Director’s NewsWell, get ready or not, it's November! I don't have to tell you that this is a busy, busy time of year with holidays and all the parties, travels and holiday preparations that are filling our calendars. Don't let all those long lines at the grocery store or traffic jams or seemingly endless lists of "to do's" zap the joy of this "thankful" season from your heart! There are blessings around each corner...you just have to remember to look! Take time to help your little ones look for those blessings, too!
This month our Weekday Monthly Outreach will be collecting new toothbrushes & toothpaste for the families (children & adults) of the East End Mission. We will be collecting through the end of the month and make sure all the donations make it to this wonderful ministry before the holiday season arrives!
Dear Parents,
By this time of year, your children are arriving with excitement and smiles as they know their teachers have planned special activities just for them! Remember to send a LABELED coat and backpack each day. Even if it's breezy 'n cool, we'll try and go outside to run off that endless source of energy! Runny nose? Review our "Preschool Sickness Policy" checklist outside the preschool classes. The most effective way to maintain a classroom that is relatively free of illness is to keep those germs OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM!
By this time of year, your children are arriving with excitement and smiles as they know their teachers have planned special activities just for them! Remember to send a LABELED coat and backpack each day. Even if it's breezy 'n cool, we'll try and go outside to run off that endless source of energy! Runny nose? Review our "Preschool Sickness Policy" checklist outside the preschool classes. The most effective way to maintain a classroom that is relatively free of illness is to keep those germs OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM!
Child assessments are being conducted by your child's teacher this month. You will be receiving your assessment the week we return from Thanksgiving. After reviewing this, please SIGN and RETURN to class by Friday, December 16th, before we leave for Christmas break.
Classroom Calendars: please remember to go to our website http://www.weekdayministries.org/ and follow the links to view your child's classroom calendar for the month. Many "events" have additional information available if you just double click on the event while viewing the calendar.
Need some resources regarding challenges going on at home? I have a good selection of Christian books (both child and adult) that might help answer some tough questions regarding divorce, loss of a loved one, diagnosis of alzeimers, explanations of heaven, etc. Feel free to stop by and take a look. I'd love to share with you.
Upcoming Events
Thanksgiving's almost here!: The preschool's annual Thanksgiving Celebrations will be held just prior to Thanksgiving Break. Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles are all invited to share in this "simple" celebration. Watch for details and sign-up sheets at your child's class.
"Scholastic Book Fair" Monday, Nov. 28,through Friday, Dec. 2 in the Preschool hallway. Stock up on some wonderful children's books for the Christmas season! What a great gift idea!! Our preschool is blessed by earning FREE books for our classrooms through this sale so EVERYONE enjoys new books to read.
"Christ's Church 10th Annual Christmas Pageant" December 8th through 11th in CCM Sanctuary. This is a great family experience! For times, free tickets & more information, call 229-3200 or go to http://www.ccmason.org/.
Preschool IS OPEN on Thursday, Nov. 17th: Mason City School will be closed this day due to a scheduled teacher work day but all of our preschool classes will meet as scheduled.
Class Updates
Bible Theme: "Thanks, God!"
Bible Words:
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name."
Psalm 100:4
Mon. or Tues. "Lambs"; Wed. or Thur. & Fri. "Turtles" 2 Years
Miss Robin along with Miss Diane, Miss Becky and Miss Adele will focus this month on the wonderful blessings God gives us this
Thanksgiving season! The Bible story will focus on "Being Thankful". Your child will also be learning about manners (excuse me, please & thank you), counting to 6 w/zoo animals, toothbrush painting and lots of straw or corn with animals in the sensory table. We'll also be playing with the trains in the train table!
Miss Robin along with Miss Diane, Miss Becky and Miss Adele will focus this month on the wonderful blessings God gives us this
Thanksgiving season! The Bible story will focus on "Being Thankful". Your child will also be learning about manners (excuse me, please & thank you), counting to 6 w/zoo animals, toothbrush painting and lots of straw or corn with animals in the sensory table. We'll also be playing with the trains in the train table! Special note for the Thursday/Friday class: Mason City Schools are closed on Thursday, Nov. 17th for Teacher work day but PRESCHOOL WILL BE OPEN THIS DAY!
Mark your calendar for your Thanksgiving Feasts on Wed. Nov. 16 or Fri. Nov. 18 @ 10:30 a.m. or Monday, Nov. 21 or Tuesday, Nov. 22 @ 11:45 a.m. This preschool tradition encourages parents, siblings, relatives and even friends to come and join in this simple "feast". Sign-ups will be located outside the classroom so make sure you note what time your feast will be starting and what you can bring to share in the "feast". Remember to bring your items in a "servable" fashion...finger foods are the easiest for this feast! (Note that class will be dismissed immediately after the feast).
"Minnows" & "Guppies" 3 Years
Miss Megan, with her assistants, are ready to help your child experience a month of activities that will be memorable and meaningful! The Bible story this month will focus on "telling God Thank-you". Weekly themes this month focus on "Leaves", "Scarecrows", "Turkeys" and "Thanksgiving". Your child will also be blending different colors...how did God make that color orange, anyway?
"Minnows" & "Guppies" 3 Years
Miss Megan, with her assistants, are ready to help your child experience a month of activities that will be memorable and meaningful! The Bible story this month will focus on "telling God Thank-you". Weekly themes this month focus on "Leaves", "Scarecrows", "Turkeys" and "Thanksgiving". Your child will also be blending different colors...how did God make that color orange, anyway?
Mason City Schools are closed on Thursday , Nov. 17th for Teacher work day but PRESCHOOL WILL BE OPEN THIS DAY!
The month will end with a delightful Family Thanksgiving Feast which will be held during the last class meeting before our Thanksgiving Break, so check your calendar. Friday, Nov. 18th "Minnows" feast will begin at 10:15 a.m. or 12:45 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 22nd "Guppies" feast will begin at 10:30 a.m. or 12:45 p.m. (All classes will be dismissed immediately after the feast.) Each family will be responsible for bringing in a finger food item in a ready-to-serve container. Watch for sign ups available just outside the classroom. This is a great time to get to know each other so feel free to bring extended family (siblings, grandparents, etc.) to the Feast!
"Gingerbread Houses" are scheduled to be built the week we return from Thanksgiving (week of Nov. 29th) so be watching for parent sign-ups. Miss Megan would like TWO parent helpers to help in class on this day. Each child needs to bring an empty 1 or 2 pint paper milk or cream container, a tub of whipped white icing and a plastic shopping bag. Watch for signups for CANDY (unwrapped) that you will send in for decorating! This is quite an exciting day so be watching at the classroom door for signups and more information.
"Bears" and "Raccoons" 4 Years
Miss Linda ("Bears") with Assistants Miss Nancy, Miss Stacy & Miss Brenda, and Miss Julie ("Raccoons") with Assistants Miss Dana and Miss Katie are ready for a memorable month of "Thanks-filled activities". You'll want to jot down these important dates for this wonderful month!! A quick "congratulations" to Miss Jaime on the arrival of her new baby girl, Violet! Thanks to Miss Katie for stepping in as assistant while Miss Jaime rests and recovers. See you when you return after Thanksgiving, Miss Jaime. AND a big congratulations to Miss Julie who will be married on Saturday, Nov. 5th to Brandon Meissner. This certainly is a time to celebrate!
"Bears" and "Raccoons" 4 Years
Miss Linda ("Bears") with Assistants Miss Nancy, Miss Stacy & Miss Brenda, and Miss Julie ("Raccoons") with Assistants Miss Dana and Miss Katie are ready for a memorable month of "Thanks-filled activities". You'll want to jot down these important dates for this wonderful month!! A quick "congratulations" to Miss Jaime on the arrival of her new baby girl, Violet! Thanks to Miss Katie for stepping in as assistant while Miss Jaime rests and recovers. See you when you return after Thanksgiving, Miss Jaime. AND a big congratulations to Miss Julie who will be married on Saturday, Nov. 5th to Brandon Meissner. This certainly is a time to celebrate!
Mon/Wed/Friday a.m. & p.m.:
Thanksgiving T-shirts - Bring a white, labeled, long sleeved OR short sleeved t-shirt to class on Monday, Nov. 7th (t-shirts will be decorated on Wed. Nov. 9th) to wear at the Feast on Friday, Nov. 18th.
Turkey Project - Cut out & label construction paper (will be provided) "Family" handprints; bring with you to class on class on Mon., Nov. 21st.
Thanksgiving Celebration will be Friday, Nov. 18th (don't forget the t-shirt!) at 10:00 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. (AM class will be dismissed at the end of chapel...PM class will dismiss after the celebration!) Signup outside the classroom for those yummy finger foods and remember to bring your food item in a simple "ready to serve" container! Siblings & extended family are welcome to come and share in this wonderful time of thankfulness!
Tuesday/Thursday Ext. Day:
Thanksgiving T-shirts - Bring a white, labeled, long sleeved OR short sleeved t-shirt to class on Tuesday, Nov. 8th (t-shirts will be decorated on Thurs., Nov. 10 to wear at the Feast on Thursday, Nov. 17th.)
Turkey Project - Cut out & label construction paper (will be provided) "Family" handprints; bring with you to class on Tuesday, November 22nd.
Thanksgiving Celebration is Thursday, November 17th at 11:30 a.m. and class will be dismissed after chapel (12:40 'til 1:00 pm.) Signup outside the classroom for those yummy finger foods and remember to bring your food item in a simple "ready to serve" container! Siblings & extended family are welcome to come and share in this wonderful time of thankfulness!
Remember Mason City Schools will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 17 th due to teacher work day, but the PRESCHOOL will be OPEN for our Thanksgiving Celebration.
"Bridges" Pre-K
Miss Patty with the help of Miss Julie are looking forward to a very busy month of challenging, fun "Thanksfilled" activities! Handwriting Without Tears will be focusing on the letters "G" and "H"; Math lessons will explore shape attributes such as cubes & spheres; graphing gingerbread kids; Literature will share the Thanksgiving Story, Giving Thanks and the Story of the Gingerbread Man.
The "Thanksgiving Feast" will be on Tuesday, November 22nd at 10:00 a.m. Sign up outside the class for those yummy "finger foods" that make our Feast so memorable and fun. Bring your food item in a ready to serve container and remember to invite extended family (siblings, grandparents, etc.) to this Feast! Reminder that class will be dismissed immediately after the feast.
Mason City Schools are closed on Thursday, Nov. 17th for Teacher work day but PRESCHOOL WILL BE OPEN THIS DAY!
“We believe that play is truly a child’s work”
