Iris Family Center Newsletter: Week of February 21, 2011
Fri, Feb 25 2011 08:14
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Dear Parents, We hope everyone is enjoying their February break! We have scheduled our make-up classes for the missed enrichment classes, see below: Tuesday Enrichment (snow): March 1st Lunch 12:00-1:00 Soccer 1:00-2:00 Mini Monet 1:00-2:30 Wednesday Enrichment (2 snow days): March 2nd Passports 12:30-2:30 Wood 12:30-2:30 Yoga 12:30-2:30 Thursday Enrichment (snow): March 3rd Lunch 12:00-1:00 Mini Monet 1:00-2:30 Wiggles 1:00-2:00 Friday Enrichment (Wood Working only): March 4th Lunch & Wood 12:00-1:30 (please note, Friday Lunch and FFF were not missed, only Friday Wood was missed due to teacher illness) Spring enrichment classes begin Monday, March 14th, some classes are already full, please sign up no later than Monday, February 28th.  Warmly, Carol & Andrea |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
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Upcoming Dates
Fri, Feb 25 2011 08:13
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February 21st - 25th NO SCHOOL Winter Recess February 23rd Food Pantry 9:15-11:00am February 28th-March 4th Enrichment Make-up Classes March 2nd Chat & Chew Parenting Center TSTI Motown Chat & Chew Parenting Center Special Edition Parents Night Out (more info to follow) March 16th Preschool Closed - Staff Training Purim Schpeil & Extravaganza Pizza Party For a full calendar of events, please click HERE |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
Preschool Board Bulletin
Fri, Feb 25 2011 08:13
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| Preschool Board Bulletin |
 Parent's Night Out! Save the date for Parent's Night Out, Wednesday, March 9th, more information to follow. ************  Spring Fling 2011 Please mark your calendars for the Spring Fling on May 14th, at 7:30 pm. Join your preschool community for a special child-free night out! Come taste some delicious appetizers and dessert. Laugh at our live auction of "Kids Class Art" and bid on our silent auction items. This is our big fundraiser of the year so please come and support the school. |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
Shabbat Storytime Fun
Fri, Feb 25 2011 08:12
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On Saturday morning we had our February Shabbat Storytime, featuring the story "The Boy Who Stuck Out His Tongue". The children enjoyed in participating in telling the story with their props and then learned how to make their own pretzels like the baker in the story. Here are some cute pictures that were taken:     |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
4’s VIRTUAL TRIP TO ISRAEL Travel Journal
Wed, Feb 16 2011 03:36
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THE 4’s VIRTUAL TRIP TO ISRAEL - PART ONE
The 4's classes left for Israel on an El Al flight from Newark to Tel Aviv on Monday. After excitedly passing through customs, getting boarding passes, and finding their seats on board their "Virtual Plane" they enjoyed an easy flight complete with a Sesame Street in-flight movie about Tel Aviv. They were served an on board snack served by parent volunteer flight attendants.
Pilot Carol brought the plane down for a smooth landing and everyone deplaned into the Tel Aviv airport, money in hand, to buy souvenirs and to take wonderful group pictures in front of the "Welcome to Israel" murals created by our own Sandy Faust (thanks so much). They had an opportunity to squeeze Israeli oranges to quench their thirst after their long flight. DuringDrama with Lynne, the children listened to the story Snow in Jerusalem, our PJ Library book of the month.This book is a wonderful story about children from diverse backgrounds who were jointly caring for a cat. If you would like to borrow this book, we have extra copies in the school. This book did a great job preparing the children for their Tuesday visit to Jerusalem.
After a good night sleep at their own homes (we always have to reassure them that this is pretend), the children (yeladim) boarded imaginary buses which brought them to Jerusalem, the city of Gold. There they learned that Jerusalem is both a new and an old city with a very diverse population. After looking at pictures of the Kotel, the last remaining wall of the Temple, the children had a chance to create walls in a variety of ways: at one station they created lego walls, at another station they made paper bricks which were attached to a mural complete with their individual wishes, and finally they created a collage of the City of Gold. Our cooking teacher Arlene taught the children how to make hummus by mashing chick peas and adding some garlic and oil. The children were able to choose pita or carrots to enjoy their home made treat before boarding the bus for their trip back to their pretend hotel.
Equipped with sun hats, sunglasses, and bottles of water, we are off to explore the Negev Desert and go fishing at the beaches of Eilat. Wait until next week to find out about the rest of our trip, pictures will be posted on Activit-e.
I would also like to thank all of our parent volunteers, the children loved seeing you here, and we could not have done this without you.
Shalom, Linda
THE 4’s VIRTUAL TRIP TO ISRAEL - PART TWO
After last Tuesday's trip to Jerusalem, the children were ready for their long trip to the Southern tip of Israel – the resort city of Eilat. On the way they stopped at the Dead Sea, noticing that nothing grows or lives in the very salty water. The children looked at pictures of people slathering the mud from the Dead Sea on their bodies (it is believed to be medicinal) and had a great discussion on MUD. They were amazed at the idea that nothing sinks in the Dead Sea – you can just lay on the water and read a book (just know that showers are a necessity)!!! We also discussed the flower farms we passed on the way, and they made wonderful potpourri out of dried roses, dried orange rind and cinnamon sticks, all things that grow in Israel. While in Eilat we went fishing and actually caught our own fish!!
Next we were onto the Negev Desert where the children visited with a Bedouin. She invited the children into her tent, the children hesitantly approached her, as they didn’t realize it was Lynne, our Drama teacher. Lynne told a wonderful story about children lost in the desert, complete with sand storm and dancing followed by a snack of dried grapes (raisins). Thirsty from the arid climate, children were given water bottles as they boarded the 'bus' for the 'hotel'. It was another really fun day in Israel!
On Wednesday we rode back to Tel Aviv where we met Cantor Finn who read one of our favorite books, Good Night Moon, in Hebrew while Carol read it, page by page, in English. We discovered that the book pages turn differently and that the writing is different as well, even though the story and pictures remain the same.
We then joined Miss Melissa for Israeli Dancing – each class performing a different dance!! After mailing our post cards home, we went into a “café” where parent volunteers had the makings for a Sabra sandwich ready to go. A Sabra is the nickname for a native born Israeli and it is also the name of the cactus pear; prickly on the outside but sweet on the inside. Everyone enjoyed shmearing the combination of sweet chocolate spread and tart orange marmalade onto a pita. They then added raisins and apple slices to make faces or designs of their choosing. It was some messy fun. Luckily we remembered the wipes!
Finally we boarded the plane for home, during which we watched a video created by Carol from all of the pictures taken during our trip. The children enjoyed seeing pictures of themselves and all of the fun activities in which they participated! After we landed we were all very tired but so very excited about this beautiful country Israel. Taking a trip with 45 4-year-olds is exhausting, but very worthwhile.
This wonderful trip could not have happened without the help of the many volunteers! We would like to thank those who helped at every station, and the fours teachers who kept the children involved and excited about all that was happening.
The 4's classes left for Israel on an El Al flight from Newark to Tel Aviv on Monday. After excitedly passing through customs, getting boarding passes, and finding their seats on board their "Virtual Plane" they enjoyed an easy flight complete with a Sesame Street in-flight movie about Tel Aviv. They were served an on board snack served by parent volunteer flight attendants.
Pilot Carol brought the plane down for a smooth landing and everyone deplaned into the Tel Aviv airport, money in hand, to buy souvenirs and to take wonderful group pictures in front of the "Welcome to Israel" murals created by our own Sandy Faust (thanks so much). They had an opportunity to squeeze Israeli oranges to quench their thirst after their long flight. DuringDrama with Lynne, the children listened to the story Snow in Jerusalem, our PJ Library book of the month.This book is a wonderful story about children from diverse backgrounds who were jointly caring for a cat. If you would like to borrow this book, we have extra copies in the school. This book did a great job preparing the children for their Tuesday visit to Jerusalem.
After a good night sleep at their own homes (we always have to reassure them that this is pretend), the children (yeladim) boarded imaginary buses which brought them to Jerusalem, the city of Gold. There they learned that Jerusalem is both a new and an old city with a very diverse population. After looking at pictures of the Kotel, the last remaining wall of the Temple, the children had a chance to create walls in a variety of ways: at one station they created lego walls, at another station they made paper bricks which were attached to a mural complete with their individual wishes, and finally they created a collage of the City of Gold. Our cooking teacher Arlene taught the children how to make hummus by mashing chick peas and adding some garlic and oil. The children were able to choose pita or carrots to enjoy their home made treat before boarding the bus for their trip back to their pretend hotel.
Equipped with sun hats, sunglasses, and bottles of water, we are off to explore the Negev Desert and go fishing at the beaches of Eilat. Wait until next week to find out about the rest of our trip, pictures will be posted on Activit-e.
I would also like to thank all of our parent volunteers, the children loved seeing you here, and we could not have done this without you.
Shalom, Linda
THE 4’s VIRTUAL TRIP TO ISRAEL - PART TWO
After last Tuesday's trip to Jerusalem, the children were ready for their long trip to the Southern tip of Israel – the resort city of Eilat. On the way they stopped at the Dead Sea, noticing that nothing grows or lives in the very salty water. The children looked at pictures of people slathering the mud from the Dead Sea on their bodies (it is believed to be medicinal) and had a great discussion on MUD. They were amazed at the idea that nothing sinks in the Dead Sea – you can just lay on the water and read a book (just know that showers are a necessity)!!! We also discussed the flower farms we passed on the way, and they made wonderful potpourri out of dried roses, dried orange rind and cinnamon sticks, all things that grow in Israel. While in Eilat we went fishing and actually caught our own fish!!
Next we were onto the Negev Desert where the children visited with a Bedouin. She invited the children into her tent, the children hesitantly approached her, as they didn’t realize it was Lynne, our Drama teacher. Lynne told a wonderful story about children lost in the desert, complete with sand storm and dancing followed by a snack of dried grapes (raisins). Thirsty from the arid climate, children were given water bottles as they boarded the 'bus' for the 'hotel'. It was another really fun day in Israel!
On Wednesday we rode back to Tel Aviv where we met Cantor Finn who read one of our favorite books, Good Night Moon, in Hebrew while Carol read it, page by page, in English. We discovered that the book pages turn differently and that the writing is different as well, even though the story and pictures remain the same.
We then joined Miss Melissa for Israeli Dancing – each class performing a different dance!! After mailing our post cards home, we went into a “café” where parent volunteers had the makings for a Sabra sandwich ready to go. A Sabra is the nickname for a native born Israeli and it is also the name of the cactus pear; prickly on the outside but sweet on the inside. Everyone enjoyed shmearing the combination of sweet chocolate spread and tart orange marmalade onto a pita. They then added raisins and apple slices to make faces or designs of their choosing. It was some messy fun. Luckily we remembered the wipes!
This wonderful trip could not have happened without the help of the many volunteers! We would like to thank those who helped at every station, and the fours teachers who kept the children involved and excited about all that was happening.
A Todah Rabah (thanks!!) to each and everyone. -Linda
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
News...
Wed, Feb 16 2011 10:13
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The Virtual Trip to Israel An e-mail from a parent who volunteered during our trip: "I just wanted to let you guys know how much I enjoyed watching the class today during their Israel trip. It is always so much fun as a parent to get a glimpse into the school day about which I hear bits and pieces. Julia has been talking about the trip all week and even convinced me to dig out my Israel photo album (from when I was age 15 and traveled there with my family). Over the past 2 1/2 years, there have been several occasions that reaffirmed my decision to send both of my kids to TSTI, and today was one of them. The creativity, warmth and intelligence that runs through the school is just wonderful. I apologize for not saying this more but thank you for taking such great care of Julia and the other children!!" |
Dear Parents, We are sure everyone is so thrilled that the weather is starting to get warmer and hopefully all of the bad snow storms are done for the year. We have had a couple of Enrichment Cancellations due to the weather and would like to schedule our make-up classes. We are looking to schedule to the make up classes the week we return from break, so please look for a separate email regarding your missed classes. Our Spring Enrichment classes begin the week of March 14th. Don't forget to join us this Saturday morning for Shabbat Storytime, please RSVP so that we have enough pretzel dough for everyone! We hope you have a wonderful February break and that the current warmer weather brings us right into Spring! Warmly, Carol & Andrea |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
Upcoming...
Wed, Feb 16 2011 10:13
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| Upcoming Dates |
February 19th Shabbat Storytime February 18th Enrichment & Toddler Time Ends February 21st - 25th NO SCHOOL Winter Recess February 23rd Food Pantry 9:15-11:00am February 28th-March 4th Enrichment Make-up Classes More info to follow March 2nd Chat & Chew Parenting Center TSTI Motown Preschool Closed - Staff Training Purim Schpeil & Extravaganza Pizza Party For a full calendar of events, please click HERE |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
Tikkun Olam- Fixing the world
Wed, Feb 16 2011 10:13
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 We are looking for parent volunteers on Wednesday, February 23rd from 9:15-11:00 am at the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges - at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany on Main Street in Orange If you would like to volunteer please email Janet Schwamm at jschwamm@gmail.com |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
Preschool Board Bulletin
Wed, Feb 16 2011 10:12
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| Pajama Drive 2011 Just a friendly reminder that we are collecting pajamas all week for our pajama drive. *************Spring Fling 2011 Please mark your calendars for the Spring Fling on May 14th, at 7:30 pm. Join your preschool community for a special child free night out! Come taste some delicious appetizers and dessert. Laugh at our live auction of "Kids Class Art" and bid on our silent auction items. This is our big fundraiser of the year so please come and support the school. ************  TSTI Is Going Motown! |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey
Wed, Feb 2 2011 09:28
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Dear Parents,  Spring Enrichment and Camp Registration will begin next week. The forms will go home in the backpacks and uploaded onto Activit-e on Monday and be in the newsletter next Wednesday. We are hoping the registration for our warm weather activities might stop the snow and actually bring on the warmer weather!! Warmly, Carol & Andrea |
TSTI Preschool, Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education, South Orange, New Jersey