What Did You Do At School?

Last Day Bash!

Thanks to all who attended our new and improved Last Day Bash for the whole school. We hope that it was good fun for all -- kids and adults alike. In case you couldn't attend, here's some of what you missed:

Early in the morning, one of our dads was there filling up the sandbox that he built us the day before.

 
(Thanks, Charlie! You're the best!)

And it proved to be a popular spot... 

all morning long...

 

By the way, if you could use a little sand for your child's sandbox or for a project around your house... it's free for the taking until we get a chance to get back and clean it up. All we ask is that you leave us the tarp underneath and the actual box. We'll save those to use next year. :)

But, before all the festivities began we had a time to honor our "graduates" -- the children finishing 4C, 4D, and TK.

 
These are our oldest children and they are all moving on to new adventures -- whether it is coming back to transitional kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year or heading off to kindergarten in a public or private setting. They were the day's honorees.

And when we finished their ceremony a little past 10:00, this is the sight we were greeted with...

 
... definitely a setting for fun!

The rental of a Bounce House always creates a party-like atmosphere.

 
And the kids love it!

But most of the activities were simple things that preschoolers enjoy...

 
like bubbles (Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with a gentle breeze!)...

 
sidewalk chalk...

 
and playdough. (So good for their developing finger muscles!)

The beanbag toss

 
was enjoyed by boys

 
and girls alike.

 
There was face painting

 

and music.

 
 
An obstacle course

 
provided the opportunity to practice different skills

 
like balancing.

And we had vehicles...

 
big ones...

(Thank you Station 16!)

smaller, self-propelled ones...

 
 
 
and one strictly for photo-ops...

 
(If your child will be 4 years old before September 1, register for VBS through the church office and they'll be able to see this taxi cab every day as part of the set in the sanctuary.)

Since kids love to play in water,

 
we provided them with more than one water-play area.

 
 
 
And sometimes getting really messy

 
is just plain

 
old

 
fun...

 
from head to toe!

Don't worry... it's all washable. If you've never mixed up cornstarch with a little water just to play in, you're really missing out. It's the most fun in a shallow container (like a jelly-roll pan) or just on the top of a flat surface (when my kids were little we used our kitchen island). Yes, it's messy... but there is something about scraping up what seems to feel pretty solid and then having it ooze between your fingers that keeps kids captivated for a really long time.

Thank you again to all who attended the Last Day Bash -- and to the staff who really made it happen. Have a great summer, everyone. And don't be afraid of a little messy fun! :)

 

 

 

 

 

Class Pictures

This is what we were doing the past two days:

 
arranging children and

 
smiling for the camera.

The copies of class photos that you ordered should be delivered to us the week we come back from Spring Break. Enjoy next week with your children!

Book Fair In-Store Event

Thanks so much to all the families and the staff who came out to Barnes & Noble Tuesday night. We had a great time reading, singing, and dancing in the children's book section. It was a great kick-off to our annual book fair. (Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so here are some pictures from my phone.)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The book fair continues through Monday, November 15. If you forget your voucher, you can just tell them at the register that you want your purchase to count toward Sharon Baptist Weekday School's book fair. Thanks for your support!  
 

Using the New Steps

We had fire drills last week and got to try out the new steps to and from the playgrounds (our destination when we evacuate).

 

Now we know that the steps not only look great, but they work great, too! This coming Saturday our Eagle Scout plans to finish up his project. If you're in the area, you may want to stop by and tell him and his crew what a great job they've done!

Moozie the Cow

Friday, October 8, was a very big day at our school.

The teachers had activities planned to prepare the children for their special visitor...

 
 
 
Moozie the Cow!

 
Moozie brought her special message about kindness to the 2, 3, 4, and 5 year olds.

 
She started out by talking to the children and establishing things that they had in common -- like they both corn (but they don't both eat hay!).

 
Then she told them the story about when she saved the baby ducklings from the herd of stampeding cows -- that was extra kind. Her helper, Miss Trish, held the book. That was extra kind, too!

 
Moozie taught the children a song or two --

 
and was very patient as the front row kept getting closer and closer to her...

 
Apparently, all that kindness talk impressed the kids as they sweetly sat with their friends -- mesmerized by Moozie's voice and message...

 
As Moozie says, "Always be kind!"

(Moozie was brought to us free of charge by The Charity League of Charlotte to whom we say a very big THANK YOU!)

Green Eggs & Ham

The three year old classes celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs & Ham.

 
Do you like green eggs and ham?

 

 
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

 
I do not like green eggs and ham.

 
Would you like them here or there?

 

I would not like them here or there.

 
I would not like them anywhere.

 
I do not like green eggs and ham.

 
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

 
You do not like them.

 
So you say.

 
Try them! Try them!

 
And you may.

 
Try them and you may, I say.

 
Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them.  
You will see.

 
Say!

 
I like green eggs and ham!

 
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!

 
I do so like green eggs and ham!

 
Thank you!

 
Thank you, Sam-I-am!

Doughnuts for Dad: The Event

 

The tables were set.

The doughnuts in place -- 7 dozen for Monday, 12 dozen for Tuesday.

The guests of honor sat in little chairs.

And interacted with their children in fun ways. 








Some classes had special presentations for their dads and then gave them a card or a picture or a story or a bookmark to take home with them.

The children enjoyed showing the dads their classrooms and their morning routines.

A fun time was had by all!   

Doughnuts for Dad: Preparations

We start the month of March with Doughnuts for Dads.

The children have been busy preparing. They started by drawing pictures of their daddies. Here are a few.

Dad, do you recognize yourself?

 

Thanksgiving Feasts

Many of the classes have "feasts" on their last day of school before the Thanksgiving holiday. The children love it! Here are some photos from feast day.

The Monday/Wednesday/Friday 2B class has what they call a sharing feast. Each child brings a fruit to share and they make a fruit salad for their snack.

Good to the last drop!

The Tuesday/Thursday 2B class set the table with their handmade placemats.

They made Indian headbands and went down the hall to visit a teepee.

 
The T3 tables were ready for the children to sit down and eat.

 
They made special turkey hats to wear. Some liked them...
...and some did not.
3B put their tables together into a big square.

 
The 3C children patiently colored Thanksgiving pictures while waiting for their feast to be served.


T4 invited their moms to join them.
4C had a story time before their feast.
Their placemats were doubled-sided. If the pilgrim side was up, the child dressed as a pilgrim for the feast. If the Native American side was up, the Indian headband was worn.
Their teachers set up a cafeteria-style line for serving the food. (Practice for getting hot lunch in kindergarten?) 
A set of parents and their recent "graduate" had come in a week or so ago to do a Thanksgiving activity with the children — a surprise for their teachers. It was proudly hung on the 4C classroom door.
4D also had their tables pushed together for one long feasting table.
After their feast, they played a rousing game of "Pass the Turkey."
TK's feast table had their turkeys lined up in the center.
And they had fun checking them out to see whose was whose. 
That's it for Thanksgiving. Be ready. Since it's December now, it'll probably be all Christmas, all the time!
(3B started before Thanksgiving. Can you tell what these will be? Stay tuned...)    
   

  

Moozie the Cow

OK — that little posting schedule I devised is officially going out the window. It's just not working for me at all.

Moozie the Cow came to visit our school today. Moozie is sponsored by the Charity League of Charlotte. The goal of the Moozie program is to promote kind behavior in young children and help them to develop respect for themselves, other people, animals, and their environment. This is the perfect tie-in to our "study" of kindness — our Fruit of the Spirit for September.

 

Before the classes went to visit with Moozie, the teachers prepared them by showing them the Moozie puppet and reading at least portions of the book, "Moozie's Kind Adventure."

The first thing the children did when they came in was turn on their listening ears.

Once they were ready to listen, Moozie talked to them for awhile. She told them a little about herself and asked them questions. ("I sleep in a barn. Raise your hand if you sleep in a barn." "Do you like to eat corn? I like to eat corn, too. That's something we have in common!" etc.)

Then, with the "farmer's" help, Moozie told the story of her kind adventure. Ms. Tricia (aka the farmer from the Charity League) held the book and showed the pictures.

 
Afterward, Moozie led the children in some songs and games.

 

The children weren't allowed to touch the big Moozie, but they could interact with the puppet Moozie on the way back to their classrooms.

The children were a good audience and seemed to enjoy the break from their usual Friday routine — especially since the day became too rainy to hit the playgrounds!

Those who saw the program (classes 2A, 2B, 3C, 4C, 3 Friday, and 4/TK Friday) received a coloring sheet and a sticker.

The sticker is a reminder of what Moozie says... "always be kind." 

You can learn more about Moozie by clicking here.

Have a great weekend!