We are off to an exciting new year! Even while we are hopeful that we can open a second classroom, our first classroom is buzzing! This week we started getting to know each other and getting to know what's around us. We read several books that are fast becoming our favorites: <em>Owl Babies, The Kissing Hand, Raven, and Where the Wild Things Are</em> . Owl Babies and The Kissing Hand are our traditional first week of school stories because they concern separation issues. We have had very few separation problems so far, though in my experience, we sometimes see more difficulties in the 2nd or 3rd weeks of school, particularly after a weekend. If your child is crying when you leave, please rest assured that they stop a minute or two after you're gone. If there is a severe problem, we will call you. Sometimes a child feels sad during the day and misses their parent. We may have them send an email to you. Don't worry if the email message is tragic - know that as soon as they hit the &quot;send&quot; button, they feel much better. By the way, a &quot;kissing hand&quot; is when you plant a kiss in the middle of their palm, close their fingers over it, and have them keep it for the day. It doesn't wash off when we wash hands. It stays until they see you again. You may want to send your child with a kissing hand each day, and let them give one to you. It will make you feel better, too, when you're sad and missing your child.

Some other things we did this week: I started math assessments by playing counting games with wooden cubes and unifix cubes. Ms Robin was working with the children doing art projects - painting with unusual tools, watercolor flowers, and decorating pillows. Ms. D. was sorting sea shells with some children. The children discovered the Reading/Writing Corner, the blocks and trains, and of course, the loft. We played outside (Kimbark Ave. playground) in what remains of the sand box, the equipment, and in the gardens by the fence. We also began exploring the butterfly garden which is full of flowers, butterflies, bees, lots of things to notice. London brought in some &quot;tree seeds&quot;: acorns and a whole chestnut and we read &quot;Earl the Squirrel&quot; to celebrate. The children also had Library on Wednesday with Ms. Travis and gym on Thursday with Ms. Perez. We will be having music with Ms. Pickens on Mondays (yes - Willie Picken's daughter and jazz musician extradinaire!).

<strong>WHO WE ARE</strong>

For those of you interested in knowing who we are, we have 20 children in our room:  11 4 year olds, 9 3 year olds; 12 girls and 8 boys (4  3-year-old girls, 5 3-year-old boys, 8 4-year-old girls, 3 4-year-old boys). On Monday we'll be getting 2 more students and that will be it for our room. I hope those of you who were here last year will welcome our new families.

<strong>SUPPLIES</strong>

I am still working on getting caught up so I am late with the supply list. Please bring these in when you get a chance: $2.00 for your child's pillow; $5.00 for a Ray School T-Shirt if you don't have one (we also have tie-dyed t-shirts for $12.00) - please specify size.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Last name A-J:</span> </strong> facial tissue, paper towels, sanitizer

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Last name K-Z: </span> </strong> computer paper, bandaids

<strong>SNACKS:</strong>

I am also going to be putting out the snack and sheet schedule. During your week, you will be responsible for sending in snacks for the classroom for the week. Please send in only healthy snacks! One of our parents is a doctor and she has this message for us:

<em>&quot;I just wanted to drop a line about snacks this year.  As a health care provider who sees many 25-40 year old patients with high blood, pressure, <span class="yshortcuts">diabetes</span> , arthritis and obesity, I am very concerned about about the <span class="yshortcuts">eating habits</span> of Americans.  The number of persons on canes, walkers and scooters has soared in recent years. Weekly, I get several requests for canes, walkers and scooters due to obesity and arthritis.

The daily recommendation for adults per the US <span class="yshortcuts">Department of Health and Human Services</span> is 7-9 fruits/vegetables per day, 6-8 servings of <span class="yshortcuts">whole grains</span> per day, 2-3 servings of dairy per day and 6 ounces or less of meat, chicken, fish or eggs.  This diet aqlso substantially reduces the risk of cancer.  We develop our tastes for foods as children.  Because many of the children are in the classroom for 10 hours per day, they will form some of their eating habits in school.  We, as health care and educational professionals, are obliged to address this issue head on in the schools.

Each day, snacks should include several fresh fruit, <span class="yshortcuts">whole grain</span> or fiber snacks(eg. popcorn).  I think that gummy bears, &quot;fruit snacks&quot;(which list <span class="yshortcuts">corn syrup</span> and sugar as the first ingredients) and chips should be banned from the snack list.  Healthy options include fresh fruit, whole grain pretzels, yogurt, popcorn, whole grain bagels, whole grain crackers, raisins, applesauce without sweeteners, rice cakes, cheerios, <span class="yshortcuts">Kashi</span> Mighty Bites and <span class="yshortcuts">Heart to Heart</span> cereals(as snacks), Barbara's Puffins, Snackanimals and Fig Bars, Natures Choice Fiber bars, 100% juice are acceptable.  Any snack with corn syrup and sugar listed in the first ingredients should be refused.  These are <span class="yshortcuts">empty calories</span> which lead to obesity and diabetes.  Some of these may cost a little more than others, but several bunches of bananas or raisins or popcorn are not much more than the empty calorie snacks.

Other benefits include improved behavior, increased <span class="yshortcuts">attention span</span> and an increased <span class="yshortcuts">life span</span> .</em> &quot;

Anyone who would like to bring in fresh fruit, for example if you go apple picking, etc., is more than welcome to. If you would like to bring in ingredients for cooking projects during your week (or you would like to do a cooking project with us), please let me know. We eat lunch at 12:30 so we need a little snack in the morning. We are working with the school to provide snacks in the afternoon, but often those are bags of cookies which we are trying to avoid. I've asked the cafeteria if we can at least get some milk. I'll keep you posted...

<strong>OPEN HOUSE</strong>

Open House this year is September 23. Please excuse my confusion on this - they changed the date. It is from 7-9 pm. I suggest that you find childcare for that night so we can talk freely and not worry about the children running around. If you cannot find childcare, please come anyway and bring your child. This is one of few opportunities we have to talk about the school year. You go to the auditorium at 7pm for an overview of the school, and from there you come to the classroom where I'll be waiting.

<strong>SCHOOL CLOSING</strong>

There will be one day in either the end of October or early November that the classroom will be closed. I'm waiting to hear what day it is and will let you know right away. I believe there will also be a day at the end of January. I will let you know when I get confirmation.

<strong>PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION</strong>

Please let me know if you'd like to set up a meeting to discuss your child or how things are going. I will make myself available from 8:30-9:00 am (8:00am if necessary). You can always email me at japrek@yahoo.com or leave a message in the classroom at 773-535-0954.