ANNE SULLIVAN

SCHOOL NEWS

 

May, 2012     

 

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Notices

 

Tuition Raise: There will be an increase in tuition of $1 per day starting in the summer session June 26, 2012.  

Weekly Tuition Rates FULL DAYS:  five daysB$197, four daysB$179,   three daysB$145,   two daysB$101.                                       

Half Day Weekly Rates: five half daysB$157, four half daysB$148,                                                three half daysB$113, two half daysB$77.

 

Memorial Day Observed:  The school will be closed Monday, May 28, 2012, for Memorial Day.

 

Last day of School and Start of Summer Session:  The last day of the 2011-2012 school year will be Friday, June 22, 2012.  The summer session will start Tuesday, June 26, 2012.  Please inform the office of your enrollment plans.  Thank you.

 

News from the Classrooms

 

Sharing the Study of Insects in the Sunshine Room            

          Insects proved to be a very appropriate area of study for the children of the Sunshine Room.  They were able to explore, investigate, and experience them first-hand.  In fact, they were so involved, the teachers decided to use this theme for the Open House.

          The insects the children could observe and explore were quite extensive.  They focused mainly on ladybugs, butterflies, ants and bees.  By the end of our study, the children had learned that insects have six legs, three body parts and that some have wings and antennae. They also learned what insects eat, where they live and the life cycle of some of the insects. 

          The children had fun learning through various media including books, flannel stories, music and games. They were able to distinguish the insects from other animals and other crawling critters.  Most importantly, they had fun hunting for bugs.  This was made even more interesting and educational by a donation from Jack’s parents of bug containers.

          Thank you to all the parents who donated some especially important items for our study topic about insects. Our science center is an attractive and educational place thanks to all of you.

                                                                                      Ms. Patty

 

Animal Investigation in the Ladybug Room

          Animals are close to a young child’s heart and so they proved to be an intriguing area of study for the children in the Ladybug Room.  The children have been learning particularly about farm animals. Through reading books, singing songs, drawing and painting pictures, the children learned to recognize several animals found on a farm, along with the sounds they make and what they are used for.  In addition, the children have learned the appropriate names to distinguish young and adult animals. The children also discovered that some animals, though basically the same, may be different in size and color.

 After learning that butter is produced from cows, we gave the children the opportunity to churn their own butter by placing heavy whipping cream in a small jar and shaking it. Once the cream turned into butter we were able to enjoy our creation with some crackers. Much conversation was stimulated when the children were asked, where does chocolate milk come from?  Most of the Ladybugs answered, “Cows make chocolate milk!” We further discussed and compared regular and chocolate milk. We then used milk cartons as a teaching tool for identifying patterns, counting, and measuring.

As it is spring and many things are changing and growing all around, it seemed appropriate to study the life cycle of frogs and their multiple growth stages. Jeremy Baurer’s mother, Stephanie, brought in some tadpoles for the children to observe their growth and transformation right in their classroom.  We are happy to report that they are doing well and have already started to develop their limbs. 

 Thank you to everyone who contributed participated and attended our Open House and making it a successful event.

                                                                                                Ms. Brooke

 

News from the Butterfly Room  

           

          The children have been busy planting, caring for the seedlings and observing their growth.  We are doing experiments with the pumpkin plants and, after donating the sunflower seeds for the maze, we are also checking on them. 

          To our despair, we discovered that all the sunflower seedlings we donated were missing their top leaves.  It was difficult for some children to understand that those cute bunnies we see all around could do such harm.  Artie exclaimed, tightening his fists, “Those bunnies! Grr!, Sophia said, “Let’s chase them!”, Alissa declared with indignation, “They don’t have the right to do this!” and Daniella advised, “They’re just cute, hungry bunnies!”

          Of course, we are not just poets, self-righteous or humanitarian people in the Butterfly room, we also have some common sense.  There were plenty of pragmatic ideas like fencing the seedlings, building a deep moat, or putting a net on top or building a tall wall with no doors, “just in case we forget and leave it open.”  Several of these ideas echo, in some way, a book we were reading, “Muncha, Muncha.”

          On another note, children and teachers thank you for coming to our Open House.  You could see that there was much learning about themes and what’s very important, experiencing being children with time to spend exploring the environment and learning while guided by adults.

Ms. Noemi

 

Rainbow Room Activities

 

          April was a busy month and it was made even made more memorable by the gift of caterpillars by the Barr’s, Jillian’s family, to aid in the study of the life cycle of a butterfly.  Having direct observation of the process added so much to the books, songs, flannel stories, dramatic play, and discussions about the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies.

          In May, the theme will be moving toward a human realm by the investigation of community and home workers.  Sharing what your family members do at home and/or outside the home will really expand the children’s view of work to people they know.  

          The children and teachers would like to thank you all for coming and participating in the Open House.  The children appreciate the opportunity to show all what they have been doing.  Thank you for pitching in to help with chores, as well as bringing food and drinks.   We appreciate your interest and involvement.   

                                                                                                  Ms Terri                                         

 

Saving the Planet in the Kindergarten

 

      Don’t tell a kindergartener it can’t be done.  When it comes to saving the environment it is going to take plenty of imagination as well as not being afraid to fail.    

          The kindergarteners collected recyclable materials from home and brought them to school.  After learning to identify and sort them and especially to see the importance of recycling, they put the materials to use.  They created their own “machines” to help the environment.  If you missed them at the Open House here are a few their creations.

Sarah and Andrew:  “This is a boat machine that picks up dirty water and makes clean water.”

Lorenzo and Ashley:  “This is a machine to put paper in and it comes out dirt.”

Jillian and Nathan:  “This machine we put blue paint and plastic and it comes out water.”

Ella and Sam:  “This is a robot that picks up metal and makes toys.”

James and Parker:  “This machine takes old shoes and it comes out a puppet.”

CheyenneandLogan:  “This is a robot that eats plastic and makes clothes.”

          I think you will agree that the future is in good hands with these lively imaginations.

                                                                                      Ms. Diana

 

 

This school is open to all children regardless of race, creed, ethnic background, gender, or disability.  (State License #330901543)

AnneSullivan School May 12 Newsletter

 

ANNE SULLIVAN

  SCHOOL NEWS

 

 

March 2012 

 

Parents Supporting Our Program and Each Other

        How do parents meet with one another to support the school and at the same time learn from and provide support for each other?

          Many parents have volunteered to contribute to special events such as the Halloween Pizza Party in the Rainbow Room; the Thanksgiving Potluck in the Ladybug Room; the meeting with a Buddhist monk in the Sunshine Room and with Santa’s visit and potluck lunch in the Sunshine Room at Christmas. Parents also have accompanied the children when the Kindergarten class visited the Assisted Living Community across the street at Halloween and Christmas, as well as sharing their time to create special crafts for the children. Most of these activities are organized with the collaboration of the parents and the teachers.

           The ongoing Scholastic Book Fair, spearheaded and organized by Patricia Muenzer, has raised almost 10,000 points.  We are on our way to substantially enhance our Library and Resource Room with books and didactic materials.  This fundraiser will benefit the literacy and language development of children this year and future years to come. 

           The Legoland event put together and coordinated by Maria Vaughn and Ms. Diana was a wonderful day for children to engage in fun activities with their families and friends at a reasonable price. This also provided a great opportunity for the children to see and engage with their peers outside of school.

           As a Director I have received excellent feedback about the Parenting Seminar with Sandi Schwartz, an hour and fifteen minutes class once a week for families to gather information, share common challenges and reflect on best and more effective practices when relating with their children.  In this safe and nonjudgmental atmosphere, many of the parents and grandparents who have attended leave experiencing a change in attitude and are motivated to act from a space of empathy and understanding.

           Many thanks to all the parents who have participated in the above events!

          Now there is another great opportunity to work on a project together.  We have the vision to create a fenced garden with a small shed and raised beds with vegetables and/or flowers for each classroom.  You as parents can contribute to this project with your creative skills, manual labor, fundraising, supervising skills or other. Please visit me in the office and let me know how you are willing to contribute to making this dream a reality in the near future. 

                                                                   Margarita, Educational Director

 

 Notices

 Annual Open House: The Annual Open House will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  All of us at Anne Sullivan School, especially the children, are excited to see you there.

 Spring Break:  The school will be closed for Spring Break Monday, April 30 through Friday, May 4, 2012.  School will reopen Monday, May 7, 2012. 

 Parenting Seminar:  There will be four Parenting Seminars in March:  March 1, “From Tantrums and Other Breakdowns to Cooperation,” March 8, “Behavior and Your Child’s Brain,” March 15, “A Tool Box of Strategies,” and March 29, “Developing Your Child’s Self-Esteem—The Key to Success and Happiness.”  There is a $15 charge for individual classes.  Participants can bring additional adults for $5 per session.  Child care is available for a nominal fee. 

School Closing: The school will be closed Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6, 2012, for Passover/Easter observation.   

Last day of School and Start of Summer Session:  The last day of the 2011-2012 school year will be Friday, June 22, 2012.  The summer session will start Tuesday, June 26, 2012.  Please inform the office of your enrollment plans.  Thank you.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 Human Relationships in the Rainbow Room        

                February was a fun and busy month.  The curriculum was based on relationships, especially friendships.  The children learned how to care for each other, as well as problem solve with and enjoying their friends.  To really strengthen friendships there was a Pajama Day when everyone wore pajamas.  The children wondered why I wasn’t wearing my pajamas.  I told them that I didn’t want to ride the bus in my pajamas.  Prompting them to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, I posed the question, “What would you think if you did not know me, and you saw me on the bus in my pajamas?”   London, Charlie, and Gwen agreed that they would think I was crazy.  Emmett said he would laugh at me.  Asher suggested I walk to school and if anyone saw me, hide behind a bush.  These were creative solutions and very honest ones.  Thank you to all the parents who participated in the Pajama Party by bringing refreshments and lending a helping hand. 

           Expanding the concept of relationships, the children are now studying the family.  We are asking families to contribute to make with their children a family tree.  Some family trees consist of pictures with names and the relationship next to it on a poster board.  The design is up to you and your child.  The family trees will be kept at school for awhile for reference.  The children will explore traditional families, blended families, families from different countries and their homeland traditions, special foods, etc.  Please feel free to share any information with us.                                                                                                                                                           Ms. Terri

 Our First Chapter Book in the Kindergarten

           Several weeks ago our kindergartners were given a wonderful gift from our dear teacher Ms. Loretta.  It was a new book! Surely you have noticed that the classroom contains dozens of books. What was so special about this particular book? Well, Ms. Loretta had decided that it was time for our kindergarteners to read their very first chapter book, I agreed. She chose a book tailored to the interest of the group. As many of you may have already heard the book is none other than the classic pirate tale, Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. In an effort to boost excitement for story time we designed an art project centered on our story. We created custom pirate hats complete with each child’s very own pirate name. I have to admit creating 18 pirate names was quite the task, but we did it! We explained to the children that pirate names are very silly. Thus our names range from Flame Thrower, Twirly Tilly, Lovely Rose, Gold Ring McGee, and Pink-Eyed Lily all the way to Hammer-Head Shark and One-Eyed Jasper. Our pirate hats are only to be worn during story time and can only be taken home when we finish all 26 chapters of our book.

 We read the book each day in the afternoon before snack. I have the pleasure of reading to the children. Each afternoon we gather the group together onto the big carpet. Everyone gets their pirate hat on and our reading adventure begins. Before I begin reading I ask the children what chapter we are on and what happened the last time we read. I have been amazed at how closely the children have been following the story day after day.

  Story time has also presented a wonderful opportunity to increase the kindergarteners’ vocabulary. Although our version of Treasure Island is a retelling of the original, much of the original vocabulary remains. When an unfamiliar word is read I pause and ask the class what they think the word means. Sometimes they define the word right the first try. Such was the case with the word feared, which one of the children described as being scared and then followed up with a demonstration of a scared face. Words such as mourned, shore, docks, doubt, voyage, hammock, and seasick have also been discussed along with many others. As of Friday February 17^th we have finished chapter 11 of our novel. Next week we begin chapter 12 “The Man of theIsland”.

 Once again just to reassure all who might feel a pirate story contains too much “excitement”, the story is a retelling appropriate for a younger audience. I have also been carefully editing as we read. If you have any concerns I am happy to address them. I hope that our story time adventure continues to enhance your child’s developing love of reading.

                                                                                       Ms. Kathleen

 Making Friends in the Sunshine Room

             Valentine’s Day, the day of friendship, sparked interest in the importance of friends.  During circle time I asked, “What do we need friends for?”  I received some very good answers.  Teagan replied, “To play with.”  Julia added, “To talk to when you are sad.” 

           Then I introduced what to do to keep friends.  The children really enjoyed No More Hitting Little Hamster by Bernette Ford and Sam Williams.  They learned that hitting hurts and that if they hit their friends soon they will not have any friends to play with.  After the story the children started calling anyone who hit a friend “little hamster,” or they came to me and said, “Ms. Patty, we have a little hamster in the class.”  The book also taught them how important it is to keep their hands and feet to themselves.

           The theme of friendships naturally progressed to becoming aware of different feelings, especially anger and sadness.  They learned what to do when they are angry:  stop, take a deep breath and relax.  When they are sad they can talk to a friend or a teacher.  The children learned through books, flannel stories, music and sharing ideas. 

           For Valentine’s week, math was incorporated into the curriculum by making hearts of different sizes and color, counting them and then sorting them by size and color.  The children had the help of Bode’s dad, Ross Bauer, who volunteered in the classroom.   The children had a great time, and we hope Mr. Bauer also enjoyed his busy day in the Sunshine Room. 

                                                                                       Ms. Patty

 

 Exploration in the Butterfly Room

 This past month we have done much in the areas of language, literacy and science.  We have focused on the alphabet: names of letters and their sounds, the concept of rhyming and alliteration.  We have enacted stories, books and a poem. We continue to delve into the exploration of planting—from seeds, to what they need, to the tools gardeners and farmers use, to what earthworms like to eat, to composting, etc.

           The science area is mostly hands on.  Among the activities done, Lucas M. suggested that “maybe we can prove that plants need sun with an experiment.”  Sophia suggested that we could put a plant in the closet, away from any light.  “What do you think it will happen?” asked the teacher.  “It will die,” answered Lucas S.  “It will break,” was Kevin’s response.  “It will lose the colors,” Annabelle replied.  The children got enthusiastic, and they wanted to see what happened if the plant had no soil, no water, no space, or no air.  All these factors were taken from the poem we were learning, “A Plant Needs.”  The children are waiting in expectation to observe the results of this experiment.       

           This past month, the Butterflies also received the visit of Paco García, Kevin’s father, who brought the brand new truck he uses for his work: breaking cement and building roads and walkways.  The children were enthralled with the ‘gate-lift’, going inside the cabin, and seeing how the huge truck could start by itself with nobody inside!  (Paco had a remote control in his hand to turn it on or off.)  Four members of the family came to show the different parts of the truck to the children.  They also brought helmets and gave a mini-lesson on safety.  Even Kindergarteners received the benefit of a parent coming to share their work.  We are most grateful to the Garcías for making it possible.   

                                                                                                 Ms. Noemi

 Planting Broccoli in the Ladybug Room

          Following the study theme on seeds, plants and flowers, it was time to really dig in the dirt and watch things grow outside with the collaboration of Mother Nature.  The children worked as a team to transplant the seedlings in the vegetable garden.   Before giving the plants their final home there was preparation to be done.  Tristan,Stafford, Justin, Chuka, Connor, Jenna, Jeremy, and Jaylynn prepared the soil, raking it and adding fertile dirt. Then Soven, Van, William and Ara pitched in to water it to make it soft and welcoming. Then Isabella, Marcus, Cole, Kina, Mia, MeMe, Cecilia, and Mason did the final steps of planting the baby plants.

           The seedlings need to be protected from the rabbits so the children helped put up a little fence.  Now, the Ladybugs are watering and visiting the new plants once in a while. Mother Nature, our love and time will make them grow. This experience is teaching the children to care, to be patient, to understand natural processes and to observe.

 Thank you Mother Earth!!

 Ms. Miriam 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This school is open to all children regardless of race, creed, ethnic background, gender, or disability.  (State License #330901543)

 

ANNE SULLIVAN

SCHOOL NEWS

 

February, 2012     

Using High Order Thinking Questions     

 

        “Social interaction forms an integral part of our curriculum. A difficulty that arises between individual children is not considered as an obstacle to the learning process, but the very heart of it. Teachers dedicate time to facilitate problem solving and peaceful conflict resolution.”

                                                From the Anne Sullivan School Philosophy

          In order to better fulfill our philosophy all teachers and assistant teachers participated in an in-service called Actualizing Our School Philosophy, provided by our consultant, coach, grant writer, and instructor, Margaret Ikezaki, It was a very informative and educational, and we would like to share some of the main points with you.

          To facilitate problem solving and peaceful conflict resolution teachers apply High Order Thinking Questions. This tool invites children to think and to have individual responses, encourage exploration and give-and-take conversations.

          High Order Thinking Questions are asking How, Why, What else, How do you know, Can you show me how to, How can we? They provide children with opportunity to explore and to think creatively, as opposed to Low Order Level Thinking Questions: What, When, Where, How Many which can be answered by a one word answer.  Examples of High Order Thinking Questions are: “How do you know that this is a triangle?” “How can we make Ava feel better?” “Why is Ava crying?” “Why is the man mowing the grass?” “Why does the seed sprout?”

          As teachers we have an opportunity to ask High Order Thinking Questions during conflict resolution, in big and small group activities, while we read books and in conversations where it is safe to think, to ask, to try, to be wrong and try again.

          We were also reminded by Maggie of the importance of being patient and giving time to the children to respond and of the importance of adult self-talk as a way of modeling to the children by asking ourselves questions and answering them out loud.  Our invitation as adults is then to make the asking of High Level Thinking Questions automatic in our responses to our children!

Notices

 School Closing: The school will be closed Monday, February 20, 2012, for Presidents’ Day.   

 

Kindergarten/KinderReadiness Registration Now Open:  Registration for the upcoming school year Kindergarten/KinderReadiness class for presentAnneSullivanSchool students is now open.  The class size is limited to 24.  There is a $300 nonrefundable Registration fee to hold your child’s spot.  Registration for the general public will be open on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Kindergarten Meeting.  The meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. in the Kindergarten classroom.  At the meeting the teachers will present the Kindergarten, KinderReadiness program, followed by a discussion and refreshments.  Child care will be provided.

 

Spring Break:  The school will be closed for Spring Break Monday, April 30 through Friday, May 4, 2012.  School will reopen Monday, May 7, 2012. 

 

Parenting Seminar:  There will be three Parenting Seminars in February.  February 2, “Discipline That Really Works;” February 9, “Separating Feelings from Behavior;” February 16, “Ending Powers Struggles.”   There is a $15 charge for individual classes.  Participants can bring additional adults for $5 per session.  Child care is available for a nominal fee. 

 

 

News from the Classrooms 

Keep Rolling in the Sunshine Room   

          Observing the children’s interest in cars, trucks, and anything that moves on wheels, we decided to study that subject.  Last month the children learned about different kinds of vehicles, such as those used in construction: cement mixers, bulldozers, excavators, cranes, etc.  They played with mini vehicles, counted them, matched them, as well as painted with wheels and expanded their knowledge even more by reading both fiction and nonfiction books about different kinds of vehicles. 

          Now the children are learning about trains.  They love to play with Thomas trains and attach the different cars with magnets.  When Della was struggling to attach two cars together, it provided a good opportunity to explain about magnets and how they can either attract or repel.  She experimented by turning around one of the cars to see if that worked.  She was pleased to find out that it did. 

          At the science table, the children have been investigating with pulleys.  As they pulled the rope down, the container with rocks went up.  This is an incredible experiment on force and work.  They also experimented with gravity by using ramps, A long piece of gutter was placed on a shelf and the other end on the floor.  When the children put small cars on the upper end of the ramp, they observed how easily and effortlessly the cars went down. 

          We sang the song, “The Wheels on the Bus” and moved with the movements mentioned in the song.  The children learned a finger play “Traffic Light” and a chant “Clickety, Clack.”  A fire engine was put in the dramatic play area.  This fire engine also turned into a bus which took us to as many different places as the children’s imagination invited us to go.

          You can join in the ride, the fun and the learning experience.  Please, stop by in the Sunshine Room and maybe you can come with us in an imaginary trip.

Ms. Alicia Beatriz

 Planting Seeds in the Ladybug Room

          In the Ladybug room the children have been studying seeds.  They learned how seeds grow and identified different seeds.  

          The children learned that in order for a seedling to grow it needs water, sunlight and soil.  To help them understand this, we tested the hypothesis.  Each child had a clear plastic bag, a wet paper towel and a lima bean. We wrapped the lima bean in the wet paper towel and taped the plastic bag onto our classroom window. In little over two weeks the children noticed a sprout growing. They were so excited to show me what was happening.  They observed the various changes that were occurring, such as what direction the roots were going. Then I asked some questions to help them to think at a higher level, like “Where are the plants getting their food?” Soon we transplanted the seedlings into a foam or paper cup with soil to provide the third vital ingredient so that the lima bean can keep growing.

    The children also learned to distinguish different kinds of seeds.  Cutting open different fruits we found different seeds.  The children noticed that apple seeds looked different from orange seeds. They noticed that apples and oranges had a different number of seeds as well. The children loved tasting the fruit after examining them. We learned that a fruit is the part of a flowering plant that produces the seeds.   This project will continue and expand as we are planning to have our own classroom garden.  Then the children can take part in caring for the garden.  Every day they will get to see this process in action.  

    Lastly, I want to thank all of the parents and grandparents who donated the seeds. I hope you enjoy what your child had planted and you can ask your child what are the three important things necessary for a plant to grow:  water, sunlight and soil.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                              Ms. Martina

On the Move in the Rainbow room

                     Our latest venture in the Rainbow Room has been the study of transportation.  Ms. Terri and I noticed that the children have a sustained interest in cars, trains, airplanes and boats and therefore responded to this interest.  Now they are now engaged in all aspects of transportation.  They are making airplanes, cars and trains from chairs, and packing real suitcases full of all the things they need for their journey.  They’re using markers and strips of paper to make tickets and boarding passes.  This encourages language development and I am hearing a rich vocabulary to describe their adventures.  “We’re going toMemphis,Oregonand toHawaii!” “Everyone put on your seatbelts!” “We will be there in forty five hundred minutes!”  “I’m going to ask my mom if I can go on a Concorde.”

                 Taking the subject to written language, we have read many books about transportation.  These stories elicit many discussions about trips the children have been on fromLas VegastoNew York,Mexico,Hawaiiand even trips to Costco andLakeElsinore.  The children love sharing their stories.

                 In the block area a few children constructed a huge cruise ship out of blocks.  We also brought in a long piece of rain gutter to make a ramp for cars.   Traveling from one place to another is proving to be an exciting adventure no matter where you go. 

                                                                                      Ms. Sarah

 

Laying the Basics in the Butterfly Room:  It starts with…

“For children to learn to become skilled readers, they need to develop a rich language and conceptual knowledge base, a broad and deep vocabulary, and verbal reasoning abilities to understand messages conveyed through print. …. children must also develop code-related skills: understanding that spoken words are composed of smaller elements of speech (phonological awareness), the idea that letters represent sounds (the alphabetic system), and the knowledge that there are systematic correspondences between sound and spellings.”(Neuman, S. & Roskos, K. 2005. Young Children. July 2005. Washington, DC: NAEYC.)

 

          Learning to read involves many cognitive skills which are based on the development of several areas of the brain.  In the Butterfly room the children are learning these skills through songs, games, readings, and storytelling. In each activity there is the opportunity to learn the letters and their sounds by the teacher saying “it starts with,”  mentioning the name and sound of a letter before saying the word.  This gives the children the opportunity to hear the sound and name or the letters throughout the day. Little by little the children notice the words that start with the same letter as their name or a friend’s name.  Every activity becomes an opportunity to learn new concepts, new vocabulary, letters and counting.

          Samantha and Joaquin used their emerging skills in an animal domino game.  After the children identified the animal, the teacher said the first letter of the animal’s name and helped them come up with the sound of the letter.  Learning to read becomes an integral part of the school day and it is fun as well. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ms. Berta

 

Highlights from the Kindergarten

         

          We started the New Year with a new activity at Math class:  homework once a week.  According to the comments from some parents, the children have responded and accepted their new responsibility with enthusiasm. They bring their homework back and talk about it during class, but they get really happy and excited when they see a motivating sticker on their assignments.

          In science class we have been learning about the properties of water and the water cycle. The day we “created rain,” we, of course, started by creating a cloud. Well, it is necessary to say that for some of the children who were expecting to see a fluffy, puffy cumulonimbus it was not quite a cloud or as Brooke said: “That is a pancake cloud.”  It was, let’s say, a thin and very small cloud. In any case, it produced rain in front of our own amazed eyes.

          Finally, the 100^th Day of school arrived and we all celebrated.  The children had fun not only counting a hundred delicious snacks, but we also by getting involved in the Hunt for the 100 kisses that Zero the Hero prepared.  The children also practiced literacy skills by writing what they would buy with $100 dollars and by writing a 100 words book. In art, the children colored 100^th Day hats and printed 100 fingerprints.  Everyone had fun and were thankful to all the parents who cooperated in many ways for this celebration to happen. 

                                                                                                                                                Ms. Patricia       

 

 

This school is open to all children regardless of race, creed, ethnic background, gender, or disability.  (State License #330901543)

ANNE SULLIVAN

SCHOOL NEWS

January, 2012

 

A Good Start: The Best Gift You Can Give Your Child

 

Having chosen Anne Sullivan School for your children, we know that you value early childhood education. That’s why we know you are interested in sending your child to Anne Sullivan Kindergarten to continue with the excellent early education we provide. Children who are kindergarten age still have the needs of young children which include a caring environment, space and time to move and interact in an enriched classroom setting, and a natural outside setting to exercise and experience the joys of nature. Add to that a low child/teacher ratio and a nutritioushome-cooked lunch, you have a program that is hard to beat.

Not only does Anne Sullivan Kindergarten prepare children to enter their formal education in first grade, it prepares them for life. Parents consistently report over the years that their children were very well-prepared academically, emotionally and socially. They have been guided to learn independently as well as cooperate with others.

Because the program is for a full day there is not only time for language and math, but also time set aside for community building, science, Spanish, art and music. In our unique caring environment we approach the whole child. The teachers know each child well and can address each one’s strengths and needs. This helps the children learn to respect themselves and each other.

You are invited to attend a meeting in February in which the kindergarten teachers will present the curriculum and answer any questions you may have. Enrollment is limited. Current Anne Sullivan School students are invited to preregister after January 3, 2012. A non-refundable registration fee of $300 is required to hold your child’s place.

 

 

Notices

School Closing: The school will be closed Monday, January 16, 2012, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Parenting Class begins January 12th: “Accepting the Things You Cannot Change” is the title of the first parenting class in the 12-Week Parenting Seminar given by Sandi Schwartz. There is a $150 charge for the series and $15 for individual classes. Participants can bring additional adults for $5 per session. Child care is available for a nominal fee.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Annabelle Iliana Lucas S. Katelynn

Kina Jailynn Jack Michael P.

Bode Julia Keeley Teagan

News from the Classrooms

Discovery in the Ladybug Room

Science for the young child is an experience of exploration and observation. This is how they learn to learn about the world. Providing them with meaningful opportunities to do this is the work of the early childhood educator. In the Ladybug room, the children are observing stick bugs in a terrarium. They are learning to take care of them by bringing them fresh rose clippings, spraying the terrarium with water to drink, and cleaning the terrarium.

Last month the children made a great discovery which helped them learn about the stick bug life cycle. While changing the dry rose sticks, I took out the adult stick bug and Jenna and Chuka made an observation, “There is a spider there,” pointing to the terrarium which was almost empty. Taking a close look, we discovered that what appeared to be a spider was a baby stick bug. It was almost transparent. The children were amazed with the discovery of the “babies.” We also found that the other adult stick bug was dead. So, now we have a mom or dad stick bug and five babies. Quite an addition to our classroom.

In this moment of discovery we encountered new life and death. In this small setting where things happen without us realizing it, life and death occurs naturally and continuously.

Ms. Miriam

 

 

A Field of Possibilities in the Butterfly Room

Up until January, 2011, outside the school yard there were six raised beds for gardening. When the construction for the school expansion started, the raised beds were bulldozed down to make room for the machines to put in the sewer system. Therefore, those six planting beds are no more.

What we have now is what’s right there before our eyes, and what’s under our feet.

Now that we are getting used to not having the raised beds, our eyes and minds are starting to see something else. Now we see potential in the empty space, and our feet walk and run leisurely in an open “field of possibilities.”

In this field, the Rainbows started to plant. In this same field, the Butterflies are also starting the great adventure and joy of planting and caring for the plants, and in the future, nourishing ourselves from the fruits of the Earth and of our dedication.

However, we must remember what’s essential: this is “a field of possibilities.” Yes, we will plant, and, yes, we will run, and play, and build, and pretend, and hide and chase, and observe, and listen with attention and interest. In doing all this and much more, what we are doing is connecting with the Earth and nature in a deep and respectful way. This is what is essential.

In the months to come, the Butterfly children and all gardeners will be doing what is essential as guardians of the treasures of the Earth; rangers protecting the mighty and the still fragile trees; young, jolly, receptive and tender human beings embarking in this significant mission of connection and mutual respect.

I eagerly await your feedback and/or thoughts. You can reach me at: noemi@annesullivanschool.com

Have a MEANING-FULL 2012

Ms. Noemi

 

Activities in the Rainbow room

It was a busy December. The children got very involved with the theme on the five senses. They had a lot of fun with sight. At the Discovery Table we set out a variety of things to look through: kaleidoscopes with colors or multiple views of one object, color spy glasses in which colors can be blended by mixing the lenses, and magnifying glasses. Dakota was very inventive in using them to the utmost. He took in the sights by walking around the room with one clear kaleidoscope on one eye and a magnifying glass on the other. He excitedly shared his experience with others. Soon Lucas, Emmett, Korvin, and Camden all crowded to the Discovery Table to explore what was there, mixing up the different visuals laughing and exclaiming: “wow”, “cool,” and “this is crazy.”

We want to thank all the parents for participating in the parent-teacher conferences. It was a nice chance to talk with you without interruptions, and to strengthen the partnership we have with you in educating your children.

Ms. Terri

 

A Teachable Moment in the Kindergarten

There are moments in our day, known as “teachable moments,” that present themselves as special opportunities to teach/learn something new. In the kindergarten one morning such a moment presented itself when it was discovered that the sole of Jillian’s boot was falling off. As the whole sole fell off, all the children gathered around in amazement. Andrew Bradley exclaimed “I never saw that happen before.” The children continued speculating about why such a thing would happen. Then they carefully inspected the sole for similarities to the soles of their own shoes. Together they pondered ways to fix the shoe. Delaney said that she was sure that the super glue that her father used to fix her toy would work, but Nathan claimed to know a better glue. The general agreement was that glue was the solution. They tried to place the sole in position for possible gluing and to see if it would fit properly. They agreed that it could be done. Their enthusiasm and collaboration in problem-solving the situation was impressive. The teacher introduced the idea of a “shoemaker.” Did anyone know what a shoemaker was? The response from the group was NO! When it was explained, they asked how could you find a shoemaker. This lead to the exploration of the use of the phone book and a web search.

Ms. Mary

 

Learning About Shoes in the Sunshine Room

Observing the children in the drama center, I noticed how involved they were playing with the shoes. They even waited patiently for their turn to wear different shoes. Seeing how interested they were and having so much fun, we decided to have a theme about shoes. It turned out to be a very rich subject in which all the areas of learning could be addressed. Taking a scientific approach, the children observed and interacted with different types of shoes and learned about the kinds of shoes people wear for certain occasions. Seeing how people wear different shoes in all parts of the world, they learned geography. As for health, they learned how important it is to wear shoes on your feet.

Math was addressed by learning about pairs: how one and one makes two which is one pair. Sorting, grouping, counting and making pairs with shoes and socks also enhanced basic math concepts. In the art center, the children made their foot prints with paint, sketched the bottom of their shoes and collaged a footprint with different materials. There was a shoe store in the drama center. Children had different shoes, boxes, an instrument to measure shoe-size, and a cash register with money. A big “thank you” goes to the parents of Olivia, Julia, Mary Jane, Joey, Della, Eden and Brock for bringing their shoes and making our shoe store happen.

Not forgetting the holiday season we read stories, made stockings, a Christmas tree, snowmen, a gingerbread man, a wreath and sang Christmas songs. Ms. Jenny shared about Hanukkah and showed her menorah. Julia’s mom shared elk antlers her husband found. The children were excited to see real antlers and concluded that “they’re the same as the ones Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer has.”

We also had some special guests from Oak Circle Community School. They came to sing carols to the children and they brought a special guest with them. When Jack saw it, he said, “Look, Ms. Patty, they have a camel with them.” As he was looking at it and singing, he gave it some more thought. “But Ms. Patty, the camel doesn’t have the two humps.” I replied, “That’s because it’s not a camel, it’s an alpaca! Ms. Patty

 

This school is open to all children regardless of race, creed, ethnic background, gender, or disability. (State License #330901543)