dropped off on tables and shelves with no name and we are not able to identify them. If you need a black marker, please ask Ms. Jamie or Ms. Cassidy. Thank you.
New Song
Good Morning
Hello Jello!
Hi there grizzly bear!
How are you caribou?
I'm fine porcupine!
What's up buttercup?
Not much coconut!
This is how we start our day!
Hi, hi pumpkin pie!
How you been dolphin?
Just great rattlesnake!
What's shakin' little bacon?
Not a lot tator tot!
This is how our day begins!
Bumblebee Cottage News
September Recap
During the month of September, we learned about our family, friends, and feelings. We also learned the letters L, F, and T. We had a lot of fun playing Letter of the Week BINGO and tracing the letters in the Handwriting Center. We also enjoyed talking about our families and learning about our friend's families.
Fall
We will be talking about the season of Fall during the month of October. The children will learn about the changes that take place in the environment during this season. We will talk about how the weather gets cooler, leaves change colors, and we will learn about Daylight Savings Time and how the days will be getting shorter.
Harvest
We will be doing studies on items such as apples, gourds, and corn. We will also continue to work on the school garden with Ms. Erin every Tuesday during the month of October. We are looking forward to the exciting new things we will be planting! The inside of a pumpkin will be discovered this month and we will get to feel the seeds and pulp that we discover.
Color and Change
The Fall season brings color changes in the environment. We will be talking about the different colors of items in nature this month. We will discuss how the leaves change colors when the weather gets colder and look at pictures of what trees look like in other states when this happens. We will even go on a nature walk around campus to see if there are any leaves that have changed colors.
The Letters of the Month
The letters we will be learning this month are I, H, and W. Each week, we will focus on one letter and work on letter recognition, learning the sound, and tracing the letter. We will also continue to play the Letter of the Week BINGO game. The last week of the month will be letter review where we will be reviewing the letters we've learned so far.
Dragonfly Cottage News
Colorful Recap of September
September went by so fast, but it was a blast of creative color! We had so much fun finding our inner artist and making our mark. Dot Day was a messy success. We had a very informative Open House and we are so grateful for all of our Dragonfly families. What a great first month of VPK!
Fall Inspired October
During the month of October, we will be inquiring about Fall Provocations. This may be pumpkins, leaves, squirrels, and gourds. We will be starting our Bucket Garden and can't wait to start growing our seeds, veggies, and herbs that were donated by our awesome Dragonfly families!
Pumpkin Parade
On Friday, October 28th, we will be having our annual Pumpkin Parties and Parade. The Dragonflies will rock out the parade route in all tye dye and pumpkin vibes. Please keep an eye out for sign-up sheets for materials and party donations. Every Dragonfly child will tye dye their very own white t-shirt. Groovy!
Small Group Instruction
During the month of October, we will be starting our small group instruction. We will focus on various standards and skills your child needs to be prepared for kindergarten. Small groups also help foster children paying attention, listening to each other, developing curiosity and interest, asking questions, and responding. Small groups further provide opportunities for negotiation and ongoing dynamic communication.
Science
October is all about pumpkins. The children will do a pumpkin investigation as well as an erupting pumpkin experiment. We will also inflate a balloon by using vinegar and baking soda. Pumpkin will also be the star in our yummy egg free cooking activity this month.
Sensory
We discover our world through our sense of touch, taste, sight, smell, and sound. The children will explore their senses with fun sensory exploration activities. Orange and spice cloud dough and Fall slime to enjoy the colors of Fall with awesome tactile sensory play.
Pumpkin Math
We are going to be taking a closer look at pumpkins by weighing, measuring, and counting the seeds. We are also going to measure how many pumpkins tall the children are.