Some of our Minnows took their first field trip with us yesterday to Connors Farm. We had such fun! I was completely impressed that my group of K/1’s was able to find their way through the whole cornfield maze. Everyone agreed that the apple cider donuts were AMAZING!
The first month flew by! What a smooth start it has been! Children and staff are starting to settle into routines. Please continue to introduce yourself to staff when dropping off or picking up. We are working hard to learn all your names! Please indulge us when we ask to take your photo. I am putting together a photo album of all the parents to help the staff put the face with the name.
We have a lot planned for October…
CURRICULUM
Our theme this month will be “Bump in the Night”. We’re looking to try and expose what is spooky and scary. Perhaps that weird sound was just a raccoon looking for some dinner!
FAMILY GAME NIGHT!
We invite you to join the PEDP staff for a really fun interactive event! This will be a great opportunity for you to meet some new families, socialize with some you already know and perhaps learn a new game to play at home with your own family.
- “FAMILY GAME NIGHT”
- Friday, October 12
- 6 – 8:30 pm
- Peirce School
- $25 per family admission (includes raffle ticket to win a game!)
- Pizza dinner ($10/pizza)
- Payment and RSVP due by 10/5
FIELD TRIPS
Minnows: M 10/22/17 (Group B) or TH 10/25/16 (Group A) – Pumpkin Walk! (United Parish of Auburndale)
Adventurers Group: Tuesday, October 2nd – Farmer’s Market at Cold Spring Park, NewtonTuesday, October 23rd – Pure Sugar Candy in Holliston
CLASSES
Al Grades: Paper Mouse art classes are starting up October 2nd! We still have a few spots left!
3-5 Grade: Dollar Scholars is another great class we’d like to offer on Wednesdays starting October 3rd. We need more enrollees in order to run this program! It is fabulous!. Sign up today!
Information will go out in a week or so about our Ski/Snowboard program at Nashoba Valley.
Please note that if your child is attending one of the Newton Community Education classes held here at Peirce, you must fill out a release form indicating that your child will be arriving at the Program late. Let us know and we can e-mail the form to you.
MINNOWS MESSAGE from Kim Ryan, Minnows Coordinator
A great time was had by all at Connors Farm for the early release field trip! Some of the favorite activities of the day were the Corn Beach, the bounce pad, and the corn maze! Thank you to our parent chaperones!
Early Minnows
The Early Minnows have begun to get the routine and schedule of the day down. They have also started building some great relationships with each other and the Early Minnow teachers. It has been a lot of fun getting to know all of the kindergartners. Starting on October 1st, the groups will begin their long days at school. This means the group at PEDP will be smaller and friendships will blossom! The Early Minnows learned so much about ocean life in September and watched some great videos to go along with each project. They learned how whales and sharks breach out of water and that there are over 6,000 different kinds of crabs in the world. Ask them about the smallest and largest crabs! Our next theme is perfect for Halloween! At the end of October, the Early Minnows will have a field trip to the United Parish of Auburndale where they will be able to get a pumpkin! Details will be sent out soon! Please be sure that your pick up person is signing out your child and putting the time on the clipboard.
Late Minnows
The Late Minnows have been busy! Between science with Miss Courtney, music with Miss Laurie P, projects with Miss Deb and Miss Kim and gym games with Miss Laurie F, it has been a whirlwind of fun, learning and growth this month. Next month is no different and the Minnows will continue to stay busy as they cultivate new relationships and learn the routines and schedules.
We will have clubs on Wednesdays this month:
Model Magic Monsters with Miss Courtney
Flip Book Fun with Miss Laurie P
Canvas Rug Creations with Miss Kim
In addition to clubs, the Late Minnows will begin the K/1 Review rehearsals as well as the Paper Mouse classes. If you have not signed up for either of these, see any PEDP teacher if interested! Homework for the 1st grade should be starting soon. If you would like your child to be on the Minnow homework list, please let me know and I will add them. There is ample time for them to do it while at PEDP.
You can always reach me at kim@peirceedp.com
BARRACUDA BUZZ from Joanne Malouf, Barracudas Coordinator
The Barracudas are off to a great start. The kids have routines down and are rekindling old friendships from their time together in the Minnows. It really is great to see the two grades mixing so well. During September, the ocean was a big part of our activities. The kids learned about saltwater and buoyancy, created a sea horse puppet and made Surprise Ferocious Fish drawings.
In October, the Tuesday kids will participate in clubs. Dylan will be educating kids on what it means to be a student athlete. Carol will be working with kids who will create puppets for a puppet show. I will be sewing with my group – alpacas this time around.
During the Thursday early release, the Barracudas and Sharks participated in a Harry Potter special event. The kids were put into “houses” by pulling a name of a Hogwarts House out of a bucket (no time to find a sorting hat!). The teachers then did the same. Each group made wands, created a potion that produced slime, tested their Harry Potter character knowledge and made origami owls. Oh yeah, how could we not have a game of Quidditch?! A fun time was had by all and we got to spend time outside on a beautiful fall day. Thanks to all who have asked me to add their child to the homework list. Please let me know if you would like to add your child.
You can always reach me at joanne@peirceedp.com
SHARK TALES from Rachel Bastarache, Sharks Coordinator
The Sharks have had a wonderful start to the new school year! It’s been great getting to know our new Sharks. Watching the old and the new Sharks become a great new school of fish!
We have been busy this month decorating our home base in the Greenhouse. Have you seen the Anglerfish, the Great Whites swimming off the page or any of the underwater painting? If not, come on in and check them out!
Swimming into October, the Sharks will be having clubs on Tuesday afternoons. They will all be busy with Ms. Laurie in the “Meal in a Mug” club, Mr. Pablo in the Multicultural club, Mr. Sean’s-Dodge Ball 101, or they will be with Ms. Rachel-Scrapbooking. Sounds like such a fun afternoon! I wish I could do them all!
For our October theme, the teachers have been planning some activities that explore why the hair on the back of your neck stands straight up at times! YEEK!
The Adventurers first trip to the Farmer’s market got postponed due to rain and will be taking place this Tuesday Oct. 2nd. Later this month, they will be traveling to Pure Sugar to learn about how hard candy is made and decorated.
The amount of homework has started to increase. The Sharks do have homework time every day when all the kids do their homework and/or read during this time. It has been an adjustment for some of the kids but I feel they are all realizing how beneficial this time can be for them.
Please let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns. Email: Rachel@peirceedp.com
REQUESTS AND REMINDERS FOR ALL PARENTS…
*We are low on newspaper! If you have any, we’d love to have it to help protect our tables when we do projects.
*Miss Kim would like tissue boxes for a project
*The Early Birds program ($10 per day) and extra hours ($12 per hour) are available to all families when needed. Just ask!
* Please remember that you must notify PEDP whenever your child will not be attending for the day. You may do this in person, by phone (617-332-5881), in writing, or via e-mail: kids@peirceedp.com There is a calling fee of $25 if the staff need to make phone calls to find out where your child is at attendance time.
* Let’s play it safe! DO NOT PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY to drop off or pick up your children. * Want to know when all the upcoming events are for the year?!
NO SCHOOL OR PEDP
Monday, October 8th (Columbus Day)
Happy Pumpkin Picking, Kathy
