At Work

THANK YOU!!

Thank you one and all for being part of the St. Stephen’s Preschool community this year! We look forward to seeing many of you in a week for camp, but we couldn’t let this day pass without a big hug and a big thank you. Happy Summer!

St. Stephen's Summer Camp

Calling all Campers! Camp begins Monday, June 4 at 9:00. No carpool for camp. See you then, let's have fun!!!

Summer Supplies Drive for Peter Paul Development Center (PPDC) May 10th -24th

This summer, PPDC will host 60 children aged 2^nd grade through 7^th grade for summer camp. PPDC is within a one-mile radius of the city’s four largest public housing projects where the average income in these four communities is less than $8,000 per year. The children will have the opportunity to swim at Roslyn and St. Catherine’s for several weeks and are greatly in need of the following:

- new or like-new goggles

- sunscreen spf 15 or 30

- new or like-new water bottles

Bins will be located in the main hallway of St. Stephen’s Preschool, or send in items during carpool. Also
appreciated: lotion for post swimming (any size including hotel-size), new or like-new flip flops, sunglasses, beach towels, and visors.

Our Condolences

Our sympathy is with Leslie Bien and her entire family as they deal with the death of her father, Dr. Manuel Mendez on May 12, 2012.

Videographer Needed

Amateur videographers needed now!  If you could help produce a video of the St. Stephen’s program, please let me know.  I am working with Dale Edmondson to create a video highlighting choice as a tool for early childhood programs and need help!

Health Alert

We have had a diagnosed case of Fifths Disease in the preschool. According to KidsHealth.org, "Fifth Disease, which is especially common in kids between the ages of 5 and 15, usually produces a distinctive red rash on the face that makes a child appear to have a "slapped cheek." The rash then spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs. Fifth disease is actually just a viral illness that most kids recover from quickly and without complications."

Because of the danger of this virus for pregnant women, we want to be especially careful not to bring children with these symptoms to school.

SSP 10K Team Raises over $2,500 for St. Andrews

The SSP Monument Avenue 10K team raised $2,520.71 for the children and families at St. Andrew's School, a tuition-free elementary school for 95 low-income students.  This was our third year running for St. Andrew's and this year we had more runners and raised more money than ever before.  Thank you to all our runners and those that supported them.

Perhaps, the most inspiring part of this story is that the Sportsbackers sponsored 20 St. Andrew's kids to race in the one mile children's run the morning of the 10K.  Their parents came out and cheered them on, and a few even ran with them!  

Not only does this demonstrate St. Andrew's commitment to teaching its students and their families to be healthy, but it also shows how the St. Stephen's team inspired the students to run as well.  To view all the photos of St. Andrew's children running, go to:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150694618304420.417921.77124489419&type=3

Spirit Night Change

Please join us for a night of family fun - St. Stephen's Preschool Spirit Night!
Thursday, April 26, 2012 from 5:30-7:00

Due to inclement weather, tomorrow's St. Stephen's Preschool Spirit Night will be moving to the Fellowship Hall within the church! Please leave your blankets and chairs at home but don't forget to bring your own beverages and a book for the book drive!

Picnic dinner, kid's drinks, coolers and ice will be provided!

We will have balloon animals, face painting, carnival games and lots of fun!

If you have not already turned in your reservation form, please download here and turn it in!

Toddler Room Update: April 23 - May 4

Theme: Spring is Springing!

As we move further into April, our senses are starting to pick up on the changes we’re seeing outside. The weather is changing and signs of spring are among us! What types of changes are we seeing outside and, more importantly, what do they mean? Throughout April and early May, the toddler class will be talking about these questions and exploring what the changes in the warm weather that we love so much really mean.

We will be learning a new spring song and, as always, we encourage you to sing it at home with your child!

Three Little Tulips
(To the tune of “Five Little Ducks”)
Three little tulips that I once grew,
A white one, pink one, and a red one too.
But the one little tulip it grew, grew, grew,
It grew taller than the other two.
The other two, the other two,
It grew taller than the other two.

During April and early May, we will spend our time talking about the colors that we are starting to see outside this time of year. We will read books about spring, including Spring is Here and Colors of the Seasons. Throughout the week, we will use “happy” colors of various materials and textures to create spring collages.

Our focus will then shift to learning about the plants that we see popping up outside during this time. These activities will help prepare us for our garden planting (April 24^th for 3-Day; April 26 for 2-Day). We will be reading books about spring flowers, including Planting a Rainbow and Flower Garden, while also creating our own flower bed in the classroom. We will be making handprint flowers and egg carton flowers to “plant” in our garden – this will be great practice for our actual planting outside! We will also work on our fine motor skills at the play dough station while working on planting silk flowers in play dough filled flower pots.

Throughout these next few weeks, please be sure to check out our new spring bulletin board which will be growing up in the classroom. Each week, we will create something new in art to add to our spring scene. This, along with our indoor flowerbed, should help get us all excited about what’s to come!

Fondly, Ann, Mary Beth, and Ashley

Show Us Your School Spirit

Show us your School Spirit by wearing St. Stephen's gear on Thursday, April 26th for both Spirit Day at school and Spirit Night! If you're in need of a shirt, please fill out the T-Shirt Order Form and we'll have one to you before Thursday. Thank you!