Holiday Fun Week

IPS is having a Holiday Fun Week next week. Here is the schedule:

Mon: Wear your holiday accessories (ties, hats, bells, etc)

Tue:  Dress like your favorite holiday character (snowman, reindeers, etc)

Wed:  Wacky Winter dress/  PJ Day for Preschool

Thurs:  Red/Green Day
            Holiday Parties
            Preschoolers will not be participating in the caroling.  If you would like have your child participate, please let me know before Thursday and we can make arrangements for you to "sign your child out early with the office and your child will meet you in the foyer at 2:15.  Please beware that they will miss the holiday party in our classroom if they attend the caroling.  


Happy Birthday to Josh!

Oh and in the spirit of holiday madness ......we bring to you hearing and visions screenings and practicing a few of the school safety drills.

Happy Holidays to you and your families!

This week in preschool....

We will continue our Winter Holiday Theme this week.  Our letter of the week is Xx.  This letter has two parts to it's letter sound (k-s) and it is usually found at the end of words like fox.  

A great story you can read at home is Gingerbread Boy and there are lots of fun activities to incorporate.

Gingerbread Man  read aloud is here. (Note it is a bit long for younger students.)

Gingerbread Man story is here.  Shorter version but it doesn't have audio.  It has a great number concepts game at the end.

Make a Gingerbread Man Online Game

Mrs. Kieser will not be in the classroom on Monday, Dec 8th.  Mrs. Synek will be the substitute. 

Happy Birthday to Miss Lorrie on Tuesday!

Don't forget Santa Shop is this week.  The preschoolers will be shopping on Thursday (9:45 AM Class and 1:15 PM Class).  If you would like your child to buy gifts for parents/siblings/grandparents please send in $ and the Santa Shop form.  The limit is 6 gifts per child.  You are welcome to send in $/forms any day this week and we will hold onto them until Thursday.  There will be plenty of volunteers to help you child with the Santa shop.  However, if you wish to help your child you are welcome to come in but please go directly to the Santa Shop area when you arrive.  


Preschool Parent Teacher Conferences also continue this week on Thursday/Friday.  Reminder notices with your date/time will be sent home on Tuesday.

Make a Christmas Tree

Many people have requested the website that the kids used to make their Christmas tree today.  You can find it here:  http://www.abcya.com/christmas_tree.htm

Preschool Turkeys in the News....

Check out the article and picture featuring our Thanksgiving Feast.  Thank you again to our room parents Amanda and Jen for organizing this wonderful event.

http://www.cleveland.com/independence/index.ssf/2014/11/independence_primary_school_pr.html

Winter Holidays

We will spend the entire month of December on Winter Holidays. This is such an exciting time of year for our little ones and they have much joy and cheer!

Our letter this week is Qq for queen.  We have been busy little elves making lots of crafts! We started learning some holiday songs so if you hear us singing some silly Santa songs you know where we learned them.

Miss Lynn, Miss Kathy, and Miss Melody came to visit us from the Cuyahoga County Public Library.  The kids loved the Sensory Story time activities they shared.  Be sure to check out what the Independence Library has to offer for your preschooler.  

Sensory Story Time is designed for children with different needs, including those with autism, down syndrome, sensory processing disorder, speech/language delays, cognitive impairments, AD/HD and other special needs and challenges.  Check out an article about it here or visit the library's website (search events: sensory story time.)

Reminder: Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up....some are this week on Thursday/ Friday and some are next week on Thursday/Friday.  Reminder slips for this week were sent home.  

Winter Holiday Party sign up is here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0445a8af2aaaf85-preschool

SAVE THE DATE

December 9, 2014,"Non-invasive approaches for children with selective eating or sensory disorders".

Karen Porter, OTR/L from Galvin Therapy Center and John Seleck, Chef from University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center will be on hand to discuss healthy eating habits and strategies for children. City of Independence Civic Center, December 9, 2014 from 6:30-8:15 pm. RSVP to Eileen Hawkins at (216) 524-0424. FREE of Charge.

Thanksgiving Feast Video

The video is finished!  Please feel free to send the link to your family and friends.  

http://vimeo.com/112934097

Click the link above or the picture below to watch the video.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Feast 2014 from Tara Gruskiewicz on Vimeo.

November Picture Album...

Pictures  have been posted under the PICTURE tab above.  You can also view the album by clicking on the title below.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Feast video coming soon.....

November Class Pictures

Parent Mentor and Autism Society Info

Hopefully some of you had a chance to chat with Eileen Hawkins at our Thanksgiving Feast today.  Eileen is a Parent Mentor for the Independence & Cuyahoga Heights.    What is a parent mentor?  A Parent Mentor is the parent of a child with a disability that is employed by the Educational Service Center as a mentor to help school districts and families by providing training, support and information services.  Eileen is also the the president of the Autism Society of Greater Cleveland.  She is a wonderful resource and has lots of opportunities  to offer parents and children (including parent support groups). You can reach her at: Eileen.hawkins@esc-cc.org

 

Check out this upcoming event right here in Independence....it is for any child with any disability or a sibling.  

Annual Autism Society Holiday Party

Friday, December 5, 2014

6:30 - 8:45 PM

Free of Charge - All are welcome RSVP a must!

 

Please join The Autism Society of Greater Cleveland for our Annual Holiday Party. This event will be held onFriday, December 5, 2014, from 6:30 PM till 8:45 PM at The City of Independence Old Recreation Building, 6200 Elmwood Drive (Pete Wisniewski Pkwy), Independence, OH 44131.

We will have music, crafts, games and more.  The Autism Society will provide Pizza, Salad and Bottled Water. We are requesting that each family that is attending the party donate soda, juice or desert based upon the first letter of your last name.

If your Last Name begins with:

A-H:   Please bring a twelve pack of soda to share.

I-O:    Please bring a box of juice boxes to share.

P-Z:    Please bring a desert to share.

Every child, teen or adult with autism or any type of disability and their siblings will receive a gift from Santa. RSVP is required. 

There is no child care  at this party.  All children must be accompanied and supervised the entire time by a parent or guardian over age 21.

Please click here to RSVP.

Visit the Autism Society of Greater Cleveland webpage here.

Spirit Wear Week

Please wear your I-Pride, blue/gold, or Blue Devil gear next Monday and Tuesday!

Check out these preschool superstars!

Charlene Paparizos created a video featuring a workshop held in Independence this summer called the Early Learners Institute.  Hundreds of teachers from across Ohio attended.  Check out the video which talks about the how digital technology can enhance learning and it also features our Independence Preschoolers!  They are famous "movie stars"!

See the video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mddi_o5waJc&feature=youtu.be

Giving Thanks!

Tt is for turkey! Our theme for this week and next week is Thanksgiving. We have been super busy getting ready for our feast, singing songs, making crafts, and learning letter Tt words.....like Turkey Tango!  We hope to see many of our families together at our Feast!  Bring your appetite and you will want to bring your camera too!

Announcements & Reminders:
* Mrs. Synek will be the substitute ALL DAY on Monday, Nov. 17th.  Mrs. Kieser will return on Tuesday.

* If your child received Special Education services, you should have received a questionnaire:  ASQ:SE.  Please complete and return it as soon as possible.  If you have questions, let Mrs. Kieser know.

*  Thanksgiving Feast is at 1:00 this Friday, November 21st at the Civic Center.  Please visit the classroom party website to RSVP and sign up to bring something.  Thanksgiving Feast Link here:  www.tinyurl.com/preschoolthanksgiving

* Picture Retake Day is Tuesday, Nov 25th.  If your child was absent the first time, please send in the picture order form.  If you want pictures re-taken, please return the old pictures.  

* Thanksgiving Break:  No School November 26-28th.