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