Safety Measures in December

From the Peninsula School District:

In light of recent events in the media regarding potential, yet unsubstantiated, threats to student safety in our district and others in our region, and the world-wide discussion concerning the Mayan calendar, we understand there are some concerns over safety at our schools tomorrow. 

Our schools will demonstrate increased awareness to ensure all students and staff feel safe.  We have been working closely with local law enforcement who will be providing a heightened presence, as well.

We understand parents’ sensitivity to school safety and trust your best judgment. If you decide to keep your children home, please notify the attendance office.

We appreciate your patience and concerns and want you to know that the safety of students and staff will continue to be a focus.

Front Office Sign In

Dear Vaughn Preschool Families,

In the wake of yesterday's tragedy, I wanted to address an issue that I have noticed that last few weeks and now I am kicking myself for not bringing it up sooner.  It's unfortunate that we wait sometimes to address issues until something like this happens and our eyes are opened, bringing us to action.

In the last few weeks I have been noticing more and more parents failing to sign in at the front office when dropping their children off at preschool.  I have spoken to some of you directly and given kind reminders, but now I think it is appropriate to address all families.  We are very fortunate to be able to run our preschool within Vaughn Elementary/Peninsula School District and we need to do our part in following all of their rules and safety procedures.  I'm sure that all schools nation wide will be tightening their front door/front office policies and just ask that we do our part in following the rules and encouraging others to do the same.

Thank you again for all you do for our Preschool!

-Stephanie

December in Miss Mary's Class

Evergreen Families

 

    Hope each and everyone of you have a wonderful holiday season. 

    During the month of December we are going to be reading two Nursery Rhymes, first will be Twinkle,Twinkle little star and second will be I'm a little teapot.  We will also be reading the Ginger bread Man.  We will read several different versions  to see how they are the same. 

     We will be having a ginger bread cookie day which you are all invited to come too.  It will be held on the 20th during class time.

    Once again I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and thank you for sharing your children with me.

 

            Miss Mary

December with Teacher Kim

Hello Vaughn Families!

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family and

love!

We will begin the month of December reading The Gingerbread Man. We will practice reading

this story throughout the next couple of weeks and be ready to read the story to our families

during our gingerbread house decorating potluck on December 14. We will also be reading

different versions of The Gingerbread Man and talk about how they are the same and/or how

they are different. We will end the month of December reading Jan Brett’s The Gingerbread

Baby, always a class favorite!

I am looking for volunteers to help make the gingerbread houses on Thursday December 6 and

Friday December 7 during class. Please let me know if you are able to help

Thank you so much for all that you do for our preschool, I couldn’t do it without you!!

Happy Holidays,

Kim

Holiday Quick Tips

The holidays are here. Yep. I said it. Now is the time to get your safety game ON! Here are some things to do NOW:

1. Make a game of it! Practice with your kids about what to do if they get separated from you in public. Practice finding a parent with kids or a stroller. Let them know it is OK to ask for help.

2. P.I.C.K! Parent In Charge of Kids! Assign a designated grown 20 minute "shifts" to walk through and check on the kids now and then during holiday parties. Kids love to get into stuff when adults are not paying attention. Especially at parties.

3. Uh-Oh Here come the Kisses! Talk to your kids about how to handle unwanted affection from grownups and older kids. Kids learn about being in charge of their bodies at home. Give them a voice and power over their own bodies by letting them chose who they show affection to.
Kim from Savvy Parents Safe Kids 

Infant & Toddler Opportunities Through Bates

Please see these fliers for infant and toddler classes:
Infants
Toddlers

Teacher Mary's Class in November

Parents;

 

    It's hard to believe that we have been in school for almost two months.  You children are doing amazing things.

    During the month of November we will be reading three amazing books.  The first will be Brown Bear, the second will be Mrs. Wishy Washy, and the third will be the Three Little Pigs.   I have many wonderful activities that go along with each book.  We are working on drawing people and our writing skills.    Pencil grips drawing lines and curves.

    Just a little reminder that we try to go out every day so make sure that your children are dressed appropriately.

    Once again thank you for sharing your children with me.

 

 

Miss Mary

Great Year Ahead by Teacher Kim

Hello Vaughn Families!

Well I think that it is safe to say that our extended summer weather may be over. I hope youwere all able to enjoy the beautiful weather that we were having, it sure has been a beautiful Fall season!! With the turn of the weather I would like to remind everyone to please send your children to school with a coat. 
We go outside everyday as long as it isn’t raining and I don’t want anyone to be cold. We will continue to focus on social emotional skills and also fine motor skills in our daily activities. Fine motor activities are an area that I am really focusing on right now to help aid in the children’s pre-writing skills. The social piece of preschool is a focus that we will have all year. Learning to be a friend in a classroom setting is hard work, but I would like to tell you all that the children are doing such a great job using their words and beginning their negotiating skills with their peers, which is so different than how they communicate with us as adults. It is so much fun watching them grow and learn and it has only been a month of school! I am really looking forward to a great year!!

Thank you so much for sharing your children with me!!!

Teacher Kim

Box Top Contest

And the winner of the Box Top & Receipt Contest is:

3-day class with a total of 397!  

4-day came in at 315 and 2 day at 97.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone for participating!

--Amy Pecote, Fundraising

Smile Mobile

The Smile Mobile will be at Vaughn during the week of October 22nd. We still have plenty of appointments available. The Smile Mobile provides dental services for children up to age 18. Medical coupons are accepted, or a sliding scale is available based on need. 

Please call our health tech. Cheryl Chalfant at 530-4700 to arrange an appointment time.

Currently we do not have enough appointments scheduled and this valuable resource could be cancelled if spots aren't filled up by Tuesday, October 16th. Please help spread the word!

Thanks!

Welcome from Teacher Kim

Hello Vaughn Families!

We are off to such a great beginning of a brand new year.  I cannot believe what a great group of kiddos we have!  Our first few days of class we have been reading "Llama, Llama Misses Mama", the children were all experiencing the same thing that Llama was, their first days of preschool!  The important ending to this story is that Mama came back!!  We talked about feeling shy and maybe scared, we learned that we were all feeling the same way and we talked about these feelings.  We had some great discussions!

We will begin November with "Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you See?"  A great story with repetitive text for the children to be able to read along with me.  I will be making the children each a "Friend, Friend, Who do you See?"  book, and while reading this book at home it will help them to learn the names of all of their new friends.

Thank you so much for sharing your children with me!

Teacher Kim

Welcome from Carol

Dear Parents,
Welcome to co-op preschool! The beginning of school is always such an exciting
time, as the possibilities for a great new year are endless. It is personally an
exhilarating time as I get the opportunity to meet and to get to know all of you
a little better. In my September visits to the three classes this week I was so
impressed with how well you and your children are adjusting. Every child seemed
busy and engaged. The working parents were doing their jobs while interacting
with the children. Of course our two wonderful teachers made it all run smoothly.
Besides these class visits, another way that I meet you is through the parent
shares that I facilitate once a quarter; in October, January, and March. For those
of you who don’t know what a parent share is there is a description at the end of
this article. For those of you who have attended a parent share, you already know
how fun and informative they can be.
The upcoming parent shares for October (one in November) are:
Vaughn 3-day – F 11/9
Vaughn 2-Day – Th 10/25
Evergreen – Th 10/25
I look forward to seeing you at the next parent share.
Carol

A parent share is a fun and helpful informal discussion held during your child’s

class time in another room. This is your chance to talk with (or just listen to) me

and other parents in your class talk about whatever is on your mind regarding

parenting issues, ages and stages of development, your child’s and/or your role

in the classroom, etc. Because these sessions are informal, you may come and

go as you please. Siblings are welcome (please bring things to entertain them).

Earn a parent education credit.

BTW There are usually treats as well.

Great Start by Teacher Mary

Dear Parents,

 The school year has started out great.  The children are learning the routine, classroom rules, and how to make friends.  We are still working on learning each others names.

    In the month of October we will be visiting the farm. We will talk about farm animals, and what happens on the farm.  We will watch as the autumn leaves turn from green to red and orange .  We will also have fun with apples.  What can you do with an apple?  Your child will soon find out.

    Thanks for making the start of the school year go so smoothly.

                Miss Mary

Safety Tips

This month's safety tip is in regards to Fire Safety and Prevention.  October hosts a week long observance the 7th through the 13th. Here are a few tips to share with your preschoolers. Talk to them about how they can prevent fires. Children under age five are especially curious about fire and need to start learning about the tremendous danger. 

• Never play with matches, lighters or candles.
• Never play with electrical cords and never put anything in a socket.
• Blankets or clothes should never be thrown on top of lamps.
• Don’t turn up a heater without a grown-up’s permission.
• If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop and roll.

Mom Tip: Check under beds and in closets for burned matches or candles. Kids often choose “secret” places to play with matches and light fires. Even “good” kids are curious– teach your kids to always tell you when they find matches and lighters.

Look at Your Home From Your Child’s Perspective

Think about how your child sees potential fire hazards in your home by getting down on your hands and knees with them and taking a look around. See any dangling cords that could cause a problem if pulled? Enticing heaters or other appliances? Make adjustments to your home according to what you find.

Mom Tip: Make your floor-tour a game with your kids. Have them point out things they see by playing eye-spy. You’ll be surprised by what catches their attention.

October is also the time of year for costumes, sweets, and tricks and treats. Put Halloween safety first with these common-sense tips.

Carve safely

Are your children begging to carve pumpkins? Make Halloween safety a family affair.

• Decorate with markers or paint. Let young children draw faces on pumpkins with washable markers or child-friendly paint. Leave any carving to an adult.
• Use candles with care. Place candlelit pumpkins on a sturdy surface away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended. Better yet, light pumpkins with flashlights or battery-operated flameless candles instead.

Get clever with costumes

From furry animals to princesses and superheroes, choosing costumes wisely is an important part of Halloween safety.

• The brighter the better. Whether you buy a costume or make one yourself, choose bright colors and flame-retardant materials. If your child will be trick-or-treating outdoors after dark, attach reflective tape to his or her costume.
• Size it right. In case it's chilly outdoors, make sure your child's costume is loose enough for warm clothing to be worn underneath — but not long enough to cause tripping. Avoid oversized shoes and high heels.
• Skip the masks. A mask can obstruct your child's vision, especially if it slips out of place. Use kid-friendly makeup instead.
• Limit accessories. Pointed props — such as wands, swords and knives — may pose safety hazards.

Trick-or-treat with care

The promise of Halloween candy may leave stars in your child's eyes, but Halloween safety still rules.

• Get in on the fun. Accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. Pin a piece of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside your child's pocket in case you get separated. Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group of friends, parents or older siblings. Make sure someone in the group carries a flashlight with fresh batteries.
• Stay close to home. Don't allow your child to go door to door in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
• Set ground rules. Review safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes and never going inside a home. 
• Inspect the treats carefully. Don't let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Feed your child a healthy snack before heading out, and inspect the treats before allowing your child to dive in. Discard anything that's not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable. If you have young children, weed out gum, peanuts, hard candies and other choking hazards.
• Ration the loot. If your child collects gobs of goodies, dole out a few pieces at a time and save the rest. You may even ask your child if he or she would like to swap some — or all — of the candy for something else, such as a special toy, book or outing. You might also suggest donating excess candy to a food shelf or other charity.
• Plan a party. Consider planning a trick-or-treat party with a couple of neighbors instead of house-to-house door knocking. Decorate the garages, have a costume contest, and plan games and prizes. 

By Amanda Warfield - Health and Safety

Out for the Summer break!

Sorry no posts till this coming Fall....enjoy those kiddos!

Garage Sale success story 2012

Thank you for helping make our 2nd Annual Garage and Bake sale another great success! Everyone pitched in to volunteer their time and donations and we could not have done it otherwise! Our preschool raised just under $1000 last Saturday- our families are the best! Also a BIG Thank You to Waypoint Church http://www.waypoint-church.org/ for opening their parking lot for the sale! Angel Guild was there helping to take down and haul donations to their store, which was a huge help to us! I wanted to mention that we have a cashier who also deserves a big thanks! For the second year now, Kari our volunteer Treasurer, stays all day during this fundraiser and keeps the funds flowing and balancing!
Thank you Garage Sale Committee-this is a great success story!
Have a terrific Memorial weekend with your families!
~Annie Massey
Newsletter chair

Livable Community Fair

Key Peninsula Livable Community Fair

Saturday, May 12th from 10-3 @ the Civic Center

A great opportunity for a parent ed credit and to spread the word about our preschool!

Thanks!
Stephanie Traugutt

February 13, 2007

"K" is for Kim

Hello Preschool Families!

I cannot believe that we are down to one month left of school!  The year has gone by so quickly.  I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall.  I give them back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible and more mature then they were then.  Although he would have attained his growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch their personalities unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.  I give them back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other.  We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned and enriched our lives together this year.  I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give them back I must J, take good care of them, for they are precious!!  Thank you so very much for sharing your child with me this year!!!

Teacher Kim

September 2, 2006

Treasurer's Chest

I would like to thank all of our preschool families for a great year! It is hard to believe that the school year is almost over. Please remember that May is the last month we pay tuition. I have enjoyed getting to know all of our families and I look forward to seeing many of you next year!

Kari Beck

Treasurer

January 22, 2008

Ways to Raise

Garage Sale - The 2nd Annual Garage and Bake Sale is coming up quickly on Saturday, May 19th! The sale will be open to our families and the public from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please remember to box/bag up all your donated items and have them priced and ready to sell for Saturday! Thank you to all those that have started signing up to help. We still have a few areas we need help in, including: 7 a.m. Set-up; 5 p.m. Take Down/Clean Up; Placing Signs around town morning of the sale; 8-11 Shift; 2-5 Shift; and providing Canopies/Tents. Please let Megan McFarlane or Annie Massey know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Raffles - The Pampered Chef Sweet's Basket Raffle ends on April 30th! Thanks to all those that bought tickets!

Serenity Salon Gift Certificate - May 1 - May 15 - The sun has been shining and now it's your turn to shine! You'll be ready to spring into summer with a fresh and stylish new "do," if you win our next raffle. Buy your raffle tickets to get a professional haircut by our favorite local family salon and spa... Serenity Salon! Raffle ends May 15.

The Pampered Chef Naturally Good Basket - May 16 - May 31 - This is the FINAL raffle of the year - so don't miss out on your chance to win this gorgeous Pampered Chef basket! This Naturally Good basket includes a Medium Round Bamboo Bowl, Salad Choppers, Bamboo Salad Tongs, and the Spin on Salads Cookbook. Total value is $75!

February 20, 2007

Happy Spring!

Our first ever egg dye-ing session this year....what fun! The time with our children is about Quality, not Quantity - something I try to remember! Because what preschooler has an attention span lasting more than about 20-30 minutes per activity anyway? Enjoy those kiddos!

Book sale

SCHOLASTIC
Customer appreciation book sale

BATES
South campus in Tacoma
2201 S. 78th Street Tacoma, WA 98409 Commons area- building E

Thursday April 26, 10 -9pm
Friday April 27, 10- 8pm
Saturday April 28, 10- 6pm

Activities include:

• Time with Clifford
• Games, Prizes and crafts
• Meet Clifford, the big red dog!

Garage Sale....

Thank you to all who have signed up so far in the class rooms to help out with our 2nd annual Garage sale fundraiser being held on May 19th in the Waypoint Church Parking lot.....looking good you all!!

Raffle

"Sweet Wishes" basket of goodies - Pampered Chef Raffle $2 each in the Vaughn site classroom

"M" is for Mary

Parents,

It hard to believe that we are coming up on the end of April, where has the year gone.

Beginning the week after Spring Break we will have some special visitors in our classroom, I am not going to tell you what or who they are,so you will have to come into the classroom and find out. We will also be exploring bugs butterflies and as the Month of May roll around we will hopefully be exploring the sunshine and sea life. I hope to throw a few more of the classic books into the mix as well. We are still working on prekindergarten readiness skills.

It has been a fun and exciting year, thank you for sharing your children with me

Miss Mary

January 15, 2008

"K" is for Kim

Hello Preschool Families!

Welcome Spring!  It is so nice to finally have some nice weather!  I hope that you are all enjoying some outside play time.

We will be beginning our caterpillar/butterfly unit when we return from Spring Break.  We will watch caterpillars go through “metamorphosis” and talk about all of the changes that are happening to the caterpillars.  We will creating some wonderful dough caterpillar creations and many other caterpillar and butterfly art projects.  Some stories we will be reading are “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, “From Caterpillar to Butterfly” and “Charlie the Caterpillar”.  This is such a fun time of year!  We will also begin planting seeds and taking care of them by watering them and making sure they are getting sunlight and air, when they are big enough we will send them home so that you can plant them in your gardens.

If your child will be entering Kindergarten next year, please make sure that you register them as soon as you can.  Each school wants to make sure they have enough kindergarten staffing for next year, so the earlier they know how many incoming kinders they have, the earlier that they can begin hiring staff.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of our preschool and mostly for sharing your child with me!!

Teacher Kim

Bates Updates

April 30, 2007

Dear Parent,

One of my favorite parent educators is Bonnie Harris. I subscribe to her on-line newsletter called “Connective Parenting Newsletter”. It is almost always informative and thought-provoking. She is all about the relationship between parent and child and not so much about specific techniques; although she often has practical advice as well.

In her March newsletter she talks about “when the best isn’t good enough”. This resonated with me since I see so many of you wonderful parents struggling with being the perfect parent and raising perfect children. Not only is this aspiration not possible, it is also not even necessary.

Years ago we had the concept of the “good enough” parent. Today we seem to think that good enough isn’t good enough – for ourselves or for our children. I remember complaining to one of my friends that none of my children were musical. She said, “They can’t be good at everything, Carol”. She was so right. Why was I focused in on what they were not good at and not enjoying what they were good at? This attitude put more pressure on me and my children and could have interfered with my relationship with them.

Does this mean that we settle for mediocrity? Of course not. We give our children time, structure, opportunities, resources, encouragement, love and sometimes a gentle push. If we concentrate on what they need for their brains, bodies, and spirits, they will figure out what they like, what they are good at, where they want to excel and where they will just be good enough.

Below are some more suggestions from Bonnie to help your children be less stressed and to be good enough.

 “Listen to your children, allow them to complain

· Provide opportunities and watch which ones your children are drawn to

· Watch for signs of stress: changes in sleep or appetite, a more hostile attitude, frequent headaches and stomach aches

· When you see signs of stress provide a "mental health day", have a heart-to-heart and re-evaluate schedules

· Pull back on saying, "I'm so proud of you." Instead try, "You must be very proud of yourself."

· Make sure your child has plenty of down time. Boredom is necessary for relaxation and creativity.

· Relax. Be more, teach less. “

To being good enough….

Carol

More on Kindergarten....

2012-2013 Kindergarten Registration Kick-Off!

March 17, 2012

Peninsula School District's 2012-2013 Kindergarten Registration Kick-Off is scheduled for Saturday,

March 17, 2012, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at all neighborhood elementary schools. Thanks to the passing of the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy we are able to continue with our 4-day, All-day Kindergarten program.

Eligible kindergarteners for 2012-2013 are children who are 5 years of age by August 31, 2012, and who reside within the Peninsula School District. Please complete the 2012-2013 Enrollment and 2012-2013 Health forms prior to arriving to register at your neighborhood school. This will help to facilitate a smooth registration experience. You can find these forms on the district website at www.psd401.net. Copies of these forms will be available for you at your neighborhood home school office if you are unable to complete these forms prior to your visit. Please bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of residency to complete your child’s Kindergarten Registration. In addition, if you are unable to make the Kick-Off date, you will be able to register your child at their home school following March 17^th Monday-Friday from 9:00 am -3:00 pm.

2012-2013 Enrollment-Emergency-Opt Out Form
2012-2013 New Student Information
2012-2013 Health Care Resources
2012-2013 Health Information Survey
2012-2013 Immunization Requirements
2012-2013 Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS)

Ways to Raise

Fundraising Update -

Our fundraising activities are winding down for the year - only one more major event and a few raffles coming up.

March and April - Be on the lookout for some fun Raffles! We have a Gift Certificate to your favorite local salon - Serenity Salon; and a Simply Sweet Pampered Chef Basket that includes all your baking essentials!

May - Annual Garage Sale - The Annual Garage Sale is tentatively May 19. We will be needing your help to fill the tables at the Garage Sale, so start your Spring Cleaning now! Set aside all your gently-used goods and items that are ready for a new home! More details to come soon!

Box Tops / Labels for Education / Ink Cartridges - We will be turning in Box Tops and Labels for Education very soon in March, so if you have some at home please send them in your child's backpack as soon as possible. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE USED INK CARTRIDGES, PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND THOSE IN, TOO! We can turn in 10 a month to Office Depot for a FREE $20 a month, but we are running low. We would love to be able to continue turning them in through the Spring and Summer, so please remember to send them in.

Well, I was interested....

A kindergarten (from German Kindergarten (help·info), literally "children's garden") is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school. His goal was that children should be taken care of and nourished in "children's gardens" like plants in a garden.

Origin: 1850–55; < German: literally, children's garden, equivalent to Kinder children ( see kind² ) + Garten garden

Thought some of you might like to read this too! ~Annie

Kindergarten...

2012-2013 Kindergarten Registration Kick-Off!
March 17, 2012
Peninsula School District's 2012-2013 Kindergarten Registration Kick-Off! is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, 2012, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at all neighborhood elementary schools. Thanks to the passing of the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy we are able to continue with our 4-day, All-day Kindergarten program.

What a success!

Our Preschoolers did great and had a lot of fun riding trikes, getting fits for helmets and face painting during our first ever Trike-a-thon last Saturday!

To all our sponsors, thanks for supporting these terrific kiddos-

With your help we raised over $3,000 for our preschool!

"M" is for Mary

July 3, 2008

Parents,

We are going to be talking about Spring in the next couple of weeks. We will be reading IT LOOKED LIKE SPLIT MILK and LITTLE CLOUD. We will be doing some amazing activities that go along with the book. We are still working on letter writing and will soon start on numeral recognition.

Parent- Teacher conferences are scheduled for the 14th and 15th of March, which means that we do not have school on those days. If you would like to schedule a conference please let me know and I will set up a time.

I would also like to thank all my parents you participated in the Trike-a-thon, each and everyone of you made it a huge success. It seemed that everyone one had a great time,so once again thank you.

Miss Mary

"K" is for Kim

Hello Preschool Families!

As hard as it is to believe, many of our students will soon be starting Kindergarten.  We have spent our preschool time preparing our students and their parents for Kindergarten.

First and foremost, parents should always remember that on a daily basis, you are your child’s first and best teacher!  As your child’s most important teacher, simply treating them with love and respect teaches them two important qualities right off.  Also, the examples you set in all areas of daily life teach skills…the way you problem solve, he way you handle frustration, the way you speak and the vocabulary you use, your healthy habits versus your not so healthy habits…everything you do sends an instructional message to your child.  Having said that, no one is perfect, and if you slip up, or are working on self improvement, discuss it with your child at an age-appropriate level.  Let your child see that everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is learning from our mistakes and trying not to repeat them.

The second most important thing for parents to keep in mind is that at this stage of development, PLAY is the most important learning tool your child has.  So, have fun with your children…laugh and play simple games, you will be amazed how much is learned and retained through this process!  Childhood is such an amazing, but short period…what a great gift you can give by not rushing your child through and letting him or her enjoy each special day.

Thank you for allowing me to spend this precious time with your children!!

Teacher Kim

Trike-a-Thon

Levy Action!

Just a reminder that your ballots for the Levy need to be mailed by Feb. 14th, which is Tuesday.

Replacement Levy 2012 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q – What is the Replacement Levy?

A – This is a levy that is voted on by the citizens in a school district that allows the district to collect a property tax that provides funding for the public schools.

Q – Is this an additional levy beyond what we are currently paying?

A – No, this is a replacement levy that will take the place of the levy that was approved in 2009. The 2009 levy will expire after 2012.

Q – How will the passage of this levy affect property tax?

A – It is estimated that tax rates will be $2.14-$2.38 per $1000 of assessed value. The 2012 rate is $1.94 per $1000. Please see slides 21-23 for the rates over the previous 20+ years, in the slide presentation at http://www.psd401.net/staticfiles/psd/documents/2012_Replacement_Levy_Presentation.pdf

Q – How much more will this replacement levy cost the average homeowner?

A – The current levy approved by the taxpayers in 2009 will be assessed at $1.94 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2012. A homeowner with a home valued at $300,000 would pay $582 in property taxes to the Peninsula School District. The proposed replacement levy estimates tax rates to be $2.14 in 2013 or about $642 for a $300,000 home. This would be $60 difference annually, or $5 per month.

Q – When will this replacement levy take effect?

A – Voters are being asked to approve a four-year levy which, if passed, will be in effect from 2013-2016.

Q – What do the levy dollars pay for?

A – Many years ago, when the levy system was initiated, the intent was that levy dollars would be used to pay for extras that a community wanted to provide within their school system.

However, over the years, as other funding sources have decreased, levy dollars have become more and more important as support for basic programs and services. In the Peninsula School District, levy dollars now provide over 20% of the operating budget. Current levy dollars pay for:

· 20% of the cost of classroom teachers · 40% of the cost for custodians, paraeducators and clerical staff · 80% of athletic and co-curricular costs · 100% of the cost of health technicians · 85% of technology staff and equipment · 100% of maintenance projects

· The 4-day, all-day free kindergarten program · 60% of textbooks and instructional materials · Supplemental funding for school security and emergency preparedness

Helping the behaviorally challenging child.....

HELPING THE BEHAVIORALLY CHALLENGING CHILD

“This wonderful class has profoundly changed the relationship with me and my son - my husband,

too. We talk more. He tantrums less. And he feels empowered - he owns the solutions and therefore

works hard to carry it out. Thanks for teaching this class with such passion!” - Emily S

If you are a parent or teacher of a child for whom sticker charts,

rewards and other behavior programs just don’t seem to work, or

your child gets frustrated and melts down or simply puts on the

brakes, this class series will explore these and other issues

through Collaborative Problem Solving* and other positive

communication practices. The presenter brings her personal

experience as well as her experience helping other families and

schools with these challenges.

You will learn:

¨ What’s getting in your child’s way

¨ Why traditional behavior plans aren’t working

¨ Communication methods that will create solutions and foster independence

¨ Common roadblocks and how to deal with them

¨ How to help your child become a flexible, tolerant problem-solver

Presenter Sara Gardner is the parent of a former "challenging"

child, and has been a professional trainer for 25 years. She

teaches parenting classes to parents with children encompassing

a wide range of disabilities, as well as those with typicallydeveloping

children. She has received training from Dr. Ross

Greene, author of "The Explosive Child" at his Center for

Collaborative Problem Solving, and from Stuart Ablon at

Think:Kids. Sara currently serves as President on the board of

directors for the Autism Society of King County, and works at

Bellevue College as Program Advisor for their Autism Spectrum

Navigators program, which she developed.

*Collaborative Problem Solving was originated by Ross Greene, PhD in his

book “The Explosive Child.” For more information on this model, recently

recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as one of only two

methods that work for “defiant” children, go to Think:Kids – Rethinking

Challenging Kids at www.thinkkids.org.

To register or ask a question contact Sara at 425.298.4409 or

sesgardner@gmail.com. Class outline: www.BehaviorToday.info

2 Saturdays

March 10 &

March 24, 2012

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

University of Puget Sound

1500 N Warner, Tacoma WA

Weyerhaeuser Hall

room tbd

Saturday March 10th 9:00-1:00

Collaborative Beginners

$45, includes materials and

e-mail consultation

Additional family member

sharing materials, $30

Saturday March 24th 9:00-1:00

Advanced Collaboration

$45, includes materials and

e-mail consultation

Additional family member

sharing materials, $30

BOTH classes for $80, $50 for

second family member

Register by March 4 to

ensure your spot!

www.BehaviorToday.info

Garage Sale....

If you are anything like me, and like to get an early start on cleaning out closets, cabinets and the garage before spring, you might be finding yourself with a pile that's due to donate to Goodwill. Well, I wanted to catch you before you took that trip. The Co-op will be having our annual Garage Sale mid-May and we need those donations. So what I am doing is hanging onto those items I've cleared out and designated a bin in the garage to donate toward the Preschool's garage sale in May- and I hope you do the same! Oh, and I am also telling my friends that I'll take what they have too!!

Not to sound too Martha Stewart-ish, but, "It's a good thing!"

Take care all of you!
Annie
Newsletter Chair

Presidential Address.....

Hello Preschool Families!

I'm excited to take over as co- president with Therise as we finish out the rest of the school year! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you are interested in getting involved with any of the upcoming fundraisers. Thanks for supporting our wonderful preschool!

Stephanie Traugutt
253-677-8226
sktraugutt@yahoo.com


April 20, 2007

Bates Update

Dear Parents,

The phrase “children learn through play” is a one that we Early Childhood Educators toss around freely and often. I suspect that it is not always as well understood as we think. Hopefully the following will help you understand how this concept works in preschool.

·         “Preschoolers are wigglers and doers”. No surprise here. We all know that. That is why it achieves better results to work with children by providing engaging activities than to work against their natures by making them sit still for long periods of time, talking at them, having a rigid structure, and having all the children do the same thing at the same time.

·         “Research shows that young children learn best through manipulation of materials and age-appropriate hands-on experiences.” A quality preschool will be noisy and busy. It may look chaotic to the untrained eye. Further looking will reveal real learning going on as children explore, investigate, manipulate, and try something over and over again. They truly are young scientists figuring out how the world works. If a child figures out something for himself he will remember it much better than if someone just tells him. As I saw on a sign in a preschool, “telling is not teaching”.

·         “In a high-quality preschool, learning is embedded in activities….” This is probably the hardest concept to grasp. Children are learning numbers and letters, for example, just not always with paper and pencil. They learn letters through being read to, seeing words on their cubbies, name tags, place mats, doing letter puzzles, singing the alphabet song, and in general playing in a print-rich environment with many adults to answer their questions and stimulate their intellect.  They learn counting through finger plays, counting how many children are sitting in circle, how many place mats to set at the table, how many blocks to make a tower, how many children are absent that day and on and on. The teachers do provide a curriculum – it just doesn’t look like high school or even elementary school. It looks like play and that is exactly what it should be. “The best early childhood programs use play to get at academics. One doesn’t rule out the other.”

·         “When learning through play, progress isn’t gauged in terms of a right or wrong answer.” Preschool activities are usually open-ended. So a three year old may use the same materials, do some of the same activities or read the same books as a five year old, yet get something totally different out of them. Even children of the same age will be at different levels of developmental. Some four year olds recognize all the letters of the alphabet while others may recognize only the one at the beginning of their names. As long as children are in a rich environment with skilled adults, they will learn what they need to succeed. A love of learning and an excitement about life are more important to success in school than knowing particular facts or skills.

I have been involved in early childhood education for over twenty five years. Many things have changed in the field since I started, but the message that children learn through play has not changed.

If you have questions or concerns about your individual child and/or about the curriculum, talk with your teacher or me. Let’s keep doing what is best for children and let them play.

Carol

The words in quotation marks are from a Tacoma News Tribune article “Preschool Students Learn Best Through Curiosity-Building Play” from a Parent to Parent column by Betsy Flagler written a few years ag