Teacher Appreciation Week!

For most teachers, the greatest reward for their job is seeing their students thrive and succeed. They just want to know they've helped. Thus, one of the most important things students can do for their teachers is say thank you. Appreciating your teacher should't be limited to a single day or special event. Teachers change lives  every day, and it's important to ensure they know they are appreciated. Thank you to ALL of our wonderful parents for all the love and support we've received.

Hot Car Safety!

Summer is coming, and that means hot temperatures! As the temperatures rise please be keep in mind to check your car for any children before you leave. For the past 20 years 744 children have died from pediatric vehicular heatstroke. All 744 deaths were 100 percent preventable. 

 Here are some tips to help you prevent this from happening to you! 

1. Always check the back seat

2. Place a child's item in the front seat

3. Place a personal item in the back

4. Create a plan as a family to prevent this from happening

Snails, Slugs, and Science... Oh My!

Scientific exploration can take place anywhere and anytime! Children are constantly using their scientific prowess to solve problems everyday! They use science to determine the weather, how hard to throw a ball on the playground, how to build a sturdy structure in the block center, and so much more! This week, our Pre-K 2 class used science to identify snails and slugs in their class science log! They used critical thinking and the scientific method to distinguish between a slug or snail and to find tracks that they may leave behind! They loved asking questions about how slugs and snails eat, sleep, and play! Scientific exploration can be so much fun! 

Green Our Scene!

In honor of Earth Day we decided to "Green Our Scene" with a trash cleanup! Our children loved helping the Earth during our cleanup! They loved learning how keeping our Earth clean helps us have clean air and water for all the creatures living on planet Earth! We are so proud of all their hard work! Great job, children! 

Below are some fun ways to celebrate Earth Day! 

1. Plant a tree or some pollinator friendly plants!

2. Turn weeds, leaves, and food waste into fresh compost for your plants!

3. Make an Earth inspired snack, such as, ants on a log! 

4. Create a bird feeder with pinecones!

5. Buy fresh produce from your local farmers market! 

Our Growing Garden!

Our school garden has grown tremendously over the past few weeks! This week we had to move our vegetables from their milk jug containers to bigger containers! The children have loved watching the vegetables grow! They are so full of questions every time they see the garden! It is so great being able to watch them learn about the life cycle of a plant! 

Learning and Laughter!

Laughter is a crucial part of a child's development. When children laugh their dopamine reward system is activated which stimulates long term memory and goal oriented learning! Laughter can also help children connect with their peers! Today we laughed and learned at the "Funny Dummy Show"! The children had so much fun laughing and learning with all the funny dummies! They laughed the whole time and loved building community during the show! 

Learning About Kiwi!

This week we had the opportunity to learn about the super fruit, kiwi! Our students had the chance to try kiwi during their afternoon snack while our health and wellness coordinator taught them some fun kiwifruit facts! The children loved having their minds and bodies nourished during this very special snack! Below our some kiwifruit fun facts! 

1. The kiwifruit was first found in China.

2. Kiwifruits can produce fruits up to 30 years.

3. Kiwifruit grow on vines that can grow up to 33 feet in length.

4. Kiwifruit contains twice as much vitamin C as oranges.

5. Kiwifruit can help improve the function of your immune system.

Learn and Grow!

Children curious, like to learn by doing, and love to play in the dirt. Working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life firsthand.

Gardening Is Fun For All!

Children learn from growing things

People of all ages can enjoy gardening, but children in particular will have lots of fun and gain benefits. Gardening is educational and develops new skills including:

• Responsibility – from caring for plants
• Understanding – as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants)
• Self-confidence – from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown
• Love of nature – a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place
• Reasoning and discovery – learning about the science of plants, animals, weather, the environment, nutrition and simple construction
• Physical activity – doing something fun and productive
• Cooperation – including shared play activity and teamwork
• Creativity – finding new and exciting ways to grow food
• Nutrition – learning about where fresh food comes from.
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