Melissa Ridge Education Center
February 5th- 9th
What We are Learning
Under Construction - My Art is Me!
Dear Families,
Children love to create. This week, they will explore self-expression as they participate in art, music, story and dance activities. They will take what they have learned about imagination and use it to inspire their own creativity.
This week’s Family Connections activities can be found at:
https://portal2.frogstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/prek2/familyconn/ENG-FC-T5-W4.pdf
This week’s storybook, “What Will You Create?” can be found at: https://portal2.frogstreet.com/ebook/?bookname=FS20074_WhatWillYouCreate_eBook.
Looking forward to an exciting week!
Sincerely,
MREC PreK
This Week...
Shape: octogon
Focus Letters: Ee, Oo, Xx
Handwriting: K
Building Character for February - PERSEVERANCE
Perseverance Newsletter
We all experience challenges in our lives and have moments when we feel like we can’t do it or that we want to give up. We need to develop tools that help us work through those challenges and grow instead of giving up. This month's focus for Pre-K is on practicing Perseverance by following directions.
Click here to download the Pre-K Perseverance Newsletter
Conversation Starters:
- Can you share or show what it means to have Perseverance?
- What are some strategies you can use if you get stuck? (Ask questions, ask for help, try again)
Parent's Corner
School begins at 7:30
ATTENDANCE
Valentine's Day Box - A Family Project 💕
Developmental Milestones and
Helpful Tips for PreK Children
Positive Parenting Tips
Following are some of the things you, as a parent, can do to help your preschooler during this time:
Continue to read to your child. Nurture her love for books by taking her to the library or bookstore.
Let your child help with simple chores.
Encourage your child to play with other children. This helps him to learn the value of sharing and friendship.
Be clear and consistent when disciplining your child. Explain and show the behavior that you expect from her. Whenever you tell her no, follow up with what he should be doing instead.
Help your child develop good language skills by speaking to him in complete sentences and using “grown up” words. Help him to use the correct words and phrases.
Help your child through the steps to solve problems when he/she is upset.
Give your child a limited number of simple choices (for example, deciding what to wear, when to play, and what to eat for snack).
Social Development
Asks for help when needed.
Engages in cooperative play with small groups of children frequently.
Gives attention to stories for 10-20 minutes.
Says "please" and "thank you" without reminders.
Joins in mealtime conversations.
Initiates friendships with peers.
Plays interactive games.
Plays with peers with minimal conflict.
Interacts with adults in a cooperative, socially appropriate manner.
Asks permission to use items belonging to others.
Dresses and undresses self (coat, jacket, shirt)
Eats independently
Enters bathroom and urinates by self
Dresses and undresses self (coat, jacket, shirt)
Cooperates with other children and shares
Cognitive Development
Makes suns, animals, trees, flowers, etc.
Counts to 1-30
Works a 12-piece (or larger) puzzle.
Draws a person with at least 10 body parts
Counts 10r or more objects.
Identifies colors and shapes
Extends sentences logically.
Recalls parts of a story
Emotional Development
Developing a sense of humor.
Shows increasing levels of positive interactions and friendliness in small-group settings.
Responds to a specific need/desire when expressed by another child.
Verbalizes and is comfortable expressing a wider variety of emotions.
Openly and warmly expresses affection to other children.
Comforts other children.
Is able to return to equilibrium after experiencing stress.
Exhibits concern for fairness in what happens to others by sharing and/or taking turns.
Physical Development: Large/Gross Motor Skills
Balances on one foot for 5-10 seconds.
Jumps over a stationary rope held 6" above the ground.
Pedals a tricycle around obstacles and sharp corners.
Catches a ball in hands, arms flexed.
Hops around on one foot without support.
Walks backward.
Throws a ball with accuracy.
Physical Development: Small/Fine Motor Skills
Holds paper in place with one hand while writing with the other.
Cuts with scissors along a thick, straight line.
Draws recognizable pictures.
Draws or copies shapes.
Cuts with scissors following a simple outline.
Uses child-safe scissors
Communication and Language Development
Follows 2-3-step directions without distraction.
Describes items and/or objects in books.
Can answer questions about what has been read to them (Who is the story about? What is happening in the story? What is your favorite part of the story? etc.)
Speech is clear and can be understood by others.
Continue to read with your child to help nurture the love of reading.
Understands the concepts of "same" and "different"
Understands simple prepositions such as "on" and "under"
REMINDER
As with all milestones, remember that there can be a 6 to 8 month window with typical development. This means that children may exhibit skills 6 to 8 months before or after the age the skills are listed under.
Helpful Websites and Apps:
English and Spanish Resources
https://www.colorincolorado.org/help-your-child-learn-read
Reading:
Epic (app allows free use with parent account, has limited access to resources)
Libby (access to online library with use of personal library card)
ABCYa (free access)
https://www.abcya.com/grades/prek
Math:
Prodigy (typically for grades 1st-8th, free use with parent account)
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/
ABCYa (free access)
Morning Carpool Drop-Off is from 7:10 - 7:35
Breakfast is served 7:10 - 7:30
Afternoon Carpool Pick-Up is From 3:03 - 3:15
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
- Please email Brittny Borders at brittnyborders@melissaisd.org OR complete the online absence report, if your child is absent
- Here is the link to report an absence:
- Submit all doctor or parent notes to the office within 3 school days of the absence
SAFETY REMINDERS
Stay in Your Vehicle
Please remember to stay in your vehicle and allow our welcoming staff to retrieve students from the vehicle and guide them safely to the designated area.
Make Sure Your Student is Unbuckled
Please make sure your student is unbuckled and ready to exit the vehicle. MREC staff members are not responsible for unbuckling and buckling students in their car seats.
Be on Time
Parents, please make sure you are on time to pick up and drop off your student. The carpool times are listed. Please report to the front office if you arrive outside of these times.
Forward-Facing Car Seat
Booster Seat
Health Reminders
Lunch Reminders...
MREC would like to support you in making informed decisions regarding your child’s nutritional diet. The following information is provided so that you and your child can make selections that will meet their dietary preference.
Please review the daily menu options with your student. Menus can be found at https://melissaisd.nutrislice.com/menu.
Your student may choose to or not choose to have school lunch based on their dietary preferences or can bring a lunch from home. Please discuss these choices with your child so they can decide whether or not to consume these items at lunchtime.
Important Updates, Dates and Events
- Feb. 1st - Black History Month Begins
- Feb. 14th - Valentine's Day (Friendship Class Celebrations)
- Feb. 19th - Bad Weather Day Make up
- Feb. 22nd - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
District News and Updates
Melissa Public Library
Some special events/items we are highlighting this month are the following:
Feb. 6 – Lil’ Kids Craft: 3D Valentine’s Day Bag @ 4:30p
Feb. 20 – Big Kids Craft: Shrinky Dink Keychains @ 4:30p
Feb. 23 – Bubble Show Performance @ 10:30a
Feb. 27 – Adult No Pressure Book Club @ 6:00p
SIT WITH US
Sit With Us is a monthly discussion group to address concerns, ask questions and determine ways to collectively work toward solutions with your child’s campus administration. The philosophy of Sit With Us is that Melissa parents are Cardinal Champions who see the best for not only their students but for all students. If it matters to one Cardinal, it matters to all Cardinals.
Be sure to check out your child’s school calendar for upcoming meetings and come "Sit With Us."