Tzedakah money raises funds for new police dog in town

Our three-year-old program started an investigation about dogs. This week they are learning about "working dogs" and we invited Lola and Elsie, Westport's two police dogs and their handlers to come for a visit. Lola (the German Shepherd) is retiring after 10 years of service. Our tzedakah money is going to help purchase a new police dog for the town. We are going to see if they have police dogs in Israel too. We will get back to you on that.........

We are also researching whether dog food needs to be kosher and also kosher for Passover. We will let you know our findings!

Queen Esther had courage and so does Kitat Shamayim

Purim is over and the costumes are packed away and yet our spectacular teachers revisited the story yesterday and decided to write a class book about "courage". See below for some of the responses from the children. Each child illustrated their
picture after dictating their words:

Pearla: At Compo Beach, I played on the tire swing on the playground. At first I was nervous to try it.

Alexa: At the beach, I was afraid of the big waves but I went in the water anyway, holding my mom and dad's hand.

Sabina: One time I fell off a bumpy slide, but I tried again.

Jack O: Once I got a blood shot. I was scared but I did it. I didn't cry.

"One can learn modesty from a cat" (Eruvim 100b)

This week we began an investigation all about dogs. Each child has their own beanie baby puppy to take care of. We began the unit by learning about the section in the Talmud that talks about the mitzvah of attending to the needs of our animals before our own needs. (Brit, Ohev et HaBriyot). This has been reflected in the children's play all week. They are taking their responsibilities very seriously.

Finding ways to integrate Hebrew in the classroom

Our pre-kindergarten class otherwise known as Kitat Chamayim, just finished a Class Book of Patterns. Each child created their own pattern that was documented with a photograph. The colors were written in Hebrew and english to demonstrate their growing Hebrew vocabulary. These teachers are experts at looking for ways to integrate both languages. The book is in the library corner for all to see and each child got a copy to take home so that parents can learn the colors and reinforce what the children have learned at school. The class library is full of these types of books that the children can revisit all year long. The actual Hebrew is being printed as I blog this and will go next to the transliteration.

Singing and dancing with Miss Riki

The children look forward to spending time with Miss Riki during the week(our Hebrew teacher). The children are often up and moving learning so much vocabulary through song, dance,and movement in general. She taught them Letzan Katan just in time for Purim and now they are creating their very own clown to use as a game at the preschool Purim carnival.

Great Tree Resource for Tu B'Shevat

This is a great tree resource, the tree is actually a puzzle that goes together by size order. The pushing and pulling to put it togehter is a great fine motor activity. The company who makes it is Schleich.

Jewish twist on a fine motor activity

A Jewish twist on a fine-motor activity using mini challah counters and magen david pasta!