Newsletter January 2010/December 2009
Hooray for 2010! Happy New Years to everyone, may the year be filled with positivity, creativity, and much learning! Can’t wait to see all of you next week, missing all my kids, and looking forward to an AWESOME new year. We’ve had many things updated in the class and some new classroom materials just waiting to be used! Inshaallah Monday January 4th will start school as usual, please take some time to empty out cubbies, update change of clothes/art smocks, and emergency cards when you come!
Important Dates:
Friday Jan. 8th: Ice Skating Vallco Park, admission cost: $12
Wed. Jan. 13th: Play: Good Night Moon, Santa Clara University $8
Thurs Jan. 28th: Field Trip Planet Granite: Rock Climbing, please sign waiver form and leave copy of driver’s license.
Welcome and Farewell:
We would like to send our sincerest wishes to Ismaeel and his family who will be moving down south. We wish the all the best and many blessing in their new home. We are also sending our heartiest congratulations to Abdulsalam’s family who were blessed with twins this past month. May Allah bless their growing family! Ameen. We would like to also welcome all our new students who will be joining us this new year!
Parent Volunteers: Can you help out? Let me know!
Lamination cut-outs, Activity Prep cut-outs:
Description
Cut out pictures, words, etc. that will be used in the class activities,
Snack Shopping
Description
Go to Costco/grocery store to buy snacks/supplies that need to be replenished. All will be reimbursed with a check.
Arabic Activity Prep.
Description
Many of the Arabic games we use are made up, and we need help to cut-out pieces, glue, put together kits, etc.
Library Services
Description
Pick up books put on hold, or search for books related to upcoming themes, drop off books, at Santa Clara Library
Flannel Board Stories
Description
Cut out and glue pieces to flannel board stories ,make flannel backdrops
Last month:
Here’s a recap of Nov. and Dec.. November had us back in our community, looking into local spots and neighborhood helpers. One of the highlights of this unit was the creation of our own model city. Using wooden blocks, glue and screws and lotsa paint, the kids got together in pairs to contribute buildings and roads to the city. MashaAllah I was really really proud to see them create ideas from a plan on paper, intention, purpose, to an actual 3-D model. We made ginger-bread cars, and had fun with fire-safety. November brought us the idea of team-work and respect. Many of the art projects and p.e. games were focused on 2-3 people trying to achieve the same goal. We had 3 legged races, and tug-of –war being some of our favorites. The idea of togetherness was expanded to include our global community as it was the time of our blessed Eid al Adha. The story of Prophet Ibrahim was the foundation for building on trust and universal dependence on Allah swt. The children’s hearts went out to Hajjar and her desperate search for water. When all of this was translated into the obligatory acts of Hajj, the children not only understood what was going on, but they recognized the need to see all muslims as our Ummah!.
After Eid, we shifted gears into a fun experiment filled unit on water, ice and snow. We had 2 weeks of fabulous observations and “cool” art projects which included our penguins and shaving cream polar bears, rainsticks, ice balls, and sugar cube igloos. We postponed our field trip to the first week of January, to the ice rink, which I’m sure the children will love!
This month:
We will be off on a journey trekking thorough mountains and volcanoes. We will be studying rocks, crystals and even dinosaur fossils. We will explore the opposites of hard vs. soft and high vs. low. This unit will also include a Dinosuar unit, and explorations in sound, echoes and vibrations. We will be having 3 field trips this month, please be sure to keep track of the dates and let us know which ones you will be participating in.
Field Trips:
Ice Skating, Jan. 8th: We will be needing a 1:1 ratio for the children in order for them to have a great experience at the skating center. I am currently looking for any volunteers for Friday morning from 9:30-12 to join us at the Vallco Ice Chalet in Cupertino. If you know anybody or can come, please let me know. The cost for admission and rental is $12/child and adult. In case of any volunteer shortages, we may postpone this field trip one more time. Confirmation will be announced by Wed.
Jan. 13: California Theatre Center, Santa Clara University: Good Night Moon: Delight in this musical adaptation of the Margaret Wise Brown book that has been a favorite of children and their parents for over half a century. A small bunny goes through the gentle, reassuring ritual of bedtime as details from the wonderful illustrations by Clement Hurd come to life with lively musical numbers, colorful characters and tap dancing bears playing musical chairs in the Great Green Room. "Good night stars/ Goodnight air/ Goodnight noises everywhere!"
Jan. 28th: Planet Granite, Sunnyvale: To conclude our Rocks theme, we will be given a tour and a special rock climbing demonstration. All children need to have a signed waiver and a copy of parents drivers license, which will be returned to you. Children who are 40 pounds or more, will be allowed to attempt rock climbing.
Arabic: During November and December we added some great vocabulary: Daal: daira circle, Dhaal: dhikr: remembrance of Allah, Raa: raas, face, Zaa: zamzam: holy water, Seen: sahaab, cloud. Teacher Miral’s group finished surah Adiyat and Surah Qariah, and will be starting with Surah Takathur then Surah Asr. They are currently working on reading 3 letter words with the Fatha sound. We will be reviewing a bit more before starting the Damma sounds. Teacher Lubna’s group, finished Surah Ikhlaas, and will be moving onto Surah Masad.
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