Welcome to April! We are nearing the end of our semester and there is a great deal going on this month. Our book fair and science night, signing summer contracts, student worker appreciation week, parent/teacher conferences and our annual family picnic. Whew! It’s a busy month. I was sad to announce my upcoming departure as the director of this amazing center. I have had the privilege of leading an amazing teaching staff, marveling at the brilliance of our little ones, proud of our student worker teaching assistants and loved getting to know all of you as parents. This move back home is sincerely bittersweet. I have a new grandbaby and I will be able to spend more time with my family in the DC area. Please know that all of us are committed to ensuring that this transition is as smooth as possible and the search committee is sincerely dedicated to ensuring that the next director will continue on with the stellar legacy and reputation of this center. This place has meant so much to me and I will always have fond memories of my time at Texas A&M. When I am in the area (I have two sons at Sam Houston and one attending Blinn), I will be sure to stop by for hugs from the children! Thank you for your support. It has made my job easier and I will miss everyone very much! Kisha P.S. I also successfully defended my dissertation last week, and since my topic was on international families, I am thrilled that I could connect my research to my actual work as a practitioner in the field! INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Butterflies Bees 3 4 Ladybugs Blue Jays 5 6 Robins Hummingbirds 7 8 Seals Whales 9 10 Sea Horses Dolphins 11 12 Jaguars Tigers 13 14 FEBRUARY 2017 UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 3RD –7TH BOOK FAIR APRIL 6TH FUN W/ SCIENCE NIGHT 5:30PM – 7:30PM APRIL 10TH&11TH BUTTERFLIES/JAGUARS P/T CONFRENCE APRIL 12TH & 13TH BUMBLEBEES/TIGERS P/T CONFRENCE APRIL 17TH&18TH SEALS/LADYBUGS P/T CONFRENCE APRIL 19TH & 20TH ROBINS/WHALES P/T CONFRENCE APRIL 21ST & 24TH SEAHORSES/ HUM- MINGBIRDS P/T CON- FRENCE APRIL 22ND BGCC FAMILY PICNIC @ TIFFANY PARK 10AM— 1PM ARIL 25TH & 26TH DOLPHIN/ BLUEJAYS P/ T CONFRENE APRIL 24TH –28TH NATIONAL WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD From the Director... BECKY’S BULLETIN The Newsletter of the Becky Gates Children's Center
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Transcript
Welcome to April!
We are nearing the end of our semester and there is a great
deal going on this month. Our book fair and science night,
Well, spring has arrived! We are looking forward to the weather changes and all the exciting things associated with spring. This month studies will focus on Spring and the Week of the Young Child. So get ready to hear about the many types of bugs, rain and all the great stuff this season will bring. The Week of the Young Child study will fea-ture a different topic each day. Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday and Family Friday.
I am currently working on completing assessments for the Spring Semester and I look forward to meeting with you for a Parent Conference. Conference days and times will be arranged by Ms. Kisha so look for an email from her with that information.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held here at the center the week of April 3rd – 7th. A Family Science Night will be on Thursday, April, 6th from 5:30-7:00 pm. I hope your family will be able to join in on the fun activities that are planned for the week. A spe-cial guest is scheduled to attend the book fair, so don’t miss out. I will be sending out more information as the time gets closer.
In preparation for the warmer weather, please check your child’s cubby and send weather appropriate clothing. You may take any extra clothing that is not being used home. Please make sure you have provided sunscreen and bug spray for your child. We will start applying sunscreen and bug spray in the afternoon, please remember to put sunscreen and bug spray on your child each morning at home if needed.
Parent Tip: This month, you and your child might enjoy making bubbles. Here is a simple recipe to try.
Basic Homemade Bubbles Recipe:
1 Cup water
1 Tablespoon dishwashing liquid.
How to make bubbles: Combine the water and dishwashing liquid in a cup, bottle or dish. Stir gently and thoroughly to combine. Dip your bubble wand and get started!
Reminders:
Please sign your child in and out daily.
Please close the gate and door after entering and exiting the classroom, we want to make sure the children are safe and do not go out the door when it is opened.
Thank you,
Mrs. Gwen and Ms. Calee
Lead Teacher: Gwen Wesley
Teacher: Calee McCallum
Color: Purple Shape: Crescent Number: 7 Letters: V, W, X
•••
Fine Motor Skills:
Play dough, using a spoon, using writing materials, lacing, and
puzzles
•••
Gross Motor Skills:
Climbing, balancing, jumping, throwing,
catching, riding trikes and cars
•••
Projects:
Spring
Week of the Young Child
B E C K Y ’ S B U L L E T I N
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E C K Y G A T E S C H I L D R E N ' S C E N T E R
P A G E 8
We hope that everyone had a restful and relaxing Spring Break.
We had fun in March learning about community helpers and transportation. We had visitors from the
College Station Fire station, the University Police Department and the KBTX Weather Edge car. One of the
class favorites was the Aggie Spirit Bus.
We cannot believe it is April! Our studies will be about spring, as well as the Week of the Young Child. We
will have our second annual Birthday Extravaganza on Thursday, April 13th at 3:00 PM. We will celebrate
everyone’s birthday at this time. I am working on assessments. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at
Parent Conferences. Ms. Kisha will be providing you a link to sign up for a conference time. We will be
able to discuss your child’s progress as well as any questions or concerns.
The Center will be having a Scholastic Book Fair the week of April 3rd -7th. We will have a very special visi-
tor. There will be a science fun night on Thursday, April 6th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM. Look for more infor-
mation to come. We would enjoy having you participate.
Since it is beginning to get warmer, we will be checking sunscreens for amounts and expiration dates. We
will let you know if more is needed.
Mark your calendar now for Saturday, April 22nd for the Center-Wide Picnic at Tiffany Park. There will be
more information coming in the near future!
Number of the month: 7(seven)
Color of the month: purple
Shape of the month: crescent
Author of the month: Eric Carle (The Grouchy Ladybug, The Lonely Firefly, The Quiet Cricket)
Developmental Goals: Social and Emotional: Sharing toys, asking for help, listening to each
other
Language: Recognition of the letters of our first name, songs and finger plays
Fine Motor: Scissor skills
Gross Motor: Balancing on one foot, bouncing and catching a ball
Self Help/Life Skills: Following directions, taking care of our personal belongings
Parent Tips:
One of the favorite visitors during the Community Helper study was the Aggie Spirit Bus. If you
wish, taking a ride on the Aggie bus with your child is easy! You catch the bus at one of the 2
stops across from the Center. After a 30 minute ride through campus,
you will be back at the Center. You can even have your child pull the cord
to request the stop!
Since we have been talking about community helpers, you might wish to
think of developing a plan in case of a fire emergency in your home. If
you talk about it and practice, it will help your young child if there is an
emergency.
B E C K Y ’ S B U L L E T I N
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E C K Y G A T E S C H I L D R E N ' S C E N T E R
ROBINS Lead Teacher: Sandy Gilbert
Teacher: Brittney Chavarria
P A G E 9
HUMMINGBIRDS
The warmer temperatures have certainly set in, feeling more like summer than spring! As the days warm up, it is time to start thinking about sunscreen. We will apply sunscreen in the afternoons if your child has some available. We are asking that you all send a fresh supply of sun-screen for your child. We have been working on, and will be completing our assessments this month. Look for an email with conference time information, and be sure to sign up for a time to discuss your child’s progress. The children have all been working hard this semester and have accomplished numerous milestones. During the month of April, we will study the spring season, discussing aspects such as weather, clothing, and activities we enjoy in the spring. April 24-28 is The Week Of The Young Child. We will have a fun filled week celebrating children. Each day we will have a different focus.
Monday- Music Monday Tuesday- Tasty Tuesday
Wednesday- Work Together Wednesday Thursday- Artsy Thursday
Friday- Family Friday Each day, we will do activities to reflect the day theme. We will enjoy cooking projects, musical expression, and work on our team building shills as the week progresses. We encourage you to share any ideas you may have to make this week even more memorable for the children. If you, or anyone you know, has any expertise in any of these areas, we welcome your involvement in the classroom!
**This month, you and your child might enjoy a trip to the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater for movies in the park! On Friday, April 14th they will feature the movie “HOP”. The gates open at 7:15 and the movie begins at 8:15. Admission is free, and you may also bring along your own picnic dinner to enjoy while viewing the movie! This is an outdoor setting where the movie will be projected on a 32 foot inflatable high definition screen. Bring blankets , chairs, and coolers to the movies! There will also be an opportunity to have pic-tures with the Easter Bunny, bounce houses, and free lemonade will be provided.
Reminders
1. We typically begin our morning activities around 9:30 each morning, starting the day with a group time,
then moving on to our language and literacy activity. 2. If you, or anyone you know, has any expertise related to our coming projects, please let us know. We
would love to have “experts” come in and talk with the children to enrich their learning experiences. This can be sharing a book related to the project, or showing actual objects that these people use on a day to day basis!
3. Please be vigilant in closing the gate and door as you enter and depart the classroom. It only takes a second for a child to slip out of the room.
4. As we are transitioning between winter and spring, make sure that you have extra clothes available for both warm and cold weather. In the event we have to change your child’s clothes, that means we have used the backup clothing in their cubby. Please be sure to bring another set of clothing to replace what we have used.
5. Many of you are forgetting to sign in and out each day. I understand that drop off and pick-up can be hectic times, however, it is imperative that you take a moment to complete this task. This is a licensing regulation, and how we keep track of who is currently present.
Lead Teacher: Martey Heard
Teacher: Elaine Moore
Projects -Spring
-Week of the Young Child
Letters/Numbers
U,V,W,X
7
Color/Shape
Purple
Crescent
Books -Spring
-Eating The Alphabet
-Music Man
-The Dot
-Love You Forever
B E C K Y ’ S B U L L E T I N
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E C K Y G A T E S C H I L D R E N ' S C E N T E R
P A G E 1 0
B E C K Y ’ S B U L L E T I N
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E C K Y G A T E S C H I L D R E N ' S C E N T E R
Lead Teacher: Shari Chambers
questions or concerns, please feel free to speak
SEALS Howdy Seal Parents,
March has come and gone in a flash. Community helpers was a big hit
with the kiddos, and I feel that they enjoyed all of our visitors. I want to
thank all of our parents again for their contributions and support to our
Community Helpers unit. Our Seals found the Oviparous Animals Unit
fun and interesting. We learned about the lifecycle of several oviparous
animals including, but not limited to, chickens, frogs, alligators, platy-
puses, spiny ant eaters, dinosaurs, butterflies, and turtles. April is packed
full of events such as the Scholastic Book Fair, Science Night, Parent
Teacher Conferences, Family Picnic, and Week of the Young Child. I
always look forward to seeing what the kids and I will learn from each
other. If you have any questions, concerns, and/or suggestions, please
feel free to contact me any time; my door is always open.
Last month, we completed our two study units on oviparous and non-oviparous ani-
mals, and community helpers. The introduction to the oviparous unit involved showing to
children eggs filled with small plastic oviparous animals. Children made some predictions
about the kind of animals in the egg. Then I opened it up, and we checked out some of the
"oviparous," animals. The class also had a chance to watch some videos about these animals.
For the community helpers unit, we talked about how they are important to our community.
The children learned that doctors, nurses and dentists are people who help keep us healthy.
Furthermore, children learned that police officers and firefighters are people who help keep
us safe. Children enjoyed learning about both units. Please talk to your child about how com-
munity helpers help your family.
I would like to thank Mr. Burrescia, Joseph’s father, for coming and to talk to us
about his role in the Army, and Joseph’s grandmother for donating books to the class. This
month, we will look at other wonderful units, which will include, recycling, earth day, fun
book reading week, and the week of the young child. During the week of the young child, we
will talk about activities that make children grow happy and strong. For the fun book-reading
week, we will focus on reading some of the children’s favorite books such as, “Barnyard
Dance,” “Pete the Cat,” and “Are You My Mother?” Connecting children to books is so im-
portant because the more children read, the better readers they become, and the more success-
ful they will be in school, work, and life. Also, on Thursday, April 6th, we will have some fun
with a science activity. Please come and join us in our classroom for these events!
Happy Spring!
Friendly reminders:
Please bring a small blanket for your child for naptime.
Please make sure that your child’s extra clothes are complete, and that they are appropri-
ate for the weather.
Please make sure that all of your child’s belongings are clearly labeled.
Please remember to sign your child in/out every day.
Dates to Remember:
April 3rd – April 7th Scholastic Book Fair (Celebration of Books/Love of Read-
ing)
April 6th Book Fair and “Fun with Science” Night, 5:30-7:30pm
Saturday, April 22nd BGCC Family Picnic, Tiffany Park, 10am-1pm
April 19th & 20th Whales Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Jace 4/3 Georgia 4/6 Joseph 4/12
Parent Tip: Since we were talking about community helpers, you might want to think of
developing a plan in case of a fire emergency in your home. If you talk about it and practice,
it will help your young child if there is an emergency. One of the class’
favorite visitors during the Community Helper study was the Aggie Spirit
Bus. If you wish, take a ride on the bus with your child...it is easy! You
catch the bus at one of the 2 stops across from the Center. After a 30- mi-
nute ride through campus, you will be back at the Center. You can even
have your child pull the cord to request the stop
P A G E 1 1
Lead Teacher: Mable Mulenga WHALES
B E C K Y ’ S B U L L E T I N
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E C K Y G A T E S C H I L D R E N ' S C E N T E R
P A G E 1 2
Howdy Parents!!
Can you believe it is already April? Another month has quickly passed us by!
Your little Seahorses were busy, busy with our unit on community helpers.
The children really enjoyed learning about all the different community helpers
and meeting with some experts that took time out of their day to come talk
with us and teach us about what they do. We loved the university police offic-
ers that came and visited with us. All of the Seahorses got to climb in the police
car and hear the siren. They thought this was the coolest thing ever! We also
had some firefighters from the College Station Fire Department come and visit
us. They taught us some songs to remember to help keep us safe when dealing
with fire or when we see things that might start a fire.
As the months are getting warmer, please keep in mind that we do go outside
twice a day, every day, so please send your child dressed appropriately for the
weather. They are more than welcome to bring a jacket to wear inside if they
would like. Some of them are already starting to complain about the heat, and
unfortunately, its only going to get hotter.
Reminders:
Check your child’s extra change of clothes to make sure they are weather ap-
propriate. Some children don’t have a spare set of clothes in their cubby. Please
make sure to bring some for them. You never know when an accident is going
to happen.
Cubbies need to be cleaned out on Fridays, and all bedding needs to be taken
home and washed.
Toys are not allowed at school. Your child may bring one small, soft lovey for
nap time, but all other toys need to be left at home or in the car.
As always, feel free to come to me with any questions or concerns you have!
You may also email me at any time and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
Thanks and Gig’em!
Ms. Sarah
B E C K Y ’ S B U L L E T I N
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E C K Y G A T E S C H I L D R E N ' S C E N T E R
SEAHORSES Lead Teacher: Sarah Sappington
P A G E 1 3
DOLPHINS Lead Teacher: Marina Bouloy
B E C K Y ’ S B U L L E T I N
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E C K Y G A T E S C H I L D R E N ' S C E N T E R
Dear Parents, April has arrived and the hope is we can spend more time out-doors! During this month, we will plant seeds and watch them grow. We will discuss about living/nonliving things, the envi-ronment and insects. We will spend time looking for bugs, frogs and worms. We will make bird feeders and watch for birds to arrive. If the weather refuses to cooperate, we’ll have to jump in puddles and make mud pies At this time in the preschool year, your precious children are blossoming! I have seen tremendous growth since the begin-ning of the year, and I can’t wait to share it with you during our conference. Keep in mind, though, that development and learning do not always progress at a steady rate, but rather in leaps forward and steps back-wards. These swings in develop-ment are often referred to as intervals of equilibrium and dise-quilibrium. It can be challenging for adults to understand these shifts in children’s development. I encourage you to be aware and tolerant of these “regressions” within the context of what may be a part of your child’s development. After school each day, talk with your child about what he or she did during the day. Begin by sharing what you did during the day, and then pose questions designed to elicit more than “yes, no” answers. For example: What songs did you sing to-day? What new things did you learn? Which activity was the most fun for you today? Why? What new friends did you make? What have you brought home from school to share?
Review all work brought home and set aside a special place for display-ing the work. Your constant interest will play an important part in your child’s development. Wishing you a beautiful spring! Love, Ms. Marina
P A G E 1 4
B E C K Y ’ S
B U L L E T I N
JAGUARS Lead Teacher: Carolina Bratlien
Jaguar’s April 2017 Newsletter:
Welcome to April! Hopefully, we will have nice, warm weather! Last month, the children had loads of fun with our various activities. Some of our fun projects included learning about our community. The goal of that unit was to teach the children about important people in our community, their jobs, and the fact that anybody can hold these jobs. Also, people of all ages can perform actives to help our community. The children talked about their experiences with community helpers at a variety of locations. Teachers at their school, workers at the grocery store, nurses at the doctor’s office, sirens that they associate with firefighters or police officers. Many children loved the police car that visited our school. For preschool-ers, learning about community helpers helps them become participants in the world beyond their home. The information the children learned about others allows them to expand their perspective.
Preschool graduation is just around the corner. We are busy preparing for it. This year’s gradua-tion ceremony will be in the Memorial Student Center room 2300 (Bethancourt Ballroom) at 6:30pm. Ad-ditional information will be shared as soon as we have set dates for our graduation and kindergarten parent meetings. This is something we do each year to help answer questions about expectations in kindergarten and how we have been preparing your child for this transition. This is a great meeting that I hope will help you get ready for your child’s next step in their journey.
April is the month for Earth Awareness. Each year the “Brazos Valley Earth Day” is held in April to rec-ognize the National Earth Day Celebration. Our event features educational booths, environmental demonstrations, a kid’s zone, and free snacks/refreshments. The 22nd annual Brazos Valley Earth Day Festival will be celebrated Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Park.
It’s never too soon to teach our children to care for our planet. They will love learning about the environ-ment, and there is no better time to teach them how to preserve and take care of it than now.
SIGHT WORD ACTIVITIES
* Make a fun sight word game where kids knock down blocks with sight words taped to them. * Write sight words on a large beach ball and practice by tossing the ball and reading a word. * You can make your own magnetic board and letter magnets with bottle caps for sight word practice. * Make snacks! Use alphabet cookie cutters to bake cookies that your kids can use to spell out sight words. Things to Do at Home: Plan a garden and get your garden area prepped. Read stories about Spring, chicks, and bunnies. Make “Springtime” decorations for your home. Make observations around your yard of “Signs of Spring”. Play Outside! Reminders and Important Dates: April 6th Science Rocks Activities in the classroom, 5:30-7pm April 10th & 11th Jaguars Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences
Saturday, April 22nd Family Picnic, Tiffany Park, 3890 Copperfield Drive, Bryan,10am-1pm
April 24th & 28th National week of the Young Child (center activities planned).