DECEMBER 2024
As Winter approaches and the weather gets colder, it's time to embrace the joys of the season. Building snow people in the fresh, crisp air is not only a delightful activity but also a wonderful way to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of Winter. Sliding down hills on a plastic bag is always fun to do when it snows also.
Engaging in these playful pursuits allows us to move our bodies, which is essential for our health and well-being. With Christmas on the horizon, the excitement of the holidays adds a special cheer to our Winter adventures, making it the perfect time to gather with family and friends in celebration of the season.
Thank you to all the parents who participated in our two recent fundraisers. The Samosas and More Fundraiser generated an impressive profit of $885.73, while the Purdys Chocolate Fundraiser contributed an additional $822.81.
These fantastic fundraisers play a crucial role in supporting our non-profit preschool, and your generous support makes a significant difference to our programs.
The funds raised will be allocated towards the regular maintenance and repairs of our current and future play yards, ensuring a safe, secure, and enjoyable environment for our children to grow and thrive. We truly appreciate your commitment to enhancing and enriching our preschool community together.
Important Parent Information-PLEASE READ
Please make sure you, and the other caregivers who pick up and drop off your child, know the following information. PLEASE…
DO NOT send your child to preschool on medications without the preschool’s knowledge.
You should NOT be giving your child decongestion medications like Dimetapp or fever reducers like Tylenol or Advil and sending them to class. If your child needs medications, then they should STAY HOME. Sending sick children to school just spreads the sicknesses to other children and the staff. If you do have to send your child to school on medications like creams, penicillin, or anything else, you must fill out the proper paperwork prior to your child attending class.
DO NOT send candy or chocolate in your child’s lunch or snack. Please try to include other “treats” or desserts that are healthier and save the junk food for parties and weekends.
MAKE SURE your child’s back pack is appropriate for them. Children are expected to take their snacks and lunches out of their packs themselves but some packs are so small and confining that there is no way children can practise this. Please check that your child’s pack is suitable for them and please make sure it is stocked with one or two complete changes of clothes and several pairs of underwear for those still toilet training.
MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD ARRIVES ON TIME. Please make sure you and your child are waiting for the doors to open at 9am. Arriving on time is crucial for a positive preschool experience. When children wait for teachers to open the door, they are not only ready to begin their day but also set the tone for their readiness to engage in activities. Timely arrival allows for vital social interactions with peers, helping children develop friendships and communication skills that are essential, especially for those preparing to head to kindergarten. It also provides parents with valuable time to connect, discuss playdates, and build community with other families. Arriving late can mean missing important Circle Time, where key routines and concepts are introduced, and can make it challenging for some children to integrate into an already established classroom dynamic. For a smooth and enriching day, we encourage all families to ensure their children arrive on time.
DO NOT PLAY IN THE PARKING LOTS AFTER CLASS
When class is over, please do not hang out in the parking lots. We have had several close calls that could have resulted in a child getting seriously hurt, or worse.
There are many other groups that use this parking lot and they are not expecting children to be running and biking through the lots.
Holidays & Vacations
As the teachers prepare their classroom activities for the upcoming Christmas season, please remember to let the preschool know of any holidays or vacations you will be taking. It is very helpful to know in advance of any absences.
UPCOMING SCHOOL CLOSURES & EVENTS
Hey! Check out what is happening in the Church over the Holiday Season!
Want to know what your children learn every day?
Check the Teacher's Blog below for fun activities, creative projects, and special moments in our classrooms.
Stay updated on your preschoolers' adventures and milestones as they explore and grow together.
RAINBOW ROOM
Danielle, Carol, Mary, Monica, Vibha
Hello Rainbow Room Families;
We’ve had a fun and busy month in the Rainbow Room, starting with our celebration of the Festival of Light, called Diwali. We learned about the significance of this festival, and what we could do to celebrate it. We painted clay Diyas and coloured pictures of Rangolis. Vibha brought in lovely bracelets, dolls and saris for the children to play with, and even helped some to put on a sari. We also had henna stamps on our hands. The home corner was decorated with beautiful draped saris and we kept a clean and tidy “house” for the holiday. We also made a delicious mango Lassi in Danielle’s blender: very noisy, but worth it; everyone loved the treat.
We spent two days commemorating Remembrance Day, talking about avoiding conflict by using words rather than aggression. We read a story about a dog that helped soldiers during the First World War, and talked about poppies symbolizing Peace and Remembrance. We made our own tissue paper poppy pictures. The house corner became a Vet’s office and Animal Hospital, and the following week we swapped the animals for dolls, and it became a Doctor’s Office.
The next week we used the Pete the Cat series of books as our theme for circle, art and the various tables of toys, puzzles and activities. We had great fun with “Pete’s Groovy Buttons”, “Pete’s School Shoes” and “Pete’s White Shoes”. We used real shoes to stamp shoe prints in the colours named in the book. We had lots of shoes and buttons and cats on our tables this week. These stories have been recorded with music and songs, so the children had lots of fun singing and chanting along to the books.
The last two weeks of the month we spent learning various nursery rhymes; there are so many to choose from, but our favourites were:
Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle, Insy Winsy Spider, 1,2, Buckle My Shoe , 3 White Mice, 5 Little Ducks Jack and Jill, and Hickory Dickory Dock, plus, of course, many more! This has been a fun theme and a good learning experience for the class. When doing Hickory Dickory Dock, Vibha asked the children which animal they thought would run up the clock? Some answers were: a tiger, a bear, a dog, a cat, and a racoon. A good selection!
All this month we have been starting to practice our songs for the Christmas Service to be held in the church in December (Wednesday the 11th). We hope the date is in your calendar.
Try asking your child what songs we’re going to sing!
We’re also planning and starting some of our Christmas art, lots of secret surprises are starting at this time of year.
During the last week of the month, we had two visits to the local Capilano Library, where the Children’s librarian read stories, sang songs and played games. The children all did so well walking safely to and from the library. A huge “Thank You” to the parents that volunteered to help with this outing. We really appreciate it.
And finally, just a reminder, when packing your child’s snack and lunch, please remember that more food is better than less, and that some days children are just hungrier than usual.
Next month we will be ramping it up to full Christmas holiday mode so prepare yourselves for extra glittery art and lots of fun!
As always, please feel free to ask the teachers if you have any questions.
TREEHOUSE ROOM
Gabi, Karen, Mary, Catriona
November has been a busy and wonderful month in the Treehouse room. We are excited to share the special activities, learning experiences, and memories we’ve made together over the past few weeks.
Remembrance Day Activities
We introduced the concept of Remembrance Day in a way that was meaningful and age-appropriate for our little learners. Through stories and simple discussions, we talked about kindness, peace, and gratitude. The children also created beautiful paper plate poppies as a symbol of remembrance, which allowed them to express these ideas through art.
Fairy Tale Fun
This month, we dove into the magical world of fairy tales! We read many classic stories, sparking curiosity and imagination in our classrooms. The children especially loved participating in fairy tale-inspired art activities, using their creativity to bring their favourite tales to life. From castles to characters, the artwork they produced was truly enchanting!
Christmas Concert Preparations
The sound of singing has filled our preschool as we began practicing songs for our upcoming Christmas concert. The children are excited to showcase their talents and spread holiday cheer - it’s going to be a special one!
Pizza and Cake Walk Night
We had so much fun during our Pizza and Cake Walk Night! It was wonderful to see families come together for an evening of laughter, tasty treats, and community bonding. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night such a success.
Photoshoot Smiles
November also brought classroom and individual photo days. The children did an amazing job, and their smiles lit up the room! We’re excited for families to have these keepsakes to cherish for years to come.
Looking Ahead to December
As we head into December, the holiday season will be our focus. Everything Christmas-themed will take centre stage—art projects, festive stories, and even more singing to prepare for our big concert. We’re looking forward to sharing the joy of the season with your little ones! November has been a month filled with joy, learning, and connection, and we can’t wait to see what the next month brings!
RESOURCE ROOM - MARION
It has been an amazing first part of the school year. Each classroom has established routines that teach independence and provide opportunities for peer interactions. All the daily activities are presented and adapted to meet every child’s developmental stage. The teachers recognize that children need time to process directions and sometimes need help to follow through with expectations. This time of year the children are learning self help skills such as putting on their own jackets and remembering hats, mitts and boots.
I have such fond memories of our boys growing up and the wonder in their faces each Christmas morning, now I see them sharing our family traditions with their young families, a new pair of PJ’s on Christmas Eve.
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025.
FROM THE OFFICE
This holiday season, embrace the joy of togetherness and have some fun! Life is unpredictable, and each moment is precious.
Recently, the staff of St. Catherine’s Preschool gathered for our Christmas celebration, which began with a delightful Thai dinner and was followed by a lively Comedy Show at Kay Meek Theatre. Though our group comprises ten unique individuals, we share a common bond: we love to laugh!
Wishing you a Merry Christmas from all of us at St. Catherine’s Preschool!
