Faith Lutheran Preschool eNews: Newsletter 5/13/15

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
May 16th - Reading Rendezvous at the Loussac Library; 12PM-4PM
May 20th - End of the Year Preschool Program and Pizza Party; 6PM
May 21st - Last day of school; 12 noon dismissal; End of year picnic starting at 12PM

THIS WEEK’S LITERACY EXPERIENCES
Morning Books
"One More Sheep" by Mij Kelly and Russell Ayto
"Rex Wrecks It" by Ben Clanton
"Chooky-Doodle-Do" by Jan Whiten
"Job Site" by Nathan Clement

Afternoon Books
"Alpha Oops" by Alethea Kontis

PLANNING & RECALL
We continue our use with the white boards during planning time this week. The children practice drawing shapes on the board when it's their turn to plan. This is quite a bit trickier than identifying numbers and letters. Many of the shapes are easy but some of them challenge the children's fine motor skills as they attempt to draw them.

BIBLE LESSON
While Stephen was being stoned to death, a man named Saul stood nearby watching it happen. Saul was a Jewish leader and a strong persecutor of those who believed in Jesus. This week we learn how Saul was traveling to a town called Damascus when suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground. He heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" The voice was the voice of Jesus - the very person whom Saul was persecuting. The men traveling with Saul were stunned speechless and when Saul got up from the ground he realized he couldn't see anything. His companions led him in to Damascus. Once there, Saul was visited by a disciple of Jesus there named Ananias. Ananias placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul - the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately something like scales fell of Saul's eyes and he could see again. Saul was then baptized and became a follower of Jesus. His name would later change to Paul and he would become one of the greatest apostles and defenders of the faith.

When we learn about Saul and how the Holy Spirit worked that conversion in his heart, we rejoice in God's grace and love for us. We too were born dead in our sins - enemies of God just like Saul was. We praise God that through our baptisms and through his Word, he calls us to faith and makes us his children.
Bible verse: Psalm 119:105 "Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path."
Bible song: "Your Word Is A Lamp to my Feet"

MUSIC and MOVEMENT
Music and Movement time are combined this week as we continue our practice for the Spring Program on May 20th. We are getting excited to perform for our parents and families so this week we practice in front of some other students in our elementary school.

SMALL GROUP TIME
This week during Small Group Time, we’re focusing on the Key Developmental Indicator (KDI): Experimenting and Art. Young children experiment for two basic reasons. They investigate materials and processes out of curiosity, and they also experiment to solve problems they encounter in play. They try one or more ideas as they look for a solution that works. In both cases, children are actively engaged in handling materials, observing the outcomes of their actions, and forming ideas about the world. On Monday we had the chance to manipulate water balloons as we popped them on the pavement outside. Miss Z. would ask us to identify either a letter, number, or shape and we would try to throw the balloon hard enough to break it. It took some of us a while to figure out how hard we needed to throw the balloon so it would pop. On Tuesday we explored and experimented by creating huge bubbles using a mixture of water, dish soap, cornstarch, and baking powder. We dipped a hoola hoop in the mixture and lifted it up, creating a very large bubble. On Wednesday we create artwork by attaching markers to the backs of toy cars using tape and create a masterpiece as we drive those cars around the paper. On Thursday we experiment with blocks of ice. Big blocks of ice have all kinds of toys and treasures frozen in them and we tried to thaw or break the ice to free them. On Friday we go outside again to create birthday cakes using a mixture of flour, shaving cream, food coloring and "sprinkles".