Peer Information/Applications for 2011-2012

The Independence Integrated Preschool Program provides preschool services to children with disabilities and typically developing peers. Applications are now being accepted for typical peers to participate as role models in all areas of development for all of our students for the 2011-2012 school year. If you would like to learn more about this program, click here. If you are interested in your child participating in this program, please click here to download the Preschool Application for the 2011-2012 school year.

Happy Holidays to each of you!

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As the Christmas season unfolds at our home, I want to wish each one of you a Happy Holiday season. May your days be filled with special moments and may you be surrounded by the love of others during this holiday season.

Click here to check out pictures from our Holiday Party with Santa and other classroom pictures from this month.

Gingerbread Baby....

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett is one of my childhood favorites so I love reading this with the kids! It is a little different than the traditional Gingerbread Man that most people know of. Very clever and cute story with a happy ending!

Check out these links that go along with our story:

Decorate and print your own Gingerbread Baby house online.

Print and play a Gingerbread Baby board game.

Jan Brett has so many great stories! If you have a chance, check out the sequel to Gingerbread Baby which is called Gingerbread Friends. Jan Brett has great illustrations and she makes her books predictable....take a look in the border of each page to clues as to what will happen next.

Along with leargning letter Gg for gingerbread, we will be making gingerbread baby cookies for our cooking lesson. Another activity this week includes making a scratch and sniff gingerbread baby decoration. It is very easy to do.....cut out a gingerbread baby on sandpaper. Rub a cinnamon stick across the sandpaper to make it smell great. Then decorate it with glitter, markers, or be creative and use raisins or other candy. Hang it up and enjoy this scented decoration for weeks!

On Thursday, we will be watching the short movie "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and decorating our own Christmas trees with fruit loops. Aww....this time of year is so much fun!

*Book Orders are due by December 1oth.

Click here to go to the Schlolastic Book Club Website.

Class online code: HHZ7D

* Mark you calendars for the next Family Fun Friday! Friday, January 21st will be our next event at the Children's Museum. The event will be from 1:00-2:30. Please plan to arrive by 12:45 as it is a group tour/activity. Independence students do not have school this day as it is a Teacher Inservice Day. Hopefully our preschoolers can share this experience with their siblings. Details including cost/directions will be coming soon.

* Thank you to everyone for the thoughts, prayers, cards, and get well wishes with my recent surgery. Everything went well. It has only been a few days but I miss the kids and coming to school! I am planning to briefly stop in to see them a few days next week, but please do not tell them as I don't want them to be dissapointed if I am not able to. I talked to Mrs. Palik today and she says everything is going well in the classroom. If you have any concerns or questions during my absence, please feel free to contact me via email. I can check my email from home but cannot retrieve my voicemails.

* Peer Model Information for the 2011-2012 school year will be out soon. If any siblings of our children, neighbors, or relatives might be interested please let me know. Applications will be available online at the district's website, on this website, and in the office at each building. I am hoping to have it available by the end of this week. Peer models that are currently attending our program DO NOT need to complete an application. I will be sending home a letter for you to indicate you intent for next year.