December 2022 Newsletter

Image by: Lily McGlown| “Oh Christmas Tree” | Tapestry Room, Five/Six Class | Mixed media on paper

DEAR FAMILIES,

Christmas is such a wonderful time to be with family and friends. It’s important for families to begin (or continue) traditions; however, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the many offerings of the season with parties, special programs, places to visit, travel, and full to-do lists. Like adults, children may begin to feel overwhelmed during this season too. Just remember it is okay to not do every offering that comes your way in December. Your children are young and there will be many opportunities in the future!

Each year, especially during the Christmas season, I am reminded of a quote from the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach, Loris Malaguzzi: “Nothing without joy”. My challenge to you is to find joy this season. If you ever are searching for joy, I invite you to observe the children during carpool or while walking the halls of the Preschool. There is joy all around - in the children’s faces, in the teacher’s interactions with the children, and in the conversations between parents. If you take the time to observe this everyday joy, it is sure to warm your heart and give you a sense of peace during this hectic time.

Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thank you for all of the JOY you have brought us during 2022!

Best, MISS JANE

Calendar

DECEMBER

8-9 Toy Drive

12

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, MWF Pre-K, M-F and MWF Three-year-old Classes

JANUARY

4 School Resumes

6

Nurtured Heart Approach for families, 9:15 a.m., Room 4303 10

Nurtured Heart Approach for families, 9:15 a.m., Room 4303 11

Prospective Parent Tour, 9:30 a.m., Lobby of the Family Commons

13

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, M-F Pre-K and Five/Six Classes 14

Holiday Festive Attire Day 12

Nurtured Heart Approach for families, 9:15 a.m., Room 4303 17

Nurtured Heart Approach for families, 9:15 a.m., Room 4303 19

Nurtured Heart Approach for families, 9:15 a.m., Room 4303 19

Prospective Parent Tour, 9:30 a.m., Lobby of the Family Commons

16

Last day of Session One Afterschool and Peachtree Pals

19-January 3

SCHOOL HOLIDAY - Christmas Break 20

Parents’ Council Meeting, 9:20 a.m., Room 4303 23

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, MWF Pre-K, M-F and MWF Three-year-old Classes 24

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, MWF Pre-K, M-F and MWF Three-year-old Classes 27 Visiting Day

Visiting Day is scheduled for Friday, January 27. Two-year-old, Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes will participate in this time for special friends, grandparents or other relatives to visit the classroom. Mark it on your calendar, invite a special guest and stay tuned for more information.

From Parents’ Council:

Hello Parents!

It is hard to believe that 2022 is coming to a close. I don’t know about you, but the number of activities this year seems to have made time speed up for our family. December is such a magical time of year, especially as we experience it through our young children’s eyes. The lights, songs, traditions and treats all bring a wonder unlike any other time of year. Whatever your family traditions are, I hope you cherish this time of celebration together. The Parents’ Council sends warmest wishes to each of you for a joyful holiday season.

‘Tis the season of giving: Thank you to all who participated in last month’s food drive for The Grocery Spot and this month’s toy drive for Giving Grace. Thank you to Katie Manning, Kristin Steed and Courtney Harcourt for organizing these important events for families in our community.

As we close out the year, please consider giving a tax deductible donation to the Preschool’s Inclusion Program by becoming a sponsor of Springtime at Peachtree. No gift is too big or small and the benefit of this program to ALL children at the Preschool is immeasurable.

I hope amongst the flurry of activities that each of you has time to enjoy the magic of the season. These special years with our littles will go by in a hurry.

Want to get involved with Parents’ Council next year? Have suggestions or ideas? Reach out to me anytime to learn more erin.istanbulluoglu@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing you in 2023.

Happy Holidays, Erin Istanbulluoglu 256.412.4541

SUSTAINABILITY

How to have a “GREEN” Christmas

Reuse or recycle gift packing materials. Bubble wrap can be stored for reuse or recycled. Since foam packing chips are not as easily recycled, if you do not plan to reuse them, take the chips to a shipping center who will accept it for their own use. Cardboard boxes should be opened flat and set out for recycling; storing and reusing these boxes is even more environmentally friendly and cost effective.

Save any special gift wrap, ribbons and bows. When unwrapping large gifts, save the paper for reuse; it can often be cut down for smaller presents. Ribbons and bows are easy to save and reuse.

Recycle old electronics. New flat-screen computer monitors, laptops, cameras, cell phones and other electronic items are common holiday gifts. Older models being replaced are usually still in working order and should not be discarded to a landfill. Visit: www.livethrive. org/charm for locations accepting hard-to-recycle items.

Christmas trees can be recycled too.

Live trees that have been cut are a useful material for composting. Look for tree drop-off locations in your neighborhood. Artificial trees in need of replacement can also be recycled.

Spreading cheer & inclusion this season

Happy Holidays

The Nurtured Heart Approach is a relationship-focused methodology, founded strategically in “The 3 Stands” for helping children (and adults) build their inner wealth and use their intensity in successful ways. The Nurtured Heart Approach is a powerful tool for awakening the inherent greatness in all children while facilitating parenting and classroom success.

The Preschool will offer the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) class for families in January. This approach is about celebrating the greatness in children and avoiding making children conform to a set of expectations, which causes undue frustration for adults and children. One of the foundational elements of the approach is to avoid energizing undesired behavior while still holding the child accountable.

Dates: January 6 January 17 January 10 January 19 January 12 Class time: 9:15 a.m. Location: 4303 Duration: 1 hour Register: www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org

The Preschool offers afterschool opportunities, staffed by Peachtree faculty, for children ages 2-6. Pick-up is at 1:15 p.m. in the Family Commons car-line.

Session Two: Week of January 4Week of May 15

For more information visit the Preschoool website: www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org

Prospective Parent Tours

Tours meet in the Lobby of the Family Commons at 9:30 a.m. Please invite all interested friends and family to attend the tour. Reservations are not required, however, they are appreciated by contacting Cathy Owens (admissions@ peachtreepreschool.org).

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, January 11

Thursday, January 19

Monday, February 6 Thursday, February 16

2023-2024 Priority Registration

Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is underway for both current students and those who will be new to the school. Applications and the accompanying registration fee of $125 per child may be submitted online at www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org/admissions.

Returning students and their siblings are guaranteed placement for the new school year if applications are received by January 12, 2023, but we ask that you submit a re-enrollment application by December 15 to assist us with planning.

For those applying by January 12, 2023, enrollment status will be conveyed via email by January 17, 2023. After January 12, 2023, admission will continue on a space available basis.

December Blessing

Gentle Jesus born this day, In a manger filled with hay.

We your Christmas children be, Help us now your love to see.

Gentle Jesus, come today, Be our Shepherd, Lord we pray.

Gentle Jesus, come this hour, Fill us with your love and power.

You fell asleep in Mary’s arm, God kept you safe from all alarm.

Gentle Jesus, come today, Be our Shepherd now we pray.

Amen

Douglas Raymond

Image below by: Image by: Trystan Bonneau | “Jesus is Born” | Tapestry Room, Five/Six Class | Mixed media on paper

“A Pallet of Colors”

The Ivy Room, Pre-K Class

Children in the Ivy Room notice the great variety of colors nature so graciously offers us! Inspired by the color variations found in leaves, grasses, and flowers, the children brought their subjects into the classroom. Soon the room had a particular area designated for investigation where leaves, plants, branches, seed pods, pine cones and tools for exploration took up residence. Through their daily encounters, the children have been getting more familiar with the varieties of color that nature presents, particularly found in leaves.

Keeping with our school’s intention of using mark-making to express knowledge, the children began mixing paints to use in nature paintings. The teachers observed the children searching for new words to describe the unique colors. Using words like yellow-ISH, red-ISH, and brown-ISH did not satisfy the children, so they continued to build a new vocabulary of adjectives. “Chalky blue,” “golden yellow,” “salad green,” “popsicle orange,” and “raspberry red” are just some of the descriptions the teachers noted. The children often connected well-known words representing an object and a color, such as raspberry, and incorporated them into their narratives.

In addition to building a new vocabulary of color, the children are encountering scientific concepts of transformation and reaction as they problem-solve to make a darker or lighter shade, a shade that leans into yellow versus green, or a shade that gradually creates an ombre effect. Over time, the children have developed a pallet of colors to use in the future.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

- ABIGAIL ADAMS

November and December are busy months for professional development. We strongly believe that the professional development of staff is the engine that drives the work of the Preschool. With that in mind, staff created multiple presentation proposals for sessions at the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. To our delight, six sessions were accepted as well as an invitation to serve on a panel! The sessions were well attended and included dialogue and exchange among educators.

The topics and presenters were:

- Early Childhood Education and Technology panel

Jane Montgomery

- Family Engagement

Jane Montgomery, Patty Randall, Muffin Sewell

- Storytelling as a Critical Component for Language and Literacy

Patty Randall, Muffin Sewell, April Maclane, and Lana Alsobrook

- Big Emotions and Challenging Behaviors

Emma Cutler, Stacy Heyman, Lana Alsobrook, Patty Randall

- The Nurture Heart Approach

Jane Montgomery, Patty Randall, Emma Cutler, Lana Alsobrook

- The Spiritual Development of Children

Jane Montgomery and Patty Randall

In addition to presenting, staff attended sessions given by colleagues connected to various topics relevant to a Reggioinspired preschool.

Development

“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.”

“Kitchen: A Place of Relationship”

The Indigo Room, Toddler Class

The children in the Indigo Room have a strong interest in playing in the kitchen. It is not surprising to us, as this space is familiar to them in their homes, and it holds exciting things to explore. After observing the intense interest in the mud kitchen on the Outdoor Classroom, the teachers in the Indigo Room rearranged the classroom environment to add a kitchen and dining area. Working in a kitchen gives young children the opportunity to do the things they see adults do: mix, stir, combine, create, clean, organize and imagine. In addition, they have a chance to serve others, offer, and invite others into the play. This supports creativity, self-expression, life and social skills. It invites children to make choices, act out feelings, make connections and engage in language development.

It is a beautiful way to support the development of relationships, allowing us to get closer to the children’s thinking and have fun while we are doing it!

The Spirit of the Season

The Spirit of the Season

Young Families Service December 24 | 10am

Join us for this interactive service for families of toddlers and young preschoolers. This delightful telling of Christmas will capture hearts of children and parents alike. Live animals will be on the front lawn. Sing your favorite carols and experience God’s story in a fresh way. Nursery is available.

2022 Christmas Pops Sunday, December 11 | 5–6:30pm

Our beloved Christmas Pops Concert is a holiday favorite! Invite your family and friends to enjoy this sparkling evening of music, featuring choir, orchestra, handbells, soloists, and congregational participation.

Featuring: Peachtree Chancel Choir, Peachtree Chancel Bells, Peachtree Youth Choir and Peachtree Youth Bells

The concert is free and open to the public

Family Christmas Pageant and Jerusalem Village Sunday, December 18 | 3–8pm

The camel, donkey, angels, wise men, and shepherds will return to the sanctuary for the children’s Christmas pageant after a two-year absence (5-6pm). Travel to the fellowship hall before or after the pageant to experience a walkthrough, interactive Jerusalem Village. Come taste, smell, and see Jerusalem as it may have been when Jesus was a child. There will be hot chocolate provided and live animals on the front lawn of the church

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

December 21 | 7pm December 23 | 5pm | 7pm December 24 | 3pm | 5pm | 7pm

The majesty of the Advent season is captured in music, message, and the beauty of sharing the light of Christ with candles, as we are led by our choir and orchestra and sing our favorite Christmas hymns. Nursery is available for the 3pm and 5pm services only.

Registration is required for all in-person services and will be available on this page Sunday, December 12.

*If you cannot attend one of our in-person services, join us on December 24 at 5pm at PeachtreeChurch.com/ Watch for a special candlelight service online.