Happy Friday! We had a truly fantastic and productive week as we successfully launched our brand-new Tree Unit! The classroom was buzzing with excitement, curiosity, and new vocabulary as we began our exploration of these foundational parts of nature. This unit ties into our larger goals of understanding the environment and cycles of life, and the students have already shown a deep, enthusiastic engagement with the topic.

Highlights from Our Week

This week was dedicated to a general introduction and appreciating the sheer variety and importance of trees:

• Brainstorming & Discussion: We kicked off the unit by having the students share what they already knew and what they wanted to learn about trees. We discovered that many students already recognize trees as homes for animals and sources of our oxygen – a.k.a “fresh air” in preschool language 🙂
• Tree Exploration: We took a brief walk around the schoolyard to observe the trees up close. We talked about how each tree is unique—the texture of the bark, the shape of the crown, and the different colors of the leaves. We even collected a few leaf samples (those that had already fallen naturally) for a classroom collage activity.
• Literature Focus: We read several wonderful books that introduced the concept of trees, helping to build a strong base for next week’s more specific learning.

Next Week: Getting to the Root of It!

Next week, we will continue our Tree Unit by focusing on the parts of a tree and their specific functions. We will explore:

• Roots: Learning how they anchor the tree and absorb essential water and nutrients.
• Trunks: Understanding that they are the structural support and transportation system for water and food.
• Branches and Leaves: Discussing their roles in creating food through photosynthesis and providing shade and shelter.

We encourage you to support this learning at home! On your weekend walks, point out the roots (if visible), knock gently on the trunk, and talk about how the leaves on different trees look and feel.

Principal Appreciation Week

Next week we will celebrate our principal, Mrs. Brown. On Monday, we are encouraging all kids to wear her favorite colors (pink, or even leopard!) and on Friday, for Halloween, to dress as a dalmatian – while Mrs. Brown will be Cruella! The staff and students will celebrate her throughout the week. If you see her, make sure to thank her for all she does!

Halloween Party & Parade Details

Please keep the following schedule for our Halloween Class Party and the School Parade in mind. Your timely participation is essential for the smooth flow of the afternoon:

Please make a note of the schedule for our Halloween Class Party next week. We are looking forward to a fun-filled afternoon!

• 1:00 – 1:15 PM: Party Setup and Volunteer Check-in. 
• 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Classroom Party Events (Read-aloud and games). We are still looking for volunteers to help with the party – please sign up here. 
• 2:40 PM: Dismissal. Please be prompt in picking up your student at this time.
• 2:45 PM: School Halloween Parade. Preschool students, together with their families, are expected to participate in the all-school parade. Please plan on staying near our external door as preschool will line up first. 

Thank you in advance for helping us make the party and parade a success!

Field Trip Update

Thank you for submitting all the permission slips for our upcoming field trip on November 12th. We’re looking forward to a wonderful experience at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts! While we have collected all the permission slips, we are currently $450 short of our total amount due. We must pay the Denver Center in full by next Wednesday or they will cancel our trip.  If you have not yet paid for you and your child to attend by following the link below, please do so as soon as possible so that we can go on our one and only field trip this year.  Thank you for your prompt attention!

Payment link: https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/connect/donate

The cost of the field trip for kiddos is $20, which covers the cost of the ticket to the play and the cost of the bus.  For each family member, the cost is $16.  When you select “Donate directly to a specific school or program”, please choose Coronado Preschool. From there, please enter the amount needed to cover the cost of the bus and ticket(s).

If you have already made a payment, please either:

• Forward your payment receipt to my email at annie.kucharcik@jeffco.k12.co.us, or
• Send in a copy of your receipt with your student.

Have a safe and restful weekend. We can’t wait to see your student(s) on Monday!

Warmly,

The Preschool Team