CWCP
Happenings
Welcome to all our friends, old & new
Mrs. Tami's news from the classroom
what's happening in class this month & what's to come!
The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time in the classroom. It is wonderful to welcome the returning students and observe the amazing changes that have occured over the course of the summer. The students have returned with great enthusiasm and eagerness. They are delighted to become reaquainted with the familar faces and show renewed interest in the classroom materials. They are learning the classroom rules & becoming more acquainted with their routine. There are also many new faces, that quietly observe, taking in their new surroundings with caution. We look forward to getting to know everyone better!
In September, the children were busy with getting to know their new friends at preschool, learning about friendships and how we are all unique and have many beautiful differences. Be sure to stop in and take a look at the "self-portrait" wall of art that the children made their first week of preschool. Each child created a portrait of themselves after discussing with Mrs. Tami how they are alike and different in many ways. The children read stories, such as "We're Different & We're the Same", which the children enjoyed very much. The class came alive with questions and observations on how they were all different too!
The children were also learning about owls, how they are nocturnal, what their talons are for, why their feathers are special in granting them camouflage. They also learned about an owl's ability to move its head 270 degrees, and what their appetites are like. Encourage conversation with your children about what they have learned! The kids also explored many different owl-art projects. One of their favorites involved their hand prints! Look for those to come home soon!
The Month of October we will learn about apples, the children made applecrisp with Mrs. Tami, and enjoyed it all together once baked. We are also enjoying many different poems and books about apples. The class has also enjoyed learning about Johnny Appleseed and shared stories like the giving tree, by Shel Silverstein. They will continue to explore different art projects using apples. This month, they will also explore pumpkins, bats, the changing of fall leaves, and discovering the many beautiful changes that fall brings!
Thank you all parents for attending the parent Orientation, it was wonderful to meet you all and we look forward to getting to know everyone!
October is here!
Try these this month!
Watch the migrating birds, bald eagles & ospreys they start migrating as early as August; golden eagles depart as late as November.
Watch for leaves turning color; press autumn leaves, make leaf prints/stencils/rubbings,
Rake up a pile of leaves, compost fall leaves.
Plant spring bulbs.
Listen for migrating geese.
Leave out some honey for honeybees - have you ever seen honeybees out on a winter day? They can be found in their hives when it's very cold, usually within a hollow tree.
Prepare your garden for winter.
Mix up some potpourri.
Collect cones.
Make some apple stencils.
Make apple chips.
Roast some pumpkin seeds.
CWCP Coupeville Scarecrow Entry!
Books we love this month & have shared with our class
Reflecting the many different ways in which we are all alike and different, our study of Owls & Apples
Sesame Street's, We're Different, We're the Same by Bobbie Kates
Owls Live in Trees by Melvin and Gilda Berger
The Surprise Party by Pat Hutchins
In The Woods by Ermanno Cristini, Luigi Puricelli
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Johnny Appleseed, assorted titles
Pick Me an Apple! From Tree to Seed, by Shelly Rotner
Parents Tidbits
Shared Insight
Sometimes we forget that daily life was first carried out in the outdoors, people coming into their homes only for shelter from the elements. This is still the instinct of the child. In the first few days of life, just a breath of fresh air and a look at the tree branches swaying in the wind each day is sufficient; soon after this, daily walks in the baby carrier or stroller; followed by walks led by them, our curious little ones. Where each new thing - cracks in the sidewalk, parades of ants, spotting the (ever abundant) Whidbey Island deer, big puddles (begging to be jumped in), brick walls (each brick as unique as the next), weeds, and the thistles of nettles (don't touch!) - many details overlooked by adults. Our children can be enchanted by a short walk, into a drawn-out discovery, their curiosity renewed by a glance at a bird's nest, or why the tree collects sap!
When you hear, "give the world to the child", this does not mean the inside of the buildings, but the weed patches, glorious sunrises from Whidbey beaches and sunsets, the strong cleansing winds of fall, the sounds the birds make in the trees, the stars and the clouds, the infinite variety of leaves and flowers, the beautiful world of nature.
We, as adults, must slow down, forget our plans and follow our children as they discover smells, sights, sounds and touch the outside world and the wonders it holds.
Poem
At the end of the day,
There's a question they're asked
As they scurry to play,
"Tell me, what did you do in school today?"
"Nothing, I did nothing today,"
Perhaps nothing means that I played with blocks,
Tied my own shoes, or found beautiful rocks.
Maybe our monarchs hatched today,
Or maybe I found a new friend to play.
Maybe today was the very first time
My scissors followed a very straight line.
I learned a new song, and sang all the words,
Or I touched a feather from the rarest of birds
When you're a child and your heart has wings,
"Nothing" can mean so many wonderful things.
-Author Unknown
CWCP Notes to know!
"Snack Poem"
This is a song the children sing every preschool day, as they sit with one another to share a yummy snack!
We have our snack
we have our water
but most of all we have each other!
"Crossing the street" When we visit the playground, parents please talk with your child at home about the significance of this song and why it is so important.
Stop, look and listen, before we cross the street
we use our eyes, we use our ears
before we cross the street.
This is the song sung at the end of the day, the children sing this at closing circle time, to say goodbye to their friends for the day.
Good Bye, "name"
Good Bye, "name"
Good Bye, "name"
we're glad you came to school!
Happy Birthday Carson!
Happy Birthday Keegan!
As Requested
Our Class Playdough recipe we made the first week of school
& for further enjoyment try our Cloud Plydough recipe
Fresh take on snack
Many parents have asked for ideas on snack choices, we've put together a few fun ideas that you can mix&match but, as always, have fun with it!
Preschool snack time can be a tricky navigation of wants and dislikes, we so greatly appreciate you as snack parents for sharing snack with our preschoolers. We have noticed this year that we have some pretty hungry preschoolers that are really fueling up to learn! We are hoping that perhaps by offering the children two different snack choices, we can better appease their little appetites. Any combination of fruit/veggies, paired with a cheese/protein/starch always seem to be safe options!
Some possibilities are; ham & cheese wraps/fruit & peanut butter wraps, bean and cheese quesadillas, chips and a fruity salsa, yogurt with fruit and granola toppings, fruit & cheese kabobs.
Peanut butter is always a hit among the preschoolers and the combinations are endless; protein balls made of peanut butter/oatmeal/chocolate chips, peanut butter on mini waffles, over a rice cake, banana slices with peanut butter, round apple slices covered in peanut butter and granola, "aunts on a log".
Whole wheat bagels with cream cheese and jam preserve (tastes just like cheese cake!) jello with fruit, yogurt pops made of yogurt & your favorite blend of fruit, smoothies, healthy muffins such as banana/carrot/zucchini. The kids love fish crackers (try our recipe), veggies with ranch, noodles with butter and parmesan cheese, dried fruit, a party mix made of popcorn, pretzels, raisins, crackers (or any combination of things), apple slices with cinnamon, raisin bread with cream cheese topped with cucumber slices.
These are just ideas to help us all along the way, but feel free to be as creative as you like!
TASTY BITES to try at home!
Whole wheat blueberry ricotta scones
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, one of my favorite cook books!
1 cup (120 grams whole wheat flour
1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder, preferably aluminum-free
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon table salt
6 tablespoons (85 grams) cold unsalted butter
1 cup (136 grams or 4 3/4 ounces) fresh/frozen blueberries
3/4 cup (189 grams) whole milk ricotta
1/3 cup (79 ml) heavy cream
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In the bottom of a large, wide bowl, whisk flours, baking powder, sugar and salt together.
With a pastry blender: Add the butter & use the blender to both cut the butter into the flour mixture until the biggest pieces are the size of small peas. Toss in blueberries (frozen are fine, just squeeze out excess water) and use the blender again to break them into halves and quarter berry sized chunks.
Without a pastry blender: Cut the butter into small pieces with a knife and work the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Roughly chop the blueberries on a cutting board and stir them into the butter-flour mixture.
Both methods: Add the ricotta and heavy cream together and stir them in to form a dough with a flexible spatula. Using your hands, gently knead dough into an even mass, right in the bottom of the bowl. Don’t fret if the blueberries get muddled and smudge up the dough.
With as few movements as possible, transfer the dough to a well-floured counter, flour the top of the dough and pat it into a 7-inch square about 1-inch tall. With a large knife, divide the dough into 9 even squares. Transfer the scones to prepared baking sheet with a spatula. Bake the scones for about 15 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges. Cool in pan for a minute, then transfer to a cooling rack. Allow them to set a bit.
Do ahead: Scones are always best the day they are baked. However, if you wish to get a lead on them, you can make them, arrange them on your parchment-lined sheet and freeze them. If you’re prepping just one day in advance, cover the tray with plastic wrap and bake them the day you need them. If you’re preparing them more than one day in advance, once they are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or container. Bring them back to a parchment-lined sheet when you’re ready to bake them. No need to defrost the froze, unbaked scones, just add 2 to 3 minutes to your baking time.
Big Cluster Maple Granola
YIELD:makes about 7 cups
ACTIVE TIME:10 minutes
TOTAL TIME:1 1/2 hours
Ingredients
3 cups (240 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup (100 grams) walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup (25 grams) toasted wheat germ
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup (120 ml; or increase to a cup if a sweeter granola is preferred) maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 large egg white
1 1/2 cups (215 grams) dried cherries or another dried fruit, diced if large pieces
Procedures
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Combine all ingredients but the egg white and dried fruit in a large bowl, tossing to coat evenly. Whisk the egg white in a small bowl until frothy. Stir into the granola mixture, distributing it throughout. Spread it in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes. About halfway through the baking time, use a large spatula to turn over sections of the granola carefully, breaking them up as little as possible. Rotate the pan if granola is baking unevenly. When it is evenly browned and feels dry to the touch, transfer the pan from the oven to the cooling rack. Cool completely. Once it’s completely cool, you can break up granola into a clusters size you prefer. Sprinkle in dried fruit.The granola keeps at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks. It keeps even longer in the freezer.
Whole wheat fish crakers
Yield: About 100 1 1/4 inch goldfish
Ingredients
6 ounces (1 1/2 cups coarsely grated) sharp cheddar, orange if you can find one you like
4 tablespoons (2 ounces or 57 grams) butter
1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces or 62 grams) whole wheat flour
1/4 cup (1 1/8 ounces or 31 grams) all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon table salt
Procedure
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients in a food processor, running the machine until the dough forms a ball, about two minutes.
If the dough feels warm or too soft, wrap it in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for 30 to 45 minutes. This also makes it easier to transfer shapes once they are rolled out.
On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out 1/8-inch thick. Form shapes with a cookie cutter, dipping it in flour from time to time to ensure a clean cut. Gently transfer crackers to an ungreased cookie sheet with a 1/2 inch between them. Bake the crackers on the middle rack for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are barely browned at the edges. Remove from the oven and set the cookie sheet on a rack to cool.
Merci, Muchos Gracias, Thank you !
This time you have devoted to the co-op means a great deal to it functioning smoothly. A co-op is only as good as the devoted families that support it! We're in this together!
We would also like to give a GREAT big Thank you to the families who brought snack for the month of September & those that have signed up for October! The children's happy little bellies thank you as well!
CWCP Parent Committees are as follows
Fundraising:
Brittany (am)
Melissa (am)
Bryan (am)
Glenda (pm)
Christina (pm)
Jen (pm)
Carey&Zach (pm)
Garbage/storage:
Roger & Ayu (am)
Photos:
Kristen (am)
Sarah (am)
Monica & Brandon (pm)
Vanessa (pm)
Social & Special events:
Alysabeth (am)
Katherin (pm)
Field Trips:
Erin (am)
Monica & Brandon (pm)
Gentle Reminders
Rain boots & rain jackets are encouraged!
Co-Op Field Trips
Sherman Farm
Monday, Oct 13, 2014, 10:00 AM
Sherman Farm 201 S Ebey Rd, Coupeville, WA
If you will be absent
Thank you so much for your efforts in this, we appreciate it greatly!
Items you can bring in if you have available!
Preschool Art Projects are underway and we can use some items
Fabric scraps, large pinecones, apples, expired milk
Board Members for CWCP 2014-2015 school year!
Kari Habek, Treasurer
Kelly Powers, Secretary
Mindy Grove, Am Parent Coordinator
Mikel Peabody, Pm Parent Coordinator
Cheree Francart, Public Relations
Give us a Ring!
Email: francart@wavecable.com
Website: www.coupevillepreschool.org
Phone: (360)621-8775