La Abeja Noticiera
Bringing you the buzz on our escuelita
Queridos Amigos y Familias, --- Dear Friends and Families,
Feliz Año desde Las Semillitas! Happy New Year from Las Semillitas!
Estamos tan contentos de que nuestra escuelita ya esté en su 9º año. Nos gustaría compartir con ustedes las nuevas noticias de nuestra escuela.
We are so happy that our little cooperative preschool is now in its 9th year. We would like to share some news with you about our school.
Tenemos Licencia!! We are Licensed!!
El año escolar 2014-2015 empezó con una gran noticia para nuestra escuela… finalmente nos convertimos en una escuela oficial con licencia. La escuela ha trabajado durante años para conseguir este hito y muchas familias cuyos hijos ya se han graduado de Las Semillitas han contribuido a este logro. Para convertirnos en una escuela con licencia necesitábamos cumplir ciertas directrices estatales como estabilidad económica, directrices de emergencias y un espacio apropiado entre muchas otras cosas. Le damos las gracias a tod@s aquell@s que han participado en este proyecto. La licencia le proporciona estabilidad a la escuela y a nuestras maestras y nos da la oportunidad de seguir creciendo. Ahora estamos trabajando para convertirnos en una organización sin ánimo de lucro [501(c)(3)] y tenemos un comité de becas desarrollando un plan para ser accesible económicamente a más familias.
The 2014-2015 school year began with some great news for our preschool….. We finally became a licensed school. This milestone is one our school has been working on for many years. Many families whose children have already graduated from Las Semillitas have contributed to this achievement. In order to become a licensed preschool we needed to meet certain state guidelines in areas such as financial stability, emergency guidelines, and location just to name a few. To everyone who has been involved in this project we thank you. This license provides our school and teachers with stability and allows us to continue to grow. We are now working on becoming a 501(c)(3) and have a scholarship committee developing a plan to make us more accessible to families.
The class pet guinea pig, Nicolula, died during Lucia's first month at Las Semillitas. Maestra Ada helped Lucia and the other children process the loss. When we asked Lucia about the guinea pig, Lucia explained the loss to us in in her three-year-old way: "Nicolula se murió, pero está en mi corazón." We had no idea, at that moment, how helpful this real-life lesson would become. One month later, our beloved 11-year-old dog died. Every time we mentioned the dog, Lucia said "Zoe se murió, pero está en mi corazón y en mis recuerdos," pointing to her heart and her forehead.
-Jon (Current Las Semillitas Parent)
Una Nota de Ada! Words from Ada!
Wow, qué preescolar! A decir mejor, qué gran comunidad!
Me siento tan agradecida por ser parte de esta comunidad, en la que veo cada día padres y madres dedicados trabajando duro para mantener este hermoso espacio para nuestros hijos.
Cada una de estas familias y sus hijos ha traído tanta alegría y felicidad para mí y para nuestra aula. Me siento tan afortunada de tener una maravillosa experiencia en el trabajo con Las Semillitas estos nueve años que han pasado. Mis amigos y familiares a menudo se ríen de mí cuando me refiero a los niños de Las Semillitas como "mis hijos", porque siempre he contemplado a las familias como mi propia familia. Todos ellos han tocado mi vida todos estos años, en muy positiva y gratificantes maneras.
Los valores fundamentales de Las Semillitas están muy bien pensados y hacen que mi pasión por la enseñanza sea aún mejor. Sus valores se centran en cultura, raza, género, medio ambiente, comunidad, justicia social, la alfabetización y el bilingüismo.
Mis metas y objetivos han sido centrarme en preparar a los niños a desarrollar el sentido de la autoestima, la autonomía, la independencia y la defensa de sus derechos. Teniendo en conciencia estos valores, veo que los niños muestran todas estas habilidades al participar en charlas significativas entre sus compañeros y adultos a su alrededor. Los veo expresando sus valores familiares y defendiendo sus derechos y valores de quienes ellos son. También veo el conocimiento que muestran del entorno que los rodea.
El ver como Las Semillitas ha crecido me llena de orgullo de decir que soy parte de este cambio.
Espero que La Cooperativa Las Semillitas siga creciendo y cambiando muchas vidas, pues es el cambio que queremos ver en el mundo.
Amor y paz,
Ada Rosas
A PIECE OF ME
Wow, what a preschool! To better state that- what a GREAT Community!
I feel so grateful to be part of this community, where I see every day dedicated parents who work very hard to maintain this beautiful space alive for our children.
Each of these families and their children has brought such joy and happiness to me
and to our classroom. I’m so fortunate to have such a wonderful experience working with Las Semillitas these past nine years. My friends and family often laugh at me when I refer to Las Semillitas children as “my kids”. Because I have always referred Las Semillitas families as my own family. They all have touched my life all these years in very positive and rewarding ways.
Las Semillitas core values are very thoughtful which make my passion for teaching even better. The values focus on embracing culture, race, gender, environment, community, social justice, literacy and bilingualism.
My goals and objectives have been focused on preparing the children to develop a sense of self-esteem, autonomy, independence and to defend their rights. I can see this happening by watching the children engage in meaningful conversations among peers and adults, expressing their families values, defending their right of whom they are and having conscience of the environment around them. I hope for many years to come to see this place grow and to change many lives.
Las Semillitas Cooperative preschool is the change that we want to see in the world.
Love and peace,
Ada Rosas
PASEOS DEL OTOÑO --- FALL FIELD TRIPS
KERMÉS DEL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
Día de los Muertos is always a special celebration at Las Semillitas. The kids have the opportunity to honor and remember those who are not longer with us while learning and celebrating Latino culture. In the past few years, we have held our annual fall fundraiser in coincidence with Día de Los Muertos and celebrated the holiday with our beloved community. This year our Kermés del Día de los Muertos was a first in many ways: a new and unique location in the riviera of the Tidal canal in the border of Oakland and Alameda; free fun games for kids and adults; a jumper; a delicious home made Puerto Rican arroz con pollo; and the super popular ghost toss that brought a good percentage of this year’s profits. The day of our Kermés the sky opened up for us (literally, there was a 60% chance of rain!) and Las Semillitas’ friends and families, and our strong alumni came together to support the event. We are extremely grateful to our community for all of their support.
Rinconcito de Recaudar Fondos --- Fundraising Corner
Like the website states: "Hassle-Free Fundraising: Turn your shopping receipts into donations for your school!" For all your purchases like: grocery, shopping, etc you take a picture of your receipt using the app on an iPhone or Android device, find Las Semillitas Cooperative Preschool and you start earning points for the school! The more involved you are, ie: do survey's, pass the word around to your friends and families, the more points you earn for the school! At the end of the school year, the school is awarded funds based on points. This is more of a modern day "box tops" all done from your mobile device. Spread the word to your friends and families! Also, you have the option to leave us your receipts for the Fundraising Committee to do it for you, although I believe there is a seven day turn around from the date of your receipt.
On your smartphone download the App: Shoparoo
Here is the link for additional information and how it works:
http://www.shoparoo.com/howitworks
ADOPT-A-SPOT LOCATION @ THE OAKLAND ESTUARY
One of our current families, Rafael and Maria Batlle, live in the Jingletown Arts and Business Community, just outside of the Park Street bridge in Oakland. They have been working along within their community and through the City of Oakland's Adopt-a-Spot program, and have managed to officially adopt a shoreline overlooking the Oakland Estuary or the "Oakland Riviera". The intention is to use the space for school events, like the Kermés Día de Los Muertos event that took place in October, and to also promote a cleaner, healthier, more beautiful, livable and sustainable city. We are working through to creating a first of its kind, Las Semillitas Preschool Community Cleanup. Through the adopt-a-spot program, the City of Oakland lends all the tools necessary for a community cleanup such as: vests, adult gloves, children's gloves, adult brooms, children's brooms, trash bags and the E-Z Reacher's to pick up trash safely! Dates will follow!
MURAL AT THE ADOPT-A-SPOT @OAKLAND ESTUARY, TO THE RIGHT IS THE OAKLAND RIVIERA WATERFRONT WHICH CROSSES OVER TO ALAMEDA
Fechas Importantes --- Important Dates
* 2/14 Valentine's Day Brunch Sitters, Saturday 10-2 @ Las Semillitas Campus
* 3/21 Garage Sale @ Oakland Estuary
* 4/18 Family Movie Night @ Oakland Estuary
* 6/20 AUCTION AND CASINO NIGHT @ Rhythmix Cultural Works
* Community Clean Up @ Oakland Estuary
* Date Night Sitters, TBA
* July Graduation, TBA
Lydia: "Mamá , I talk Español"
Mama: "Mi hija tu hablas español, dilo... Hablo español"
Lydia: "Hablo español con Vivi, Tlanextli, Avi, Nicolas y Milan!"
-Bonnie (Current Las Semillitas Parent)
EL BILINGÜISMO EN LAS SEMILLITAS --- BILINGUALISM AT LAS SEMILLITAS
At Las Semillitas, we feel a strong connection to Spanish and a commitment to pass it
on to the next generation. Our school has always been a diverse group of families from different backgrounds that share the enthusiasm to be around other Spanish speakers and nurture their love for the language. Speaking Spanish and being bilingual is a gift for our children in many ways. Spanish enriches their lives in a personal, social and intellectual manner. Speaking Spanish can be a way to bond with their roots, ancestors, and family. Spanish also gives them the opportunity to connect with their own culture and/or other cultures. In addition, bilingualism improves their cognitive skills. The presence of two languages forces the brain to sort through both, giving the mind a workout that strengthens its cognitive muscles. As a result, bilingual children develop a higher ability to acquire knowledge (related not only to language) than monolingual children do. Speaking Spanish daily is also a gift for the parents, since the benefits of bilingualism apply to adults as well. For those of us who come from Spanish speaking countries or families, keeping the language alive is a way to stay connected to our heritage. Las Semillitas’ commitment to bilingualism and Spanish gives our kids the pride and social consciousness of being Spanish speakers. With such pride, we empower them to build a better future for themselves and a better society.
Last week (my son) Avi said, "Mommy I do not want to go to Kindergarten, I want to stay at Las Semillitas for my entire life".
-Lorena (Current Las Semillitas Parent)
PAN DE HIGO --- FIG BAR STREUSEL
Los padres participan en la escuela todos los días. Hay una padre o madre por la mañana todos los días que ayuda a limpiar y a atender a los chicos durante su "shift". La parte mas importante del "shift" es pasar tiempo con los chicos. Los padres tienen la oportunidad de enseñar a los chicos algo nuevo (cocina, jardín, ciencia, yoga, etc.) o simplemente leer, jugar y conocer a todas Las Semilitas.
Los primeros meses del año los chicos disfrutan tanto recogiendo y llenándose de todos los higos que da la higuera del patio de Las Semillitas. Una madre, Kristin, cocinó un pan de higo con los chicos en la escuela con los higos de nuestra higuera. Puedes hacer este pan en casa que ya está aprobado por los niños!
Parents participate everyday at the preschool. There is one parent every morning that helps clean and attend to the children during their "shift". The most important part of the shift is to spend time with the children. Parents have the opportunity to teach children something new (cooking, gardening, science, yoga, etc.) or simply read, play and get to know all the "Little Seeds".
The first months of school the children enjoyed picking and filling themselves with figs from the fig tree in the Las Semillitas patio. One mother, Kristin made Fig Bar Streusel with the children with our own figs. Try this recipe at home, it is already kid approved!!
Ingredients
2 pounds ripe fresh figs (see notes)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup (3/8 lb.) butter, at room temperature
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour $
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt $
1 1/2 cups rolled oats $
Preparation
1. Rinse figs and trim and discard stem and blossom ends. Coarsely chop figs. In a 3- to 4-quart pan over medium heat, stir figs, lemon juice, and granulated sugar until mixture is thick and reduced to about 2 cups, about 45 minutes. Chill uncovered until cool, about 1 1/2 hours, or cover and chill up to 2 days (see notes).
2. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth. In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, and oats. Stir or beat into butter mixture (dough will be crumbly).
3. Press half the dough evenly over the bottom of a buttered 9- by 13-inch baking pan. Spread fig mixture evenly over dough. Crumble remaining dough evenly over fig mixture; pat lightly.
4. Bake in a 400° oven until streusel is lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Place pan on a rack to cool for about 10 minutes. While still warm, cut into 24 bars. Let cool completely in pan.
Nutritional Information
Calories 184
Calories from fat 32 %
Protein 21 g
Fat 6.5 g
Sat fat 3.8 g
Carbohydrate 31 g
Fiber 2 g
Sodium 140 mg
Cholesterol 16 mg
*Nutritional analysis is per bar.
My daughter always remembers her teachers at bed time by saying "I love Ada, Veri and Darlene". She has established a true loving relationship with them!
-Maria (Current Las Semillitas Parent)
Hacer Una Donacion --- Make a Donation
$10 Vamos! -- Let's Go!
$50 Dale!! -- Go for it!!
$100 Eso!!! -- That's it!!!
$500 Ahora sí !!!! -- You got that right!!!!
$1,000 Ándale!!!!! -- Now you understand!!!!!
Ways to donate:
1) Above link to the Las Semillitas Pay Pal Account "Make a Donation" Button.
2) Send check to:
Las Semillitas
2214 & 1/2 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501