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Heath Extended Day will no longer be using blogspot to post our newsletters.  We have taken your suggestions and have create a website.  Please check us out and keep up to date with our newsletters, photos and happenings at 

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Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Marching into March with PreK Extended Day

Whats happening in March at PreK Extended Day?

- We have been continuing with our letter of the week in Pre-K, we will be starting March off with the letter P. Through our letter of the week activities the students become familiar with the sounds of each letter, the shape each letter holds, and how to write each letter. Our activities daily include a book and a craft that relates to our theme or letter of the week.

-Fresh Fridays are happening every Friday in Prek Extended Day! This means that we cook after rest. The kids love to cook and see the transformation of food. This is a great opportunity for us to introduce new foods and incorporate math elements.

-Children have been earning Warm and Fuzzies! A warm and fuzzy is a pom pom that children earn when they commit random acts of kindness such as using manners, helping friends and teachers, sharing, and simply doing and saying things that make you feel warm and fuzzy. The children are working towards a party!

-March 2nd we will be celebrating the Doctors birthday! That is Dr.Seuss of course! Theodor Seuss Geisel better knowns as Dr.Seuss was born in 1904 and would be 107 years old today! We will be reading many books by Dr.Seuss on this day as well as creating fun hats in his recognition! We will continue to discuss and read Dr.Seuss books through the month of March.

-The first day of Spring will spring upon us on March 20th. We will be welcoming the spring season by doing some planting in our classroom! Keep your eyes open for our spring blossoms on our window ledge.

New Additions to our Class!

Everyday of the week we are lucky enough to have student interns from Wheelock College join us for a couple hours! These students are studying early childhood, elementary education, and criminal justice. Please give them a warm welcome to the Heath Community.

Work Out Wednesdays! On Wednesdays Nelly joins us for a yoga! Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:00 Nelly, a yoga instructor, joins us and does a session with the kids. As well as yoga Nelly incorporates Spanish language into her lesson. We are working to reiterate the Spanish words they are learning. Keep your eyes open for yoga poses and ears open for some Spanish vocabulary words.
    For example:
    Dog-Perro
    Cat-Gato
    Lion-Leon

March Madness in K/1

Whats happening in K1?

-Ahoy Mateys! K1 Will be kicking off March with Treasure Hunt Week. During the first week of march we will acting as pirates creating eye patches, treasure maps and treasure chests. On Thursday we will have our school-wide treasure hunt! All pirates be ready heave ho in search for the treasure!

-March 2nd we will be celebrating the Doctors birthday! That is Dr.Seuss of course!Theodor Seuss Geisel better known as Dr.Seuss was born in 1904 and would be 107 years old today! We will be reading many books by Dr.Seuss on this day as well as creating fun hats in his recognition!

-This month and for the remainder of the year we will have two new HEDP members, please welcome Flat Stanley and Flat Sally! Please let us know if you and your family would like to include them in your travels!

-St.Patricks Day is on Thursday March 17th, we will be celebrating all week through lessons about Ireland and the origin of this day! On this day 5th and 6th grade students will be creating crafts and activities that they will be doing with the k1 students.
-The first day of Spring will spring upon us on March 20th. We will be welcoming the spring season by doing some planting in our classroom! Keep your eyes open for our spring blossoms on our window ledge.

New Additions to our Class!

Everyday of the week we are lucky enough to have student interns from Wheelock College join us for a couple hours! These students are studying early childhood, elementary education, and criminal justice. Please give them a warm welcome to the Heath Community!

As well, we have two high school volunteers Connie Schmidt, the sister to Nicki and Vicki, and Megan.

We want to thank all the heath older students who volunteer as well, the kids love your company and we appreciate all your help. Thanks to Evan Owens, Josh Justice-Pope, Aidan Perry and Tomas Munarriz.

A Brief look into our calendar- A detailed calendar can be found on our welcome board behind the sign-out station.

March Madness Events:
Dr. Suess
Treasure Hunt Day
Mardi Gras
St. Patricks Day
Magic Trick Day
The Pancakes Birthday







K-1 Wish List
-Cleaning luxuries (Lysol wipes and paper towels)
-Wipe Board Markers
-Cookie Cutters (shapes, letters, holiday themed)
-Clean socks (for puppets)
-Shoe Boxes
-Magazines
-Lego People
*All donations accepted and greatly appreciated*

Welcome Interns and Volunteers!

As you may have noticed, HEDP has been packed with many new faces!  I am pleased to announce that we are continuing to work in cooperation with Wheelock Collage as a Field Learning Placement.  In addition we will be hosting Brookline High students and Heath Leaders In Training (middle school students).

We have 2-4 volunteer's and interns in each classroom every day of the week.  The Wheelock inters will be observing students over the next 8 weeks for a Human Growth and Development Course while the high school and middle school learners will assist children with literacy skills, homework assignments, science activities and gym games.  We are fortunate to have such a wide array of learners who are willing to help out, teach and share their skills with your children.

Please help us welcome all interns, volunteers and LIT by introducing yourself and asking them how they like HEDP.  Your support and cooperation will help these students, educators, advocates and caring members of the community become future professionals.

Kindly,

Noelle 

February News in 2/6

February 2011
Heath Extended Day

2-6 Newsletter
Wish Days Granted in January…

During the month of January, we granted many special days that were
wished for by the kids.  Wishes we fulfilled during January were:
Edible Art day, Candy day, Soccer day, Movie day and Pizza day.
Edible Art day was a huge hit!  

 

The kids made “sushi” out of angle
food cake, twinkies, fruit roll ups, Swedish fish and gum drops!  The
kids did a fantastic job using these foods to create realistic looking
pieces of sushi.  Also, during Edible Art day, the kids made creative
towers using marshmallows and toothpicks.  During candy day, the kids
participated in a game of candy trivia.  They learned fun facts about
candy and even learned about some candy slogans.  

 

In addition to
learning about candy, the children crushed pieces of hard candy,
created their own candy mold out of tin foil and melted the crushed
pieces in the oven to create homemade lollipops in the shape of their
mold.  They also learned out to make “gummy bears” using gelatin.
 

During soccer day, the kids got to spend a great amount of time
playing Soccer in the gym.  With all the snow, they haven’t been able
to play the sport that we most often see them playing on the field
during the spring and fall!  

 

For those who did not participate, we
gave them an opportunity to sew soccer ball pillows!  Finally, the
kids enjoyed movie day and pizza day.  On movie day the kids relaxed
in the library and watched, Cheaper by the Dozen and they enjoyed the
a special pizza party day.  We have so many more wishes to fulfill in
February!  

 

Please look for notices regarding upcoming Wacky Hair and
Electronics Days!

Winter Reminder and information
We will continue to bring the kids outside to play during the winter.
Your child MUST have a hat, gloves, and winter jacket.  To play in the
snow, kids must also have snow boots and snow pants.  On days where
when we are able, we will take the kids sledding on the back
playground.  Your child must have a helmet to go sledding.  Please
feel free to store sleds and helmets in the upstairs extended day room
during the school week.  Please label your child’s belongings!



There are still spots for ice skating at the Riley Rink in Cleveland
Circle.  Please see a 2-6 teacher if you would like to sign up your
child.  We go weekly on Wednesdays and will continue to do so through
March 9th.  The kids who have already signed up are having a blast!


OH Baby!

We are happy to announce that Caitlyn had her baby girl, Sofia, on
Monday, January 24th.  Mom and baby are doing great!  The kids each
created a page with thoughtful messages and beautiful pictures
congratulating Caitlyn and welcoming Sofia!  We binded the pages to
create a special book from the 2-6 children!


WISHLIST

We are seeking 8 new Motrola Walkie Talkies to keep our lines of
communication open.  We hope to get ones that are rugged and take
rechargeable batteries.  Your help is appreciated!

http://www.motorola.com/Business/XN-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Consumer+Two-Way+Radios/T8+Walkie+Talkie+Radio_XF-EN

Keeping warm in K1

What’s happened at HEDP-
A brief recap of November

•    On December 1st in 1955 Rosa Parks decided she would no longer be subjected to unequal and unjust treatment.  Mrs. Parks' actions sparked the Montgomery bus boycott which became a major catalyst in the Civil Rights Movement.  To commemorate this historic moment K-1 read "The Crayon Box That Talked" by Shane DeRolf, about the diversity and acceptance of others.  K-1 made their own "box of crayons" expressing each child's uniqueness and our community as a whole. Please take time to view our "box of crayons" that is displayed in the hallway.

•    As a class we discussed and learned about harvest and squirrels. The children realized that between September and December the squirrels have seemed to disappear and one student asked, “Do squirrels hibernate like bears?” This question kicked off our squirrel study. The children learned that while we have started to see less tree squirrels they do not hibernate in the winter they stay active all year round, but in the winter they stay in their nests to conserve their body heat. Ask your children some other interesting facts about squirrels. The children made their own squirrels using the information learned and the squirrels are scurrying about the classroom walls!

•    The K-1 class has continued to earn “caring chains” by completing caring and kid acts to their peers and we are proud to announce that they have completed our challenge and earned a caring chain party! We will be celebrating on December 9th with a special snack of pizza and popsicles as well as a cooperative game of soccer! Please continue to congratulate and encourage your child’s caring behaviors.

Interactive Classroom- A look into the projects happening at Extended Day-


-We have jumped into winter at HEDP!! The
K-1 children have all made predictions about when the first snow will occur. Their predictions have been added to our “Snow Poll.”

-We will be learning about the Inuit culture and children will be constructing igloo’s using sugar cubes to replicate the homes of Inuit people during the cold season in the Arctic Tundra.

-We will be transforming an area of our classroom into a “Winter Wonderland Village.” The children will be using an assortment of materials such as craft sticks, cotton balls, Q-tips, pine cones, glitter and clay to create the homes and scenery for the winter wonderland.

-Continuing our “Fresh Fridays” we will be cooking an array of holiday treats on Fridays.

Holiday Happenings at HEDP- Donations Through December 17th
Horizons for Homeless Children was founded in 1988 as an independent, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to serving young homeless children and their families. Horizons for Homeless Children touches the lives of more than 2,700 young homeless children each week in Massachusetts through Play spaces (educational and recreational spaces) in shelters and 175 children through its three Community Children's Centers, Boston's only comprehensive, full-time early education and childcare centers specifically for young homeless children.  In addition to direct service, we advocate on behalf of young homeless children and their families with policy makers and provide training and technical assistance to related service providers. 

Horizons for Homeless Children is supported primarily by charitable gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations. Every gift helps!
For more information please feel free to contact Scott at www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org
•    ART SUPPLIES
•    Paint (watercolor, school paint, and finger paint, all in larger sizes), paintbrushes, paint daubers and large sized crayons and markers
•    Craft supplies (glitter, craft sticks, pompoms, colored pipe cleaners, feathers, buttons, gallon and regular size glue bottles, Crayola Model Magic Clay, Play-Doh and rolling pins, cookie cutters, stencils, wiggle eyes )
•    Paper (easel, finger paint, construction, shiny, tissue paper, contact paper, poster board, butcher roll paper , preschool lined)
•    Large rolls of paper and paper rack
•    Stickers, Magnetic letters and shapes
•    Felt board and story pieces
•    Child safe scissors - round edge, plastic
•    Waterproof smocks
•    Water based stamp pads with stamps
•    Tape: masking tape, colored tape, scotch tape
•    Dry erase markers
•    Ballpoint pens
Books
•    Multi-Cultural
•    Diverse family types
•    Children/adults with diverse abilities
•    Books without words
•    Spanish books
•    Spanish/English books
•    Board books
•    Books with grandparents
•    Big Books for group story times
•    Books on tape
Computer Equipment / Electronics--New or Gently Used
•    Laminating film rolls
•    CD/Tape Players (shock proof if possible)
•    Cordless electric drills
•    Digital camera
•    used cell phones
Help HEDP support Horizons for Homeless Children Donations Through December 17th

We wish you and your family a New Year filled with all the best!  

Warmly, HEDP PreK and K1 Teaching Team

2-6 December News

December 2010
Heath Extended Day

2-6 Newsletter

Holiday Spoon are now on Sale!

We are so proud of all the hard work, creativity and imagination that the 2-6 kids put into decorating spoons for Project Bread’s Holiday Spoons Project.  Project Bread is an anti-hunger organization with a mission to end hunger in Massachusetts.  Each spoon costs $2.00 and all the money raised will be donated to Project Bread to help raise awareness and help feed hungry families.  Please see a 2-6 teacher if your family would like to buy a spoon!  Heath Extended Day would like to make sure each and every family has a warm meal and place to spend the holidays.  Please see Noelle should your family need help with providing a meal or any other essential item during this holiday season.  As always, your name and situation will be kept to our high confidential standards.



Building relationships, self esteem and confidence

The kids participated in two meaningful group activities this month.  The first, a compliment game where kids sat in a circle and were each given three chocolate tokens.  Taking turns, each child had to give away one of their tokens to another child that they chose while giving a compliment or acknowledging a good deed that the other child did for him/her. We observed tokens being given for: “being a good friend and sticking up for me,” “for including me when I was alone,” “for being helpful,” “for helping me when I fell down.” Knowing they were able to keep and eat the tokens after the game was over, some chose to give up more of their tokens so they could compliment another person in the group even if that meant having less for themselves, “it doesn’t matter how many you have left,” one child pointed out. The second meaningful activity the kids took part in was an activity in which a teacher gave ten statements beginning with the statement. “I am somebody who…” Kids were challenged to think of themselves s and step to a designated spot in the room depending on if they agreed, disagreed or were neutral with the statement based on their own experiences.  Some statements were, I am somebody who: has teased another person using hurtful words,  is comfortable telling another person to stop if I see them teasing someone else, is comfortable making my own decisions even if they are different than my friends, who will try to make sure my words and actions won’t hurt anybody. The kids were really able to reflect on their own and others experiences.  These two activities seemed to successfully build relationships with one another as well as allow children to gain self esteem and confidence with sharing their thoughts and ideas.



Holidays Around the World

During the month of December, the 2-6 kids will be learning about different December holidays celebrated around.  They will learn the history of each holiday, take part in a traditional game or activity and make a recipe that is enjoyed at the holiday.  If your family has a special December holiday that you celebrate in your homes, we would love to teach the kids about as part of this unit!



Horizons for Homeless Children

HEDP is donating needed supplies to Horizons for Homeless Children during this holiday season.  The children decorated donation boxes for art supplies, books, and computer equipment/gently used electronics!  If you would like to donate, donation boxes will be located daily if the cafeteria, k-1 HEDP classroom and 2-6 HEDP classroom.  We will be collecting donations through Friday December 17th


Horizons for Homeless Children was founded in 1988 as an independent, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to serving young homeless children and their families.

Horizons for Homeless Children touches the lives of more than 2,700 young homeless children each week in Massachusetts through Playspaces (educational and recreational spaces) in shelters and 175 children through its three Community Children's Centers, Boston's only comprehensive, full-time early education and childcare centers specifically for young homeless children.  In addition to direct service, we advocate on behalf of young homeless children and their families with policy makers and provide training and technical assistance to related service providers. 


Horizons for Homeless Children is supported primarily by charitable gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations. Every gift helps! For more information please feel free to contact Scott at www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org



Art and Craft Supplies

Paint (watercolor, school paint, and finger paint, all in larger sizes), paintbrushes, paint daubers and large sized crayons and markers  glitter, craft sticks, pompoms, colored pipe cleaners, feathers, buttons, gallon and regular size glue bottles, Crayola Model Magic Clay, Play-Doh and rolling pins, cookie cutters, stencils, wiggle eyes, paper (easel, finger paint, construction, shiny, tissue paper, contact paper, poster board, butcher roll paper , preschool lined). Large rolls of paper and paper rack

Stickers, Magnetic letters and shapes,Felt board and story pieces .Child safe scissors - round edge, plastic

Waterproof smocks, Water based stamp pads with stamps

Tape: masking tape, colored tape, scotch tape

Dry erase markers, Ballpoint pens

Books

Multi-Cultural, Diverse family types, Children/adults with diverse abilities, Books without words, Spanish books

Spanish/English books, Board books, Books with grandparents Big Books for group story times, Books on tape.

Computer Equipment / Electronics--New or Gently Used

Laminating film rolls, CD/Tape Players (shock proof if possible)

Cordless electric drills, Digital camera, used cell phones. Events, News and Reminders




Monday, December 6th: Building Architecture Meeting in the Heath Auditorium at 7:00.  Dinner and childcare will be provided to HEDP families.  Dinner will be served from 6:15-7:00.  Please RSVP to Noelle.



Thursday, December 9th: Meet the Principal Finalist at Heath from 7:45-8:45.  Dinner and childcare will be provided to HEDP families.  Dinner will be served from 7:00-7:45.  Please RSVP  to Noelle.



Thursday, December 9th: Early Release Day Field Trip: Ice Skating at Frog Pond.  Please return permission slips no later than Wednesday December 8th.  Space is limited!  Helmets are required for this trip.



Thursday, December 23rd: Early Release Day: Pizza and Movie Day. No lunch is served in school.  Heath Extended Day will provide pizza for lunch as a gift!  We will close at 4:45pm on Thursday December 23rd due to the Heath school 12:00pm dismissal.



Ice Skating

Ice Skating at the Reilly Memorial Rink in Cleveland Circle will begin on Wednesday January 12th and will continue weekly on Wednesdays until March 16th.  Children must bring their own skates and helmet for this trip.  Skates are as little as $25.00 at Dicks Sporting Goods $20.00 at Toys R Us and $18.00 at Amazon! Please look for notices regarding this special opportunity for Brookline Extended Day Programs



Kid's Corner  Let’s hear what they have to say!

“I like Trippin Out because you get to go to new places that I have never been before and we get really good snacks.” 6th grader



“I enjoy coming to Extended Day and socializing with the teachers and playing games like speedball.” 6th grader



“I enjoy coming to Extended Day because it is a fun environment!”  5th grader



“Extended Day has fun field trips on half days.” 5th grader



“I like when we make food because it is a special snack.  I liked the apple crisp.” 5th grader



“I like  going to Extended Day because when it is close to a holiday you can do special parties for it.” 3rd grader



“Extended Day is cool because they have really fun games.” 2nd grader

The 2-6 teachers would like to wish you and your family a happy and healthy New Year!