Remote Learning to Begin the 2020-2021 School Year

Dear Preschool Families,

We know that this time of uncertainty has put many families (including our own families) through many ups and downs. Although we would love to start the school year in person, we want everyone’s health and safety to be our number one priority.

Chicago Public Schools is having us start remotely from September 8, 2020, through November 6, 2020. At that time, the Board of Education will determine if it is safe to return to school using a hybrid model (2 days in person/3 days remote) or full in-person learning five days a week.

Principals and school staff were given guidelines from The Board of Education on Tuesday, August 18th, and were also shared with CPS families in the evening. We will be creating a comprehensive school plan and preschool schedule that will be posted in the next two weeks.

Here is what we know:

1. We will start with remote learning.
2. Every student will need their own Chromebook/computer. If you need one, please contact our Assistant Principal Mr. Sam Lee at swlee@cps.edu
3. Google Classroom is our media platform teachers will be using to post lessons, videos, along with using Google Meet for our live daily teaching.

Here is what you can do to get started:

1. Make sure your child has their own technology. The schedule this year will not allow students to share as we are going to be on a set schedule at the same time.
2. If you are using an iPad, please rename the iPad with your child’s first and last name so that pops up on the screen vs. “mom’s iPad” or “taco”.
3. Make sure that all of your registration documents have been emailed and turned into Sally our enrollment school clerk. Her email is: ESSuarezdeDuran@cps.edu
4. Create a space in your house for your preschoolers. It should be in an area that is free from distractions, toys, and quiet. Obviously, this can be a challenge when there are multiple children in the house, and living in tight quarters! We understand. We just ask that you help make this new part of their daily routine predictable, structured, and free from distractions.

For more information about the structure of Remote Learning, please click on the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rEjeaQwG98DhUkmCZfoR5DJhV92fRJ3HMx6TSOuIvg0/preview

Emily Oaks Nature Center

On Tuesday, May 7, 2019 we ventured over to Skokie, IL to visit the Emily Oaks Nature Center! We arrived and were greeted by our Park Ranger Elise who guided the children through a one hour “Walking through the Woodlands” tour! The children were introduced to parts of nature they might not have noticed before, and also how we can care and say hello to nature! The children had a wonderful time! If you have never visited Emily Oaks, we highly recommend this fabulous place! They have a beautiful park/playground area to have a picnic lunch, and for the children to play! The park district also offers some wonderful programs for children AND adults! Please click on the link below to watch our Magisto video!

Emily Oaks Video

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The Three Bears Story Bus!

We had a fabulous two weeks reading 10 different versions of “The Three Bears”. We ended our two week study with a visit from the Khols Story Bus of “The Three Bears”. Children were transported into the story book of this beloved fairy tale where they were greeted by a story teller! Check out our video below of our visit! It was “beary-fun”!

Click Here for our Visit on the Story Bus!

 

Our Visit to Lakeshore Dental Studio in Andersonville!

At a wrap up to our 9 week study on community helpers, we had the opportunity to visit the dental staff at Lakeshore Dental Studio!

Dr. Kapil and his staff created three stations for the children to visit! There was a story time station where they learned about Ray-Ray the Cat and how he got “sugar bugs” off his teeth! Next was a station all about the tools dentists use to do their job! The children even got to put fluoride on two dental hygienists! Last station was visiting Dr. Kapil and learning how he helps to get rid of cavities in peoples teeth, and what he does to fix them! There was lots of fun “dental science” going on!

If you are looking for a new family dentist, Lakeshore Dental Studio is amazing! Their facility is clean with the latest technology in the dental industry, and the staff is professional, caring, and gentle!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR VIDEO

Chicago Children’s Museum

On Tuesday, February 12th, our preschool visited the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier! This was part of our unit of inquiry into community helpers! Within the museum, students had real life-experiences and opportunities to role play many different types of jobs throughout our community! Click on the link below to check out our field trip video!

Chicago Children’s Museum Video

African American Heritage Showcase

This year the preschoolers have been learning and talking about the topic “voting”, and how we all have a voice. We have explored the history of voting, and how there used to be a time when African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Women were not a lot of vote! We looked at pictures and read books around this topic, and developed a universal understanding that everyone deserves to vote! Our voice is important, and counts! It makes a difference! Below is our video we created for the showcase at school for Wednesday, February 13th!

Having A Voice: Vote

Terrific Trees with The Chicago Botanic Gardens

On Wednesday, January 23rd, we had the honor of hosting The Chicago Botanic Garden staff in room 121! They came to teach the children about “terrific trees”, and all of the benefits that trees bring to the Earth! This was a wonderful learning hour for the preschoolers, and part of our winter edition of our year long tree study! After their visit, students went into their science journals and drew about their experience, and what they learned!

Each student was able to plant “Wild Bergamot” seeds into tiny containers with soil. These plants are excellent to plant around Oak Trees. Over the next several months, we will help these seeds grow in our classroom. We will give them sunlight, water, and warm air. In May, we will plant them around the school or at home (if the children decide to go that route).

Enjoy our picture slideshow of our time learning and celebrating “Terrific Trees”!

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An Inquiry into Colors

Our preschoolers at the beginning of the year began to learn about shapes and colors! The first shape they learned about was a circle. In working with our amazing art teacher Mrs. Zapata, the children learned all about circles, sizes, and began to explore colors! After reading the stories, “The Dot” and “Press Here” by Peter H. Reynolds, the children were exploring and finding circles and color combinations everywhere we turned! This led us into a color study! We began with the story, “Little Blue, Little Yellow” by Leo Lionni! When the two colors “hugged”, they became a new color! Take a look at our video to see what the children came up with next…check out the link below!

https://www.magisto.com/video/IE0RNF4ZGGwrBA1pYw?l=vsm&o=w&c=c

Make New Friends But Keep The Old!

Introducing to you the kids in room 121 for the 2018-2019 School Year!

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Back to School 2018-2019

Welcome to the 2018-2019 School Year!!!

Welcome back everyone! We hope you had a wonderful summer, and are gearing up for a wonderful year of learning through play! We are excited to see everyone, and can’t wait to share with you all the new changes to our preschool program! It is going to be a great year.

Back to School Festival is on Thursday, August 30th from 3:00-6:00 p.m.

1. Please come to our classroom from 3:00-4:00 p.m. to fill out the new paperwork and forms. If you are unable to attend, I will send it home with your child on the first day of school.
2. This is the day to come in and take pictures of your child at school and for them to see their cubby, learn their shape, and see the classroom before the first day. We will not be allowing families to walk in on the first day due to the amount of people. This is enforced and requested by administration for safety of students and staff. We strongly encourage you to attend on Thursday.
3. Please drop off any school supplies you might have gotten over the summer for us on Thursday. We need the following:

• 2 Liquid hand soaps or 1 refill bottle (Seventh Generation preferred)
• 2 Containers Cleaning wipes (ie. Clorox)
• 2 rolls of paper towels
• 2 boxes of Kleenex
• 1 box of baby wipes
• 2 Scotch tape rolls
• 1 pack of Elmer’s Glue Sticks
• 1 ream of white copy paper OR colored Astro-Brite Paper

***Remember to bring your child’s extra change of clothes for his/her cubby bin on Thursday, August 30th! The change of clothes should be labeled with your child’s name written on a large Ziploc bag. (Extra change of clothes consist of: 2 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of underwear, 2 pairs of socks).***

EVERY CHILD WILL NEED FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:

– Backpack (please make sure they are not the little ones because it makes it hard for them to put in their folder and other items independently).

– One folder with two pockets- please write your child’s name on it with room 121.

– Change of clothes in  gallon Ziploc Bag for their cubby.