PESCHOOL PRATTLER St. John’s Christian Preschool, 4629 Aspen Hill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853, 301-946-4977

St. John's Christian Preschool (Est. 1966) March 2020

Inside this issue:

Weekly Themes/ Thank You Here’s the News/Parents’ Corner

2 3/4

Church News/ Family Faith Activities

5

Note from Cooke/Library Corner

6

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

March 2-5 Author’s Week at St. John’s! Each class will be exploring the books of an author. Activities during the week will revolve around the author’s books etc. Stay tuned..

March 4 & 5 Soccer Shots Demo! Children will be introduced to fundamental soccer principles, such as using your feet, dribbling and the basic rules of the game.

March 10 Parenting Workshop Presented by PEP “Raising “I Can” Kids 7-8pm at St. John’s Christian Preschool Childcare provided. Please rsvp by returning your slips.

March 12 & 13 Usborne Book Fair 9am to 1 :30 pm

There will be a great selection of Easter books for purchase. Come and support St. John’s Christian Preschool while filling your Easter baskets.

March 17 & 18 Green Days in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day! Children can wear green! Watch for Leprechaun antics!

St. John’s Mission: To shepherd growing and developing children in a Christian environment.

Inside this issue:

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HERE’S THE NEWS!

Kindergarten round-up begins soon at the various elementary schools in the MCPS system. Please call your local elementary school and make the necessary appointment for a school visit. Remember this applies to those children who will become five years old by September 1, 2020.

*Field Trips start in April, and you will be receiving bright orange field trip permission slips VERY SOON. Please read, sign, and return this to your child’s teachers ASAP. We plan ahead!

*A Parenting Workshop is being offered on Tuesday, March 10th from 7-8pm at St. John’s Christian Preschool. Presented by PEP: Raising “I Can” Kids. Tired of hearing the words “I can’t”? Looking for ways to empower your children with a positive ‘can do’ attitude? Come and hear Molly Jackman for a discussion that will include plenty of time for Q&A.

*Usborne Book Fair is coming to St. John’s Christian Preschool. This is a great opportunity to purchase books for Easter baskets. The book fair will in on Thursday, March12 +Friday, March 13 from 9am to 1:30 pm.

*Looking ahead...Easter Chapels will be on Wednesday, April 1st and Thursday, April 2nd 12:30 pm in Church..more details coming

*Easter/ Spring break will be from Monday April 6th through Monday April 13th. Classes resume on Tuesday April 14th.

*Did you hear the new NEWS? St. John’s Christian Preschool will have a Summer Enrichment 2020 week. June 1-June 5, 2020 9am to 1pm Summer Enrichment 2020 is for children who are currently enrolled in our preschool. Children in our 3’s and 4’s program are eligible for Summer Enrichment 2020. Flyers have been sent home..extra in office if needed. Come join the summer fun, meet new friends and learn something new each day!

*Save the date! St. John’s Lutheran Church and St. Matthew Presbyterian Church present their Annual Vacation Bible School: JOSEPH! June 22-June 26 from 9:30 am to 12:45pm **Children need to be 4 by Sept. 1, 2020 and be potty trained. VBS is meeting at St. Matthew Presbyterian Church 4001 Bel Pre Rd. Rockville Registrations have been sent home. Please return registrations to the Preschool Office. !

“If we are to teach real peace in this world… we shall have to begin with the children.”

— Mohandas Gandhi —

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The Preschool PRATTLER is

published monthly for the parents of

children who attend ST. JOHN’S CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL

4629 Aspen Hill Road Rockville, MD 20853

Lic. # 15-43094 Tax ID#52-1890498

301-946-4977 (phone)

301-946-1866 (fax)

Director/Editor: Francesca Russo

Website:

www.sjkidspreschool.org E-mail:

director@sjkidspreschool.org

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you. Worry that they are always watching you.”

— Robert Fulghum —

WEEKLY CURRICULUM THEMES

Author’s Week Circus/Zoo Animals St. Patrick’s Day Spring Awareness Easter Letters K, A, V, M, These are also noted on our

dry erase boards. (Our school’s curriculum is

certified by the MD State Board of Education).

THANK YOU...

Thank you to our Mystery Readers that have come by to surprise us with their favorite books. Such a fun surprise for the children.

Thank you to all the families who attended the Pancake Breakfast!

Ready at Five Unveils New Look Website If you are looking for a wealth of well-organized information related to Maryland school readiness check out Ready at Five’s new look website-www.readyatfive.org. In addition to a sleek appearance and a mobile friendly interface, the enhanced website features a new blog and a “PEEP Portal.” Check out their updated site today.

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St. John’s Lutheran Church offers two church services and Christian education for all ages. There is also a supervised tod-dler nursery and a room for parents with babies which still al-lows for full partici-pation in the service.

9:00 a.m. Contemporary Praise with Holy Communion 10:10 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 11:15 a.m. Traditional with Holy Communion

ALL ARE WELCOME to join in the ser-vices. Call the church office if you have any questions (301-946-5458).

MARCH BIBLE CURRICULUM CHURCH NEWS

St. John’s Lutheran Church

offers a church service and Christian education for all ages. A church nursery is available for parents with children ages 5 and under. 10:00 a.m. Worship Services with Holy Communion 11:15 a.m. Sunday School for all ages ALL ARE WELCOME to join in the services. Call the church office if you have any questions (301-946-5458).

March: A month preparing for Easter Jesus Heals a Man Lowered through the Roof Jesus Stills the Storm The Seasons/Spring The Cross

Family Faith Activities for March

(Permission given to reprint from “Entry Points of Nurturing Faith in

the Home” by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

+ Put a budding branch in water and watch it come to life. Talk about the cycle of life as a miracle God provides.

+ Take a walk to look for signs of Spring, such as budding trees and signs of new growth. Talk about how God continues to create and provide for us.

+ Share brief, spontaneous “instant” prayers as you and your family encounter the joys of Spring!

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FRIENDLY REMINDERS

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

3y/o: “I can count to ten”! Teacher: “Let me hear it”! 3y/o: “One (pause) ten”! —————————————————————————— 5y/o: “God sent the wrong snow:! 4y/o: “What do you mean”? 5y/: “It would not make a snowball or a snowman”! 4y/o: “Well...my sled liked it”!

For those children who entered our school later in the year, the school T-shirt is still available in

the school office; the cost is $10.00. Children may wear the T-shirt to school anytime, but they need them for our upcoming field trips.

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A Note From Mrs. Cooke

One of our mothers last year introduced me to this song about the Trinity. It can be done by pointing to each leaf of a shamrock, or just by holding up a finger for each line. To the tune of “Are you Sleeping” God the Father, God the Father (hold up 1 finger) God the Son, God the Son (hold up 2 fingers) God the Holy Spirit, God the Holy Spirit (hold up 3 fingers) Three in One, Three in One Here is a fun song about a bunny for Spring. Bunny named Joe– tune of “I’m a Little Teapot” (hold up index and middle finger like bunny ears and follow the words) I’m a little bunny my name is Joe. I hop fast and I hop slow. When I get tired my ears droop low, But after my nap then up they go.

Library Corner

Each month we will now suggest a few children’s books (staff favorites, of course). March’s choices include: The Wind Blew, Pat Hutchins Seven Blind Mice, Ed Young The Greedy Python, Richard Buckley & Eric Carle Lost in the Woods, Sams and Stoick What was I Scared of, Dr. Seuss Clever Tom and the Leprechauns, Linda Shute Happy, interactive reading!

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Helping Children Cope with Stress By Deborah Diffily, Family-friendly Communication for Early

Childhood Programs (NAEYC publication)

Any major change in a child’s life can cause stress. Stress can be caused by the death of a relative or a beloved pet, a family move, separation from parents for extended periods, pressure to succeed, overly strict discipline and natural disasters (even when the child has only seen them on television).

Not all stress can, or should, be avoided. Young children do not view the world as adults do. Misunderstandings or feelings of confusion can build up and leave children with

stress they cannot handle alone. Young children cannot easily verbalize these feelings, so we adults must be aware of physical or behavioral changes: loss of appetite, sleep troubles, nightmares, headaches, stomachaches or regressive behaviors, such as thumb sucking. Children often deal with stress through their play. They may act out events they find disturbing. One child may re-create an airplane crash after hearing about a real airline accident. Another may use dolls to have a conversation about divorce. This type of play helps children cope with events and feelings that might otherwise be overwhelming. Adults play an important role in helping children cope with stress by providing a supportive atmosphere in which to talk about or play out concerns. We need to acknowledge and accept the feelings children express and give our support, at home and at school. An attitude of love, understanding and acceptance helps children get through difficult times.

PARENTS’ CORNER