Dear Parents,
February may be the shortest month, but it is also the busiest. With Valentine’s Day, two president’s birthdays, Ground Hog Day, and Chinese New Year, February always promises excitement. Every class will devote some time to these celebrations.
Ms. Alex and Ms. Kendall, our pillars of patience will introduce the many adventures of Pete the Cat. These best-selling picture books present the wiry Pete with his white shoes and eclectic friends showing that it’s cool to be you. With boundless poise, creativity, and energy, our MDO ladies do an exceptional job with her charges. With easel painting, sponge, and spin art not to mention our backed papers this is a grand time for our youngest.
The three-year old’s wave good-bye to the Farm and turn their focus to one of their favorite topics—food! They learn about nutrition and become expert dietitians. Our goal is to help the children learn about “good” foods and their source. This unit involves quite a bit of cooking and sampling with each food group. They will make bread, taste meatballs and fish sticks, enjoy some fruit and vegetables, and finish the month with a delicious Nutrition Party. It’s a terrific (and fattening) month for the threes,
The four-year old’s are in for a treat this month because it’s BEAR MONTH! From Corduroy, Pooh and Paddington to pandas and polar bears, they investigate bears, their habits, and their habitats.
Ms. Diane’s class are digging out from their snowbank. After they turn in their meteorologists’ badges, PreK will cover the hodgepodge of February: Ground Hog Day, Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and Chinese New Year. It’s a great time for the children to learn a bit about our country’s history, the Pledge of Allegiance and those anecdotes about George and Abe. Busy!
The kindergarten classes will study Dr. Seuss and his zany characters. The Cat in the Hat and all his friends–Thigwick, Bartholomew Cubbins, Horton, and Yertle become our vehicles for learning. Rhymes, math, crafts, and songs all focus on Seuss themes during these winter days. It all ends with the notorious breakfast a Beach Manor featuring Green Eggs and Ham (of course!). The children have a grand time with all of this while an incredible amount of learning takes place.
Valentine’s Day with its messages of love and friendship is special to children and Beach Manor School. Each class exchanges valentines and has a party for Valentine’s Day. Enclosed is a list with the number of children in each class. On February 14th (or 13th) please send in valentines for each student in your child’s class, and we’ll take care of the rest. The teachers have requested that you NOT “address” the valentines–just sign them with your child’s name. This way the children can easily pass them out. Your child’s teacher will let you know your party day/date.
Registration for next year is going well and several classes are already full. Thank you for all the positive feedback!! It is satisfying to know that so many of you are pleased with Beach Manor’s program.
Many of you have asked questions about our kindergarten program. I realized that when most of you register, I go into great detail about the three- and four-year-old program but kindergarten comes as a wonderful surprise. Our kindergarten program continues the phonics instruction begun in the four-year-old program. It includes a very strong short vowel reading, writing, and spelling curriculum that leads to long vowel usage in the spring. The children learn to recognize and write numbers to 100; they learn math facts to 10, graphing, fraction recognition, and how to count money. The joy of the program, however, is the incredible amount of information the children learn in the unit study (constellations, musical instruments, and dinosaurs, children around the world, the human body, and other very hands-on science studies.) The goal is, as always, to enhance their self-esteem. Having so much knowledge about their world gives them tremendous self-confidence. They acquire the skills needed to put them at the top of their first-grade class.
If you want more information about the kindergarten program, please stop by and I’ll be happy to show you the curriculum. Your response so far for next year is gratifying. Thank you for all your support and cooperation. Without your smiles and encouragement our job would be so difficult. Instead, it’s a joy!
Beach Manor’s EIN number is 87-3731398
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY. Although our inclement weather policy states that we will close if the public schools close, sometimes it is not necessary. It all depends on the roads and the power conditions. Be sure to check our website under “Special Announcements” at www.manorschools.com. Of course, if your neighborhood conditions are even slightly questionable, stay home.
Sincerely, Leigh
DATES TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR
FEB 1 FALL REGISTRATION OPEN TO PUBLIC AND RETURNING STUDENTS
February 20 President’s Day. School closed
February 27-28 Lions Clubs (Free Eye Screening)
April 4 & 5 Spring Program (class schedule below)
April 10-14 Spring Break
May 23 Conference Day. School open for daycare only
May 29 Memorial Day. School closed
June 9 Kindergarten graduation
June 16 Last Day of School
REMINDERS: Please remember to:
- Label coats and sweaters. Our lost and found is filling up again.
- Hold your children’s hand in the parking lot and walk them in rather than watching them walk to the building unattended.
- Date your child’s lunch box each day. Update your addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contact information if they have changed.
VALENTINE INFORMATION/CHILDREN PER CLASS
Ms. Alex (8) Ms. Kendall (10) Ms. Karen (14) Ms. Heather (12) Ms. Harden (10)
Ms. Jessica (18) Ms. Kimberly (18) Ms. Diane (18) Ms. Yez (12)
SPRING PROGRAM:
Tuesday, April 4th
Ms. Diane
Ms. Jessica
Ms. Harden
Ms. Yez
Wednesday, April 5th
Ms. Karen
Ms. Heather
Ms. Kimberly