Welcome back! It has been such a joy to see all the children’s faces again after our winter break. We spent our first three days settling back into our routine, and I am happy to share that the transition has gone very smoothly.

Reconnecting and Reinforcing

This week was all about “resetting.” We spent time revisiting and reinforcing our classroom expectations to ensure everyone feels safe and successful. We’ve had some great group discussions about why we make pro-social choices, for example:

• Caring for our space: Why it’s important to clean up toys when we are done playing.
• Mindfulness: Being quiet and respectful during Rest Time to support our friends who are sleeping.
• Community safety: Following group expectations, such as lining up quickly to go outside and sitting together on the carpet during group time.

The children have shown wonderful growth in understanding how their individual choices help our whole classroom “family” run happily! 

Looking Ahead: Academics & Our “Building” Unit

We had a fantastic head start on our new unit this Friday afternoon, thanks to Mr. Harry, Jud’s dad! He generously shared his professional expertise on buildings and construction with us, helping the children see the “bones” of how structures work. To top it off, he read a wonderful story that the preschoolers absolutely loved. We are so grateful to have his knowledge and kindness in our classroom!

Next week, we will continue to keep these core expectations front of mind while shifting more of our focus toward our academic goals.

We are diving deep into our Building unit! We will start by summarizing everything the children already know about structures and then begin exploring new questions, such as: “What do all buildings have in common?” and “What materials make a building strong?” 

A Reminder for the Photo Request

Please send in a physical photo of your home or a favorite building, if you haven’t done so already. Please ensure the photo is no larger than 4×6 inches. Seeing familiar places from their own lives helps the children connect our lessons to the real world and gives them a sense of pride in their community.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping your children transition back into the school rhythm so beautifully. I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing weekend!

Stay warm,

The Preschool Team