Today in Room 5 we baked gingerbread cookies! We practiced literacy skills as we read the recipe together, math skills as we measured and counted our ingredients, and learned important lessons about science and nature as we manipulated those ingredients to see them transform into gingerbread dough! We counted using one-to-one correspondence as we laid our cookies out on their baking sheet and enjoyed listening to a reading of “The Gingerbread Man” as we gobbled them up with our snack. Yum!
It was SNOWING in the younger pod today! Teachers and children alike enjoyed some very entertaining snow-play “California-style” (no gloves needed and eco-conscious!).
Room 5 has been acquainting itself with the season of autumn through sensory integrations in our classroom learning centers. We have pumpkin spice mixed in with our sensory bin, autumn jewels alongside our playdough, and today we did “No-Mess Fingerpainting” on paper leaves to decorate our classroom!
Some friends decided to imprint their playdough with the autumn jewels while others saw an opportunity to build a landscape of “trees” by sorting out and only using the leaf jewels to stick up straight in their playdough! When children take place in activities that build on their fine motor skills (like making prints in playdough) they are learning about basic concepts of physics like force, quantity conservation and other other components of cause and effect. They are also engaging in language development as we discuss and describe what happens to the playdough and gems while they work. For example, “The jewel sinks into the playdough when you push it down” is an observation we made which inspired a conversation about homonyms! Some words sound and are spelled exactly the same but can have very different meanings… which is a lot for a hard-working brain of only two years to make sense of! By talking through these fun quirks of language with their teachers, and a first-hand example, these abstract concepts are made much more concrete to our young friends!
Our mess-free fingerpainting activity had many scientific and sensory learning points as well! Our young friends were amazed as they ran their fingers all over the paint on their leaf and found absolutely none of it transferred to their hands! We covered the paint with a clear plastic bag and they got to smush and swirl it all around to their hearts content without getting any on their bodies- what a trip! We talked about the qualities of different materials and why their hands were not messy as they painted. Perhaps the best part for them was the unveiling of their beautiful work of art at the end as they peeled away the plastic from their leaf to reveal a vibrant mix of autumn colors. 
Room 5 is learning so much every day in so many ways and we are exceptionally grateful to the loving and amazing families who bless us with their children each day. Room 5 parents contribute so much to our classroom to enrich their experience (and help their teachers out!) that we can’t help but gush at the awesome blessings we have before us. May peace be with you all as we enter this season of thankfulness and praise.
Wow! What a fantastic Site Work Day! Our amazing group of parents and teachers showed up with coffee, doughnuts and work gloves on ready to beautify the school. We are so blessed!
Cots and classrooms cleaned? Check!
New mulch? Check!
Fluffy sand? Check!
Tree Cookies removed? Check!
Garden overhauled and leveled? Check!
(Check back for more garden updates…we will be revamping it over the next few weeks!).
Thanks again for all your help!!
The older pod rooms 1 and 2 created collages using miscellaneous wooden pieces along with small pine cones. They then painted the artwork with a fall palette and finished it off with a dash of glitter for spark. A resemblance of Rauschenberg’s art style and process. I personally loved each one of the pieces.
Our little Younger Pod students have been having a blast exploring our fall explosion in the big yard. Pumpkins, hay, and gourds! Oh my! Take a look at our discoveries…
So you might be wondering what the children do after their hour-long adventure on the playground, but rest assured that their day is full of fun activities. Once the clock strikes 10, Room 3 ventures back inside the classroom to sing songs, read many different books and more during Morning Meeting. However, the excitement doesn’t stop there…but let us leave that for another blog post. 
Can you believe school has been in session over a month already? We are now “falling” into the autumn season…one of our favorites here at preschool. Though the weather isn’t necessarily cooperating (20-30 degrees cooler would be much more on par with ‘fall’ weather!), all the classrooms are gearing up to study fall, harvest and all that this season brings. Within the next week or so, you will see our Outdoor Classroom transform into a festival of color with pumpkins, gourds, and more adorning the yard.
In the News:
Moonlight Magic: Moonlight Magic is right around the corner (Friday, October 14th). Please sign up by October 10th to reserve your child’s space (flyer attached). You can enjoy an evening out while the children enjoy “Moonlight” yard time (complete with flashlights or glow sticks!), pajama parties, pizza, then popcorn and a movie!
Speech Assessments: Justine Sherman & Associates will be conducting speech screenings on October 11th & 12th. These screenings help assess your child’s expressive and receptive language, as well as his/her articulation. These screenings are optional and cost $45. A permission form is required and will be sent out next week. Please discuss with your child’s teacher their recommendation for your child.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Conferences will be held October 28th. Sign-ups will be available next week. This is a non-student day. Care will be provided for students during your scheduled conference time. Please make every effort to attend these conferences as this is your opportunity to talk with the teachers one-on-one and your teacher will share with you your child’s progress thus far.
Observation Days: PCS offers several formal Observation Days where prospective parents can listen to a short message from Dr. Gray and then tour the campuses. If you are interested in PCS TK or Kindergarten, this is a great opportunity for you to see the school in action. Also, if you have friends who would enjoy PCS, please mention our Observation Days to them! To sign up, visit http://www.pasadenachristian.org/admissions/observationdayres.cfm
Dates available: Thursday October 6, November 3, November 17, December 1, and January 12
Volunteer Opportunities:
https://signup.com/group/1186271400029
Earn 2 MVP hours for donating to the Qin family’s Meal Train! Click here to sign up: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/rv685w
Communication:
PLEASE FOLLOW the Preschool Blog for classroom updates: www.pasadenachristianpreschool.com
PCS Weekly: Check your emails for the PCS Weekly! This e-letter features links for volunteer opportunities, the main calendar, and more!
Calendar
Friday, Oct. 6th – PCS Observation Day
Tuesday, Oct. 11 – Speech Screenings
Wednesday, Oct. 12 – Speech Screenings
Thursday & Friday, October 13 & 14 – Preschool Individual Photos
Friday, Oct. 14 – MOONLIGHT MAGIC! (aka Parent’s Night Out!) – Don’t forget to sign up!
Thursday, Oct. 20th – Great Shake Out All-School Earthquake Drill
Saturday, Oct. 22 – Site Work Day – DOUBLE MVP hours!
Friday, Oct. 28 – Parent Teacher Conferences – No School
Thursday, Nov. 3 – Make-up Picture Day
Friday, Nov. 4 – NO SCHOOL (Professional Development Day)
Saturday, Nov. 12 – PCS Fall Festival! MVP Hours available!
Monday, Nov. 21 & Tuesday, Nov. 22 – Stone Soup Days
November 23 – 25 – Thanksgiving Holidays! No School
As always, if you have any comments, concerns, questions or praises, please feel free to contact me via email, phone, personal visit!
Blessings,
Kristin Perez
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