"IF YOU HAVE APPLES, MAKE APPLE PIE!!"

Dear Friends, Families and Blog-Followers,

(Once, again, I apologize for blogging later, rather than sooner, for Wednesday through Friday . . . )

As you likely know, our Fieldtrip to Honeypot Hill Farms has been re-scheduled for next Friday, and, in light of yesterday's happenings, I would like to say that, although I, too, was sad that we did not go apple and pumpkin picking, I was truly proud to be a part of the Child Development Center's Team . . . Once we realized we were to remain at School, a plan was immediately put into action -- the children were no longer disappointed, and, rather, gleefully engaged in wonderful, themed and seasonal activities, with the anticipation of another adventure, next week.

Kelly and Liz quickly prepared an applie-pie baking activity, in which every child participated, one-on-one, for which Tammy picked-up vanilla ice-cream, on her way in to School, and for which I set-out (interactive) Halloween books, a variety of pumpkin and bat cut-outs and shapes, character stampers, haunted house templates, crayons, etc. -- Miss Sashi, Amy and the High-Schoolers contributed greatly, as well, and, joined in the fun!! (The apple pie and ice-cream were delicious, by the way, and especially so, served with yummy hot chocolate!!)

To reinforce the ongoing theme, I read "Barnyard Hullabaloo", authored by Giles Andreae and illustrated by David Wojtowycz, a series of silly poems about farm animals, after which we mooed, baaed, neighed, meowed, barked, clucked, and more -- and -- as a reward for good listening, the kids were given teeny-tiny coloring books, and, as well, were able to spend plenty of time, outdoors.

On Wednesday, many friends visited, and assisted with, corn painting, pumpkin and ghost decorating, Fall/Autumn word typing, dancing and singing and collage work. Guords were mixed in, with the cornstalks, for additional sensory play and our Learning Centers were appropriately themed.

Kelly taught the Butterflies and Puppies about bus safety, introduced "Matman" and, with the children, acted-out "Under the Apple Tree", by Steve Metzger with pictures by Alessia Girasole.

I read "Hair 'Em, Scare 'Em", a pop-up "misadventure", written by Charles Ogden and illustrated by Rick Carton, and, at an afternoon meeting, used jack-o-lantern stick puppets to encourage our group to be part of the storytelling experience of "Witch's Surpirse Treat!" and "Boo To You Too!", both simple and colorful reads by author Hallie Wein and artist Carolyn Jayne Church.

Kelly baked pumpkin-shaped banana bread treats for snack, this, (SNOWY?!?!), am, and, we all made get-well cards for a little friend that has been out, this week.

Miss Downing read "Night is Coming" by W. Nicola Lisa, Mrs. Dolham and I re-introduced "Matman", and, I read "Haunted Halloween Party" by Matt Mitter and Viviana Garofsky and "Farm Animals" by Joanna Jarc Robinson and Cindy Kiernicki

In the late morning, Our Sophomores, in the Early Childhood Education Program, from Minuteman's Career and Technical High School, prepared and guided our little ones, during activity time, in painting spiders, puppeteering, mummy-wrapping and a ghostly scavenger hunt -- thank you, girls!!

Our more newly-structured Circles and Meetings are going quite well, thanks to Kelly and Liz, and at Rest Time, the quiet is enhanced by and our Little Angels enjoy listening to music and stories on CD and the added comfort of Miss Sashi.

Please know that October's Scholastic Book Order will be placed, this week-end, and, with bonus points earned from September's shipment, we have, already, received new books for our classroom!! The Holiday order forms should be in your mailboxes, on or around Monday, with a due date of November 5, in order to ensure delivery in plenty of time for gift-giving.

Our Reading Challenge Poster is filling-up, quickly, and, as Mrs. Dolham mentioned during a meeting on Wednesday, the children may add the titles of books read at Home, as well as at School -- excellent suggestion!!

We continue to assess bids for playground re-construction, our "Spanish" lesson has been scheduled with Constance Maynard, Minuteman's Spanish, French and Latin teacher, on October 26th, and -- remember -- PICTURES WILL BE TAKEN ON TUESDAY, October 20th!! :) :)

Enjoy the week-end, everyone -- next week "promises" warmer weather . . .

Love Miss Peacock XOXO :) :)