Pizza Friday

 This week's blog and pictures are a little bit evasive.  We are busy as you can see.  Friends are holding paint stampers, creating trees, drawing faces, coloring a squirrel and showing a painted hand.  The  most that  we will tell you is that we are working hard to add a special touch to our graduation program.  You will be pleased and surprised when you see what is really happening here.

The one thing we will share with you is about the photos of facial expressions-happy, silly, grumpy and surprised.  Our drawings of faces led to a discussion of various emotions and situations that cause them.  The class could not resist the opportunity to have fun and demonstrate these feelings.

At the blog's end you can join our pizza lunch.  Friday is by far the favorite lunch day of the week.  Not only is the pizza delicious, but it is the only day of the week that everyone stays for lunch.  So much talking, laughing and friendship happens here.  The teachers always watch the two lunch tables and marvel at just how much the Whole Note children really like each other.  They have all become very good friends.  It does not matter which table the youngsters are at or who they are eating with.  The respect for each others comments and opinions is very obvious.  This pleasant comradery does not always take place in classrooms.  But in our room it is recognizable to all who enter, therefore making the teachers very proud.

Enjoy the long weekend.  See you on Tuesday.

Rolene and Jackie  

Smiling Faces

 We began our week by continuing to work on our yearbooks so that they can be delivered to the "Teacher Publishing Company" in order to have pages put in order, corrections made, pictures organized and the like.  Our topic for discussion and illustration was about doing good deeds,  in this case something that could make you a kind friend or helper (preschool level).  We first read the book "Rainbow Fish to the Rescue" in which Rainbow Fish very bravely saves a small striped fish from being eaten by a whale (obviously a good deed).  Your children thought about something they had done to also fulfill this capacity.  Some great answers included helping a Dad to garden, teaching a Mom how to build with legos, reading to a younger sibling, helping a Grandmother to cut watermelon, showing a classmate how to draw and pitching in to clean up after a family party.  The children are shown here working on these pages for their yearbooks.  Two other yearbook projects featured are friends signing their names for an autograph page and one Whole Note member answering questions for his yearbook interview with a teacher.

At our art/writing center two new activities for free choice time were offered this week that you can view.  One was the opportunity to create your own book by drawing and writing in the blank books made and put out by the teachers. The other was the chance to use word cards about spring to either model from or copy printed words.  You will observe new stands to prop up the word cards, making it easier to see as you work.  Both offerings are to encourage beginning literacy.

The other photos are from this week's outdoor time on our playground.  Notice the smiles!  EEC is now allowing the children and teachers to play outside without a mask.  Some youngsters are in the sandbox baking or cooking.  Other friends are climbing the ladder to bravely come down the slide. Still there are a few more enjoying a tea party under the structure.  How much better we could all breathe on that warm day.  It was so great to once again see the beautiful and handsome faces on the children!  As restrictions are lifted, we are sure to have more socialization with other classes and see more excited facial expressions on the group.

Remember that next weekend is a holiday weekend with no school on Monday, the 31st.

Rolene and Jackie  

The Worry Eater

 A friend who works with children lent us her worry eater this week.  That is the adorable "little fellow" you see first on the blog.  Worries are placed in the zipper pocket to be eaten and therefore disappear.  You might wonder why we would borrow the little guy.  Children worry just like adults.  We read the book "Wemberly Worried"  and talked about the kinds of things a pre-kindergartner might have concern about.  We drew pictures about our worries that you will find in the upcoming yearbook publication.  Some of the worries included: falling off a bike when riding without training wheels, having bad dreams, reading scary books, being afraid of thunder and lightening, being without electricity or performing well at gymnastics.  Please know that the teachers reassured all our friends that it is okay to have concerns.  You will see some youngsters on the blog drawing their worries.  Each child placed his/her worry in the pocket of the worry eater.

The hit of the week was the birthday celebration for Lucas.  The class was beyond excited because the whole group is now five years old.  The blog shows the birthday chatting, eating and pure joy happening.  Thanks to Lucas' family for goodies along with healthy food.  All of you have made your child's birthday special.  At the end of the year you will receive the pictures taken when your preschooler turned five.

Other pictures are from our everyday activities.  Friends are connecting chains.  Some do it in patterns of colors, other have no particular order.  All the smaller chains made are connected.  You will see friends measuring and comparing lengths.  For instance, is the chain as long as the row of cubbies?  How many Whole Notes would it take to be the length of the chain?  Many friends plan and cooperate for this beginning math adventure.

Other Whole Note friends are using their fine motor skills to make objects with play dough, while still others are in photos reading books and building.  A group is using imagination at a road and construction table.

You will receive a reminder next week about the time you selected for your conference.  Deb will send you a zoom link.  Conferences are for 20 minutes only.  Please be prompt to keep the day running smoothly.  It is on Thursday, May 20th. We look forward to meeting with you.

Rolene and Jackie

Happy Mother's Day

 This week's blog is a little different.  The class spent the entire week working hard to honor our Moms.  As we chatted about all that Moms do for us and read stories along this same line, the group wanted to keep everything a secret until Sunday.  That led to the pictures with friends covering their ears, eyes and mouths.  Do not let our Moms know anything about our activities.  On Mother's Day they can open the wonderful surprise that will bring tears to their eyes.  Wait!  Get a tissue first.

The book "My Mom Is Fantastic" was a big hit, especially when we asked the youngsters for their answers to this same title.  My Mom is fantastic because:

Zayden:  She is a super great eye doctor.                                                                                                       Lucas:  When I am sick she makes me feel better.                                                                                       JJ:  She does great engineer work.                                                                                                                Ada:  She fixes my hair beautiful.                                                                                                                 Emily:  She makes wonderful lunches.                                                                                                        Margot:  She gives me kisses.                                                                                                                         Martina:  If I fall she helps me get up.                                                                                                          Brigitte:  She gives me juice when I am sick.                                                                                               Ruby:  She is a wonderful baker. (Mommy).                                                                                                           She is a great driver. (Mama).                                                                                                          Riya:  She helps people when they cannot see.                                                                                            Mira:  She takes wonderful pictures.

Happy Mother's Day to all of our Whole Note mothers.  Please enjoy your gifts but do not open until Sunday.  Remember that they were made with much love.

Rolene and Jackie