Touchstone Families,
December is such wonderful month at Touchstone. Our school is rich in diversity and the winter months are a great time to celebrate all of our traditions.
The winter months are also a great time to give back to our local community. I am happy to report the Pre-K2 classroom contributed to the Union Gospel Mission by raking leaves to earn money, having a bake sale from goodies they made in class, and organizing a food drive.
On the last day before winter camp, Friday December 19, we will be hosting a “Wear Pajamas, Bring Pajamas” event. Students may wear pajamas to school with a pajama donation for a local child in need. Pajamas can be new or gently used.
Winter Camp: Winter Camp is quickly approaching. It is important to note school is not offered from Dec.22-Jan.2. School resumes Monday, January 5, 2015. Touchstone does offer winter camp on the following dates: Dec. 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, and Jan. 2. There is no camp or school offered Dec. 24 &25 or Dec. 31 & Jan. 1. If you would like to attend Winter Camp, please sign up on the sheet found in your Parent File. As always, see the front desk with any questions.
Winter Weather: Winter weather is always fun to predict. So many factors go into deciding to delaying or closing school; weather, driving conditions, future weather forecasts, to name a few. The safety of our families, students, and staff are always of the utmost concern. When the weather is causing issues families can first turn to the news. Tune into the weather report and get answers to, “What is the weather doing/ predicted to do?” This will give you a good indication if things could get called at the last minute. We tend to follow the Lake Oswego Public School District, but not always.
Our school website will also have the most up-to-date news, in regards to our school closing/delaying. Information can be posted to the website immediately. So please visit, www.touchstonepreschool.com, for the most up-to-date school closure/delay information. We will always try to give you as much notice as possible.
Thank you for your kindness and support!
Warmest Regards,
Gordon Kingsley, Principal
Join us for our next Open House: January 24, 2014; 10:00am-1:00pm
Tours: Please call 877-959-3745, to schedule a tour. We look forward to talking with you soon!
Free Discovery Day: See how much fun your child will have at our preschool. Please call for more details.
Promoting Thoughtfulness
In her article, “Best Brains in Science Under Five: Helping Children Develop Intentionally,” which is included in the new Exchange CEU based on the Beginnings Workshop, The Intentional Teacher, Judy Harris Helm suggests one of the challenges for teachers is “to engage children in the intellectual life by supporting the development of traits such as curiosity and the disposition to be thoughtful.” She suggests a number of strategies including the following to help children learn to be thoughtful:
- Listen carefully to children’s conversations and identify topics of interest.
- Choose topics for project work that have potential for hands-on learning.
- Lift up children’s questions by recording on chart paper; review these and add more. Be especially supportive and ask questions that indicate deep thought.
- Add materials to the classroom related to children’s interest as they emerge. Encourage children to contribute materials.
- Don’t jump in and tell children answers or go immediately to a book or the Internet. Today answers can be found in seconds, but this creates child dependence on adults who have mastered the skills of reading and writing and not how young children learn.
- Don’t be afraid to provoke children’s thinking. Challenge them to find an answer, create a model, or do observational drawing.
Source: Exchange Everyday
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December News
Touchstone Families,
December is such wonderful month at Touchstone. Our school is rich in diversity and the winter months are a great time to celebrate all of our traditions.
The winter months are also a great time to give back to our local community. I am happy to report the Pre-K2 classroom contributed to the Union Gospel Mission by raking leaves to earn money, having a bake sale from goodies they made in class, and organizing a food drive.
On the last day before winter camp, Friday December 19, we will be hosting a “Wear Pajamas, Bring Pajamas” event. Students may wear pajamas to school with a pajama donation for a local child in need. Pajamas can be new or gently used.
Winter Camp: Winter Camp is quickly approaching. It is important to note school is not offered from Dec.22-Jan.2. School resumes Monday, January 5, 2015. Touchstone does offer winter camp on the following dates: Dec. 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, and Jan. 2. There is no camp or school offered Dec. 24 &25 or Dec. 31 & Jan. 1. If you would like to attend Winter Camp, please sign up on the sheet found in your Parent File. As always, see the front desk with any questions.
Winter Weather: Winter weather is always fun to predict. So many factors go into deciding to delaying or closing school; weather, driving conditions, future weather forecasts, to name a few. The safety of our families, students, and staff are always of the utmost concern. When the weather is causing issues families can first turn to the news. Tune into the weather report and get answers to, “What is the weather doing/ predicted to do?” This will give you a good indication if things could get called at the last minute. We tend to follow the Lake Oswego Public School District, but not always.
Our school website will also have the most up-to-date news, in regards to our school closing/delaying. Information can be posted to the website immediately. So please visit, www.touchstonepreschool.com, for the most up-to-date school closure/delay information. We will always try to give you as much notice as possible.
Thank you for your kindness and support!
Warmest Regards,
Gordon Kingsley, Principal
Join us for our next Open House: January 24, 2014; 10:00am-1:00pm
Tours: Please call 877-959-3745, to schedule a tour. We look forward to talking with you soon!
Free Discovery Day: See how much fun your child will have at our preschool. Please call for more details.
Promoting Thoughtfulness
In her article, “Best Brains in Science Under Five: Helping Children Develop Intentionally,” which is included in the new Exchange CEU based on the Beginnings Workshop, The Intentional Teacher, Judy Harris Helm suggests one of the challenges for teachers is “to engage children in the intellectual life by supporting the development of traits such as curiosity and the disposition to be thoughtful.” She suggests a number of strategies including the following to help children learn to be thoughtful:
Source: Exchange Everyday