February 1, 2010

Calendar

February

5  *No Preschool Classes - PS Admissions Day

     NO FRIDAY SING

12 NO FRIDAY SING

15 NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day

18  PFA Meeting, 8:15 - Coffee, 8:30 am Meeting, Gerlinger

19 Re-enrollment Contracts Due

19  Viewfinder Global Film Series

March

4-5  *No BS/LS Classes - Parent - Teacher Conferences

5  Viewfinder Global Film Series

13  GAMBOL

20 - 28  No School - Spring Break

29  Classes Resume

April

16  Viewfinder Global Film Series

30  Spring Parade

*Prearranged childcare available as space permits

 

Thanks to all of you who have been so careful about keeping your Bee home when he or she is ill. The current brand of “crud” seems to hang on for a long time—fever up and down, yucky cough, and general malaise. It seems to make the kids really, really tired, and if they come back too soon, they just can’t do it—school is too much. We realize that this wreaks havoc with family and personal schedules, but also realize that our kids shouldn’t be asked to “push through” this one. We are most appreciative of your sensitivity to this—in the best interest of all of us.

MANY THANKS to Lauren, Gina, and Sarah for subbing while Chenoa and Rebecca were at the Reggio Emilia conference in LA. The classroom ran wonderfully smoothly, and although the Bees missed their regular teachers, they make new friends and explored in new ways with our subs. We had a fun couple of days.

 

The TENNIES MUST BE CANVAS otherwise the acrylic paint that we use will not stick to them. Also, please STAY AWAY FROM BLACK, NAVY BLUE, AND DARK GREEN if you can—black, navy and green canvas seems to drink up the pigment of the paint and the dry shoes emerge a little muddy looking.

 

Conference sign-ups are posted outside our door. Do remember that the Lower School will be having conferences on the same days as the Beginning School. Those of you with kids in both divisions may want to pay attention to your times so that you can have your conferences back-to-back at best, or at least near each other in time.

 

Who would believe that Jane was such a tiny little thing just five short years ago? We had fun celebrating her birthday with her mom and dad last week. Her little britches would certainly be high-water pants these days! Happy Birthday Jane!

 

As part of our honeybee study, our own Bees began to construct a home for their bees on the north wall of the classroom. Keep an eye open to see how this home evolves and be sure to notice that some of the bees can really fly.

 

We had a bee expert come to talk to us last week. Scott Conyers has kids in the Upper School and is a real beekeeper. MANY THANKS to Scott for taking time from his busy day to visit us. It was a fascinating time. ASK YOUR HONEYBEE what a beekeeper does to make the bees calm when he/she approaches the hive. What is the shape of the wax capsules that the bees build in which to contain the honey? What do the bees eat in the wintertime? What is a swarm of bees and how does Scott move it to a new hive? What’s the real scoop on stinging? Which bees sting? Why do they sting? Which bees do not sting? What is the job of the queen bee? What special food do the workers feed a pupa in order for it to turn into a queen? What special clothing does a beekeeper wear when going out to tend his/her bees? 

Please have your Honeybee draw a picture of Scott all dressed up in his bee suit. Next to Scott, draw a picture of yourself eating some honey. (8 ½ X 11 paper works best.) Bring the picture to school and we will add it to the collection of bee drawings.

We have begun the Portrait Project by looking closely at mouths. When you smile are your teeth visible or not? The “zig-zag family” helps us to draw our upper lips. The “curvy line family” helps us draw a bottom lip. Some lips are thick, some lips are thin. Some lips are pink, some are reddish, and some are brownish. Allen took very close up pictures of all the Bees and they are using these pictures to help understand the shape of their own mouths. We are drawing pictures of our own mouths now. Then we will move to noses (very difficult, because they stick out), and then we’ll finish up with eye studies. In the end we will put them all together and see what we have—it’s always fun!

 

Thanks to the grown-ups who played chimes for Friday Sing. Do you think that we have rung in the New Year sufficiently?