Newsletter Newsletter Newsletter Newsletter VolumeVolumeVolumeVolume 11, Issue 9 May 201111, Issue 9 May 201111, Issue 9 May 201111, Issue 9 May 2011

In this Issue

• Hilltop Summer Camp

• Board Position still available

• Spring Festival Highlights

• Gardening with Children

• Blossoms Class “loose parts” idea.

Important Dates • Wednesday, May 18th, General

Meeting 7 to 9 p.m.

• May 24th thru May 27th, Hilltop

Closed for Parent Teacher Confer-

ences.

• Saturday, May 28th, Clean-up day

9 a.m. till 1 p.m.

• Monday, May 30th, Hilltop Closed

in observance of Memorial Day.

• Friday, June 3rd, Trevor Green CD

release party 7 p.m.

• Friday, June 10th, last day of school

& Pizza Party (all Families invited!)

Sign up to bring dessert or drinks

on the bulletin board.

• Saturday, June 11th, LAST clean-up

day from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m.

• Tuesday, June 28th, First day of

Summer school.

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Interested in an Open Board Position?

Please let any board member or

teacher know if you might be inter-

ested or have any questions! Think

about teaming up with a fellow parent

to make the job easier!

Maintenance Chair!

This position coordinates the mainte-

nance obligations of all families and will

oversee the monthly cleanup days. You

don’t have to personally “fix” every-

thing needing attention but will help

match families with what they are

capable of doing.

Hilltop Summer Camp 2011

Now you can sign up for as many weeks as are open!

Week 1 - What’s Cooking? - June 28th,, 29, 30

Week 2 - Colorful Construction - July 5, 6, 7

Week 3 - Ocean Life - July 12, 13, 14

Week 4 - Mystery Hunt—July 19, 20, 21

Week 5 - Mystical Garden & Bugs - July 26, 27, 28

Just a reminder, these classes run three days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays

and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Eligible children are from 2 years 9

months (potty trained) up to 6 years.

Cost per week is $90.

Parents who decide to co-op are eligible for a discount of $30 per day.

Prettying up friend

s! Enjoying tea parties!

Outdoor Shower fun! Creating masterpieces!

Working together for more fun!

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Hil ltop Preschool Newsletter Hi l l top Preschool Newsletter Hi l l top Preschool Newsletter Hi l l top Preschool Newsletter

Staying close to friends!

Sharing cupcakes

with

friends!

20 laps in!

Making the cake walk rounds

Snow cones …..brrrrr!

Enjoying a picnic lunch!

The amazing cooking team!

Goofing off at the cake walk!

Making bird feeders!

Riding in full face paint!

Winning the

Raffle

money!

Winning cake

walks!

Thanks for a WONDERFUL & SUCCESSFUL Spring Festival-

Trike-a-thon!

Enjoying snow cones!

We couldn’t have done it without all the HARD WORKING volunteers and

the cool and collected leadership of Beth Craig!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

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Hil ltop Preschool Newsletter Hi l l top Preschool Newsletter Hi l l top Preschool Newsletter Hi l l top Preschool Newsletter

Spring Gardening a Perfect

Opportunity for Family Time

Gardening allows children to plan and work to-

gether to create something they believe is impor-

tant, and it allows teachers to integrate all cur-

riculum areas: reading, writing, math, and science. Similar experiences can

be shared at home. A garden need not be extensive or have dozens of kinds

of plants. A barrel, a window box, or cut-in-half half gallon jugs do nicely.

Even young children can do “research” to find out what kinds of plants might grow best in their

backyards or in containers. Parents can take children to libraries and local nurseries to find out

what to plant and how to take care of those plants. Or kids can ask family friends and neighbors

about their gardening experiences.

Math skills are apparent throughout the gardening process: counting seeds, measuring the cor-

rect distance between plants, marking the calendar for the anticipated date of seedling appear-

ance, measuring the height of the plants as they grow. Science lessons emerge as the plants grow

and as beneficial and harmful insects make their appearance.

Reading and writing skills are enhanced when books about gardening are read to children and

when kids draw pictures and write stories about their own plants.

Another plus is that children develop a sense of responsibility for their gardens. They feel a true

sense of pride and accomplishments as their plants grow bigger and bigger and as they share in

their harvest. Happy Gardening!!!

Loose parts in the Blossoms Class

The Blossoms teachers, Malia and Anthonette, brought in some “loose parts” for the children to

use. The kids enjoyed taking them apart and putting them together in their own way. It sparked

loads of creativity, imagination, and curiosity in the classroom. Think about gathering "loose

parts" in your home! It can be from an old toy or something from the kitchen you don't use any-

more such as cups, spoons, funnels. Or caps, lids, play animals, people, wood scraps, buttons,

sticks, etc.. etc. You’ll start looking at everything in your home in a whole new exciting way! (and

your children will thank you!)