Dear Parents,
Happy February!
Groundhog Day: Six more weeks of winter in US says Punxsutawney Phil. Americans are braced for six more weeks of winter after Punxsutawney Phil – the rodent weather forecaster who makes his annual prediction on Groundhog Day – ruled out an early spring. We can handle six more weeks of winter!!!
Despite the balmy weather, the children are not immune from winter coughs and colds.
Please be kind to your child, and to all the other children...and remember this when you're faced with a decision one early morning - If I am having to decide whether to send my child to school, or not, I should probably be keeping him/her at home.
A reminder from our Parent Handbook...'A child with a new cold should remain home for the first two days.'
Reminders:
TOT SHABBAT - this Saturday, 10:45am, everyone welcome. We will then join in Shabbat Shirim singing in the sanctuary with the B'nai Jacob Religious School - looking forward to a lovely Shabbat.
Please have your child bring a fresh fruit or vegetable each Monday (or Tuesday) which we cut up and share at snack time. This encourages children to try new foods, and to share with others.
The last day to contribute to our collection for Life Haven is Friday, February 10. Please continue to send in gently used clothing, books and toys.
Please encourage your child to bring in quarters to fill our Tu B'Shevat Tzedakah Box - we will have a tree planted in Israel in honor of Gan Hayeled Early Childhood Center 2011/12.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Mon. Feb. 20-24 - Mid-Winter Recess, no school
Thurs. Mar. 8 - Purim Schpiel, parents invited 9am-10am
Fri. March 16 - Gan Hayeled Shabbat Dinner, 5pm-7pm
Tues. April 3 - Passover Seder, parents invited 9am-10:15am
Fri. April 6 - Fri. April 13 - Passover, no school
Mon. - Fri. April 16-19 - Parent Teacher Conferences, after school
or evening of Wed. April 18, 5-8pm
Thurs. April 26 - Yom Ha'atzmaut for children, wear blue/white
Fri. May 11 - Bring a Special Person to School Day,
Anafim group, 9am-11am
Mon. May 28 - Shavuot, no school
Wed. June 6 - Ice Cream Social, 5pm-6:30pm
Thurs. June 7 - Last day of School, Regular school hours, no Extended Day
Window into our Classrooms:
ILANOT children are learning about trees. They painted a huge tree - now displayed on the classroom wall, and will continue to add to it. Each child held a big paintbrush and shared the paint as they moved around the big 'tree.' - a true group effort. They made almond trees with tissue paper blossoms - Almond trees are the first trees to bloom in Israel. They loved the story 'It's Tu B'Shevat' by Edie Stotz Zolkower and also read 'Dear Tree' by Doba Rivka Weber. The highlight was the addition of the Shabbat Shelf with all it's contents removed to the rug and assembled for the 'shabbat meal.' The children delighted in their self-initiated family dinner experience. Sorry to have missed a beautiful photo opportunity :(
ANAFIM children are immersed in the study of trees. They are discovering all that trees offer us and were very thoughtful as we read 'The Giving Tree' by Shel Silberstein. They 'made' Tu'B'Shevat soup - to the tune of 'Put some Chicken in the Pot' using all sorts of vegetables and then added pasta. It was fascinating to trace the origins of pasta... from the 'box' to the 'store' to the 'factory' ...right back to the wheat that grows in the ground. Ask your child where pasta comes from.
The children are looking at various seeds, grouping and counting and finally, planting them. They planted lima beans, cilantro, sage and parsley.
This week, Alexander's grandmother visited and read 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear.' They had fun with the felt board, guessing the animals that Brown Bear saw.
We should not forget Ground Hog Day - the children made their own groundhogs and talked about shadows. In science they used a box and flash light to make shadows. Ask your child if the groundhog saw his shadow.
Next week the ANAFIM group is celebrating the New Year for the Trees with a Tu B'Shevat seder. They will learn about and try various types of fruits - many of which grow in Israel. For this, we are asking the children to bring in a specific fruit and here's the list that the children helped compile...
Please bring in on Monday (if you'd like).
Thank you so much!
Shabbat Shalom,
Lana, Connie, Julanne, Nicole, Karen and Tami
