Monica Ros School

April 27, 2008

What a fun filled two weeks we have had since spring break–we’ve been traveling through space!  But, don’t worry; we’ve been wearing the astronaut helmets we made to keep us safe during our journey.  This week we will finish our Rocking Robots and make our own oxygen tanks. 

Last week we had the pleasure of seeing the Yellow Room students perform their play “That’s What Friends Are For.” It was great to see our friends in this production. For the preschoolers it’s the culmination of many small steps designed to make such an undertaking possible.  We sing every day on the yard, we sing to our classmates and we shares songs and poetry with each other at informal assemblies.  We begin our public speaking/performance opportunities in appropriate ways beginning with our youngest children in the Green Room singing to their mothers and fathers at the Mother’s ay Tea and the Dad’s breakfast, respectively. In every class, each year culminates in a class play with the Gradeschool Play serving as the icing on the cake. 

These experiences provide children with the sense of self that makes these moments in our school, breathtaking.  These are the moments of childhood that make this school such a special, enriching, and safe place to spend the first six years of a child’s education. There is nothing more satisfying to a teacher than to see our students holding themselves so poised on stage.  We know our students who are able to share themselves on stage and work successfully in a group project will be able to take these skills with them as they move into bigger arenas.   The Yellow Room did a wonderful job last week and we look forward to our own performance later this spring.

Our thanks are in order:  Wendy_Thurston, Elizabeth_Moore and Denise_Hansen thank you for our lovely Spring Party before we left for Spring Break. 

This week we have the pleasure of three special events.  This Thursday it’s time for one of our favorite traditions at Monica Ros: the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.  At 10 am the lawn just outside our classroom will be is transformed into a fantasy haven with tea tables hosted by parents. Mixed-age groups will enjoy tea and an abnormally wonderful snack in some imaginary land before running off to their own recess world.  Friday we will be watching the Village of Tales performance at the Ojai Art Center.  When we return to school we have a special Astronaut Party planned as we conclude our unit on Space. 

Mark your Calendars:

Thursday, May 1: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Friday, May 2: Village of Tales
Friday, May 23: Red Room Play and Cast Party Luncheon

Our most secret wish would be for a:

Ellis - I wish for a pricker pine.

Heather - I wish for a toy bug.

Isabella - I wish for a baby and mommy kitty and a baby and mommy rabbit.

Noelle - I wish my kitty is on her bed and playing with her toy.

Noah - I wish for energy balls.

Kate - My wish is for a cat.

Rachel - I wish I had three Dalmatian puppies.

Robbie - I wish for TV tonight.

Ryan - I wish for a puppy and a little hamster.

HERE IS THE LAST GREEN  ROOM         NEWSLETTER!!

We can not believe the end of the year is here!  We want to thank you for trusting us with your wonderful young children.  We learned so much from them and you this year and we appreciate you!  This last newsletter is to inform you about what to expect the last week…

Monday June 2- 9-12:45- Preschool Play Day!  This is a wacky fun filled day!  We’ll be playing outside ALL DAY!  We’ll have water play, shaving cream art, a bike wash, crafts, and a jumpin’ jumper!  Pizza lunch and snow cones will be provided!  Children not enrolled on Mondays are welcome to come and play.  A small fee of $20. to add the day.

Tuesday June 3rd-  In the Green Room we’ll celebrate the last day of Tuesday, Thursday children.  If you’d like to bring a special snack or treat you are more than welcome!  We will have a final Rugtime at 12:30 to sing our final “Four Hugs a Day” song.

Wednesday June 4th- Last Day OF School for everyone! 
11:45 dismissal.  No Daycare.  If you’d like to bring a special snack or treat you are more than welcome!  We will have a final Rugtime at 11:30 to say our final goodbyes!
3rd Grade Graduation 5 pm.

Oh my goodness… Good Bye!  Have a wonderful, wonderful summer!  We’ll see you at Monica Ros next year!
Mrs. Winbury and Mrs. Weston

First Grade Overnighter
What????………a class sleepover

When????……..Tuesday night—June 3rd—-7p.m.

Where????…….our classroom

How????……….with sleeping bags, p.j.’s and toothbrush

Who????……….our class

Why????……….to spend our last night together as a class. We’ll say “Good-by and “Good-night”.

     If your child isn’t comfortable with an over-night experience,perhaps, your child could come in p.j.s at 7 p.m.,enjoy a movie and popcorn and be picked up at 9p.m. If you decide as parents that you would rather not have your child participate in the evening at all………that is fine! Your decision will be respected.

     For those children who will stay overnight-a change of clothes will be needed for the morning. Your child should arrive at school at 7p.m. in pajamas with a sleeping bag,pillow and toothbrush and comb. No slippers,flashlights or exotic camping gear. Breakfast(Mrs. Carbajal’s famous pancakes) and a morning snack will be provided.

     I have always ended each school year with a “sleep-over”. The children love this special way to say “Good-by”.

Mrs. Kirkmire

May 2008

It’s hard to believe the school year is quickly coming to an end with only 5 weeks left.  The last weeks of school are a favorite time for all of us.  The children in this class have become great friends and have learned to work and play together.  We had fun at the Zoo, and Storytelling.  We want to thank all the parents that drove on these fun trips.

WARNING WARNING…CATCHY TOONS COMING YOUR WAY!  We will be performing 21Days, a chick opera.    Save this date May 30th and more information will follow regarding this fun event!

In language arts the kindergarten children will become experts on butterflies and moths.  As we read about the life cycle, we document our newly acquired knowledge in our butterfly book.   While we anxiously await the arrival of our real butterflies, we will be learning about the stages and life cycle of “Painted Ladies”, 

In math we are spending our days reviewing topics learned throughout the year, emphasizing number families (also known as addition and subtraction) and continuing to review the many things we’ve learned throughout the year.   As we become butterfly experts we will begin to graph butterfly sightings for the butterflies we find at home and school.

Thank you to all the parents for coming out to our Grand Opening of our Rainforest Habitats.  The opportunities to use math during this project were endless and the children learned more than imaginable during the process.  

You are all invited to a special field trip to Mrs. Fiore’s house to move our chicks.  We’ll enjoy snack, celebrate summer birthdays, sing and dance, enjoy a “Goat Walk” and celebrate our fun year.

Reminders:
May 23rd  - Move the chicks to summer home at the Fiore’s
May 26th – School Holiday Memorial Day
May 30th   – 11:00a.m. 21 days- followed by a cast party pot luck lunch.
June 2nd  - Field day at Thacher school
June 5th  – Last of School- Noon dismissal and no day care. 
                               Alice & Rychelle

May 29, 2008

Dear Parents,

     Here are a few calendar notes for you as we wrap up the year. 
     First of all, the last day of school is Wednesday, June 4th.  This is different from the date listed in the Monica Ros Directory.  Early in the year we made the switch but it remains in your directory.  We apologize if this has caused any confusion. 
     Monday while the kindergarten and grade school are off to Thacher for Field Day, the preschool will hold our own Playground Fun Day here on campus.  No need to send a lunch, pizza lunch will be provided.  We will spend just about the entire day outside for a fun day including a jolly jump.
     On Tuesday I will be sending home your child’s journal.  If you would like you may join us in the classroom early before dismissal.
     Wednesday we will “try” to keep as low key and normal as possible, although it is a sad day!!!  I can’t tell you in words how much I have enjoyed this years Yellow Room Class.  I truly brag about them like they are my own children. They are like watching a fine tuned machine.  The children have made such solid relationships with each other, family-like.  I see on a daily basis empathy, compassion, humor and genuine concern for each other.  I will cherish fond memories of all our days in the Yellow Room.  Thank you so much for allowing me this year with all of your lovely children.

Respectfully Yours, Shari_Garst

Red Room News

February 15, 2008

We have had a festive and wonderful week and to top that off we welcomed a new friend to the Red Room this week.  Help me in welcoming Robbie W and his parents Valarie and Robert.  It has been a true pleasure to include Robbie in our class.  Robbie is a child with autism and he has been accompanied by another new friend, his shadow teacher Lauren F.  Robbie and Lauren have both settled into our routines at school and we look forward to sharing more time with them.  There certainly is a lot about autism that we don’t know and many myths as well.  Attached is some information we hope you might find useful when explaining autism to your child.  As members of our community it is important for us and our children to learn to understand and accept the differences in all of us. 

Last week we celebrated the beginning of Chinese New Year.  Families like to welcome the New Year with a clean slate.  Houses are cleaned from top to bottom to remove all traces of the old year and its misfortunes, and to bring good luck for the coming year.  Special attention is paid to the Kitchen God and alters were set up in the home to celebrate passed family members.  Our focus has taken us to make beautiful watercolor lanterns as well as creating good luck fish prints with a real fish.  We are writing Chinese symbols with our unique Zen Boards and we have learned how to say Hello in Chinese Ni-Hao.  Friday we wrapped up our celebration with an authentic Chinese snack and a lantern celebration.  If that isn’t enough celebrating, this week we have three parents to thank for providing us with the loveliest Valentine’s celebration, Wendy_Thurston, Denise_Hansen and Sarah_DelVecchio.  Thank you so much for the fun and yummy party.  We would also like to thank Elizabeth_Moore for providing us with the most beautiful flower arrangement to grace our table.

Yesterday we saw the 3^rd graders musical play American Tales and Heroes about American Tall Tells and Legends.  We feel most fortunate to have such strong connections with the upper grades.  Their ability to role model for us in such positive ways makes the school year so meaningful.  Our second grader buddies are another example of this experience.  We will meet with them today and over the course of the next three months we will seek their help in writing our year end play.  Are your calendars marked?  Our play is scheduled for Friday, May 23^rd at 11am.

 Attention Auction Shoppers, our classroom has elected to present an Arts and Crafts basket at the silent auction.  We need your favorite arts and crafts materials and kits to complete this wonderful basket.  Please bring in your items by Monday, March 3rd!!!  Thank you for helping to support the school in our biggest “fun-raising” event.  You’re going to love our live auction items as well.  Thank you to Elizabeth_Moore and Heidi_Bradbury who are helping us as we create a lovely acrylic garden scene on an 18” x 24” canvas.  Your support means so much to us and the school.  We hope you have your calendars marked for Saturday, March 8^th. As we celebrate you and have a great adult evening as well.  Remember to invite your friends.  Tickets are available in the office. 

Fondly, Kathy_Smith

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.         Dr. Seuss