Shaping Hearts and Minds for LIfe
The Pasadena Preschool Fair is right around the corner! This fair features local preschools, preschool enrichment opportunities, and preschool-oriented vendors from around the area. Help us spread the word by telling your friends and sharing this link on social media.
And of course, swing by the Pasadena Christian Preschool booth to say hello!
The students did such a great job at our annual Great Shake Out Earthquake Drill. At 10:17 am, on 10/17, we sounded the alarms (well…the elementary school did…the preschool simply played the “bunny in the hole” game). After we assumed the duck and cover position, we headed to the parking lot, took role call, and then continued to the PCS Field where the remainder of the drill was conducted.
While the preschoolers enjoyed snacks and a ukulele serenade by Mr. Tim, the older students and PCS staff conducted mock scenarios of injured students being sent to first aid triage station, staff “stuck” in buildings, sidewalk/pathway closures, etc. The Pasadena Fire Department also came by with their truck to ensure we were all “safe” and to evaluate our efforts.
Each year, we refine and improve our processes so that we are as ready as we can be. That said, we will continue to pray that our school is protected with grace and blessings and that we will not ever need to use our skills at school!
We talked about how fruit is grown on a tree and when to harvest the fruit. We also talked about the fruit of the spirit and how those characteristics help us to be a good friend. Each student painted their very own apple tree. 😉
May this fall you go apple picking with your family, it makes for great memories. -Mrs. Monica
Happy fall everyone! While the leaves are still green here in California, fall colors are popping up everywhere in the preschool! Our classrooms and yard are being filled with pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, textures and sizes. The children are enjoying these fall explorations though sensory bins, cooking activities, art, dramatic play centers, and more! We will culminate our fall fun with Apple & Pumpkin Day parties at the end of October and an older pod field trip to the farm in November. While the older pod is away, the younger pod will have their own ‘farm fun’ on site!
OCTOBER CURRICULUM
Fall is one of our most favorite seasons of the year in preschool. From enjoying pumpkins and apples to farm field trips and harvest parties, we love it all! Â This month, we will dive into the wonderful world of autumn and will investigate: leaves changing colors (bring some in if you happen to find some red or yellow ones!), cooler weather, families, and the harvest season. Click the link below to get a preview of the themes, skills and concepts we will be learning this month. As a reminder, 2’s will play with these concepts, 3’s explore and expand, and 4’s begin mastery.Â
CLICK HERE FOR THE MONTHLY SKILLS SHEET!!
WHAT’S ON THE MENU?
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR HOUSEKEEPING:
Classroom Sign-in Logs:Â Per state licensing, a FULL SIGNATURE is required on our classroom sign-in logs. We can be fined for non-compliance, so please help us stay in compliance by signing your full signature each day.
Drop-Offs: Thank you for continuing to drop off quickly in the mornings, especially during “rush hour” (7:45-9:00). Please be sure to greet the teacher with your child in the morning to ensure the teacher is aware of his/her arrival. Students should never be dropped off to an empty classroom or left on the yard with another classroom. In addition, please do not let your child go ahead of you into a classroom unattended in the morning while you are checking in.
 Siblings at School: Just a gentle reminder that if you bring a non-enrolled sibling to school during drop-off and pick-up, please keep them within arms reach at all times. By law, they may not be left unattended on the yard, in the car, or in the classrooms, even if you think you will be “just a second.” We appreciate your cooperation!
Parking Lot: Thank you for your continued “Christian” courtesy in our parking lot…especially when it is busy in the mornings. Drive in slowly, park carefully, and watch out for our precious little ones.
NEWS, NOTES & MORE
PCS Observation Days! If you have friends who are interested in enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year, online applications will be available on the PCS website beginning in October. Please tell your friends to call for a tour or attend an Observation Day, and apply EARLY to get on our applicant list. Be sure they tell us who referred them! We LOVE our word-of-mouth referrals!
UPCOMING EVENTS:Â
Preschool Picture Days – Fall candid/yard photos with Adrea Scheidler Photography will be held October 2 – 4. Teachers will post photo schedules prior to the photography session. Traditional preschool portraits (all students) and “Graduate” photos (rising TK/K) with LifeTouch will be taken in the spring.
Speech Screenings – October 3 –Â Optional speech screenings will be offered on October 3rd for anyone interested. The cost is $30. More details to follow.
Moonlight Magic (CLICK FOR FLYER) – October 11 – 6:00 – 9:00
Moonlight Magic is coming soon! Student will enjoy an evening of PJs, PIZZA and FUN while you enjoy an evening out!
Space is limited! Register ASAP to reserve your space! Elementary siblings may enroll through BYH. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Site Work Day – Saturday, October 12 – DOUBLE MVP Hours for “labor” 1 MVP per donated item! CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER! Help us deep clean cubbies, beautify the garden, till the sandbox, haul in our fresh new mulch, and re-organize our preschool library!
Elks Vision Screening – October 17 & 18Â – Elks Vision will be here on September 27 & 28 to conduct FREE vision screenings of our students (donations appreciated!). Permission forms will be available in the front office from October 6 – 10.Â
October 24 – Teacher In-Service Day – No Students
October 25 – Parent Teacher Conferences – No Students – Please note that we require all parents to attend our fall conferences. During this conference, you will receive your child’s first Developmental Profile and will have a chance to discuss your child’s progress with his/her teacher.Â
October 30 & 31 – Pumpkin & Apple Day! This is a day filled with all things fall! From cooking and art activities to pumpkin ring tosses and apple tasting explorations, the children always enjoy this annual event. Please check with your classroom teacher for details.
Stone Soup Days – November 21 & 22 – Please note the change of date! Stone Soup days are an annual tradition where we read the book, “Stone Soup” and then we all participate in cooking a community pot of vegetable soup. As many of our families travel for Thanksgiving, we have changed the dates of this event to November 21 & 22 so that all students can participate in the fun!
PARENT TEACHER FELLOWSHIP (PTF):
A HUGE thank you goes out to all of the wonderful parents who volunteered to serve each classroom. Please be on the lookout for emails from your room parents outlining upcoming events, the classroom Meet and Greet event, and more!
MVP Booklets/Hours: If you did not receive an MVP booklet, please stop by the preschool office. All families are required to complete 10 hours by the end of the school year.Â
TEACHER TREATS:
Our teachers so appreciate these tokens of gratitude! Please watch for emails from your Room Parents regarding your classroom’s Teacher Treat day :-).
September 27 – Parents of Room 1 – THANK YOU! The teachers enjoyed the bagels for breakfast and Baja Fresh lunch! WOW…we were so spoiled!
October 18 – Parents of Room 2
November 22 – Parents of Room 3
December 6 – Parents of Room 4
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Volunteer opportunities are available! CLICK HERE to register for all-school events through signup.com!
SITE WORK DAY is right around the corner. WE require LOTS of help on this day. Parents earn DOUBLE hours for volunteering at the event and single hours for food donations.
Classroom opportunities will be sent out by the Room Parents and/or teachers. Thank you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TEACHERS!!!
October 4 – Ms. Sarah (Room 1)
October 4 – Mr. Sam (Substitute)
October 5 – Ms. Daisy (Room 2)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:Â Â Â
October 2 – 4 – Candid Fall Photos by Adrea Scheidler Photography
October 10 – PCS Observation DayÂ
October 11 – Moonlight Magic, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
October 12 (Sat) – Preschool Site Work Day, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 17 & 18 – Elks Vision Screenings
October 24 – Preschool Teacher In-Service Day – No Students; TK-8th Min. Day
October 25 – Parent-Teacher Conferences (1st Report) – No Students
October 30 & 31 – Pumpkin & Apple Day parties (see notices in classrooms)
November 2 (Sat) – PCS Fall Festival – All Welcome!
November 11 – Veteran’s Day Observed – School Closed
November 14 – OB Day / PCS Orchestra Visits Preschool
November 15 – Older Pod Field Trip: Underwood Family Farms – Volunteers Needed!
November 21 & 22 – Stone Soup Days (Lunch Provided) **Please note the NEW dates!**
November 27 – 29 – Thanksgiving Break – School Closed
November 25 – 29 – Note: TK-8 & Business Office Closed
December 5 – PCS Observation Day – Tell Your Friends OR View the PCS Kindergarten!
December 7 (Sat) – PCS Christmas Breakfast
December 13 – Grandparents’ Day – Minimum Day, Dismiss at 12:00 p.m.
December 14 (Sat) – Preschool Happy Birthday Jesus Party, 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
December 16 & 17 – Preschool PJ & Hot Cocoa Day
December 19 – Minimum Day, Dismiss at 12:00 p.m. – Happy Holidays!
December 20 – Jan. 4 – Christmas Holidays – School Closed
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This month in Room 1 has been “beary” busy as we have been discovering the wonderful world of Corduroy! Centering around the lovable story by Don Freeman, we have been learning how to retell stories, lace, draw lines and patterns, stamp, paint and create our own adventure using characters we know, all under the guise of having fun with our friend Corduroy! To culminate our time with our fuzzy friend, we had a Bear Party! We made bear hats, button necklaces, bear hand puppets, button frames, played with small bears and their dens, ate Teddy Grahams (of course) and had a special snuggle area with pillows and plenty of bear books to go around. We then had the immense privilege of having the author of many new Corduroy books, B. G. Hennessy, come and read to us! We went on a bear hunt using the incredibly fun Greg & Steve song and ended our time watching the Corduroy movie with our own teddy bears! It has been such a great first month in Room 1 and there are so many more adventures in store, we can “bearly stand it! 😉
Today we had the extreme privilege of a visit from B.G. Hennessy, the current author of the Corduroy books, as well as over 35 other children’s titles. She is the proud grandmother of two of our own preschool kiddos who were extremely proud to share her with us. Each classroom was blessed with an individual presentation by Mrs. Hennessy. The kids from Room 5 to 1 sat in rapt attention as she shared her fantastic and whimsical stories with us. We can’t thank her enough for her visit and sincerely hope she comes back soon.
By nature , children this age can be more concerned about their own needs and even act selfishly. Often they refuse to share anything that interest them, and they do not easily interact with other children, even when playing side by side, unless it’s to let a playmate know that they would like a toy or object for themselves. This is a normal behavior for most two’s.
Some of our children in class are beginning to interact with their peers. You will see some of them engaging in pretend play. Pretend play builds language , thinking, many social skills when children take on roles and develop their own ideas and stories. Two year olds are also capable of empathy, understanding the feelings of others. 
The students and I talked about how an object balances, and what balance is. They also listened to the story by Dr. Seuss, Ten Apples Up on Top. We also practiced drawing circles. Then they painted many red apple circles. We even had fun counting them afterwards. 😉
-Mrs. Monica (Art Teacher)
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