March 2021 The Peachtree Preschooler

MARCH 2021

at home

Image by: Anna Kathryn Brune | Greatness Comes From Kindness | Five/Six Class

DEAR FAMILIES,

As I write this, I think back to exactly a year ago when we first thought we would be closed for two weeks with virtual learning.

Little did we expect that for the next 13 weeks, we would be virtual for our young children and their families.

When I think of the past year, I am prompted to be thankful – especially for the parents that trusted us and returned for the 20202021 school year. Yes, it is a little different but the hallways are full daily of joyful children and incredible educators. Our educators will tell you their saving grace during the pandemic was their job – because they were with your wonderful, happy children!

Thanks for your support and trust this year. I have collected many letters from you with your gratitude for just the small things. So…… this pandemic time has reminded us all to be thankful; thankful for trusting families, joyful children and brave educators.

MISS JANE

VIRTUAL TOURS FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS This year’s admissions season looks a little different. Please let your family and friends know we have virtual prospective parent tours via zoom.

In-person tours can be arranged by emailing jmontgomery@peachtreepresbyterianpreschool. org

Visit www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org,

or contact us at 404-842-5809 for more details.

UPCOMING TOUR DATE: Thursday, April 23

From Parents’ Council: PARENTS,

Dear Parents, Believe it or not, it’s March. Remember where we were last March? Well done, Peachtree! March 2020 to March 2021 has been quite an accomplishment. I am so grateful to have been a part of it.

Usually, around this time of year, we start to gear up for two of our favorite Peachtree events - Springtime at Peachtree and Peachtree Family Festival. Both events will be greatly missed this year, but both will be back next year for everyone to enjoy. With that in mind, it’s time to start thinking ahead to Parents Council 2021-2022. We welcome anyone who is interested! Time commitments vary with positions - I promise there is a spot for anyone that may be interested!

If you are interested in getting involved, please send me an email: LFSteig@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Best,

Laura Steigerwalt Parents’ Council Chair LFSteig@gmail.com

MARCH BLESSING God Hear My Prayer God in heaven hear my Prayer, keep me in thy loving care.

Be my guide in all I do, bless all those who love me too.

Amen Traditional

CLASS PICTURE SCHEDULE MARCH 15-17 Monday, March 15 Thomspon/Wamsley Carlyle/Walton Dergan/Jones Abshire/Larson Farr/Schmidt/Tellez Neal/Reinhardt Olivier/Rhodes/Reinhardt We will celebrate wearing our CRAZY socks onMarch Friday, March Tuesday, 16 20,

Carlyle/Larson at the Preschool.

Thomspon/Tellez/Wamsley Dergan/Jones Carrington/MacLane/Nichols Why was March 21 chosen as the Hixenbaugh/Vailes day forAmstutz/Klitenic World Down Syndrome Day? Beacham/Kirtland The date is to symbolize Boswell the uniqueness of the triplication

Wednesday, March 17 Bell/Montana/Underwood which causes Down Syndrome. To Childs/Justice/Wright Fiveash/Lindler/Somodean bring awareness, people across Sarajian/Veal the Sewell/Traynelis/Tufts world will be wearing crazy Bohntinsky/Traynellis socks.

Owens/Wells (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome

Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) classes continue through the spring.

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.

Thoughts about The Nurtured Heart Approach from a parent…

“I appreciated the community and support that the Nurtured Heart Approach gave me as a parent. The conversations and shared experiences made me feel as if I was not alone in this part of my parenting journey. I was given the confidence that I do have a nurtured heart and I can instill the tools shared to be a more effective parent.

NHA reminded me that even in the challenging behavioral times, there can be good seen in my children. More

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.

Dates: March 16 March 30

April 20 May 4

Class time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Zoom Duration: 1 hour Register: www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org

importantly, if I remember to see the greatness in my children when things are going well, there will be better behavioral reactions from my children in the future.

I am grateful that PPP and Ms. Jane offer this incredible support and education. These opportunities are priceless to me!”

Heather Hawkinson Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool Parent

“My mermaid is swimming with the fish” -Kate

“I made a Jellyfish for my mermaid” -Chelsea

The River Room An adventure into storytelling The River Room’s journey into storytelling began with the children cutting out images of their favorite things. Animals, superheroes, mermaids, and tall towers topped the list. One curious child, Preston, suggested creating their own versions of their cut-outs with clay. The other children in the class loved that idea and quickly wanted to follow suit.

The children molded their favorite objects out of clay and then diligently painted their new creations. As they painted, the dialogue between the children began and the whole class was involved in elaborate stories about what their clay figures were doing. The educators saw this as a great opportunity and invited the children to create backdrops for the stories. They brought in comics and 3D graphic novels to show the children examples of various storyboards.

The one-dimensional storyboards were used to create settings that launched many different stories. Then the room itself became part of the story as the children created a city out of objects on their light table. The one act of cutting combined with the intentional plans of the teachers led the children and teachers on an adventure through their imagination that has been a continuous thread throughout the year! And the saga continues....

he tt rI a k e oo ow ” “L ig t ade n b m h -Jo

g in ak ave ” m C m at an “I’ e B atm on th r B est fo -Pr

“I am making a tree for my elephant” -John

“Look at the jail I made” -Jackson

March Book Spotlight: March is a great month to celebrate our planet (Earth Day and World Wildlife Day) and to read about inspiring women (it’s Women’s History Month). It’s also the ideal time to learn more about Dr. Seuss, Albert Einstein, Vincent Van Gogh, and Sebastian Bach, who were all born this month.

Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees, Franck Prevot (Women’s History Month) As a little girl growing up in Kenya where few women know how to read, Wangari develops a powerful affinity with the forest. She doesn’t know yet that she can make a difference in the world, but she works hard and the day comes when she bravely takes on a fight against the President of the country himself. Even though she is hurt and imprisoned multiple times, she doesn’t give up the fight, and Kenyan men tell her, “You are the only man left standing.”

Wangari Maathai’s range of accomplishments is staggering: from taking on the corrupt government to bringing peace between warring tribes, from starting a Green Belt Movement to winning a Nobel Peace Prize. If you think that this book would be too heavy for little kids, don’t worry. This biography is engaging and exciting, very well illustrated, and perfect for Women’s History Month.

No Matter What, Debi Gliori

Home In the Rain, Bob Graham

If you haven’t yet read this heartwarming book to your kids, then run to the library and get a copy right away. In this story, a fox child wants the reassurance of his mother’s unconditional love, and he learns that his mother will always love him no matter what. The sweet rhyming text and warm illustrations will probably bring up very strong emotions in you. Sniffing and outright weeping is acceptable.

Nothing extraordinary happens in this simple story. It’s just a mom and her child driving home in the rain, as might have happened to you countless times.

You might expect a lot of rain this time of the year where you live too. What Bob Graham, a talented Australian author and illustrator, is inviting you to do is press the “pause” button and find the extraordinary in the mundane.

Wonderful watercolor and ink artwork accompanies the narrative.

The Lorax, Dr. Seuss

In Like a Lion Out Like A Lamb, Marion Dane Bauer

The Lorax has humor, rhymes, and big colorful illustrations, Dr. Seuss turns a boring environmental topic into a moving, powerful, memorable tale. I read in an interview that it was the one book Dr. Seuss was most proud of writing. It’s exactly the inspiration our kids need to turn the world into a better place.

March often starts with, rain, and sometimes even hail and snow, but by the end of the month, spring is in the air. You will love this rhyming book about the change of seasons and the duality of March weather.

Parent Corner: Literacy at home As our kids are getting older, some of us are asking ourselves how is my child going to learn the letters?

When will he know the ABC’s?

Learning the letters, and to read and write is a natural process. Children will learn them when they are developmentally ready. The same way they learned to walk, speak, and eat, they will learn to write and read as well.

There are some things that we can do at home to help our kids discover this new world. Our Reggio school introduces letters by exposure, making the kids wonder and making them curious about it.

So, what can we do at home to support this learning at home?

Here are some ideas: 1. MODEL, MODEL! Just read! Show your children how you enjoy reading. Make time to read! If they see you sitting with a book, most likely they will go and pick up a book too.

2. Make books available to them. Display the books nicely, and to their level.

3. Introduce letters in a meaningful way. Read the traffic signs, read restaurants menus to them, read signs, read packages in the grocery store.

4. Read aloud to them every day!!

5. Play! Include literacy material in their everyday play.

Cecilia Nast (Former Preschool Parent)

Ideas to introducing literacy in play: • Write a menu with your child to incorporate in the play kitchen.

• Set up a literacy corner that children can access independently and spontaneously. Include writing materials, papers, postcards, envelopes, alphabet stamps, index cards, address labels, Valentines cards in February, staples, clips, note pads, journal, sticky notes, etc!

• Add alphabet cookie stamps to the play dough box!

• Write stories! Let your child dictate you their thoughts! When your child want to tell you a story, ask them of they would like you to write it down!

• Collect rocks and write letters with a sharpie.

• Incorporate alphabet beads when making jewelry.

• Calendar: every Sunday afternoon we sit down together and write down on the calendar the activities of the week.

• Blocks: print outline versions of letters and let the kids cover them with the blocks •Nature letters: again print outline letters, and collect natural elements to glue them on the paper.

The Ivy Room Pre-K Class The children in the Ivy Room (Pre-K) have been involved in a long-term project centered around changes in nature. In particular, they have been thinking about the transformation of the trees and leaves they encounter each day. Recently, one child shared that he had been using binoculars to look at the leaves. The idea of zooming in on the leaves was appealing to the class and the teachers offered a digital microscope camera for the children to use in their inquiry. The digital microscope allowed the children to closely examine the leaves at a micro level that was new and exciting for them. Observing the macro world and the micro world offers children possibilities in scientific research and creative thinking. “ . . . a school made up of assemblies of ateliers, of places where the children’s hands, rather than being bored, can joyfully converse anew with their minds. ” - Loris Malaguzzi

Afternoon of Stories Afternoon of Stories looked a little different this year. We enjoyed seeing our Peachtree families becoming the storytellers. The story telling will continue at school with the stories in the garden.

Quote from Peachtree Family, “My children have always been natural story tellers. They have asked to make their own movies and reenact books from early on. Now story telling is more in make believe

worlds that they create. We had so much fun bringing this to a structured game. Millie couldn’t stop talking over her sisters because she was so excited about her ideas. Caroline loved making the characters and Eloise wanted to add all the suspenseful elements. As we came to a natural close I started to wander off, but the girls were eager to keep playing and continued to use the cards and objects to make up stories through out the afternoon. “

POUND THE PAVEMENT FOR PETER Save the Date: March 26-28, 2021 What: A Family Fun Run. Pound the Pavement for Peter is a Family 5K Fun Run which started in 2009 in honor of Peter Hopkins (Peachtree Alumni), who suffering from a Peroxisomal Disorder (PBD), lived his life with many disabilities, and eventually lost his life at age 3. This event is held to raise awareness and funds to help families and children with disabilities and debilitating diseases. For more information, www.poundthepavementforpeter.com.

Place: Virtual

REGISTER FOR CAMP PEACHES! www.PeachtreePresbyterianPreschool.org JUNE 8-12 & JUNE 15-19 Come join the fun at Camp Peaches! Skilled teachers and enthusiastic youth assistants provide an exciting, safe environment for campers to develop their active imagination through hands-on adventures. Unique experiences introduce campers to the stimulating world of discovery. Children enrolled in Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool for the 2020-2021 school year must be two-years-old by August 31, 2021, to attend Camp Peaches 2021. Children who do not currently attend the Preschool must be three-years-old by August 31, 2021. Children may attend one or both weeks.

The camp registration fee is $225 for one week or $425 for both.

Registration is non-refundable after May 15, 2021. Refund prior to May 15, 2021, will incur a $25 processing fee.