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We had a great day today and I think Rachel feels right at home in our classroom.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">PICTURE DAY:</span> Picture Day is this Wednesday. DO NOT BE LATE FOR SCHOOL! We will be leaving the classroom for our class pictures at 9:15 sharp!!!! If you can stay and help us get the children organized, we\'d love the help.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">CANDY SALE: </span> I hope you are all participating in our school fundraiser. The last day for turning in orders is: OCTOBER 8! Remember, if you don\'t want to sell from the catalog, you can always make a donation to: Friends of Ray.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-style: italic;text-decoration: underline\">What we\'ve been doing in school:</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-style: italic\">Science:</span>\r\nThis week we\'ll be checking out the changing of the leaves. Today we enjoyed throwing leaves in the air and letting the wind carry them. The children are fascinated by the swirling leaves as the wind hits the sides of the building and forms a vortex. This is a great way to learn about wind currents. There\'s also a song we\'re learning based on a Christina Rosetti poem: \"Who Has Seen the Wind?\" (Rosetti was a 19th century poet)\r\n<em>\"Who has seen the wind?\r\nNeither you nor I.\r\nBut when the leaves hang trembling\r\nThe wind is passing by.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Who has seen the wind?\r\nNeither I nor you.\r\nBut when the trees bow down their heads,\r\nThe wind is passing through.\"</em>\r\n\r\nSo we talk about what senses we need to perceive the wind. Can we see it? Can we taste it? Can we hear it? Can we smell it? Can we feel it? What sense do we use to perceive a rainbow? A song? Baking cookies? A lemon? Sometimes we use a combination of senses, sometimes one of our senses is more important in perception than the others. This is a game you can play with your child at home or walking around.\r\n\r\nWe have also started collecting natural objects outside and bringing them in to sort. There are many ways to sort  things. We\'ll be learning about different <span style=\"font-style: italic;text-decoration: underline\">attributes</span> of the things we find outside.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-style: italic\">Literacy:</span>\r\nThis week we\'ll also be putting up our <span style=\"font-style: italic\">\"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom\"</span> tree with your child\'s initial name letter. We hope you\'ll help your child understand their most important letter as they begin to start writing their name.\r\n\r\nAs part of <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">getting to know each other</span>, we\'re learning about each other\'s names. I\'ve enclosed an attachment with a homework assignment for you all - to write a letter to your child explaining how and why you chose the name for him or her that you did. I\'ll enclose a copy of this in your folder as well.\r\n\r\nWe\'ll also start getting ready for our participation in the national Read for the Record on October 8 where  we\'ll join children across the country and read <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">\"Very Hungry Caterpillar.\"</span> All of our children will receive a copy of the book and we\'ll have lots of caterpillar activities that day.\r\n\r\nWe\'re also learning the alphabet song and hand signs for each letter.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-style: italic\">Math:</span>\r\nFor <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">math</span> we\'ll be talking about how old we each are. The children will make an age chart and an age collage. Basic number sense is one of the main foundations for all math learning. We\'ll be doing lots of counting between 0 and 5. Since all the children are between 3 and 5 years old, age is a great way to start this. Number sense has several parts to it.\r\n1) rote counting - this is the easiest. Most children can rote count to 10, 11 or 12. They often have problems with the teens (totally understandable - the names for the teen numbers are illogical!)\r\n2) one-to-one correspondence - each object gets counted and counted only once. Our younger children may have trouble with this concept. You can help reinforce this by having them help set the table (each family member gets 1 plate, 1 set of silverware, 1 glass, etc.).\r\n3) quantity - when we\'re counting, the last number we say is the quantity. This is a very difficult concept for preschool children, especially younger ones. When we say, \"How many are there?\" Your child might count them. When you ask again, \"So how many are there all together?\" They might start counting them all over again. This child does not have a sense of quantity.\r\n4) order - it doesn\'t matter how objects are counted, the total number remains the same.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-style: italic\">Art:</span>\r\nWe\'ll be learning about using crayons this week as a tool. Today some children did leaf rubbings and learned a different way to hold a crayon. We\'ll learn about straight and squiggly lines as well as other things we can do with crayons.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-style: italic\">Music:</span>\r\nWe\'re continuing to learn new songs. Each day a student chooses a song for us all to sing. We also sing songs as we move down the halls to go outside or go to a special class. I sing lullabies to the children as they go to sleep as well. And of course, we end each day (just before nap) by singing \"The Garden Song,\" Here\'s the words to the refrain:\r\n\r\n<em>\"Inch by inch,\r\nRow by row.\r\nI\'m gonna make my garden grow.\r\nAll it takes is a rake and a hoe\r\nAnd a piece of fertile ground.\r\nInch by inch,\r\nRow by row,\r\nSomeone bless these seeds I sow.\r\nSomeone warm them from below\r\nAs the rain comes tumbling down.\"</em>\r\n(ask your child to teach you the hand signs for this)\r\n\r\nI hope you\'ve all been enjoying our classroom as much as we have. Please feel free to spend a little time with us, in the morning as we do our journals and read with our 3rd grade buddies, at lunch time (12:30), in the afternoons after naptime reading and playing with us. Have a great week!\r\n\r\nJane','September 28, 2009','','publish','open','closed','','september-28-2009','','','2009-09-28 21:28:45','2009-09-29 02:28:45','',0,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/?p=370',0,'post','',0),(3,151,'2009-09-22 07:57:05','2009-09-22 12:57:05','Under construction. For current blog, please go to:\n\n<a href=\"www.413.rayblogs.org\">www.413.rayblogs.org</a>','Hello world!','','inherit','open','closed','','1-autosave','','','2009-09-22 07:57:05','2009-09-22 12:57:05','',1,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/?p=3',0,'revision','',0),(4,151,'2009-09-13 08:51:27','2009-09-13 13:51:27','Welcome to <a href=\"http://cuipblogs.net/\">CUIP Schools New Weblog Sites</a>. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!','Hello world!','','inherit','open','closed','','1-revision','','','2009-09-13 08:51:27','2009-09-13 13:51:27','',1,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/?p=4',0,'revision','',0),(5,151,'2009-09-22 07:57:10','2009-09-22 12:57:10','Under construction. For current blog, please go to:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"www.413.rayblogs.org\">www.413.rayblogs.org</a>','Hello world!','','inherit','open','closed','','1-revision-2','','','2009-09-22 07:57:10','2009-09-22 12:57:10','',1,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/?p=5',0,'revision','',0),(368,6,'2009-09-13 10:21:09','2009-09-13 15:21:09','<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"></a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"185\" height=\"115\" /> </a></p>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Welcome to our web blog for preschool room 413. We hope you enjoy learning about what we\'re doing each week. Please check out our &quot;blogroll&quot; to the right and our special pages, including our Handbook. Like all the preschools in Chicago Public Schools, our program is <span><span><strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> . This includes some direct instruction to make sure that students are getting the social and academic skills they will need to be successful in all their school years.\n</span> </span></p>','Welcome to Ray Tuition-Based Preschool in Hyde Park Room 413','','inherit','open','closed','','357-revision-3','','','2009-09-13 10:21:09','2009-09-13 15:21:09','',357,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/?p=368',0,'revision','',0),(60,151,'2009-09-22 16:29:04','0000-00-00 00:00:00','','First Day of School','','draft','open','open','','','','','2009-09-22 16:29:04','0000-00-00 00:00:00','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=60',0,'post','',0),(61,151,'2007-09-30 06:42:15','2007-09-30 11:42:15','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a>','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Preschool Class','','publish','open','open','','welcome-to-ms-janes-preschool-class','','','2007-09-30 06:42:15','2007-09-30 11:42:15','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/09/30/welcome-to-ms-janes-preschool-class/',0,'post','',0),(8,151,'2007-09-30 06:57:05','2007-09-30 11:57:05','<strong> </strong>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!--    [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--    [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--    [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','publish','open','open','','favorite-authorsillustrators','','','2007-09-30 06:57:05','2007-09-30 11:57:05','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/favorite-authorsillustrators/',3,'page','',0),(9,151,'2007-09-30 06:57:42','2007-09-30 11:57:42','(In planning stages for school year 2008-2009)','Field Trips','','publish','open','open','','field-trips','','','2007-09-30 06:57:42','2007-09-30 11:57:42','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/field-trips/',4,'page','',0),(10,151,'2007-09-30 06:58:48','2007-09-30 11:58:48','<!--     [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--     [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--     [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<div class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 26pt\">RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>\n\n</div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">School starts this year on September 8.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving. There are late fees (see below).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Illness</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 12 (Columbus Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 6 (Professional Development Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Feb. 12 (Lincoln\'s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Feb. 15 (Presidents\' Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mar. 1 (Pulaski\'s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mar. 29-Apr. 2 (Spring Break)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">May 31 (Memorial Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The last day of preschool is June 16.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers. The exception to this is Nov. 6 where all the preschools will be closed.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tuition for this year is $240.00 a week, to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please bring in the following:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->Bandaids</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> <strong>Please dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Meals </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> Hot lunch is $1.85 a day. You should pay for meals for the week on Mondays. <em>It is easiest for us if you could put your cash in an envelope with your child\'s name, the amount of money inside, and what it\'s for. We\'ll have a basket for envelopes. </em> The school provides an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We also ask parents to bring in snacks for morning and late afternoon (<em>see Sheet Washing/Snacks below</em> ).<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, humus and pita bread, bagels and cream cheese, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks. We can cook in the classroom, however. If you would like to bring in ingredients for a cooking project, please do. We\'ll have a recipe book available for you or you can suggest your own recipe for us to cook.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Naps</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>\n\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.\n<!--     [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--     [endif]-->\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send in <strong>snacks</strong> for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing. This will happen once or maybe twice during the school year.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 18 and April 21.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email your child\'s teacher. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call the teacher during the day.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Open House</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Open House is on  ?? (to be announced) at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Homework</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">To encourage your child\'s pre-reading skills, you should also talk to your child and allow your child to talk to you. A good vocabulary is key to being a successful reader. Use big words and explain them. Allow your child to experiment with language without correcting - model, don\'t correct. Expose them to new ideas and experiences and give them new vocabulary words to go with them.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also would like you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> Chores are full of math, such as sorting socks, getting the mail (look at addresses and stamps), cleaning bedrooms (&quot;get me 3 toys to put away. Now get me 4 more.&quot;)</span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Encourage your child to solve their own problems</strong> , though &quot;scaffold&quot; or support them in their problem solving. If they are having a hard time putting on a piece of clothing, give them time to work it through before stepping in. If they are trying to figure out how a toy works, leave them alone to figure it out. Give them encouragement but let them own their successes, and failures.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, <strong>YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!</strong> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ray Library</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each week, your child will go to the Ray Library with Ms. Travis. She will help them select a book at the end of the class and they will bring it back in a yellow plastic bag with your child\'s name on it. DO NOT LOSE THE BAG! You will use this all year to transport Ray Library books to and from school. We\'ll have a box in the classroom for returned book bags. The bags with new books will be in your child\'s cubby.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Website</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our web blog is <strong>http://413.rayblogs.org</strong> .  We try to keep them updated with news about the classroom and upcoming events, as well as have resources and web sites for your information. If you have news from your family you\'d like to share or special information, please send it to us and we\'ll add it. Examples: recipes, Lunar New Years traditions and stories, information about local events, etc.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Donations      from the wish list</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with projects</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Science Week presentation</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> Some examples from the past: a </span> chemistry experiment with the children<span></span> ; teaching children to jump-rope; celebration of Ramadan; making <span></span> dumplings with the children for Asian New Year; carpen<span></span> try project; sewing; teaching a dance or a song; reading a favorite story; cooking; photography project; yoga for children. <span></span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular and frequent basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor and fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools. If you\'re not sure if your volunteering hours requires this, check with the teacher.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $15.00. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>','Handbook','','publish','open','open','','handbook','','','2007-09-30 06:58:48','2007-09-30 11:58:48','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/handbook/',5,'page','',1),(11,151,'2007-09-30 06:59:59','2007-09-30 11:59:59','<p align=\"left\"></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em><strong>Recipes</strong> </em></p>\n\n<strong>Sean’s Mom’s dumpling recipe</strong>\n\n<strong>Making the dough</strong>\n\nIn a big bowl, add about 6 cups of all-purpose flour (non-sifted, bleached). Add 1 teaspoonful of salt, water and stir with your hands at the same time until all lumpy. Knead the dough to consistency. The dough should feel soft. cover with a wet paper towel for about half hour.\n\n<strong>mixing stuffing</strong>\n\n2 lb of ground meat (pork or chicken)\n\n2 tablespoon of soy sauce\n\nchopped ginger root (1x 1 inch)\n\nchopped green onion (3)\n\n1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of chicken broth\n\n1 egg\n\nstir in one direction until all mixed. The mix should feel slurpy.\n\nchop up vegetable of your choice. mix with meat mix. I used half medium napa cabbage. celery and green pepper can be good too. for cabbage only, after chopping, you need to add a little salt, wait for 10-15 min before extracting juice by squeezing. De-juiced cabbage now is ready to add to the meat mix. adjust flavor by adding more salt.\n\nStir in one direction and mixing.\n\nNow, you are ready for action. cut dough into a few pieces (for easier handling). Knead, and roll it into a long string. Cut into little pieces and roll with a roller into a round wrap. MAKE dumpling.\n\n<strong>Cook</strong>\n\nBring water to boil, add dumplings (you can boiling quite a few in each pot, as long as it’s not too crowded). bring to boil again, add 2 cups of cold water. repeat this 2 more times. Your dumplings are ready. Enjoy!\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Pumpkin Pie</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\">(from “The Joy of Cooking”)</p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>Preparing the pumpkin:</strong> No need to use canned pumpkin any more. Fresh pumpkin tastes much better and it’s pretty easy to prepare. You can also freeze the pureed pulp for use later.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Cut up a small pumpkin (or larger one if you need to). Take out the seeds and string. Cut it into chunks about as big as your hand and put it in a pot with 1-2 cups of water. Steam until soft. When it’s cool, peel the skin off the pulp. You can now put the pulp in a food processor or blender and puree.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Beat together:</p>\n<p align=\"left\">3 eggs</p>\n<p align=\"left\">2 cups pumpkin puree</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 ½ cups light cream or evaporated milk, or ¾ cup heavy cream and ¾ cup milk</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ cup sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 teaspoon cinnamon</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 teaspoon ginger</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ teaspoon nutmeg</p>\n<p align=\"left\">¼ teaspoon cloves or allspice</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ teaspoon salt</p>\n<p align=\"left\"></p>\n\n<ol>\n	<li>Whip      the eggs in a bowl.</li>\n	<li>Whisk      in the rest of the ingredients.</li>\n	<li>Pour      the pie filling into a pie shell.</li>\n	<li>Bake      at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Put a toothpick in the center of the pie. If it comes out clean, it’s done.</li>\n</ol>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Cranberry Relish</strong></p>\n<p align=\"left\">2 peeled oranges</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 bag cranberries</p>\n<p align=\"left\">3/4 to 1 cup of sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1/2 cup crushed pineapple</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Grind together (or put in processor or blender) cranberries and oranges. Add sugar and pineapple. Enjoy!</p>\n<p align=\"left\">**********************************************************************</p>\n<p align=\"left\">***********************************************************************</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(From a preschool parent about the Chinese Moon Festival)<strong> </strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Origin of the Moon Festival</strong></p>\n\n<ul>The choice of the festival’s theme — celebrating the glories and mysteries of the moon — was a natural. Along with the sun, the moon has long been an object of human curiosity and worship. “It is probable that sun and moon were early held to be deities and that they were the first visible objects of worship,” according to the book “Sketches of the History of Man.” To the most ancient ancestors of the Chinese, the sun and the moon were considered the “chief objects of veneration,” according to records dating to the Han dynasty emperor Wu Di (157-87 B.C.).In ancient Asian mythology, there is a strong relationship between the moon and water. The moon is said to regulate reservoirs and supplies of water. There is a suggestion that the moon produces fertility and freshness in the soil. The moon’s role in bountiful harvests is widely recognized during autumns around the world.In Chinese celestial cosmology, the moon represents the female principle, or yin. During ancient autumn Moon Festivals, women took center stage because the moon is considered feminine. Only women took part in Moon Festival rituals on the night of the full moon. Altars would be set up in households, and when the full moon appeared, women would make offerings of incense, candles, fruit, flowers, and mooncakes.The enduring legend of the Moon Goddess, Chang E (Chang E in other transliterations), reflects the feminine principle of yin, as opposed to the masculine principle of yang, which is symbolized by the sun.\n<strong> </strong></ul>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n<ul>Mooncakes have played a central role in Moon Festival traditions. Once, according to Chinese legend, mooncakes helped bring about a revolution. The time was the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368), established by the invading Mongolians from the north. The Mongolians subjugated the Han Chinese.According to one Chinese folk tale, a Han Chinese rebel leader named Liu Fu Tong devised a scheme to arouse the Han Chinese to rise up against the ruling Mongols to end the oppressive Yuan dynasty. He sought permission from Mongolian leaders to give gifts to friends as a symbolic gesture to honor the longevity of the Mongolian emperor. These gifts were round mooncakes. Inside, Liu had his followers place pieces of paper with the date the Han Chinese were to strike out in rebellion — on the fifteenth night of the eighth month.Thus Liu got word to his people, who when they cut open the mooncakes found the revolutionary message and set out to overthrow the Mongols, thus ending the Yuan dynasty.Today, far from the exotic and heroic legends, Chinese communities all over the world make and consume mooncakes during the traditional autumn Moon Festival. In San Francisco’s Chinatown, during the eighth annual Moon Festival, many stores will be selling modern-day mooncakes, the continuation of an honored tradition.</ul>\n</li>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Legend of Chang E</strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/ChangEr.gif\"><img src=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/tn-ChangEr.gif\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Chang O\" hspace=\"10\" vspace=\"10\" width=\"120\" height=\"178\" align=\"left\" /> </a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/ChangEr.gif\"> </a></p>\n\nNo one is certain of all the details of the Chang E legend, but the story goes something like this:Chang E was a beautiful young girl working in the Jade Emperor’s palace in heaven, where immortals, good people and fairies lived. One day, she accidentally broke a precious porcelain jar. Angered, the Jade Emperor banished her to live on earth, where ordinary people lived. She could return to the Heaven, if she contributed a valuable service on earth.Chang E was transformed into a member of a poor farming family. When she was 18, a young hunter named Hou Yi from another village spotted her, now a beautiful young woman. They became friends.\n\nOne day, a strange phenomenon occurred — 10 suns arose in the sky instead one one, blazing the earth. Hou Yi, an expert archer, stepped forward to try to save the earth. He successfully shot down nine of the suns, becoming an instant hero. He eventually became king and married Chang E.\n\nBut Hou Yi grew to become a despot. He sought immortality by ordering an elixir be created to prolong his life. The elixir in the form of a single pill was almost ready when Chang E came upon it. She either accidentally or purposely swallowed the pill. This angered King Hou Yi, who went after his wife. Trying to flee, she jumped out the window of a chamber at the top of palace — and, instead of falling, she floated into the sky toward the moon.\n\nKing Hou Yi tried to shoot her down with arrows, but without success. Once on the moon, Chang E became a three-legged toad, as punishment from the Queen Mother, according to one version of the legend. Her companion, a rabbit, is constantly pounding the elixir of immortality in a large mortar.\n\nThe moon is also inhabited by a wood cutter who tries to cut down the cassia tree, giver of life. But as fast as he cuts into the tree, it heals itself, and he never makes any progress. The Chinese use this image of the cassia tree to explain mortal life on earth — the limbs are constantly being cut away by death, but new buds continually appear.\n\nMeanwhile, King Hou Yi ascended to the sun and built a palace. So Chang E and Hou Yi came to represent the yin and yang, the moon and the sun.\n<p align=\"center\"><a title=\"Mooncake\" name=\"Mooncake\"></a> <span style=\"font-size: x-small;color: #990000\"><strong>Origin of Mooncake</strong> </span></p>\n</ul>','Home Fun','','publish','open','open','','fun-stuff-from-home','','','2007-09-30 06:59:59','2007-09-30 11:59:59','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/fun-stuff-from-home/',6,'page','',0),(13,151,'2007-09-30 07:01:36','2007-09-30 12:01:36','<strong>The Garden Song <em>(”Inch by Inch”)</em> </strong>\n<em>Have your child show you the hand signs that go with this</em>\n<em>Refrain:</em>\nInch by inch, row by row,\nGonna make this garden grow.\nAll it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground.\nInch by inch, row by row,\nSomeone bless these seeds I sow,\nSomeone warm them from below\n‘Til the rain comes tumblin’ down.\n\nPullin’ weeds, pickin’ stones,\nWe are made of dreams and bones.\nI feel the need to grow my own ‘cause the time is near at hand.\nGrain for grain,\nSun and rain,\nI find my way in nature’s chain,\nI tune by body and my brain to the music of the land.\n(refrain)\n\nPlant your rows straight and long,\nTemper them with prayer and song.\nMother Earth will make you strong if you give her love and care.\nSee that crow watching hungrily\nFrom his perch on yonder tree.\nIn my garden I’m as free as that feathered thief up there\n(refrain)\n\n<strong>Bonnie the Beautiful Butterfly</strong>\n\nBonnie the beautiful butterfly\nFlies around all day.\nIn the night when the sun goes down\nShe folds her wings away.\nSpiders may crawl through the forest at night.\nLightening bugs blink off and on,\nBut Bonnie the beautiful butterfly\nKeeps her wings folded ‘til dawn.\nAnd when the sun rose in the morning\nBonnie would wake up and yawn.\nShe’d fold her wings out\nAnd flutter about\nAnd suddenly she would be gone.\n\n<strong>Who Has Seen the Wind?</strong>\n\nWho has seen the wind?\nNeither you nor I.\nBut when the leaves hang trembling,\nThe wind is passing by.\n\nWho has seen the wind?\nNeither I nor you.\nBut when the trees bow down their heads,\nThe wind is passing through.\n\n<strong>Baby Beluga</strong>\n\nBaby Beluga in the deep blue sea\nYou swim so wild and you swim so free.\nHeaven above and the sea below\nAnd a little white whale on the go.\n\nBaby Beluga\nBaby Beluga\nIs the water warm?\nIs your mama home with you so happy?\n\nWay down yonder where the dolphins play\nWhere you dive and splash all day\nThe waves roll in and the waves roll out\nSee the water squirtin’ out of your spout.\n\nBaby Beluga,\nBaby Beluga,\nSing your little song,\nSing for all your friends we like to hear you.\n\nWhen it’s dark and you’re home and fed\nCurl up snug in your water bed\nThe moon is shining and the stars are out.\nGood night little whale good night.\n\nBaby Beluga,\nBaby Beluga,\nWith tomorrow’s sun\nAnother day’s begun, you’ll soon be waking.\n\nBaby Beluga in the deep blue sea;\nYou swim so wild and you swim so free.\nHeaven above and the sea below,\nAnd a little white whale on the go.\nYou’re just a little white whale on the go.\n\n<strong>AUTUMN TO MAY</strong>\n\nOh once I had a little dog, his color it was brown\nI taught him for to whistle, to sing and dance and run\nHis legs they were fourteen yards long, his ears so very wide\nAround the world in half a day, upon him I could ride.\n\nSing tarry-o day, sing, autumn to may.\n\nOh once I had a little frog, he wore a vest of red\nHe’d lean upon his silver cane, a top hat on his head\nHe’d speak of far off places, of things to see and do,\nOf all the kings and queens he’d met while sailing in a shoe.\n\nSing tarry-o day, sing, autumn to may.\n\nOh once I had a flock of sheep, they grazed upon a feather\nI’d keep them in a music box from wind or rainy weather\nAnd every day the sun would shine, they’d fly all through the town\nTo bring me back some golden rings, candy by the pound.\n\nSing tarry-o day, sing, autumn to may.\n\nOh once I had a downey swan, she was so very frail\nShe sat upon an oyster shell and hatched me out a snail\nThe snail had changed into a bird, the bird to butterfly\nAnd he who tells a bigger tale would have to tell a lie.\n\nSing tarry-o day, sing, autumn to may.','Songs','','publish','open','open','','songs','','','2007-09-30 07:01:36','2007-09-30 12:01:36','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/songs/',9,'page','',1),(14,151,'2007-09-30 07:02:20','2007-09-30 12:02:20','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> : I am a state-certified teacher in Room 413. I received a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and have been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. I am also the parent of two children, both alumni of Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\n<strong>Deirdre Dietrichson:</strong> 2008-2009 will be my 6th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do.  I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and a grandmother and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','publish','open','open','','teachers','','','2007-09-30 07:02:20','2007-09-30 12:02:20','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/teachers/',10,'page','',0),(15,151,'2007-09-30 07:03:08','2007-09-30 12:03:08','<p align=\"center\"><strong>Zoo Stories</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>By the Children in Room 413 After Their Field Trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo</em></p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Zoo Train</em> by Carter</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once upon a time there was a boy named Carter. He liked Legos Zoo Train. An elephant and a monkey and a lion and a giraffe and a tiger and a flamingo.</p>\n<p align=\"left\"></p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em> The Zoo </em> by Austin</p>\n<p align=\"left\">A dolphin. The tiger. The baby jaguar. The pumas. The penguins. The monkeys. The speckled bear. The gorilla. The sharks. The whale. The animals on the train.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Hippo</em> by Kahlil</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The hippo was really sad cause he can\'t swim. He can\'t swim because he\'s too fat. Cause he ate too much. He ate too much because he was hungry. He was hungry because he liked to be strong.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Farm</em> by John</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I went in the farm. And I saw cows washing and milking at the same time. And I saw them poop. And it was yucky. I got to pet the goats.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Lion</em> by Ian</p>\n<p align=\"left\">It was on the rocks. It roared. It got off.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Hyena Gets Eaten By the Lion </em> by Rikesh</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once upon a time there was a hyena. And a badger. Soon the badger was gone. Soon a lion came. The hyena said to himself, &quot;Maybe that lion late Badger.&quot; Soon the lion made and awful ROAR! The hyena started to run. The lion chased after the hyena. The hyena started to run superfast. But the lion was catching up. The lion wrapped the hyena with its giant claw and pulled him up with all his might. The hyena couldn\'t escape. The lion squeeze the hyena\'s leg harder. Soon the lion ate him in one gulp.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Lion</em> by Ahmad</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The lion was sleeping and then he woke up and he ate a bird.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(Editor\'s note: we really witnessed this! Poor pidgeon shouldn\'t have landed 2 feet from the lioness ....)</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Arthur</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I saw a dragon and it and the lion bit the flamingos. Then the lion got out of his cage and then it tried to bite all the animals, but not the animals that were in the glass, and not even the Kapuchen monkeys.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(Editor\'s note: We saw a zebra that was having seizures. The veterinarians had been there to check on it. The following stories are reflect the children\'s fascination with this.)</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6578.JPG\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6578.JPG\" alt=\"img_6578.JPG\" width=\"170\" height=\"128\" /> </a> <a title=\"img_6579.JPG\" href=\"void(0)\"> <img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6579.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"172\" height=\"131\" /> </a></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Zebra</em> by Auden</p>\n<p align=\"left\">It was sick. It was lying down. It was in a truck. The zebras were standing up. Because they weren\'t sick.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Surgery Truck for the Zebra</em> by Ben</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The surgery truck was feeling the zebra\'s heart. And it was not beating at all. And the surgery truck knew it was sick. Then they put it in a hospital bed. And it was so sick it rolled over.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Sean</p>\n<p align=\"left\">A zebra was walking. And then it bumped into a lion. The lion was walking but then the lion bumped into a African wild dog.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Niel</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once at the zoo there was a zebra that was sick. Then the mother zebra was very sad. And they lived happily ever after.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By River</p>\n<p align=\"left\">That\'s the zebra laying down. A truck came. The doctor got out the truck. And she checked the zebra\'s whole body.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\">_______________________________________________________________</p>\n<p align=\"center\"></p>\n<p align=\"left\"></p>\n\nSeptember 10, 2007\n\nRia’s Birthday Story\n\nOnce it was my birthday. And her name was Ria. And she had a cake, a chocolate cake. I was really hungry because I wanted lunch.\n\nRosie\n\nOnce upon a time there was me and my dad. I was sleeping  and then there was a bad guy in my room. Then there was a bad Ms. Jane (it wasn’t you). She take my mom and dad! And she hurt my head. It fly and hurt my head, and put the building down. And Bad Ms. Jane fired all the town, and even blocked the tree! And fired the tree! And fired the dress and the shirt. Then it broke my body.  The End\n\nMila\n\nAbout a kid and a monster. Once upon a time there was a monster. The kid’s mommy and daddy hugged me and took them to the water fountain. And they live happily ever after.\n\nBecky\n\nI go to preschool and I go to Spanish class.\n\nJacob\n\nThe monsters were taking me and then I got away and then they were all over the place.\n\nIan\n\nThere was monsters and they were all over the place and then they got dead.\n\nSeptember 4, 2007\n\nMila:\n\nOnce upon a time there was the monsters all over the place. And then the monsters were tearing my head and putting me on the bed. Then I was laughing all over the place. I was landing all around outside. Then I saw the monsters over there and then my mommy and daddy hugged me very much and my mommy and daddy took me home.\n\nArthur:\n\nMy story is monsters were all over the place and there were ghosts all over the place.\n\nRiver:\n\nOne day I saw a monster with my daddy and me and him were all over Chicago. the ghosts were still in the plane and we weren’t in the plane.\n\nCarter:\n\nThere was a bat upstairs in my old school. I gave Ben woodchips so he could get it away. And then one day it was still in there! And then I went upstairs so I could see it and then I run downstairs cause it was still up there.\n\nRosie:\n\nWhen I was sleeping there was a monster that took my mom and dad away. And he was trying to put me away but my head was hurting. And then a sky was on my head. And then the bacterias eat the bad guy away. But it was just a dream.\n\n2/15/08\n\nJACOB’S STORY ABOUT THE MURAL ON THE WALL IN THE HALL- told to me while I was trying to get him to calm down for nap today. He told me a lot more before I realized that I needed to go get a paper and pencil to write down what he was telling me.\n\nThe people in the box [he had earlier described them as tall or long which they clearly are] actually they—the rain [he also described the raindrop as a tear at one point but decided it should be rain instead]—the orange rain is gonna break the box—break it open and then they [the people in the box] will fall near the cheetah and the spider. [I have to admit I hadn’t noticed most of the items he was describing after almost 5 years of passing that wall but he was into all the details].  When they first drop they’ll have to fight these guys but they don’t have a weapon. But they can swim, actually they can’t swim that water cuz that water goes too fast. But actually they will have to  stay and fight those guys until they fall into the pit. Actually there is a pit but you can’t see it near the edge. [This was in response to my query about where the pit was.]\n\nThere’s a volcano, see right there, and when they go inside the volcano they will not die because the volcano fish and not go in the water.\n\nThe creature actually, the little creature that has cherries in his mouth. It’s actually gonna give it to that creature right there. That face is gonna such up the cherries and the stars in the sky.\n\n(Deirdre)','Children\'s Stories','','publish','open','open','','your-childrens-stories','','','2007-09-30 07:03:08','2007-09-30 12:03:08','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/your-childrens-stories/',2,'page','',0),(16,151,'2007-09-30 07:27:09','2007-09-30 12:27:09','The weather this week has been great and we’ve really enjoyed being outside. Many of the kids play in the sandbox. Some like the equipment the best. We’ll be enhancing outside play with jump ropes, balls, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, kites, hop scotch, nature exploration (garden, trees, birds, bugs, worms), and anything else we can think of. If you have a special idea, please let us know.\n\nInside the classroom we’re expanding our centers some. Mila and Ms. Jane each brought in dead monarch butterflies to look at. Many of our children are really enjoying the blocks this year. We have lots of things to add to the blocks, including vehicles, animals, tree blocks, legos, etc. We’ll be bringing in other materials, too, such as piping, cardboard boxes, etc.\n\nWe are still learning about names. This week we read “Tikki Tikki Tembo” who had such a long name that when he fell in the well he almost drown because it took so long to say it. Thanks to those of you who sent your name letters in. We’ll be starting on those tomorrow and doing them next week. If you would like to stay and read yours to your child, let me know so I can plan for that.\n<p align=\"center\"><img src=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/tikki%20tikki%20tembo.jpg\" alt=\"tikki tikki tembo.jpg\" height=\"96\" width=\"80\" /><img src=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/chrysanthemum.jpg\" alt=\"chrysanthemum.jpg\" height=\"96\" width=\"78\" /><img src=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/Catalina%20Magdalena.jpg\" alt=\"Catalina Magdalena.jpg\" height=\"96\" width=\"122\" /></p>\nIn Spanish, the children learned how to greet each other saying “Buenos Dias” and learned the Buenos Dias song. Srta. Diaz comes in three times a week and sometimes has a formal session with the children and sometimes sits and speaks to them in Spanish only so they get to hear what the language sounds like.\n\nNext week: more apples, more fun name books, cutting, cooking hand-made pasta with Sophia’s mom, the beginning of our art classes (Thursday), starting our journals, sorting activities, visual exploration (5 senses), opening other centers (Listening Center, Sandbox, Sensory, etc.), finish pillows.\n<ul>\n	<li>Please be sure to send in your emergency forms. I know you may have already filled one out when you registered your child. Please fill it out again. We’ll be asking for new ones in the spring, so be forewarned!</li>\n	<li>Library books on Monday (Ray Library books)</li>\n	<li>Gym shoes on Tuesday</li>\n	<li>Check your mailboxes at the front door daily</li>\n	<li>Extra clothing for your child’s cubby</li>\n</ul>\nIf you have any concerns about your child, please email me or call me in the classroom at 535-0954.\n\nLearning About the Classroom\n\nMorning Meeting\n\nThis year we are starting something new in our classroom. It’s called “Morning Meeting.” This is different from a “circle time” because it has a definite structure and a different purpose. Soon after 9am (don’t be late!) we’ll gather on the rug for our meeting. It usually lasts about 10-15 minutes.\nGreeting: We start with a finger song to get us in the rhythm of the day and then we greet each other. We might greet each other in English or in Spanish. We also do our day of the week song.\nSharing: Next is our sharing time. During this time each child is given the opportunity to say something about what’s going on with them. This has become a very important part of our morning because it is during sharing time that we connect with each other as a community. We learn about happy and sad things, things we have in common and things that are unique about us. It is a time for children to practice their conversation and listening skills (and listening to people other than the grownup is a powerful lesson!). I am impressed at how much children participate and attend to each other during this time.\n\nGroup activity: After sharing, we do a quick group activity. It is usually a movement activity since sitting still is perhaps the hardest thing we can ask our students to do. We might also talk about things having to do with getting along with each other, classroom rules, etc. It is a very brief instructional period since large group instruction in preschool is probably the least effective way of teaching.\n\nNews and Announcements: During this time I go over what we will be doing that day and what activities are available to the children. The children can choose what they’d like to do at this time.\n\nFeel free to stay sometime for morning meeting. I think you’ll enjoy it!\n\n<a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/13/sept-13-2007/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent link to Sept. 13, 2007\">Permalink</a> 				<a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/13/sept-13-2007/#respond\" title=\"Comment on Sept. 13, 2007\">Comments</a>\n\n<!-- 				 		 				-->\n<h2><a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/09/sept-7-2007/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent link to Sept. 7, 2007\">Sept. 7, 2007</a></h2>\nSeptember 9, 2007 @ 9:17 pm  				· Filed under <a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/messages/\" title=\"View all posts in Messages\" rel=\"category tag\">Messages</a>				 · <a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/admin/post.php?token=5851173a7d500eeb90df531a58583ea0ef1b0133&amp;action=edit&amp;post=967\">Edit</a>\n\nWe had a great first week. The kids are getting to know each other, the classroom and their teachers. We’ve toured the school, met many of the adults it will be important for us to know (office staff, gym teacher, other preschool teachers). We are getting a routine down that seems to be comfortable for everyone and have even started making rules for the classroom.\n\nI gave the kids their first homework assignment. First, this is the time of year that monarch butterflies are swarming and getting ready to migrate south. I’ve asked them to keep their eyes open and try and see some monarch butterflies. We read a non-fiction book about monarchs, played with a butterfly puppet and started learning a preschool favorite song: Bonnie the Beautiful Butterfly. Please help your child notice the butterflies as you walk around the neighborhood.\n\nWe also read a book called “The Kissing Hand.” A kissing hand is one that has a parent’s kiss planted on the center of a child’s palm. It doesn’t wash or rub off but is available to the child whenever they need to think of their parent. Children can give kissing hands to parents, too. I asked the children to give you a kissing hand and get one from you. Please feel free to stop and look at the book. It’s very sweet.\n<p align=\"center\"><img src=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/Kissing%20Hand.thumbnail.gif\" alt=\"Kissing Hand.gif\" height=\"96\" width=\"77\" /></p>\n<strong>Names\n</strong>\n\nThis week we will continue to learn about our names. We’ll be encouraging children to learn their first and last names (and middle for some), learn the letters of their names, count the letters of their names, and lots of other name games. We’ll also be starting to sign in this week. Ms. H., our morning aide, will help your child with this.\n\n<strong>Signing In</strong>\n\nYour child’s name is the most important word in the world to your child. While we encourage your child to write, we accept whatever they give us. It might look like a squiggle, their letters may be backward, it may only have one letter. Each day when they sign in by writing their name, they are moving closer to understanding what writing is about, so please refrain from holding their hand while they write or trying to correct. Have faith that it will come when your child is ready, well before they start kindergarten.\n\n<strong>Home Project</strong>\n\nAs part of our name study, we would like you to write a letter to your child explaining how you came up with their name when they were born. Please write your letter in your family’s first language, with an English translation if you’d like. You are invited to stay a little in the morning so you can read this letter to the class during morning meeting (9:15). If you can’t stay, we will read the letter for you.\n\n<strong>Housekeeping</strong>\n\nSnacks and Sheets:\n\nI sent home the sheet schedule. It was suggested that we use this as the snack schedule also. If you could please send in snacks for the classroom the week you are assigned to take sheets home, we would have enough snacks for morning and late afternoon. The school will be providing snacks for the afternoon.\n\nIf you are paying the larger tuition payment for hot lunch, your child is also entitled to breakfast. Please make sure your child is here by 8:30 if you want breakfast. It is over at 9:00.\n\nClass trip: Mark your calendars for October 11, 9-1pm for our first trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory. We will be doing a special preschool activity with the staff there and seeing the “Niki in the Park” exhibit. WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS TRIP!!!!\n\n<a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/09/sept-7-2007/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent link to Sept. 7, 2007\">Permalink</a> 				<a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/09/sept-7-2007/#respond\" title=\"Comment on Sept. 7, 2007\">Comments</a>\n\n<!-- 				 		 				-->\n<h2><a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/04/first-day/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent link to First Day\">First Day</a></h2>\nSeptember 4, 2007 @ 7:04 pm  				· Filed under <a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/messages/\" title=\"View all posts in Messages\" rel=\"category tag\">Messages</a>				 · <a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/admin/post.php?token=cfb004664cd412c912768fe82ea3a8ee3f4b93dc&amp;action=edit&amp;post=958\">Edit</a>\n\nWe had a wonderful first day. The few separation tears we had stopped within a few minutes as children got busy learning the classroom. We had our morning meeting where we started learning each others’ names, had a tour of the classroom and did activities in  the room (thanks to Auden’s mom for the puppet cut-outs!). We then read <em>“Owl Babies” </em>by Martin Waddell. We played outside after that for about an hour, exploring the sand box and playground areas. After lunch we had a reading time (children are read to in small groups or read independently) and then had nap time. Tomorrow we will start talking about rules for the classroom, learn to take care of the plants and fish, and celebrate our first birthday!\n<p align=\"center\"><img src=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/owl%20babies.jpeg\" alt=\"Owl Babies\" height=\"96\" width=\"118\" /></p>\n 				<a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/04/first-day/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent link to First Day\">Permalink</a> 				<a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/04/first-day/#respond\" title=\"Comment on First Day\">Comments</a>\n\n<!-- 				 		 				-->\n<h2><a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/02/preschool-opening/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent link to Preschool Opening\">Preschool Opening</a></h2>\nSeptember 2, 2007 @ 9:56 am  				· Filed under <a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/messages/\" title=\"View all posts in Messages\" rel=\"category tag\">Messages</a>,  <a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/weekly-posts/\" title=\"View all posts in Weekly Posts\" rel=\"category tag\">Weekly Posts</a>				 · <a href=\"http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/admin/post.php?token=52d0c2642c3ca4191d9852d95dff7a2ea0401af9&amp;action=edit&amp;post=957\">Edit</a>\n\nHi Everyone!\nI hope you’re as excited as I am about starting school! Here are some things to remember:\n\n1) Please arrive on time (before 9 am), Sign in at the back door and write down when you expect to pick up your child. Help your child find their cubby and put their stuff away. Then help your child wash their hands. Please do this <u>every morning.</u>  Next week we will start having the children sign in and write their names (more on this later).\n\n2) Please bring the following:\n–<strong>change of clothing</strong> (we have a box with a lid for your child in their cubby for extra clothes)\n–<strong>medical form</strong> (KEEP ORIGINAL) completed by your child’s doctor\n–all <strong>emergency phone numbers</strong>\n–an <strong>extra blanket or pillow</strong> if your child needs it (our new blankets are more lightweight than I thought; we do have some extras for when it’s chilly in the room; we’ll be making pillows over the next couple of weeks)\n–<strong>supplies if your child’s last name begins with A-L</strong> (see blog for supply list)\n–<strong>family photo</strong> to help your child feel connected to you (you may or may not get it back, so send a copy)\n\n3) Plan to stay for a little while to fill out paper work, have a cup of coffee, etc., meet other parents, help your child get settled\n\n4) You must pick your child up by 6:00pm. If you think you’ll be late, arrange for someone else to pick your child up and call us to let us know. For those of you whose children have never been in an all-day day care, you may want to come early for a few days to minimize stress on your child.\n\nOur classroom phone number is:  773-535-0954. You are welcome to call any time. Our naptime is roughly between 1 and 2;30. If there is no answer in the room, you may call the office at 773-535-0970.\n\nSee you all on Tuesday!!!!','Posts in September','','publish','open','open','','posts-in-september','','','2007-09-30 07:27:09','2007-09-30 12:27:09','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/09/30/posts-in-september/',0,'post','',0),(17,151,'2007-09-30 07:28:51','2007-09-30 12:28:51','What a great week we’ve had! The children are buzzing along, learning new routines, figuring out what kinds of things they like to do, exploring each other and the classroom. Some of the highlights of the week: planting chrysanthemums outside our classroom and reading the book, “Chrysanthemum”; reading the “Name letters” that you wrote for your child; having our first art class (it will be on display in the hallway); learning new songs, like “The Green Grass Grows All Around” and “The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night”; acting out our journal stories, and so much more. The absolute highlight of the week, however, was our 2-day cooking project with Sophia’s mom, Karen, who made homemade pasta with the children and then macaroni and cheese. What made it really special was the twist she did to accommodate some children with food allergies: she made spagetti out of a spagetti squash! It was cool to see it come out all stringy like flour and egg spagetti. Many of the children liked both kinds.\n\nThis week we’ll be painting our wood sculptures (note: not everyone did one), doing more planting, math games, shapes, apple graphing, making apple sauce, chalk drawing, counting in Spanish, The Three Bears, and whatever else we come up with.\n\n<strong>HELP!</strong>\n\nWe need some more wood pieces and someone to help us cut them. If you have a table saw and/or access to wood scraps, we sure could use them. I also picked up some pvc pipe and connectors to use in the building area. If you have a way to help us cut it, please let me know.\n\n<strong>THANKYOU! </strong>\n\nThanks to those of you who brought snacks in. We’ll try and work out a system at Open House on Wednesday night so we can share this.\n\nThanks again and again to Karen Macklin for the cool cooking project. Karen is interested in becoming a chef and wants to lots more cooking with our students.\n\n<strong>Student Teacher</strong>\n\nFor those of you who haven’t met Yoella Watkins, she is doing a practicum from Harold Washington College and will be with us in the mornings until December. Some days she’ll spend in Ms. Bethanie’s and Mr. Jeff’s rooms.\n\n<strong>REMINDERS:</strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Please fill out the directory form for the <strong>Ray School Directory</strong>. It is a very useful tool for all of us. If you do not want your name listed, please let me know.</li>\n	<li><strong>CANDY SALE!</strong> Remember, candy sale orders/donations are due Oct. 4.</li>\n	<li><strong>Library books </strong>and the bags they came in are due on Mondays.</li>\n	<li><strong>OPEN HOUSE is WEDNESDAY NIGHT at 7:00PM</strong>. If you can arrange childcare, you will get more out of it since you won’t have to mind your child. Please come with questions and suggestions.</li>\n	<li><strong>TRIP FORMS</strong> are going home Monday. Please fill them out and send in money for the plays. They are $7.00 a ticket. We have a limited number of tickets for chapperones, so if you want to go, get your money in early. Our first trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory is on Thursday, Oct. 11. <strong>WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS TRIP!!!</strong> It is free for both you and your child.</li>\n	<li>If you haven’t sent in your <strong>letter to your child</strong> about how you came up with his or her name, please do so. We’d like every child to have one so no one feels left out. We’ll be putting them up on the back bulletin board.</li>\n	<li>If you haven’t turned in your <strong>EMERGENCY FORM</strong>, please do so right away. We must be able to reach you or your representative if your child gets sick or hurt.</li>\n</ul>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>DON’T FORGET THE 57th ST. BOOK FAIR ON SUNDAY, 1-6PM</strong>!  Volunteer signup is on the back door.</p>','Sept 21 2007','','publish','open','open','','sept-21-2007-2','','','2007-09-30 07:28:51','2007-09-30 12:28:51','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/09/30/sept-21-2007-2/',0,'post','',0),(18,151,'2007-09-30 07:30:27','2007-09-30 12:30:27','This week was full of planting, looking at trees, apples … lots of vegetation! What a great way to get ready for fall. We planted our chrysanthemums last week and have been learning to take care of them. This week we planted carrot seeds inside the classroom and read <em>“The Carrot Seed.”</em> We re-potted our African Violets in the house area, and even planted apple seeds. Next week if the kids still want to get their hands in dirt, we’ll see about planting some bulbs outside (feel free to send some in if you have extra).  On Friday, the children made <strong>apple sauce</strong>. This involved washing, cutting, cooking, and smashing apples. It was great! I hope you all got to try some.\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/carrotseed.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/carrotseed.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/carrotseed.jpg\" alt=\"carrotseed.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"99\" /></a>\n\nI think the highlight of the week was when the city’s chipper truck came by while we were on the playground. Mr. Pearson, the man whose job it is to cut down low-hanging branches and put them in to be chopped for mulch, explained to us how his tools and the truck work. It was great watching him work. As we went inside, we sang the tree song: “The Green Grass Grows All Around” (see songs list).\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_2546.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_2546.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_2546.JPG\" alt=\"Chipper Truck\" height=\"128\" width=\"170\" /></a>\n\nThanks to everyone who came to Open House this week. Some of the things we talked about:  why play for children is vital to lifelong learning (see article on blogroll about play from American Pediatric Association), Parent Advisory Committee for tuition-based prek parents (see PAC page), Learning Nights, CHECK YOUR MAILBOXES DAILY, field trips, older buddies, snacks, clothing in school, lending library.\n<ul>\n	<li>Some important notes: on days when Ray is closed for professional development but our classroom is open, there is no hot lunch. You must send a bag lunch.</li>\n	<li>Help your child sign in in the morning, but please do not hold their hand, make dots, or  have them re-write it \"better.\" The writing process is gradual and we want them to have ownership of their signatures, regardless of how they look.</li>\n	<li><strong>Bike-riding Saturdays:</strong> bring your child and their bike to Nichols Park on Saturday mornings at 10:00-11:00 so we can all see each others\' bike and riding ability. I will be there when I can.</li>\n	<li>Make sure tuition payment is on time.</li>\n	<li><strong>Library:</strong> Use the plastic bag provided for your child\'s Ray School Library book each week. You can also sign books out from our classroom. The signout sheet is on top of the cubby. Please keep classroom books only 1 day. Sign it back in when you return it. All books can be returned to the basket by the back door.</li>\n</ul>\n<strong>Next Week </strong>\n\nThis next week we’ll continue to learn more about trucks, trees, planting, and even make some zucchini bread using zucchini harvested from the garden. We’ll also start sewing our pillows, do some fun painting, watch leaves turning and falling, learn about how different weights fall, start making books, and see what else comes our way to learn about.\n\nI would like to do more with children learning about their initials. We started doing this as we were reading your letters. Please work with your child on learning them.  Younger children will probably just get the first letter of their first name, and that\'s fine. This teaches the children about their most important letters, making an important association between alphabet and themselves, as well as reinforcing the concept of first/middle/last.\n\nFeel free to stop by or stay late in the morning.\n\n<strong>Weekly Schedule:</strong>\nMonday: Spanish 9:50-10:20\nLibrary 10:20-11:00\n\nTuesday: Spanish 10:20-11:00\nGym 11:00-11:40\n\nWednesday: 4th/5th Grade buddies 11:45-12:30\n\nThursdays: Art 9:15-10:00\nSpanish 10:20-11:00\n\nFridays: Open (we are negotiating to get music on this day)\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\n\nWe decided at Open House that we would ask the parents doing sheets during the week to bring in snacks for that week. Please bring in enough for 20 children for each day. This sounds like a lot, but they don\'t eat very much. A few crackers, pretzels, some apples or other fruit will hold them until lunch. Some favorites are: rice cakes and cream cheese, carrots, granola bars, cereal bars, pretzels, crackers, healthy cookies, fruit, etc. We have two children with food allergies: one can\'t have dairy or nuts, the other can\'t have dairy or soy. If you get snacks with dairy or nuts, see if you can pick up a few items that don\'t for these two children.  <strong>Please avoid bringing in peanut butter, peanuts, popcorn </strong>(choke-food)<strong>, food with a lot of sugar, such as cookies or cupcakes.</strong> We\'ll have sweet treats occasionally at birthdays and other celebrations.\n\n<strong>Reminders</strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Please send in your trip forms and play money. We have to buy tickets this week.</li>\n	<li>Please make sure your child is dressed for play outside. The weather changes a lot from day to day and we don’t have extra sweaters or jackets for them to wear. As we move into boot weather, you can send in a pair of slippers to keep in the classroom. PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD\'S NAME ON EVERYTHING! Taking clothes off in the cubby can get pretty chaotic and we can\'t always remember who belongs to what.</li>\n	<li>RECYCLE! Save those toilet paper/paper towel/wrapping paper rolls! We\'ll use them for constructions and art projects in the classroom.</li>\n	<li>Remember to have extra clothing for your child in their box. Please include: pants, shirt, underwear, and socks.</li>\n</ul>\n<strong>Wish List\n</strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Clothing: girls underwear, socks, gloves/mittens, jackets/sweaters</li>\n	<li>Tubes (toilet paper, paper towel, wrapping paper, etc.)</li>\n	<li>Homey stuff for our house area, especially things reflecting your family\'s culture</li>\n	<li>bulbs to plant</li>\n	<li>cool-looking leaves and other things from nature</li>\n</ul>','Sept 30 2007','','publish','open','open','','sept-30-2007-2','','','2007-09-30 07:30:27','2007-09-30 12:30:27','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/09/30/sept-30-2007-2/',0,'post','',0),(148,151,'2007-09-30 07:36:18','2007-09-30 12:36:18','<p align=\"left\">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em><strong>Recipes</strong></em></p>\n<strong>Sean’s Mom’s dumpling recipe</strong>\n\n<strong>Making the dough</strong>\n\nIn a big bowl, add about 6 cups of all-purpose flour (non-sifted, bleached). Add 1 teaspoonful of salt, water and stir with your hands at the same time until all lumpy. Knead the dough to consistency. The dough should feel soft. cover with a wet paper towel for about half hour.\n\n<strong>mixing stuffing</strong>\n\n2 lb of ground meat (pork or chicken)\n\n2 tablespoon of soy sauce\n\nchopped ginger root (1x 1 inch)\n\nchopped green onion (3)\n\n1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of chicken broth\n\n1 egg\n\nstir in one direction until all mixed. The mix should feel slurpy.\n\nchop up vegetable of your choice. mix with meat mix. I used half medium napa cabbage. celery and green pepper can be good too. for cabbage only, after chopping, you need to add a little salt, wait for 10-15 min before extracting juice by squeezing. De-juiced cabbage now is ready to add to the meat mix. adjust flavor by adding more salt.\n\nStir in one direction and mixing.\n\nNow, you are ready for action. cut dough into a few pieces (for easier handling). Knead, and roll it into a long string. Cut into little pieces and roll with a roller into a round wrap. MAKE dumpling.\n\n<strong>Cook</strong>\n\nBring water to boil, add dumplings (you can boiling quite a few in each pot, as long as it’s not too crowded). bring to boil again, add 2 cups of cold water. repeat this 2 more times. Your dumplings are ready. Enjoy!\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Pumpkin Pie</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\">(from “The Joy of Cooking”)</p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>Preparing the pumpkin:</strong> No need to use canned pumpkin any more. Fresh pumpkin tastes much better and it’s pretty easy to prepare. You can also freeze the pureed pulp for use later.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Cut up a small pumpkin (or larger one if you need to). Take out the seeds and string. Cut it into chunks about as big as your hand and put it in a pot with 1-2 cups of water. Steam until soft. When it’s cool, peel the skin off the pulp. You can now put the pulp in a food processor or blender and puree.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Beat together:</p>\n<p align=\"left\">3 eggs</p>\n<p align=\"left\">2 cups pumpkin puree</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 ½ cups light cream or evaporated milk, or ¾ cup heavy cream and ¾ cup milk</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ cup sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 teaspoon cinnamon</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 teaspoon ginger</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ teaspoon nutmeg</p>\n<p align=\"left\">¼ teaspoon cloves or allspice</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ teaspoon salt</p>\n<p align=\"left\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<ol>\n	<li>Whip      the eggs in a bowl.</li>\n	<li>Whisk      in the rest of the ingredients.</li>\n	<li>Pour      the pie filling into a pie shell.</li>\n	<li>Bake      at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Put a toothpick in the center of the pie. If it comes out clean, it’s done.</li>\n</ol>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Cranberry Relish</strong></p>\n<p align=\"left\">2 peeled oranges</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 bag cranberries</p>\n<p align=\"left\">3/4 to 1 cup of sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1/2 cup crushed pineapple</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Grind together (or put in processor or blender) cranberries and oranges. Add sugar and pineapple. Enjoy!</p>\n<p align=\"left\">**********************************************************************</p>\n<p align=\"left\">***********************************************************************</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(From a preschool parent about the Chinese Moon Festival)<strong> </strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Origin of the Moon Festival</strong></p>\n\n<ul>The choice of the festival’s theme — celebrating the glories and mysteries of the moon — was a natural. Along with the sun, the moon has long been an object of human curiosity and worship. “It is probable that sun and moon were early held to be deities and that they were the first visible objects of worship,” according to the book “Sketches of the History of Man.” To the most ancient ancestors of the Chinese, the sun and the moon were considered the “chief objects of veneration,” according to records dating to the Han dynasty emperor Wu Di (157-87 B.C.).In ancient Asian mythology, there is a strong relationship between the moon and water. The moon is said to regulate reservoirs and supplies of water. There is a suggestion that the moon produces fertility and freshness in the soil. The moon’s role in bountiful harvests is widely recognized during autumns around the world.In Chinese celestial cosmology, the moon represents the female principle, or yin. During ancient autumn Moon Festivals, women took center stage because the moon is considered feminine. Only women took part in Moon Festival rituals on the night of the full moon. Altars would be set up in households, and when the full moon appeared, women would make offerings of incense, candles, fruit, flowers, and mooncakes.The enduring legend of the Moon Goddess, Chang E (Chang E in other transliterations), reflects the feminine principle of yin, as opposed to the masculine principle of yang, which is symbolized by the sun.\n<strong> </strong></ul>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n<ul>Mooncakes have played a central role in Moon Festival traditions. Once, according to Chinese legend, mooncakes helped bring about a revolution. The time was the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368), established by the invading Mongolians from the north. The Mongolians subjugated the Han Chinese.According to one Chinese folk tale, a Han Chinese rebel leader named Liu Fu Tong devised a scheme to arouse the Han Chinese to rise up against the ruling Mongols to end the oppressive Yuan dynasty. He sought permission from Mongolian leaders to give gifts to friends as a symbolic gesture to honor the longevity of the Mongolian emperor. These gifts were round mooncakes. Inside, Liu had his followers place pieces of paper with the date the Han Chinese were to strike out in rebellion — on the fifteenth night of the eighth month.Thus Liu got word to his people, who when they cut open the mooncakes found the revolutionary message and set out to overthrow the Mongols, thus ending the Yuan dynasty.Today, far from the exotic and heroic legends, Chinese communities all over the world make and consume mooncakes during the traditional autumn Moon Festival. In San Francisco’s Chinatown, during the eighth annual Moon Festival, many stores will be selling modern-day mooncakes, the continuation of an honored tradition.</ul>\n</li>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Legend of Chang E</strong><a href=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/ChangEr.gif\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img src=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/tn-ChangEr.gif\" alt=\"Chang O\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" height=\"178\" hspace=\"10\" vspace=\"10\" width=\"120\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/ChangEr.gif\" rel=\"nofollow\"> </a></p>\nNo one is certain of all the details of the Chang E legend, but the story goes something like this:Chang E was a beautiful young girl working in the Jade Emperor’s palace in heaven, where immortals, good people and fairies lived. One day, she accidentally broke a precious porcelain jar. Angered, the Jade Emperor banished her to live on earth, where ordinary people lived. She could return to the Heaven, if she contributed a valuable service on earth.Chang E was transformed into a member of a poor farming family. When she was 18, a young hunter named Hou Yi from another village spotted her, now a beautiful young woman. They became friends.\n\nOne day, a strange phenomenon occurred — 10 suns arose in the sky instead one one, blazing the earth. Hou Yi, an expert archer, stepped forward to try to save the earth. He successfully shot down nine of the suns, becoming an instant hero. He eventually became king and married Chang E.\n\nBut Hou Yi grew to become a despot. He sought immortality by ordering an elixir be created to prolong his life. The elixir in the form of a single pill was almost ready when Chang E came upon it. She either accidentally or purposely swallowed the pill. This angered King Hou Yi, who went after his wife. Trying to flee, she jumped out the window of a chamber at the top of palace — and, instead of falling, she floated into the sky toward the moon.\n\nKing Hou Yi tried to shoot her down with arrows, but without success. Once on the moon, Chang E became a three-legged toad, as punishment from the Queen Mother, according to one version of the legend. Her companion, a rabbit, is constantly pounding the elixir of immortality in a large mortar.\n\nThe moon is also inhabited by a wood cutter who tries to cut down the cassia tree, giver of life. But as fast as he cuts into the tree, it heals itself, and he never makes any progress. The Chinese use this image of the cassia tree to explain mortal life on earth — the limbs are constantly being cut away by death, but new buds continually appear.\n\nMeanwhile, King Hou Yi ascended to the sun and built a palace. So Chang E and Hou Yi came to represent the yin and yang, the moon and the sun.\n<p align=\"center\"><a title=\"Mooncake\" name=\"Mooncake\"></a><font color=\"#990000\" size=\"+2\"><strong>Origin of Mooncake</strong></font></p>\n</ul>','Fun Stuff From Home','','inherit','open','open','','11-revision','','','2007-09-30 07:36:18','2007-09-30 12:36:18','',11,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/09/30/11-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(19,151,'2007-09-30 08:03:51','2007-09-30 13:03:51','','carrotseed.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','carrotseedjpg','','','2007-09-30 08:03:51','2007-09-30 13:03:51','',18,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2007/09/carrotseed.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(20,151,'2007-09-30 08:06:53','2007-09-30 13:06:53','','Chipper Truck','','inherit','open','open','','chipper-truck','','','2007-09-30 08:06:53','2007-09-30 13:06:53','',18,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2007/09/img_2546.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(21,151,'2007-09-30 08:49:10','2007-09-30 13:49:10','<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule</span> </strong></p>\n\n<strong>Snacks:</strong> Please bring in snacks for all 20 children for the whole week on Monday of your sheet-washing week. If you need to make a change, find another parent to switch with and let us know.\n\nSnacks need to be healthy (as much as possible), with minimum sugar. NO PEANUTS/PEANUT BUTTER or POPCORN. Suggestions: pretzels, crackers, cheese, cream cheese and rice cakes, yoguert, granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, bagels and jelly, etc. We have some children with food allergies to dairy, soy, peanuts, eggs. Please include at least some snacks these children can eat. We also have some children with teeth problems so please avoid fruit snacks or gummy stuff.\n\n<strong>Sheets: </strong> Pick up the sheets on Friday on your assigned week and return them Monday morning. They will be in your child\'s cubby. They can be washed in warm or hot water with soap and a little white vinegar (no bleach, please), then dried. If possible, please use unscented detergent with no dyes (some children have skin sensitivities).\n\nIf you cannot do this at all, please see Jane and we’ll take you off the list. If you can’t do it on your assigned weekend, please trade with another parent. Let us know if you’d like to wash your child’s blanket and pillow weekly. We will put them in your child’s cubby on Fridays.\n\n<strong>Sept. 8<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 15<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 22<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 29<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 6<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 13<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct.20<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 27<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 3<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 10<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 17<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 1<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 8<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 15<span> </span> Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 5<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 12<span> </span> Kai</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 19<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Kendall</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 26<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Austin</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 2</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 9<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 16<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 23<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 2<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 9<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 16<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 23<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 30<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 13<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 20<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 27<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>May. 4<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>May11<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>May 18 Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>May 25<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>June 1<span> </span> Kai</strong>','Snack/Sheet Washing','','publish','open','open','','snacksheet-washing-schedule','','','2007-09-30 08:49:10','2007-09-30 13:49:10','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/snacksheet-washing-schedule/',8,'page','',0),(23,151,'2007-10-20 16:51:50','2007-10-20 21:51:50','','little-old-lady.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','little-old-ladyjpg','','','2007-10-20 16:51:50','2007-10-20 21:51:50','',22,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2007/10/little-old-lady.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(24,151,'2007-10-20 16:53:51','2007-10-20 21:53:51','','leaf_man.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','leaf_manjpg','','','2007-10-20 16:53:51','2007-10-20 21:53:51','',22,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2007/10/leaf_man.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(25,151,'2007-10-21 07:10:54','2007-10-21 12:10:54','','pumpkincircle.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','pumpkincirclejpg','','','2007-10-21 07:10:54','2007-10-21 12:10:54','',22,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2007/10/pumpkincircle.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(26,151,'2007-10-21 07:12:41','2007-10-21 12:12:41','','little-scarecrow-boy.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','little-scarecrow-boyjpg','','','2007-10-21 07:12:41','2007-10-21 12:12:41','',22,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2007/10/little-scarecrow-boy.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(27,151,'2007-10-21 07:16:26','2007-10-21 12:16:26','','how-i-became-a-pirate.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','how-i-became-a-piratejpg','','','2007-10-21 07:16:26','2007-10-21 12:16:26','',22,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2007/10/how-i-became-a-pirate.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(22,151,'2007-10-21 07:40:12','2007-10-21 12:40:12','(Please note our addition to the Blogroll: \"Good Toys for Young Children\" from the National Association for the Education of Young Children - NAEYC)\n\nIt\'s the middle of October and I\'m just getting to this blog. What a great month! October is my favorite month to be a teacher. We get to learn about so many things having to do with the season changes: apples and pumpkins, leaves, trees, temperature change, harvest, Halloween ...  and all the stories that go with it!  Some of our favorites have been: <em>The Little Old Woman Who Wasn\'t Afraid of Anything, Leaf Man, Pumpkin Circle, The Little Scarecrow Boy</em>, and of course, our truck books.  Here are some of the highlights:   We are learning about sorting, starting with sorting our books into book boxes; leaves and leaf rubbing; pillow making (for naptime); alphabet, including the shapes of letters, sign language alphabet, alphabet books, writing letters; shapes; pasta art; mosaic art; planting carrot seeds and apple seeds; making applesauce; cooking pumpkin seeds; and of course, that fabulous trip to see \"Niki in the Garden\" at the Garfield Park Conservatory.  By the way, the exhibit ends October 31. If you haven\'t seen it, I hope you\'ll try and get there.  And there\'s so much more to do!\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/little-old-lady.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/little-old-lady.jpg\" alt=\"little-old-lady.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"128\" /></a><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/leaf_man.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/leaf_man.jpg\" alt=\"leaf_man.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"121\" /></a><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/pumpkincircle.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/pumpkincircle.jpg\" alt=\"pumpkincircle.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"107\" /></a><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/little-scarecrow-boy.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/little-scarecrow-boy.jpg\" alt=\"little-scarecrow-boy.jpg\" height=\"130\" width=\"108\" /></a>\n\nThese next weeks we\'ll be exploring pumpkins, gourds, seeds, Halloween, scarecrows, vegetables that grow above ground and underground, leaves, and temperature. Please explore Fall with your child in every way you can. It would be great if you brought in cool seeds and seedpods, leaves or other natural things you find.\n\n<strong>Music:</strong> We had our first music class with Mr. Ben on Friday. Ben works with Marsha Melsheimer from Music Together and brings his guitar-playing and teaching experience (Wiggleworms) to our classroom. Welcome Mr. Ben!\n\n<strong>Family Boxes: </strong>We sent home the makings for your family box. If your child wasn\'t here on Friday, you can get it on Monday. The bag has 2 sheets of construction paper chosen by your child, a Capri Sun box, and some instructions. Basically, you need to work with your child to cover the box, decorate it and add family pictures. When you bring it back to school, we will cover it with contact paper (you will not get your pictures back until the end of the year when you take your child\'s box home). We will use these boxes for building, and admiring, all year I hope.\n\n<strong>Halloween: </strong>This year Ms. Butler has requested that we turn our Halloween celebration into a school-wide, day-long reading day. Teachers and those who wish to will dress up as book characters. I know that many of your kids have their hearts set on being Spiderman or Ariel. Remember, comic books are books, too. Whatever they want to be for Halloween is great! We\'ll have a preschool parade in the morning to show off our costumes. If you\'d like to stay for the parade, you are welcome. It will be around 10:00. In the afternoon we\'ll have a Halloween party. Please send in some treats (or tricks ... ). And of course, you are welcome to come to our party as well. We\'ll be going from about 3:00 to 4:30.\n\n<strong>Play Trip:  <em>How I Became a Pirate: </em></strong>This Thursday is our trip to Emerald City Theatre.  <em>How I Became a Pirate</em> is a book about children who go searching for markers in a classroom closet and find themselves on a pirate ship. Emerald City is a favorite trip of ours. They perform at the Apollo Theater on the north side. If you want to come and haven\'t bought a ticket yet, see Jane to see if there are any left.<strong><em> </em></strong>We will be going to see Frosty at the end of November. <a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/how-i-became-a-pirate.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/how-i-became-a-pirate.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/how-i-became-a-pirate.jpg\" alt=\"how-i-became-a-pirate.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"104\" /></a>\n\n<em><strong>Thanyou!  </strong></em>Thanks to those of you who brought in snacks for us, especially the apples.  Thanks to those of you who are able to find some time to hang out in the classroom with us, before or after school. Thanks to Ms. D. for helping the kids to sew their pillows. Thanks to Ms. Yoella for helping out in Ms. Bethanie\'s room. Ms. Yoella is back in our room now each morning.\n\n<strong><em>Housekeeping:</em></strong>\n\n1) Clothing: the weather is changing and sometimes we\'ll need warm clothing for outside play and sometimes we\'ll be taking our sweaters off. Please check the weather report and dress your child accordingly. Remember, when it\'s cold outside, it can be very warm in the classroom. Dress your child in layers they can take off. Please help us minimize clothing loss by labeling your child\'s clothing. Please check your child\'s extra clothing box and make sure they have long pants, warm shirts, socks and underwear. You may want to leave a pair of slippers in your child\'s cubby for when the snow comes.\n\n2) Please check the sheet-washing schedule so you\'ll know when it\'s your turn to send in snacks.\n\n<em><strong>Learning About the Classroom:  Activity Centers</strong></em>\n\nEveryday we spend at least an hour or so in the morning and some time in the afternoon in our activity centers. We set these centers up carefully so the children can play and learn while they are playing. Within these centers we place materials for the children to explore, manipulate, create, and pretend with. Some of the centers stay pretty much the same, like <strong>Sand</strong> and <strong>Water</strong>. Our <strong>Dramatic Play Center</strong> is often either a doctor\'s office or a home, but we will find ways to transform it to other places over the year (store, hair salon, vet, etc.). The <strong>Construction  Center</strong> has large and small blocks, legos and a slew of other small building materials. We\'re working on getting pvc pipe in there, too. (Do you have ideas for construction materials?) The <strong>Library</strong> has a writing center, listening center, dollhouse, puppets and the loft. Our <strong>Art Center </strong>is made of our art cart, the easel and whatever art activity we have going on at the big table. Our <strong>Math Center</strong> may have math manipulatives (sorting, counting, patterns, etc.) or games or puzzles. Our<strong> Science or Discovery Center</strong> has materials for children to explore and tools to explore them. Last week we looked at a pumpkin there, predicting what was inside, opening it, seeing the pulp and seeds, and pulling out the seeds (the children loved it when we toasted and ate them).\n\nLook for more information about our individual centers on this blog in the coming weeks.','Oct 14 2007','','publish','open','open','','oct-14-2007','','','2007-10-21 07:40:12','2007-10-21 12:40:12','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/10/21/oct-14-2007/',0,'post','',0),(30,151,'2007-11-05 08:19:01','2007-11-05 13:19:01','Hi Everyone!\n\nOctober sure went by like a whirlwind! We are now getting into holiday season and we\'ll be focusing on <strong><em>Family</em></strong> in November and December. If you haven\'t started putting together your family box, please do so. We\'re having each child talk about their boxes in front of the class because they are so special. We will also be learning about web-making by making family webs. If you don\'t have a photo on the family tree, it would be great if you would put one up. We\'ll be glad to take pictures for you.\n\nThanks to all of you who helped make our <strong>Halloween</strong> party so much fun by sending in treats, sharing pictures and helping with the parade. Our 4th/5th grade buddies came down at the end of the day and we had a great time with them, too.\n\nWe\'ll be having another celebration this Friday (Nov. 9) as Rikesh and his family share their Diwali Festival with us. Diwali is the Hindu New Year. Here\'s what the Diwali website says:\n\n<em>One of the biggest festivals of         Hindus, Deepawali or <strong>Diwali in India</strong> is celebrated with lots of         enthusiasm and happiness. This festival is celebrated for five         continuous days, with the third day being celebrated as the main Diwali         or as <strong>\'Festival of Lights\'.</strong> Fireworks are always associated with         this festival. The day is celebrated with people lighting diyas, candles         all around their house. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening to seek         divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. Diwali gifts are exchanged among         all near and dear ones.</em>\n\nThis month we\'ll also be learning about an opera, <em><strong>The Magic Flute</strong></em>. Rikesh\'s mom works at the Lyric and has put  some software on our computers for the children to explore this fun opera further. What makes the Magic Flute fun this time of year is that we are watching the days get shorter and the nights get longer, a perfect time to learn about the Zoroastro (the sun) and the Queen of the Night. We\'ll be exploring the properties of light throughout November and December.\n\nSome highlights from the classroom:   We started music class with Mr. Ben who comes from Music Together with Marsha Melsheimer. Mr. Ben has promised to help us with some Beatles songs, as well as his own program. In art we learned about color mixing with playdough. FYI, in case you are as illiterate in art as I am, the best colors to mix are not red, blue and yellow but <strong><em>MAGENTA</em></strong>, <strong><em>CYAN</em></strong>, and <em>YELLOW</em>. The children are learning the names of these colors.\n\nWe are continuing to learn about alphabet and many of the children are learning the alphabet in sign. We have several ways for our students to learn, with signing being one of them (kinesthetic). We also have sand block letters, letter cubes. magnet letter boards, magnetic letters, sand form letters, play dough cut-outs, and of course, signing in and journals. We also have fun with our alphabet book by the dance troupe, Pilobolus, who make letters with their bodies. **Please make sure your child finds their name on the attendance board and signs in after they wash their hands.\n\nWe are also learning a lot about counting. We count in English and Spanish. We are learning to count starting from different numbers. We count forward and backward. We even count by different numbers (2\'s, 5\'s and 10\'s or more!). Most children don\'t \"get\" the higher numbers, but they are hearing them and hearing the pattern of numbers. What we expect is that by the time they leave preschool, they have strong number sense to 5. What we hope is that they will have that to 10 or more. Some children with strong math skills will get the number pattern and have strong counting skills past 100!\n\n<strong>**Everyday Math</strong>: We have started a new math curriculum designed for preschool that is in line with the one used by the rest of the school. Everyday Math Preschool Edition is less structured than what they will encounter in kindergarten, more focused on games to teach math, and has a strong home connection to it. I\'ll be sending home information so please check your mail boxes.  Jeff Gillespie, Bethanie Smith and I were all part of the project that this curriculum together so we know it well.\n\nParker Buddies\n\nEvery year we get regular visitors from Francis Parker School. 6th, 7th and 8th grade students earn their community service hours by coming to our preschool rooms to play with us, read with us, and do activities with us. Parker Buddies come monthly, along with their teacher and parent chaperones.\n\n<strong>What We\'re Planning</strong>\n\nBesides learning about opera and families, we\'re going to be reading a lot about Native Americans. You may notice on your calendar that there is a Powwow at the UIC Pavilion on Nov. 17 and 18. Ms. Robin and I will be attending and if you\'d like to join us, please let us know. Ms. Robin is Ojibwe and was raised on a reservation in Ontario, Canada.\n\nWe will continue to learn about shapes, both 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional. We\'ll be exploring movement properties of shapes as well as how they look and feel. You can help us by exploring shapes with your child. What shapes do you see in your home? On the way to school? How do they fit together or not fit together? Puzzles are a great way to explore the properties of shape, so doing a puzzle together is fun and educational.\n\nSince we\'re learning about family, we\'ll be learning about one of the most famous families of all: The Three Bears. There are many versions of this fabulous tale and we\'ll be exploring many of them.\n\nHOUSEKEEPING:\n\n*Don\'t forget picture day (Tuesday, Nov. 6 in the morning). You must have cash in the filled out envelope by tomorrow morning.\n\n*Scholastic Books: I\'m a little behind so I\'ll send the November calendar out this week. The orders will be due on Friday, Nov. 16.\n\n*Parent Conferences: We\'re unable to do conferences this week with the rest of the school. I will let you know when we have a date set up.\n\n*POTLUCK DINNER: Mark your calendars! We\'re planning to make this a literacy night, so you\'ll get to see how we\'re learning to read as well as sharing great meals. You may bring in home-cooked meals to share. The children will be doing some cooking as well.\n\n*Please include mittens or gloves as the weather gets colder. You may want to leave a sweater in your child\'s cubby as well slippers. PLEASE LABEL YOUR CHILD\'S CLOTHING!!! It is very hard for us to keep track of what belongs to whom and it is impossible for the children to do this. We have sharpies available in the classroom.\n\n*If your child has a major health issue, we must notify the school nurse. This is especially true for asthma and allergies severe enough for us to keep an epi-pin. PLEASE SEE ME.\n\nHave a great week!','Nov 15, 2007','','publish','open','open','','nov-15-2007','','','2007-11-05 08:19:01','2007-11-05 13:19:01','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/11/05/nov-15-2007/',0,'post','',0),(31,151,'2007-12-03 08:19:17','2007-12-03 13:19:17','Hi Everyone!\n\nIt seems the holidays are just speeding up on us. My hope for all of us is that we take the time to stop and remember what/who is really important and appreciate them and all we  have in our lives!\n\nWe\'ll be having a holiday celebration on Dec. 21 from 3-4:30. You are all welcome to come and join us. If you would like to help us celebrate, please let me know. If your family has a particular tradition that you would like to share with us, we would love to do that.\n\nEach year we try and learn about the three major holidays of December: Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa. What ties them all together is also what makes December so special - it is the darkest month of the year and all three holidays celebrate with candles. As we\'ve been watching the days get shorter, we\'ve been talking about dark and light. We\'ve read some creation stories about how the sun came to the people (Gerald McDermott). We\'ve been looking at objects with our light table. And we\'ll continue to learn about the 3 sources of light: the sun, electricity and fire, and how important light is to people. You can support this at home as you find ways to make light during these dark days by hanging up holiday lights, lighting candles, conserve electricity by turning off lights, noticing what you\'re doing when the sun goes down, etc.\n\n**When we return after the winter break, we\'ll be asking you to send in flashlights so we can further explore the properties of light in our classroom.\n\n<strong>Families.  </strong>We\'ve been thinking a lot about families in preschool. We had our family potluck dinner where we shared what we are learning about literacy as well as having great food and company. I don\'t know how many families were there, but we filled up the cafeteria! The children had a great time sharing their school with you. If you didn\'t make it, I hope you\'ll be able to come to our next one. And of course, there\'s the famous \"Teddy Bear Picnic\" in April.\n\nWhat we try to teach the children is that there are many different kinds of families. Some children live with two parents, some live with one. Sometimes parents don\'t live together, but they are both part of a child\'s family. Sometimes grandparents raise children. Sometimes children are adopted. What makes a family is that they love and take care of each other. We will continue to read stories about families and talk about our own families, especially through our family boxes.\n\n<strong>Math. </strong>We spent a long time learning about shapes this year. Most of the children know most of their shapes and have had experiences learning the properties of shapes. We\'ve also been learning about counting and we will continue. We are also learning about patterns.\n\nDid you know that patterning and sorting are foundations of algebra? Can you find ways to practice finding and making patterns and sorting things at home? Look for some math activities in your mailbox for you to do with your child to support their math learning.\n\n<strong>Literacy.</strong> This week we\'ll be starting our \"word wall.\" Children who are interested will be able to choose a word they would like to learn. When they have mastered reading and writing that word, they can choose a new word. We\'ll also be putting up some everyday words. <em>Note: some children, especially the younger ones, are not ready for words yet. We\'ll be continuing to focus on vocabulary-building and letter identification with these children.  </em>\n\nWe are also starting to read chapter books with some of the children. Some of the books we\'ll be reading are the Magic Treehouse series, \"My Father\'s Dragon,\" and \"Pippi Longstocking.\" PLEASE READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY NIGHT!\n\n<strong>Parent Conferences.</strong> Generally we have parent conferences twice a year in early November and again in March. We were unable to do it in November because of the NAEYC Conference and I have not be able to reschedule a day. If you would like an individual conference, please let me know and we\'ll set one up. Otherwise, I\'ll set up a day in early January. These conferences are generally short, about 15 minutes or so, and mostly give us a chance to talk about your child\'s progress and any issues you may have. If you think we\'ll need more time, by all means set up a separate time.\n\nReminders:\n\n<strong>Clothing:  </strong>make sure your child has WARM CLOTHING so we can play outside. They need:  snowpants, boots, warm mittens, hats/scarves, a sweater and slippers for the classroom. PLEASE MARK YOUR CHILD\'S NAME OR INITIALS ON EACH PIECE OF CLOTHING!!! We have permanent markers in the room and you can write it on the size tag.\n\nSome children have water or bathroom accidents. You must have extra clothing in your child\'s box. We had a large store of underwear and pants that are now gone. If your child comes home in someone else\'s clothing, please wash it and return it.\n\n<strong>Recycling:</strong> We are looking for tubing, especially paper towel, gift wrap and toilet paper tubing for making projects. We can also use empty food boxes for our house play and for constructions. We need empty soda/water bottles with the labels removed for science experiments.','December 2 2007','','publish','open','open','','december-2-2007','','','2007-12-03 08:19:17','2007-12-03 13:19:17','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2007/12/03/december-2-2007/',0,'post','',0),(32,151,'2008-01-06 22:34:28','2008-01-07 03:34:28','Hi Everyone! I know it\'s been a long time since my last post. I plead the insanity of the holidays. I hope you\'ll forgive.\n\n<em><strong>What We\'ve Been Doing: </strong></em>\n\nWe had a great time in December. We began the month with a celebration of Hanukkah by lighting Menorah candles for each day. The children really enjoyed this. We had some snow during the month so we spent a lot of time playing in, exploring, reading about snow (and taking snow clothes on and off). Thank you all for sending in snow clothes which made it possible for us all to go outside together. We also learned about measuring temperature as we moved the thermometer outside and inside to see  how the mercury works.\n\nDuring December the children continued to build the classroom. The house area developed as we talked more about family and the holidays, which always involves food. We sort food into 4 main groups: fish/meat/cheese, vegetables, fruit and breads.  We\'ll continue to talk about these food \"groups\" and the importance of good nutrition.\n\nSome of the students enjoyed playing with the match cars we got. They raced them around the room for a while and then discovered they could make ramps from the blocks. We are hoping to continue this \"physics\" exploration (velocity, gravity, balance, etc.) with different kinds of ramps and marbles, as soon as I find a source for \"cove molding.\"\n\nOne other area that was fun was listening to \"The Magic Flute.\" We have a children\'s version of this opera which includes many of the arias of the opera as well as a spoken story. Thanks to Rikesh\'s mom for putting the Magic Flute computer game on our computers.\n\n<em><strong>What\'s coming:</strong></em>\n\nWe are going to continue learning about holidays as we prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the end of the month.  This year it falls on February 7, and it is the year of the Rat (Brown Earth Rat, to be specific). For more information about the Chinese Calendar, see <a href=\"http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/NewYearDays.htm\" title=\"Chinese Calendar\">http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/NewYearDays.httm</a>\n\nWe will continue to learn about <strong>light</strong> as we move out of the winter solstice period and can start watching the days get longer. Some of the concepts we\'ll be trying to learn are that light comes from 3 sources: fire, electricity and the sun. We will also be learning that light produces energy (heat). (Please don\'t mind my simplistic physics definitions - this is why I teach preschool). Next week I\'ll be asking all of you to send in a cheap flashlight so we can start looking at electric light.\n\nAnother area of interest will be our focus on friendship and how to relate to other people (social intelligence). We\'ll be working to learn names for different kinds of feelings, see what feelings look like on people\'s faces and in their bodies, and how we can deal with hard feelings. We will also be learning that different people have different points of view or different interpretations of events. It\'s sometimes hard for us grownups to remember how complicated social skills are and that we need to break them down for young children so they can learn them.\n\nIn math, we\'ll be learning more about patterns and also how to record data. We\'ll continue to work on counting/sorting skills, as well as number recognition. The best way to teach these skills is through experiences (not worksheets!). For example, children can learn about patterns from poetry and books with similar structures (the House that Jack Built, for example). They can predict what comes next based on the pattern they\'ve learned. They can also learn about patterns in music and dance. Our goal is for our students to really feel patterns in the world so it is easier for them to spot one when they see it. Patterns, by the way, are a foundational skill for algebraic thinking.\n\nThis month we\'ll also be learning more about \"The Gingerbread Man.\" For those of you who were here last year, the kids had a great time with this story - especially when the gingerbread man gets eaten up. Before we left on our break, the staff of all the preschool rooms put on a small production of The Gingerbread Man for all the preschoolers. We\'re hoping they will return the favor.\n\nOther stories we\'ll be looking at: <em>The Mitten</em> by Jan Brett; <em>The House that Jack Built</em> (and variations); <em>Corduroy</em> by Don Freeman; <em>The Runaway Rice Cake</em> by Ying Chang Compestine; various books about winter, light, and friendship.\n\n<em><strong>Art:</strong></em> We\'ll continue to work with 3 dimensional materials such as wood, clay, play dough, wire, cardboard, collage, etc.\n\n<em><strong>Housekeeping</strong></em>\n\n1) I will be setting up a day for parent conferences and have a sign up on the back door by the end of the week.\n\n2)  Please check your mailboxes for information daily. I\'ll be sending home a permission form for neighborhood walks as well as other information.\n\n3) Please continue to send winter clothing, with your child\'s name on the tags,  since the weather changes from day to day and we will want to be able to play outside comfortably.\n\n4) <strong>Thank you all for a great start to our school year. </strong>You are an awesome group of parents! I hope you will continue to do what you can to participate in the life of our classroom, and we\'ll continue to give you opportunities to do what you can. Happy New Year to you all!!!\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbread_man.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbread_man.jpg\" alt=\"Gingerbread Man\" height=\"128\" width=\"140\" /></a>','January 6 2008','','publish','open','open','','january-6-2008','','','2008-01-06 22:34:28','2008-01-07 03:34:28','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/01/06/january-6-2008/',0,'post','',0),(33,151,'2008-01-06 22:38:49','2008-01-07 03:38:49','','Gingerbread Man','','inherit','open','open','','gingerbread-man','','','2008-01-06 22:38:49','2008-01-07 03:38:49','',32,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/01/gingerbread_man.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(35,151,'2008-01-18 15:59:03','2008-01-18 20:59:03','','','','inherit','open','open','','35','','','2008-01-18 15:59:03','2008-01-18 20:59:03','',34,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/01/sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(36,151,'2008-01-18 16:11:06','2008-01-18 21:11:06','','','','inherit','open','open','','36','','','2008-01-18 16:11:06','2008-01-18 21:11:06','',34,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/01/gingerbreadman.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(37,151,'2008-01-18 16:13:01','2008-01-18 21:13:01','','','','inherit','open','open','','37','','','2008-01-18 16:13:01','2008-01-18 21:13:01','',34,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/01/gingerbreadboy.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(34,151,'2008-01-18 16:17:37','2008-01-18 21:17:37','We have had a very busy couple of weeks! The weather hasn\'t been great so we\'ve been playing inside a lot, both in the classroom and in the small gym. Whenever we can we go outside, even if it\'s only a short time. I would have liked to have the children notice how the days are getting longer but it\'s been so cloudy most of the time, there\'s not a lot to notice. We do watch the thermometer go up and down as we move it outside and inside. This is a good time to talk about changes in temperature and how we can tell how cold it is. For example, this weekend as we feel the temperatures plummet, we might notice that steam from buildings doesn\'t go up but stays low. We might also notice when we look out the window how people are dressed, if they\'re bundled up or wearing their coats open. Are there other ways you can tell temperature changes?\n\nWe\'ve been having a great time exploring the story \"The Gingerbread Man.\" We are turning it into a math story by doing lots of counting (how many buttons on your gingerbread man puppet?), measuring as we make ginger playdough and gingerbread cookies, and learning about ordinal numbers as we make up our own gingerbread man story. In our story, we have a gingerbread girl who is made by a boy. So first the boy chases the cookie, 2nd a cow, 3rd a horse, etc. We\'ll let you know when it\'s done so you can come and see for yourselves.\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbread_man.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbread_man.jpg\" alt=\"Gingerbread Man\" height=\"128\" width=\"140\" /></a><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbreadman.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbreadman.JPG\" alt=\"gingerbreadman.JPG\" height=\"128\" width=\"109\" /></a><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbreadboy.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/gingerbreadboy.jpg\" alt=\"gingerbreadboy.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"165\" /></a>\n\nWe have been exploring the properties of light. We looked at candles and talked about fire which gives us both heat and light. We saw that the heat from candles on Christmas chimes causes the top to spin and we talked about how the heat warms up the atoms in the air causing them to move upward. This is of course way advanced for preschoolers, but they were interested in the concept of atoms and we use this concept when we\'re trying to keep warm on the playground (\"Run around like atoms and you\'ll stay warm!\"). So if you get some interesting physics questions, you\'ll know why.\n<p align=\"center\"> <a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/candle-chimes.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/candle-chimes.jpg\" alt=\"candle-chimes.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"59\" /></a></p>\nWe\'ve also been learning that you need light to be able to see. One day we did an experiment where we looked at each other, noting eye color, clothing, etc. Then we put down the shades one at a time and noticed that we could see less and less. In the dark we could see very little. When I used a flashlight on each of the children, we saw things in the light we couldn\'t see in the dark (reflectors, glitter, colors, etc.). We\'ll continue experimenting with our own flashlights.\n\nToday we had a visit from our Parker Buddies (6th-8th graders from Francis Parker School) who shared music class with us, played with us, and helped us eat our gingerbread cookies.  They\'ll be back again next month.\n\n<em><strong>What\'s Coming</strong></em>\n\n1) Parent Conferences Jan 30. Please sign up for a time at the back door.\n\n2) Jim Gill, children\'s music performer and one of my favorites! We have a number of his cd\'s here. He\'ll be at KAM Isaiah Israel on Sunday, Jan. 20. KAM is at 5039 S. Greenwood. The concert is from 2-3pm and tickets at the door are $12.00 ($10.00 in advance). This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to see a real artist who also happens to be trained in Early Childhood education!\n\n3) February is Black History Month. In the past we\'ve learned about jazz and I believe we will continue this tradition since we are also starting our study of cities. If you have a particular contribution you\'d like to make to our study (live music, special recordings, etc.) please let me know.\n\n4) Lunar New Year Feb. 7\n\n<em><strong>HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT</strong></em>\n\nToday we read \"Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.\" We passed around a special pebble putting all of our magic in it. Then each of us held the pebble and made a wish.\n\nWe would like to share our wishes with you and invite you to make your own wishes to share with us. Our back bulletin board will be our \"Magic Pebble Board.\" Please help your child draw a picture of their wish and write down what it is. Please draw a picture of your wish and write down what it is. We\'ll start talking about these wishes on Monday.\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble.jpg\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble.jpg\" alt=\"sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble.jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"99\" /></a>\n\n<em><strong>REMINDER</strong></em>\n\nPlease check your child\'s cubby box for extra clothing! We have run out of all extra pants so if your child has an accident and no extra clothing we\'re stuck. If your child comes home with clothing that doesn\'t belong to them, please launder it and return it the next day.\n\nWe don\'t go out when it\'s very cold or wet but we do try to get outside whenever we can. Please make sure your child has outdoor clothing EVERY DAY! You are welcome to leave extra clothing in the cubbies. If your child\'s name is on the tag there\'s a greater likelihood it won\'t get lost.','January 18 2008','','publish','open','open','','january-18-2008','','','2008-01-18 16:17:37','2008-01-18 21:17:37','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/01/18/january-18-2008/',0,'post','',0),(38,151,'2008-01-18 16:20:06','2008-01-18 21:20:06','','','','inherit','open','open','','38','','','2008-01-18 16:20:06','2008-01-18 21:20:06','',34,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/01/candle-chimes.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(40,151,'2008-01-26 05:59:06','2008-01-26 10:59:06','','','','inherit','open','open','','40','','','2008-01-26 05:59:06','2008-01-26 10:59:06','',39,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/01/img_3951.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(39,151,'2008-01-26 06:01:01','2008-01-26 11:01:01','Hi Everyone! I hope you are all surviving the cold. Remember, the colder it is now, the nicer it will feel when it gets warm again! We love playing outside, but inside active play has its attractions, too. We ride tricycles in the small gym, play with our parachute, tumble on the mats (even wrestle!), play jump rope, and even get the scooters out now when we can. We have a short basketball hoop and other ball games. We also make use of the lobby outside our classroom for running games. So please know that even when it\'s too cold to go outside, we still get active!\n\nWe are finishing our Gingerbread Girl bulletin board (it will be a work in progress since it needs more decoration). Please check it out when you get a chance. Here\'s a picture of it for now:\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_3951.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_3951.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_3951.JPG\" alt=\"img_3951.JPG\" height=\"360\" width=\"473\" /></a>\n\nIn case you can\'t read microscopic writing, here\'s the story:\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><em>The Gingerbread Girl</em></strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><em>Written and Illustrated by the Students in Room 413</em></strong></p>\n<p align=\"left\"><em>     Once upon a time there was a gingerbread girl that was baked by a boy. When he opened the oven, the gingerbread girl ran out. The boy ran after the gingerbread girl. Then the cow ran after the gingerbread girl. The gingerbread girl said, \"Run, run as fast as you can. You can\'t catch me I\'m the gingerbread girl!\" Then the horse ran after her. The cat ran after her. The cat tried to eat the gingerbread girl. Then the lion ran after her. Then the fox. Then the bear ran after her. The sow ran after the gingerbread girl. Then the gingerbread boy ran after the gingerbread girl. </em></p>\n<p align=\"left\"><em>      The gingerbread girl ran into a dragon. The dragon put fire on her. He chopped her up. Then he ate her. And then the fox was sad. And everyone else was sad, too.   The End.</em></p>\n<p align=\"left\">      While we were creating the story, we were learning about patterns (algebraic thinking), ordinal numbers, symmetry (puppet making), and counting. We learned a lot about measurement when we baked gingerbread cookies. We have lots more to explore: <em>The Runaway Pancake</em> and <em>The Runaway Rice Cake</em> are two new stories that we\'ll have fun with. We\'ve already read <em>The Runaway Pancake</em> and can start learning about wheel movement and why the pig at the end of the book could float when the pancake couldn\'t.</p>\n     This week Ms. Diane did a color mixing project in art class. The children mixed yellow and cyan to make green (magenta and cyan make purple). We extended this project with a color-mixing experiment of our own. We also added oil in our test tubes to see what would happen. The children were fascinated!\n\nWe have also been talking about feelings in school. Last week we read \"A Pocket for Corduroy.\" He\'s such a feeling guy, that Corduroy, considering he\'s a teddy bear. Our goal is for the children to learn new words to describe feelings, so we move beyond sad, mad and glad. This week we\'ll be introducing the \"Feelings Wheel\" to help us further define how we feel and why.\n\nDEAD FISH: One of our fish died. Luckily, it died close to the front of the tank so the children could watch it. Sadly, I forgot to take it out before I left on Thursday. So the other fish decided to dispose of it themselves. This is fascinating science for the children to see, gross as it may be to us adults. So if they talk about it at home, you\'ll know what\'s going on.\n\n<strong>What\'s Coming:</strong>\n\n<strong>Parent Conferences: </strong>This Wednesday (Jan. 30). If you haven\'t signed up for a conference and you\'d like one, please sign up at the back door. I\'ll find out for sure where we\'ll be on Monday. When you come for the conference, please do not come through the classroom. It\'s very upsetting for your children to see you and then have you disappear again. You can go through the main door. We will most likely be on the 2nd floor of the new building (just above us) in the small conference room.\n\n<strong>Lunar New Year (Feb. 7):</strong> Sean\'s mom is planning to come in and make Chinese dumplings with us. If you\'d like to help her, please let her know. We\'ll post information about the New Year (Year of the Rat) on our blog.\n\n<strong>City Study: </strong>We\'ll be teaming up with Mr. Jeff\'s class to learn about cities (they\'ve already started). This is a huge area that will encompass learning about our community, community helpers like fire fighters and police and sanitation workers, construction activities, services necessary in cities (shopping, banking, post offices, restaurants, etc.), and on and on. Much will depend on what the children are interested in. We\'ll keep you informed...\n\n<strong>Faces:</strong> As part of our feelings study, we\'ll be looking at each other\'s and our own faces this next week. We\'ll be tracing, looking at mirrors, matching expression to feelings, etc.\n\n<strong>Light:</strong> Many children have brought in flashlights. We\'ll continue to find ways to use them to explore the properties of light. Please send one in with your child\'s name on it if you haven\'t already. If you would like to donate batteries and extra flashlights, they would be welcome.\n\n<strong>Wire: </strong>We\'ll be starting to use wire in art, hopefully this week. Children will be given different kinds of wire and tools to work with it with the hope they\'ll make interesting sculptures.  If you have any wire you\'d like to donate, I\'m sure we can use it. We especially can use telephone wire.\n\n<strong>Kindergarten:</strong> We are starting to talk about kindergarten in the classroom. I want to warn you that sometimes children become fearful when we do this. They are anxious about whether they\'ll be ready, whether they\'ll have fun, whether they\'ll have friends. I know many of you have anxieties about it, too. It is better to talk about these anxieties than to dismiss them because they come out in sometimes destructive ways. We tell the children that <strong>we will not let them go to kindergarten until they are ready</strong>. They don\'t understand time yet, so telling them September or next year won\'t reassure them. Over the next 6 months we hope to have more contact with the kindergarten classes so they can see what it\'s like. We\'ll keep you informed... In the meantime, we\'ll continue to talk about it in preschool, especially as we try to cement the skills they will need to do well there.\n\nPLEASE REMEMBER EXTRA CLOTHING AND OUTDOOR CLOTHING!  We will be going outside this week since it is supposed to get warmer! It is likely to be wet, so don\'t forget the boots and snowpants!\n\nSee you all soon!\n\nJane','January 25 2008','','publish','open','open','','january-25-2008','','','2008-01-26 06:01:01','2008-01-26 11:01:01','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/01/26/january-25-2008/',0,'post','',0),(45,151,'2008-02-24 16:49:56','2008-02-24 21:49:56','','','','inherit','open','open','','45','','','2008-02-24 16:49:56','2008-02-24 21:49:56','',41,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/02/img_4436.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(46,151,'2008-02-24 16:51:13','2008-02-24 21:51:13','','img_4438','','inherit','open','open','','46','','','2008-02-24 16:51:13','2008-02-24 21:51:13','',41,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/02/img_4438.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(41,151,'2008-02-24 16:53:19','2008-02-24 21:53:19','We have been very busy this month. It\'s been exciting with lots of special activities, and it\'s been hard because we mostly have not been able to go outside. Please know that we have active play everyday in the small gym when we can\'t get out. The children can ride tricycles, tumble on mats, play basketball, play with the parachute, throw balls, run around. We also do races up and down the halls when we can. It\'s not as good as going outside, but we do our best to keep cabin fever at bay. As the weather warms, please be sure your child has outdoor clothing: snowpants, boots, warm mittens/gloves, hats, warm coat. We have a mound of extra clothing we\'ve collected over the winter in the basket in the cubby area. Please go through that on Fridays to find your child\'s lost clothing.\n\n<strong>VOLCANO!</strong>\nYou may have heard about or seen our volcano! Sean had been learning about volcanoes at home with  his family and wanted to share what he knew. From that we decided to make our own volcano, with some important differences. We will not have real lava. But we\'ve been looking at books to see the shapes and colors of volcanoes. We watched a National Geographic video about volcanoes, and Rikesh\'s family sent in a dvd of their helicopter trip over Hawaiian volcanoes!!! It was very exciting! Some of the things we\'re learning about volcanoes:\n\n--There are 2 types: <em>exploding</em> and flowing or <em>hot spot</em> volcanoes. Mount St. Helens is an example  of an exploding volcano. The Hawaiian volcanoes are examples of Hot Spot volcanoes.\n\n--The ash mixed with mud and rock that results from an exploding volcano is called <em>\"pyroclastic flow\"</em> (yes, your children are learning this word). It is very hot and deadly and was responsible for the deaths of the people of Pompeii several centuries ago.\n\n--The lava that comes out of a Hot Spot volcano in Hawaii is called <em>\"ah-ah\"</em> because the ground is so hot when you walk across a lava field that you say \"ah-ah\" all the way across.\n\n--Liquid rock under the ground is called <em>magma</em>; when it comes to the surface of the earth it is called <em>lava</em>. As lava cools, it turns into rock. Volcanoes under the ocean can make islands, like Hawaii (where a new island is in the process of forming!).\n\nW e hope you encourage your child to continue to learn about scientific  events in the world - and don\'t be afraid to teach them big words! They love it!\n\n<strong>JAZZ</strong>\nWe have also been learning about jazz. Yesterday we got together with Ms. Bethanie\'s class and Mr. Jeff\'s class and listened to jazz records in the lobby. Yes, I said records - giant cd\'s! We listened to Duke Ellington and Dinah Washington while we designed our own records. I hope you\'ll get to see them in the hall when we get them up. In the classroom we\'ve been listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis, as well as some other jazz pieces. We\'ll also be listening to Ms. Pickens\' new jazz cd next week. Ms. Pickens is the Ray School music teacher and her cd is on sale around the neighborhood - try 57th St. Books.\n\n<strong>POKEMAN</strong>\nWe strictly outlaw all commercially-made \"Pokeman\" cards from the classroom. The children know this and have been leaving their cards at home, but not their love of Pokeman. Sean and Ian have been making their own Pokeman cards and putting them on display for us all to see. Each card has a picture of a character and a name.\n\nNote: There is nothing intrinsically wrong with Pokeman cards. The kids like to collect the cards and trade them, and as such, they are a great math activity. What is hard for us is the competition and single-focus the printed cards engender. We tried them for a while, but we couldn\'t get our collectors to do anything else. So collect at home, please, and enjoy this usually short-lived hobby. We\'ll try and feed the addiction here in a way that involves a little more creativity.\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_4436.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_4436.JPG\" alt=\"img_4436.JPG\" height=\"128\" width=\"170\" /></a><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_4438.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\">           </a><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_4438.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_4438.JPG\" alt=\"img_4438.JPG\" height=\"128\" width=\"170\" /></a>\n\n<strong>AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH WALK-THROUGH</strong>\nFriday, February 29 (next week) is our annual AAHM walk-through where parents and friends are invited to walk around the school and look at the various projects children have done for African-American History Month. We will be showing you some of what we\'ve learned about jazz. We\'ll have some snacks for you, and perhaps, a small performance in the morning. The walk-through goes from 8-9:00 am and from 5:30-6:30 pm. We hope you can make it to one of these times.\n\n<strong>FIELD TRIPS</strong>\nWe have a field trip planned for <strong>March 13</strong> to go to the Merit School of Music to see <strong>Nelson Gill </strong>perform. Nelson Gill performs children\'s music from the Caribbean and other places around the world. Tickets are $5.00, so please bring that in ASAP along with the signed permission slip that was left in your mailbox. If you would like to go, we have a limited number of tickets for parents so please let  us know.\n\nIf you can\'t make it to see Nelson Gill, don\'t despair! We have a number of trips in the planning stages that will require a large number of adults, including the <strong>Museum of Science and Industry</strong>, the <strong>Children\'s Farm at Palos Park</strong> and finally, at the end of the year our favorite trip to the <strong>Little Red School House Nature Center</strong> in Willow Springs. We don\'t need as many parents to come with us to performances, but we do need you for our outdoor and museum trips. I will get the dates to you as soon as I can.\n\nBy the way, our trip to the Little Red School House is special because after touring a small nature center, we get to walk on trails that go through the preserve. We often see wild animals, like turtles (including a snapping turtle one year), birds, and small rodents. After our hike, we drive to a nearby picnic area and enjoy a real picnic. So please try and come to this if you can. It\'s a lot of fun!\n\nI\'ll be updating the field trip page of this blog as things develop....\n\n<strong>PARENTING MEETING</strong>\n\nMany of you expressed interest in having a time when we can get together and talk about parenting issues. Jeff and I will be there to get things started , but this is a time for you to share insights, ideas and frustrations you have as parents. I hope you can come. It will be on <strong>Monday, March 10 from 5-6 pm</strong>. The classrooms will be open during this time so the children can play there while we meet. If you need to bring a younger sibling in order to come, let me know and we\'ll see if we can get some extra childcare to help.','February 19 2008','','publish','open','open','','february-19-2008','','','2008-02-24 16:53:19','2008-02-24 21:53:19','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/02/24/february-19-2008/',0,'post','',1),(47,151,'2008-03-03 22:54:22','2008-03-04 03:54:22','Hi Everyone,\nI hope you all enjoyed our last long weekend (except for Spring Break) until Memorial Day. Please check your mailboxes for your March calendars. Some highlights:\n\n--<strong>March 13 Nelson Gill concert</strong> (please make sure you have your $5.00 and permission slips in ASAP - we have some tickets for parents so let me know if you\'d like to come)\n--We\'ll be celebrating <strong>St. Patrick\'s Day on March 14</strong> with an afternoon party. You are invited to join us if you\'d like. We\'ll also be celebrating birthdays that day.\n--Please note that <strong>Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday, March 9</strong>, so don\'t forget to turn your clocks ahead.\n\nWe\'re waiting to find out about our trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. MSI is re-doing the Idea Factory (our favorite spot there) and they won\'t accept reservations until they\'re done. We\'ll keep you posted....\n\nSpecial thanks to Dana Roby for bringing in 78s and written music to aide in our jazz explorations and for her help with the African-American History Month celebrations.. I hope you all got to visit the school for the Walk-Through last Friday. The kids did amazing work!\n\nCLOTHING:  Reminder: Please make sure you send in appropriate clothing for outside play EVERY DAY. You also must have extra clothing for your child\'s cubby since it is wet outside and the chances of falling in puddles is high.\n\nWe have a basket of unclaimed/unmarked clothing in the cubby area. Feel free to go through it to find your child\'s miscellaneous missing clothing. We do our best to keep things organized, but the children like to share and undo our efforts.\n\nI hope some of you can make it to the Dr. Seuss celebration at 57th St. Books. It\'ll be a lot of fun.\n\nSee you all soon!\nJane','March 3, 2008','','publish','open','open','','march-3-2008','','','2008-03-03 22:54:22','2008-03-04 03:54:22','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/03/03/march-3-2008/',0,'post','',0),(48,151,'2008-03-15 17:51:03','2008-03-15 22:51:03','','wild-things','','inherit','open','open','','48','','','2008-03-15 17:51:03','2008-03-15 22:51:03','',61,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/03/wild-things.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(49,151,'2008-04-04 15:48:27','2008-04-04 20:48:27','Hi Everyone,\nWe\'re having a great time this week. Yesterday, Srta. Diaz brought a Mexican dancer to Ray and Sr. Cisneros taught us 2 dances! The children were dressed up in skirts or hats, which they used for their dances. I have video footage on youtube and I will send you the sites as soon as I get home today. I will also be sending information about the dance group and dance lessons if any of you are interested.\n\nOn Tuesday we had our <strong>Parker Buddies </strong>(6th-8th graders from Francis Parker School)<strong> </strong>come to school. They brought with them their own theater troupe who performed an original fairy tale written especially for our preschoolers! It was very exciting. We are planning to go to <strong>Lincoln Park Zoo with them on May 14</strong>.\n\nWe have also been working on developing props for our book, <em>\"My Father\'s Dragon\"</em> by Ruth Gannett Stiles. We are hoping to act out this book next week and hopefully we\'ll be able to perform it for some other students, including Mr. Jeff\'s class and Mr. Salvato\'s 3rd grade class. We\'ll keep you posted...\n\nWe started planting our beans this week, as you may have seen in the window. We are making bean books to record our observations of the beans as they sprout and grow stems and roots. Eventually we\'ll be sending home the bean plants and hopefully it will be warm enough for you to plant them somewhere.\n\nWe\'ve also been experimenting with mixing things. On Wednesday we mixed water and liquid watercolor. We saw that they mixed easily together. Then we added oil and saw that water and oil don\'t mix - there were large bubbles of oil on top of the water the children could easily see and feel. After talking about why that is, we added dish soap and saw the oil disappear. Where did it go? \"The soap ate it.\" \"The soap killed it.\" We\'ll continue to explore mixing properties. Today we drew pictures with oil pastels and washed the pictures with watercolor and saw again that oil and water don\'t mix. I hope you can do these kinds of experiments with your children at home, especially while you\'re cooking or making things.\n\nPLease make sure you explore spring with your child. We\'ve been watching budding flowers, listening to birds, and noticing the sun being in the sky longer. You\'ll be surprised how much science your child picks up just by learning to be a good observer.\n\nNOTICE: During the Week of the Young Child (April 14-18), we are having several activities.\n1) Nelson Gill concert, Monday Apr. 14 at 10:00 am at Ray (paid for by the PTA)\n2) TEDDY BEAR PICNIC -- Wednesday, April 16 6-7:30 pm. Come to Ray School in the evening, with your child dressed in pajamas, and bring a blanket to sit on and a picnic dinner for your family. Don\'t forget your child\'s teddy bear! We\'ll have activities for you as well, All preschool and kindergarten families are invited.\n3) Parent-Teacher conferences are on Thursday April 17. I will be available between 12:00 and 6:00pm and I\'ll post times for you. I know it hasn\'t been very long since we met before. It is important for you to make an appointment if your child is going to kindergarten next year.\n4) This week is also the Scholastic Book Fair. You will be able to purchase books for your child in the small gym. You can also buy books for the classroom. I believe teachers will be making wish lists. I\'ll get more details about this.\n5) This week is also Science Week at Ray so watch the bulletin boards. We\'re planning on displaying our volcano.\n\nIS THIS ENOUGH??? I think it\'s a lot, but it will sure be a fun week!\n\nReminder: Keep on top of the Field Trip information. It\'s on the web blog under field trips. I will also be updating the summer programs information on the blog. If you have any information about other programs or experience with the ones listed, please let me know and I\'ll add it.\n\n<a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org//\">http://413.rayblogs.org\n</a>\nHAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!\n\nJane','April 4, 2008','','publish','open','open','','april-4-2008','','','2008-04-04 15:48:27','2008-04-04 20:48:27','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/04/04/april-4-2008/',0,'post','',0),(77,151,'2008-04-06 05:02:28','2008-04-06 10:02:28','<strong>April 15:  Children\'s Farm at the Center (Palos Park)</strong>\n\nCost: $7.00 per ticket (includes Hayride); send lunch in throwaway bag and a drink\n\nLeave Ray at 9:00, return at 1:30\n\nWE NEED PARENTS TO COME!\n\n<strong>May 14 Lincoln Park Zoo</strong>\n\nWe\'ll meet our buddies from Francis Parker School for a fun day at the zoo.\n\nCost: 0  Send a lunch in a throwaway bag including a drink\n\nLeave Ray at 9:00, return around 1:00\n\nWE NEED PARENTS TO COME AND HELP!\n\n<strong>May 22 Little Red School House (Willow Springs)</strong>\n\nJoin us for a nature walk and a picnic, along with our 4th/5th grade buddies. This is our best trip of the year so DON\'T MISS IT!\n\nCost: 0  Send a lunch in a throwaway bag and a drink. You can also send in picnic games (frisbes, etc.)\n\nLeave Ray at 9:00, return around 1:30\n\n*******************************************************************************<em> Already completed</em>\n\n*******************************************************************************\n\n<strong>March 13:  Nelson Gill Children\'s Concert - Merit School of Music</strong>\nCost: $5.00 per ticket\n\n\"Nelson Gill, award winning performing artist and educator, was born in Belize, Central America. He lived there and in Guatemala for the first eighteen years of his life, where he learned to speak English, Spanish and Creole fluently. His roots in Caribbean music and culture are evident throught his compositions.\n\nWinner of Chicago Reggae Music Award, \"Friends,\" Nelson Gill\'s second recording, continues the Caribbean musical tradition of Calypso, Regae, Soca, Merengue and Punta.  Sail away to the Carribbean with these lively upbeat songs filled with positive messages for children and adults.\"\n\n<strong>Garfield Park Conservatory - Niki de Saint Phalle Exhibit Thurs. Oct. 11 9-1pm</strong>\nWhile the weather is nice, we’d like to take the children to the unbelievable sculpture exhibit at the GPC. Niki de Saint Phalle makes sculptures with children in mind, and the GPC staff has great art activities to go with it. The conservatory has always been a fun trip for preschoolers. We hope you can make it. We’ll post the date as soon as we know.','Field Trips','','inherit','open','open','','9-revision','','','2008-04-06 05:02:28','2008-04-06 10:02:28','',9,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/04/06/9-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(50,151,'2008-04-13 17:01:42','2008-04-13 22:01:42','','','','inherit','open','open','','50','','','2008-04-13 17:01:42','2008-04-13 22:01:42','',0,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/04/teddyb1.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(52,151,'2008-04-29 21:16:24','2008-04-30 02:16:24','','katia','','inherit','open','open','','52','','','2008-04-29 21:16:24','2008-04-30 02:16:24','',51,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/04/katia.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(51,151,'2008-04-29 21:19:26','2008-04-30 02:19:26','<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Here are some of the letters from students in Ms. Clement\'s 4th grade class to the preschoolers at Ray. They were asked to write about when they were young children. </strong> (I did some light editing, including spelling and punctuation changes, to make it easier to read - apologies to the authors - JA) </em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Rameez</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello! My name is Rameez. I am in fourth grade. I am going to tell you a story about when I was 6 years old. I was in 1<sup>st</sup> grade.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Every summer I go to my grandparents’ house. They live in Vermont. So they have a big hourse and a pond. It had hundreds of frogs in it. The pond also had some crayfish and salamanders. There was also an otter who lived in a pipe. It ate fish.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Over there there was a tradition. The tradition was that my brother would get thrown in the pond. My uncle Willy would grab the arms. My cousin Josh would grab the legs. They would swing you back and forth to gather some momentum then they would throw you in the air and then splat! You would fall in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This summer it was my turn to get thrown in the pond. When they were about to pick me up I ran. I kept on running around the pond. I tripped on a few rocks, but I didn’t stop. Soon they had me surrounded so they picked me up and then I said, “Noooo!” and then plop! I fell in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Shalena</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hi. My name is Shalena and I want to tell you about an event that happened to me. It all started when I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade. It was Halloween. I was the devil’s braid. It was so fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I could tell you so much about when I was little especially since the picture is right above the paragraph. I love it when Halloween comes by the fall, but now it is almost here and it is not here now.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I love to celebrate young child appreciation week because you get to tell about when you were little. I also remember Nooooo! I tried to whistle. I practice and practice until I finally got it. That was a moment I wouldn’t forget.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Well bye, and thank you for reading my letter. I felt like a bird learning how to fly writing this letter.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Leslye</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">A memory that I have in my mind is that I walked by myself when I was 1 year old. Now if you want to know about my story you need to read this. I hope you enjoy my story.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I am going to tell you about my memory. When I was one year old I didn’t think about anything. I just walked and that’s all. I walked all by myself with no one holding me. I climbed a chair and walked on the table. WEIRD!!!!! Now that I am ten years old I think WOW!!!! If now I would of climbed a table and walked on it I would have broken it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now that I am ten years old and when I talked to my mom about where I was little and did all the disasters we just laugh. But now I know that getting up on a table, jumping, dancing, and walking is not good anymore. It can be dangerous. All the time I just think about how I could of done that. I think that all the babies do that.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong> Aida</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was a little girl and went to Puerto Rico with my family. We had about a thirty minute drive to O’Hare. Once we got on the plane it felt like a 40 hour flight! I was so bored I finally fell asleep. When I woke up we were finally here, Puerto Rico!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was so fun there. Also we stayed in this beautiful house. And when we went to the beach my older sister, Monica, told my older brother to pick up a jellyfish! (Monica thought it was a bag.) William got stung by the jellyfish and wasn’t too happy about it! Once William was climbing a tree a swarm of red ants came from the tree and started to bite William everywhere.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">On our last day I felt sad for two reasons. 1 I had to ride another boring flight. 2 I was really going to miss having so much fun. So on our last day we said goodbye to family members and took another swim in the pool. Now I really miss Puerto  Rico and can’t wait to go back!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Katia</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Katia.  I’m in 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I come from Russia which is located in Asia and Europe. When I was a little girl I was very lucky because I got to go to India, Italy and Turkey. The story I will tell takes place in a beautiful country named Turkey.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Turkey is a fun place because there are a lot of kids to play with. Also because there are cool art and karate camps. There are also fun water slides that are as slippery as a white soap in a golden goblet. There are even fun shows and festivals every night. Sometimes people from the art camp get to make shows. But the best things in Turkey are the caged-free peacocks.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My story begins with the beautiful peacocks. Every day I went to the spot where the peacocks roamed. Every day I tried to catch a peacock but almost every day I failed. The reason why I wanted to catch a peacock is to fly on it. I wanted to soar through the sky with the peacocks. At the age of 4 I didn’t know that peacocks couldn’t fly. My best luck in catching a peacock was touching its shiny feathers. Unfortunately my parents didn’t understand that I wanted to fly. But I was always happy even though I never catched a peacock.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The picture you see is of me being happy because I finally at least touched a peacock. I felt as happy as a person who won the Olympics. Behind me there are 2 peacocks roaming freely. One of the peacocks is in the shadows and the other one in the sun. Please take a moment to observe my picture. Aren’t the peacocks beautiful?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\" alt=\"katia.JPG\" width=\"171\" height=\"114\" /> </a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still remember the funny things I did when I was little. Either if it is thinking that an airplane is a train or chasing peacocks, I will always remember those moments. I think being a small child is fun. I hope that any young child reads this is glad that they are still young children. Bye bye and have a wonderful <em>Week of the Young Child</em> .</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Chandler</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Chandler’s Sharp Fangs Bite</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Dear Mom and Dad,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was young. I used to bite people with my Sharp Fangs (vampire teeth). I thought it was fun to bite people. The Sharp Fangs were white teeth that I used to put in my mouth. They made me look like a vampire.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I would run around the house and look into the mirror to see what my Sharp Fangs looked like. I looked like I had two carrots in my mouth. I tried eating food and drinking water with them. My Sharp would sometimes fall out of my mouth into the cup of water. I used to try to scare people with them.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still enjoy playing with vampire teeth today. I would like you to buy me some Sharp Fangs from Walgreens. I would try  to scare some people again. I think they come in different colors now. I think red Sharp Fangs would be stain for blood and would scare people. The vampire teeth only cost one dollar. I can do my chores to earn money to pay for my Sharp Fangs. Thank you Mom and Dad for my Sharp Fangs.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Todd</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My name is Todd. This is a picture of me on Halloween when I was in the 1<sup>st</sup> grade. I was wearing a Spiderman costume. I was in my room climbing the book shelves pretending to be Spiderman at my Grandma’s house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I wore the Spiderman costume at school and we had a parade and marched around. I felt happy that day. There were other people in Spiderman costumes, too. We had a Halloween party in the class room.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The day was fun. The party was awesome. I will always remember that Halloween.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>David</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child Report</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day when I was five years old in kindergarten in the middle of the year we had a sub. He was a nice sub. A really nice sub! He almost let us do anything we wanted, unless it is dangerous. We had free time early in the day. I had a great time. He was wonderful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He let us stay out longer. When we were supposed to write for a long time he cut it short and let people go up on the big rug and sing songs. I really didn’t like how the people (sang). They sing very bad! I still  thought it was kind of fun. I think the teacher liked me singing.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was Thursday, my favorite day back then because we had gym. I love gym. It is my second favorite subject. I kind of remember what we did. I think we had free time. We had a lot of fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">At the end of the (day) we had our second free time in the class. I played basketball (there was a little hoop there). After that we had a snack. Mmmmm! That day with the sub was a great day. That is all that I can remember. One more thing that I can remember is that I had fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Zekayla</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me when I was “3.” My name is Kayla. I was born in “June 1998.” Do ya think I’m pink with a white doll?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was “5” months on this day sleeping in my bed, my grandma said that I was a doll so she picked me up and wake me up.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my first birthday party. We were at a Chuckie Cheese pizza place. That’s my dad. He’s so cool to me except when he say No. He feel sad and I feel sad.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my brother. His name is Michael. The on the top is when we were going to a wedding. He made such a mess for me. And this is him when we were at my cousin’s house. I’m 3 years older than him, and the girl in the background is my cousin, Lili. She’s one year older than him.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me in preschool. My graduation “wow” at the YMCA. My teacher said to pick what you want to be when you grown up and I said I want to be a doctor.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me on my graduation from preschool. This is me taking a picture. I’m in 1<sup>st</sup> grade. Who is that? Is that me? OH NO!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">And this is my birthday when I’m 7. On the bottom is Cousin Makiya. On the left is Cousin TT. Right is Cousin Ta. On top is me. I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade when I made this book, and I said: “I am in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade at Ray  School. My favorite subject is art. My heart told me to write this book… My name is Kayla. I know some of you who was in Ms. Sheridan’s class read or saw this book.  THE END</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Antawun</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello young children. I am going to tell you a story. It is when I was in first grade. The story might be a little long. I hope you enjoy the story. So let\'s hop into an adventureeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all starts when my mom had a baby named Ashton Carl. Then my grandma died in March. So we took a trip to Florida. It was a sad time for my family. But I have some good memories.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I see family that I haven\'t seen before in my life. So the next day we go to the funeral. So the day after that I went to Disney World. I had so much fun there. I took a picture with PUSH the talking garbage can!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Young child, thanks for letting me read you this story. Hope you enjoy it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\"></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\" alt=\"antawun.jpg\" width=\"171\" height=\"110\" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Daniel</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Daniel and this is a picture of me from when I was 8 months old. I have done a lot of things when I was a young child under the age of four, such as say my first word, go to China at the age of three, go on my first trip to Florida and Disneyland and lots of other interesting adventures as a young child. But my most memorable adventure as a kid was moving to a new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was in the early morning, Saturday 7, 2003. I was 5 years old and I was about to move to a new home that I could actually own not rent. So anyway, my family and I were packing our things. Some of the things we had to give away, like my mini basketball hoop and my toy car that was as big as a 7x7 painting. I was sad because of two things: I had to leave my old home and I also had to leave one of my best friends, Ben. We had gone everywhere together including a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean factory! After we were done packing our things, my dad and I drove to Home Depot to pick out some new furniture for our home. I picked out a couch with pretty flowers all over it, but my dad said no because it was too expensive. Then my dad found a television, a metal desk, a chair, and a table. Then we paid for it and left it in a Home Depot truck.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Then my dad and I went to IKEA and Harlem Furnitures where we bought beds, stoves and a toilet for our new home. Then my dad and I went back to our hold home to stay for one last day. The next day it was moving day. First my entire family went to Home Depot to pick up our furniture. When we were driving back I got to push the window washing button! Then it was time to go to our new home. We said our goodbyes to Ben and our house and then we left for our new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When my family and I got there we were amazed at what we saw there. Standing before our eyes was a gigantic house! I jumped into my room and stood there for a while, still not knowing this house was mine. I asked my dad, &quot;Is this house ours?&quot; My dad said &quot;Of course&quot; and since then we have been living in this wonderful house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I hope you enjoyed my story and happy Week of the Young Child to you.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Tucker</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">My Surgery</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all started when I was in kindergarten when I got a knot in my neck. My parents tried to figure what the knot was, but they could not figure it out. The doctors did not know what it was so they put me in surgery. It was a full recovery. When I got out the hospital I had to wear a neck cast on my neck. It felt really weird.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Jason</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 6 years old, I went to Canada. I went to Niagara Falls. It was fun. I got to see Niagara Falls. I got to go on a boat tour there.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I also got to pick strawberries and eat them. I picked about 100 strawberries. It was fun, too. I got so many strawberries. Then I ate some.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Going to Canada was fun. But I don\'t want to go there again because they made me eat a lot of vegetables. It was a lot of fun there in Canada.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Demitria</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Week of the Young Child</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">What I am going to write about is year of the young child. I remember one time when I was little. I always carried a doll. I love it. Then one day when I went to the store with my mom I lost it. It was very sad to me since I was very little. It was like losing a very best friend. But then I got another one. I was very happy. But don\'t ask me what there names were because I really don\'t remember.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was little I always liked to hold onto stuff. That\'s why I was sad when I lost my doll. I loved being little. I remember my first word was &quot;no.&quot; Like even when I liked something and wanted it, I would always say &quot;No!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was a baby and I knew how to talk, would always say &quot;Hi!!!&quot; Sometimes I would say hi like I knew the person. Sometimes when I was a baby my sister would beg my mom if she could hold me. I mean I know why. Because I\'m so awesome. Just kidding. Also when my mom was pregnant with me my sister would yell at my mom\'s stomach. &quot;WAKE UP BABY!!!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Josh</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day I was going to school. Like an average day. Well I did reading, playtime, recess and lunch. But when we had Spanish I had to go home. Well I went home because ... I was standing on my chair and sticking my butt out.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I said &quot;I\'m going to call your mommy.&quot; I did this because I\'d had it with  Miss I cannot say the name. She\'s always calling moms. So when I went home Deb had a long boring talk. Then my dad cancelled one of his meetings.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was so scared. The next day I was so tired because I couldn\'t sleep. I didn\'t say anything until I got to school. When I got there people were staring at me. I think I started to cry.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Don\'t do things you\'ll regret.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Avan</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I Avan was injured at birth. My shoulder was damaged by the doctor. The doctor pulled my arm and popped my scapula so my arm always sticks out. At the age of three months I started going to therapy up until the summer of 2007. My therapist suggested that I take time out. I still come home and try to stretch out my arm and my mom help me too. I had surgery twice in Texas. My first surgery I had at 6 years old and had to wear a cast during the summer for about 2 months with my arm up and out position which was really weird. People would look at me and questioned me about what kind of accident caused me to have a cast mold in the manner.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My therapist name is Joni. Joni became my best friend. We\'d exchange gifts for birthdays and other holidays. She makes the therapy exercize fun. We played games while stretching my arm and other activities. Jone is a very exciting person to work with . She has helped me with many challenging activities.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">In second grade I had my second surgery. I had to wear my cast for six weeks. My arm was in a position of a waiter\'s tip. When I took off my cast it was hard to straighten at first but after a moment I could straighten my arm by my side. Before I went in to surgery I got teary eyed but I did not cry. The doctors put me to sleep and when I woke up I as in a whole different room and happy to be done with it. The doctor recommended a third surgery but I did not want to do it again. I have been through enough.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">While I was in Texas for both surgeries I did spend time visiting and enjoying the sights and amusement parks  which helped calm me before surgery.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I have experienced a great deal  with my Brachial Plexus injury. However I still manage to be the best I can be.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>D\'Andre</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was four months old I did lots of stuff like playing with toys. I like throwing stuff and messing with people. I would sometimes be mean and kick people, and sometimes I would snatch stuff out of peoples\' hands. I would bug my mom to get what I want and I would not share sometimes.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Teshurer</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This when I was 3 years old and was cute and pretty. And it was picture day and I had the cutest picture and so did my friends. And I had cute and small teeth and I  had lots of friends. When I was 5 I got my school picture.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 I went to Dixon. That\'s where I got my school picture. My teacher was nice. I think her name was Ms. Lee and when I was 5 she was always sweet, kind and lovely to me and my dearful friends.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 and I took my school I was grateful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n\n<strong>Graciela</strong>\n\nToday I am going to tell you about me. Let\'s start, Okay?\n\nWhen I was little I was doing my homework and when I was done I asked my mom if we could go to my grandma\'s house and play with my cousins. Then my mom said, &quot;Okay. Are you done with your homework?&quot; I said, &quot;Yes, Mom.&quot; She said, &quot;Okay. Get ready for we can go&quot; (by the way I am 4 years old and in 1st grade). I said, &quot;Okay, Mom.&quot; I was putting on my shoes. Then me and my mom and my brother were in the car driving.\n\nOnce we got to my grandma\'s house I saw my cousins Bianca and her brother BJ. I said hi to them. My brother was playing with BJ because BJ and my brother are both boys. Anyway I told Bianca does she want to play. She said Okay but then my mom told me that I had to eat. And my brother, too. So me and my brother went inside to eat a sandwich. After we were done we could go outside so me and my brother ate our sandwich and ran out the door and outside where BJ and Bianca were sitting down.\n\nTHen I told Bianca, &quot;Come on. Let\'s play.&quot; Then she said Okay then me and  Bianca were playing ring-around-the-rosie. THen me and Bianca were going fast. Then I flew in the air and hit my head on the corner of the porch. I started to cry. Then my mom grabbed me and took me to the hospital and my dad, too. The doctor gave me shots and I had to go to the hospital on some of the days, but it did not feel good when they gave you the shots. But I as okay. That\'s the end of my story. Enjoy.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>','Letters from 4th Graders','','publish','open','open','','when-i-was-a-young-child-letters-from-4th-graders','','','2008-04-29 21:19:26','2008-04-30 02:19:26','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/',7,'page','',0),(53,151,'2008-04-29 21:24:30','2008-04-30 02:24:30','','katia','','inherit','open','open','','53','','','2008-04-29 21:24:30','2008-04-30 02:24:30','',51,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/04/katia1.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(54,151,'2008-05-16 14:10:13','2008-05-16 19:10:13','','antawun','','inherit','open','open','','54','','','2008-05-16 14:10:13','2008-05-16 19:10:13','',51,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/05/antawun.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(55,151,'2008-05-17 07:40:15','2008-05-17 12:40:15','','scan0001','','inherit','open','open','','55','','','2008-05-17 07:40:15','2008-05-17 12:40:15','',15,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/05/scan0001.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(56,151,'2008-05-17 07:58:10','2008-05-17 12:58:10','','img_6578','','inherit','open','open','','56','','','2008-05-17 07:58:10','2008-05-17 12:58:10','',15,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/05/img_6578.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(57,151,'2008-05-17 08:02:39','2008-05-17 13:02:39','','img_6579','','inherit','open','open','','57','','','2008-05-17 08:02:39','2008-05-17 13:02:39','',15,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2008/05/img_6579.JPG',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(154,151,'2008-05-17 08:37:06','2008-05-17 13:37:06','<p align=\"center\"><strong>Zoo Stories</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>By the Children in Room 413 After Their Field Trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo</em></p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Zoo Train</em> by Carter</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once upon a time there was a boy named Carter. He liked Legos Zoo Train. An elephant and a monkey and a lion and a giraffe and a tiger and a flamingo.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"> <em> The Zoo </em>by Austin</p>\n<p align=\"left\">A dolphin. The tiger. The baby jaguar. The pumas. The penguins. The monkeys. The speckled bear. The gorilla. The sharks. The whale. The animals on the train.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Hippo</em> by Kahlil</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The hippo was really sad cause he can\'t swim. He can\'t swim because he\'s too fat. Cause he ate too much. He ate too much because he was hungry. He was hungry because he liked to be strong.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Farm</em> by John</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I went in the farm. And I saw cows washing and milking at the same time. And I saw them poop. And it was yucky. I got to pet the goats.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Lion</em> by Ian</p>\n<p align=\"left\">It was on the rocks. It roared. It got off.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Hyena Gets Eaten By the Lion </em>by Rikesh</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once upon a time there was a hyena. And a badger. Soon the badger was gone. Soon a lion came. The hyena said to himself, \"Maybe that lion late Badger.\" Soon the lion made and awful ROAR! The hyena started to run. The lion chased after the hyena. The hyena started to run superfast. But the lion was catching up. The lion wrapped the hyena with its giant claw and pulled him up with all his might. The hyena couldn\'t escape. The lion squeeze the hyena\'s leg harder. Soon the lion ate him in one gulp.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Lion</em> by Ahmad</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The lion was sleeping and then he woke up and he ate a bird.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(Editor\'s note: we really witnessed this! Poor pidgeon shouldn\'t have landed 2 feet from the lioness ....)</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Arthur</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I saw a dragon and it and the lion bit the flamingos. Then the lion got out of his cage and then it tried to bite all the animals, but not the animals that were in the glass, and not even the Kapuchen monkeys.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(Editor\'s note: We saw a zebra that was having seizures. The veterinarians had been there to check on it. The following stories are reflect the children\'s fascination with this.)</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6578.JPG\" title=\"Direct link to file\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6578.JPG\" alt=\"img_6578.JPG\" height=\"128\" width=\"170\" /></a>    <a href=\"void(0)\" title=\"img_6579.JPG\"> 			<img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6579.JPG\" height=\"131\" width=\"172\" /></a></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Zebra</em> by Auden</p>\n<p align=\"left\">It was sick. It was lying down. It was in a truck. The zebras were standing up. Because they weren\'t sick.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Surgery Truck for the Zebra</em> by Ben</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The surgery truck was feeling the zebra\'s heart. And it was not beating at all. And the surgery truck knew it was sick. Then they put it in a hospital bed. And it was so sick it rolled over.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Sean</p>\n<p align=\"left\">A zebra was walking. And then it bumped into a lion. The lion was walking but then the lion bumped into a African wild dog.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Niel</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once at the zoo there was a zebra that was sick. Then the mother zebra was very sad. And they lived happily ever after.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By River</p>\n<p align=\"left\">That\'s the zebra laying down. A truck came. The doctor got out the truck. And she checked the zebra\'s whole body.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\">_______________________________________________________________</p>\n<p align=\"center\">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"left\">&nbsp;</p>\nSeptember 10, 2007\n\nRia’s Birthday Story\n\nOnce it was my birthday. And her name was Ria. And she had a cake, a chocolate cake. I was really hungry because I wanted lunch.\n\nRosie\n\nOnce upon a time there was me and my dad. I was sleeping  and then there was a bad guy in my room. Then there was a bad Ms. Jane (it wasn’t you). She take my mom and dad! And she hurt my head. It fly and hurt my head, and put the building down. And Bad Ms. Jane fired all the town, and even blocked the tree! And fired the tree! And fired the dress and the shirt. Then it broke my body.  The End\n\nMila\n\nAbout a kid and a monster. Once upon a time there was a monster. The kid’s mommy and daddy hugged me and took them to the water fountain. And they live happily ever after.\n\nBecky\n\nI go to preschool and I go to Spanish class.\n\nJacob\n\nThe monsters were taking me and then I got away and then they were all over the place.\n\nIan\n\nThere was monsters and they were all over the place and then they got dead.\n\nSeptember 4, 2007\n\nMila:\n\nOnce upon a time there was the monsters all over the place. And then the monsters were tearing my head and putting me on the bed. Then I was laughing all over the place. I was landing all around outside. Then I saw the monsters over there and then my mommy and daddy hugged me very much and my mommy and daddy took me home.\n\nArthur:\n\nMy story is monsters were all over the place and there were ghosts all over the place.\n\nRiver:\n\nOne day I saw a monster with my daddy and me and him were all over Chicago. the ghosts were still in the plane and we weren’t in the plane.\n\nCarter:\n\nThere was a bat upstairs in my old school. I gave Ben woodchips so he could get it away. And then one day it was still in there! And then I went upstairs so I could see it and then I run downstairs cause it was still up there.\n\nRosie:\n\nWhen I was sleeping there was a monster that took my mom and dad away. And he was trying to put me away but my head was hurting. And then a sky was on my head. And then the bacterias eat the bad guy away. But it was just a dream.\n\n2/15/08\n\nJACOB’S STORY ABOUT THE MURAL ON THE WALL IN THE HALL- told to me while I was trying to get him to calm down for nap today. He told me a lot more before I realized that I needed to go get a paper and pencil to write down what he was telling me.\n\nThe people in the box [he had earlier described them as tall or long which they clearly are] actually they—the rain [he also described the raindrop as a tear at one point but decided it should be rain instead]—the orange rain is gonna break the box—break it open and then they [the people in the box] will fall near the cheetah and the spider. [I have to admit I hadn’t noticed most of the items he was describing after almost 5 years of passing that wall but he was into all the details].  When they first drop they’ll have to fight these guys but they don’t have a weapon. But they can swim, actually they can’t swim that water cuz that water goes too fast. But actually they will have to  stay and fight those guys until they fall into the pit. Actually there is a pit but you can’t see it near the edge. [This was in response to my query about where the pit was.]\n\nThere’s a volcano, see right there, and when they go inside the volcano they will not die because the volcano fish and not go in the water.\n\nThe creature actually, the little creature that has cherries in his mouth. It’s actually gonna give it to that creature right there. That face is gonna such up the cherries and the stars in the sky.\n\n(Deirdre)','Your Children\'s Stories','','inherit','open','open','','15-revision','','','2008-05-17 08:37:06','2008-05-17 13:37:06','',15,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/05/17/15-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(151,151,'2008-05-27 15:52:55','2008-05-27 20:52:55','<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Here are some of the letters from students in Ms. Clement\'s 4th grade class to the preschoolers at Ray. They were asked to write about when they were young children. </strong> (I did some light editing, including spelling and punctuation changes, to make it easier to read - apologies to the authors - JA) </em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Rameez</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello! My name is Rameez. I am in fourth grade. I am going to tell you a story about when I was 6 years old. I was in 1<sup>st</sup> grade.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Every summer I go to my grandparents’ house. They live in Vermont. So they have a big hourse and a pond. It had hundreds of frogs in it. The pond also had some crayfish and salamanders. There was also an otter who lived in a pipe. It ate fish.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Over there there was a tradition. The tradition was that my brother would get thrown in the pond. My uncle Willy would grab the arms. My cousin Josh would grab the legs. They would swing you back and forth to gather some momentum then they would throw you in the air and then splat! You would fall in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This summer it was my turn to get thrown in the pond. When they were about to pick me up I ran. I kept on running around the pond. I tripped on a few rocks, but I didn’t stop. Soon they had me surrounded so they picked me up and then I said, “Noooo!” and then plop! I fell in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Shalena</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hi. My name is Shalena and I want to tell you about an event that happened to me. It all started when I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade. It was Halloween. I was the devil’s braid. It was so fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I could tell you so much about when I was little especially since the picture is right above the paragraph. I love it when Halloween comes by the fall, but now it is almost here and it is not here now.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I love to celebrate young child appreciation week because you get to tell about when you were little. I also remember Nooooo! I tried to whistle. I practice and practice until I finally got it. That was a moment I wouldn’t forget.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Well bye, and thank you for reading my letter. I felt like a bird learning how to fly writing this letter.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Leslye</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">A memory that I have in my mind is that I walked by myself when I was 1 year old. Now if you want to know about my story you need to read this. I hope you enjoy my story.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I am going to tell you about my memory. When I was one year old I didn’t think about anything. I just walked and that’s all. I walked all by myself with no one holding me. I climbed a chair and walked on the table. WEIRD!!!!! Now that I am ten years old I think WOW!!!! If now I would of climbed a table and walked on it I would have broken it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now that I am ten years old and when I talked to my mom about where I was little and did all the disasters we just laugh. But now I know that getting up on a table, jumping, dancing, and walking is not good anymore. It can be dangerous. All the time I just think about how I could of done that. I think that all the babies do that.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong> Aida</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was a little girl and went to Puerto Rico with my family. We had about a thirty minute drive to O’Hare. Once we got on the plane it felt like a 40 hour flight! I was so bored I finally fell asleep. When I woke up we were finally here, Puerto Rico!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was so fun there. Also we stayed in this beautiful house. And when we went to the beach my older sister, Monica, told my older brother to pick up a jellyfish! (Monica thought it was a bag.) William got stung by the jellyfish and wasn’t too happy about it! Once William was climbing a tree a swarm of red ants came from the tree and started to bite William everywhere.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">On our last day I felt sad for two reasons. 1 I had to ride another boring flight. 2 I was really going to miss having so much fun. So on our last day we said goodbye to family members and took another swim in the pool. Now I really miss Puerto  Rico and can’t wait to go back!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Katia</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Katia.  I’m in 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I come from Russia which is located in Asia and Europe. When I was a little girl I was very lucky because I got to go to India, Italy and Turkey. The story I will tell takes place in a beautiful country named Turkey.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Turkey is a fun place because there are a lot of kids to play with. Also because there are cool art and karate camps. There are also fun water slides that are as slippery as a white soap in a golden goblet. There are even fun shows and festivals every night. Sometimes people from the art camp get to make shows. But the best things in Turkey are the caged-free peacocks.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My story begins with the beautiful peacocks. Every day I went to the spot where the peacocks roamed. Every day I tried to catch a peacock but almost every day I failed. The reason why I wanted to catch a peacock is to fly on it. I wanted to soar through the sky with the peacocks. At the age of 4 I didn’t know that peacocks couldn’t fly. My best luck in catching a peacock was touching its shiny feathers. Unfortunately my parents didn’t understand that I wanted to fly. But I was always happy even though I never catched a peacock.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The picture you see is of me being happy because I finally at least touched a peacock. I felt as happy as a person who won the Olympics. Behind me there are 2 peacocks roaming freely. One of the peacocks is in the shadows and the other one in the sun. Please take a moment to observe my picture. Aren’t the peacocks beautiful?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\" alt=\"katia.JPG\" width=\"171\" height=\"114\" /> </a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still remember the funny things I did when I was little. Either if it is thinking that an airplane is a train or chasing peacocks, I will always remember those moments. I think being a small child is fun. I hope that any young child reads this is glad that they are still young children. Bye bye and have a wonderful <em>Week of the Young Child</em> .</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Chandler</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Chandler’s Sharp Fangs Bite</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Dear Mom and Dad,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was young. I used to bite people with my Sharp Fangs (vampire teeth). I thought it was fun to bite people. The Sharp Fangs were white teeth that I used to put in my mouth. They made me look like a vampire.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I would run around the house and look into the mirror to see what my Sharp Fangs looked like. I looked like I had two carrots in my mouth. I tried eating food and drinking water with them. My Sharp would sometimes fall out of my mouth into the cup of water. I used to try to scare people with them.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still enjoy playing with vampire teeth today. I would like you to buy me some Sharp Fangs from Walgreens. I would try  to scare some people again. I think they come in different colors now. I think red Sharp Fangs would be stain for blood and would scare people. The vampire teeth only cost one dollar. I can do my chores to earn money to pay for my Sharp Fangs. Thank you Mom and Dad for my Sharp Fangs.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Todd</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My name is Todd. This is a picture of me on Halloween when I was in the 1<sup>st</sup> grade. I was wearing a Spiderman costume. I was in my room climbing the book shelves pretending to be Spiderman at my Grandma’s house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I wore the Spiderman costume at school and we had a parade and marched around. I felt happy that day. There were other people in Spiderman costumes, too. We had a Halloween party in the class room.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The day was fun. The party was awesome. I will always remember that Halloween.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>David</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child Report</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day when I was five years old in kindergarten in the middle of the year we had a sub. He was a nice sub. A really nice sub! He almost let us do anything we wanted, unless it is dangerous. We had free time early in the day. I had a great time. He was wonderful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He let us stay out longer. When we were supposed to write for a long time he cut it short and let people go up on the big rug and sing songs. I really didn’t like how the people (sang). They sing very bad! I still  thought it was kind of fun. I think the teacher liked me singing.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was Thursday, my favorite day back then because we had gym. I love gym. It is my second favorite subject. I kind of remember what we did. I think we had free time. We had a lot of fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">At the end of the (day) we had our second free time in the class. I played basketball (there was a little hoop there). After that we had a snack. Mmmmm! That day with the sub was a great day. That is all that I can remember. One more thing that I can remember is that I had fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Zekayla</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me when I was “3.” My name is Kayla. I was born in “June 1998.” Do ya think I’m pink with a white doll?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was “5” months on this day sleeping in my bed, my grandma said that I was a doll so she picked me up and wake me up.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my first birthday party. We were at a Chuckie Cheese pizza place. That’s my dad. He’s so cool to me except when he say No. He feel sad and I feel sad.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my brother. His name is Michael. The on the top is when we were going to a wedding. He made such a mess for me. And this is him when we were at my cousin’s house. I’m 3 years older than him, and the girl in the background is my cousin, Lili. She’s one year older than him.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me in preschool. My graduation “wow” at the YMCA. My teacher said to pick what you want to be when you grown up and I said I want to be a doctor.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me on my graduation from preschool. This is me taking a picture. I’m in 1<sup>st</sup> grade. Who is that? Is that me? OH NO!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">And this is my birthday when I’m 7. On the bottom is Cousin Makiya. On the left is Cousin TT. Right is Cousin Ta. On top is me. I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade when I made this book, and I said: “I am in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade at Ray  School. My favorite subject is art. My heart told me to write this book… My name is Kayla. I know some of you who was in Ms. Sheridan’s class read or saw this book.  THE END</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Antawun</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello young children. I am going to tell you a story. It is when I was in first grade. The story might be a little long. I hope you enjoy the story. So let\'s hop into an adventureeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all starts when my mom had a baby named Ashton Carl. Then my grandma died in March. So we took a trip to Florida. It was a sad time for my family. But I have some good memories.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I see family that I haven\'t seen before in my life. So the next day we go to the funeral. So the day after that I went to Disney World. I had so much fun there. I took a picture with PUSH the talking garbage can!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Young child, thanks for letting me read you this story. Hope you enjoy it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\"></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\" alt=\"antawun.jpg\" width=\"171\" height=\"110\" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Daniel</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Daniel and this is a picture of me from when I was 8 months old. I have done a lot of things when I was a young child under the age of four, such as say my first word, go to China at the age of three, go on my first trip to Florida and Disneyland and lots of other interesting adventures as a young child. But my most memorable adventure as a kid was moving to a new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was in the early morning, Saturday 7, 2003. I was 5 years old and I was about to move to a new home that I could actually own not rent. So anyway, my family and I were packing our things. Some of the things we had to give away, like my mini basketball hoop and my toy car that was as big as a 7x7 painting. I was sad because of two things: I had to leave my old home and I also had to leave one of my best friends, Ben. We had gone everywhere together including a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean factory! After we were done packing our things, my dad and I drove to Home Depot to pick out some new furniture for our home. I picked out a couch with pretty flowers all over it, but my dad said no because it was too expensive. Then my dad found a television, a metal desk, a chair, and a table. Then we paid for it and left it in a Home Depot truck.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Then my dad and I went to IKEA and Harlem Furnitures where we bought beds, stoves and a toilet for our new home. Then my dad and I went back to our hold home to stay for one last day. The next day it was moving day. First my entire family went to Home Depot to pick up our furniture. When we were driving back I got to push the window washing button! Then it was time to go to our new home. We said our goodbyes to Ben and our house and then we left for our new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When my family and I got there we were amazed at what we saw there. Standing before our eyes was a gigantic house! I jumped into my room and stood there for a while, still not knowing this house was mine. I asked my dad, &quot;Is this house ours?&quot; My dad said &quot;Of course&quot; and since then we have been living in this wonderful house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I hope you enjoyed my story and happy Week of the Young Child to you.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Tucker</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">My Surgery</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all started when I was in kindergarten when I got a knot in my neck. My parents tried to figure what the knot was, but they could not figure it out. The doctors did not know what it was so they put me in surgery. It was a full recovery. When I got out the hospital I had to wear a neck cast on my neck. It felt really weird.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Jason</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 6 years old, I went to Canada. I went to Niagara Falls. It was fun. I got to see Niagara Falls. I got to go on a boat tour there.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I also got to pick strawberries and eat them. I picked about 100 strawberries. It was fun, too. I got so many strawberries. Then I ate some.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Going to Canada was fun. But I don\'t want to go there again because they made me eat a lot of vegetables. It was a lot of fun there in Canada.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Demitria</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Week of the Young Child</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">What I am going to write about is year of the young child. I remember one time when I was little. I always carried a doll. I love it. Then one day when I went to the store with my mom I lost it. It was very sad to me since I was very little. It was like losing a very best friend. But then I got another one. I was very happy. But don\'t ask me what there names were because I really don\'t remember.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was little I always liked to hold onto stuff. That\'s why I was sad when I lost my doll. I loved being little. I remember my first word was &quot;no.&quot; Like even when I liked something and wanted it, I would always say &quot;No!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was a baby and I knew how to talk, would always say &quot;Hi!!!&quot; Sometimes I would say hi like I knew the person. Sometimes when I was a baby my sister would beg my mom if she could hold me. I mean I know why. Because I\'m so awesome. Just kidding. Also when my mom was pregnant with me my sister would yell at my mom\'s stomach. &quot;WAKE UP BABY!!!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Josh</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day I was going to school. Like an average day. Well I did reading, playtime, recess and lunch. But when we had Spanish I had to go home. Well I went home because ... I was standing on my chair and sticking my butt out.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I said &quot;I\'m going to call your mommy.&quot; I did this because I\'d had it with  Miss I cannot say the name. She\'s always calling moms. So when I went home Deb had a long boring talk. Then my dad cancelled one of his meetings.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was so scared. The next day I was so tired because I couldn\'t sleep. I didn\'t say anything until I got to school. When I got there people were staring at me. I think I started to cry.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Don\'t do things you\'ll regret.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Avan</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I Avan was injured at birth. My shoulder was damaged by the doctor. The doctor pulled my arm and popped my scapula so my arm always sticks out. At the age of three months I started going to therapy up until the summer of 2007. My therapist suggested that I take time out. I still come home and try to stretch out my arm and my mom help me too. I had surgery twice in Texas. My first surgery I had at 6 years old and had to wear a cast during the summer for about 2 months with my arm up and out position which was really weird. People would look at me and questioned me about what kind of accident caused me to have a cast mold in the manner.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My therapist name is Joni. Joni became my best friend. We\'d exchange gifts for birthdays and other holidays. She makes the therapy exercize fun. We played games while stretching my arm and other activities. Jone is a very exciting person to work with . She has helped me with many challenging activities.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">In second grade I had my second surgery. I had to wear my cast for six weeks. My arm was in a position of a waiter\'s tip. When I took off my cast it was hard to straighten at first but after a moment I could straighten my arm by my side. Before I went in to surgery I got teary eyed but I did not cry. The doctors put me to sleep and when I woke up I as in a whole different room and happy to be done with it. The doctor recommended a third surgery but I did not want to do it again. I have been through enough.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">While I was in Texas for both surgeries I did spend time visiting and enjoying the sights and amusement parks  which helped calm me before surgery.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I have experienced a great deal  with my Brachial Plexus injury. However I still manage to be the best I can be.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>D\'Andre</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was four months old I did lots of stuff like playing with toys. I like throwing stuff and messing with people. I would sometimes be mean and kick people, and sometimes I would snatch stuff out of peoples\' hands. I would bug my mom to get what I want and I would not share sometimes.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Teshurer</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This when I was 3 years old and was cute and pretty. And it was picture day and I had the cutest picture and so did my friends. And I had cute and small teeth and I  had lots of friends. When I was 5 I got my school picture.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 I went to Dixon. That\'s where I got my school picture. My teacher was nice. I think her name was Ms. Lee and when I was 5 she was always sweet, kind and lovely to me and my dearful friends.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 and I took my school I was grateful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<strong>Graciela</strong>\n\nToday I am going to tell you about me. Let\'s start, Okay?\n\nWhen I was little I was doing my homework and when I was done I asked my mom if we could go to my grandma\'s house and play with my cousins. Then my mom said, &quot;Okay. Are you done with your homework?&quot; I said, &quot;Yes, Mom.&quot; She said, &quot;Okay. Get ready for we can go&quot; (by the way I am 4 years old and in 1st grade). I said, &quot;Okay, Mom.&quot; I was putting on my shoes. Then me and my mom and my brother were in the car driving.\n\nOnce we got to my grandma\'s house I saw my cousins Bianca and her brother BJ. I said hi to them. My brother was playing with BJ because BJ and my brother are both boys. Anyway I told Bianca does she want to play. She said Okay but then my mom told me that I had to eat. And my brother, too. So me and my brother went inside to eat a sandwich. After we were done we could go outside so me and my brother ate our sandwich and ran out the door and outside where BJ and Bianca were sitting down.\n\nTHen I told Bianca, &quot;Come on. Let\'s play.&quot; Then she said Okay then me and  Bianca were playing ring-around-the-rosie. THen me and Bianca were going fast. Then I flew in the air and hit my head on the corner of the porch. I started to cry. Then my mom grabbed me and took me to the hospital and my dad, too. The doctor gave me shots and I had to go to the hospital on some of the days, but it did not feel good when they gave you the shots. But I as okay. That\'s the end of my story. Enjoy.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>','When I Was a Young Child: Letters from 4th Graders','','inherit','open','open','','51-revision','','','2008-05-27 15:52:55','2008-05-27 20:52:55','',51,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/05/27/51-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(58,151,'2008-05-31 19:51:28','2008-06-01 00:51:28','We had a great trip to Millenium Park in downtown Chicago today. We have been learning about cities for 4 or 5 weeks now, looking at pictures of the skyline in Chicago. It was great to be there together with our families to draw pictures of these first hand. We sat in the middle of the lawn by the amphitheater to draw and have our lunches. Then we went over to the fountain and had a great time getting wet (thank you weather for being so accommodating!).  The gardens were beautiful today.\n\nHere is a list of things you might want to do with your child in the downtown area. I hope you\'ll help us add to the list as you do more exploring:\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;font-family:\">Downtown </span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;font-family:\">Chicago</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;font-family:\">:</span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;font-family:\">Things to do with your children</span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;font-family:\"> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">River walk to the coast guard house:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> take the stairs down at </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Michigan Ave.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and Wacker and walk east to the lake (look for the mosaics of </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Chicago</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> under </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Columbus Dr</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">.)</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Millenium</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Park</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">: </span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> runs between </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Michigan Ave.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Lake Shore Dr.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">, between Randolph and Monroe (look for the Bean, the fountain – bring extra clothes! – the gardens, the music pavilion – free music concerts in the summer at night, bridge across </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Columbus Dr</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">.)</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Ride on the “El”:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> you can board at </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Monroe</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Wabash</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Picasso Sculpture at </span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Daly</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Plaza</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> located at Dearborn and Washington. Kids love to climb on this </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Chicago</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> icon</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Aon Building:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> <strong><span> </span> </strong> (used to be the Amoco or Standard Oil Bldg., located on Randolph across from Millenium Park) In front of the building are large wind chimes; on the east side of the building is a cool garden area.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Harold Washington Library:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> <strong><span> </span> </strong> Located at Congress and Dearborn. The children’s library on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor is amazing! You can help your child get a library card – all they have to do is write their first name. Take the elevator to the top floor to see the Winter Garden and the Harold Washington exhibit. It’s a beautiful building and a wonderful tribute to Harold Washington.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Art Institute:<span> </span> </span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">located on </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Michigan Ave.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> between Jackson and Monroe. There is a children’s section in the lower level on the west side of the building. </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Navy Pier:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> You can enjoy Navy Pier and avoid spending a lot of money. Walk out to the end of the pier and look out over the lake. Check out the indoor garden with the cool water fountains near the Children’s Museum. The rides are relatively expensive but they are fun, especially the Ferris Wheel that never stops.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Buckingham Fountain:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> located at </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Columbus Dr.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and Congress. You can hit or miss the spray on a windy day when the fountain is in full throttle – the water goes up 100 feet! Check out the nearby gardens and the beautiful little fountains just north of the big fountain.<span> </span> This is fun place to go on a summer night when the lights are on.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Grant Park:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> Grant Park is full of gardens, fields to run in, and surprising sculptures and monuments.<span> </span> For you history buffs, the General Logan statue at </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Michigan Ave.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">9<sup>th</sup> St</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">.<span> </span> is the site of the 1968 anti-war demonstration in 1968 that made Chicago and Mayor Daly famous for the “Chicago 7” trial. Check out the Abraham Lincoln statue at Congress and </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Columbus Drive</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Lake</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Front</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> Walk along the lake front between the museum park on the south and the yacht club on the north. It’s fun to look at the boats, picnic along the water front, even ride bikes or roller blade along there. </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Museum</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Park</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> The museums are great (Field, Shedd, Planetarium), but it’s also fun to walk along the peninsula. On the eastern end on the south side of the Planetarium is a small and very nice beach. There’s also a string of rocks to climb on. You can get to </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Northerly</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Island</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> from there which has a natural area to explore.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Cultural</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Center</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> located at </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Michigan Ave.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> between Washington and Randolph. The </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Cultural</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Center</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> used to house the Chicago Public Library. Now it is used for various cultural events.<span> </span> Besides having regular art exhibits, it has a beautiful interior and a Tiffany dome on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor. </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">North Michigan</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> Walk along </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">N. Michigan Ave.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> to window shop. The watertower at </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Chicago Ave.</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> is the only building in the whole area to have survived the </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Chicago</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> fire in 1871. </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Miniature Golf in the park:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> We stumbled on a small miniature golf area on </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Monroe</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> just west of </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Lake Shore Drive</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">.<span> </span> There’s a small café there, too.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Wacker Drive:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> Drive under Wacker Drive and get lost in the maze of streets or walk along upper </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Wacker Drive</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and take in the river and the old buildings. You can watch the new </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Trump</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Tower</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> going up at </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Wabash</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and the waterfront.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span style=\"font-family:\"> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]--><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Chicago</span> </strong> <strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> Spire:</span> </strong> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"><span> </span> located at the mouth of the </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Chicago  River</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> between </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Lake Shore Drive</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> and the new town houses on the north side of the river. This building is going to be another </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Chicago</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> icon. It is amazing to see how a building that will be taller than the </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Sears</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\">Tower</span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> has such a tiny footprint. They are building the foundation now. Let your child witness the construction of this building so they’ll be able to tell their children they watched it being built!</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 0.25in\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;font-family:\"> </span></p>','May 31 2008','','publish','open','open','','may-31-2008','','','2008-05-31 19:51:28','2008-06-01 00:51:28','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=58',0,'post','',0),(62,151,'2008-08-10 10:07:18','2008-08-10 15:07:18','<em><strong>Welcome to Ray Preschool!</strong> </em>\n\nWe just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\n<strong><em>School starts on September 2.</em> </strong> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nSign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\n<strong>Parent/Teacher Communication</strong>\n\nIf your address, phone number or email address changes, let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.).  Make sure these are always current. You can always call the classroom directly at 773-535-0954. We have voice mail so if we\'re not in the classroom, we\'ll get the message when we return.  You can also reach me by email at <strong><em>japrek@yahoo.com</em> </strong> .\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: <a title=\"Ray School\" href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\" target=\"_self\">http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/</a> It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','publish','open','open','','first-day-of-school','','','2008-08-10 10:07:18','2008-08-10 15:07:18','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=62',0,'post','',0),(65,151,'2008-08-10 10:23:32','2008-08-10 15:23:32','We just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\nSchool starts on September 2.  You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nPlease sign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\nNote:  If your address, phone number or email address changes, please let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Please make sure these are always current.\n\nSnacks\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\nSupply List\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\nIce Cream Social\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\nMeals\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\nTuition\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\nWhat you will need the first day of school:\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\nImportant Dates\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\nRay School website and PTA\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/  It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-revision','','','2008-08-10 10:23:32','2008-08-10 15:23:32','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/10/62-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(73,151,'2008-08-10 10:25:29','2008-08-10 15:25:29','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a>','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Preschool Class','','inherit','open','open','','5-revision','','','2008-08-10 10:25:29','2008-08-10 15:25:29','',61,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/10/5-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(84,151,'2008-08-10 10:50:05','2008-08-10 15:50:05','<p align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule</span> </strong></p>\n<strong>Snacks:</strong> Please bring in snacks for all 20 children for the whole week on Monday of your sheet-washing week. If you need to make a change, find another parent to switch with and let us know.\n\nSnacks need to be healthy (as much as possible), with minimum sugar. NO PEANUTS/PEANUT BUTTER or POPCORN.  Suggestions: pretzels, crackers, cheese, cream cheese and rice cakes, yoguert, granola bars, cereal bars, fruit,  bagels and jelly, etc. We have some children with food allergies to dairy, soy, peanuts, eggs. Please include at least some snacks these children can eat. We also have some children with teeth problems so please avoid fruit snacks or gummy stuff.\n\n<strong>Sheets: </strong> Pick up the sheets on Friday on your assigned week and return them Monday morning.  They will be in your child\'s cubby. They can be washed in warm or hot water with soap and a little white vinegar (no bleach, please), then dried.  If possible, please use unscented detergent with no dyes (some children have skin sensitivities).\n\nIf you cannot do this at all, please see Jane and we’ll take you off the list.  If you can’t do it on your assigned weekend, please trade with another parent.  Let us know if you’d like to wash your child’s blanket and pillow weekly. We will put them in your child’s cubby on Fridays.\n\nSept. 8\n\nSept. 15\n\nSept. 22\n\nSept. 29\n\nOct. 6\n\nOct. 13\n\nOct.20\n\nOct. 27\n\nNov. 3\n\nNov. 10\n\nNov. 17\n\nDec. 1\n\nDec. 8\n\nDec. 15\n\nJan. 5\n\nJan. 12\n\nJan. 19\n\nJan. 26\n\nFeb. 2\n\nFeb. 9\n\nFeb. 16\n\nFeb. 23\n\nMar. 2\n\nMar. 9\n\nMar. 16\n\nMar. 23\n\nMar. 30\n\nApr. 13\n\nApr. 20\n\nApr. 27\n\nMay. 4\n\nMay11\n\nMay 18\n\nMay 25\n\nJune 1','Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','21-revision','','','2008-08-10 10:50:05','2008-08-10 15:50:05','',21,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/10/21-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(63,151,'2008-08-27 05:53:39','2008-08-27 10:53:39','We just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\nSchool starts on September 2.  You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nPlease sign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\nNote:  If your address, phone number or email address changes, please let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Please make sure these are always current.\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\nTuition\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\nWhat you will need the first day of school:\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\nImportant Dates\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\nRay School website and PTA\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/  It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-autosave','','','2008-08-27 05:53:39','2008-08-27 10:53:39','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(64,151,'2008-08-27 05:54:39','2008-08-27 10:54:39','We just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\nSchool starts on September 2.  You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nPlease sign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\nNote:  If your address, phone number or email address changes, please let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Please make sure these are always current.\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/  It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-autosave-2','','','2008-08-27 05:54:39','2008-08-27 10:54:39','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(71,151,'2008-08-27 05:56:05','2008-08-27 10:56:05','We just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\nSchool starts on September 2.  You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nPlease sign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\nNote:  If your address, phone number or email address changes, please let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Please make sure these are always current.\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: <a title=\"Ray School\" href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\" target=\"_self\">http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/</a> It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-revision-2','','','2008-08-27 05:56:05','2008-08-27 10:56:05','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(66,151,'2008-08-27 05:59:13','2008-08-27 10:59:13','<em><strong>Welcome to Ray Preschool!</strong> </em>\n\nWe just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\n<em>School starts on September 2.</em> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nPlease sign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\nNote:  If your address, phone number or email address changes, please let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Please make sure these are always current.\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: <a title=\"Ray School\" href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\" target=\"_self\">http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/</a> It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-autosave-3','','','2008-08-27 05:59:13','2008-08-27 10:59:13','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-autosave-3/',0,'revision','',0),(67,151,'2008-08-27 06:00:27','2008-08-27 11:00:27','<em><strong>Welcome to Ray Preschool!</strong> </em>\n\nWe just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\n<strong><em>School starts on September 2.</em> </strong> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nSign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\nNote:  If your address, phone number or email address changes, let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Make sure these are always current.\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: <a title=\"Ray School\" href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\" target=\"_self\">http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/</a> It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-autosave-4','','','2008-08-27 06:00:27','2008-08-27 11:00:27','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-autosave-4/',0,'revision','',0),(68,151,'2008-08-27 06:01:14','2008-08-27 11:01:14','<em><strong>Welcome to Ray Preschool!</strong> </em>\n\nWe just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\n<strong><em>School starts on September 2.</em> </strong> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nSign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\n<strong>Parent/Teacher Communication:</strong>\n\nIf your address, phone number or email address changes, let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Make sure these are always current. You can always call the classroom direc\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: <a title=\"Ray School\" href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\" target=\"_self\">http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/</a> It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-autosave-5','','','2008-08-27 06:01:14','2008-08-27 11:01:14','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-autosave-5/',0,'revision','',0),(69,151,'2008-08-27 06:02:14','2008-08-27 11:02:14','<em><strong>Welcome to Ray Preschool!</strong> </em>\n\nWe just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\n<strong><em>School starts on September 2.</em> </strong> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nSign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\n<strong>Parent/Teacher Communication:</strong>\n\nIf your address, phone number or email address changes, let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.).  Make sure these are always current. You can always call the classroom directly at 773-535-0954. We have voice mail so if we\'re not in the classroom, we\'ll get the message when we return.  You can also reach\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: <a title=\"Ray School\" href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\" target=\"_self\">http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/</a> It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-autosave-6','','','2008-08-27 06:02:14','2008-08-27 11:02:14','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-autosave-6/',0,'revision','',0),(70,151,'2008-08-27 06:03:14','2008-08-27 11:03:14','<em><strong>Welcome to Ray Preschool!</strong> </em>\n\nWe just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.\n\n<strong><em>School starts on September 2.</em> </strong> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.\n\nPlease enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.\n\nSign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.\n\n<strong>Parent/Teacher Communication</strong>\n\nIf your address, phone number or email address changes, let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.).  Make sure these are always current. You can always call the classroom directly at 773-535-0954. We have voice mail so if we\'re not in the classroom, we\'ll get the message when we return.  You can also reach me by email at <strong><em>japrek@yahoo.com</em> </strong> .\n\n<strong>Snacks</strong>\nThe school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.\n\n<strong>Supply List</strong>\nWe don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:\n•	1 roll of paper towels\n•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags\n•	1 box of quart-sized bags\n•	2 boxes of facial tissue\n•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)\n•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)\n•	Band aids\nOptional supplies (aka “Wish list”):\n•	Small bottle of bleach\n•	Diaper wipes\n•	Paper cups\n•	Dish soap\n\nSPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.\n\n<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>\nOn August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.\n\n<strong>Meals</strong>\nIf you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.\n\n<strong>Tuition</strong>\nTuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.\n\n<strong>What you will need the first day of school:</strong>\n\n1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.\n2)	Photo of your family.\n3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.\n4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.\n5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.\n6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).\n\n<strong>Important Dates</strong>\nIce Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood\nFirst Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!\nOpen House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM\n\nPlease feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.\n\n<strong>Ray School website and PTA</strong>\nPlease check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: <a title=\"Ray School\" href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\" target=\"_self\">http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/</a> It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.\n\nThanks!\nJane Averill\njaprek@yahoo.com\nClassroom number: 535-0954','First Day of School','','inherit','open','open','','62-autosave-7','','','2008-08-27 06:03:14','2008-08-27 11:03:14','',62,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/62-autosave-7/',0,'revision','',0),(72,151,'2008-08-27 06:08:03','2008-08-27 11:08:03','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a>','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Preschool Class','','inherit','open','open','','5-autosave','','','2008-08-27 06:08:03','2008-08-27 11:08:03','',61,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/5-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(297,151,'2008-08-27 06:17:27','2008-08-27 11:17:27','(In planning stages for school year 2008-2009)','Field Trips','','inherit','open','open','','9-revision-2','','','2008-08-27 06:17:27','2008-08-27 11:17:27','',9,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/27/9-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(82,151,'2008-08-29 11:02:21','2008-08-29 16:02:21','','Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','21-autosave','','','2008-08-29 11:02:21','2008-08-29 16:02:21','',21,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/29/21-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(83,151,'2008-08-29 11:03:21','2008-08-29 16:03:21','<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule</span> </strong></p>\n\n<strong>Snacks:</strong> Please bring in snacks for all 20 children for the whole week on Monday of your sheet-washing week. If you need to make a change, find another parent to switch with and let us know.\n\nSnacks need to be healthy (as much as possible), with minimum sugar. NO PEANUTS/PEANUT BUTTER or POPCORN. Suggestions: pretzels, crackers, cheese, cream cheese and rice cakes, yoguert, granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, bagels and jelly, etc. We have some children with food allergies to dairy, soy, peanuts, eggs. Please include at least some snacks these children can eat. We also have some children with teeth problems so please avoid fruit snacks or gummy stuff.\n\n<strong>Sheets: </strong> Pick up the sheets on Friday on your assigned week and return them Monday morning. They will be in your child\'s cubby. They can be washed in warm or hot water with soap and a little white vinegar (no bleach, please), then dried. If possible, please use unscented detergent with no dyes (some children have skin sensitivities).\n\nIf you cannot do this at all, please see Jane and we’ll take you off the list. If you can’t do it on your assigned weekend, please trade with another parent. Let us know if you’d like to wash your child’s blanket and pillow weekly. We will put them in your child’s cubby on Fridays.','Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','21-autosave-2','','','2008-08-29 11:03:21','2008-08-29 16:03:21','',21,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/29/21-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(85,151,'2008-08-29 11:03:45','2008-08-29 16:03:45','<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule</span> </strong></p>\n\n<strong>Snacks:</strong> Please bring in snacks for all 20 children for the whole week on Monday of your sheet-washing week. If you need to make a change, find another parent to switch with and let us know.\n\nSnacks need to be healthy (as much as possible), with minimum sugar. NO PEANUTS/PEANUT BUTTER or POPCORN. Suggestions: pretzels, crackers, cheese, cream cheese and rice cakes, yoguert, granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, bagels and jelly, etc. We have some children with food allergies to dairy, soy, peanuts, eggs. Please include at least some snacks these children can eat. We also have some children with teeth problems so please avoid fruit snacks or gummy stuff.\n\n<strong>Sheets: </strong> Pick up the sheets on Friday on your assigned week and return them Monday morning. They will be in your child\'s cubby. They can be washed in warm or hot water with soap and a little white vinegar (no bleach, please), then dried. If possible, please use unscented detergent with no dyes (some children have skin sensitivities).\n\nIf you cannot do this at all, please see Jane and we’ll take you off the list. If you can’t do it on your assigned weekend, please trade with another parent. Let us know if you’d like to wash your child’s blanket and pillow weekly. We will put them in your child’s cubby on Fridays.\n\n<strong>Sept. 8<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 15<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 22<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 29<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 6<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 13<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct.20<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 27<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 3<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 10<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 17<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 1<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 8<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 15<span> </span> Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 5<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 12<span> </span> Kai</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 19<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Kendall</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 26<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Austin</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 2</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 9<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 16<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 23<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 2<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 9<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 16<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 23<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 30<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 13<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 20<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 27<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>May. 4<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>May11<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>May 18 Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>May 25<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>June 1<span> </span> Kai</strong>','Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','21-revision-2','','','2008-08-29 11:03:45','2008-08-29 16:03:45','',21,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/29/21-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(199,151,'2008-08-29 11:03:58','2008-08-29 16:03:58','<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule</span> </strong></p>\n\n<strong>Snacks:</strong> Please bring in snacks for all 20 children for the whole week on Monday of your sheet-washing week. If you need to make a change, find another parent to switch with and let us know.\n\nSnacks need to be healthy (as much as possible), with minimum sugar. NO PEANUTS/PEANUT BUTTER or POPCORN. Suggestions: pretzels, crackers, cheese, cream cheese and rice cakes, yoguert, granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, bagels and jelly, etc. We have some children with food allergies to dairy, soy, peanuts, eggs. Please include at least some snacks these children can eat. We also have some children with teeth problems so please avoid fruit snacks or gummy stuff.\n\n<strong>Sheets: </strong> Pick up the sheets on Friday on your assigned week and return them Monday morning. They will be in your child\'s cubby. They can be washed in warm or hot water with soap and a little white vinegar (no bleach, please), then dried. If possible, please use unscented detergent with no dyes (some children have skin sensitivities).\n\nIf you cannot do this at all, please see Jane and we’ll take you off the list. If you can’t do it on your assigned weekend, please trade with another parent. Let us know if you’d like to wash your child’s blanket and pillow weekly. We will put them in your child’s cubby on Fridays.\n\n<strong>Sept. 8<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 15<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 22<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 29<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 6<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 13<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct.20<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 27<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 3<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 10<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 17<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 1<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 8<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 15<span> </span> Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 5<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 12<span> </span> Kai</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 19<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Kendall</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 26<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Austin</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 2</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 9<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 16<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 23<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 2<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 9<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 16<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 23<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 30<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 13<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 20<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 27<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>May. 4<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>May11<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>May 18 Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>May 25<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>June 1<span> </span> Kai</strong>','Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','21-revision-3','','','2008-08-29 11:03:58','2008-08-29 16:03:58','',21,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/08/29/21-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(86,151,'2008-09-01 17:21:36','2008-09-01 22:21:36','','Handbook','','inherit','open','open','','10-autosave','','','2008-09-01 17:21:36','2008-09-01 22:21:36','',10,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/10-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(87,151,'2008-09-01 17:22:38','2008-09-01 22:22:38','<!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt; 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	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:849538516 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	margin-left:1.5in; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 	{mso-list-id:972835356; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:-936112102 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l1:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} ol 	{margin-bottom:0in;} ul 	{margin-bottom:0in;} --&gt;\n\n<!-- [if gte mso 10]&gt;-->\n /* Style Definitions */\n table.MsoNormalTable\n	{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\n	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\n	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\n	mso-style-noshow:yes;\n	mso-style-parent:\"\";\n	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\n	mso-para-margin:0in;\n	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\n	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n	font-size:10.0pt;\n	font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n	mso-ansi-language:#0400;\n	mso-fareast-language:#0400;\n	mso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n\n<div class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n</div>\n<span><br /> </span>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 26pt\"><span> </span> </span> <span style=\"font-size: 26pt\"><br /> RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">School starts this year on September 2.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Illness</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Oct. 13 (Columbus Day) <span> </span> Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) <span> </span> Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span> Mar. 2 (Pulaski’s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span> Apr. 6-Apr. 10 (Spring Break)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday) <span> </span> May 25 (Memorial Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span> June 10 (Last day of school)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tuition for this year is $225.00 a week ($250.00 if meals are included), to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have very little storage space so we will be breaking up the supply list over the course of the year.<span> </span> <strong><em>If your child’s last name starts with A-L</em> </strong> , please bring in the following:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Bandaids</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Families whose children’s last names start with M-Z will be asked to bring in supplies in February.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> We ask you to dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Meals </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> We provide an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We try to keep extra snacks for children staying late and welcome donations for this.<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Naps</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>\n\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.\n<!-- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->\n<!-- [endif]-->\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send in snacks for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing.<strong></strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 14 and January 30.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email us (Jane at <a href=\"mailto:japrek@yahoo.com\">japrek@yahoo.com</a> ; Jeff at <a href=\"mailto:jgillesp@hotmail.com\">jgillesp@hotmail.com</a> ). <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call us during the day.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information (and some that’s not).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Open House</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Open House is on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Homework</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also encourage you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> </span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Website</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Donations      from the wish list</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with projects</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> </span> Last year, one parent who is a chemist did a chemistry experiment with the children.<span> </span> Another parent came to help with jump-roping.<span> </span> Some parents made dumplings with the children for Asian New Year.<span> </span> Two parents shared their carpentry interest with the children.<span> </span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor.<span> </span> Also, we ask that you fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $10.00. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>','Handbook','','inherit','open','open','','10-autosave-2','','','2008-09-01 17:22:38','2008-09-01 22:22:38','',10,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/10-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(88,151,'2008-09-01 17:23:39','2008-09-01 22:23:39','<!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if !mso]&gt;-->\nst1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }\n &lt;!--  /* Font Definitions */  @font-face 	{font-family:Wingdings; 	panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:2; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:Jester; 	panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:131 0 0 0 9 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:script; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter 	{margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink 	{color:blue; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed 	{color:purple; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} @page Section1 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-page-numbers:1; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} @page Section2 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section2 	{page:Section2;}  /* List Definitions */  @list l0 	{mso-list-id:661394883; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:849538516 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	margin-left:1.5in; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 	{mso-list-id:972835356; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:-936112102 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l1:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} ol 	{margin-bottom:0in;} ul 	{margin-bottom:0in;} --&gt;\n\n<!-- [if gte mso 10]&gt;-->\n /* Style Definitions */\n table.MsoNormalTable\n	{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\n	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\n	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\n	mso-style-noshow:yes;\n	mso-style-parent:\"\";\n	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\n	mso-para-margin:0in;\n	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\n	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n	font-size:10.0pt;\n	font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n	mso-ansi-language:#0400;\n	mso-fareast-language:#0400;\n	mso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n\n<div class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 26pt\">RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>\n\n</div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">School starts this year on September 2.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Illness</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Oct. 13 (Columbus Day) <span> </span> Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) <span> </span> Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span> Mar. 2 (Pulaski’s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span> Apr. 6-Apr. 10 (Spring Break)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday) <span> </span> May 25 (Memorial Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span> June 10 (Last day of school)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tuition for this year is $225.00 a week ($250.00 if meals are included), to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have very little storage space so we will be breaking up the supply list over the course of the year.<span> </span> <strong><em>If your child’s last name starts with A-L</em> </strong> , please bring in the following:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Bandaids</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Families whose children’s last names start with M-Z will be asked to bring in supplies in February.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> We ask you to dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Meals </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> We provide an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We try to keep extra snacks for children staying late and welcome donations for this.<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Naps</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>\n\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.\n<!-- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->\n<!-- [endif]-->\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send in snacks for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing.<strong></strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 14 and January 30.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email us (Jane at <a href=\"mailto:japrek@yahoo.com\">japrek@yahoo.com</a> ; Jeff at <a href=\"mailto:jgillesp@hotmail.com\">jgillesp@hotmail.com</a> ). <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call us during the day.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information (and some that’s not).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Open House</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Open House is on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Homework</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also encourage you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> </span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Website</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Donations      from the wish list</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with projects</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> </span> Last year, one parent who is a chemist did a chemistry experiment with the children.<span> </span> Another parent came to help with jump-roping.<span> </span> Some parents made dumplings with the children for Asian New Year.<span> </span> Two parents shared their carpentry interest with the children.<span> </span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor.<span> </span> Also, we ask that you fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $10.00. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>','Handbook','','inherit','open','open','','10-autosave-3','','','2008-09-01 17:23:39','2008-09-01 22:23:39','',10,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/10-autosave-3/',0,'revision','',0),(89,151,'2008-09-01 17:24:39','2008-09-01 22:24:39','<!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if !mso]&gt;-->\nst1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }\n &lt;!--  /* Font Definitions */  @font-face 	{font-family:Wingdings; 	panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:2; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:Jester; 	panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:131 0 0 0 9 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:script; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter 	{margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink 	{color:blue; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed 	{color:purple; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} @page Section1 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-page-numbers:1; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} @page Section2 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section2 	{page:Section2;}  /* List Definitions */  @list l0 	{mso-list-id:661394883; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:849538516 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	margin-left:1.5in; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 	{mso-list-id:972835356; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:-936112102 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l1:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} ol 	{margin-bottom:0in;} ul 	{margin-bottom:0in;} --&gt;\n\n<!-- [if gte mso 10]&gt;-->\n /* Style Definitions */\n table.MsoNormalTable\n	{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\n	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\n	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\n	mso-style-noshow:yes;\n	mso-style-parent:\"\";\n	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\n	mso-para-margin:0in;\n	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\n	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n	font-size:10.0pt;\n	font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n	mso-ansi-language:#0400;\n	mso-fareast-language:#0400;\n	mso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n\n<div class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 26pt\">RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>\n\n</div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">School starts this year on September 2.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Illness</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Oct. 13 (Columbus Day) <span> </span> Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) <span> </span> Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span> Mar. 2 (Pulaski’s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span> Apr. 6-Apr. 10 (Spring Break)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday) <span> </span> May 25 (Memorial Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span> June 10 (Last day of school)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tuition for this year is $225.00 a week ($250.00 if meals are included), to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have very little storage space so we will be breaking up the supply list over the course of the year.<span> </span> <strong><em>If your child’s last name starts with A-L</em> </strong> , please bring in the following:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Bandaids</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Families whose children’s last names start with M-Z will be asked to bring in supplies in February.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> We ask you to dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Meals </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> We provide an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We try to keep extra snacks for children staying late and welcome donations for this.<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Naps</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>\n\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.\n<!-- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->\n<!-- [endif]-->\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send in snacks for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing.<strong></strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 14 and January 30.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email us (Jane at <a href=\"mailto:japrek@yahoo.com\">japrek@yahoo.com</a> ; Jeff at <a href=\"mailto:jgillesp@hotmail.com\">jgillesp@hotmail.com</a> ). <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call us during the day.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information (and some that’s not).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Open House</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Open House is on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Homework</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also encourage you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> </span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Website</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Donations      from the wish list</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with projects</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> </span> Last year, one parent who is a chemist did a chemistry experiment with the children.<span> </span> Another parent came to help with jump-roping.<span> </span> Some parents made dumplings with the children for Asian New Year.<span> </span> Two parents shared their carpentry interest with the children.<span> </span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor.<span> </span> Also, we ask that you fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $10.00. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>','Handbook','','inherit','open','open','','10-autosave-4','','','2008-09-01 17:24:39','2008-09-01 22:24:39','',10,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/10-autosave-4/',0,'revision','',0),(91,151,'2008-09-01 17:26:16','2008-09-01 22:26:16','<!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if !mso]&gt;-->\nst1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }\n &lt;!--  /* Font Definitions */  @font-face 	{font-family:Wingdings; 	panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:2; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:Jester; 	panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:131 0 0 0 9 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:script; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter 	{margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink 	{color:blue; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed 	{color:purple; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} @page Section1 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-page-numbers:1; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} @page Section2 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section2 	{page:Section2;}  /* List Definitions */  @list l0 	{mso-list-id:661394883; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:849538516 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	margin-left:1.5in; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 	{mso-list-id:972835356; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:-936112102 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l1:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} ol 	{margin-bottom:0in;} ul 	{margin-bottom:0in;} --&gt;\n\n<!-- [if gte mso 10]&gt;-->\n /* Style Definitions */\n table.MsoNormalTable\n	{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\n	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\n	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\n	mso-style-noshow:yes;\n	mso-style-parent:\"\";\n	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\n	mso-para-margin:0in;\n	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\n	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n	font-size:10.0pt;\n	font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n	mso-ansi-language:#0400;\n	mso-fareast-language:#0400;\n	mso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n\n<div class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 26pt\">RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>\n\n</div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">School starts this year on September 2.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Illness</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Oct. 13 (Columbus Day) <span> </span> Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) <span> </span> Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span> Mar. 2 (Pulaski’s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span> Apr. 6-Apr. 10 (Spring Break)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday) <span> </span> May 25 (Memorial Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span> June 10 (Last day of school)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tuition for this year is $225.00 a week ($250.00 if meals are included), to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have very little storage space so we will be breaking up the supply list over the course of the year.<span> </span> <strong><em>If your child’s last name starts with A-L</em> </strong> , please bring in the following:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!-- [endif]-->Bandaids</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Families whose children’s last names start with M-Z will be asked to bring in supplies in February.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> We ask you to dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Meals </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> We provide an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We try to keep extra snacks for children staying late and welcome donations for this.<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Naps</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>\n\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.\n<!-- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->\n<!-- [endif]-->\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send in snacks for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing.<strong></strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 14 and January 30.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email us (Jane at <a href=\"mailto:japrek@yahoo.com\">japrek@yahoo.com</a> ; Jeff at <a href=\"mailto:jgillesp@hotmail.com\">jgillesp@hotmail.com</a> ). <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call us during the day.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information (and some that’s not).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Open House</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Open House is on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Homework</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also encourage you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> </span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Website</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Donations      from the wish list</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with projects</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> </span> Last year, one parent who is a chemist did a chemistry experiment with the children.<span> </span> Another parent came to help with jump-roping.<span> </span> Some parents made dumplings with the children for Asian New Year.<span> </span> Two parents shared their carpentry interest with the children.<span> </span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor.<span> </span> Also, we ask that you fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $10.00. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>','Handbook','','inherit','open','open','','10-revision-2','','','2008-09-01 17:26:16','2008-09-01 22:26:16','',10,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/10-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),