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Dec. 2009/Jan. 2010
News from the Head of School
The school year is flying by as usual! Thank you to all of our community friends who came and enjoyed our Harvest Feast. We have some really great photos taken by Alisha Clark so if you missed it, you will be able to get a sense of our community’s warmth and connectedness.
The annual report and annual appeal were mailed out over the last few weeks. If you did not receive a copy of the report, you can view it on our website at http://www.taylorschool.org/giving/giving.html I would love to hear any feedback you have regarding the report and the annual appeal.
Our annual fund is used for ongoing operations of the school. It helps to keep tuition low and support the incredible variety of enrichment that we give the children every day. The theme of “innovate and create” symbolizes the spirit of the students and faculty of the Taylor School. This theme will be carried throughout the year, including our annual celebration dinner on May 15th at the Troy Country Club. These are just two of the ways that we reach out to families and friends of the Taylor School to sustain the level of quality education we provide for our students. I am grateful to all of you that give in so many ways to the school.
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News from the Academic Director
Effective communication is an essential element in any organization. At the Taylor School, we regularly evaluate our methods of communication and their effectiveness. Currently we send out a monthly e-newsletter (if you are reading this you are now enjoying our December/January edition). The teachers send out notices as needed, as do Mariann and the PTO. Recently, we added a weekly news email through a service called Constant Contact. The purpose of the weekly email, which comes from my email address, is to give you a brief update on events and happenings. I will also give you a quick peek at what is going on around the school. The Taylor School is a busy active place! We are often so involved in the activities and experiences that happen during our normal course of business that we don’t take time to let people know about all the creative inspired learning that is taking place. The weekly email is a way for families and friends of the Taylor School to stay informed about all we’re doing. So, enjoy your monthly e-newsletter but be on the lookout for your weekly updates as well. We have a lot of news to share with you!
Enjoy your holidays,
Kelly
News from Preschool
November is done! We had a great time learning about Native American Indians. We enjoyed opportunities to share “Popcorn Parties” with our neighbors in Pre-K and the “big kids” in 1/2.
December will surely be another busy month as we look forward to the winter holidays. In Preschool we will continue our focus on families and families celebrating together. Sharing together is a concept we want to reinforce, and the Harvest Feast was such a wonderful way for the children to join together with their families and share what we had prepared in the classrooms. We anticipate expanding on this as we talk about different holidays celebrated at the end of the calendar year. For example, candles or “lights” are a common theme to many different family traditions. Additionally we will  be participating in a variety of seasonal holiday activities. We will strive to keep our routines consistent, as this is especially important to young children during this hectic month of family celebrations.
While we haven’t had much opportunity yet to use winter outerwear, we know that winter will be here soon. The children do go out every morning. Please remember to send in outerwear appropriate for the weather. Children need to take off their boots in the hall, and shoes are a necessity in the classroom. If it is easier, they can leave a pair in their cubby during the week.
With best wishes for Happy Holidays to all,
Karen & Lisa
News from Pre-K
Spirits were high as we turned the calendar to December. We are now eagerly  counting down to the special days posted on our classroom calendar. Hanukkah, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, Winter Break, New Year’s Eve, and even our annual Gingerbread Day with the pre-school class are days to look forward to with much anticipation. We are beginning December with a short study on bears, culminating in a Teddy Bear Picnic. Our next focus will be the story of The Gingerbread Man in many forms, along with many related activities (always a fan favorite). We will learn about some traditions and customs surrounding Hanukkah mid-month. We will also learn about some ways children around the world celebrate Christmas. The winter solstice will take center stage just before winter break, with many star-filled activities. Yes, December is a month full of wonder and warmth. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are so joyful; but we are mindful that children seek out structure and familiarity in the midst of excitement, and thus, we will maintain a steady classroom routine.
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News from Kindergarten
Last month went by fast! We’ve been busy working on developing our writing skills. The class began “free writing” in their journals this month. We learned the skill of brainstorming to assist us in developing topics to write about. The class was excited because they could write about whatever they wanted. It is truly amazing to watch each of them apply the new skills they are beginning to acquire.
The kindergarten class listened to their first read aloud chapter book this week. The book is Ready, Freddy! Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble by Abby Klein. Before reading we discussed how we should try to make a picture in our minds as we listen to the story. It was amazing to watch them really listen to the story and understand the humor. In connection with our read aloud each student made a pinecone turkey during a “Fun Friday” activity. The pinecones smelled like cinnamon and each student enjoyed bringing the turkey home as a holiday decoration.
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News from the 1-2 Class
December and January are exciting months for the 1-2 Class. The students will be heading out on a few field trips to create a better understanding of the Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands. This week we’ll take a closer look at the pottery made by the Native Americans from our region. We will be welcoming a local potter to come into our classroom to teach us the methods used by the Native American people. Once the pottery is completed, we will decorate it appropriately, based on the designs seen in photographs.
In addition to making the pottery, our class is in the process of creating Winter Counts. First, we took a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian’s Lakota Winter Count Exhibit. On this trip, the students learned about who made the Winter Counts, the materials that were used, and the reason why the Lakota people made them. The students have all drawn their Winter Count and are working on the story of the year they have depicted. To honor the oral tradition, the students will then share their Winter Count tale with the class.
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News from the 3-4 Class
Westward Ho! We have started our integrated unit on the emigrants who traveled  west along the Oregon Trail in the 1800s. We have learned the reasons why emigrants began their journey westward and we will soon explore and experience first hand the challenges the emigrants faced along the trail in order to settle in the vast Oregon Territory. The students are divided into four different families who will pack their wagons and head west on the Oregon Trail to ultimately settle in Dalles, Oregon. The students will be journaling throughout the unit to record all their experiences and thoughts during the journey. They have already decided upon their character and their traits, age, occupation, skills and interests. We will soon be choosing a leader and developing a list of rules to keep order and to keep everyone safe on the long journey. After we pack our wagons, the families will be meeting in Independence, Missouri, where they will begin their journey. However, there are definitely going to be some unexpected events that the families encounter. There may be an outbreak of cholera or a wagon might slip off “Devil’s Backbone.” We are going to have so much fun!
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News from the 5-6 Class
November has flown by! The students have worked very diligently throughout the  month. They did a wonderful job of publishing their second personal narratives and learning new spelling and word skills. I am proud of how well they have learned to not only use but to recognize homophones in their daily writing and reading. The students have also been engaged in a comprehensive novel study of the historical fiction book, Island of the Blue Dolphin, by Scott O’Dell
In November, the 5/6 class began their first social studies theme unit on the Civil War. For this active-learning unit, the students were given new identities which divided them into union and confederate soldiers. They traveled back in time to the 1860s, to an America torn apart by economic, social and political issues too deep and divisive to repair without a major conflict. That conflict was the Civil War (1861-1865). Throughout the unit the students participated in a number of activities, both as individuals and as group members. They were able to role-play parts in short soldier skits/interviews, reenact Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg and deliver Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. We also had the opportunity to visit the Bennington Museum for a guided to tour of their beautiful facility, and we participated in an interactive presentation on the Civil War Soldier. This was a great experience.
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Parent Page
Please remember we got outside every day unless it is too cold. Please be sure your child has extra winter clothes in their cubby and be sure your child has a jacket, hat, snow pants and mittens every day!
December Childcare is available during winter recess. Childcare is available on:
- Wednesday, December 23rd - 8-4 pm
- Monday, December 28th - 8-4 pm
- Tuesday, December 29th - 8-4 pm
- Wednesday, December 30th - 8-4 pm
- Thursday, December 31st - 8-4 pm
If you are interested, the cost is $35/day. Please email office@taylorschool.org to reserve your spot.
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