Time to Fly, Ladybugs! 🐞

It was another amazing, and truly bittersweet, last week of school. It’s hard to believe we are already at the end of such a special year! Like they say, time flies when you’re having fun! It has been a pleasure and a joy teaching your children this year. Miss Phoenix, Miss Jenn, and I laugh every single day! The funny stories, songs, big hugs, and moments where we see connections happening — both academically and socially — make our job the best in the world. We hope that when your children see their ladybug graduation shirts, they will always remember what a fun and joy-filled year it was, too.

As a kickoff to summer, we had a beach themed week.

Our bookshelves were stocked with fun ocean and beach stories that brought lots of excitement to reading time! While our main story of the week didn’t take place at the beach, it carried such an important and heartfelt message. We read The Invisible String, a sweet story reminding children that “people who love each other are always connected by a very special string made of love.” Mommies, daddies, grandparents, best friends, and even teachers will always be connected to you by a string of love no matter where you go! Above all, we hope that our sweet Ladybugs carry with them the love and kind hearts we have worked so hard to nurture in each of them, using them to help make the world a better place wherever they go. ❤️

Our sensory bin was filled with sand, seashells, gems, scoops, and little bottles for collecting treasures. The children loved digging, pouring, scooping, and pretending they were searching for hidden treasures along the shore. So much imaginative play, teamwork, and storytelling took place around the sensory table all week long.

In art, we painted seashells, and this was definitely a class favorite! Many of the children were so excited that they chose to paint multiple seashells, carefully selecting colors and designs for each one. Their creativity and excitement made every shell unique and beautiful.

We also spent lots of time building with Fisher Price Fantastix, which also was quickly another class favorite! The long foam pieces and connectors inspired so much creativity and teamwork. The children worked together to build houses, cars, submarines, windmills, and all kinds of imaginative creations. There was so much laughter, problem solving, and cooperative play as they experimented with different ways to connect and balance the pieces. It was wonderful to watch their ideas come to life right before our eyes.

Our final exciting ending to our week, was our last day celebration! We want to thank you for coming to celebrate with us on our final day together as Ladybugs! We are so grateful to our wonderful room parents for helping make the day extra special for the children. From Bubble Man visiting our T/TH group, to the ice cream truck celebration with our M/W/F group, the smiles and excitement were unforgettable. Thank you as well for the thoughtful cards, kind words, and generous gifts for both us and our classroom. Your support and kindness throughout the year have meant so much to us. It was the perfect way to celebrate such an incredible year together. Our little Ladybugs truly are ready to spread their wings and fly!

We will miss our sweet Ladybugs so very much. It is hard to put into words just how much love we have for each of them and how special this year has been to us. We have already made them promise to wave — and maybe even stop for a hug — when they see us in the hall next year, and we truly hope you will stop by and say hello as well. To those friends moving on to new schools, please know we are cheering you on with full hearts and sending all our love as you begin your next adventure. Our little Ladybugs are so ready for what comes next, and they will always hold a very special place in our hearts. 🐞 ❤️

Enjoy each moment of your summer together with your families, because like I said…time flies!

With much love,

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Wacky Week: Laughs, Lasts, & Ladybugs

This week in preschool was super fun with our wacky themed days and random, exciting centers! There was so much laughter, creativity, and joy packed into our days together.

On Monday morning, the children arrived to discover their teachers being decked out in silly clothing, and that their classroom had been taken over by the cutest teeny tiny frogs hiding all around the room! They had so much fun searching high and low to spot them tucked into silly little places. It was the perfect wacky surprise to kick off our fun-filled week together!

Our bookshelf was stocked with some old favorites and some fun new silly titles. The children loved taking the time to explore what had been added and eagerly flipped through books with friends throughout the week. Our two featured stories were The Perfect Square and Fox in Socks. The Perfect Square sparked wonderful conversations about creativity, imagination, and how something simple can transform into something completely new. The children loved seeing all the different ways the square changed throughout the story. Fox in Socks brought nonstop giggles with its silly rhymes and tricky tongue twisters. The children especially loved hearing the funny, fast-paced words and trying to repeat some of the silly phrases themselves!

Our main art center this week went along with our perfect square book. Each child was given a perfect square and invited to cut, tear, hole punch, and create something entirely their own. They truly loved this center, and many children chose to make multiple creations because they enjoyed it so much. It was amazing to reflect on how much strength and coordination using the hole punch took earlier in the year compared to now. They handled them like total pros! Watching their confidence and fine motor growth shine through in such a fun activity was so special.

Another art activity we did this week was sugar painting. Using sugar, water, and food coloring, the children created beautiful masterpieces that were meant to glisten in the sunlight. We could definitely see the sparkle while they painted, even if it was harder to spot once dry. Regardless, every creation turned out so bright, colorful, and unique. This was another favorite activity of the week, and the children were so proud of their work!

We also added lots of new puzzles and building blocks this week! The puzzles were enjoyed, but the new building blocks quickly became a classroom favorite. They were whimsical, silly-looking, and inspired so much imaginative play. Towers, creatures, pretend cities, and all kinds of creative inventions filled our classroom. It was so fun watching the children collaborate, problem solve, and proudly show off their creations to one another.

Our sensory bin this week was filled with Orbeez water beads, small scoops, and teeny tiny frogs. The feel of the sensory bin was so satisfying, and it quickly became a favorite for many of the children! Scooping, pouring, searching, and squishing provided endless entertainment and wonderful sensory exploration. It truly was hours of fun!

In the dramatic play area, the children loved making smoothies with the newly added smoothie maker. Complete with adorable felt fruits and ingredients to “blend,” the children fully embraced their roles as little smoothie chefs and baristas. They took turns making orders, serving friends, and pretending to run their own smoothie shop. The imaginative conversations and teamwork happening in this area were so sweet to watch.

One additional activity we did with our Friday children was tin foil painting. After spreading tin foil across the table and adding puddles of paint, the children slid their hands through the colors, squishing and swirling the paint all around. They then pressed paper on top to reveal a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. It was colorful, sensory-filled, messy fun, and the children absolutely loved the process!

It was our final week of many special routines…our last chapel, our final music and movement class, and our last lunch bunch of the year. The children did not seem too phased just yet, but these moments quietly marked the closing of such a special season together. These routines have been a meaningful part of their preschool days for so long, and it is emotional realizing how many “lasts” we are beginning to experience.

We had such a wonderful time celebrating our summer birthdays this week! It is so important to make sure our summer birthday friends feel just as celebrated and special as everyone else during the school year. Parents joined us, delicious snacks were shared, and it was such a joyful time together as a classroom community. The children loved celebrating their friends, singing together, and enjoying this special time with one another. Happy summer birthdays to Amelia, Hailey, Selena, Nate, Isaac, Ro, Everett, Josie, Grace, Everly, and Snorri!

It is so hard to believe that we are heading into our final week of school. This year has been filled with so much growth, laughter, friendship, and love. Watching these children learn, gain confidence, build friendships, and grow into themselves has been such a gift. While there is so much excitement for summer and all that is ahead, there are definitely big emotions mixed in too. We are soaking in these final sweet moments together and cherishing every last bit of preschool fun before the year comes to a close.

Next week we will kick off summer with a fun beach-themed week! We will spend time reflecting on how much we have all grown this year, revisiting some favorite classroom toys and activities that we have not seen in awhile, and helping to clean and prepare our classroom for the next group of Ladybugs. It will be a week filled with sweet memories, celebration, and lots of fun. And after all of that hard work…we will PARTY!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• 30th ANNIVERSARY BASH! Join Christ Church this Saturday, May 16th from 11:00am to 2:00pm for our 30th Anniversary Bash on the Southern Village Green! We’ll have a bounce house, games for kids, live music from Bill Moore, Danny Gotham,, Now & Then, CUMC Chancel Bells, and Brassisimo! Food available for purchase from Xolos, Al’s Burger Shack, Maple View Ice Cream and more! The preschool will be represented too, so drop by and say hello! Please bring your own chairs to enjoy the food!

• During our final week of school we will NOT be having lunch bunch. Pickup time will be 12:00 on Wednesday, May 20th.

• On May 21st the T/Th Ladybugs will have their Last Day Celebration, and on May 22nd the MWF Ladybugs will have THEIR Last Day Celebration starting at 10:30am (this early time will help us avoid the heat a bit). Please join us on the playground to celebrate together! Children will be dismissed from the playground at the conclusion of our party at 11:30. Cue tears.

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There is just 1 space left.

• NOTE: ALL pictures will be deleted from our phones come June. If you have pictures you are wanting, please head to the albums to save!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend with your Ladybug,

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

A Blooming Beautiful Week

It was another amazing, but busy week in preschool. We can’t believe the year is coming to an end. It’s gone by so fast and is pulling at all of the heart strings. This week our theme was flowers and celebrating moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers.

Our bookshelf was filled with some sweet books on flowers, while also keeping the shelves stocked with books on spring and insects. Some kitty cat books were also added because we have lots of friends who love kitties! We listened to an audiobook this week, which was a little different from our norm — The FLOWER THIEF! It quickly became a class favorite, and the children loved following along to see who kept taking the flowers. There were lots of giggles, predictions, and excitement as the mystery unfolded throughout the story!

We kept our sensory bin full of soil, worms, and other insects this week, but added planted flowers, rakes, shovels, a watering can, and cups for planting. The kids scooped, dug, and repotted their flowers into cups. The flowers were also “picked” and placed into cups to make centerpieces for the tables in the kitchen area. The flowers, picking, and planting were fun, but the children still really loved playing with the worms so much.

Our entire class worked on making gifts for Mom this week — a paint-and-marble art flower, complete with their picture. It was so fun to see each child’s personality come out through the colors they chose and in how much, or how little, they rolled their marbles through the paint! This has been a favorite activity within both classes.

Another fun flower project was added for those who wanted some extra fine motor fun — hyacinths. Using a toilet paper roll, the children used paint brushes to paint glue onto the roll and then carefully added bunched-up tissue paper balls as the flowers. A rolled-up cardstock stem was added, along with leaves for those who wanted to cut some out. It was surprising to see how many children loved this activity.

Both at the easel and at trays, the children used artificial flowers to paint masterpieces. They dipped the flowers into the paint and stamped, swirled, and brushed them across the paper to create some beautiful designs and unique textures. Some children experimented with mixing colors, while others carefully made flower prints across their page. It was such a creative process, and each piece of artwork turned out so differently and beautifully.

At the play-doh table, the children made flowers and other fun creations. They love to use the scissors and spaghetti tools for making unique creations! Play-doh is for sure a favorite within both classes.

The rest of the areas for play were also booming. The children continue to work so well together — building, making things in the kitchen, playing with puzzles, reading books, and using their imaginations in such sweet ways. It has been wonderful to watch the friendships and cooperative play continue to grow as the year comes to an end.

It was so sweet to end our week with Pastries with Parents. We wanted to celebrate Mother’s Day and all the hard work you do, but also show our appreciation for all of your support and trust with your children this year. Seeing the children so excited to share their classroom, artwork and special time with the people they love most was truly heartwarming. The smiles, conversations, hugs, and time spent together made for such a meaningful morning, and we are so thankful for our wonderful preschool families.

As we wrap up another fun-filled week together, it’s hard to believe how quickly this school year has flown by. These days are filled with so much joy, growth, laughter, and learning, and we are soaking up every last moment together. Thank you for sharing your sweet children with us each day — it is such a gift to watch them grow and thrive. We hope all of our moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers feel extra loved and celebrated this weekend!

For next week, we are having a Wacky Week in preschool. The centers and projects will not be connected by one specific theme — instead, it will simply be a week full of fun, creativity, laughter, and silliness as we celebrate the end of our school year together. We will also be celebrating with some special spirit days throughout the week. See below for our silly dress-up days:

• Monday - Wacky Tacky Dress Day

• Tuesday - Wacky Tacky Dress Day

• Wednesday - Silly Hair Day

• Thursday - Silly Hair Day

• Friday - Dress Like a Ladybug Day

We cannot wait to see all of the silly outfits, creative hairstyles, and smiling faces next week. It is going to be such a fun way to celebrate all of the friendships, memories, and joy we have shared this year! Also, we would like to celebrate our summer birthdays on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, so would love some favorite snack donations if possible. If your child has a summer birthday, and you would like to send in a special treat, we’d love to make the day special (and you’re welcome to come in and celebrate as well with your children).

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There is just 1 space left.

• During our final week of school we will NOT be having lunch bunch. Pickup time will be 12:00 on Wednesday, May 20th.

• On May 21st the T/Th Ladybugs will have their Last Day Celebration, and on May 22nd the MWF Ladybugs will have THEIR Last Day Celebration starting at 10:30am (this early time will help us avoid the heat a bit). Please join us on the playground to celebrate together! Children will be dismissed from the playground at the conclusion of our party. Cue tears.

  SO…here we are with only 2 weeks left of school. Next week we will be having our LAST of many things- LAST chapel, LAST music class, and LAST lunch bunch. Miss Phoenix, Miss Jenn and I are soaking up all the hugs, smiles, and special moments as we know that our time with your children is so short.

  Our ladybugs are excited, confident and too big for our room! There is some Spring fever going on and everyone has been a bit emotional, too. Even if they don’t understand why, the children are feeling the change coming. Next week we will be visiting the Whales and Ducks classrooms to learn what exciting new things we can look forward to for next year. Feel free to pop in and say hello and ask for a quick look, too! Miss Missy and Miss Sue don’t bite, I promise! They would be happy to meet you.

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend with your sweet Ladybugs!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Feathers, Friends, and Fluttering Fun

It was another wonderful week in preschool, filled with curiosity, creativity, and so many sweet moments of discovery. This week, we studied birds, inspired by the children’s growing excitement for birdwatching on the playground. Their observations turned into meaningful conversations, questions, and hands-on learning experiences throughout our days.

This Turkey Vulture loves to sit here and watch us ladybugs play!

Upon entering the classroom, many children noticed the soft, beautiful sounds of birds chirping playing in the background. It created such a calm and welcoming environment, inviting them to settle in and start their day with a sense of peace and wonder. We also listened to various bird songs and specific bird sounds during our center times.

Our books this week were a bit hit! Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman brought lots of giggles as the baby bird set off on a determined journey to find its mother, meeting a variety of animals and other things along the way. The children loved predicting what might happen next and were especially amused by the baby bird’s confusion as it asked each animal and thing if they were its mother. It also sparked thoughtful conversations about families, belonging, and how animals care for their young. Too Shy to Sing by Bonney Press was another favorite, telling the story of a little bird who struggles to find its voice. The children connected with the idea of feeling shy and celebrated as the bird slowly gained confidence. It opened the door for meaningful discussions about bravery, self-expression, and encouraging one another.

We explored where birds live, how they build their nests, and how they lay eggs. In our sensory bin, the children became little builders themselves, using soil, twigs, and crinkled natural paper to carefully construct their own nests. They thoughtfully placed soft pom-poms inside as eggs, often counting them or arranging them just so. Adding a birdhouse and small bird figure brought their play to life, and it was so fun to watch their imaginations take over as they cared for their “baby birds.”

At the Play-Doh table, the children used their hands and imaginations to create bird nests. They rolled, pinched, and shaped the dough into cozy nests, adding small eggs, tiny birds and even worms for feeding. Some included thoughtful details and textures, while others carefully arranged their eggs just right. It was a fun, hands-on way to build fine motor skills and spark creative storytelling.

In the art center, we traded traditional paintbrushes for feathers, which brought a whole new level of creativity and sensory exploration. The children experimented with swirling, dragging, and dabbing the feathers across their paper, noticing the different textures and patterns each movement created. Some made soft, wispy designs while others layered colors boldly — each piece was unique and beautiful.

We also incorporated some letter recognition practice in a playful way using an egg carton. Inside each egg was a letter, and the children worked to match it to its pair. This activity brought a mix of challenge and excitement — some children moved quickly through it, while others took their time problem solving — but everyone showed perseverance and pride in their efforts.

One of the highlights of the week was making bird feeders. Using natural pinecones and sun butter, the children carefully spread each layer, working hard to cover every surface. To keep everyone safe, we stuck with sun butter, and the children were thrilled with their creations. We told the children that once home, they could even roll their pinecones in birdseed and then hang them in a tree. We weren’t able to have the birdseed at school, because the bags I saw included disclosures regarding nuts — being produced in a facility which contained nuts.

Our grass heads have grown so much over the past couple of weeks, and it was finally time for haircuts! The children had an absolute blast trimming their grassy hair, and some even added bows and accessories, giving them lots of personality. Their laughter and creativity during this activity were truly delightful.

Our compost bins continue to be a source of fascination. Each day, we’ve been adding moisture and leftover food scraps, and the children love checking in on our worms. Watching them tunnel through the soil and transform the materials into rich, healthy compost has been such a meaningful, hands-on way to learn about nature and responsibility.

We also experienced something truly special this week as we observed the full lifecycle of our butterflies. After patiently watching them grow and change, we were able to release two butterflies on Thursday and two more today. The children watched in awe as they fluttered away, and there was a beautiful mix of excitement and gentle goodbyes. It was such a powerful, real-life moment of learning and wonder.

The rest of our time was filled with choice play — building with blocks and puzzles, engaging in dramatic play, and strengthening friendships through cooperative activities. It has been so rewarding to see how much their language, imagination, and social skills continue to grow.

As we wrap up this joyful week, we are so proud of all the learning, creativity, and kindness we’ve seen. These experiences — big and small — are helping to shape confident, curious little learners, and it truly is a privilege to watch it all unfold.

Our school year is coming to a close and we have some important events coming up. Please mark your calendars!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There is just 1 space left.

• This coming Thursday and Friday (May 7th and 8th) - Parents- You are invited to pop in at drop-off time (between 8:50-9:15) on May 7th (TTh kids) or 8th (MWF kids) for Pastries with Parents. We will have snacks, photo ops, and gifts for you from your Ladybug. We are looking forward to celebrating YOU! *Note: We have Chapel on Thursday, May 7th, so will need to make sure we wrap up our celebration by 9:15. PLEASE JOIN US!

• During our final week of school we will NOT be having lunch bunch. Pickup time will be 12:00 on Wednesday, May 20th.

• On May 21st the T/Th Ladybugs will have their Last Day Celebration, and on May 22nd the MWF Ladybugs will have THEIR Last Day Celebration starting at 10:30am (this early time will help us avoid the heat a bit). Please join us on the playground to celebrate together! Children will be dismissed from the playground at the conclusion of our party. Cue tears.

Have a wonderful weekend with your sweet Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Worms, Wiggles, and Earth Day Wonders

We had another super fun — and messy — week in preschool! The children absolutely loved learning about worms and discovering just how important they are to our Earth. Since we also celebrated Earth Day this week, we incorporated some fun themed activities that helped us learn about caring for the planet in exciting, hands-on ways.

This week’s stories gave us such a fun and meaningful look into the world of worms! In We Dig Worms by Kevin McCloskey, the children were introduced to different types of worms and learned fascinating facts about how they live and move. The simple, engaging style kept everyone interested, and we loved talking about how worms don’t have eyes but can still sense the world around them. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin was a class favorite, full of humor and personality. The children giggled as we followed along with the worm’s daily adventures, while also learning about how worms help the soil and why they are such important helpers in nature.

We did some fun art this week, painting with rubber worms that looked so realistic! The children pulled each “wormie” through brown paint and watched as they slithered across their paper, creating wiggly, textured designs. It was such a fun and creative way to connect art with our theme, and the children absolutely loved the hands-on (and slightly messy) experience!

Our sensory bin was also a bit hit, filled with realistic-looking worms, soil, rakes, and cups for scooping. The children dug, scooped, poured, and explored as they pretended to be little gardeners and scientists. This type of play sparked so much imaginative thinking and conversation, as they talked about where worms live, how they move through the dirt, and what they might be doing underground. It was wonderful to see them so engaged and curious!

Because worms play such an important role in making our soil rich, we created our very own worm composting bin. The children helped layer gravel, sand, soil, damp paper, red wiggler worms, and even scraps left over from lunches into a clear container. It was amazing to see their excitement as we added the worms, and almost immediately, we observed them burrowing and tumbling down into the layers. We are so excited to continue observing them and watching the important work they do to break down the food and enrich the soil.

This tied in beautifully with our Earth Day celebration. We read a shortened version of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, and talked about the importance of taking care of our planet. The children helped clean up trash on our playground, taking pride in helping our Earth. We also created a special salt painting of the Earth using glue, salt, and watercolors. It was so. neat to watch the paint spread and blend as we gently dabbed the colors onto the salt, creating beautiful, textured artwork.

Miss Jenn led a meaningful oil spill simulation with our Tuesday/Thursday group. The children were challenged to clean up “oil” from water and quickly realized how dificult it is to fully remove. This activity helped them begin to understand the impact pollution can have on our environment in a simple, hands-on way.

Open play filled the remainder of our days, and it continues to be such a joy to watch. The children are building stronger friendships and working more cooperatively as they explore puzzles, create gardens, build with blocks and magnetiles, cook in the kitchen, and express themselves at the easel. Their creativity and collaboration are truly blossoming.

Although I was out on Friday, I was so excited to hear that one of our caterpillars emerged into a beautiful butterfly! It has been such a special experience watching this transformation, along with observing our “heads” of grass grow taller each day. Soon, they’ll be ready for some very fun “haircuts!”

We also had our spring concert this week, which was such a joy to see. The children did an amazing job and were so proud to share their songs with all of you. Thank you so much for coming out to support them — it meant so much to the children and to us!

As we wrap up this exciting week, we are so proud of the curiosity, teamwork, and enthusiasm the children showed in all that they did. From exploring worms to caring for our Earth, it has been a week full of discovery and meaningful learning. We can’t wait to see what new adventures next week will bring!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• April 26th - Touch a Truck will be at the Friday Center. What a fun event this will be!

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There is just 1 space left.

Have a wonderful weekend with your Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Buzzing into Another Week of Fun

This week, we decided to continue our study of insects because the children were just so excited about the topic! Their enthusiasm has made this theme so much fun to explore, and it has been wonderful watching their curiosity grow as they learn more about the tiny creatures around us.

With their love of all things insects, we did expand our learning a bit into ecosystems. We talked about how insects live within ecosystems, and how all living things depend on one another. The children learned that an ecosystem is like a balanced “bubble of life,” where plants, animals, sunlight, water, air, and soil all work together. Even though this is a big concept, the children were excited to make connections between the insects they’ve been learning about and the environments where they live.

Our five classroom little caterpillars grew into big, fat caterpillars very quickly. All but one (the troublemaker who bumped his four friends to the ground 🤣) have made their chrysalis. We are hoping they will emerge before the end of next week, so we can watch the butterflies spread their wings!!

Some new books were added to our reading area this week, and the children noticed almost immediately! Lots were read independently, but because ants seem to be especially fascinating to them, we read two stories as a class about ants.

The first story was Ants on a Log, and we had a fun activity to go along with it. Just like in the book, we made the classic snack “ants on a log.” Using celery for our log, sun butter for the sap, and raisins as ants, the children giggled as they helped create this tasty treat. Some loved it, some preferred to try each ingredient separately, and some chose not to taste it at all — and that was okay! It was fun for me to share a snack that I enjoyed growing up, and the children loved the hands-on connection to the story.

The second book we read was Two Bad Ants, which quickly became a favorite. The story follows two curious ants who decide to stay behind while the rest of their colony carries sugar crystals back to the anthill. Their adventure takes them through a kitchen where everyday objects become exciting — and sometimes dangerous — obstacles. The children loved hearing about the ants’ adventurous choices and seeing the world from such a tiny point of view. It also gave us the chance to talk about teamwork, listening, and how even very small creatures have important jobs to do.

We decorated cups early in the week by drawing silly faces on them. Later in the week, we filled the cups with soil and planted grass seeds. Soon, our “plant people” will begin to grow grass hair, and the children will get to give them haircuts! This actually has been such a fun way to talk about how plants grow (and ecosystems), and the children are already excitedly checking to see if any green sprouts have appeared.

Our sensory table stayed much the same as last week because the children remained so interested in it. We had planned to add water, but with picture day and the potential for messiness, we decided to pivot. Sometimes the best plans are the ones that change, and the children were still fully engaged exploring and playing together.

Another favorite activity this week was creating sticker pictures. The children used insect-themed stickers along with paper and markers to create their own imaginative scenes and designs. This simple activity encouraged creativity while also strengthening fine motor skills as they peeled and placed each sticker. They were so proud of their creations and loved sharing their pictures with their friends and teachers.

We also had so much fun with rock painting. The children loved choosing their rocks and using bright colors to turn them into their own little works of art. This simple activity gave them the chance to be creative, make their own choices, and express themselves in unique ways. It was wonderful to watch the excitement on their faces as they painted and proudly showed off their finished creations. Activities like this not only encourage creativity, but also help strengthen fine motor skills as the children carefully used their painter markers and focused on their designs.

Open and free-choice play in centers was such a joy to watch this week! It is amazing to see how much the children’s language has blossomed and how their play has grown from mostly parallel play into true cooperative play. They are becoming so much better at using their words, expressing their emotions, and learning how to be thoughtful, caring friends to one another.

As we wrap up another wonderful week together, we are so proud of all the learning, growing, and friendship we have seen in the classroom. From hands-on activities to imaginative play, the children continue to amaze us with their curiosity, creativity, and kindness. It has been such a joy to watch their confidence bloom as they explore new ideas and strengthen their friendships. We are grateful for each sweet moment and look forward to all the fun and learning that next week will bring! Next week will be a messy one, so dress accordingly! 🪱

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

• April 26th - Touch a Truck will be at the Friday Center. What a fun event this will be!

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There is just 1 space left.

Have a wonderful weekend with your not-so-little-anymore Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Back Together for a Week of Bug-tastic Fun!

I hope everyone had a truly wonderful spring break and Easter, and came back feeling refreshed and ready to return! We missed the kiddos so much and were overjoyed to see their bright, happy faces again. It warmed our hearts to see just how excited they were to be back together.

Although it was a short week, it was filled with so many exciting experiences centered around our insect theme.

As the children entered the classroom, they were immediately drawn to a large spider web with a movable spider, where they had so much fun “catching” insects. Butterfly cards danced in the sunlight along the windows, while life cycle cards and hands-on manipulatives invited exploration. Our light table featured real resin-encased insects, which sparked lots of curiosity and close observation. The children were also quite surprised to discover that our classroom had been “taken over” by some very busy (and a bit pesky) ants!

One of the most special parts of our week has been caring for our new visitors — live caterpillars. The children have been absolutely fascinated watching them grow a little more each day. During morning circle, we gently passed around the container, giving everyone a chance to observe up close as we talked through their life cycle — from tiny larvae, to growing caterpillars, to forming a chrysalis (pupa) and eventually becoming butterflies. This hands-on experience brings so much wonder, patience, and excitement as we eagerly wait for their transformation.

Our book area was filled with engaging stories all about insects and spring. As a class, we enjoyed reading The Crunching Munching Caterpillar by Sheridan Cain, which beautifully follows the journey of a tiny caterpillar growing and changing. The children loved connecting the story to our real caterpillars! We also spent time reading a variety of other insect-themed books in small groups, which led to wonderful conversations and lots of thoughtful questions. Their enthusiasm for this theme has truly been incredible!

In the building area, we introduced new puzzles and games that combined fun with learning. The children explored alphabet boxes, practiced letter recognition and sounds with our “Ladybug letter matching” activity, and worked on ladybug-themed letter puzzles. A class favorite was our lightning bug bingo and shape matching game, which had everyone excited to play again and again!

Dramatic play was full of imagination this week as picnic scenes quickly turned into silly, creative scenarios with ants “invading” the food. This inspired the children to invent some very unusual menu items — like chocolate-covered ants and ant smoothies — yuck! Their creativity and storytelling during play was so fun to watch unfold.

Our sensory bin was buzzing with insect discoveries! Filled with green rice and “grass,” the children explored different insects and two surprise beehives. When a few bees “flew away,” it led to a great group discussion about bees — learning which ones are helpful, why they’re important, and how we can stay safe around them.

We also explored another sensory activity using pasta to represent the stages of an insect life cycle. The children used four different types of pasta to sort and match each stage — egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. They did an amazing job using both their sense of touch and their understanding of the concept!

All of this naturally led us into learning about pollination. Through a fun, hands-on activity, the children used pipe cleaner “bees” to collect “pollen” (crushed goldfish) from one flower and transfer it to another. Watching the “pollen” stick and spread helped them clearly see how bees and butterflies help flowers grow. They loved being part of the process!

Later in the week, the children created their own beautiful flower gardens. Using a variety of materials, they designed vibrant, colorful scenes filled with flowers, showing their understanding of how important these plants are for insects. Each garden was unique and full of creativity, and it was wonderful to see them take pride in their work.

Of course, we couldn’t talk about insects without mentioning those pesky flies! For our art activity, the children had an absolute blast “swatting” paint-covered flies onto paper — splat! The result was bright, energetic, and one-of-a-kind artwork. This was definitely a favorite, with many children choosing to repeat the activity again and again.

We also celebrated two very special birthdays this week! Happy 4th Birthday to June and Knox! We loved celebrating with you both and listening to your favorite stories!

Even though it was a shorter week, it was packed with meaningful learning, creativity, and so much joy. The children’s curiosity, excitement, and engagement made this week so special, and we are so proud of all they explored and discovered. We can’t wait to see where our next adventures take us!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• April 15th and 16th - Spring picture days! We will have both individual and class photos done!

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

• April 26th - Touch a Truck will be at the Friday Center. What a fun event this will be!

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There are just 2 spaces left. We would like to know who is coming by the end of March so we can order supplies.

Have a wonderful SUNNY weekend with your Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Springtime Fun & Easter Cheer

It was a joyful, high-energy week in preschool, filled with all the excitement and sweetness of Easter.

Our bookshelves were refreshed with beautiful spring and Easter stories that the children couldn’t get enough of. As a class, we read A Very Happy Easter, which gently walked us through the meaning of Easter. As the story unfolded, we paused to notice and talk about how the people in the story were feeling, and the children did such a great job using their own facial expressions to match those emotions along the way. We also read God Gave Us Easter, a gentle and meaningful story that helped us talk about love, new beginnings, and the deeper meaning of the season in a way the children could understand.

In art, we created stunning cross paintings using foam paint — such a fun and unique experience! The children were fascinated by the light, airy texture and loved watching it spread and swirl as they manipulated it with their paint brushes. It was easy to use, easy to clean, and truly made their artwork look so vibrant and special. We’re a little sad it’s no longer available for purchase, because it made for such a memorable creative experience!

We also made adorable bunny art using a “black space” technique, where the children used sponges to dab and paint around the shape. This activity was a wonderful way to explore different textures and build fine motor skills. Art continues to be such a meaningful way for the children to create, explore, and express themselves.

In the building area, creativity and problem-solving were in full swing. The children explored building with magnet blocks, paper towel rolls, and plastic eggs. Balancing the rolls with the eggs on top turned into quite the challenge, as they worked carefully to build their towers as tall as possible without them toppling over. Puzzles were also a favorite this week, giving the children another way to build, think, and problem-solve.

At the Play-Doh center, we introduced a fun counting challenge! The children were invited to choose an egg number card and then create that many Easter eggs. They carefully rolled, shaped, and counted their creations — and this week, we even allowed color mixing! It was so fun to see their creativity come to life as they experimented and made the most beautiful, colorful eggs.

Our sensory bin truly looked like the inside of an Easter basket, filled with crinkle paper green grass, stuffed Peeps, baskets, and eggs hiding tiny baby chicks. The children loved digging, sorting, and discovering all the little treasures inside.

One of the most exciting moments of the week was our Easter egg hunt! The children decorated their own special bags ahead of time, adding their own creative touches. Then, with so much excitement, they headed out to the playground to search for eggs left behind by the Easter Bunny. There were smiles, laughter, and lots of eager searching as they filled their bags — it was such a joyful experience for everyone!

As we wrap up this fun-filled week, we look ahead to a well-deserved spring break and wish you all a very Happy Easter. We hope your days are filled with rest, sunshine, and special moments with your families. We can’t wait to hear all about your adventures when we return on Tuesday, April 7th!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• March 29 - Palm/Passion Sunday Cantata at 9:00am and 11:00am in the Sanctuary.

• March 29 - Easter Egg Hunt and Cookout starting at 4:00pm in the lower parking lot. The cookout to follow at 5:00pm.

• March 30th - April 6th - SPRING BREAK

• April 5 - Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00am on the Southern Village Green. Acoustic Easter Service will be in the Sanctuary at 9:00am. At 10am, there will be an Easter on the Green Service (on the Southern Village Green). At 11am, the Traditional Easter Service will take place in the Sanctuary.

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

• April 15th and 16th - Spring picture days! We will have both individual and class photos done!

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There are just 3 spaces left. We would like to know who is coming by the end of March so we can order supplies.

Have a wonderful Spring Break and Easter with your sweet Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

🌈Rainbows, Leprechauns, and a Week Full of Magic☘️

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Before I share what an incredible week it has been, we want to share how full our hearts are after such a thoughtful Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you all so much for the kind words, sweet notes, and generous gestures — they truly mean more than can ever be fully expressed.

We feel incredibly lucky to do a job that we love so deeply. Being part of your children’s lives, watching them grow, learn, and shine in their own unique ways, is something we never take for granted. The trust you place in us each day, and the gift of sharing your amazing kiddos with us, is something we hold so close to our hearts.

There truly aren’t enough words to thank you for the appreciation and support you show — not just this week, but all year long. It fills our cups in ways that go far beyond the classroom, and we are so grateful to be part of such a special community.

Thank you for making what we do feel so meaningful every single day.

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

This week we had so much fun celebrating celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, magical leprechauns, and rainbows! Although our week was cut a bit short, we still managed to fit in so many fun activities and fun stories together.

The classroom welcomed the children with festive St. Patrick’s Day banners, touches of green everywhere, and an exciting collection of new books.

Our bookshelf was filled with stories centered around colors, rainbows, and a bit of leprechaun mischief. We enjoyed reading The Itsy Bitsy Leprechaun, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rainbow, Silly McGilly, and How to Catch a Leprechaun. Each story brought lots of laughter and imagination — whether it was the silly antics of a leprechaun, the chaos of swallowing a rainbow, or the clever (and not-so-clever!) ways to try and catch a mischievous sprite.

Because it was St. Patrick’s Day, we had to try and catch a sneaky leprechaun of our own! The children worked so hard designing and building creative traps, but somehow, he still managed to escape. When we returned, the room was a mess — tiny footprints covered the floor, the door, and even the traps! The children were both shocked and amazed. Even though he got away, he did leave behind a few magical coins, which brought so much excitement and wonder.

In our sensory bin this week, we had a magical time sorting, scooping, and exploring Lucky Charms. It was not only fun, but also a wonderful opportunity to practice impulse control. To help take away the temptation of eating from the bin, each child was given a tiny cup for tasting — and they did an amazing job! We even added an extra challenge by using glass jars as scoops. At three years old, their curiosity is high, and it’s such a great time to begin learning how to handle materials with care. It is truly amazing to watch their growth!

We also explored a new painting medium this week — green peppers! When cut in half, they resemble shamrocks. The children stamped, smeared, and painted, creating lots of green (and a lot of mess!). It was hands-on creative, and full of joy — messy at its best!

Our new magnet blocks continued to be a big hit! The children built towers, rainbows, and large cubes, all while naturally practicing their counting skills as they stacked and created.

And although we didn’t catch the sneaky leprechaun earlier in the week, we discovered that one special little sprite decided to stay and enjoy the week with us! At first, he watched from above, but soon his curiosity got the best of him and he came down to visit. He created a beautiful rainbow on our light table using magnet tiles and even left each child a special rainbow of their own. The light table quickly became a favorite spot for building, and the children also used our large blocks to design traps, hoping to convince him to stay a little longer. In the end, we think he had to return home to Ireland — which must be why he left those magical rainbows behind!

This week, we also managed to explore a little bit of science magic by creating our own rainbow wheel using Skittles and warm water. Skittles were carefully arranged in a circle around a plate, and as the warm water was poured, the colors slowly dissolved and spread. This created a beautiful rainbow pattern. It was such a fun and engaging way to explore color mixing and observe how things change, and their excitement and wonder made it even more special.

Even without a photo of our calendar this week, I have to share how impressive the children were. We tried to “trick” them by changing the pattern — adding two rainbow pictures followed by a shamrock instead of our usual alternating pattern — but they caught on right away. They are so observant and smart!

During chapel this week, we heard a story from the Bible about Samuel and how he became a “team captain” for God. Samuel was sent to find a new king and visited a man named Jesse, who had seven sons. One by one, the sons were presented, but none were the one God had chosen. Finally, David, who had been out in the field, was called in. Even though he was the youngest, God chose David to be king. This story reminded us that God doesn’t look at the outside, but at our hearts, and that each of us is special and chosen in our own way.

In music and movement, we sang our hearts out while moving our bodies to the beat! We have been busy practicing for our Spring Music Program, which will take place on April 22nd and 23rd in Ascension Hall. The program will last about 20-30 minutes, and you won’t want to miss it!

Next week, we are so excited to begin learning all about Easter! It’s such a sweet and meaningful theme, and we can’t wait to see the children’s excitement as we learn, create, and celebrate together!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• March 18th - March 22nd - CCP SCHOOL SPIRIT - Let’s have lunch or dinner at AL’S BURGERS! Al’s Burgers is excited to support our school this spring. Instead of a “Spirit Night,” they are proposing a “Spirit Week” fundraising opportunity. From 3/18-3/22, a customer can bring in a coupon, donate $5 to the school, and receive a “free” burger. The coupons will be in the cubbies on Monday/Tuesday of next week (one per order). Thank you for your support!

• March 29 - Palm/Passion Sunday Cantata at 9:00am and 11:00am in the Sanctuary.

• March 29 - Easter Egg Hunt and Cookout starting at 4:00pm in the lower parking lot. The cookout to follow at 5:00pm.

• March 30th - April 6th - SPRING BREAK

• April 5 - Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00am on the Southern Village Green. Acoustic Easter Service will be in the Sanctuary at 9:00am. At 10am, there will be an Easter on the Green Service (on the Southern Village Green). At 11am, the Traditional Easter Service will take place in the Sanctuary.

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

• April 15th and 16th - Spring picture days! We will have both individual and class photos done!

• June 2nd - June 5th - SUMMER CAMP - Please remember to register your Ladybug! There are just 4 spaces left. We would like to know who is coming by the end of March so we can order supplies.

Have a wonderful weekend with your sweet Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

A Short but Sweet Week on the Farm

This week was a super short week in preschool, so we focused on cooperative play and enjoying stories that tied into our farm theme. 🐮

Before I move on to all of the fun we had, our teaching team would like to take a moment to thank each of you for taking the time out of your day to meet with us for conferences, whether in person or over the phone. These conversations truly mean so much to us. It is such a gift to pause and reflect together on the beautiful growth we are seeing in your children. Watching them learn, explore, and become more confident in themselves each day is one of the greatest joys of what we do. Your children bring so much light, curiosity, and sweetness into our classroom, and it is truly an honor for all of us to be part of their preschool journey. Thank you for trusting us with your wonderful kiddos — we are so grateful to share in these special early years with them! ❤️

Continuing on with centers and play…

Our classroom bookshelf was fully stocked with books about farms and farm animals this week. As a class, we enjoyed reading Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type and Cock-a-Moo-Moo! These stories had the children giggling and completely engaged. In Click, Clack, Moo, the children loved the silly idea of cows typing letters to Farmer Brown and making their very funny demands. In Cock-a-Moo-Moo, the rooster accidentally makes all of the wrong animal sounds, which leads to lots of laughter as the farm animals try to figure out what is going on. In the end, those mixed-up sounds end up saving the animals from the sneaky fox, and the rooster finally lets out the perfect “cock-a-doodle-doo!”

Our sensory bin also took on a farm theme. It looked like some of the farm animals had wandered right into the silo! The children had so much fun scooping and pouring the “corn,” burying and discovering animals, and creating little farm scenes as they played. Sensory play like this invites lots of imagination and storytelling as the animals “worked” around the farm.

We also had farm-themed puppets available, and those quickly became a favorite. The children loved bringing the animals to life, making them talk to one another, and creating their own little farmyard stories. There were plenty of mooing cows, clucking chickens, and silly puppet conversations happening around the room.

The farm fun continued with our Little People house and farm animals. The children spent time caring for the animals, moving them around the farm, and building barns and enclosures with our favorite blocks. It was wonderful to see them working together, sharing ideas, and expanding on their play as the farm grew bigger and bigger.

We also put out some larger farm puzzles this week — 24 and 48 pieces — and it was incredible to watch the teamwork that happened as the children worked to complete them. They quickly discovered that looking closely at colors, shapes, and little clues from the other pieces helped them find just the right spot. They were so proud when the puzzles finally came together!

And of course, some classroom favorites made their appearance too. We spent time with Play-Doh, enjoyed coloring with our new paint sticks at the easel, and had plenty of sweet little tea parties with friends.

Even though it was a short week, it was filled with so many sweet moments, laughter, and wonderful play with friends. Thank you again for sharing your amazing kiddos with us — we are beyond grateful for the joy they bring to our classroom each day. Next week we are excited to bring a little extra color and magic into our room as we explore St. Patrick’s Day and rainbows together!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• March 18th - March 22nd - CCP SCHOOL SPIRIT - Let’s have lunch or dinner at AL’S BURGERS! Al’s Burgers is excited to support our school this spring. Instead of a “Spirit Night,” they are proposing a “Spirit Week” fundraising opportunity. From 3/18-3/22, a customer can bring in a coupon, donate $5 to the school, and receive a “free” burger. The coupons will be in the cubbies on Monday/Tuesday of next week (one per order). Thank you for your support!

• March 29 - Palm/Passion Sunday Cantata at 9:00am and 11:00am in the Sanctuary.

• March 29 - Easter Egg Hunt and Cookout starting at 4:00pm in the lower parking lot. The cookout to follow at 5:00pm.

• March 30th - April 6th - SPRING BREAK

• April 5 - Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00am on the Southern Village Green. Acoustic Easter Service will be in the Sanctuary at 9:00am. At 10am, there will be an Easter on the Green Service (on the Southern Village Green). At 11am, the Traditional Easter Service will take place in the Sanctuary.

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

• April 15th and 16th - Spring picture days! We will have both individual and class photos done!

Have a wonderful weekend with your sweet Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

MARCHing into Weather Wonders

Welcome March!

This week was another amazing one in the Ladybug class. Because so many of the children have been so interested in weather lately, we decided to introduce it as a theme in the Threes class for the very first time! When children show strong curiosity about something, their engagement deepens and the learning that follows becomes even more meaningful.

Our bookshelves were stocked with wonderful weather-themed stories. We read Raindrop Plop, When the Storm Comes, Clouds, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs — which we read throughout the week during snack time due to its length.

In our sensory bin, we experienced “all the weather.” Blue rice became the sky, greenish-blue glass gems were big raindrops, and tiny blue sequins made rain showers. We added foam lightning bolts, cotton ball clouds, eraser rainbows, and little houses for scooping, sorting, and taking shelter. The imaginative play that unfolded was so sweet to watch.

For number recognition, we played a “raindrop roll and count” game. The children rolled dice and added the matching number of raindrops using a dot marker. They loved it — and even noticed later that it was “raining outside the kitchen window” during playtime!

In the art area, we sculpted air clay rainbows, suns, and clouds. Using white and blue air-dry clay along with rainbow beads and pipe cleaners, the children created in so many unique ways — all while strengthening their fine motor skills.

We also did cloud painting using shaving cream on trays. Using fingers (and sometimes paintbrushes), the children made letters, pictures, and all kinds of creative designs. It was a hands-on sensory experience that everyone enjoyed.

Our group wind painting activity was trickier than it looked! After drawing swirly lines, we added drops of paint and used straws to blow the paint across the page like wind. Some friends had never used a straw before, so it took practice and modeling — but with encouragement, many caught on. It was wonderful to see their perseverance.

Weather also gave us so many opportunities for science experiments, and the children loved being little scientists.

First, we created a running rainbow. After folding a paper towel, the children colored each end with the colors of the rainbow and placed the ends in a cup of water. Slowly, the colors traveled toward each other and formed a beautiful rainbow in the middle. The children were amazed watching it happen!

We also made a rain cloud in a jar. We filled a jar with water and added a fluffy layer of shaving cream on top to act as our “cloud.” Then we carefully dropped food coloring onto the shaving cream. As the “cloud” became heavier and fuller, the colors slowly pushed their way through and fell into the water below, just like rain falling from a cloud when it becomes too full. The children watched with such excitement as the “rain” streamed down.

Another experiment showed us how clouds form. We poured warm water into the jar and briefly lit a match before dropping it inside. Then we quickly placed a bag of ice on top of the jar. The warm water created water vapor, and the cool air from the ice caused the vapor to condense. Soon we could see a real cloud forming inside the jar! It was such a neat way to see how clouds form in the sky.

We also made a tornado in a bottle using two connected bottles. After shaking and swirling the bottles, then flipping them upside down, we watched a spinning vortex form inside — just like a real tornado.

In dramatic play, we continued dressing up as firefighters, police officers, and other community helpers — talking about how they help keep people safe during weather emergencies.

In the building area, we explored some new magnetic cubes, which quickly became a favorite. The children loved that they stuck together and even made little sounds as they connected, inspiring lots of creative building.

We were also lucky to welcome another community helper this week — a NICU nurse! The children were fascinated to see just how tiny the tools and medical supplies were that doctors and nurses use to care for the very smallest babies. It was such a special visit and gave us a glimpse into the important work these helpers do.

During chapel, we learned about Nicodemus, a man who had many questions about God. One night, he went to talk with Jesus because he wanted he wanted to understand more. We learned that it is okay to have questions about God. Jesus explained that loving God can change your heart — making it new and beautiful, like a flower blooming or a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

In music and movement, we sang, danced, and learned a song about the colors of the rainbow that tied perfectly into our weather studies. The children loved making those connections!

What a full, joyful week of exploring, creating, experimenting, and learning together. When curiosity leads the way, wonderful discoveries follow — and this week was full of just that!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• March 11th and 12th - Conferences - School is closed for spring conferences, but feel free to plan with a friend to watch each others’ children on the playground during your conference time. You should have received an email with a link to sign up. If you did not receive a link, or times don’t work for you, please let me know! Time confirmation reminders should be sent via Sign-Up Genius.

• March 30th - April 6th - SPRING BREAK

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

• April 15th and 16th - Spring picture days! We will have both individual and class photos done!

Have a wonderful weekend with your little Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Community Helpers & Creative Hands

We had another amazing week in preschool as we wrapped up our Community Helpers theme — and added in some extra fun with Pancakes and Pajamas!

We were so lucky to welcome more incredible helpers into our classroom. This week a social worker and pilot shared about their important work. What meaningful experiences for the children to hear firsthand how these helpers care for and serve others. It truly takes a village to raise kiddos, and I’m so grateful for the many people who support our learning each day!

Our centers remained community-helper themed, with lots of built-in opportunities for letter and number recognition.

In dramatic play, we continued dressing up as community helpers while working together to “run” our classroom. The kitchen area was booming with tea parties and imaginative play as well. It has been so sweet to see how much their communication and cooperative play skills have blossomed.

In our sensory bin, we used excavators, bulldozers, and other construction vehicles to scoop and sift. This week we added numbered pieces and a color-sorting twist, giving the children even more ways to practice counting and identifying colors while they played.

We also loved building puzzles and continuing to build our cities, talking about who lives and works there and how each helper supports the community. With the blocks, we constructed large towers, buildings, and roads — working together to bring our ideas to life.

In the art center, we created a beautiful multi-step process art project using different mediums. First, we used tissue paper to “paint” on watercolor paper, spraying it with water bottles to make the colors bleed and blend together. Using the spray bottles was not only exciting, but also wonderful practice for strengthening fine motor skills as little hands squeezed and controlled the spray. The next step in the process was finding the letter in a Ziploc bag that matched the first letter of their names. Once they found their letter, they chose two paint colors to be put into their Ziploc bags. Once sealed, they smoothed and pressed the paint from the outside of the bag to paint the letter within. It was an amazing sensory experience without the mess! The finished letter pictures turned out beautifully! We also painted at the easels this week and practiced writing our own names — such important and exciting work! We truly are artists hard at work!

We continued reading our mini books about community helpers and also enjoyed on the construction site, which gave us a fun look at the busy teamwork happening on a construction site. The rhythmic text and detailed illustrations helped us to notice all the different jobs and vehicles that work together to build something new. We watched as a skyscraper was built from the ground up!

We also read Pancakes for Breakfast, a delightfully wordless story that let us practice storytelling skills as we followed along with the step-by-step pancake adventure. The children loved predicting what would happen next. This got us super excited for Pancakes and Pajamas!

We were finally able to celebrate with Pancakes and Pajamas — a cozy and joy-filled time together. There’s just something extra special about wearing pajamas to school and sharing breakfast with friends. Lots of smiles, sticky syrup fingers, and sweet memories were made!

We also practiced for Preschool Sunday, weaving through the chapel while playing instruments and singing our songs. We hope to see you there this Sunday — every voice is important!

All in all, it was a very busy, joy-filled week packed with learning, creativity, teamwork, and fun. We are so proud of this class and all the ways they continue to grow! We’re excited to shift our focus to weather next week!

REMINDERS/UPCOMING EVENTS:

• March 1st - This coming Sunday is PRESCHOOL SUNDAY at Christ Church. PLEASE bring your child to sing! We need every voice! Meet us in the Disciple Room (there will be signs) at 8:40am to “warm up” our voices. We will sing some special songs near the beginning of the 9:00am worship service, and will celebrate the CUMC Preschool Ministry. The service lasts about an hour. There is a nursery provided in the 2’s classroom for very young children. Ms. Shelly posted additional information in her Blog, so make sure to check it out!

• March 11th and 12th - Conferences - School is closed for spring conferences, but feel free to plan with a friend to watch each others’ children on the playground during your conference time. You should have received an email with a link to sign up. If you did not receive a link, or times don’t work for you, please let me know!

• March 30th - April 6th - SPRING BREAK

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

The Ladybugs would like to thank everyone who made two special days - the Valentine’s Dance and our Pancakes and Pajamas Day — so special for us! We would also love to share our heartfelt gratitude with our wonderful community helper volunteers! We had so much fun in February!

Have a wonderful weekend with your little Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

These Are the People in Your Neighborhood

We hope that everyone enjoyed a nice long President’s Day weekend. Monday gave us teachers some extra time to prepare for conferences! I’ll be posting the SignUp Genius for conference times this weekend.

We kicked off our Community Helpers theme this week, and it came with lots of fun surprises!

Throughout the week, we learned about different helpers in our community, and we were so lucky to have several special visitors join us. We welcomed doctors, a music teacher, a member of the Coast Guard, and even staff from Weaver Street Market. What a fun way to bring our theme to life! Thank you all for coming into our classroom and sharing your gifts with us — you are what makes our community so special!

Our classroom centers also matched our community helper focus.

In the sensory bin, we became construction workers hard at work! The children scooped, leveled, and moved trucks around as they “built” their little construction sites. It was busy, hands-on fun!

In our block building area, we constructed houses using large cardboard bricks. The children used their imaginations to create wonderful homes, and many proudly shared their building plans with us once they were finished.

We also worked to create our very own little play city in the classroom! The children loved setting it up and filling it with all kinds of community helpers — doctors, firefighters, police officers, construction workers, and more. It was so fun to watch them act out real-life roles and see how all of these helpers work together to keep a community running.

We also experimented with foam building pieces that stuck together once water was added — such a neat and exciting activity! Our Tuesday/Thursday group will be getting to try this next week! There simply aren’t enough fun hours in the week!

In dramatic play, we had a little “emergency” in the kitchen…a fire on the stove! But don’t worry — our brave firefighters rushed right in to save the day. This gave us a great opportunity to talk about things that can be hot and the importance of staying safe and always having a grown-up nearby. We also had police officers, construction workers, and other helpers keeping our classroom community running smoothly.

At the easel, we turned into painters! The children created wonderful Picasso-like masterpieces and even used rollers, just like real house painters do.

We didn’t have quite as many books to go along with our theme this week, but we definitely enjoyed the mini community helpers themed books — they are just so cute!

In Chapel this week, we learned about Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent). We learned that Jesus went to the River Jordan and was baptized by his friend John the Baptist. When He came up out of the water, the sky opened, a dove came down, and God said, “This is my Son, whom I love.” After that, Jesus Christ went away for 40 days to pray and get ready for His work. During Lent, we remember this and try to pray, make good choices, and prepare our hearts for Easter. ✝️

In Music and Movement, we joyfully sang along to familiar songs while moving our bodies to the rhythm. The children especially loved using the parachute again — it was such a fun and energetic way to move together! We can’t wait to share the songs we’ve been learning with you on Preschool Sunday. 🎶

We had such a sweet time celebrating Devon’s upcoming birthday. Her mom joined us for the celebration, bringing yummy snacks and reading some of Devon’s favorite books, which made the day feel extra special. We loved getting to celebrate together! Happy early 4th Birthday, Devon!

All in all, it was a wonderful week of learning, imagining, and working together. The children loved stepping into the roles of real-life helpers and discovering how each one makes a difference in our community. We are again so thankful for the special visitors who shared their time with us — what a fun and meaningful week it has been! 😃

REMINDERS/Upcoming events:

• February 25th and 26th - Pancakes and Pajamas - Send your child in their pajamas for their day. The children will eat pancakes at 10:00am, so that will be their snack. Please send their water bottles and lunch for LUNCH BUNCH!

• March 1st - PRESCHOOL SUNDAY at Christ Church. PLEASE bring your child to sing! We need every voice! Your children will sing some special songs near the beginning of the 9:00am worship service, and we will celebrate the CUMC Preschool Ministry. The service lasts about an hour. There is a nursery provided in the 2’s classroom for very young children. More details to follow, but mark your calendars!

• March 11th and 12th - Conferences - School is closed for spring conferences, but feel free to plan with a friend to watch each others’ children on the playground during your conferences. Note that we also have no school those two days.

• March 30th - April 6th - SPRING BREAK

• April 22nd and 23rd - Casual music programs in the fellowship hall. Shortly after drop-off on this Wednesday and Thursday, your child will sing a few songs with their class and Ms. Vicki for an audience of parents and special loved ones in Ascension Hall. More details to come…

ADDITIONAL INFO: Heather Spiel, the parent of a Blue Whale, led a music class for us as a part of our community helpers week. We had so much fun listening, singing, and playing instruments. This is a passion and business for Heather, so feel free to reach out to her in the hall if you are interested in her music classes.

Have a wonderful weekend with your growing Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Happy Valentine's Day

It’s the season of LOVE, and we celebrated all week long in the Ladybug class!

Monday morning greeted the children with hearts taped on the floor, which was super exciting. One child even called them “dancing hearts,” so of course everyone standing in a heart had to show off their very best dance moves! Before long, our game turned into “the floor is lava,” and we found some special Valentine’s Day floor-is-lava music to make the fun even better. The giggles were nonstop.

Our opening book for the week was LOVE from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and it was such a sweet way to begin our celebrations. The story reminds us that love can be shown in so many simple ways — through kindness, friendship, sharing, and caring for one another. The children loved seeing the familiar caterpillar spread love all around, and it sparked some great conversations about how we can show love to our friends at school.

Since we needed to make Valentine’s Day bags for our Tuesday and Wednesday exchanges, several of our centers focused on special Valentine art projects. In one center, we rolled marbles through paint to create unique and colorful heart designs for the fronts of our bags. In another, we tried “blank space art,” where a heart was placed in the center of the paper, and the children used their hands to paint all around it. When we lifted the heart away — voila! — a perfect heart was left behind. The children were amazed by the magic of it!

Since these kiddos seem to love painting so much, we also tried a fun heart-painting activity using toilet paper rolls bent into the shape of hearts. The children dipped them into paint and stamped beautiful heart masterpieces all over their papers. It was such a simple activity, but it brought so much creativity and joy.

As we continue working on letter recognition, one of our activities focused on finding the letters in our own names. The children strung those letters onto pipe cleaners, then chose extra beads to complete their creations. Some wanted bracelets, while others shaped theirs into hearts — such a fun mix of learning, fine motor work, and creativity.

Our sensory bin was also booming this week! It was filled with fine, super-soft sand, faux rose petals, 3D hearts, and plastic hearts. The Ladybugs scooped, sifted, sorted, and explored for long stretches of time. It was calming, engaging, and so much fun.

Our Valentine’s festivities in both classes were filled with fun and excitement! The Ladybugs were beyond excited to share and receive Valentine’s Day cards that they brought from home. Each child waited patiently while their friends passed out cards, and they could hardly contain their excitement as their bags filled up.

The Valentine bags were displayed for pickup at the end of each day, and we made sure every bag went home full of love. There were many big smiles, sweet hugs between friends, and so much kindness shared. Miss Phoenix, Miss Jenn, and I truly felt the love as well. Thank you so much for your thoughtful cards and gifts.

In Chapel this week, Pastor Lee and Pastor Brad shared a story from the Bible about a very special moment when Jesus showed His glory to His friends. Jesus’ face shone brightly, and a cloud filled the sky. Then God spoke and reminded everyone to listen to Jesus and follow His ways. We talked about how God’s voice is loving and comforting — just like the voices of the people who care for us. It was a beautiful reminder that Jesus is always with us and teaches us how to love and be kind.

In Music and Movement, the children moved their bodies to the beat, used their voices to sing, and were so excited to see something new — a parachute. They loved working together to make it float, ripple, and bounce as we played along with the music.

All in all, it was a joyful, love-filled week in the Ladybug classroom. The children experienced so many special moments together. We are so grateful for the kindness, excitement, and community that made this week so meaningful. Thank you for helping us celebrate such a wonderful season of love.

REMINDERS:

• Our theme for the next TWO weeks will be on Community Helpers

  • Thank you to those who volunteered to visit and teach us about their jobs during these next two weeks. We are so excited for the children to learn from you and explore all the different ways people help in our community.

  • If you would like to come into our classroom and share the work that you do, we still have space available!

• SCHOOL IS CLOSED ON MONDAY FOR A TEACHER WORKDAY

• Pancakes and Pajamas has been rescheduled to February, 25th and 26th.

• Preschool Sunday will be on Sunday, March 1st at 8:45.

• Conferences will be held on March 11th (MWF class) and 12th (T/TH class). More information coming soon!

  • I will be sending an email shortly with the link to sign up for March conferences. School will be closed during conference days, March 11th and 12th. Please make arrangements to have childcare during the conference, so that we can all chat as adults and without disruptions. We promise it will be quick! Often parents have arranged to watch each other’s children (play on the playground) while they have their conferences.

Happy Valentine’s Day, and enjoy President’s Day weekend with your little Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Love and Kindness All Around

This week in preschool, we had another short week. At least this time, we were blessed with some real snow to enjoy instead of just icy weather! The children came in full of excitement, sharing stories about sledding adventures, building snowmen, and making snow angels. Their joy was contagious, and it was so fun to hear all about their winter memories.

Our theme this week was love and kindness, and the classroom reflected it right away. Upon arrival, the children were greeted with hearts scattered all around the room. They eagerly moved about the space, calling out the letters they recognized on each heart — a perfect connection to one of our learning centers. Many of them already had ideas brewing about what we would be focusing on, and they were excited to dive right in.

To start our week, we read Love From the Crayons, a sweet story about the crayons sharing messages of love, friendship, and appreciation in their own colorful ways. It was such a wonderful reminder that love can be shown through kindness, creativity, and thoughtful words. Along with this story, our book area was refreshed with new books all about Valentine’s Day, love, and kindness, giving the children even more opportunities to explore these themes throughout the week.

The hearts around the room didn’t just brighten our space — they also got our bodies moving! The children searched for letters, identified them, and then stamped them using dot art markers. When children can move while learning, it helps strengthen their understanding and supports deeper brain connections, making the concept more meaningful and memorable.

Because our 2026 New Year’s contact paper window art project was such a bit hit, we’ve decided to make it a monthly tradition for each holiday! This activity encourages teamwork, creativity, and fine motor development. You may have noticed their beautiful new Valentine-themed window art on Thursday and Friday — they were so proud of their work!

We also created adorable postcards using heart and Valentine’s Day stamps. This was especially fun, but it definitely required some learning and patience since these stamps were not the self-inking kind. The children practiced choosing the correct stamp by looking at the picture on top, pressing it carefully into the ink, stamping it onto their postcard, and cleaning it when finished. It was a challenge, but they always rise to whatever is asked of them!

Color sorting was another focus this week. The children worked with pom poms and experimented with different tools for picking them up. Some used regular tongs, others tried tiny scoops that held only one pom at a time, and some challenged themselves with pincher tongs that enclosed the pom. They successfully sorted all of their pom poms by color while strengthening hand muscles and coordination.

In our sensory bin, we had festive confetti rice with plastic hearts scattered throughout. The children scooped, poured, sorted by color, and even counted their hearts as they played. Sensory activities like this support early math skills, fine motor development, and lots of calming, focused exploration.

Our building area was full of teamwork and collaboration. The children worked together using Lincoln Logs, foam blocks, Magna-Tiles, and even the rainbow builder. It is so wonderful to see how much they are growing in their ability to take turns, share ideas, and use their voices to communicate with one another.

In our dramatic play area, the children worked together in the spirit of kindness, pretending to bake and serve all sorts of delicious Valentine’s Day treats. There were cupcakes, cookies, and lots of “sweet” friendship moments as they practiced sharing, taking turns, and using loving words with one another.

In Chapel this week, Pastor Lee read The Runaway Bunny, a beautiful story that reminds us that no matter where we go, we are always loved and never alone. We talked about how Jesus is with us always — in every place, in every moment — and how His love follows us wherever we are. It was such a comforting and meaningful message for our little ones.

During Music and Movement, we had so much fun moving our bodies along with the tempo and listening carefully to instructions while playing our mini tambourines. Ms. Vicki always brings so much joy and energy, and the children love getting to make music while learning rhythm, self-control, and coordination.

And I think we all can agree that one of the biggest highlights of the week was getting to play in the snow at school! The children had the best time shoveling, building mini snowmen, and simply enjoying the magic of winter together. Lots of giggles, rosy cheeks, and wonderful memories were made. We also tied our snowy fun into a little seasonal learning by talking about what Punxsutawney Phil predicted for winter. Using our own “shadow Phils,” the children learned that he saw his shadow — which means we may have six more weeks of winter ahead!

Thank you, as always, for sharing your precious children with us each week. It is such a joy to watch them grow in kindness, creativity, adn friendship. We are so grateful for the love that fills our classroom every day!

REMINDERS:

• Valentine’s Day (week), and Community Helpers

• We are still looking for volunteers to visit and teach us about their jobs during our community helpers theme in February! We have had dentists, physical therapists, artists, doctors, carpenters — all sorts of interesting jobs to learn about in past years. Let us know if you’d like to share something about your work with our class, and we can schedule a time!

• Our annual Valentine Dance will be on Friday, February 13th, from 6:00-7:30 pm. Put on your dancing clothes and shoes! The fellowship hall will be transformed into a party! This event is for your whole family. It’s always a favorite!

• Valentine’s Day - Please send in Valentines with your child the week of February 9th. They will deliver them to one another using their decorated bags we’ll make here in the classroom. Have your child sign their names on their Valentine cards and leave the “to” part and envelope, if there is one, blank. This way it is easier for them to personally pass out their cards and not be overwhelmed by reading all of their friends’ names. Give your child a chance to help create and personalize their Valentines in some way. This can be by adding stickers, drawing a picture, writing their name on their own (or even just a letter or two), or decorating homemade cards. Whatever they do will give them ownership and pride, and will make the experience of delivering the cards soooo much more meaningful to them

• SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 16th for teachers to prepare for conferences!

• Conferences will be held on March 11th (MWF class) and 12th (T/TH class). More information coming soon!

Have a wonderful weekend with your little Ladybugs!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Welcome Bear! Cozy Dens, Icy Homes, and Winter Animal Fun

Wow — what a super short week we had thanks to the weather! We truly missed seeing our Ladybugs on all of those icy days, but we hope they enjoyed some cozy winter fun at home. Our hearts were happy that we were able to see each class at least one time — it made those days feel extra special.

This week, we expanded on our winter theme by welcoming bears into our play, alongside our arctic and polar animals. We read the beautiful story Bear Snores On, and the children were completely drawn into the cozy, snowy world of Bear’s lair. As we read, we moved our bodies and acted out the story — tiptoeing like quiet forest animals, stretching and curling up like Bear in his den, and pretending to snooze while the storm raged outside. It was a wonderful way to connect literacy, imagination, and movement.

Our sensory bin was filled with blue polar kinetic sand, and the children eagerly matched penguins to their iceberg rafts and igloos. This hands-on play encouraged number, shape, and color recognition, all while sparking lots of conversation and creative play.

In the building area, we worked on creating bear dens and cozy houses using Lincoln Logs. Some of the uniquely shaped pieces inspired lots of laughter and imagination — they transformed into other things including a crown for me and even a silly snake tongue! We also explored balancing, rhythm, and tempo as we tapped and stacked the pieces together. They’re really good with tempo. Using a random object from around your home, try and challenge your child by using that object to make a sound pattern, and have them mirror what sound pattern you made! You’ll be surprised! So fun!

At the art table, we painted using traditional paint — and when I said we were painting penguins, the children took that quite literally! Instead of painting pictures of penguins, they painted the plastic penguins themselves, which was a perfect reminder of how wonderfully literal and creative preschoolers can be. At the easel, we tried paint sticks, which were soooo fun! They dried quickly, and offered a completely different (and exciting) painting experience!

In our Play-Doh center, the children created several animal habitats, shapes, and food dishes, carefully molding and designing with lots of focus and creativity.

As always, our book area was a cozy hub, filled with fun winter-themed stories. All of this reading we’ve been doing has truly sparked a growing interest in letters. The children are excitedly recognizing letters all around the room, and pointing them out during play and transitions. They are being encouraged to write the letter/s in their names on their work, and they’ve been practicing both recognizing and forming letters using whiteboards and Etch-A-Sketchs. It has been so fun to watch their confidence grow as they proudly identify and practice letters in meaningful, hands-on ways. You’ll recognize more art coming home with their hand-written letters and names.

Our one day of Lunch Bunch was a blast! Even with the delay, it felt like a normal three-hour day. We ate together in Ascension Hall and topped it off with a super fun snowball fight using our soft snowballs — lots of giggles and happy memories were made!

We also celebrated a very special birthday this week — Emma turned four! Her mom joined us to read a special story, and we enjoyed a sweet gummy treat together. Happy Birthday, Emma!

All in all, it was a short but very fun two-day week. Who knows what the weather will bring next week, but stay tuned for weather updates! Groundhog Day is coming, so we will have to see how much more winter we will be having. We’re excited to see our Ladybugs again soon!

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Groundhog Day, Love and Kindness All Around, Valentine’s Day (week), and Community Helpers

  • We are still looking for volunteers to visit and teach us about their jobs during our community helpers theme in February! We have had dentists, physical therapists, artists, doctors, carpenters — all sorts of interesting jobs to learn about in past years. Let us know if you’d like to share something about your work with our class, and we can schedule a time!

• Our annual Valentine Dance will be on Friday, February 13th, from 6:00-7:30 pm. Put on your dancing clothes and shoes! The fellowship hall will be transformed into a party! This event is for your whole family. It’s always a favorite!

• Valentine’s Day - Please send in Valentines with your child the week of February 9th. They will deliver them to one another using their decorated bags we’ll make here in the classroom. Have your child sign their names on their Valentine cards and leave the “to” part and envelope, if there is one, blank. This way it is easier for them to personally pass out their cards and not be overwhelmed by reading all of their friends’ names. Give your child a chance to help create and personalize their Valentines in some way. This can be by adding stickers, drawing a picture, writing their name on their own (or even just a letter or two), or decorating homemade cards. Whatever they do will give them ownership and pride, and will make the experience of delivering the cards soooo much more meaningful to them

• SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 16th for teachers to prepare for conferences!

Have a wonderful (and SAFE) weekend with your little Ladybugs!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Arctic and Polar Animals

We had another super fun and exciting week in preschool! Our theme was Arctic and Polar Animals, and the excitement started the moment the children walked into the classroom on Tuesday. To their amazement, it looked like some arctic animals had been visiting while we were away — animal footprints were everywhere! The children eagerly followed the tracks, matching each set of footprints to the correct animal, and even trying their best to walk like the animals. There was lots of laughter, waddling like penguins, and stomping like polar bears.

Before settling down for our morning meeting, the children noticed something else new — snowflakes scattered around the room. Each child searched carefully to find the snowflake with their name on it. If your child brought one home, they were successful in finding theirs, and were at school.

Our classroom centers were filled with arctic and polar fun all week.

The sensory bin was a huge hit, as the children worked together to free penguins trapped in the ice. Using vinegar, baking soda “snow,” and a touch of blue food coloring, they watched in amazement as the ice fizzed and melted away. This hands-on experiment sparked so much curiosity and excitement — it may have been the crowd favorite of the week!

In the art center, the children created beautiful snowy scenes using doilies, bubble wrap, and paint brushes. Each masterpiece was unique, and truly captured the magic of winter landscapes.

We also had fun strengthening our letter recognition skills by feeding a hungry polar bear his alphabet soup. The children dug into a basket filled with letters and pom-poms, selected a letter, matched it on their paper, stamped it, proudly said the letter aloud — and then fed it to the polar bear! It was a challenge, but our Ladybugs showed great focus and determination.

The building area was busy with large blocks being transformed into igloos and icy habitats.

Our book area was stocked with exciting new reads. A favorite this week was our interactive arctic animals sound book, which kept them coming back again and again. Those interactive books are the best!

Dramatic play was, as always, a big hit. Our chefs whipped up cupcakes, cakes, milkshakes, and all kinds of imaginative treats. So much creativity and teamwork!

We were also thrilled to welcome a new friend to our class this week — Snorri. Our Ladybugs were incredibly kind and welcoming, and we are so happy to have him join our classroom family.

We have made great progress with calendar patterns, which are becoming easier for the children to recognize and predict.

In Chapel this week, we learned how to know God, and also learned that we are rich in loving everybody. We are rich in giving love away — spreading His love into the world.

In Music and Movement, we sang and moved our bodies to both songs and stories. We sang/read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, which helped strengthen our color recognition skills as we eagerly identified each animal and its color.

We had two special helpers again this week. Two of my girls were eager to lend a hand, and they did a wonderful job. My oldest Cailyn, and one of my triplet girls, Olivia, joined us on Tuesday. Olivia joined us again for our Wednesday group. Our local schools sure does have a lot of teacher workdays, and many of our own children truly love coming to play on those days!

All in all, it was a joyful, busy, and learning-filled week. Our Ladybugs continue to amaze us with their curiosity, kindness, and willingness to try new challenges. We can’t wait to see what next week brings (in many ways — weather and curriculum-wise)! Stay tuned for potential closures. Our theme will be arctic and polar animal habitats and hibernation.

Important Reminders:

POSSIBLE WEATHER EVENT - Stay tuned for updates from Shelly!

Don’t Forget! Pancakes and Pajamas - We will have pancakes, and get to wear our PJ’s to school this Wednesday and Thursday, January 28th and 29th!

LOOKING AHEAD

Our annual Valentine Dance will be on Friday, February 13th, from 6:00-7:30 pm. Put on your dancing clothes and shoes! The fellowship hall will be transformed into a party! This event is for your whole family. It’s always a favorite!

Valentine’s Day - Please send in Valentines with your child the week of February 9th. They will deliver them to one another using their decorated bags we’ll make here in the classroom. Have your child sign their names on their Valentine cards and leave the “to” part and envelope, if there is one, blank. This way it is easier for them to personally pass out their cards and not be overwhelmed by reading all of their friends’ names. Give your child a chance to help create and personalize their Valentines in some way. This can be by adding stickers, drawing a picture, writing their name on their own (or even just a letter or two), or decorating homemade cards. Whatever they do will give them ownership and pride, and will make the experience of delivering the cards soooo much more meaningful to them ❤️

One more thing…We will be discussing community helpers in February, and we’d love to have some parents come to visit and teach us about their jobs! We have had dentists, physical therapists, artists, doctors, carpenters — all sorts of interesting jobs to learn about in past years. Let us know if you’d like to share something about your work with our class, and we can schedule a time!

Have a wonderful (and safe) weekend with your little Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Winter Fun!

We had another fun and busy week in preschool! The children are settling back into their routines, which is so important for everyone. When routines fall out of place, many areas of our day can feel a bit tricky, so it has been wonderful to see how confident and comfortable the kids are becoming.

Although we haven’t seen any snow yet, our classroom was full of winter fun! It almost felt like the cold weather got the memo — now we’re just waiting on the snow itself. Our stories this week included: There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow, Snowmen at Night, and The Snowy Day. These books sparked lots of giggles, imagination, and great conversations about winter, snowmen adventures, and exploring a snowy world.

Our classroom centers were a big hit this week, especially the sensory bin. We mixed shaving cream, Elmer’s glue, and baking soda to create a fun, snowy texture. The children loved stirring, scooping, and digging their hands into the mixture. On day two, the texture changed, and the kids were thrilled to discover that they could actually build snowmen! With Frozen music “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” playing in the background, it truly felt magical — and wonderfully messy.

In art, we explored process art with adorable stick snowmen. The children first painted their sticks white. Each child was then measured using a string that was then used to create the scarves, and then hats, faces, and buttons were added. Each snowman was unique and so cute!

We also enjoyed ice painting. Watching the colors spread and mix across their papers, while using the colorful ice, created such a unique painting experience! It was both fascinating and cold to those who tried.

In the building area, imagination was in full swing as the children built magical igloos, ice sculptures, and tall towers. The foam blocks were especially exciting this week.

We also spent time working on letter recognition by finding the letters in our names and stringing them together to make a bracelet or necklace. This was a challenging activity for some, but all showed great effort and perseverance. It’s an important skill, and we will continue focusing on it throughout the rest of the school year as their confidence and familiarity with letters grow.

Our little chefs stayed busy too, hosting tea parties and cooking up yummy baked creations like cookies, cakes, and more in the dramatic play area.

Our reading area continued to be a cozy favorite, especially with the Frozen book. Many of our ladybugs enjoyed curling up with new and interesting stories, taking time to relax and enjoy quiet moments with books of their choice.

One of the highlights of the week was a fun stuffy snowball fight — lots of laughter, smiles, and playful winter fun filled the room.

In Chapel this week, we learned that God loves us and will always find us where we are!

In Music and Movement, we sang our hearts out as we moved our bodies to some fun books and songs! The book, If You’re a Robot and You Know It, is SOOOOO adorable! Definitely a favorite! You should check it out!

The New Year has begun with several birthday celebrations, and this past Monday we celebrated Cora turning FOUR! Cora’s mom and grandma joined us for the celebration. Her mom read Cora’s favorite dinosaur story, and everyone enjoyed delicious dinosaur cookies as a special treat. It was such a fun and memorable way to celebrate her big day! Happy Birthday, Cora!

We also had some very special visitors this week! Miss Phoenix’s daughter, Evie, joined us on Wednesday and Friday, and my daughter, Cailyn, helped out on Thursday. Both classes loved having them, and it was extra helpful during our very first lunch bunch days. All of the kiddos did an amazing job with that extra hour! YAY!

Overall it was a wonderful week full of learning, creativity, and joy. Next week, we will be shifting our focus to arctic animals, and we can’t wait to dive into another exciting theme together!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

School is closed this Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Pancakes and Pajamas - We will have pancakes and get to wear our PJ’s to school on Wednesday and Thursday, January 28th and 29th. Watch for more details coming from our Room Reps, but for now, please mark your calendars.

Last day for enrollment is January, 30th.

LOOKING AHEAD

Our annual Valentine Dance will be on Friday, February, 13th from 6:00-7:30 pm. Put on your dancing clothes and shoes! The fellowship hall will be transformed into a party! This event is for your whole family. It’s always a favorite!

Valentine’s Day we ask that everyone please send 12 cards signed by your child (do not write friend’s names on them) for them to “mail” to each friend. Bring your cards the week of February 9th. We will make “mailboxes” at school. Give your child a chance to help create their valentines in some way. They can add stickers, draw a picture, write their name on their own (or even just a letter or two), or can decorate homemade cards. Whatever they do will give them ownership and pride, and will make the experience of delivering the cards soooo much more meaningful to them ❤️

One more thing…We will be discussing community helpers in February, and we’d love to have some parents come to visit and teach us about their jobs! We have had dentists, physical therapists, artists, doctors, carpenters — all sorts of interesting jobs to learn about in past years. Let us know if you’d like to share something about your work with our class, and we can schedule a time!

Have a wonderful weekend with your sweet Ladybug!

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year & welcome back! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful and joyful break. Our classroom was filled with smiles, excitement, and lots of happy reunions as the children returned, eager to see their friends and teachers again. It was truly wonderful to have our sweet ladybugs back with us.

Now it’s time to jump into 2026! Time is flying by, and we are already noticing how much the children are growing. Many are becoming more independent each day — getting dressed for the playground, opening snacks, and confidently tackling daily routines. As they show readiness, we are gently introducing new challenges in the classroom to support their growth and confidence.

One exciting addition has been making patterns with our calendar numbers. Since our number sets include two different picture options, the children have enjoyed noticing similarities and differences while creating patterns. They have also done an amazing job with name recognition, so we will begin focusing more closely on learning the individual letters in their names. We’ll be practicing letter formation in fun, hands-on ways using play doh, craft sticks, blocks, and of course, writing tools.

To begin our week, we read the beautiful story I Wish you Happiness, by Michael Wong and Ann Baratashvili. This sweet book is filled with heartfelt wishes for kindness, courage, joy, and love — so many of the things we hope for our own ladybugs. It sparked meaningful conversations, and reminded us that happiness looks different for everyone…but caring for one another is always at the heart of it.

Our learning centers this week focused on celebrating and welcoming the New Year.

In our sensory bin, the children explored shiny streamers while searching for hidden letters of the alphabet — combining sensory play with literacy fun.

In the art center, we created dazzling firework displays using paint, toilet paper rolls, and glitter, resulting in some truly spectular masterpieces.

We also made “2026” banners for our classroom window, which was a wonderful way to strengthen fine motor skills while letting creativity shine as the children chose their own materials.

Scratch-art party hats were another big hit!

We even made our own fireworks in a jar — the swirling colors and “explosions” were so exciting to watch!

Our magnatiles and container-building areas continue to be very popular, encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.

The dramatic play kitchen was especially busy this week as well. It seems our little chefs became baking experts over the break, because the kitchen was buzzing with activity and imagination.

As always, our cozy book area offered plenty of choices, and the children truly seemed to delight in simply being back together. We missed them dearly and loved seeing the joy they brought back into our classroom.

We also had some very special celebrations this week! Ronan turned 4, and his mom joined us to read a story. We even enjoyed fun dinosaur cookies together. Haydon also celebrated his 4th birthday! Happy Birthday to both of you. We loved celebrating your big days.

As always, we had a wonderful time in Chapel and in Music and Movement.

This week in chapel, we learned about promises, and that God says he will love us no matter what. The angels are always watching over us.

In Music and Movement, we sang our hearts out, while moving our bodies to exciting tunes.

It was such a wonderful first week back! Thank you always for sharing your wonderful children with us each day. We are so excited for all the learning, growth, and joyful moments that 2026 will bring. Here’s to a year filled with curiosity, kindness, and lots of smiles!

REMINDERS:

Lunch Bunch begins next week on Wednesday and Thursday! This will be a new transition for our group, but we are confident they will adapt beautifully and rise to the challenge. Such exciting times ahead!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend with your sweet ladybugs,

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

Merry Christmas! 🎄

This week was truly filled with excitement, joy, and holiday magic! The anticipation began the moment the children arrived when greeted by our train front and “steam” balloon arch, setting the scene for a very special journey. Dressed in their cozy jammies, the Ladybugs climbed aboard the Polar Express, and enjoyed a delightful ride filled with smiles, wonder, and holiday cheer. We sipped hot cocoa, while listening to the story, creating a calm and cozy moment that felt straight out of the book.

After weeks of pretending to be bakers in our dramatic play area, the children were thrilled to decorate, and of course eat, real cookies! Their excitement and pride were priceless. Throughout the week, we also explored winter fun through hands-on activities. — painting ice with watercolors in our sensory bin, creating festive pipe cleaner trees, and putting the final touches on the special gifts made just for you.

Your Ladybugs could hardly contain their excitement as their gifts were wrapped in their hand-made bags with their favorite color tissue paper. They were so proud to finally present you with something made straight from their hearts. We hope these gifts bring you joy, and serve as sweet reminders of this special season for years to come. ❤️

We also got to enjoy a special birthday celebration this week! Happy Birthday, Ledger!

And finally, after weeks of practice in music class, along with many pep talks about being brave, confident, and supporting one another, the Ladybugs shined on stage at our Christmas Concert. Their performance was absolutely adorable, and we could not be more proud of each and every one of them!

Miss Phoenix, Miss Jenn, and I would like to sincerely thank you for being such wonderfully supportive families, and for trusting us with your precious children. We are so grateful for your kind words, thoughtful generosity, and the children’s sweet notes and drawings. Our hearts are truly full! Best.Job.EVER! ❤️

We wish you all a safe, joyous, and magical Christmas filled with love, laughter, and special moments with your families!

With love,

Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jenn

REMINDERS:

School will reopen on Monday, January, 5th.

LUNCH BUNCH begins on January 14th and 15th. An email will be sent with all of the details, so be on the lookout!