Professional Development

Yesterday, our school was closed but our teachers were still working hard! Our staff renewed their CPR and First Aid Certification, as well as attended a training about planning with children for purposeful play. Our trainer from Leaps and Bounds Family Services, talked with our staff about extending play and supporting children's ideas. They also had the opportunity to create props for children's planning.

The State of Michigan requires our staff to complete 16 hours of Professional Development each calendar year. Over the past year, our staff has attended many workshops, classes and early childhood conferences. We are proud to say that many of our staff members go above and beyond the required 16 hours.

Pumpkin Auction

The Annual Pumpkin Auction is underway at the Barnes Early Childhood Center!! Children will vote for their favorites, and families can bid in the silent auction if they would like to take a pumpkin home! Pumpkins were created by both children and teachers. Take a look at our creations:

 The Halloween Parade begins at 9:00am tomorrow morning! We are looking forward to seeing everyone in their costumes and celebrating at classroom parties! Please see your child's teacher for additional information.

Pumpkins

The sights, sounds, and temperatures of Fall are finally here! From Infants to Pre-K, we have been exploring pumpkins! Classes have been discovering the different characteristics of pumpkins including their shape, color, texture, and also finding out what is inside.

Our Toddler Two class used words such as "cold", "seeds" and "yucky" to describe the inside of a pumpkin. Preschoolers colored their pumpkin with markers before cutting open, and Toddler One played "Mr. Pumpkin Head".

Next week, we will begin our school wide pumpkin decorating contest! Check back at the end of next week to see pictures from the contest.

Now we know our ABCs.....

Our letter exploration has been getting underway in Pre-K at both Barnes and Trombly. Each week, the children explore a different letter. They have opportunities to practice writing, learning the sound of the letter, and what words begin with that letter. Take a look below at some of the awesome words they have come up!

Yoga!

This morning, our toddlers had their first Yoga class! Each week, our yoga teacher, Ms. T.J, will guide the children through their practice using songs, games and dances. Today, the children participated in a Rain Dance, as well as butterfly stretches and deep breathing. Later in the week, our Preschool and Pre-K classes will have their yoga classes.We are looking forward to continuing this practice throughout the school year and are grateful to have Ms. T.J with us!

You can read more information about the benefits of yoga by clicking here. 

Preschool Survey

The Grosse Pointe Public School District is looking to expand Preschool options in to our Elementary schools for next school year and your input is greatly appreciated. Please follow the link to take a quick survey if you are able, and feel share the link with others: 

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GPPSSpreschool2016

Welcome Back!

Our hallways are filled with a sense of wonder and excitement as children are arriving for the first day of school! It is so fun to see familiar faces returning from the summer, as well as new faces joining our school family. We are looking forward to another great year of playing, learning, dreaming, and creating together!

If you have any questions, feel free to speak with your child's teacher or stop by the Preschool Office located upstairs in room 209. We are invested in the success, safety, and happiness of each child and believe that by working together as a team we can create a positive environment for those ideals to flourish.

Welcome Back! We're so glad you are here!