Artist month finds each teacher studying an artist and designing an art project that will serve as a representation of the artist work to share with the children. Each artist will be presented to the children, their history, what medium they used to express themselves through art and other interesting facts.  We love to hear the children recall information about the artist, and use the artists name when speaking about the art. The teachers find wonderful discoveries throughout this process as well.We enjoyed our snow, ice and animals in the winter themes in January. Although we were not able to spend much time outside we did manage to bring the snow inside to our sensory table. When it was icy we chopped it up with big spoons, when it was good snowball making snow we made little snowmen and put winter animal figures in with the snow, we also took water colors and the teachers sprayed two colors in the snow and the children mixed them and made new colors.  We put Popsicle sticks (w/a picture of an ice skater drawn on them) in a cup of water and then left the cups out on the porch overnight - the water turned to ice, we took the ice out of the cups and let our “ice skaters” skate around the table.  We learned about what animals do in the winter, and used stuffed animals and boxes to make winter homes.

Our ice cream shop was a big hit.  Who new we had such amazing ice cream sales people?  Although it was a great success, a new month brings a new dramatic play area.  Our “Shoe Store” will be opening on Monday. Numbers and creativity will be infused in this center, money, shoe sizes, sales and styles.

We will be continuing our alphabet studies with the letters V, M, N and W.  After much follow-up assessments last month our small group time will focus on building our strengths and taking on our challenges. We will continue to go outside when weather permits, if not, we will continue to work on our gross motor skills through obstacle courses, yoga, and music and movement.

Our 100th day of school celebration will take place Friday, February 6th. There will be songs, games, books and artwork all about the wonderful number 100. Miss Liz may even look for her special yellow bow to wear in her hair.

Keep smiling, the days are getting longer, spring will be here soon.
Miss Liz, Miss Nicole, Miss Alissa and Miss Shealene

We are very excited for Art Month at Ridge Hill - it is a school favorite theme!!

January was a very busy month upstairs, the children learned all about what animals hibernate and which ones just go into a light sleep or torpor.  Each week we put a new sentence at the writing table, it was so great to see this as one of the busiest areas in the classroom!!  It was fun to make animal tracks in shaving creme, snowy icebergs for the animals in the sensory table and it was neat to see how different each child recreates their ideas on paper with each art project.  Their creative little minds will certainly have fun as we enter art month.

During February, we will dedicate one week to a certain artist and the children will be recreating one of their pieces of art using the specific techniques used by the weekly artist.  The whole month will be preparing for the Art Show in March - your child will not be bringing any of these special projects home, they will be on display the night of the show.  We will be doing other smaller art activities that your child will be able to bring home.  This is a school favorite theme - we love to watch how each individual artist comes out to shine during Artist month!!  A note will be sent out regarding more specifics for the Art Show.

YIPPEE THE 100th DAY OF SCHOOL IS HERE, the children have been so excited counting each day since September - we will be celebrating this special day on Friday, February 6th from 10:00 - 11:00 and from 2:00 - 3:00.  All children are invited even if it is not their day.  All morning children may come during 10 - 11 and all afternoon children may come from 2 - 3.  If you have any questions please ask any of the teachers.  The children are welcome to make a 100th Day poster that represents the number 100 - some ideas are stickers, stamps, fingerprints, numbers, words - we ask that due to allergies you please do not attach any food items to your poster.

As always, Parent Volunteers are always welcome to our classroom.  Please be sure to talk to a teacher if you are interested in joining us for a morning or afternoon.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• During the winter, if the parking lot is covered with snow we will be bringing your child out to your car - please be sure to be at school by 12:30 on these days
• All winter items should be labeled - the children get confused sometimes as to what is theirs
• Please be sure to put your child’s snack in the snack bin and their lunches in the lunch bins with their name on it - the snack bin is labeled SNACK in our hallway

Happy Days to All,
Ms. Stacey, Ms. Rachel, Miss Maura, Miss Jenny & Zippy