Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 1 of 8

Fayette Cooperating Preschool and Kindergarten

Director: Mary Brenzel Board President: Cathy Carlson

www.coopschool.org Find us on Facebook

Upcoming Events 2/20 - 2/24 No school

(Parent/Teacher Conferences)

3/1 Camp Co-op registration open to Co-op families

3/3 7-10 pm

Rockin’ Reverse Raffle Party

3/10 9am -noon

Clean up day – both locations

3/13 7 pm Board meeting (RG) – all parents welcome

3/15 Camp Co-op registration open to public

3/24 10am-12:30 pm

Morris Book Shop Family Fun Event

Ponderings of Our President

It's February. It's not the end of the calendar year, nor the end of the school year and yet I feel the sadness of an ending. I have no one to register for next year's Co-op class. In the Kindergarten class this year,

Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Smoroske have gotten Huck ready to sail into first grade next year with a

confident love of learning. So I'll be registering my littlest big boy for first grade soon and moving on from Co-op. By May, when the end is really here, the

sun will be shining, and I will be able to look forward to new experiences but right now I am sad to be letting go of this place that has given my family so much. I have loved experiencing Co-op both as a parent and as a board member. I look forward to maintaining ties through play dates and through alumni events such as this year’s Rockin’ Reverse Raffle. While Co-op has been important to my kids, it's important to me that I maintain my connection as well. Scheduling adult play dates is not something that I'm very good at getting around to, so to have an event scheduled for me sounds great. They even thought of providing food and drinks, entertainment, and a way to support my favorite school! (Maybe they should schedule all of my kids' play dates as well.) I love any opportunity to visit with our wonderful teachers, and hope to see some old friends from the past 8 years as well as many of you. Until then, I wish you all the best registering your children for their future plans while savoring their current ventures. Because I'm realizing,"life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

~ Cathy Carlson, President, Mom to Huck (CM-K), Gus (’05 alum), Max (’06-’09 alum)

In This Issue President’s Page 1 Director’s Desk 2 Rockin’ Reverse Raffle 3 Programs 4 Family Support 4 Facilities 4 Fundraising 5 News and Notes 5 New Playground 5 Newsletter 5 Past Presents 6 Get Moving This Spring 6 Focus on Healthy Families 7 Class News 8

February 2012

Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 2 of 8

On the Horizon 4/2 – 4/6 Spring

Break – no school

4/19 6-8 pm

Air Time Inflatables Family Fun Event

4/30 6-9 pm

Clean up day - both Locations

5/21 Last Day of School

5/22 Suggested day for Class picnics

5/23 - 5/24 Inservice for teachers – no school

From the Director’s Desk

Bedtime: Why it Matters Establishing a regular bedtime for children and consistently adhering to that bedtime can have both immediate and long-lasting benefits. A recent study of 8,000 children found that language, phonological awareness, literacy and early math skills were significantly higher in 4 year old children whose parents enforced a regular bedtime. Earlier bedtimes were linked to higher scores on most developmental measures. Enforcing a regular bedtime allows children to develop routines and habits which improve both the quantity and quality of their sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that preschoolers sleep for 11 hours per night. Not getting enough sleep affects children’s behavior, memory, attention and well-being. Lack of sleep has been linked to obesity and depression as well. Instituting a routine at bedtime helps children fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly. Find a routine which works for your family, and plan to spend 10-30 minutes preparing your child for bed. You might want to turn off electronics or “screens” an hour before bedtime. Give your child a warm bath, read stories together or sing lullabies. These calming activities signal the child’s brain that the day is winding down. Researchers found that the bedtime routine not only helped children fall asleep more easily, the children were in better moods the next day. It is never too late to start a bedtime routine and establish a regular bedtime for your child. A bonus benefit: putting the children to bed earlier can definitely be good for a parent’s mental health as well!

Story Time at The Morris Book Store Our Family Fun Event scheduled for March 24 is a story time for children at the Morris Book Shop’s new location at 882 East High Street in Lexington. Each class will have its own time set aside for a story and a craft. The classroom teachers will be reading the stories and offering a craft. Families are welcome to shop at the book store, before or after the event. The Morris Book Shop will donate 10% of all purchases made that morning back to our preschool. The tentative schedule for the morning is: 10:00-10:30 Mrs. Maynard’s class 10:30-11:00 Two Year Olds 11:00-11:30 PreK 11:30-12:00 Kindergarten 12:00-12:30 Mrs. Miller’s class

*****PLEASE watch your email for the final schedule. This schedule is TENTATIVE.*****

A child seldom needs

a good talking to as a

good listening to.

~Robert Brault

Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 3 of 8

Rockin’ Reverse Raffle Please join us for the first Annual Rockin’ Reunion and Reverse Raffle.

Reunite with Co-op friends & teachers on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 7-10 pm at the home of current parents, William and Renee Harper in Beaumont Reserve. Tickets are just $20.

Silent auction • Hors d'ouevres • Beer & Wine• Live music with popular local funk/rock band Club Dub. •Reverse Raffle Every 25th ticket drawn wins a prize. The last ticket drawn wins $2,500! Need not be present to win. Raffle Tickets are

$50 or split your odds in half or a 1/5 for $25 or $10.

Tickets are still available – PURCHASE YOURS TODAY!

Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 4 of 8

Programs

Thanks for coming! We want to extend a big thank you to all the parents that attended our parent education night on January 31. We all got some great ideas and advice about feeding our children! We also want to thank the families that attended our recent Bowling night at Southland Bowling Lanes! We had a huge turnout, and everyone had a great time. Make sure to mark your calendars for our next Family Fun Event at Morris Book Shop on March 24! ~Molly Franklin, VP Programs, mom to Tessa (CM) and Everett (future Co-op kid)

Family Support Kentucky Children’s Garden at the Arboretum Little Sprouts Programs Ages 2-6: Wednesdays in MARCH, 10:00a in Visitor Center Cost $3 per session/2012 KCG members free. Pre-registration required. March 7: Windy Weather Make a pinwheel and hear a story about weather. Help us plant seeds indoors to transplant in the KCG. March 14: Feathered Friends Discover what makes birds so special. Take a short hike to look for birds and make a nest to take home. March 21: Little Critters Learn about our insect pals and about metamorphosis. Make a butterfly to take home. March 28: Let’s Grow Outside Help us plant in the Kentucky Children’s Garden and take a flower home to nurture.

~ May Luong, RG Family Support, mom to Parker (RG), Maya (alum), Shelby (alum) ~ Laura Braun, CM Family Support, mom to Josh (CM), Evie (future Co-op kid)

~ Erica Snow, 2’s Family Support, mom to Isaac (RG), Eliza (alum), Andrew (alum), Sam (future Co-op kid)

Facilities Update

~ Keith and Jill Stowe, CM Facility, dad and mom to Josh (CM)

~ Amy Liu, RG Facility, mom to Henry and Yixin (RG) ~ Yoko Horikawa, RG Facility, mom to Ari and Hana (RG)

Mark Your Calendars – Clean Up Day

March 10, 9-noon at CM and RG

New Tasks Lists Start Soon! The 2nd Task list ends on Friday, February 24 and

the 3rd period starts on Monday, February 27. Thanks to everyone who has been working hard

during the second period and at clean up days! If you chose task lists as your cleaning option, be sure

to sign up!

Spring Consignment Sales There are lots of spring consignment sales of children’s items in Lexington where you can snag some great deals or clean out your closets! A local blog has started a list of these sales and information about registration for selling and times to buy. Visit http://fun4kidsinlexingtonky.blogspot.com/p/spring-consignment-sales.html for details.

St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival Saturday March 17, 2012 Be Irish for a day! All festival activities under tents. Rain or shine! Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parade at 1 p.m. Location: Downtown

Bluegrass Youth Ballet Performances May 3rd and May 4th 7 PM Lexington Opera House The Bluegrass Youth Ballet will present a "mixed bill' for their spring performance! The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Peter and the Wolf, Mother Goose Adventures, and a Cinco de Mayo Surprise!

Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 5 of 8

Fundraising

We will be collecting “Boxtops for Education” and “Labels for Education” for this year’s submission until February 20th! There is a bonus offer from Labels for Education (Campbell’s labels) that we are trying to maximize, so clip as many soup labels as you can.

They really do add up! Visit the following websites for complete lists of participating items: http://www.boxtops4education.com http://www.labelsforeducation.com

Keep using your Kroger card to earn cash for Co-op. Tuition reimbursements (representing 1% of

what you earned for Co-op using your card this year) will be issued in April. ~Robin Roenker, fundraising chair, mom to Daniel, Will (CM), Josh, (future Co-op kid)

News and Notes

Camp Co-op Co-op offers a great summer program called “Camp Co-op.” Camp Co-op is for children ages 3-8. There are 4 different sessions (2 weeks each), and the children can attend 2-4 days per week. Each session has a different theme and offers lots of related activities. There is always lots of free play time outside (usually involving water). Registration for Camp Co-op starts on March 1 for Co-op Families. Watch for more information in your parent folders, online, and via email.

New Smaller Playground Makes Big Impact One of the greatest changes this year for the 2’s program was implemented just before winter break – our new playground! The new 2’s playground has now been in use for about 6 weeks, and the kids and teachers love it. This special space has simplified the overall routine of the day, allowing for a more

natural flow of activity with fewer transitions. Simply put, the 2 year olds can now go outside at the end of the school day. Also, the climber is just the right size for smaller bodies, and the kids adore the sandbox. Many thanks to Steven Waun, the Eagle Scout who worked on this project!

Newsletter The deadline for submitting items for the next newsletter is March 23. Submissions are always welcome. We will have two more newsletters for the 2011-12 school year; a March/April edition, distributed at the end of March, and a May edition, distributed just before the end of school. ~ Stephanie Thompson, VP newsletter, mom to Rachel (RG) and Drew (alum)

Parent-Teacher

Conference Week is

February 20-24 No classes for students!

Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 6 of 8

Past Presents Thoughtful Words of Wisdom from Previous Newsletters

Developmentally Appropriate Structure at Co-op Tonya Vance, former CM am preschool teacher

To some, activity time at Co-op school can seem chaotic and lacking structure. As you probably know, Co-op has been around for more than 60 years. Many of the activities we do have not changed in those years. At Co-op, we stress what preschoolers need developmentally and those developmental needs have not changed either, in spite of vast social and technological changes since 1951. All children are unique and reach developmental milestones at different rates. This was evident when your children were babies and toddlers and continues through the preschool years.

We can observe their individuality by watching the children during activity time at Co-op. You will see some children developing spatial relationships with blocks – first laying them out, then stacking, and finally constructing towers and buildings. Other children will be further developing their gross motor skills by pushing, pulling, and riding the trucks and other vehicles and by climbing on the climber. Still others are practicing hand-eye coordination and visual discrimination by drawing, doing puzzles, and playing with manipulatives. All of these children instinctively know what to do to fulfill their developmental needs. Our job as parents and teachers is to provide the materials for children and let them make choices. This is why we have such a variety of choices at Co-op. So what may seem like chaotic play and lack of structure to some adults is really 20 different children all working on their own

development. It is never fair to ask all children to perform the same task in the same way in the same time frame, the reason being that the task may be beyond some of the children’s skill and developmental level. Doing this kind of structured activity does not allow for natural developmental progression. It also causes stress and fear in the children who are unable to perform the task. Our activities at Co-op work on many developmental levels and can be extended for children who are ready.

Although it may not seem like it some days, we do have structure at Co-op. Our structure is our routine and expectations of the children. The routine at school is the same every day (i.e. after activity time is clean up followed by circle, snack, and outside time). The teachers’ and working parents’ expectations of the children are the same every day. For example, we expect the children to sit at circle time and clean up their area at snack. These expectations and routines help the children feel comfortable and secure because they know what is going to happen next and what they will need to do. This structure is balanced at the same time with the childrens’ ability to work and develop at their own pace. This arrangement between structure and development is geared for children to succeed and have a positive first school experience, which is what we all want for our children.

Get Moving This Spring A great way to motivate yourself to exercise is to register for a local run/walk.

Here is a list of some great family-friendly races this spring.

March 10, 2012 – Run for the Hill 5K (Cardinal Hill Hospital)

https://www.cardinalhill.org/component/flexicontent/item/583

March 17, 2012 – Shamrock Shuffle 3K

(Habitat for Humanity) http://www.shamrockshuffle3k.com

Fayette County Public Schools Trifecta (These are all separate races with some extra incentives if you

finish all 3.) March 24, 2012 – Southern Middle School Lightning Strike 5K

http://staff.fcps.net/astark/

April 21, 2012 – Bryan Station Defender Classic 5K Run/Walk http://defenderclassic5k.home.insightbb.com/2011/dc5kHome.htm

May 12, 2012 – Sandersville Elementary Sharks on the Run 5K http://www.sharksontherun.com/

This article was last published in August 2004.

Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 7 of 8

Focus on Healthy Families We just had a great parent / teacher education night focused on Nutrition. Also, March is National Nutrition Month, and the USDA recently replaced the Food Guide Pyramid with a new campaign to promote healthy eating, called My Plate. (www.choosemyplate.gov) You can use the Choose My Plate website to create custom eating plans, track calories and activity, and get lots of great information.

The tips list below on being a healthy role model was also distributed at our Parent Education night.

5-2-1-0: Healthy Numbers for Kentucky Families Kentucky is helping kids and families eat healthy and move more. 5-2-1-0 is a campaign to promote child health and prevent obesity that focuses on 4 evidence-based nutrition and physical activity messages. The messages are: · eating five fruits and vegetable servings, · watching fewer than two hours video/TV screen time, · participating in one hour of physical activity and · drinking zero drinks containing sugar (including juice) every day.

Eat Your Veggies

(Mom and Dad) A recent study confirmed previous research that children who see someone smiling and enjoying healthy food are more likely to willingly consume that food. It’s not surprising that kids are influenced by what their parents eat, but this research more firmly establishes the important role parents have in setting good examples for healthy eating. The study, published in the journal Obesity, found that even if a child disliked a particular food, seeing an image of someone with a pleasant expression while eating that food made the child want to try the food. But, the researchers warn that telling a child to simply eat a healthy food isn’t enough; the child should see the person eating it as well. Parents should also not send mixed messages by saying one thing but doing the other, and they should eat what they preach, happily!

Source: Child Care Health Consultation newsletter, Jan/Feb 2012

Source: Child Care Health Consultation newsletter, Jan/Feb 2012

Co-op Newsletter February 2012 Page 8 of 8

Class News

CM Preschool Mrs. Miller's preschool class went on an exciting field trip to the Beaumont Kroger Marketplace in January. Approximately 30 Co-opers arrived at Kroger early in the morning, eager to learn about all of the behind-the-scenes action necessary to run a big grocery store. Students were able to scan items at the U-Scan machine, walk into the large dairy refrigerator, see a lobster up close, watch the baler crush cardboard boxes, and observe as the juicer machine made freshly squeezed orange juice. It was a great ending to the grocery store lessons that the students had been participating in within the classroom. Thanks, Amy Angelucci for reporting.

RG AM Preschool The RG Preschool class continues to have a great time learning and playing together. Some evidence of this hangs from the ceiling of the blue room in the form of a paper chain. One of the other favorite activities since winter break was the post office in the red room. The kids stamped, packaged, and wrote items to be mailed within the Co-op community and also sent an item home through the real mail. While it has not felt much like winter for much of 2012, the kids have also been working on winter themed activities, like winter gardens and sewing big paper mittens.

Kindergarten The Kindergarteners have been busy creating their own dinosaurs with recycled materials. The paper mache is drying and painting comes next! It will be interesting to see what the boys and girls decide to name them. Did you know that we have been in school for one hundred days already? We will be celebrating this day with a number sticker hunt, one hundred exercises, and each child will get something worth 100 cents! It has been exciting to see the children sounding out words for both reading and writing. Mrs. Smoroske and I are so proud of all of the hard working Kindergarteners. We took our Flat Stanleys home with us during the Winter break and let him spend time getting to know our families and routines when we are not in school. The kids did journals to share about the experience. We will wrap up February with learning more about our bodies and how they work, and finish cutting out our seven continents with push pins. No doubt we will have some of the strongest fingers in Lexington! As we let you know all about our classroom, there is no doubt that the most important part of our Kindergarten is the community of friendship and support. Thanks, Mrs. Hayes for reporting.

Pre-K The students in the afternoon class at Rosemont Garden are lively, loud and always working hard at play. Lately, I’ve been seeing children blossom at the free art table. Free Art is the one place in our school that is entirely child-directed. We try to provide all of the materials that they need to inspire the creative process. The children plan their work and work their plan. I am watching children get organized both with body and mind and also with respect to and for the environment. Some that could not even hold scissors a few months ago, now negotiate the difficult task of cutting (holding paper with one hand, cutting with the other). Some that have moved from the egocentric young child, only thinking of self, are now becoming the more mature, generous leaders that make gifts for all of the children in the class. Then I watch as the once scattered little person puts away all of the tools and trash used for making a particular project, knowing that there is a place for everything and making sure that everything is in its place. The rich, tangible environment works its way into the mind, and the next thing you know a three year old writes her own name on her artwork for the first time and acts as if she was born knowing how to write. No one taught her – she is just ready. The rich and real experiences that are open for children to explore at the free art shelf help them realize confidence and capability. We provide the environment, fill it with all imaginable types of material, step back and watch what they do with it. Always, they do what they need. If we undermine that independence by choosing materials for them, we stifle the process of development because they do what we choose for them to do, and not what they need. Offering choices of size and color of paper, writing implements, adhesives, and fastening materials gives children the power to plan, problem-solve, proceed and succeed. Thanks, Mrs. Littrell for reporting.

2’s class Our littlest Co-op kids are not so little anymore! As we are cruising ahead toward spring, the 2’s class is growing and learning by leaps and bounds. Most mornings start out with a cooking and eating activity to help fuel those quickly growing bodies. Since winter break, they have enjoyed smoothies, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, grilled cheese, and oatmeal cookies. In addition to growing bodies, their skills are growing too. They are building relationships with each other and learning to use their words to explain their feelings and express their needs. They are also experiencing some new independence and learning to recognize their names by walking their artwork down the hall and finding their own cubbies. Growth and new experiences is what being 2 years old is all about!

Parent Cooperative Preschools International Co-op is a member of Parent Cooperative Preschools International (PCPI),

a nonprofit international council dedicated to the family and the community. To learn more about this organization, visit their website at www.preschools.coop