December
NEWS
artwork by: Laura Byars
Monday Morning Montessori -Join us! Monday December 12 8:30 am in the Parish Hall - Loree Birkenback
head of school
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Cooking with Children
elcome, December! The holidays always make me feel like baking and huddling beside a cozy fire. This month’s Monday Morning Montessori topic will cover cooking with your child. I’ve made an “alphabet sound” cookbook/scrapbook that I’ll be sharing with all attendees. Anna Bouldin and I will also pull out a couple of our favorite recipes for us to cook together! Here’s one super fun family cooking activity:
Applesauce Surprise
Items Needed
A cooking pot Mixing bowl Apple peeler (optional) Potato masher 1 cup of water 5 apples (softer apples like Gala, McIntosh or Fuji work
Directions Peel, cut and core 5 apples Add ½ cup of water Cook for 30 minutes or until apples are tender After the apples have cooled a bit, take turns mashing the apples Sprinkle with cinnamon and add a dash of honey if you’d like. Eat and Enjoy!
best) 1 pinch of cinnamon Drizzle of honey
Note: I found apple peelers through Amazon starting at $16! They are also available at Williams and Sonoma, Bed Bath and Beyond and Wal-Mart.
MDO Oh my goodness I can’t believe December is already here. We have had such a great school year so far. It is going by way too quickly. The children have already grown up so much. A lot of our children have started either being interested in sitting on the potty or have graduated to underwear. So, for the rest of the school year we will be doing a lot of potty training. We will be getting some potty training manuals out to everyone before Christmas break, so that you can go ahead and introduce your child to the potty at home. Since we have been back from Thanksgiving break we have finally brought out the glue. The children are having a lot of fun gluing shapes, numbers, and colored paper. We glue with a paint brush so we can reinforce the pencil grasp. We have been working very hard on number recognition as well. Our older children have been introduced to the scissor work and are doing such a great job with the safety rules.
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Please don’t forget that the last day of class will be December 16, 2011 and lease don’t s Christmas is approaching fast we would like to do some fun will be We no after school care offered 15-16.that It willthe belast nor-day forget cooking lessons that go with there Christmas. could do some muf- on December malwith hours for our Out Program. of class will be December 16, fins in the shape of a Christmas tree either redMother’s or greenDay food 2011 and there will be no after coloring, sweet potatoes, or any type of fun snack that you might think school care offered on Dewe would enjoy making together. The children love our class projects of cember 15-16. It will be normal cooking things and look forward to snack when they know they have hours for our Mother’s Day prepared it. Please keep in mind that we almost always have 18 children Out Program. and they usually like 2nds for snack. I usually say pack for about 25 children.
Toddlers Holiday cooking
As the holidays approach, consider how your toddler can help in the kitchen and share in the holiday festivities. At school the children have learned how to set their own place at the table and how to serve with a serving spoon. They are practicing how to spread butter on bread and crackers and how to slice soft foods with a butter knife. Consider creating a holiday themed cooking project like making Christmas cookies. It is a good idea to pre-measure all the ingredients in small prep bowls and allow your toddler to add them and stir. Then, have some dough pre rolled and ready to cut out with cookie cutters. Measure a couple of tablespoons of sprinkles or sugar into a bowl and pinch a small amount to sprinkle onto each cookie. Bake and enjoy!! Children gain a tremendous sense of esteem and community from shared responsibility in the home. What a great way to celebrate the holidays together with your toddler while nurturing skills that will last a lifetime.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries A classroom favorite! Toddlers love to scrub vegetables clean! •Scrub 2-3 sweet potatoes •Have an adult slice sweet potatoes into wedges •Drizzle with olive oil •Sprinkle with cinnamon and sea salt •Bake at 425 degrees F for around 30 min.
Primary
classroom news
We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! The children came back rested and ready for the last few weeks of 2011. We were so excited to decorate our classroom for Christmas and to introduce some wonderful winter works. Some of these new works include stringing holiday beads, transferring pine cones, painting with gold, red and green paint, putting on gloves and mittens, and water pouring with beautiful winter themed ceramic pitchers. The children are also making salt dough ornaments. We have been learning about Advent in chapel and have added a nativity scene to our classroom dĂŠcor. The children are so excited to practice their songs for the Christmas pageant and to discuss all the wonderful things about this time of year. We want to thank you for the generous amount of pet supplies that everyone brought to help us care for Jameson the guinea pig and our tank of tropical fish. We have collected enough supplies to last for the rest of the school year. Thank you!
The holidays are a great opportunity to cook with your children. Many of you already do this at home and you know how much the children love to help measure, pour, stir, and taste the finished products. - Mrs. Julia and Mrs. Tamara
Tip!
Lets Make Homeade Playdough! Recipe
1
Combine 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water in a mixing bowl.
2
Mix all ingredients together thoroughly with your hands or a spoon. Add food coloring and/or scent if desired.
3
Store any surplus playdoh in a sealed container in the fridge to maintain freshness.
Fun in the Classroom
Its Begining to look alot like Christmas..
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xcitement is in the air as we prepare for the Christmas Season. “Mrs. Barrineau, when is Christmas?” “Mrs. Barrineau, when is next month?” “Mrs. Barrineau, why is that Christmas tree in the hall?” “I like elves.” A great way to answer the question, “When is Christmas?” is to count the days down on a calendar. Put a picture of a Christmas tree on Christmas Day, then check off each day and the child can count down to Christmas independently. This is what we do in the classroom. We are also stringing beads on pipe cleaners and hanging them on our classroom Christmas tree. This is a Christmas tradition in our classroom. Tip! The students take the “ornaments” home with them when we leave school for the holidays. As for the Christmas tree in the hall, we talk about giving to those less fortunate than we are. We hope to have a plethora of presents around that tree. (Plethora, huh? We will look that word up in the dictionary during rug time.) Additionally, we have Christmas punching works, Christmas “coloring within the lines” works, and a wonderful stash of items in our Art Cache to help with Christmas Art Creations. What a joyous season! ENJOY every minute with your precious children. -Barrineau
Primary In our Montessori classrooms, the children help prepare snack each day, serve fruits and vegetables to their classmates, and set their table for lunch. To bring a bit of Montessori into your home, allow your children to help prepare meals at home. Try helping them slice vegetables, measure ingredients when cooking and baking, and ask for their input when planning lunches and dinners. Children can also be put in charge of setting the table, helping to wash dishes, and loading the dishwasher. To help your child become more independent at home, try placing a few plates, bowls, and glasses on low shelves whithin reach. Put small pitchers of water and milk on the bottom shelves of the refrigerator so that your child can serve themself. We are having so much fun preparing for Christmas in the classroom! The children have enjoyed scooping pinecones, sorting Christmas gifts, punching out Christmas trees, and learning about Advent. The children know that Advent means Jesus in coming. Each day we sing our special Advent song: One candle, one candle, one candle shining bright, Advent, Advent, Christ was born on Christmas night. Ask your children to help you sing the song at home, too! We have also had lessons on the Nativity scene. The children really enjoy placing Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in the barn and telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas! Miss Elizabeth and Miss Ashley
Holiday Traditions Traditions are shared in our classroom this time of year. We enjoy doing some of the same things we did last year and the year before and the year before…tradition. There is a comfort in knowing that the colorful strips of paper to make a paper chain “taller than I am” will be on the shelf; that there will be oranges to decorate with cloves; that we will be making an advent calendar together. The older children find these activities and say”Hey, I remember this from last year; I want to make this again.” The younger children watch and eagerly await their turn. Stringing cranberries in our room, cutting out snowflakes and making our own ornaments are so much fun to do. How many of us can remember the traditions surrounding Christmas from our own childhood? That’s because having something to look forward to each year builds the strongest memories! This will be our cheerful work for the month of December; building lasting memories with old friends and new. In this hurried season, please remember the best gift we can give our children is the gift of time. Happy Holidays to all of you, and we hope you make some time for your own family traditions! -Ms. Gavin and Ms. Bailey
Making Salt Dough Ornaments
Tip!
1/2 Cup of Salt
1
Mix all of the ingredients together until it turns to dough
+
2
1/2 Cup of Water
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Roll it flat with a rolling pin and choose your favorite Christmas cookie cutters and Place them in a baking pan
1 Cup of Flour
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Bake them for 4-6 hours in a 200 degree oven. Once they have cooled you may choose yoru favorite paint to decorate.
Chapel Lessons with Ms. Ashley
Lessons we have learned
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hapel in December is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a time of joy, anticipa-
tion and excitement. There is a soft buzz in the Church pews as the children listen to each new story about the Christmas season. We have had the opportunity to learn about Advent and what it means to remember that Jesus came and will come again one day. The students of SJES have generously been making toy donations to the White Rock Center of Hope for those who are in need. Not a day goes by that I don’t hear a child say “Those toys are for children who don’t have any”. It’s so important to learn at this tender age that it is “better to give, then to receive”. As we move closer towards Christmas this is a wonderful time to share with your children what Christmas means to you. Family? Jesus’ Birthday? Presents? Giving to others? I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Blessings, Ashley Flowers Christian Ed. Director
W Henri Matisse
December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter. Matisse is commonly regarded as responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture. His work won him recognition as a leading figure in modern art.
e invite you to the 2011 Student Art Exhibit at Highlands cafe. Please stop in and view the St James student’s artwork on exhibit throughout December. The Kindergarten student’s work will be displayed through mid December, and the younger Primary art students will be displayed late December through January 2nd. Lake Higlands Cafe 9661 Audelia Road, Suite 105, Dallas, Texas 75238
Art
with Ms. Ashli
Technology with Ms. Ashli
We are learning
Robotics Hub Motor Axle USB How to Program
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he kindergartners are learning about robotics using Lego “We Do� Robotics. This month, the students built robotic legs , and used the programming software to kick a ball. They also made a soccer goalie that moved back and forth to protect the goal in random intervals.
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ith the Lego We do system, the students invent their own solution by building a LEGO model and programming it to perform a certain task. Cause and effect learning is enhanced by the models remaining tethered to a computer; similar to scientists in working labs, children can test and adjust their programming in real time. After reflecting on what did and did not work, students can consult with peers, adapt programming, adjust models or begin again.
After School Care
After school care continues to be a buzz of activity this month. We have several crafts that we are working on. If you have crayons that have seen better days, please consider donating them to ASC, we will use them for a project. We are still collecting glass jars and plastic water bottles. Along with our crafts the favorite new activity for the primary children has been a new set of blocks and the toddlers continue to love playing with small inside balls.
While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. ~Angela Schwindt-
Since the weather has changed, Mrs. Barrineau’s and Mrs. Bailey’s Primary Classroom and Mrs. Anna’s Toddler class will now bring their jackets/sweaters to ASC. Each classroom has a basket with Tip! their classroom’s name on it, please be sure to check the basket before you go to their cubbies. Speaking of cold weather, please make sure that your child brings outerwear for playtime. We will go out to play every day unless it is raining.
Tip!
Upcoming Events December December 12th Monday Morning Montessori Discussion with Loree Birkenback 8:30 am october 20th
Oct 31
December 15th HalloweenPagent Parties Christmas Noon Dismissal (5:00 Toddlers) (6pm Primary) After School dismisses at 4:30 December 16th Holiday Parties - Noon Dismissal December 19th - Jan 2nd Christmas Holidays
January January 3rd School resumes January 9th Monday Morning Montessori Discussion with Loree Birkenback 8:30 am January 10th PTO Meeting
Christmas Manger Prayer Oh God, whose mighty Son was born in Bethlehem those days long ago, lead us to that same poor place, where Mary laid her tiny Child. And as we look on in wonder and praise, make us welcome him in all new life. Let us see him in the poor, and care for his handiwork‌ the earth, the sky and the sea. O God, bless us again in your great love. We pray for this through Christ our Lord. Amen.