TK - Miss Kristine & Morah Raizel

FROM MS. KRISTINE 

We have finally finished our exploration through the alphabet.  This week we worked on the sounds for /Q/ and /U/.  We started with the sound for /U/.  We learned that /U/ is a vowel that makes two sounds but we focused mainly on the short vowel sound.   We made colorful umbrellas and painted a rainy day background.  For the umbrella handle, of course,  we used a U. For our final added touch, the children stamp cut little U’s to look like raindrops… sort of.  We just liked saying, “It’s raining U”s”. Finally, by popular request, we made unicorns. The children painted their unicorns with great detail.  Some children even decided to cut them out and make stick puppets. 

For /Q/, we made fancy quails with feathers and a beautiful, brightly painted background.  /Q/ is a hard letter to say and hear because it sounds a lot like /C/ or /K/. The children also learned that Q and U are partners.  Q can't do anything without U,  but U can go places without Q. They thought U must be a pretty good friend.  That's pretty cute.  For an added layer of fun, we made "quilts".  We used scrap pieces of paper from various activities and the children made 'quilt like' designs.  These quilts aren't very cuddly, but they were fun.  We concluded with our word match and writing.  

Our ABC books will be going home next week, once the finishing touches are done. The children are so excited to share them with you.  It truly is a collection of hard work that gives them great pride.  

Please check your child's backpack throughout the week.  They come home with a lot of work  that they are so proud of.  I have found items that go back a month in some backpacks.  This could be a good time to ask them about their day at school and what they are learning. 

TK REMINDERS:

• Our next swim day is Wednesday, May 6. 

• Please make sure you send a home lunch on days your child does not like school lunches.

• Please send your child with a clean water bottle  everyday.

• Please keep your child’s cubby stocked.  If soiled clothes go home, please replace them as soon as possible.

 FROM MORAH RAIZEL

It has been a lovely week at the Hebrew Academy Preschool.  The children had the chance to learn more about our special homeland and celebrate Israel Day.  The children enjoyed delicious cupcakes and, of course, a yummy falafel lunch.   We read the books, Sammy Spider's First Trip to Israel by Sylvia Rouss, and Shalom Everybodeee!: Grover's Adventures in Israel by Tilda Balsley.  

After Israel Day, the children heard the story of Rabbi Akiva, a great sage and Torah scholar who lived during the Second Temple. His story is one of strength and resilience, and it is never too late to learn Torah if you try.

Last week, the children were asked what they knew about Israel:

• Shneur: That the saltwater is very salty, so no animals can drink from it, and you can only water it from sunset.
• Tohar: Yaakov from my family.
• Goldie: They have wheat.
• Hannah: That Sarah had a tent.
• Pearl: The kosel.
• Shiloh: That they have a flag, white and blue.
• Zalman: The Chanukah Story.
• Ari Lev: Beis Hamikdash.
• Netanel: The kotel.
• Avigail Ninnette:  I know they speak so much Hebrew.  My grandma and grandpa live there and they know so much Hebrew, more than me!
• David: The Maccabis lived there.
• Chaim: The Beis Hamikdash.
• Jackson: The Jewish people live there.
• Ruby: The wall.
• Tzivia: The Yivanim made a mess.
• Elias: I know that every day when a problem happens and then a good thing happens, they turn it into a holiday.

Next week, we will be learning more about Rabbi Akiva and his great student, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

Shabbat Shalom!