The Start to a VERY BUSY Month!!!!

Dear Families, Friends and Blog-Followers,

As the health of our students and staff members improves, we head, quickly, into a month filled with fun, (even though Phil, {the groundhog}, saw his shadow, which results in another six weeks of winter -- ggrrhh?!).

Liz, among a myriad of other things, has been leading walks, outdoors, and arranging for, (faux), ice-skating, indoors, teaching the Butterflies and Puppies how to cough and sneeze, properly, (into their elbows), and to music, (!!), and the "February Song"!!

Tammy and Sashi have been playing games, with the kids, such as "parades" of colors and beanbags, reading stories, such as about "Katie" the snowplow, and, as well, engaging them in song and dance at every opportunity.

Some of our wall and window space has been re-decorated with dot art on contact paper, drawings of dinos, (very scary, indeed . . . ), theme-related posters and charting projects -- just today, during Circle, under the tutelage of Mrs. Dolham, we determined that fifteen human prints can fit into one dinosaur footprint -- the resulting piece is displayed in the front hallway -- superb work!!

Our themes for February include Dinosaurs, (of course, and, always a favorite), Body Awareness, Valentine's Day, and is sprinkled with special days -- "Happy Birthday!!" to Nicky, Phil, Ellie & Miss Amy!!

Our word wall has been expanded to include not only letters of the week, and, accompanying words, but also "sight words" -- we are already working on the letter "I" via stories, music, and much, much more, with reinforcement of language-based skills at Circle and Activity Times.

Our little friends have been working, very diligently, I might add, on lifesize "Me-o-sauruses", and exploring the ages and stages of dinosaurs via both sensory and science-based curriculum --beneath the glittery, soft and white sand, lie eggs and fossils, and, playdough is transformed into mountainous terrain fit for prehistoric creatures -- as well -- the children have been using their imaginations, and a few interesting tangibles, in the block area, to create ancient villages and volcanoes. And, we continue to work on our valentine canisters, (soon to be full), cards for Tim Wood, (a graduate of Minuteman, currently stationed in Afghanistan), and a community puzzle, (many thanks to Ernie Houle).

Today, Kelly spearheaded a strawberry and banana smoothie making jamboree, and, yesterday, as many of you know, we spent a very exciting morning over at the Minuteman C&T HS, witnessing all kinds of scientific trickery -- thank you, Mr. Cetrano -- :) -- and playing in the water table -- thank you, Ms. Smith and freshmen -- :).

Please know that the Scholastic book orders have been submitted and that we are planning Valentine Day Parties on the Eleventh and Twelfth of February!!

I do hope that all of us are completely well, soon, so that we may enjoy, together, all of the uupcoming events.

Much Love . . . Miss Peacock XOXO