Outdoor Happenings

We have recently expanded our outdoor space! The children have found this extremely exciting!...and so have our teachers! :) We are adding many more nature based materials for the children to use. (We are looking to be an certified Nature Explorer Classroom by spring of this coming year. Last week we received a new truck load of mulch. The children were all hands on deck working together to try to spread the mulch out on the playground and did a fantastic job! (There are some photos below showing them hard at work).

Watching the truck dump the mulch in.

Diving into the mulch to help spread it.

Working together to move the mulch and dump it.

Some students even used our sand toys to help.

Working together to use the small wheelbarrow to move the mulch.

Also, just today we had a local farmer drop off some large spools of various sizes. The children can use them to sit on, as tables (the larger ones), and to build with (the small ones). They were so excited and began to work with them. Some children began by just seeing if they could lift them. Others immediately turned them to the sides to see if they would roll well. Others they noticed they could use them as a chair, table, etc. Befiore long they were pretending to eat, took a few in our playhouse to use as a table and chairs, and even drumming. Some of our youngest students even rolled them to the far fence in our outdoor area to gain some new perspective. To see our work be sure to check out the photos below.

This student was seeing if she could lift them.

This student was working hard to roll her spool.

This group of children rolled and carried quite a few to an open area where they could set up a table and chairs. They informed teachers "we are pretend eating!"

These two boys found some twigs that had come of our trees and set up their own drumming session.

These two students worked hard to bring the biggest spool into our playhouse for a table.

After working so hard with the spools, this student is taking a break sitting at the new "table" in the playhouse while on his new "chair."

Finally, what may have been my favorite conversation of our outdoor time today happened between three of my youngest students. They worked hard to roll and carry their three spools to the far side of the new fence. They they climbed on them using the fence for balance. While taking this photo I overheard their conversation. The student in red said, "Hey, a you see Mal-Mart?" (Wal-mart) The student in the white coat in the center said "No. A no Mal-mart o'er der." (over there) Finally the student on the end in the pink said "Mal-Mart. My mommy likes Mal-Mart. I see mommy? No...no mommy. No Mal-Mart." The student in the red said "Ah ok."

I just love how new materiels helped three of our littlest people gain a new perspective...being a foot or so off the ground made them feel so big they could maybe see "Mal-Mart"... Love it!

Can't wait to update again soon about more outdoor explorations!

Recent Happenings in Preschool

We have had a very busy start to our school year! We have been working on learning about our letters, numbers, the calendar, and much much more! We have also had special visitors including a firefighter! (The children thought that was particularly exciting!) We will continue to have fun, work hard, and make new friends in preschool. Please check back as we will be updating more often. Thank you!

a student being a calendar helper by crossing off the date

a student pointing to the ABC's as the class sings them

a firefighter showing us not to be scared when he is in his gear

a student feeling the firefighter's protective gear

new friends playing outside together

Clifford's Big School Visit!

Did you know, Clifford came to visit our school last week!  What an exciting visit!  The children listened to the Clifford story, then got to meet Clifford himself, give him hugs and get a sticker from him! 

The kids had so much fun and did such a great job listening to the story!  If you would like to visit Clifford with your child he is at the Bettendorf Family Museum! 

Before he left, Clifford left each class a Clifford book, signed by Clifford himself! 

Water Day Fun!

Our first water day of the summer was a blast!  You may find some more photos of the fun on the individual classroom pages!  Click on your child's classroom on the right hand side of this page!  * Room 8 Cricket Corner has more photos of all the fun!

School Wide Update: April/May 2011

Take a look at all of the wonderful things the children are learning in each classroom!  Pop on over to your child's classroom page, then head over to the other classroom pages!  We have so much to share with you! 

One of the highlights for all the children was our Carol Peterson concert recently!  We all went to the gym to listen to music and dance and have an indoor "snowball fight"! 

Our indoor "snowball" fight!

Welcome to Our New and Improved Blog!

Welcome to our BRAND new Children's Village Hayes blog layout!  This "HOME" page may appear similar; but if you take a look to the right, you will see some links to our CLASSROOM pages!  Click on a classroom page and you will be able to view information about the classroom.  You will also be able to see previous pictures and updates on the VERY first post (labeled older posts).   You can always come back to this home page by clicking on HOME at the top right of every page (not on Bumblebee Boulevard yet...will be soon- for now just click on the back arrow when you are on Bumblebee Boulevard page!) or you can continue to explore the other classroom pages or the office page by clicking on the classroom name to the right!

We hope this is a bit more user friendly than our previous blog layout!  Feel free to leave comments and come back and join us often!  We will update this home page and each classroom page ONCE each month! 

On the THIRD THURSDAY of EACH MONTH, we will update the HOME page as well as each individual classroom page.  Look on the HOME page for reminders of upcoming school events.  Look on your child's classroom page for reminders of classroom events!  Check out photos of the children enjoying activities and learn more about what you can do at home to assist your child in learning! 

The easiest way to receive updates each month is to click on "subscribe by e-mail."  Just enter your e-mail address in the box on the top left of every page, click subscribe and enter the code.  You will then receive an e-mail asking you to verify that you subscribed.  Open up the e-mail.  

Because each page acts as a separate blog you MUST enter your e-mail address on EACH classroom page, home page and office page if you would like to receive updates from all of these.  If you would like us to set this up for you, just send your child's teacher a note with your e-mail address and ask to be added to the CV Hayes blog e-mail subscription list!  (currently, Bumblebee Boulevard is not set up with e-mail subscriptions- Miss Meaghan L. will send out a notice as soon as this is up and running).

Have fun exploring!
The Children's Village Hayes Teachers

River Bend Foodbank

Did you know...recently The River Bend Foodbank came to our school and delivered food to many families!  What a wonderful, caring group of people!  We thank each and every person who volunteered at this event! 

Thursday Newsday...March 3, 2011!

    Parents, Guardians, Friends and Relatives:


It's our Thursday News Day!  Don't forget to check out your child's classroom page (3pm or later)!  Your child's classroom teacher has posted a few of the activities the children have participated in during this past week and has posted upcoming activities for the following week!  Have fun viewing some of our fun activities and check for any important information from your child's classroom teacher.  (If you don't find any new information on your child's classroom page, please check with your child's teacher.)

You will continue to be able to view pre-school wide events on the blog's main page (here)!
 Here's a quick way to access each classroom page:

If your child is in Miss Pam's classroom (room 8) click here:  Cricket Corner    

If your child is in Miss Megan Sone's classroom (room 9) click here:  Ladybug Lane

If your child is in Miss Katie's classroom (room 3) click here:  Firefly Freeway

If your child is in Miss Meaghan Leggin's classroom (room 6) click here:  Bumbleebee Boulevard 

If your child is in Miss Teri's classroom (room 5) click here:  Caterpillar Creek


Also, take time to view our Sunflower Station Page for weekly updates from our office staff, Miss Felma and our PTO officers, as well as our Fast Forward page for weekly updates from Miss Dee!


Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave us comments:  What would you like to see on our preschool blog?  Do you have questions?  Do you need more information? 

Leave comments below posts on the main page by logging on as a visitor or if you have a Google or Facebook account, you can log on this way.

A Pirate at Preschool!?

Today the preschool was visited by a very special visitor: a pirate named Bulldog Beard...a book reading pirate to be exact!  Dr. Klipsch was kind enough to bring his friend Bulldog Beard to read a book titled How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon (click on the book title if you would like to see a description of the book!)

The children absolutely LOVED hearing the pirate read this book in his wonderful pirate voice! 

The children also loved saying "Aaaaarrrgh" in their own wonderful pirate voices! 

This was a wonderful way to celebrate Read Across America Day (click on this link to find out more about Seussville Read Across America)!  Before he left, our pirate friend reminded us to go home and read our favorite books at home with our friends and families!  We REALLY hope our pirate friend will come back some time to read to us again!  We also hope all the children listen to their favorite stories with their families tonight!   

Cricket Corner with our pirate friend!



Firefly Freeway with our pirate friend!



Preschool Postcard Exchange!

Did you know that Children's Village Hayes is participating in a postcard exchange with other preschools across the country (and some from around the world)!?  

Check out the map of the country we put up in the hallway.  We've added each postcard we've received so far around the map.

Each postcard tells us a bit about the classroom and the preschool the children go to!  Many of the photos on the postcards gives us an idea of the area the preschool is located!

This has been a great way for the children to learn a little more about communicating with others in letters!  Some classrooms have had the children help write the note on the postcard.  We've come up with a few interesting things the children want to say!

One classroom even sent us a whole letter and all the children signed it!  As the weather gets a bit warmer and the ice melts, we are hoping to get the children out with us to mail the postcards!

The Blue Angels postcard was the teachers' least favorite postcard as it described the nice warm weather in Florida...

This project has also given the children a chance to learn about some areas outside of our immediate school!  Some children have experience taking trips to other areas, or know that grandma or grandpa live in a certain area!  This is a wonderful way for us to begin introducing the children to other areas of the country and world!

 So far, we have received 6 postcards from around the country!  Hopefully, we will receive many more!  Thanks to Deborah at Teach Preschool for setting up this postcard exchange!  We're having a great time participating!

Thursday Newsday...February 17, 2011

     Parents, Guardians, Friends and Relatives:


It's our Thursday News Day!  Don't forget to check out your child's classroom page (3pm or later)!  Your child's classroom teacher has posted a few of the activities the children have participated in during this past week and has posted upcoming activities for the following week!  Have fun viewing some of our fun activities and check for any important information from your child's classroom teacher.  (If you don't find any new information on your child's classroom page, please check with your child's teacher.)

You will continue to be able to view pre-school wide events on the blog's main page (here)!
 Here's a quick way to access each classroom page:

If your child is in Miss Pam's classroom (room 8) click here:  Cricket Corner    

If your child is in Miss Megan Sone's classroom (room 9) click here:  Ladybug Lane

If your child is in Miss Katie's classroom (room 3) click here:  Firefly Freeway

If your child is in Miss Meaghan Leggin's classroom (room 6) click here:  Bumbleebee Boulevard 

If your child is in Miss Teri's classroom (room 5) click here:  Caterpillar Creek


Also, take time to view our Sunflower Station Page for weekly updates from our office staff, Miss Felma and our PTO officers, as well as our Fast Forward page for weekly updates from Miss Dee!


Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave us comments:  What would you like to see on our preschool blog?  Do you have questions?  Do you need more information? 

Leave comments below posts on the main page by logging on as a visitor or if you have a Google or Facebook account, you can log on this way.

Thursday Newsday...February 10, 2011

        Parents, Guardians, Friends and Relatives:


It's our Thursday News Day!  Don't forget to check out your child's classroom page (3pm or later)!  Your child's classroom teacher has posted a few of the activities the children have participated in during this past week and has posted upcoming activities for the following week!  Have fun viewing some of our fun activities and check for any important information from your child's classroom teacher.  (If you don't find any new information on your child's classroom page, please check with your child's teacher.)

You will continue to be able to view pre-school wide events on the blog's main page (here)!
 Here's a quick way to access each classroom page:

If your child is in Miss Pam's classroom (room 8) click here:  Cricket Corner    

If your child is in Miss Megan Sone's classroom (room 9) click here:  Ladybug Lane

If your child is in Miss Katie's classroom (room 3) click here:  Firefly Freeway

If your child is in Miss Meaghan Leggin's classroom (room 6) click here:  Bumbleebee Boulevard 

If your child is in Miss Teri's classroom (room 5) click here:  Caterpillar Creek


Also, take time to view our Sunflower Station Page for weekly updates from our office staff, Miss Felma and our PTO officers, as well as our Fast Forward page for weekly updates from Miss Dee!


Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave us comments:  What would you like to see on our preschool blog?  Do you have questions?  Do you need more information? 

Leave comments below posts on the main page by logging on as a visitor or if you have a Google or Facebook account, you can log on this way.

Thursday Newsday!

         Parents, Guardians, Friends and Relatives:


It's our Thursday News Day!  Don't forget to check out your child's classroom page (3pm or later)!  Your child's classroom teacher has posted a few of the activities the children have participated in during this past week and has posted upcoming activities for the following week!  Have fun viewing some of our fun activities and check for any important information from your child's classroom teacher.  (If you don't find any new information on your child's classroom page, please check with your child's teacher.)

You will continue to be able to view pre-school wide events on the blog's main page (here)!
 Here's a quick way to access each classroom page:

If your child is in Miss Pam's classroom (room 8) click here:  Cricket Corner    

If your child is in Miss Megan Sone's classroom (room 9) click here:  Ladybug Lane

If your child is in Miss Katie's classroom (room 3) click here:  Firefly Freeway

If your child is in Miss Meaghan Leggin's classroom (room 6) click here:  Bumbleebee Boulevard 

If your child is in Miss Teri's classroom (room 5) click here:  Caterpillar Creek


Also, take time to view our Sunflower Station Page for weekly updates from our office staff, Miss Felma and our PTO officers, as well as our Fast Forward page for weekly updates from Miss Dee!


Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave us comments:  What would you like to see on our preschool blog?  Do you have questions?  Do you need more information? 

Leave comments below posts on the main page by logging on as a visitor or if you have a Google or Facebook account, you can log on this way.

Thursday (whoops, Friday) Newsday!

But, it's Friday, you say!  Yes, we are sorry, with conferences this week, we're a day behind!  Look for information TODAY (Friday) on your child's classroom page! :)

  Parents, Guardians, Friends and Relatives:


It's our Thursday News Day!  Don't forget to check out your child's classroom page (3pm or later)!  Your child's classroom teacher has posted a few of the activities the children have participated in during this past week and has posted upcoming activities for the following week!  Have fun viewing some of our fun activities and check for any important information from your child's classroom teacher.  (If you don't find any new information on your child's classroom page, please check with your child's teacher.)

You will continue to be able to view pre-school wide events on the blog's main page (here)!
 Here's a quick way to access each classroom page:

If your child is in Miss Pam's classroom (room 8) click here:  Cricket Corner    

If your child is in Miss Megan Sone's classroom (room 9) click here:  Ladybug Lane

If your child is in Miss Katie's classroom (room 3) click here:  Firefly Freeway

If your child is in Miss Meaghan Leggin's classroom (room 6) click here:  Bumbleebee Boulevard 

If your child is in Miss Teri's classroom (room 5) click here:  Caterpillar Creek


Also, take time to view our Sunflower Station Page for weekly updates from our office staff, Miss Felma and our PTO officers, as well as our Fast Forward page for weekly updates from Miss Dee!


Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave us comments:  What would you like to see on our preschool blog?  Do you have questions?  Do you need more information? 

Leave comments below posts on the main page by logging on as a visitor or if you have a Google or Facebook account, you can log on this way.

Whoops!

Parents:

If you are looking for our Thursday Newsday...I appologize!  With conferences, I think all of us forgot!  Yikes.  Check back tomorrow, we should have posts on your child's classroom page!

January PTO Meeting- Fundraising for Outdoor Learning and Accessibility



PTO meeting (kids are playing in the childcare room!)



Eating our spaghetti dinner!

Making our bagel bird feeders...even the big kids decided to make one!

 
 We always LOVE to see new faces at our PTO meetings!  Come join us next month!

PTO MEETING 01/12/2011

Attendance: Shelli Griffin (president)

                      Mandy Cady (Secretary)

                      Amanda Golden (Treasurer)

                       Melissa White

                        Pam Bergman

                        Teri Felix

Discussed the yard sale idea and where to put the items…Also discussed fun night and Painting chairs (class room theme?)

SPAGETTI WAS SERVED AS WELL AS BREAD AND COOKIES

Wanting to raise $20,000-$50,000 for the playground…Find out what’s next (Kathy Schulte) Discuss what is Legal and what is not ahead of time: radio, newspaper, and/or Blog.

Wal-Mart (Elmore Ave.): March 19^th and April 23^rd Make signs/charts…one child per one adult.

Talked about ideas for the Outdoor Learning Area: Less manmade and more natural play area.

More for Exploring: Pathways, Nature walks, Acorns, Leaves, Pictures…etc.

Both Goals: Accessibility and learning…volunteers needed for upkeep of play yard asking community to get involved?    

GOAL: Natural Arbor Day Nature Explorer Classroom Certification

Children made Bagel Birdfeeders as a craft

WE WILL WORK ON GETTING MORE PARENTS INVOLVED!!!   

Next Meeting we will have subway sandwiches and potato chips…

NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 8^TH!        

Don't Forget!

PTO Meeting Wednesday January 12th at 5:00!  Dinner is provided as well as free child care.  We will do a short parent/child nature activity.  We will also continue discussions about fundraising for our Outdoor Learning Area expansion as well as handicap accessibility!  These are IMPORTANT topics!  We would LOVE for ALL to be involved in the discussion!

Join us for fun...and food! :)

Thursday News Day!

             Parents, Guardians, Friends and Relatives:


It's our Thursday News Day!  Don't forget to check out your child's classroom page (3pm or later)!  Your child's classroom teacher has posted a few of the activities the children have participated in during this past week and has posted upcoming activities for the following week!  Have fun viewing some of our fun activities and check for any important information from your child's classroom teacher.  (If you don't find any new information on your child's classroom page, please check with your child's teacher.)

You will continue to be able to view pre-school wide events on the blog's main page (here)!
 Here's a quick way to access each classroom page:

If your child is in Miss Pam's classroom (room 8) click here:  Cricket Corner    

If your child is in Miss Megan Sone's classroom (room 9) click here:  Ladybug Lane

If your child is in Miss Katie's classroom (room 3) click here:  Firefly Freeway

If your child is in Miss Meaghan Leggin's classroom (room 6) click here:  Bumbleebee Boulevard 

If your child is in Miss Teri's classroom (room 5) click here:  Caterpillar Creek


Also, take time to view our Sunflower Station Page for weekly updates from our office staff, Miss Felma and our PTO officers, as well as our Fast Forward page for weekly updates from Miss Dee!


Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave us comments:  What would you like to see on our preschool blog?  Do you have questions?  Do you need more information? 

Leave comments below posts on the main page by logging on as a visitor or if you have a Google or Facebook account, you can log on this way.