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Westwood Lutheran Church - ELCA
9001 Cedar Lake Road
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
952-545-5623

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WECC News Toddlers


Toddler I  June 2013 News

Upcoming Interest and Curriculum Content
In June the Toddler I food theme is Picnics.  The Teddy Bear Picnic was a great way to kick off this focus!  We will enjoy some “picnic” foods and try having some snacks picnic-style indoors and outdoors.  Thank you again for remembering to check for “no nuts or nut products” in the foods you bring, and making sure they are in sealed containers from the store. 
The Center-wide themes for June include Vacations, Special People and Special Places.  If you have any recent photos of vacations, special people and special places that you would like your child to share, please bring them in and we will create a collage to display at the children’s level.  We plan to take a mini vacation to visit special people and special places in our building, and eat a snack in a special place – on the deck.
Other planned experiences for the month include work with clay, painting, butterfly exploration, music and movement experiences with Teacher Jen on the deck on Thursdays, and beginning to talk about July 4 experiences.  Of course we are all excited to explore and enjoy the newly remodeled playground!  
 
Upcoming Events and Schedule Reminders
June 19 – “Mini vacation” in the morning,  Family Nature Walk at 4:30
 
New Discoveries and Learning
Thank you to the parents who have helped with the big work of playground remodeling.  The children have thoroughly enjoyed playing on the playground in its various stages.  The open areas of dirt and the sand hill were favorite places to climb, run and dig.  The long wooden beam on the ground was a great balance beam as well as a bench.  We look forward to more new play and learning opportunities as the space becomes our “new” playground.
Another new outdoor experience in May was the Toddler I Outdoor Classroom Nature Walk.  It was scheduled for the day after this writing.  Look for documentation displayed on the deck at the Teddy Bear Picnic. 
 
Health and Safety
Thank you for remembering your child’s morning application of sunscreen.  Each child should also have a sun hat which we will try to use each day.
 
Communication Regarding Care
On warmer days during the summer we plan to have some water play days.  The easiest way to allow each child the opportunity to get wet in this way is for parents to bring a swimsuit or other water clothing, water shoes and a towel, all labeled and in a labeled plastic bag.  We will send them home for laundering at the end of each day they are used, to be returned and kept in their cubbies for the next use.  Thank you for helping to make these experiences possible for your child.
 
Karen, Madelynn, David
 
 



Toddler II June 2013 News
  
Upcoming Interest and Curriculum Content
This month we will be talking about spending time with our families. One thing we focus on is family vacations. If you have pictures of a family vacation that your child would like to share, we will begin using them starting the first week in June.
The playground is changing and the toddlers are busy observing what has changed. “The rainbow climber is gone!” noted children even weeks after its removal. Children worked filling the empty large black pots with sand and digging in the pile of dirt where our deck had been. The tire swing that has been hung up now serves as a basketball hoop. Check our classroom for observations the children make when the refurbishing is complete!
Clay will be our Art Literacy term for the month. The children will be introduced to many different tools in working with the clay. We will begin by simply molding it with our hands and getting accustomed to the texture of it.
 
Upcoming Events and Schedule Reminders
There will be many transitions to the Preschool I room happening this summer, please be prompt in replying to any conference notes you will be getting from your child’s teacher. Also, children are not allowed to move to the Preschool I room without a Healthcare Summary filled out by your child’s doctor. If you are planning a visit to the clinic, please let us know so that we may give you the necessary forms. 
 
New Discoveries and Learning
Thank you to all who helped with our Teddy Bear Picnic. Without the help of families, it would not be a success year after year!
We also want to thank those who gave their time and energy at our Playground Clean-up days.
May’s Art Literacy term was frames. The children created their own pieces of art and watched as we framed them. We took walks around the building with wood frames, framing different things we saw: pieces of artwork, the floor, walls, teachers, friends and ourselves. The children had access to frames as they played throughout the day, either sorting or building with small blocks inside them.
The winter clothes have been put away, finally, but the Toddlers are still working on their self-help skills by putting on their own sweatshirts, changing their own clothes if they have had an accident or need a change of clothing. We are also working on dumping out the sand from our shoes and trying to put them on again. This would be a good thing to do with your child before you leave school for the day.
  
Health and Safety
Please make sure you are applying sunscreen in the morning to prepare for our outside time. We will reapply in the afternoon.
Please make sure your child has season appropriate clothes in their cubbies that are the correct size. If they are toilet trained or in the process, please make sure they have extra shoes.
The whole school, including Teachers, is wearing only closed toe shoes on the playground. Please, for safety reasons have closed toe shoes on your child. Crocs are fine as long as your child can be comfortably active in them.
 
Communication Regarding Care
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s development, or how they are doing, please see Blair or Crystal. If we are unable to talk to you on the spot, we can schedule a conference. Communication is very important if we want to maintain a partnership.
 
Thank you,
Blair, Crystal and Michelle