…as we moved into October the children have really become great friends with each other with a vast amount of empathy and understanding of how each of us are so different but yet so alike. We are learning many different things but we are also understanding that each of us learns differently…

Children learn through play and interactions with their peers and adults. Consistency and continuity is extremely important to the development of each child. With consistency a child learns routine, rules, and expectations. We try our best to provide this each day. Attendance plays a big part in the day and life of a preschooler to maintain that continuity with expectations in their little life.

INCLEMENT WEATHER SCHEDULE

When Kent Public Schools announces that they are cancelled or running late due to snow, ice or power failure there will be no preschool classes that day.  Kent Public Schools announces snow and ice closures on local radio and television stations.  Please listen to radio and television announcements on snowy or icy mornings.  We will update the message on our voice mail as soon as we know whether school will open or not.

~~~~November Happenings~~~~

Mark your calendars

Time with the Pastors is a great experience for all ages, young and old. All parents and people are welcome to attend. This month the children will be talking about “Gratitude/Thanksgiving with the Pastors on the 19^th and 20^th at 9:30 in the sanctuary.

 The preschoolers will also be getting ready for “Festival of Lights” on December 6^th at 6:30pm to 7:30 with refreshments

Playing Outside in

Northwest Weather

The Washington Administrative Code

(WAC) 388-295-2130 (1) requires child development facilities to provide outdoor playtime activities for all children in their programs.  This means that even in the rain, children need to go outside and play! 

Remember, your child doesn’t get sick from playing outside in the rain.  Colds are caused by viruses, not wet clothes, so it’s safe for kids to play in the rain. Of course, getting wet is uncomfortable, so bring rain gear, including boots, jackets and hats, and a change of clothes for your kids.

Encourage kids to be active outdoors.  Playing in the sun or rain helps kids develop emotionally, socially and physically.  It’s also fun, so encourage physical activity even in rain.

Please bring a warm jacket for your child!

A few  Reminders

·         Tuition and Fees- Tuition is paid in advance of each child’s attendance, monthly by the 5^th. A late fee of $25.00 will be applied on the 6^th of each month if tuition is not received. Full tuition must be paid to maintain enrollment. Please make all checks and money orders payable to:

Fairwood Community United Methodist Church or F.C.U.M.C.

Sign IN and OUT

Please remember to sign your child in and out each day with your full legal name with the time you drop off and pick up. This is a licensing requirement with Washington state for all Child Development Programs!!!!

 Please see Carmella with any questions, concerns or ideas for field trips or snack ideas…thanks! 

November Family Project

Product: Marshmallow Turkeys
Category: Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
Age: preschool, kindergarten, elementary

Gobble...gobble...these turkeys don't wobble! Make these fun marshmallow turkeys with your kids.

Supplies needed:

Foam marshmallows

Turkey face pattern

Feather pattern

Foam chocolate squares

Ribbon

Glue

Due to the weather, Our field trip to the local pumpkin patch had to be canceled for safety purposes BUT the preschoolers had such an exciting time going on a pumpkin hunt out by the playground on their nature walk the following week.

Do you know what a white pumpkin is called???

A baby boo!!!

                           Open hearts

                                     open minds

                                               open doors   

What We Are All About

Fairwood Community United Methodist Church (FCUMC) preschool believes that a quality Christian preschool built on the principle of God’s love (based on the teachings of Jesus Christ), developmentally appropriate practices, an anti-bias approach to curriculum allows children to be successful in school and in our very diverse world.

Joyful Hearts Preschool is a welcoming place for children of FCUMC, as well as the surrounding community; including those of differing religious, ethnic and/or socio-economic backgrounds other than represented within the FCUMC congregation.

This Preschool is an integral part of the church. The Preschool Council is accountable to the Church Council, and has an on-going relationship with our Pastors and congregation.

The children will have a sensory-rich, safe, nurturing environment developed and maintained by a loving staff. 

Families will be encouraged to be a part of the over-all program. 

Children will learn through play – interacting with other children and adults, using materials that are appropriate to their age and ability.

Curriculum will allow children to explore and develop at their own pace.

Children will be empowered by opportunities to learn problem-solving and peaceful conflict resolution skills.

Affirming the individual uniqueness of each child and respect for all of God’s creation will be at the center  ofall daily activities

Process and Product

As adults, we are concerned with outcomes or the product of our efforts. We want the report to look nice, the cookies to taste great, or the hedges to be perfectly straight. We participate in few activities just for the fun of doing them.

In part this is because we are not still learning how to do most of these activities. But do you remember when you learned to play tennis or golf? Or use a new computer program? In the beginning you needed to do a certain amount of “messing around”- exploring what would happen if you did this or that.

This is the way it is with your child. Kids are learning new things all the time, and they need the freedom to try things out without worrying about the product.

Luckily, young children tend to be more involved with the process or the doing than they are with the end product or results. That is why your child may draw all afternoon yet still not be able to tell you what he drew. And why one child can pour rice back and forth between pitchers all day long and another will string and unstring beads every day for a week.

It is hard for us adults to look beyond the product of an activity and see what the child is learning from the process. Perhaps he is learning coordination or beginning writing skills or making discoveries about triangles or gravity. He’s certainly finding out that doing for one’s self is very satisfying and that builds confidence.

Be patient. Allow your child the time to grow and learn through the various processes that are part of the task. Enjoy watching his or her involvement. Later, we all can be proud of the product.

Cooking in the Kitchen!

We cooked 3 different types of fall squash this month:   Acorn Squash

              Golden Nugget Squash

              Amber Cup Squash

Although some of us did not like the snack with butter and brown sugar, we took “no thank you” bites. This bite allowed each of the children to try the snack and if they did not like it, the child would say “no thank you” and alternate snack was offered! We also baked apples…

All our snacks that are served to the children meet the USDA food program requirements for a healthy and nutritious snack. We will be doing more cooking projects each month which we will ask each family to bring in an ingredient. On special days that you want to celebrate with your child store bought cookies or cupcakes are welcome but we do serve our healthy snack first

 A Nutty Free Preschool

Joyful Hearts is a NUT FREE ZONE

We have a few children that are allergic to nuts and would require medical attention if in contact with any form of nuts. Please make sure that if you send food with your child that it does not contain nuts or any nut products.

Joyful Hearts Preschool 2007 – 2008 School Schedule

The preschool will follow the Kent school district schedule as follows: (No School Days)

 September

10      Preschool starts

October

      12

November

       2

11      Veteran’s Day

22 & 23 Thanksgiving

December 20 – January 2 Winter Vacation

 January

      21 Martin Luther King Day

      30 January

 February

     18 – 22 President’s Week

 March

      7

April

      7 – 11 Spring Vacation

 May

     26 Memorial Day

 June

12      last day for Preschoolers

13      last day for Preschoolers

14       

Meet our Preschool Council members:

Pastor Paula

Lisa Burns – Chair

Cathy Russell - Trustees

Helen Burnett

Kartha Heinz - SPRC

Kathryn Farmer

Pam Young

Julie Brumley