VISITORS COME TO PRE SCHOOL

We love to have visitors come to Pre School to tell us about their jobs and talents. During "tool week" we talked about how tools help make our jobs easier. We invited Charlie Eggert's dad, Jeff, to come and talk to the Orange and Blue Classes about the tools he uses in his dental office. Dr. Eggert first showed us his mask, which he wears over his mouth and nose so that he doesn't share his germs with his patients. He also has a very cool pair of glasses to wear. They have magnifying lenses in them that make it possible for him to see the tiny cracks and spaces in our teeth. Of course he brought a tooth brush which he used to brush his dragon puppet's teeth with gentle circling movements. The tooth brush is a tool we need to use to keep our teeth clean too. Before leaving, Dr. Eggert gave each student a "dental tool bag" which included tooth paste, a timer for brushing, and other nifty items! We are so glad he was able to find time in his schedule to come to school!

There are many kinds of tools and Builder Ed came to Pre School during "tool week" to show all of our students the tools he uses for building and fixing houses. (Builder Ed is Mrs. Shelly's dad who has recently remodeled her house.) Ed brought tools for measuring, tools for drilling, tools for sawing and pounding and tools, like his level, for keeping his work on the straight and narrow! Some of the tools were very noisy so he has to wear special ear protection. We got to try them on too. Builder Ed has a tool bucket which is FULL of all his tools. When he is working he puts the things he is using currently in his tool belt so they are handy for him to use. Before Builder Ed left we all got to squeeze the trigger on his cordless drill and feel it vibrate and see it spin. Thank you for spending time with us Builder Ed!

Tools are really cool!

HO HUM

Pajama Day was a total success! Did we all lay around taking naps? No way!! But we did wear our pajamas, snuggle with our bedtime friends and eat cereal for snack. Our stories were about " The Napping House." By the end of the story, no one was napping in the Napping House and certainly not at Pre School. We thought you would enjoy seeing some of us in our best sleeping attire!

Valentine's Day/Red Day

Hey! Look at the fabulous job these three year olds did with the blocks. They used every one of them eventually!

I have made a Valentine

For a little friend of mine

It' red and white and lacy, too!

I opens and says,

I Love You!

We have been cutting, pasting, stamping and eating hearts at Pre School! Sharing Valentine's is so much fun. This has also been a good time to talk about being a good friend and helpful child. You can see in these pictures that we have been working very hard on all of our Valentine projects. We hope you have enjoyed them.

On Monday, February 14 (yes, on Valentine's Day) the Blue and Purple Classes had a special visitor, Jolene Jacobs. Jolene teaches stamping at our church. She brought some of her stamps and equipment to school so the children could make cards for someone special. We want to thank Jolene for all her help with this project!

Hope your Valentine's Day was a good one!

FUN OUTSIDE IN THE WINTER

It's been a record setting year for snow in the Twin Cities. That hasn't kept us from enjoying the outdoors! Here are a few pictures of the children living it up in the backyard!

HI HO, HI HO IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL WE GO

We're back in school and it's fun to see our friends again after the Christmas break. There is so much snow in our backyard that we are having a hard time walking around in it. What a silly problem to have! The custodial staff had to snowplow a path for us out to the "emergency tree" and up to the sidewalk on top of the hill. It helps us walk around and it also makes a great sliding path! We learned a little about polar bears earlier this month and it is clear that our January weather is perfect for them!

Right now we are reading some of our favorite nursery rhymes and fairy tales. We have lots of puppets, flannel graph figures, dress up clothes and castles to help us retell our favorite stories.

The Orange and Green Classes are learning fun songs for their program which they will be giving on Thursday, February 17. It takes a lot practice to do a good job. We love repetition!

SANTA VISITS

Sure enough, he came. With the jingling of sleigh bells from the reindeers' harness, Santa came to visit the children at Salem Pre School. He thanked us for our singing and for being such good girls and boys! Tired from his busy schedule, he sat down and took out a favorite book just for us. It was "The Polar Express"! He likes it because it talks about the sleigh bells and the elves and the boy who got the first gift of Christmas. The boy could have had anything he wanted but guess what he chose, a silver bell from the reindeers' harness! On the trip home the boy lost the bell through a hole in his bathrobe pocket, but Santa found it and gave it back on Christmas Eve. That boy, unlike all the others in his family, could still hear the bell ring when he was grown, as can all who truly believe!

Before he left, Santa gave each of the children a silver bell on a ribbon necklace to remind them of his visit. Many children hugged Santa. A few gave one last reminder of what they were hoping for on Christmas Eve. The Jolly Old Soul had other places to go so he scurried off. We never even saw the reindeer! Maybe next year.

Merry Christmas!

ADVENT

Advent is a season of waiting and at Pre School, we are waiting, sometimes patiently and sometimes not so patiently. We are waiting for Santa's arrival, the Christmas parties and family gatherings. The four year olds made Advent chains to help them wait. Taking off one ring each day helps them visualize how many days are left until Christmas! As we wait we are busy as elves making Christmas surprises for our parents and decoration for our homes. Glitter is our favorite art material in December. Have you noticed? We love to use bells when we sing many of our Christmas songs like "Jingle Bells," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and "Ring, Ring, Ring Your Bells."

During Advent the most important thing we are waiting for is the birth of Jesus. He is the reason for Christmas. In the book, "Santa's Favorite Story," Santa reminds us that Christmas would come without packages. It is God's gift of love, Jesus, that brings Christmas. Songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star," "Mary Had a Little Boy," and "Away in a Manger" help us remember the story. We are thankful for you, Baby Jesus!