Fourth of July!! Celebrate!

CELEBRATING THE FOURTH

As soon as Father’s Day is over we begin to plan for the Fourth of July. 

 Our family gathers at our cabin in Wisconsin for an extended weekend of festivities that includes cooking, fireworks in Cumberland and the Pipe Lake Association’s boat parade.  Of those activities, the boat parade takes the most thought.   We have competed, occasionally, with various themes for our boat.  We won a trophy the year we decorated the pontoon in a Hawaiian theme with a grass hut, straw hats, bathing suits, grass skirts and hula music.  Five years ago we chose a more patriotic theme.  It was my dad’s 90th birthday year so our entire extended family came to stay at the cabin.  On parade day we flew many flags from our pontoon and my nephew’s daughter, 9 year old  Emily, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty.  She was draped in sheets, wore a pointy crown and carried a torch made of a foil covered plunger with tissue paper flames.  It is notable that Emily, now a teenager, still keeps the crown on her bedroom shelf.  (The plunger is back work in the bathroom.)  We didn’t win a prize that year but my Dad was so proud of the whole family for participating and being so patriotic!  Dad was of a generation that was proud of their country and dedicated to its well being.  The flag and all it represented was alway respected! 

This brings me to a second theme for the Fourth of July.  It is a time of reflection and thanksgiving as well as celebration.  We recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy, the turning point in World War ll.  We were reminded of the thousands of men and women who risked or gave their lives in a fight for our freedom.  It is one example of the many battles fought in that war and others to preserve our way of life.  Likewise, the founders of our country fought to establish the freedoms we enjoy today, freedom of speech, freedom of religion,  equal rights.  These were people of integrity and determination.  They gave up their homeland, sacrificed their lives and suffered many hardships as they started new lives in an unfamiliar, less civilized land.  I fear we overlook the difficult times in the past that have established and maintained the country that  we love and celebrate today.  Perhaps we should thank a vet this Fourth of July for his/her service or celebrate those who serve our country in other ways through schools, churches, courts of law, homeless shelters, outreach programs, and on and on.    God asks us to love one another as ourselves.  That’s what will make our country strong enough to celebrate many more birthdays.  Consider these words by Emma Lazarus now written on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, one of our symbols of American freedom.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Appreciate the past.  Plan for the future. Go out and celebrate!  Have a great Fourth of July!

Summer Session News

Dear Parents,

We are excited to have your child/children in our first ever Summer Preschool Program!  Our class will be called “The Summer Explorers” and will meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am until 11:30 am.  The first class will begin on June 10 and the last class will be held on July 17.  There will be no class on July 3.

Here are a few things you need to know to help us get off to a great start:

1. The entrance to Preschool is at the far east end of the church building (you will see our sign and The Little Free Lending Library is a landmark to watch for.  Preschool classroom doors will be opened at 8:55 and children should be picked up outside the classroom at 11:30.

1. Please send only one time  1 -  2 quart or larger bottle of 100% fruit juice and 1 -  

     box/bag of a snack that will serve 22 children.  Apple juice is always a hit and we

     suggest ritz or saltine type crackers, animal cookies, vanilla wafers, goldfish type 

     crackers or graham crackers.  Please let us know if your child has any food allergies.

1. Please apply sunscreen to your child each time before they come to school.  We will be spending a lot of time outside.

1. Children should be  dressed in appropriate clothing and shoes for garden work and     

     outside play. (Tennis shoes)

1. Each day please have your child bring a backpack marked with their name to school.

1. These are the themes we will be exploring each week:

      June 10th - Gardening

      June 17th - Camping

      June 24th - Bugs,Insects and Other Garden Critters

      July 1st - Celebrate the USA

      July 8th - Water, Water Everywhere

      July 15th - Summer Sports

1. For questions:

     Preschool Phone - 651-633-0158

     Pam Carlson, Director, Home Phone - 651-439-3490

     Liz Forestell Home Phone - 651-482-8334   Email:  seforestell@comcast.net

     Shelly Wehr Home Phone - 612-788-0177

     Pam Stavem Home Phone - 763-786-7750

We are looking forward to having an amazing time with your child this summer!

SPRING…..WE HOPE

PRESCHOOL SUMMER SESSION

Let us help you get your kids outdoors this summer!  Salem Preschool is starting something new!  We are expanding our program, offering a six  week session held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, 9:00-11:30 a.m., from June 10 through July 17.  Our goal is to keep kids learning through the summer and get them outside having fun together.  God has created a wonderful world out there.  We want to introduce children to it!  Camping, gardening, science, sports and more will be part of our curriculum.  Children 3-4-5 year olds are welcome.  (Three year old must have turned 3 by 9-1-13.)  There is still room available.  To register, email Pam Carlson at pam@salemcovpreschool.com .  The cost is $240 for the session.  There is a 5% discount for families with two or more children enrolled.

We are planning ahead for a great 2014-2015 school year beginning in September.  As our staff works on our curriculum we are watching our preschool garden grow.  Thanks to our SUMMER SESSION students who water and weed through the summer we will have veggies and flowers to share with the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf and Salem in summer and fall.  Come out in the backyard or look out the lounge windows to see how the garden is coming along.  

In addition to the garden. we are adding a “Little Free Library”  near our preschool sign on the east end of the church.  The “Little Free Library” looks like a little house filled with books.  The front window opens so the books can be borrowed and kept, borrowed and returned or the collection can be added to by Preschool or, perhaps, you.  The “Little Free Library” was built by CAL PETERSON!  We are so thankful for his willingness to take this project on for us!!

We currently have a few openings for three and four year olds in our fall classes.  Details can be read on our web site, www.salemcovpreschool.com.  We would be excited to have you join us in the fall!

APRIL SHOWERS

April showers bring May flowers!  We are prepared to face spring!  The seeds for our garden have been planted and we will continue to nurture them until we can plant them outside in our Preschool Garden.  Our classrooms will be filled with green shoots growing in sunny window spaces.  This is the perfect time to learn about other green spaces in our world such as the rainforest.  These valuable forests are important to the health of the earth.  We will learn who/what lives there and how we can help protect such a special environment.

Easter will be here before we know it.  There is no more important news for us to hear then the story of God’s love for us and his promise that we will be with him in Heaven some day! Pastor Mark will visit our classes to tell this wonderful story!

At the end of April we will look at two other unique environments in our world, the desert and the seashore.  Minnesota does not have either of these special places.  How are they different from our lakes, farms and forests?  We’ll explore them through books, videos and artifacts!

Did I mention we will have a special guest this month?  The dentist will be stopping by to teach us how to care for our teeth.  Thank you Dr. Jeff Eggert, father of Grant Eggert in the Blue Class, for visiting our school!

Looking for summer activities for your preschooler?

Salem Preschool Summer Session

Check us out at

www.salemcovpreschool.com

MARCHING INTO SPRING

SALEM PRESCHOOL NEWS

MARCH 2014

Another month has gone by and we are March-ing toward warmer weather (we hope) and thinking spring.  Our first week of March will be focused on Minnesota, our state, and the Minnesota Twins.  Now that sounds like spring doesn’t it?  Then we move on to air and space transportation, spring break (now that’s springy), the farm, planting, and the rainforest.  We are being very optimistic!  But that is not all!

We are taking on a new adventure this summer at Salem Preschool!  We want you to be a part of it.  Here are the details!

SALEM PRESCHOOL 

SUMMER PROGRAM

June 10-July 18          Tues., Wed., Thurs.           9:00-11:30 a.m.

3-4-5 year olds welcome (must be 3 before 9-1-2013)

Cost: $240

Register on line February 25 through May 2, www.carlsondakota@yahoo.com.  A place will be saved for your child when the email is received but will not be permanent until your downpayment  of $40 is received by mail or in our mail/lock box near the Preschool classrooms.  The balance of $200 must be paid by May 2.  Class size minimum is 22 and the maximum is 30.

CAMPING,SPORTS, SCIENCE, GARDENING AND MORE!

COME AND JOIN US!

FEBRUARY NEWS

SALEM PRESCHOOL NEWS

February is one of our favorite months.  Valentine’s Day and President’s Day give us many opportunities to talk about how we can show love and respect to our families and to others in our classroom and in our community.  Love is more than hugs and kisses, although we certainly never turn them down!  By helping at home, cleaning up the park, and sharing our toys we are showing love.  We show love for our country by honoring our flag, voting in elections, and doing our part to care for people in our neighborhoods.  There is much to learn and do!

February brings with it some special events.  Valentine’s Day will be celebrated on February 13th and 14th.  The Orange and Green Classes will be presenting an evening program on Thursday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m.  They will sing and dance to show parents and friends some of their favorite musical pieces so far this year.  Nothing is cuter than a three year old performance!

February ends with our Parent-Teacher Conferences on February 24th-26th and Pajama Day on the 27th and  28th.  Everyone loves Pajama Day !!  We come in our jammies.  No fair combing out that bed head look.  We are casual on Pajama Day.

Registration for 2014-2015 classes has  begun.  If you are interested in registering or learning more about Salem Preschool go to www.salemcovpreschool.com, visit us on face book, or email Pam at carlsondakota@yahoo.com.

“The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas”

by Madeleine L’Engle

 I want to suggest reading a marvelous short story by Madeleine L’Engle, an award winning author.  It is a Christmas story to share with the family as you approach Christmas Day.

The Austin family lived in a time before computers, cell phones, and TVs.  Father was a doctor.  Mother stayed home caring for John, Vickie and Susan.  During advent the family planned a special activity for each day before Christmas.  It was a busy time.  Vickie was looking forward to being the angel in the Christmas pageant!  Mother was expecting a baby in early January and Vickie was concerned that the baby would come early and Mother wouldn’t be home for Christmas or the pageant!  When a huge snow storm arrived on Christmas Eve the pageant was cancelled, much to Vickie’s disappointment, but a wonderful surprise happened that filled Vickie’s heart with love!  Can you guess what it was? 

This is a story of Christian faith, family values and God’s love.  I hope you enjoy the book!