Category: School News

Since today was Valentines day, I wanted to do something very special with Isabel’s hair for Valentines Day. The hair-do that I chose is from a website that I found recently while surfing the web for girly-do’s that I could attempt to do. Since I am not a “hair style” person (pigtails or a barrette are the only things working for us!), this hair style seemed easy enough for even me! So without any practice before hand, I attempted it and actually got it to work with ease! I’m so proud of myself. Enjoy!

Isabel’s special hair-do before class… luckily for us its held together all day!

When I arrived back at school to pick her up, all the kids were lined up along the wall by the door, holding their valentines and silhouette pictures (we’ll see these later). I had wanted to get a picture but by the time I made it into the door, the kids had moved or parents/siblings were standing in the way. It would have been a great shot and I’m sorry that I missed it. Isabel had been standing near the front of the line and grabbed me right away to show me all her special things from class today. The tables were filled with overflowing valentine pouches. Isabel was very excited to show me all the candy/cookies/valentines/goodies she had gotten from her classmates and teachers.

Isabel’s valentine holder that they made to hold their valentines, of course. I overheard Mrs. W tell one mom that each child got to hand out their own valentines (with help) to all their classmates. What fun!

Even though today was extra special during class. They still had a Bible story which was from Mark 10:13-16 and was the story of the little children and Jesus. “Let the children come unto me for the kingdom of heaven belongs to these… and he took them into his arms and blessed them.”

Since it was raining outside, they had recess in the gym. Isabel said that they did running/relay games and acted like different animals. “We galloped like horses. Ran fast like deer. And hopped like frogs.” She said.

All the kids from the class got to bring their favorite stuffed animal to class. Each child got to stand up and tell the class about their special animal and why it was special to them. Isabel said that there were lots of bears, a giraffe, a frog, and one very very special lamb named Lula! “Zachary brought a bear to class and he told everyone that he thought it was a beaver.” Isabel said, “But Momma, it didn’t have big front teeth like a beaver. Zachary was being silly!”

The class also got to decorate their very own valentine cookie. They were each given a circle cookie (don’t know why it’s a circle) and then they got to frost it and put sprinkles on it. Isabel said, “Mrs. W said we could eat half of our cookie. I ate half of mine!”

The special helper today was Lilliana. For show and tell, she brought a pink and white, plain (no decorations) jewelry stand. “To hold bracelets and necklaces, Momma.” said Isabel. For snack, Lilliana brought Go-Gurt® and juice to share. Isabel said that she got green but there was pink and blue too.

Isabel’s silhouette. I spoke with Mrs. Calvert on the way out the door and she told me that Mrs. W had been working on these for weeks. Very cool!

Does it look like her?

Isabel and Lula with her valentines from school.

My valentine from Isabel.

Isabel was excited to get to school this morning… because today was Makayla’s special helper day! She went to school thinking Makayla was going to pick her for the “special-helper” friend. She even went so far as to ask her at school when we arrived…

however…

The first words I hear upon my arrival after school… “She didn’t pick me.” Isabel said with so much sadness; my heart was just breaking for her! I didn’t want to talk about it in the classroom so we quickly gathered all her things and left for home. Below is a bit of our conversation on the road for home…

Me: Makayla didn’t pick you for the special helper friend?
Isabel (very sad): No.
Me: Who did she pick?
Isabel (still very sad): She picked Payton.
Me: I am sorry that Makayla didn’t pick you Isabel, (excitement building in my voice) but do you know what???
Isabel: hhhmmm (her little face looking like the tears were going to fall any second).
Me: This means that Makayla isn’t as shy anymore! She’s becoming more comfortable with all the other kids in your class. That’s not to say she’s not friends with you because I can tell she really likes you. But she’s ready for more friends! That is so great Isabel!
Isabel: It still makes me sad. (still sounding very sad and the tears getting closer!)
Me: I know, Baby Girl. Your friends with Payton. So now you can all be friends and Makayla doesn’t have to feel left out and afraid! You helped her by being her friend first and getting her to open up to all the other’s in your class and not being so shy. Don’t you think Makayla still likes you?
Isabel: … yes.
Me: Yes. She does and you can all be friends… we ended up talking a bit more and when we arrived at home Daddy and Isabel had a little talk… and hugs too.

Later in the day, after all the sadness was gone, I got a bit more information (not much) about what happened at school today.

The Bible story today was from Luke 15:11-32 and was about the prodigal son.

The special helper today was Makayla. For show and tell, she brought a lot of Hello Kitty things. For snack, Makayla brought crackers or cookies and juice. Isabel said she had cookies while others had crackers or cookies like she did.

Today Daddy rode along with us to school. He was getting a ride with his friend Jason to his class today at the college.

Today was Chapel and the story today was from John 13:1-17, Jesus washes the Disciples feet. To illustrate what Jesus did, Isabel said, there was a bucket of water and one of the teacher’s washed one of the boys feet. Also, during chapel time they sang, “Jesus Love Me” and the “B-I-B-L-E“. During Chapel, Isabel’s class was the quietest and were awarded stickers for it! Good job class!

The letter “P” is for Pink Prints, Popcorn, Pop, and Plate.

During recess, Isabel said she was trying to stay away from Devan because he was playing rough BUT during craft time he was being nice and was helping by handing out glue sticks.

The special helper today was Ja’Siah. For show and tell, Ja’Siah brought a yellow-blue and orange dinosaur that roared. It also had arms that raised up to heaven so it was praising God, Isabel said. He also brought a large Etch A Sketch. For snack Ja’Siah brought Scooby doo chocolate snacks and chocolate teddy bear snacks and juice to share with the class.

This morning was a really cold one, the wind was/is blowing and yet there are bits of sunshine and blue sky. Wish it would warm up soon.

Today, Isabel was excited about having a Daddy Helper in class, who was Presley’s Daddy. Isabel said he was really nice and she seemed to like that he was helping in the class today.

The Bible story was from 2 Kings 5:1-14, Naaman the leper being cleansed after dipping 7 times in the Jordan River.

They worked on their alphabet journals with the letter “P”. During free play Isabel played at the sensory table which was changed from Friday’s class. It now has white, hard beans and pink and red hearts that you can dig and find. They also started practice writing their last names as well as their first name.

The practice of her first name… she’s getting so good at it!

The practice of her last name… Good job for the first time!

The special helper today was Nevan. For show and tell Nevan brought a (AGAIN!! she said – I think she’s getting a little sick of it) Buzz Lightyear. For snack Nevan shared with the class graham crackers, strawberry or blueberry GoGurt® (Isabel had blueberry) and juice.

On the way home from school, Isabel made a comment about her ear “feeling funny”. I’m hoping it’s NOT an ear infection and only her allergies, which have been bothering her lately. I checked her temp and gave her some ear drops from her last infection. God, bless my little one today, heal her from this affliction. Amen.

Today, I went to class with Isabel to be the Mommy helper on her special helper day, which was also her BIRTHDAY!

After opening with prayer and thanking Jesus for our special friends, Nevan (whose birthday was yesterday) and Isabel. The class sang a few songs and then Mrs. Calvert read to us a story about hibernation and animals that hibernate. Afterward, everyone headed over to the tables to do a few projects before heading to the gym for recess.

Today the class worked on the number 5. Great job Makayla and Isabel.

Afterward, we got painting shirts on and painted a hibernating animal… a bear.

Makayla and Isabel were so cute together at the special helper table, whispering to one another but when I approached the table would fall silent. So funny!

After everyone painted their bear  and clean-up was complete, we headed into the gym (since it was raining outside) to play a few games.

Here all the kids are acting like crabs but later they acted liked like other animals too…a frog was one of them!

After acting like animals the kids sat down to play duck-duck-goose. Since Isabel was the birthday girl, she got to go first and picked Makayla as the goose.
It was really interesting to see the interaction with the kids before, during, and after the game of duck-duck-goose. After playing duck-duck-goose we split up, headed to the bathrooms and washed hands and took a potty break if we had to.

While I waited for the girls to finish, I watched them make moose faces in the mirror. Isabel didn’t want to do it but it was great to watch the others do it!

Back in the classroom, we had cupcakes and milk for snack to celebrate Isabel’s birthday. When snack time was over, the kids went right into “free-play”.

They gather at the sensory table to explore with dyed lentils, magnets, and alphabet letters.

Later I found the birthday girl, hibernating in the bear cave. Just a few minutes after I took this picture, Aiden, Zackary, and Isabel were asked to keep the noise down. They had been playing in the bear cave and were growling like bears at each other. The noise level went from minimal to very loud very quickly. Mrs. Calvert got to them quickly and reminded them to use inside voices. I guess, it’s to be expected when you’ve talking about bears (and other animals that growl) and theres a cave in the classroom.

After getting asked to keep the noise down, Isabel put on a mask and played “Narnia” by herself.

When Isabel rang the clean-up bell, everyone pitched in to get the room back into order before show and tell and closing prayer. Everyone gathered back on the circle-time rug, while Isabel shared with the class her show and tell. For show and tell, she took her LeapFrog: Tag™ and her Fancy Nancy Explorer Extraordinaire book! Isabel gave the closing prayer and then it was time to go! So fun to see the kids interact with each other! Love it.

Today was Kindergarten Move-Up Day, Groundhog Day, and they worked on the letter “O” as well! Talk about a full day today for our little preschooler (a preview of next year as a kindergardener)!

During Kindergarten Move-Up Day, the class got to visit the kindergarten room, the library, and meet the music teacher!

Isabel with her friends from school visiting one of the kindergarten classrooms!

In the kindergarten room, they visited with the teacher, got to explore the room, and heard the story about, “Mrs. Wishy Washy“.

Listening to the music teacher play his guitar and later they sang “Father Abraham“.
Isabel LOVED this part of the tour, it’s all she talked about!

In the library they got to see all the books and heard the story of the “The Very Hungry Caterpillar“.

Back in the their classroom, they hear another story about Groundhog day and then worked on a groundhog day project.

Now you see see “Phil“…

… now you don’t!

Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring this year!… Oh how I hope it’s true!

The letter “O” is for Olive, Octopus, On/Off.

The special helper today was Rebecca. For show and tell Rebecca brought 2 Strawberry Shortcake dolls. One was purple and smelled like plum and one was red and smelled like strawberry. For snack Rebecca shared with the class animal crackers and milk. Isabel really liked dipping her crackers in her milk!

This morning was rather cold despite the fact that clouds were hanging around. Luckily I didn’t need to scrap the car windows. When we arrived at the classroom, we were almost the first ones there but Olivia was!

When I went back to pick Isabel up after class, Mrs. W let me come into the classroom instead of standing outside in the cold. The class was just finishing up their snacks and were heading into free-play time. What mayhem!!!!!! I helped pick up trash, push in chairs, got the kids to put things away for circle time, and prayed with the class at the end. Several of the kids seemed glad I was there and were asking me all sorts of questions.

Today, the class read the story “The Mitten” by Jan Brett.

The story is about a Ukrainian boy, who wants his grandmother Baba to knit snow-white mittens for him. However she warns her grandson that a white mitten will be hard to find if he loses it in the snow. Of course he promptly does just that! What happens next is surprising, as a mole takes refuge in the lost mitten, than a rabbit, then a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, and a fox. If your thinking the mitten might be a wee bit stretched out at this point, just wait. A big bear sniffs at the mitten and with all the animals packed in tight, the bear doesn’t care. He crawls in anyway! When a tiny mouse squeezes in, her whiskers tickle the bear’s nose, which causes him to sneeze, “Aaaaaa-aaaaaa-ca-chew!” All the animals fly out of their crocheted cave. As the mitten sails through the air, the boy spots it, reclaims it, and takes it home to show his smiling Baba.

Isabel said that she enjoyed the story of The Mitten. After reading the story, the class worked on a art project making their own “mittens” from the story!

They watercolored the front portion of the mitten and then sewed along the edge.

The animals for Isabel’s mitten. I told her that if she wanted to, she could color them.

The class also worked in their alphabet journal’s today. The letter for this week is “O”. Isabel said that while they were doing their journals, she was the first one to finish at her table. She seemed rather proud of herself, I just hope they look like O’s. The Bible story today was about Adam and Eve, again. Isabel said that they have already read that story. I told her that even though they may have heard it before, maybe today’s story was a bit different then before. When I asked further about it, she said she couldn’t remember what it was about. Today, they played outside in the “plain” playground because the other playground was being occupied. Isabel says, that they ran around and chased each other. She also said that she got a stick and was playing in the mud where the gopher holes were. Mrs. W, later told me that Isabel has sticking her hands in the mud and they scrubbed and scrubbed to get all the dirt off her hands before snack time. Just like my child, to be the one to play in the only dirt/mud available in a grassy field!

The special helper today was Anika. They ran out of time in class, because the clock broke, so Anika will share her show and tell on Wednesday with the class. For snack, Anika brought to share, string cheese, Toy Story 3 fruit snacks, and juice.