Friends ‘n Fun is closed today, Tuesday, February 2nd due to weather.  Stay safe and warm!

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! It is so nice to have everyone back after the break and ready to be having fun and learning and growing together again!

Thanks to everyone for creating a Tradition Branch. It was joyful to be surrounded by so many families and having an opportunity to hear more about the traditions your family celebrates and values. The children have fun looking for their own branches and recognizing branches that belong to their friends. It is one of our favorite events, so thank you for sharing your time with us in a month that we know can be extra busy!

Also in December, our past parent and long time friend Bruce Kirschner, whose adult sons Paul and Sam attended Friends’n Fun as preschoolers, came to school to celebrate Hanukkah with us. Bruce has been doing this with us for 19 years now! He engages the children with his warm and funny personality and is always memorable. The table full of children playing dreidel inspired other children to become dreidels themselves – children found a clear and safe space and began to sing the dreidel song and spin. It is always fun to see what inspires everyone.

Our next journey will lead us to more deeply explore “The Art of Pretending”. Pretending is a natural and important part of the work and learning that children engage in. Pretending supports: language development, symbolism, the ability to come up with a variety of ideas, give and take with peers, empathy, and creativity…to name a few!

We have begun this journey in a variety of ways with our small groups; pretending to be animals; playing charades; figuring out how to convey what it is we are pretending to be by using movement, sound, expression; creating an environment that makes us feel more like what we are pretending to be; coming up with new ideas about how to use something in a new/different way to add to our pretend play; talking about how ideas are shared while pretending with friends; pretending to be people who fix a variety of things from broken plates to people. This is just the beginning!! As always, we are looking forward to seeing where this journey leads us and we continue to be in awe of what the children share with us along the way.

Be sure to look at our wall of quotes to see what your child had to say about pretending as we began to dabble in and explore “The Art of Pretending” in December.

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SHARE-A-GIFT

The people at Share-a-Gift tell us that each year Friends ‘n Fun parents are one of the most generous group of contributors to their program. Again this year our box was filled to overflowing 3 separate times…and our box was bigger than it was last year!

Thanks to all of you for your concern for others in need.

In an effort to offer additional support throughout the year we are thinking of providing a food collection box for dried goods that we can periodically donate to the Sister Carmen food bank. Would you be interested in participating in this type of on-going opportunity to give to our community?

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NOTE CARD FUNDRAISER!!!!!!

Thanks to all of you for your notecard orders. Your contributions raised $1260.00. After expenses, we have $900.00 for our arts and supplies fund. We hope that you and your families enjoy the amazing artwork created by your children. Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity!

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VALENTINE’S DAY–

Your children are invited to bring valentines for their friends on Wednesday, February 10th or Thursday, February 11th. We chose these days so everyone can participate.

For children of preschool age it is best to just have them write their names on the backs and leave the envelopes blank. You can buy pre-packaged valentines or join them in making their own creations.

Bring 22 cards for the Wednesday group and 22 cards for the Thursday group.

A Valentine snack sign up will be posted on the parent bulletin board closer to time.

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SNOWY WEATHER!!!!

We will notify 9 News if we will be closed due to bad winter weather. It sometimes takes awhile for schools to be listed on television but a listing pops up pretty quickly on their website, so check there as well. We will also post closures on our website on the Latest & Greatest page. If you are not sure you are welcome to call Jane or Janet.

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ENROLLMENT FORMS

By the end of the month, you will be receiving questionnaires asking for your schedule requests for Summer 2016 and Fall 2016. We appreciate your prompt return of these forms so we can begin our enrollment process.

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HOLIDAY CLOSURE DATES

Please mark your calendars and note the following dates Friends ‘n Fun will be closed in observance of the upcoming holidays and Spring Break:

Monday, January 18th: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Monday, February 15th: Presidents Day

Wednesday-Friday, March 23rd-25th: Spring Break

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FINAL THOUGHTS

These are two quotes that are inspiring us in our “Art of Pretending”:

            Whenever children say “Let’s pretend,” a new landscape of possibilities for   learning is revealed. When children pretend, they try on new feelings, roles and ideas. They stretch their minds along with their imaginations.   – Curtis & Carter

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”   – Albert Einstein

Good morning!

Friends ‘n Fun is closed today due to weather.  Stay safe & warm!

Dear Parents,

Wow! Time flies when you are having Fun! We have been busy exploring faces in a variety of ways – masks, sketches, painting, clay, playdough – who knew there were so many ways to look at your children’s beautiful faces?!?! It has been fun to watch children use the wall of faces to find their faces, their friend’s faces and then to try and match parts of the faces with the pictures on the wall…or to create a silly face out of different pieces! This has been such a delightful time of discovery as children have studied faces in depth. Thanks to everyone for being so quick to get us a set of your child’s clothing to make their doll/soft sculpture! They are coming along and soon you will see even more “children” at school, and we’re sure they will all seem somewhat familiar to you.

Studio Discovery Fridays has been all about CARDBOARD! Corrugated cardboard, to be more specific. Has your child pointed out corrugated cardboard to you at home or out in the world? We have loved exploring cardboard – what can you do with it? Will it hold water? How does it look inside, between those two brown flat sheets that look like paper? What does it feel like be inside of a box? How can we make it something everyone can play with? Check next week for the creation we’ve been working on for quite awhile using the drill and twine. Brought to you by your Corrugated Cardboard Construction Crew!

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      PLEASE be sure to read the newsletter carefully and mark your calendar for some exciting upcoming events ______________________________________________________________

SNOW DAYS

It’s that time of year again. Check Channel 9 News website when in doubt, or on the “Latest & Greatest” page on our website.  FnF will be listed on 9news.com for school closings or we will be listed as a “late start.” We will make the decision to close based on the safety of all – children, parents and community. If you have questions on snow days please call Janet (303-818-4842) or Jane (303-775-1531). We’ll do our best to keep you informed. Thank you.

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ANNUAL TREE OF THANKS – BY FRIENDS ‘n FUN FAMILIES –

We invite you to join us in creating a leaf to attach to the tree in our front yard. We will be sending home paper cut in the shape of leaves and a few fun things to embellish your leaf. We would like you to work with your family to think about whom in your family, friends, neighbors and/or people in the community you are grateful to and why. Then please write a short note of thanks explaining this on the leaf, let the children decorate it, and then cover it (front & back) with the contact paper. Make sure your child’d name is on the leaf! Teachers will have ribbon at school for you to use to tie the leaves onto a wire we will have affixed to the tree. We are in the hopes that you and your children will take time to read the collection of leaves of thanks on our tree. We also hope that the community of walker-bys in Lafayette might see and learn more about us as a community at Friends ‘n Fun.

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FAMILY TRADITIONS

The holiday season is upon us. It all began with Halloween (from the children’s perspective) and has rolled into Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Las Posadas, Christmas, multiple New Years’, and many other wonderful celebrations that honor special cultural and religious traditions. We join together with family and friends to enjoy this season.

We treasure all of the unique and distinctive differences and unifying similarities that make up our school community. This holiday season we would like to recognize all of our families.

On Saturday, Dec. 12th from 1:00-3:00 we have once again reserved the John M. Taylor Conference Center at Imagine! We would like to invite your family to join us to decorate a tree branch with photographs and small objects that represent special things about your family. We will provide an assortment of yarns, beads, wire, buttons, jewels, etc. – and a tree branch for each of you. You can bring photographs, small objects and your wonderful children. We will work together at Imagine! to create these beautiful branches. We will then bring them back to school to display for all to enjoy. The things you bring to embellish the branch should represent your family’s interests (biking, pets, skiing, etc.), as well as special celebrations.

We hope you can attend this gathering to get to know each other and share in an activity with your children to celebrate this special time of year. Drop by anytime between 1 and 3 and spend as much time as works for you that day.

We will post maps/directions to Imagine! on the bulletin board closer to the event date.

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FUNDRAISER

In December we will create note cards using your child’s artwork – easel paintings, watercolor paintings, self-portraits, collages, etc. Packages of your child’s note cards, with envelopes, will be available to you at $12.00 per package of 8. In the past families have sent them to grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. for holiday gifts. The money raised goes to help purchase art supplies at Friends ‘n Fun. Watch the parent bulletin board for additional details.

This is our ONLY fundraiser of the year and it typically brings us about $1000 for use in our supply budget. We hope you can support us and enjoy this celebration of your children’s efforts. Thank you for your continued support of our small program.

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Share-a-Gift

We are proud to be participating in Share-a-Gift again this year. Share-a-Gift is an annual, all-volunteer, non-profit toy collection and distribution holiday project encompassing the Boulder Valley school area. Last  year over 600 households (1600 boys and girls, ages birth to 14) received these community donations. To be successful, Share-a-Gift needs thousands of high quality, new and used toys, games, books, and puzzles. School collections are the biggest source of toys for Share-a-Gift. This collection allows children to meaningfully participate in gift giving by sharing their own gently used or new toys with less fortunate children in Boulder county. Toys may be dropped off in the Share-a-Gift box in our school beginning the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 30, through Wednesday, December 16th. Friends ‘n Fun families have been one of their biggest donors in the past. Let’s see what we can do to continue this tradition of giving!

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IMPORTANT DATES !!!!!!!!!!!

November 18 -19        Tree of Thanks leaves to be sent home on the 18th & 19th.  Return to us anytime from the 23rd on and help your child attach them to our tree so our neighborhood community can enjoy.

November 26-27         CLOSED for Thanksgiving Holiday

December 12              Friends ‘n Fun Family Traditions Workshop at Imagine! John M. Taylor Conference Center – 1665 Coal Creek Drive – Lafayette       1:00 – 3:00 pm

December 24 – Jan 2    CLOSED for Winter Holiday.  We will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 24th through Friday, January 1, 2015.  We will reopen on Monday, January 4, 2016.

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a new year at Friends ‘n Fun. Our mission is to help you to provide your child with experiences that are filled with adventure, exploration and discovery. We want to be in collaboration with you as we work together to support your child as he/she grows and develops during these exciting early years of childhood. We encourage you to let us know of any concerns or questions that you may have throughout the school year.

Teachers at FnF realize that parents know their children better than anyone. It is you who have seen them smile their first smile; it is you who celebrated their first words and first steps; it is you who have nursed them through illness and accidents, and it is you who continue to encourage, support, comfort and love them. Thank you for sharing your children with us and know that we take the trust you have extended very seriously. Please always feel free to “chat” with us about the day’s events.

We are all looking forward to an exciting year and all of the journeys ahead of us.

This newsletter has a lot of information regarding upcoming events and getting started in our program. PLEASE take time to read it and make notes on your own family’s calendar so that your family does not miss out on important dates, etc.

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September’s Journey 

The beginning of a new school year presents us with an opportunity to see ourselves not only as individuals but also as a part of something bigger: a family, a school setting, a community.

“A child is born a first time, and then, through the long and difficult process of constructing his identity, it is as if he is born again. In this process, he gives himself a face, a body, gestures, movement, speech, thought, feelings, imagination, fantasy; in short, the awareness of being and the means of expressing his “me-ness” which is absolutely essential for becoming autonomous and distinguishing ourselves from other people and things – people and things we live and interact with and from which, little by little, we draw most of the raw material with which we create our own identity. To recognize ourselves and to be recognized. But a child’s most sought-after goal is to recognize himself in others, and to find in others (objects and the natural world as well) parts of himself.”                                                                                                     – Loris Malaguzzi

We will begin by looking with “new eyes” – seeing each other as we are now and learning how to appreciate and support each other as we expand our sense of selves in the days to come. The teachers have chosen the concept of “identity”, and specifically “a portrait of self” as a place to begin.

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Greetings & Goodbyes – Entering the school environment is a transition time and the most significant one of the day. Children and parents enter the school with multiple needs and feelings. There can be enthusiasm, excitement, anxiety, sadness, confusion and frustration – just to name a few. Teachers see their role at this time as facilitators of the morning transition. We make ourselves available to hold a child during a tearful or joyful good-bye, receive and transfer information from and to parents, reassure everyone that things will be okay, and help children connect with activities, materials and each other when they are ready. Parents tend to feel more comfortable going off to start their day once their children are engaged in an activity. On the other hand, most children are preoccupied with the process of transitioning from home and parents to school and teachers. They are really not ready to begin something until the transition is complete. Once the parent has driven away, they are ready to look around and spend some time thinking about where they want to start. Please speak with teachers if you would like support with your morning transition.

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LITTLE REMINDERS – Here are a few things we want to remind you about:

• Read your Parent Handbook – it’s full of useful information. If you need a new one let us know.
• Please sign your child in and out each day in the notebook on the white shelf at the front door.
• Check your child’s cubby box daily and take home the things they have worked so hard on and treasure. Please notice exactly where your child hangs his/her coat. There will be 2 children sharing a coat space during each preschool session. Please be respectful of your “coat cubby mate!”
• Please bring an extra change of clothes for your child to keep in his/her cubby. Please label them.
• Ask any of us about what we did during the day. Sometimes a clue from you will help spark your child’s memory and they’ll be able to tell you all sorts of things about their day at FnF.
• Backpacks – We have so very little space in this building that we are unable to store backpacks at school. The children share the coat hanging spaces and backpacks make it difficult to hang up coats.
• Snacks – there is a calendar at the front bulletin board for you to sign up to bring a healthy snack for the entire school (22 children.) This is a great way to participate and help your child feel a part of the school. We try to serve healthy snacks to the children in single service form, as we do not have a licensed food preparation kitchen. When Birthday time comes, please feel free to bring a special snack for your birthday child. If you should choose to provide cupcakes, try to send the mini sized ones, as full size cupcakes are too much snack for young children.
• Check the parent board and front door for posted information.
• We will have book orders on the front door from time to time. Please feel free to take them if you are interested. They are usually fairly inexpensive and make great gifts. Orders usually take 3-4 weeks to come in.

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END OF DAY

Friends’n Fun’s day has several schedule options. Teachers plan a variety of experiences for the groups of children who are scheduled for specific time frames. It can be confusing to all if there is an unrequested time overlap. Please help us with this by picking up your child at your scheduled end of day. If you would like to add to your schedule speak with Janet or Jane and we can plan for your child’s participation.

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HEALTH FORMS – The State of Colorado requires us to have a recent physical for each child at FnF. This physical must be updated annually. Please be sure that by September 25, 2014 we have documentation of this exam. Jane will let you know if you are missing any paperwork. Your cooperation is appreciated. RETURNING FAMILIES: As required by licensing, we are required to have you initial/date the permissions page of your child’s paperwork. Jane will try and catch you at the beginning or end of the day to review and sign.

MEDICATIONS – A form MUST be completed by your doctor each time he/she prescribes ANY medications to be given to your child while in our care. This includes prescriptions and over the counter meds. Please ask Jane or Janet for the medications form and have your physician complete this form and return to school with the medication(s), as we will not be able to administer any medications without it. THANKS!

WATER BOTTLES – Our nurse consultant, who keeps us up to date on so many things and helps make sure we’re on top of current information regarding children’s health, has recommended that we do not allow water bottles. Water bottles left in the cubbies, or even the refrigerator, are tempting to many children. There is a chance a child may take a drink from someone else’s water bottle and this can lead to spread of germs. Some people may also add something to their children’s water bottle that may be unsafe for another child to have (examples: vitamins; fruit juices to which other children may be allergic). Children have ready access to our water fountain whenever they need a drink and we work with the children on the best way to drink from the water fountain and sanitize it several times a day. Thank you for your help in trying to contain the spread of germs.

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CLASS LIST WITH CONTACT INFORMATION – we are working on this and will make sure everyone has a copy once it’s ready!

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UPCOMING EVENTS-

Mark your calendars and watch the Parent Bulletin Board for more specifics regarding these dates.

Wed. Sept. 9 POTLUCK PICNIC – an all school, all family event held from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm at LaMont Does Park in Lafayette on South Boulder Road. Watch the parent board for more information.

Tues. Sept. 29 (2:00 – 4:30) & Wed. Sept.30 (4:00 – 6:30) PARENT-TEACHER FALL CONFERENCES – watch the parent bulletin board for a sign-up sheet to schedule a 15 minute conference with your child’s small group teacher.

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FRIENDS ‘N FUN SCHOOL CLOSINGS FOR 2015 -2016

September 7, 2015                                      Labor Day

November 26-27, 2015                               Thanksgiving

December 24-31 January 1                        Winter Break (reopen Monday, Jan. 4th)

January 18, 2016                                        Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

February 15, 2016                                      President’s Day

March 23-24-25, 2016                               Spring Break

May 30, 2016                                             Memorial Day

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Please watch Channel 9 News for notices of school closings or late opening times on days of extreme snow. If you can, check Channel 9 News online for the most current updates, as the television has a delay time from when we called.

Phone numbers – If something should come up during off school hours call:

Janet 303-818-4842             Jane 303-775-1531

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“THE HUNDRED LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN”

Friends ‘n Fun has pursued the study of the internationally renowned philosophy of early childhood education that has been cultivated over the past 50 years in the Reggio Emilia community in northern Italy. We continually integrate this philosophy with our own- weaving them together to beautifully and holistically address the needs of our own unique community. There is so much to learn.

Following is a poem from the book – THE HUNDRED LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN, pg. 293.

If I can

     ask my own questions,

     try out my ideas,

     experience what’s around me,

     share what I find;

If I have

     plenty of time for

     my special pace,

     a nourishing space,

     things to transform;

If you’ll be

     my patient friend,

     trusted guide,

     fellow investigator,

     partner in learning;

Then I will

     explore the world,

     discover my voice,

     and tell you what I know

     in a hundred languages.

******************************Welcome to Friends ‘n Fun. We hope you enjoy your journey with us.   Janet, Jane, Kara & Honor

Dear Parents,

What a great start to our summer we’ve had! We started June off with WOOD AND METAL AND WIRE. With wood and metal we made beautiful sculptures, Kalimbas and musical shakers, and machines fueled by our imaginations. We made sailboats out of rounds of logs, complete with stick masts and colorful sails that were hand stitched on to the mast. Everyone had the opportunity to use real woodworking tools: hammers and nails, hand saw and hand drill. We finished this experience with stick and wire mobiles, as well as really looking at where all of our wood comes from…trees! We did bark rubbing, sketches of trees on our playground, and studied bark up close by looking at pieces of bark through magnifying glasses and sketching what we saw.

Now we are ready to explore WEATHER. We will spend our first week talking about all kinds of weather and watching the daily weather report to catch hints of things that meteorologists talk about when reporting. Next we’ll be exploring a variety of weather types in as many ways as we can think of. In our explorations we will be thinking about: wind, rain, clouds, moisture, hail, sleet, weather in different climates and extreme weather. Check the front bulletin board regularly to see what we have planned!

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A NOTE FROM KARA:

Dear Friends’n Fun families,

I am embarking on a new adventure, to teach English to kindergartners in South Korea this fall. I will truly miss all of you and will be leaving a big piece of my heart here at Friends’n Fun.

My last day will be Friday, July 31st. Please keep in touch!

With love and gratitude,  Kara.   (kara.nicole.beard@gmail.com)

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Don’t forget we will be closed on Friday, July 3rd in observance of July 4th!!!

Dear Parents,

Welcome to all our families – new, continuing, and returning. We have a wonderful group of children for our summer session and are enjoying getting to know one another. A new mix of children always invigorates us with the possibilities of new interests, talents, and friendships. We are excited as we plan for the upcoming summer months. Throughout the summer various activities will be set out each day with children of all ages in mind. Teachers are always enthusiastic for our change in curriculum format for the summer. Preparing activity centers for in-depth exploration based on interests rather than ages seems to allow for new creative energy and limitless ideas. We are starting June off with WOOD AND METAL. We will be busy creating sculptures with wood and metal, building with blocks outside and who knows what else! It is always fun to watch and see how doing one thing sparks an idea or suggestion for something else. After we’ve exhausted our interests in wood and metal we will be exploring WEATHER. We will continue to watch and listen to see what other interests children are talking about during play that might guide us on our adventures and explorations this summer. Check the front bulletin board to see what we have planned for our days together. We may take an occasional walk around the block, a walk to Pioneer Elementary School’s playground, or a walk to the rock park 5 blocks East of us on Simpson Street for a morning of outdoor activities. Watch the front door for notes regarding when we might leave the building. We hope you enjoy your summer with us.

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REQUEST: We are collecting scraps and interesting pieces of wood and metal (nuts, bolts, washers, old keys, tin cans – anything of that nature). Watch the front door for additional requests as we continue to plan out our summer activities. Please help us with our supplies and bring us your discards!

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SUNSCREEN – Feel free to apply sunscreen to children before they arrive at school. We have sunscreen and will reapply it throughout the day. If your child needs a specific brand, please send it (labeled with your child’s name) and with a signed note indicating this is your preference. We use Banana Boat #50.

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EXTRA CLOTHING FOR SUMMERTIME Summer sun and hot days mean we will get wet, to stay cool. Please leave a change of clothing for your children in their cubbies. Also, please send a swimsuit to leave at school. Please label your child’s swimsuit in case there are others that have a same or similar style!

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Father’s Day “Breakfast Cafe”

We will have a breakfast cafe set up in the morning during drop-off time for the children to spend some special time with their Dads. We’ll have coffee & Santiago’s breakfast burritos for the Dad’s, and juice, fruit and donut holes for the kids. Come enjoy a special morning with your child(ren) before you head off to your day.

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Tornado Emergency Plans June is typically our stormiest month – and we need to be prepared for any emergency. We have emergency plans posted at the front door. Should there be a tornado watch, where we are asked to seek shelter, we will take the children downstairs to our cellar where we have blankets, flashlights, water and stuffed animals. You might need to have our cell phone numbers in case of such an emergency. They are: Janet – 303-818-4842 Jane – 303-775-1531

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Vacation schedules

Please let staff know, when possible, of times that your child will not be attending. This will help us in our staff scheduling, space availability for our friends from the school year to be able to come spend some time with us this summer, as well as letting children know when their special friends are returning after vacations.

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IMPORTANT DATES

Thursday/Friday JUNE 18/JUNE 19        Father’s Day Breakfast Cafe: We will have a     “breakfast cafe” during drop-off time with Santiago’s Breakfast Burritos for the Dads

Friday, JULY 3         Closed for Holiday Friday

AUGUST 14              Last day of Summer Session

AUGUST 17 – 21      Friends ‘n Fun closed for cleaning, sprucing, prep and planning for  new school year.

AUGUST 24             Beginning of Fall Session ___________________________________________________________________

End of Year Potluck Picnic at LaMont Does Park

Wednesday, June 3rd from 6-7:30pm

Everyone please bring a main dish and:

Last name begins with: A-M Salad

Last name begins with: N-Z Dessert 

Don’t forget to sign-up for a Spring Parent Teacher conference!  This is when we get to come together and celebrate your child and the year they’ve had at school.  You will receive your child’s portfolio at this time.

Sign-up is on the front bulletin board for Thursday May 20th, Wednesday May 28th, and Thursday May 29th.

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End of Year Potluck Picnic at LaMont Does Park

Wednesday, May 20th from 6-7:30pm

Everyone please bring a main dish and:

Last name begins with: A-M Salad

Last name begins with: N-Z Dessert

Dear Parents,

Happy almost Spring! It is such a delight to see the crocuses peeking out around the edges preparing us for the upcoming explosion of color! Our “trip” to Ghana has kept us warm through the frosty and snowy months of January and February. With the amazing support and resources provided us by Adjei and Kari Abankwah (Asante’s parents) our school journey was enriched by dancing and singing with Adjei, African drumming with Nii Okai Aryeeteh, and the dramatic story telling of Akaramah Cofie. The children have learned the traditional Ghanaian children’s songs Kye Kye Kule and Bambaliba and they made their very own drums. We then explored beautiful Kente cloth, creating our own versions of this gorgeous art form. We learned about Adinkra symbols and their significant meanings. Some of us printed cloth with them, used them for storytelling or created our own, assigning them a special meaning. We are now ending this incredible experience with storytelling based on the traditional Ghanian story figure , Ananse the Spider. We hope to come together as singers, drummers and storytellers this Wednesday and Thursday in a culminating celebration of our West African adventure!

Our deepest thanks go out to Adjei, Kari and Asante for sharing this beautiful part of their history and lives with us!

Throughout the course of a school year teachers watch and listen to themes that emerge in the children’s play. We observe for themes that cross age and gender and are sustained over time. This year from September through the present the children have been deeply focused on “super powers.” Over the years we often hear and see play revolving around super heroes. A bit of a shift from past years is the constant conversation about “powers.” Boys talk about it, girls talk about it, three year olds, four year olds and five year olds talk about. The teachers have often avoided a direct connection with this play, cautious about the challenges that may present when “good versus bad” actions get physical. This year we have decided to take it on in response to the children’s extreme interests. We will, however, be careful and intentional as we explore the idea of a “super power” and what that really means for the children. We will begin with thinking about what a “super power” is and then, in conjunction with the children, see where this next journey takes us! The new journey will begin following Spring Break!

PS: Studio Discovery Fridays will be shifting focus as we set up an incubator in hopes of hatching ducklings! Stay tuned……….

This newsletter has lots of dates for upcoming events in the next couple of months!

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 REMINDER Teachers are working away on each child’s portfolio to present to you at the May conference. The portfolio fee which assists us in the cost of production materials was due in November. Please check your records and turn your payment in so we can keep the ball rolling! Thanks!

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SNOWY WEATHER!!!! It’s hard to believe we’re still including this, but spring weather can be unpredictable! We will notify 9 News if we will be closed due to bad weather. It sometimes takes awhile for schools to be listed on television but a listing pops up pretty quickly on their website, so check there as well. We will also post closure on our websites Latest & Greatest page. If you are not sure you are also always welcome to call Janet @ 303-818-4842 or Jane @ 303-775-1531.

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IMPORTANT DATES – SPRING 2015

Please note these on your calendars!

March 25, 26, 27    SPRING BREAK

May 6 and 7           Mother’s Day Tea – 11:00 – 12:00 (depending on your child’s                                                                                       school schedule)

Calling all moms! Please be sure you attend this special event. Your                                                                child will be at your “beck and call” for part of this day. Bring your child at their regular time. And then you will return at 11:00 to enjoy tea and treats served by your children. Details will be posted in late April. Due to our limited space and the nature of this special celebration, siblings or other family members will not be able to attend. If you are unable to come a substitute would help your child join in the celebration.

May TBA             Parent Teacher Conferences

Please watch the parent bulletin board for a sign up sheet to attend a conference on one of the listed days. Conferences will be 20 minutes each.

May 20 (Wed)    End of Year Potluck Picnic at La Monte Does Park. Details to follow.

May 25              Memorial Day. School closed.

May 28 – 29       Last Day of School

June 1 and 2     First Day of Summer Session

                          Summer session runs from June 1st through August 14th.

August 17-21   FnF Closed for Children for cleaning, organizing and planning for Fall 2015

August 24/25   Fall Semester Begins

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year!  It is so nice to have everyone back after the break and ready to be having fun and learning and growing together again!

We had great fun with bear stories and studying bears during November and December.  We were busy working on costumes, sets and performances as each small group readied a bear storybook to act out. We then shifted to studying real bears.

Janet’s little ones acted out Bears in Chairs and Bears in the Bath; Jane’s groups performed Tiptoe Joe and The Three Bears; Kara’s crews performed Corduroy and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt; and Katey’s fine actors put together Bear Snores On and Bear Feels Sick. Following the plays each of the groups explored research books about real bears and focused on an area of interest. There were bear dens and trees for bear climbing; there were bear puppets and hand sewn stuffed bears; there were child authored and illustrated bear stories and books, both fiction and factual; there was even an actual representation of an 8 foot Alaskan brown bear!

We guess it’s time to let bears begin their hibernation now that winter is in full swing!

It is also time to embark on our next journey.

This past summer Asante Abankwah’s family approached us with an invitation to share their family heritage. Asante attends school on MWF. Asante’s father Adjei originates from the West African country of Ghana. Adjei was a lead dancer and choreographer with the Ghana National Dance Ensemble and has performed internationally. The family has offered their resources and support to guide us through an exploration of Ghana culture, art, dance, music and storytelling. They have been participants and among the organizers of the BaoBao Festival for the past 11 years. The festival is presented during the week of March 1st through 7th.

We are excited by their invitation and will begin this study by learning about the music, dance, art and unique storytelling of Ghana. We hope to culminate our experience around the time of the BaoBao Festival with our own interpretation of Ghana storytelling. Asante’s parents Adjei and Kari plan to assist us with guest visitors who will teach us about dance, drumming and storytelling. We look forward to this new journey and hope you will too! Feel free to visit the BaoBao Foundation website at www.baobaofoundation.org.

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NOTE CARD FUNDRAISER!!!!!!

Thanks to all of you for your notecard orders. Your contributions raised $1250.00. After expenses, we have $900.00 for our arts and supplies fund. We hope that you and your families enjoy the amazing artwork created by your children. Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity!

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SHARE-A-GIFT

The people at Share-a-Gift tell us that each year Friends’n Fun parents are one of the most generous group of contributors to their program. This year alone the box was filled to over flowing 3 separate times! Thanks to all of you for your concern for others in need. In an effort to offer additional support throughout the year we are thinking of providing a food collection box for dried goods that we can periodically donate to the Sister Carmen food bank.

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VALENTINE’S DAY– Your children are invited to bring valentines for their friends on Wednesday, February 11th or Thursday the 12th. We chose these days so everyone can participate. For children of preschool age it is best to just have them write their names on the backs and leave the envelopes blank.  You can buy pre-packaged valentines or join them in making their own creations.

Bring 22 cards for the Wednesday group and 22 cards for the Thursday group.

A Valentine snack sign up will be posted on the parent bulletin board closer to time.

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SNOWY WEATHER!!!! We will notify 9 News if we will be closed due to bad winter weather. It sometimes takes awhile for schools to be listed on television but a listing pops up pretty quickly on their website, so check there as well. We will also post closures on our website on the Latest & Greatest page. If you are not sure you are welcome to call Jane @ 303-775-1531 or Janet @ 303-818-4842.

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ENROLLMENT FORMS

By the end of the month, you will be receiving questionnaires asking for your schedule requests for Summer 2015 and Fall 2015. We appreciate your prompt return of these forms so we can begin our enrollment process.

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HOLIDAY CLOSURE DATES Please mark your calendars and note the following dates Friends ‘n Fun will be closed in observance of the upcoming holidays and Spring Break:

• Monday, January 19th: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Monday, February 16th: Presidents Day
• Wednesday-Friday, March 25th-27th: Spring Break

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WORDS TO SHARE………………………….

Our past parent and dear friend Bruce Kirschner, whose adult sons Paul and Sam attended Friends’n Fun as preschoolers, has come to school for the past 18 years to celebrate Hanukkah with us. He engages the children with his warm and funny personality and is always memorable. He joined us once again this year and last week he sent us a lovely quote by Fred Rogers that he wanted to share along with a wish for a good 2015 to all!

“At the center of the universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person.  Anything we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings, that is our job.  Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds.  Life is for service.”   Fred Rogers

Dear Parents,   Wow! Time flies when you are having Fun! We were off and running after Halloween as we dove into an assortment of bear stories. Each of the small groups has been preparing a story to act out as a play and we are just about ready for the performances! Katey’s M/W group is performing Bear Feels Sick and her T/TH group will perform Bear Snores On. Jane’s M/W group is performing TipToe Joe and the T/TH crew is doing their unique version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Goldilocks is replaced by Tigers!) Kara’s M/W kids will perform We’re Going On A Bear Hunt and her T/TH pals A Pocket For Corduroy. Janet’s little ones on M/W are performing Bears in The Bath and T/TH are performing Bears On Chairs. Following the bear plays we will continue to study bears and learn more about them. Studio Discovery Fridays has also made a change. The children will be exploring variations on SNOW, ICE and WATER. PS. Thank you to Gus Condon’s parents, Natalie and Jason, for providing us with all of those pumpkins that we thoroughly enjoyed for Fall and Halloween!!!!!!

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SNOW DAYS It’s that time of year again. Check Channel 9 News website when in doubt, or on the “Latest & Greatest” page on our website! FnF will be listed on 9news.com for school closings or we will be listed as a “late start.” We will make the decision to close based on the safety of all – children, parents and community. If you have questions on snow days please call Janet (303-818-4842) or Jane (303-775-1531). We’ll do our best to keep you informed. Thank you.

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ANNUAL TREE OF THANKS – BY FRIENDS ‘n FUN FAMILIES – We invite you to join us in creating a leaf to attach to the tree in our front yard. We will be sending home paper cut in the shape of leaves and a few fun things to embellish your leaf. We would like you to work with your family to think about whom in your family, friends, neighbors and/or people in the community you are grateful to and why. Then please write a short note of thanks explaining this on the leaf, let the children decorate it, and then cover it (front & back) with the contact paper. Make sure your child’d name is on the leaf! Teachers will have ribbon at school for you to use to tie the leaves onto a wire we will have affixed to the tree. We are in the hopes that you and your children will take time to read the collection of leaves of thanks on our tree. We also hope that the community of walker-bys in Lafayette might see and learn more about us as a community at Friends ‘n Fun.

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FAMILY TRADITIONS The holiday season is upon us. It all began with Halloween (from the children’s perspective) and has rolled into Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Las Posadas, Christmas, multiple New Years’, and many other wonderful celebrations that honor special cultural and religious traditions. We join together with family and friends to enjoy this season. We treasure all of the unique and distinctive differences and unifying similarities that make up our school community. This holiday season we would like to recognize all of our families. On Saturday, Dec. 13th from 1:00-3:00 we have once again reserved the John M. Taylor Conference Center at Imagine! We would like to invite your family to join us to decorate a tree branch with photographs and small objects that represent special things about your family. We will provide an assortment of yarns, beads, wire, buttons, jewels, etc. – and a tree branch for each of you. You can bring photographs, small objects and your wonderful children. We will work together at Imagine! to create these beautiful branches. We will then bring them back to school to display for all to enjoy. The things you bring to embellish the branch should represent your family’s interests (biking, pets, skiing, etc.), as well as special celebrations. We hope you can attend this gathering to get to know each other and share in an activity with your children to celebrate this special time of year. Drop by anytime between 1 and 3 and spend as much time as works for you that day. We will post maps/directions to Imagine! on the bulletin board closer to the event date.

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FUNDRAISER In December we will create note cards using your child’s artwork – easel paintings, watercolor paintings, self-portraits, collages, etc. Packages of your child’s note cards, with envelopes, will be available to you at $12.00 per package of 8. In the past families have sent them to grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. for holiday gifts. The money raised goes to help purchase art supplies at Friends ‘n Fun. Watch the parent bulletin board for additional details. This is our ONLY fundraiser of the year and it typically brings us about $1000 for use in our supply budget. We hope you can support us and enjoy this celebration of your children’s efforts. Thank you for your continued support of our small program.

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IMPORTANT DATES !!!!!!!!!!! Nov. 18-19 – Tree of Thanks leaves to be sent home on the 18th and 19th. Return to us anytime from the 21st on, and attach them to our tree so our neighborhood community can enjoy. Nov. 27-28 – CLOSED for Thanksgiving Holiday Dec. 13 – FnF Family Traditions Workshop – Imagine! John M. Taylor Conference Center 1665 Coal Creek Drive, Lafayette 1:00 – 3:00 PM Dec. 24 – Jan. 2 – FnF Closed. We will be closed from Wed. Dec. 24th through Jan. 1, 2015. We will reopen on Friday, January 2, 2015.

Tuesday, September 16

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Teachers will be available from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to informally share further information about the school and answer any questions that may have come up following your child’s first few weeks. We encourage you to check in with the small group teacher to let us know specific information about your child’s interests and needs so we can better plan for his/her school experience. Please return the questionnaire to share additional information about your child with us.

Due to the limited amount of space available, this will be for parents only.

The rainy weather has lifted!  We will see you at LaMont Does from 6:00 – 7:30pm.

Join us on Wednesday, September 10th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at LaMont Does Park for our Fall Potluck Picnic.  It’s a fun way to meet other families, reconnect with those you haven’t seen in awhile, and enjoy a variety of foods at the same time!

A – M bring Main Dish and Dessert

N – Z bring Main Dish and Salad

Friends ‘n Fun will provide plates, napkins, plasticware and drinks.

We hope to see you and your family there!

Our Summer session is beginning to wind down.  We’ve had so much fun exploring birds and have been delighted to hear how the enthusiasm has carried on beyond Friends ‘n Fun’s walls.

Our last day for Summer will be Friday, August 15th.  The week of August 18th, Friends ‘n Fun will be closed and the teachers will be busy getting ready for the new school year…we will be using the time for planning, staff development and preparing the school.

Fall 2014 session begins the week of August 25th and we look forward to seeing everyone then!

Join us on Wednesday, May 28th at LaMont Does Park

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Please bring the following:

EVERYONE: Main Dish (regular size)

Last name starts with A-M:  Dessert (regular size)

Last name starts with N-Z: Salad (regular size)

Friends ‘n Fun will provide beverages, cups, plates and plasticware.

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We look forward to celebrating an incredible school year with our amazing families!   We hope to see you all there.

Join us to celebrate your child’s growth and experiences at school this year and receive their portfolio.

Please sign up on the Parent Bulletin Board (by the front door) for a time to meet with the teachers. If the options do not suit your schedule, please talk with Janet or Jane to work out an alternate option.

We look forward to seeing you and celebrating your child!

Wednesday, May 7th or Thursday, May 8th

10:30 – 11:30

Calling all moms!  Please be sure you attend this special event.  Your child will be at your “beck and call” for part of the morning.  Bring your child at their regular time.  Then you return to enjoy tea and treats served to you by your child at 10:30.

Due to our limited space and the nature of this special celebration we can only accommodate enrolled preschoolers.  Siblings or other family members will not be able to attend.  We hope that you understand and if you can’t make it, we can talk about who might be able to come so your child feels they are a part of our Mother’s Day Tea.

See you then!

Just a reminder that we will be closed on Monday, February 17th in observance of the President’s Day holiday.

We are now in the process of finding out from our current families to see what their needs are for the upcoming summer and fall.  Current families, please return your request form by Friday, February 14th.  

Once we know where our openings are, we will begin to contact families who have visited and asked to be on our wait list for upcoming openings.

If you are interested in our preschool, please contact us and schedule a time for you and your child to come visit us to see if Friends ‘n Fun.  We’d love to meet you!

Your children are invited to bring valentines for their friends on Wednesday, February 12th or Thursday the 13th.  We chose these days so everyone can participate.

For children of preschool age it is best to just have them write their names on the backs and leave the envelopes blank.  You can buy pre-packaged valentines or join them in making their own creations.

Bring 21cards for the Wednesday group and 22 cards for the Thursday group.

Janet & Jane will have a table at Mountain Kids 10th Birthday Celebration.  We’ll have some examples of the things we do at Friends ‘n Fun and be available to answer any questions you might have.  Other events will be happening at Mountain Kids for kids and families to enjoy as well.

We will be at Mountain Kids from 12:30pm – 2:30pm on Saturday, February 1st.

474 S. Taylor Ave., Louisville

Visit Mountain Kids website at www.mountain-kids.com/louisville for more information about all the events they will have happening.

We hope to see you there!

Friends ‘n Fun will be open on Monday, December 23rd.  We will then be closed for the holiday from December 24th through January 1st.  We’ll see you again starting on Thursday, January 2nd.

We wish everyone Happy Holidays and look forward to seeing you in 2014!

On Saturday, Dec. 14th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, we would like to invite your family to join us to decorate a tree branch with photographs and small objects that represent secial things about your family.  We will provide an assortment of yard, beads, wire, buttons, jewels, etc., and a tree branch for each of you.  You can bring photographs, small objects and your wonderful children.  The things you bring to embellish the branch should represent your family’s interests (biking, pets, skiing, etc) as well as special celebrations.  We will work together at Imagine! to create these beautiful branches.  We will then bring them back to school to display for all to enjoy.

Address: Imagine!  John M. Taylor Conference Center

1665 Coal Creek Drive, Lafayette  80026

We hope to see you and your family there!

Verse 1:

Sitting in a high chair.

Whose chair?  My chair.

Sitting in my high chair banging my spoon.

Bring on the carrots, bring on the peas.

Won’t somebody come and feed this baby, please.

(Repeat first 3 lines)

Bring on the butter, bring on the bread.

Won’t somebody come and get this baby fed.

(Repeat first 3 lines to end)

Make up more rhymes of your own!

We are now enrolling for both Summer and Fall.  Beginning in September, there will be an option to enroll for an 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday/Wednesday/Friday in addition to the current schedule choices.  Extended hours are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch bunch; and/or 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on all days.

SUMMER 2013:

MWF       8:30 – 12:00     $409.50/mo

T Th        8:30 – 12:00     $312.00/mo

M thru F   8:30 – 12:00    $720.00/mo

LUNCH BUNCH

MWF    12:00 – 1:00     $97.50/mo

T Th      12:00 – 1:00     $65.00/mo

Extended Hours  8:00-8:30 and/or 1:00 – 1:30     $7.50/hr

FALL 2013

MWF       8:30 – 12:00     $430.00/mo

MWF       8:00 – 3:00      $785.00/mo

T Th        8:30 – 12:00     $328.00/mo

M thru F   8:30 – 12:00    $758.00/mo

LUNCH BUNCH

MWF    12:00 – 1:00     $104.00/mo

T Th      12:00 – 1:00     $70.00/mo

Extended Hours  8:00-8:30 and/or 1:00 – 1:30     $8.00/hr

Don’t forget!  Friends ‘n Fun will be closed December 24, 2012 through January 1, 2013.  We will be back on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.

Happy Holidays!

Mr. Hippopotamus
Took a ride
On the bus.
All the children squealed and fussed,
“You’re squishing us! You’re squishing us!”

Parents…

A preschoolers favorite holiday is just around the corner…HALLOWEEN!!!!  We will be celebrating at school on Tuesday, Oct. 30th and Wednesday, Oct. 31st.  Many young children are uncertain of and frightened by costumes, so we will celebrate with NO COSTUMES at school.  We DO celebrate with special games, activities, stories and a festive snack.

If you would like to contribute to our snack, please sign up on the bulletin board by the front door.  Cheese cut-outs, mini muffins, dried pumpkin seeds and fruit, etc. are fun treats.  If you choose a sweet treat, a small portion is best!

Thank you and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Dear Parents,
Many apologies for taking a while to get this summer newsletter out! Welcome to all our families – new, continuing, and returning.  We have a wonderful group of children for our summer session and are enjoying getting to know one another.  A new mix of children always invigorates us with the possibilities of new interests, talents, and friendships.

We are excited as we plan for the upcoming summer months. Throughout the summer various activities will be set out each day with children of all ages in mind.  Teachers are always enthusiastic for our change in curriculum format for the summer.  Preparing activity centers for in-depth exploration based on interests rather than ages seems to allow for new creative energy and limitless ideas.

We started June off with some water and sand experiences and have been having a great time with our the new load of sand that has renewed our sand box. We are now very excited about creating functional toys and play materials using cardboard. We are starting with small cardboard houses to use with puppets of ourselves and friends. Also on the list of items are a marble run, treehouse, race car track and castle and dragons. We will see if anymore ideas pop up! If the cardboard creations don’t occupy us for the summer we plan to explore color, light and shadow in a variety of ways.
We may take an occasional walk around the block, a walk to Pioneer Elementary School’s playground, or a walk to the rock park 5 blocks East of us on Simpson Street for a morning of outdoor activities.  Watch the front door for notes regarding when we might leave the building. We hope you enjoy your summer with us.

SUNSCREEN  – Feel free to apply sunscreen to children before they arrive at school. We have sunscreen and will reapply it throughout the day.  If your child needs a specific brand, please send it  (labeled with your child’s name) and with a signed note indicating this is your preference. We use Banana Boat #50 and Blue Lizard #30.

EXTRA CLOTHING FOR SUMMERTIME
Summer sun and hot days mean we will get wet, to stay cool.  Please leave a change of clothing for your children in their cubbies. Also, please send a swimsuit to leave at school

Tornado Emergency Plans       June is typically our stormiest month – and we need to be prepared for any emergency.  We have emergency plans posted at the front door.  Should there be a tornado watch, where we are asked to seek shelter, we will take the children downstairs to our cellar where we have blankets, flashlights, water and stuffed animals.  You might need to have our cell phone numbers in case of such an emergency.  They are:   Janet – 303-818-4842 Sandy – 720-220-2187

Vacation schedules –   Please let staff know, when possible, of times that your child will not be attending.  This will help us in our staff scheduling as well as letting children know when their special friends are returning after vacations. ______________________________________________________
IMPORTANT DATES
Wednesday JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY – School closed
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PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN YOUR CHILD IN & OUT EACH DAY IN THE SIGN IN NOTEBOOK

Teachers will be at school from 8:30 -1:00pm to work on a variety of “jobs” to get our school’s outdoor environment ready for our summer session.  Join us if you can – even for an hour or two.  Let us know when you might be available and what tools (truck?) you may have for us to use.  Our goals are to :

•fluff the sand and wood chips – adding more if necessary
•add wood shavings to the front walk beside the street
•clean up the yards!
•build 2 raised garden beds and possibly plan/install a hydration system

Thanks for your support!

Please join us for our end of the year potluck picnic.  Note that we have changed the location of this event.  We have discovered a wonderful park that may suit our families’ needs better.  This one has a  smaller playground area alongside the larger one – smaller will accommodate our new toddlers!  The park is White Tail Park on Autumn Ridge Blvd., just off Empire (Hiway 42) and 287.  Please bring your family, a main dish and a dessert (A-M) or a salad (N-Z).  FnF will provide tableware, plates, and beverages.  This event is from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.  Looking forward to seeing all of you there!

Parent Teacher Conferences – Stop by our parent bulletin board and sign up for your 20 minute conference time with the team of teachers.  Conferences will be June1 and June 2, 2012.  We have been working on your child’s portfolio which will be ready for you to take on these dates.  Please join us in this time of celebrating your child’s growth and development over the course of this year.

Just a little reminder to all FnF Moms to attend our Mother’s Day Tea this Thursday, May 10, 2012.  Bring your child at his/her normal time.  If your child attends on Wednesday and not on Thursday,  he/she should come on both Wednesday and on Thursday at the normal time.  Then YOU come back at 10:30 or 2:30 whichever is appropriate, and be ready to be waited on by a very special wait person.  Your child will be at your beck and call!  Call if you have any further questions.  Don’t miss this very special event.  Due to the limitations of our space, this is a mothers only event.

 Dear Parents,

The woodland creatures from THE MITTEN materialized larger than life as beautiful masks and headpieces created by the children were completed. Five separate acting companies presented engaging performances. Some highlights included the various Grandma Babas clicking their knitting needles while rocking away; delighted Nickis catching their airborne mittens and then bringing them home a bit puzzled by the disparity in sizes; and the adorable animals squishing into the “mitten” dropped in the snow. Take a minute to peek at the wall displays to see the highlights.

We are now deep into multiple mysteries! Fingerprints are being analyzed, shoe prints might lead the way, spy binoculars and walkie talkies assist in seeking information. Clever detectives and investigators are lurking around every corner trying to solve the current mystery. Who did it? What could it be?  Where did it come from? When was it last seen? How did it happen?

We are assembling all of our investigative tools and honing our questioning and skills before the teachers begin to “plant” more complex mysteries in the school. We have set up a “Mystery of the Day” table and hope to continue it throughout the study. So far we have explored an emu egg shell, wallpaper scraper, physical therapy hand exerciser and a piece of dragon fruit. If you have any interesting and mysterious objects we would love adding them to the line up!

We are also working on a community mystery hunt. We will soon give you a photo of FnF and a set of clues to search for matching photos in a variety of local businesses and services. Once all of the locations have been found a surprise will be waiting at the last stop.

SNOWY WEATHER!!!!
We will notify 9 News if we will be closed due to bad winter weather. It sometimes takes awhile for schools to be listed on television but a listing pops up pretty quickly on their website, so check there as well. If you are not sure you are also always welcome to call Sandy @ 720-220-2187 or Janet @ 303-818-4842.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE SPECIAL DATES IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND MARK THEM ON YOUR CALENDARS…..

IMPORTANT DATES – SPRING 2012

May 10 – Mother’s Day Tea – 10:30 –11:30 OR 2:30 – 3:30pm (depending on your child’s school schedule)Calling all moms!  Please be sure you attend this special event.  Your child will be at your “beck and call” for part of this day.  Bring your child at their regular time.  And then you will return to enjoy a special treat at 10:30 OR at 2:30. – Tea and treats served by your children.  Details will be posted on the front door soon. MW families please talk with Sandy or Janet regarding which times to attend on Thursday morning or afternoon. Due to our limited space and the fact that this is a special celebration for your child attending Friends ‘n Fun, siblings or other family members will not be able to attend.  We hope that you understand and if you can’t make it, we can talk about who might be able to come so your child feels they are a part of our Mother’s Day Tea.

May 24 –  End of Year Potluck Picnic – La Monte Does Park.  Details to follow.
May 28 – Memorial Day  – school closed
May 30 – 31 – Last Day of School (summer begins June 4)
June 1 – 2 – Parent Teacher Conferences

Please watch the parent bulletin board for a sign up sheet to attend a conference on one of these days.  Conferences will be 20 minutes each.  Times will be offered from 8am – 1pm on Friday; and from 8am – 11am and 12pm -3pm on Saturday.

SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!
We will be closed on March 28 and 29 for spring break.

REMINDER……….
Teachers are working away on each child’s portfolio to present to you at the May conference. The portfolio fee which assists us in the cost of production materials was due in November. We still have quite a few out so please check your records and turn yours in so we can keep the ball rolling! Thanks!ENROLLMENT FORMS

Thank you for the timely return of your enrollment requests for the upcoming Summer and Fall. Everything looks good and we will be sending out confirmations soon.

Hi everyone.

Thanks for checking out the new web site. Please have a look around and let us know what else you would like to see on the site.  See you all soon!