December 20th, 2013

We started our amazing week off with a visit to the Grossmont Gardens Retirement Home.  My future brother-in-law works there as an assistant director and he and the staff were thrilled with our visit.  It, honestly, was the sweetest fieldtrip I've taken so far.

  

We didn't have a lot of actual class time this week, but we did manage to complete our paper towel roll/juice box nativity scenes.

On Friday, we celebrated our last day together in 2013.  We began with a healthy breakfast of cookies, donuts and muffins...








...then we performed our Christmas carols.

After hearing The Night Before Christmas, read by Ms. Rebecca, we received a surprise visitor!

It was a special, special day!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!  We will see all of you in 2 weeks!

December 13th, 2013

We've had a super busy, fun-filled couple of days in preschool!  We ended last week by walking in the Ocean Beach Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7th.  This is actually one of my favorite events of the year and, even though it was cold and rainy, we had a wonderful time!

Meanwhile, in class, we worked hard.  Ms. Rebecca's students completed their candy canes, Christmas trees, and Rudolph's.

My class dictated their letters to Santa.  Some highlights include...

 "Dear Santa:  May I have a cool gingerbread house with a gingerbread family?  I help with my baby brother and eat all of my dinner.  I've been a good boy.  Thank you!"  

"Dear Santa: May I have some Barbie dolls that I don't already have? I don't need anymore boy Barbies 'cause I have enough already.  Thank you!"

 

Miss Gabriella's class also worked on their messages to Santa.  

"Dear Santa:

I have been a good boy.  I know you are busy.  Can you please bring me a little car?"

"Dear Santa:

I wrote you a list and sent it to you.  My favorite thing on it is blue roller skates."

In preparation for tonight's "slumber party", Miss Gabriella's class joined mine and together we made gingerbread cookie dough.  Later, we rolled the dough flat, cut out gingerbread men, baked them, and then decorated the cookies at the party.

Eventually, we had enough cookies to feed an army.

Our slumber party this evening was a huge success... so I hear.  My son was actually not feeling well, so the party had to go on without Leonard and me.  Not to fear, Ms. Suzie, Ms. Rebecca, Miss Gabriella, Miss Kim, and Miss Jaclyn were all there for the fun.  We had some preteen helpers, too!  

We work hard in preschool!

Although, even as we care and walk our pet pandas, we never forget to have fun!

:)

December 6th, 2013

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  This week we transitioned from November to December and put our arts & crafts into full gear.

My class pieced together their ornaments...

...while Miss Gabriella's class painted their candy canes...

...and Ms. Rebecca's class decorated their Christmas trees.

The whole school made hand-print Rudolphs (because a week is never complete without hand-print art).

We learned that H is for Horse...


















...and housetop.

We expressed what we love most about Christmas time.




"I love hugging my mommy and daddy by the Christmas tree."

We have fun in preschool!!!

November 27th, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This week we celebrated Thanksgiving with our annual Sacred Heart feast. 

You know, we mostly just ate this week.  :)

Have a wonderful holiday and we'll see everyone next week!!!

November 22nd, 2013

We had a much anticipated visit from Firefighter Ryan and the OB Fire Station on Thursday!  The kids were ecstatic.  "It was my favorite day in all my world!!!", said one.

The first order of business was a safety demonstration held in the classroom focusing on the concept of stop, drop and roll.  Also, Ryan discussed the importance of recognizing a firefighter coming to the rescue in full gear and not being frightened (in the height of distress while in a smoke-filled room, children are often scared of a fully masked and geared rescuer).

As the children were in the classroom, local truck no. 15 backed up onto the blacktop and the OB fire crew surprised the students (and teachers) with a full, hands-on demonstration!

A huge thank-you to the heroes that came to our school on Thursday!!!

We did get some of our normal work done this week, too.  We made G-Gorillas in my class...

...and our g-glitter.

We fished some letter G items out of a surprise box, and then were super excited by what we pulled out!


















Miss Gabriella's class painted their letter G's with the color green that they mixed on their own.



















Meanwhile, Ms. Rebecca's students learned that F is for Fireman!

Every student in the preschool made a turkey, too.

We thought about what we wanted to be when we grow up...

...and we thought about the things we are thankful for (making hand-print turkeys to help celebrate them).

This week was actually very rainy and we spent a lot of time indoors.  No matter, we also learned that the parachute fits inside the classroom!

 We welcomed a new student and celebrated his 3rd birthday!

We also bid farewell to Samantha and her beautiful family as they move across the country.  They will be sorely missed, but we're so blessed to know them and so grateful for the time we were able to spend with them.














It was a busy week!

November 9th, 2013

Happy Veteran's Day!  This week we talked a lot about our community and community helpers.  As Veteran's Day approached, we focused a lot on those who protect our country.  We also made American flag thank-you cards that will be delivered Monday to some very deserving veterans living at Grossmont Gardens Senior Community. 

I have a collection of picture books to read this month about various careers grown-ups can have. One of our favorites we shared together this week was the book, Ms. Murphy Fights Fires.

We always look forward to P.E. day with Coach Scott Lee!  On Tueday he brought a brand-new parachute that was highly enjoyed by all... especially the teachers who remember being 5 and running through a parachute, too.  A big, big thank-you to our wonderful P.E. teacher.  

Update: And, a big, big congratulations for health he and his wife's healthy baby girl born early Saturday morning!

This week we enjoyed the sunny, warm weather and rode our cars...

...and painted in the sunshine.

Funny story.  We also made a new batch of playdough... which was subsequently rubbed onto one of my student's head.  Not just gently applied, but really smashed deep into his hair.  Sacred Heart Academy Preschool now offers salon services at no extra charge.

We always have fun in preschool!

Always.