January 19, 2012

Mark your Calendar

• Wed. & Thurs. February 1 & 2 “All School Chapel” St. Valentine 9:00
• Friday, February 10, Parent Group Meeting in Parish Hall 9:15
• Tues., Feb. 14, “Sweetheart Lunch” (daddy or special guest) at 12:30 at your child’s school, all Tuesday/Thursday Classes

• Wed., Feb. 15 “Sweetheart Lunch” (daddy or special guest) at 12:30 at your child’s school, all MWF Classes and Blue Family

• Mon. February 20, President’s Day, no preschool
• Friday, Feb. 24, Parent-Teacher Conferences for MWF and 5 day children

I-HELP OUTREACH

Whitnee Johnson, Bryce’s mommy in the Blue Family, has put out a box at each location for new men’s socks at the church site and good used men’s jackets/warm wear at the grange site. Please help the homeless men of Salinas by donating to the I-Help program.

Chapel Corner

There was a TV show in the 60′s called Kids Say the Darndest Things hosted by Art Linkletter.  Sometimes in Chapel I think I’m on the set.  Last week a child asked why one of his classmates didn’t pray out loud.  I explained that sometimes people like to pray using their “out loud” voices, and sometimes people like to quietly talk to God with their brains.  He quickly said, “Brains don’t talk”.  We will conclude our story of Abraham and Sarah this week and find out if very old Sarah is really going to have a baby.  Peace+ Chaplain Michelle

Spanish at the Grange:  This week the students at the grange are starting a Spanish class in the preschool program.  We used to have a Spanish teacher but the budget has not allowed us to afford the program.  Laura Palmer, a preschool parent and bi-lingual elementary teacher (Kindergarten) is now teaching Spanish to children.  The parents at the Grange decided that they would pay a “Cultural Fee” of approx. $10.00 a month in order to have a Spanish class.  The class is once a week for about 25 minutes.  January 18 was the first class and it was phenomenal.  She is a kinesthetic teacher so the children are in motion.  The children retain more knowledge when they are actively involved.  If this works great and parents don’t mind paying a “Cultural Fee” for the class then we can make it work at both sites for next year!

Miss Bethany’s Music Corner

We started off the year 2012 with lots of activity and dance during our music time. We have danced to African music, Cuban music and up to date modern music. We offer props that the children can dance with and so far we have used balloons, scarves and streamers. The children have been introduced to instruments like the guitar, the xylophone, tambourines and unique percussive instruments. Every one gets a chance to explore whatever instrument I bring to music, which gives them a chance to play the instrument however they want (soft, loud, strong, quiet, etc.). We recently did an activity with puppets, each child had an animal puppet and we pretended to go to grandpa’s farm! This was a great activity that incorporated waiting, responding, and cooperative interaction in a fun way. Since we are getting close to Valentines Day we’ve begun singing songs like “skidamarink” and doing flannels such as “square planet”. Ask your children about these songs, they may sing them for you!