As we emerge from the holiday season, it’s time to take a quick look back at the last few months of school! In November our students studied woodland homes. We talked about all kinds of creatures who make their homes in or around trees. The children had fun creating their own woodland homes (out of painted paper bags) and decorating pictures of the animals who live there. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, we also talked about gratitude and the sorts of things each child is grateful for. These ranged from “toys” and “my Frozen stuff” to “Family Feast” and “having pumpkin pie” to “macaroni and cheese” and “the cars on my pajama dresser”! November culminated in our Family Feasts, where each class holds a potluck lunch outside the classroom in the courtyard. Parents and extended family members are invited to attend, and each family brings a dish to share that is somehow meaningful to that family. This can range from mac and cheese (a.k.a. “this dish is the only thing my child will eat”) to “Grandma’s pumpkin pie” to homemade lumpia and … well, the sky is pretty much the limit! The children also made festive decorations beforehand that were displayed on the tables, including handprint turkeys that showcase just how tiny our preschoolers’ hands can be. The feasts were a wonderful way to ease into the Thanksgiving break, surrounded by friends and family in the Grace community!
November and December both brought cooler weather and lots (and lots — and lots) of rain, so there were ample opportunities to ride scooters, bikes, and trikes on the sport court. It is so much fun to watch the children gain confidence on the equipment and go speeding around the traffic signs with their friends. In December, we also studied holiday traditions for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The classes held a food drive benefiting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and collected 117 pounds of food for area families. The children sang carols for the seniors at Tice Oaks, and it was wonderful to see children and families from all four of our classes attending this event! Finally, we welcomed the winter holidays with a visit from Santa!
Upcoming events include Saturday school (a chance for the non-cooping parent to participate in the cooperative experience at a time that fits better with the traditional Monday-Friday work week) and, of course, our annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser. Stay tuned for more exciting events at Grace Preschool!