"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS!!"

Dear Families, Friends & Blog Followers,

Good morning and "Happy Birthday!!", as well, to Nicky and Phil Smith -- aka "the boys"!!

As another, (very busy), week -- no -- month, (!!), comes to a close, many new days unfold, before us all, filled with bustle and excitement!!!!

Come Monday, our new themes will include the onset of Spring, (!!!!), fairytale talk and castle play -- Miss Downing and Mrs. Dolham have planned another stellar curriculum for the month of March, and, the teachers, with the assistance of the Butterflies and Puppies, of course, plan to re-decorate much of the classroom to reflect said.

We begin with a blast of activity, this week -- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are additionally scheduled pajama days, Wednesday and Thursday will open with parent breakfasts, and Tuesday, we will travel "next door" to celebrate the birthday of beloved Dr. Seuss and "Read Across America" Day.

As well, Orion is expecting a baby brother, this month, David will turn three, we will go "green" for St. Patrick's Day, and, on March 10, we will head on over to Waltham Crossing, where Mrs. Goell's dad resides, and, where the children will sing for the elderly, there -- the kids have been diligently practicing "Caps For Sale", with Tammy, and engaging in miniature concertos, with Liz, in preparation for the event!!

We welcome Cameron, a new Puppy, and are thrilled that some of our "established" Puppies will be spending more time, with us, at Minuteman's CDC!!

We had many visitors this week, including five high-school students, newly enrolled Freshmen in the Minuteman C & T HS Early Childhood Education Program, and, under the tutelage of Ms. Smith -- welcome, all!!

On Tuesday, Miss Amy both planned and implemented a project on the weather, which she presented at Circle, and, on Friday, our LHS high school friends, Arianne, Olivia and Kelly, as well, involved our little friends in a fine project on body awareness -- the perfect close to February -- thank you, ladies!!

On Monday, I understand that Kelly brought out the "volcano", which, working with, is always fascinating to the children -- the kids played with both "clean" and "dirty" mud and made a roadway on the hopscotch rug for small vehicles -- truly a day of scientific discovery and sensory exploration.

By Tuesday, the Butterflies and Puppies were painting with barber-style brushes attached to painter-style caps, playing with soft crystals and manipulatives, keyboarding theme-related words, and, had an interactive musical lesson in body parts, thanks to Liz.

As the week progressed, and even with a morning delay, Miss Downing successfully taught the little ones to sing, utlizing sign language, (ASL), -- on Wednesday, as well, they increased body awareness by doing tricks on the gymnastics mat and building ginourmous cities, (inhabited by dinosaurs!!).

The learning and fun continued, as Mrs. Dolham re-introduced the "mystery box", the children played with farm and city-themed mats and vehicles, sensory bottles and dinosaur-themed rubbing plates and assembled "dino teeth" crowns.

We read many wonderful stories about dinosaurs, the senses and other topics, including, but not limited to "My Nose Your Nose", by Melanie Walsh, "How Big is a Million" by Anna Milbourne and Serena Riglietti, (Usborne), and, one of my personal favorites, read many many times to my own children, "The Singing Chick", written by Victoria Stenmark and illustrated by Randy Cecil.

This week, I am hoping to distribute new Scholastic Book Order Forms, (and, work on my taxes -- aagghh!! :().

Enjoy the week-end, and, I look forward to seeing you all, beginning on Tuesday!!

Love Miss Peacock XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO