It's Swim Time!

Dear Parents,

The children will begin swimming instruction the week after Spring Break. 

The swimming days are on the Elementary 6 Day Cycle; therefore, will change each week. 

Your child will be swimming on Day 2.

I will post the actual date on the blog every week. Please keep track of the days as the children get very disappointed if they show up to school and don’t have their swimming things, and I don’t have extra.

On swimming day, the children should come to school wearing their bathing suits. Girls can wear their suits underneath their clothes and boys can wear their bathing suit with a t-shirt.

On swim days, students are expected to:

·         Wear waterproof sandals and swim cap (for long hair)

·         Bring a towel. (Clearly labeled with your child’s name).

·         Wear sunscreen.

·         Bring clothes to change into and a plastic bag for the wet suit.

·         Students may also bring goggles if desired. (Please label).

If you are able to help with changing after the class, please let me know on the form in your child's folder.  Any help is appreciated!  :)

Happy Birthday Peter!

Our friend Peter turned 5 this past weekend!  Today Mrs. Laura and Mr. Matthew, Peter's parents, brought in cookies for the class to celebrate.  Thank you Laura and Matt for making our afternoon a special one, and Happy Birthday Peter!

Weekly Words

Happy Rainy Thursday!  This week's weather was perfect for beginning our unit about Spring.  We learned it rains more in Spring to help the plants and flowers grow.  Then we planted our own!  We chose between a bean plant and a daffodil.  So far one bean plant has begun to sprout.  We continue to water them daily and put them in the sun in hopes more will sprout soon.  

With the help of the book the Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, we discovered how plants naturally spread using the wind.  But seeds aren't the only things the wind blows!  Pat Hutchin's book The Wind Blew showed us everything can be moved by the wind if it is strong enough.  It was so much fun acting out the story with a audience of wind blowing objects around!

This week we also met Yellow YoYo Man from Letterland.  Yellow YoYo Man makes the /y/ sound.  Many friends brought objects for the Y table such as a yak, yoyo, yogurt, yellow pencil, and yoga moves!  Later in the week, we made yogurt parfaits with cherries and granola.  About half of us thought the yogurt was yummy.  The other half, yucky.  But it was fun to make the layers!

Next week is a four day week, and we will continue to learn about Spring and finish up the alphabet with letter Z.  Please bring an object beginning with the /z/ sound. 

Reminder: Spring Break is April 3-12.

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the weekly slideshow, and see you Sunday! 

Student Led Conference Tomorrow and Thursday

Remember Conferences are tomorrow and Thursday.  This trimester, the conference is led by your child so please bring them along. :)  We look forward to seeing you!

Thank you Ms. Hamsa for coming today and sharing with us about Jordan, Kareem's home country.  We enjoyed the video about EID celebrations and the date cookies.  Thank you to all the parents that participated in the home country show and share!  You all are the best!

Weekly Words

Thank you all for coming and sharing with our class about the different places of the world.  We all learned so much!  

Ms. Laura, Peter's mom, spoke with us about Ohio in the United States of America.  She told us that in Ohio they grow corn and brought us popcorn to munch on during snack.  She also showed us beautiful photos of Ohio.  It looked much different than Oman.  There was a lot of green! Thank you Ms. Laura for joining us. 

In the afternoon Ms. Hina, Zaha's mom, told us about Pakistan.  She shared a story Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson.  In this story, Greg gets lost in Pakistan, and and the local people help him.  In return, Greg helps builds a school for the village. After, Ms. Hina told us about henna and how in Pakistan they wear henna on special occasions.  She left a paper hand for us all the practice henna on next week.  Thank you Ms. Hina for sharing this special book. 

 

Next week is another short one for students.  Parent Conferences are Wednesday and Thursday.  This conference is student led.  It will be an opportunity for your child to show you everything they have completed during the school year.  Therefore, please bring your child to the conference.   :)

Have a great weekend, and see you at international day at 3pm in the green gym!  Enjoy the weekly slideshow. 

Happy Birthday Alex

Our sweet Alex turned 5 years old yesterday!  Hanane, Alex's mommy, came to class with cake pops to celebrate.  Thank you for making our day special, and happy birthday Alex!

Country Presentations

Ms. Hend came to visit us to share with us about Egypt, Karma's native home.  She read us a story in Arabic and Hana, Karma's sister, translated it into English.  Then she had us all take home a dessert from Egypt.  Thank you Ms. Hend!

Later, Mihika's mother and father joined us to share about India.  Ms. Deepika told us a lovely story of Ram and Diwali.  Mr. Parvesh shared with us that Diwali is the festival of lights that happens around November.  They then passed out goodie bags filled with a candle, a table, an India shaped badge and a sweet.   Thank you Ms. Deepika and Mr. Parvesh.  Having you both was such a treat!

Banners Galore!

Zaha and Lenny did an excellent job of presenting their banners today about Pakistan and Germany.  Way to go friends, and thank you parents for working with us to make this unit so meaningful.

Important Update

International Day EC Performance

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Please arrive at the green gym* to join your child’s class no later than 3:00pm*.

Dressing in national clothing from your native country is encouraged. 

*Time and location has been changed from first note.  Please arrive at 3:00 in the Green Gym.

All Around the World

Today we had two very special guests in our class.  

Mr. Matthew, George's father, came to class to share with us about George's native country of India.  To begin, Mr. Matthew put sandalwood paste on all our foreheads, just like they do before school in India.  This is used to help all the information taught sink in our brains.  After we all had a dot of sandalwood paste, he told us a story of Ram and how Kerala, George's state in India, was founded by a throwing of a knife and splitting of the sea.  After the story, we watched as he showed us how to wear a mundu, the traditional clothes of Kerala.  Even with learning all this information, Mr. Matthew, also left us with Banana chips made in India.  Upon departing, he bowed his head and taught us the word "Namaste" for goodbye.  (It's also used for hello!)  We were very lucky to have Mr. Matthew here with us today to give us insight about India.  Thank you for coming!

In the afternoon, we had our second special guest Ms. Yasmine, Hussein's mom.  His little brother Saleem also came to help!  Ms. Yasmine and Hussein are from the country of Egypt.  She showed us the flag of Egypt, and then we had the chance to color our own flag with red, black, and a yellow eagle in the center.  Later, Ms. Yasmine shared harissa, a traditional Egyptian cake.  It was very delicious.  Thank you Ms. Yasmine for coming today we are happy to learn about Hussein's native country of Egypt! 

Happy Birthday Charlotte

Our cheerful Charlotte turned 5 today!  Ms. Griet and Anna, Charlotte's mom and sister, joined us to celebrate with cake.  It was a wonderful addition to snack time!  Thank you Ms. Griet for making our day extra special and Happy Birthday Charlotte!

Weekly Words

Wow!  What wonderful banners!  The children were very proud to present their to the class about their countries, and everyone learned so much about all the different places in the world.  Thank you for helping make this project meaningful.  Enjoy the slideshow.

The next few weeks are very busy. Please see the below schedule and mark your calendars! 

Sunday, March 9-  NO SCHOOL- Staff Inservice 
M, T, W, Th- Country Show and Tell (Many parents have signed up to share! We look forward to having you here!)
Saturday, March 15- International Day-  EC is preforming.  Please be in the Bosch Hall lobby by 3:10.  Native country dress is encouraged.
Wednesday, March 19-  Parent/Teacher Conferences*
Thursday, March 20- Parent/Teacher Conferences*

*Conferences this trimester are student led.  This is an opportunity for your child to show you everything they have learned this year!  Conference times have gone home today in your child's folder.  Please sign and return these next week.  

Next week, we will continue our All Around the World unit and letter W will join us.  Please bring an object beginning with the /W/ sound for our letter table.  

Have a relaxing three day weekend.  See you Monday!

My Country Banner

Way to go Nour and Peter!  They were the first to turn in their country banners.  They both did an excellent job presenting to the class about the countries they are from: Oman and America. 

 

Happy Birthday Zaha!

Our sweet Zaha turned 5 today, and her family joined our class in the afternoon to celebrate!  Thank you Ms. Hina for the cupcakes.  They made our day!  Happy Birthday Zaha!!