Sunday, December 2, 2012

                                Welcome to Joytime's
                               Diamond Jubilee Year
Fun Fact:Ms. Kathleen grew up with Joytime Preschool and after college came back to Joytime to teach with her mother (Joy) for 26 wonderful years.

In 1999 Kathleen became Director of Joytime after Joy's passing.Joytime preschool has been a family run school for 60 years.

Dear Parents,
  The emphasis at Joytime during November was on the world of the past and how children lived "once upon a time".We experienced crafts,games and foods drawn from Native American and Pilgrim lore.Our children were amazed to consider living where there was no electricity,bathrooms and no T.V.Corn shucking was very popular,as well as using the corn meal to make corn bread.We enjoyed recycling our pumpkins into pumpkin cookies and washing the seeds for roasting.Much role playing was included in these activities with imaginations flowing.The M/T/W/Th class had a Pilgrim and Native American feast on November 21st.They prepared some of the food and joined in a peaceful celebration.Even though history does not bear a very peaceful account of relationships between white people and Native Americans,there were occasions and we want to build on episodes of cooperation,whenever.

  The November words:Native Americans,Pioneers,Pilgrims,share,Thanksgiving,and giving thanks,recycle.

  December will have a past and a present focus,as we consider customs and how people celebrate this joyous time of year.

INTEREST UNITS:
Dec.3rd-7th.....Holiday Customs
Dec.10th-14th.....Hannakah,Las Posadas,Kwanzaa
Dec.17th-21st....Christmas Celebration

School will be closed Dec.22nd through Jan.6th-School will resume on Monday Jan.7th 2013.

Enjoy a Wonderful Hoiday!!!

               

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Telephone number for Teagan Hoopis in the M/W/F class was printed wrong.The right # is 847-235-2820.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

                                 Welcome to
                   Joytime's Diamond Jubilee Year

Joytime "Fun" fact: Trish Burns(an alumni of Joytime) worked at Joytime from 1992 to 1995.She then retired to adopt a baby girl (McKenna).Trish then returned to Joytime in 2007 till present time.McKenna is also a past alumni.

   Dear Parents,
              We celebrated October with it's ever changing weather,by being outdoors as much as possible and by observing seasonal changes taking place.We watched as squirrels gathered nuts and apples from our yard and knew that they were putting some away for the winter.We reviewed the importance of trees and they enjoyed playing,raking and jumping in huge piles of leaves.We also planted tulip bulbs in our "secret garden" for enjoyment seeing them grow up in spring.

              We learned the importance of fire safety including stop,drop and roll and the emergency number 911.We enjoyed pretending to be firefighters and practiced exiting our school with fire drills,which is ongoing throughout the year.

             We also enjoyed celebrating Halloween and the color orange with lots of art work,games and songs,including a visit from one of the Lake Forest Library staff who shared Halloween stories with us.We also enjoyed a neighborhood field trip,looking for signs of Halloween and sharing songs with neighbors.

             The Tuesday and Thursday class continues to "settle in" and continuing to become comfortable with each other and the school routines.We are also continuing to learn one another's names plus the concept of sharing and waiting for a turn(not always easy).We are always interweaving colors(how three colors can make more colors)and shapes in all our projects.

NOVEMBER INTEREST UNITS;

Nov.5-9-Pumpkin recycling/and Pilgrims

Nov.12-16-Native Americans/Pioneers

Nov.19-23-Thanksgiving celebrations

Nov.26-30-Animals/birds preparing for winter

OCTOBER WORDS:Fire drill,911,pumpkin,Halloween and pretend.

NOVEMBER-JANUARY CALENDAR:
Nov.22-23.....NO SCHOOL-THANKSGIVING
Dec.22-Jan.7..... NO SCHOOL-WINTER HOLIDAYS
                           (SCHOOL STARTS ON MONDAY Jan.7th)

ITEMS OF INTEREST:
1.M/W/F and M-Thus.p.m. classes enjoyed a visit from the Lake Forest Library staff,who came to read some of their favorite Halloween books and flannel board stories.We hope to have more visits from the library staff in the future for all our classes.

2.Please read "Winter at Joytime"(enclosed in envelope).Even though winter doesn't officially arrive until De.21st,we will no doubt have some winterly weather before then.Some notes are included on the attached sheet about cold and flu season.

3.Don't keep us in the dark!Please let us know if your child will be absent for ANY reason.Thanks.

4.With the time changing the afternoon Pre-K class will be going outside(weather permitting)at the BEGINNING of the class.


                    Miss Kathleen-Director

Monday, October 1, 2012

                                                        Welcome to
            Joytime's Diamond Jubilee Year!

Joytime "Fun" Fact:
        Joytime has enjoyed many teachers over the last 60 yrs;but few teachers are as well known as Mrs.Redmond(affectionatley known as Mrs.Red"shoes") who taught with Mrs. Hodgen back in 1956.She then left to have her 5th child and returned to Joytime in 1965 until 2011 when she graciously became our #1 substitute.Mrs.Redmond remains ageless!

Dera Parents,
  We now head into October with new and old friendships.We are involved in individual needs,plus group interactions.It is fascinating to watch the children work on relationships with gentle help from teachers.Visitors are appropriate from now on.Please contact me if you wish to visit during your child's session.Anything you want to share with us(music,stories) is also welcome.

  The Pre-K class is working on developing responsibility,respect and care for others and their environment around them.They are also developing better writing skills and letter and sound recognition-sharing stories and becoming a good friend with others.

  The M/W/F children are "working"a little harder now on longer attention spans,concentration,listening and talking skills,beginning letter recognition,plus involvement in the ongoing process of following verbal directions,using one's initiative,continuing ideas to individual and group activities.

  The T/Th children are involved in discovery of friends,learning names,school routines and have special emphasis on colors and shapes.They are also beginning to realize that a short time away from home can actually be fun.

  We have been discussing the importance of indoor and outdoor safety with all the children.Safety is our number one priority and
is an on-going subject throughout the year.We remind you that we encourage children to leave and enter their car from th CURB SIDE only.

 All classes joined in the experience of making applesauce and eating it afterwards.It was enjoyed by most everyone!

ITEMS OF INTEREST AND IMPORTANCE:
1. Picture Days (this year)will be held in January 2013.(more info later)
2.L.F. Library will visit the M/W/F a.m. and M-Th p.m. classes on Halloween(Oct.31st)to read and tell us some exciting Halloween stories.

October to January Calendar:We generally follow the Lake Forest School District#67 calendar,but do not observe teacher conferences or in-service days.

Oct.8th.....NO SCHOOL-Columbus Day
Oct.30th.....Halloween observed.Costumes may be worn,if child wishes.Please do not send your child in a costume that encourages aggression.T/Th a.m class.
Oct.31st for the M/W/F a.m class and M-Th p.m. class.
Nov. 22-23.....NO SCHOOL:Thanksgiving vacation
Dec.21st to Jan.7th.....Winter Holidays.School opens on Monday Jan. 7th.
SEPTEMBER WORDS OF INTEREST:
  Friend,friendly,friendship,safety,season,harvest,fall,autumn,leaves,design and collage.

INTEREST UNITS:
Oct.1st-5th.....Orange week.

Oct.8th-12th.....Fire safety.

Oct.15th-19th.....Halloween fun

Oct.22nd-26th.....More Halloween fun

Oct.29th-Nov2nd.....Halloween celebration/recycling pumpkins!