Medfield Children’s Center
Pleasant Street
JUNE 2009 NEWSLETTER
www.medfieldchildrenscenter.com
Theme…
SUMMER FUN!
Mark Your Calendar…
Last Day of School
· PreK – Mon., June 8th
· Nursery – Tues., June 9th
PreK Graduation – Wed., June 10th at 1:00
We ask the graduates to please arrive at 12:45. J
Attached Poem and Article
I hope you will take the time to read the attached poem and article. I especially love, I Wish you Dandelions and Mud Puddles! Kids are so special and childhood is so short, that we really need to take the time to learn from them. Every afternoon my own “little one” stops to make wishes on a dandelion tuft, and the morning that I came in to work on this newsletter, before crossing the street to go to his school, my son spotted a dandelion and stopped to look at it and give it a smell. The clock was ticking, but stopping to smell a dandelion only took a few seconds!
Part of I Wish You Dandelions and Mud Puddles also reminded me of a great children’s book. If you get the chance, I hope you’ll stop to read One Smile by Cindy McKinley. What a different world it would be if we all took the time to smile a little more!
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While writing this, I asked the teachers, and even Miss Sara from Stony Brook, what they call the fluffy white seeds of the dandelion. Nobody was sure. Mrs. Sullivan said she always called it “dandelion tuft” and Miss Sara said that sounded good. Well, Mrs. Sullivan, while on a trip to the bathroom with a PreK friend, asked the girl what she calls them. Without hesitation and with assured, precious, innocent knowledge she said, “A wish flower”…as simple as that! An answer as precious and perfect as the person who said it! I asked her if she made wishes. She said yes and said she keeps the wishes in her head. Then she said her wishes always come true because she wishes for the moon and stars…”they’re always there!”
Grab a “wish flower” and make a wish (Don’t worry about the weeds that may grow, just imagine all the wishes you can make!)
Creepy-Crawly Critters
Our five tiny caterpillars turned into big caterpillars in no time and you won’t believe what happened then…they crawled to the top of the cup, hung upside down, and formed beautiful chrysalises! We moved them into a butterfly “tent” and are anxiously waiting to see what happens next! Once they emerge from the chrysalises, we will feed them sugar water sprinkled on a flower, or maybe an orange or watermelon slice, watch them for a day or two, and then release them into the warm spring air where they can fly off to do their jobs…pollinate flowers that create food for other wildlife, make the world a prettier place, and put a smile on the faces of children who try to catch them for an up-close look!
2009-2010 Enrollment
Please spread the word…we have 3 openings for our PreK program next year.
Although we would love to have afternoon classes, we don’t yet have enough interest. So, if you know anyone who may be interested in an afternoon class (12:30-3:00) for their child, please let them know. We’d love to welcome new friends to our school! Thanks!
Miss Elaine (Nursery)
Miss Elaine sang about fun spring things, like how to grow a garden and butterfly wings!
She gave them beautiful butterfly wings (scarves) and they pretended to be caterpillars who build a chrysalis and emerge butterflies. But if you woke up different like a caterpillar, what would you wish to be? That’s what Miss Elaine asked the kids. Ask your child too and see what he/she tells you! Just imagine if that wish could come true…what would you wish to wake up to be?
Imogene doesn’t wake up totally different like a caterpillar does, but something strange does happen to her. Read Imogene’s Antlers by David Small to find out what!
Miss Lorraine
Did your child tell you all about Miss Lorraine’s visit and her silly puppets?
If he/she didn’t, be sure to ask. You probably could have heard their squeals of laughter down the street. J
Miss Lorraine should win an Academy award. We thought Bucky, her horse puppet, was really broken, but without warning, he starting squirting water at everybody! Miss Lorraine asked Bucky to open his mouth to count his teeth, but he gave her a hard time and only opened his mouth when she wasn’t looking…the kids could barely catch their breaths from laughing and screaming so hard!
After her visit, while the kids were eating lunch, one friend was eating an apple and said, “Look, I’m brushing my teeth!” Another friend quietly tucked a fruit roll up back into his lunchbox and wouldn’t eat it (Miss Lorraine said they’re bad for your teeth and should only be a once-in-awhile treat…her message got through! J) And if your child starts asking for bananas, Miss Lorraine said they are so good for you that they help you run faster and jump higher!
I just discovered Vera Rosenberg’s books this past winter while visiting the library and think they’re great. Vera Goes to the Dentist is a good one!
South Street’s Summer Program
Summertime fun is still available at our South Street school.
If you’re interested in summer program information,
please see Sharon Maillet!
Stony Brook (PreK)
Sadly, it was our last Stony Brook class! L
We know how much the kids love Miss Sara’s visits!
The teachers wrote down a lot of fun facts for you this month…
· Did you know female bees do ALL the work and the male bees do nothing? Miss Sarah let the kids be either girl or boy bees. All the girls were busy girl bees and ONE boy was a busy “girl bee”, while all the other boys chose to be not busy boy bees and just sat!
· The queen bee starts the hive and her body makes the wax.
· Only female mosquitoes bite.
· Dragonflies breathe through holes in their abdomen.
· Paper wasps make their hives out of wood and saliva to create a paper hive.
Ask your little “bees” all about it!
Sunscreen
Hot, sunny days are here! Please apply sunscreen so your child can enjoy fun
in the sun in the play yard with no worries! Thank you!
Xaverian Students
Thank you for the wonderful response to our homework request.
The children’s artwork and words for Andrew, Nolan, and Robby were so appreciated by the boys. It meant a lot to them that you took the time to make a page for their books…a keepsake they will treasure.
We miss the “big boys.” We were thrilled when Robby stopped by for a visit on one of our PreK days!
Birthday Wishes
Happy birthday to our friends who celebrate their birthdays this summer…
June…Anna S. (2), Scarlett (4), Alison R. (5), Max (7), Allison L. (9), Hailey T. (15),
Brian (28)…Mrs. Baker (15) and Mrs. Martin (30)
July…David (16), Brett (20), Jared (27)
August…Sophie (5), Jack B. (19), Elizabeth (19), Thomas (25)
Hope all your birthday wishes come true!
Kid Quotes
“Well, I’ve had a hell of a day. Now I’m outta here!” Said as he was walking up the stairs to go outside after lunch. Don’t worry, no little ears heard. J
During lunch, a PreK boy was yelling across the table to a friend. His friend didn’t hear him, so he yelled, “Hey, do you need hearing aids?”
A Nursery girl was examining a teacher’s ears (in dramatic play during Good Health month) and said, “You have itchy footitis!”
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CLASSROOM CORNER
PreK
MRS. BAKER
The month of May was enjoyed by all as we celebrated Good Health. It all began as we learned important ways to keep our teeth healthy. A visit from Miss Lorraine, along with her puppet friends Dr. Petrie and her horse named Bucky, reminded us how important it is to brush two times each day and to remember to floss. Did you know that when you eat an apple, it’s like brushing your teeth? Ask your expert what they remember about healthy teeth. Dr. Petrie and Bucky were entertaining and it was very funny when Bucky squirted everyone with water. Thanks Miss Lorraine for teaching us so many important facts! Along with healthy teeth, we talked about a healthy body and healthy foods. We made a chart of healthy food and junky food and everyone realized that as delicious as sweets and treats are, we just can’t eat them all of the time. We took time to cut out pictures of healthy and junky food and were introduced to “Healthy Helen” and “Junky Jim”. Healthy Helen loves to eat healthy food and Junky Jim enjoys lots of junk food. It was fun deciding which foods to feed Helen and Jim. Hope you had a chance to check them out. We put our chef’s hat on and made delicious English muffin pizzas. They were just as fun to make as they were to eat. With only three letters to go, we have just about completed the alphabet…WOW! We are looking forward to many fun “end of the year” activities and hope to squeeze in extra time outside as the warm weather approaches.
MRS. MARTIN
May is coming to an end and I can’t believe that our school year is, too. May was full of fun and celebrating. We learned all about what makes us healthy. We talked about healthy foods to eat and some unhealthy snacks that we love, but should only eat occasionally. Miss Lorraine came to visit us to talk about taking care of our teeth. She brought along two puppet friends, Dr. Petrie and Bucky, the horse. It was so nice to celebrate Mother’s Day early with all the special moms from our class at our Mother’s Day tea. The Xaverian boys left us to graduate from high school. They are really missed! We’re looking forward to some summer fun and graduation from preschool in June! Thank you to all the families for sharing your precious children with us! I love them all! Happy Summer!
Nursery
MRS. MARTIN
May was a fun month for all of us and I can’t believe that the school year is coming to an end! We talked all about keeping healthy and what kinds of foods help us grow big and strong. Miss Lorraine visited us with her puppet friends, Dr. Petrie and Bucky, the horse. They talked to us about caring for our teeth. We enjoyed celebrating Mother’s Day early with all the moms from our class at our Mother’s Day tea. The Xaverian boys left us to graduate from high school. The children enjoyed having them here and really miss them. We’re looking forward to some summer fun in June. Thank you to all the families for sharing your prized possessions with us! I love them all. Happy Summer!
MRS. RULL
Our month of May was full of learning and fun. Some of the topics of discussion at circle time have been going to the doctor’s, eating healthy foods, taking good care of our teeth and making sure we cover our coughs and sneezes. The classroom doctor’s office was very well staffed with nurses and doctors eagerly helping classmate and teacher patients. Miss Lorraine from Dental Associates in Walpole visited our classroom with her friends Dr. Petrie and Bucky (puppets). She quickly captured the children’s attention and filled the classroom with laughter!
We have also been busy watching our caterpillars making their chrysalises and looking at our bird’s nest in our Science area. Our Nursery Stars have been proudly sharing their photos and favorite toys with classmates. Miss Elaine also visited us to share songs about butterflies and ladybugs. We transformed ourselves into butterflies as we flew, jumped, and twirled in the garden!
Thank you for coming and celebrating Mother’s Day with your child and us. Your support is invaluable.
As the school year comes to a close, I would like to thank you so much for allowing me to work with your precious children. They are truly delightful and I will look forward to seeing them in the fall. Have a wonderful and relaxing summer!
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World of Whimsy and Wonder!
From our classroom to yours…
Enjoy the warmth of beautiful summer days…
grab an easel, clipboard, or notebook
and head outside!
Create with crayons on paper, then paint with watercolors on top of
your picture, writing, or design and watch what happens!
(Imagination, Science, Math, Literacy!)
Take a clipboard along and go on a nature walk.
Draw and write about what you see!
(Science, Math, Art, Literacy!)
Keep a journal!
Have a question of the day and write your child’s response?
Write your response too (Mom, Dad, Brothers, Sisters).
What a fun way to remember the summer!
(And it reinforces the fun of reading and writing!)
Make your own clipboard…cut a sturdy piece of cardboard the size you want and use a clothespin to “clip” the paper on!
(Great way to recycle!)
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These are fun songs we’ve sung throughout the year!
Did you try Hello, My Name is Joe, from last month’s newsletter song?
These are other school favorites!
Hot Dogs
(start with any number you want)
3 little hot dogs cooking in the pan,
the pan got hot and 1 went BAM!
2 little hot dogs cooking in the pan,
the pan got hot and 1 went BAM!
1 little hot dog cooking in the pan,
the pan got hot and 1 went BAM!
0 little hot dogs cooking in the pan,
the pan got hot and it went BAM!
Sticky, Sticky Bubble Gum
Sticky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, bubble gum, bubble gum!
Sticky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum makes your hands stick to your head!
And you pull them, and you pull them, and you pull them away!
Sticky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, bubble gum, bubble gum!
Sticky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, makes your hands stick to your…
Nose
Toes
Knees
Elbows
Ears
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Book Nook
Did you read to find out which character says, “Toodle-oo!”? (From last month’s Book Nook)
Apply your sunscreen, grab a chair or blanket, and
enjoy some sun and summer reading!
Jungle Bullies
by Steven Kroll
illus. by Vincent Nguyen
Nobody likes to be bullied. And we all hope our little ones will never be. This is a wonderful story that shows how one little monkey deals with jungle bullies. I hate to spoil a book, but I’ll let you in on one of it’s secrets…”Don’t tell me what to do, this spot’s big enough for two. Share it with me as a friend, don’t be mean to me again.”
The Recess Queen
by Alexis O’Neill
illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Speaking of bullies, there’s one in this book too. Kids love this rhyming book and relate to its big, colorful illustrations that really “tell” the story. Little listeners sit riveted to find out what Mean Jean will do.
The Recess Queen shows what the power of a kind “jump rope song” and the offer of friendship can do.
So…“I like ice cream,
I like tea,
I want you to”…
read and see!
It’s the Bear
by Jez Alborough
Before you set up a blanket and a picnic basket, you may want to give this book a read. J
Eddie is so sure there’s a bear in the woods next to where his mom wants to have a picnic.
Kids always sit wide-eye and silently engrossed to find out if he’s right!
Tops & Bottoms
adapted and illustrated by Janet Stevens
If you plan on planting a garden…or love vegetables…or love bears and rabbits…or love a clever mind…or just love a good book…open this one, not from side to side, but from top to bottom!
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We can’t believe school is over !
We loved every minute!
Have a healthy summer filled with all the fun things sunny days bring!