St. Andrew`S nurSery School

St. Andrew’S nurSery School
3900 Freemansburg Avenue
Easton, Pennsylvania 18045-5519
(610) 258-7877
http://www.standrewselca.org
OCTOBER 2013
Fall is a glorious time of the year for those of us fortunate enough to live in the Northeast—a time to really
become attuned to nature. It isn’t just the splendor of the leaves—the animals put on an interesting show too.
Before you get into the excitement of Halloween, try to take the time to get outside with your children. Go on a
squirrel watch or chipmunk count. Hunt for salamanders hiding under rocks. Have a “bon voyage” picnic for all
the departing birds or set up a bird feeder for the winter birds. Collect beautiful leaves. Try pressing them between
waxed paper with a warm iron (parents only on the iron, of course). Don’t miss these wonder-filled days — get
out and enjoy!
Halloween is coming! Halloween is coming! A big, black cat is following you!
Fun words to an older child—pure terror for young, vividly imaginative minds. A young child can watch you put
a puppet on your hand, see its words coming from your mouth and still ask, “Is it really you?” To them, fact and
fantasy are intertwined and almost impossible to separate. Oddly enough, the best way to help your child conquer
the “Halloween Beasties” is gradually involving and exposing him/her to spooky fun in the safety of your home;
with a flashlight turn a favorite toy into a ghost, write your own scary stories, make your own haunted house. Let
your imagination go! Each time your child participates, and succeeds, she/he is one step closer to realizing that all
these weird creatures are only plain, old people in disguise.
Important Dates
OCTOBER
Thursday
Oct. 3
Oct. 3
Friday
Oct. 4
Monday
Monday
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Tuesday
Thursday
Wednesday
Oct. 22
Oct. 24
Oct. 30
Thursday
Oct. 31
9:15am
12:30pm
10:00am
1:00pm
9:00am
12:30pm
9:00am
12:30pm
TRAINS & ROCKETS at Unangst Tree Farm/Pumpkin Patch
DINOSAURS at Fish Hatchery, Allentown, PA
CATERPILLARS at Easton Fire Station
BUTTERFLIES at Easton Fire Station
No School—Teacher In service
Class Pictures—MINNOWS & CATERPILLARS
Class Pictures—BUTTERFLIES & DINOSAURS
Class Pictures—TRAINS & ROCKETS
DINOSAURS at Unangst Tree Farm/Pumpkin Patch
CATERPILLARS— Halloween Parade* & Party
MINNOWS—Halloween Party—PARENTS come at 10:40am
BUTTERFLIES—Halloween Parade* & Party
TRAINS & ROCKETS—Halloween Parade* & Party
DINOSAURS — Halloween Parade* & Party
Please meet us at the field trip locations at the designated time. Please be prompt
as
Halloween Parade
scheduled programs are tightly booked and need to start on time.
Photo Op!
Bring camera!
*All Halloween parades, will commence as soon as every “spook” is accounted for.
Please bring your camera and plan to stay a few minutes after delivering
your costumed creature into the classroom.
We will parade around the parking lot, unless weather forces us to parade inside.
Then you leave and the children return to their classroom for their party.
__CALENDAR (cont.)
NOVEMBER
Friday
Tuesday
Monday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Nov. 1
Nov. 5
Nov. 25
Nov. 25
Nov. 26
Nov. 27
Dec. 3
9:30am
Tuition Payment Due
No School — Election Day
Monday Class—MINNOWS
Thanksgiving Feast—CATERPILLARS & BUTTERFLIES
Thanksgiving Feast—ROCKETS ,TRAINS, DINOSAURS
Thanksgiving Vacation begins
School Re-opens
Firefighters
Five little firefighters,
standing in a row.
1-2-3-4-5 they go.
Hop on the engine with a shout.
Quicker than a wink
the fire is out!
____________________________________________________________________________
October’s Community Helpers
are those brave Firefighters
who are willing to risk
their lives to keep us safe.
At school, each class will begin participating in monthly fire drills (weather
permitting).
________________________________________________________________________________________
Reminder: Class photos are on October 21 and 22.
Class Photos by Christmas City Studio—Please choose your background and package
before picture day and prepay to a teacher. If you are not satisfied with your pictures
you have the option of having them retaken at the studio or getting a refund.
In-class photos may be taken of your child’s face by one of the teachers during the school year.
These may be used for special projects that we like to surprise you with. In September we handed
out photo release forms (pink– 1/2 sheet) . Please sign and return to teacher if you have not already
done so.
___________________________________________________________________
Library Corner by Mrs. Klabunde
Beverage Policy
In consideration of the carpeting throughout most of the building we are restricting the drinks
that come in for birthdays and holiday parties to non-staining beverages such as apple, white
grape, pineapple and orange juice (not orange drink as that contains a lot of food coloring).
Although this policy is to protect the carpeting, it will also help protect the children as all the
food coloring and sugar in the “drinks” is not good for them.
Snack Policy
Due to severe allergies we must enforce a nut-free environment.
Please check labels for ingredients and warnings
of traces of nuts or processing on machinery with nuts.
Teachers have been directed to send all items containing nuts home unopened.
Store bought snacks will only be accepted in the original packaging
so ingredients can be double-checked.
Homemade treats must be sent with the mix and/or frosting packages
included for inspection. Otherwise, they cannot be served and will be sent home as well .
Examples of Safe Snacks
Always double check these lists, ingredients and labels!
The following is a list of SOME common peanut/nut-free snacks:
Applesauce, Cheese, Fruits, Vegetables
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and Colored Goldfish
Nabisco Oreos (Plain or Chocolate Only)
Nabisco Chips Ahoy (Plain Only)
Nabisco Nilla Wafers (Reduced Fat Only)
Nabisco Graham Crackers and Teddy Grahams
Kellogg's Rice Crispy Bars
Kellogg Pop Tarts (Cherry, Blueberry and Raspberry)
Rold Gold Pretzels
Tostitos White Corn Chips
Sun Chips Original, Harvest Cheddar, French Onion
Jell-0 Gelatin Snacks
Jell-O Fat Free Pudding Snacks (Vanilla or Chocolate)
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding Cups (Vanilla or Chocolate)
Dunderoos Cookies
Yoplait Trix Yogurt
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Nutri-Grain Bars (Blueberry and Mixed Berry)
Giant Vanilla Ice Cream Cups
(not all brands)
Teachers have a more extensive list or the list can be found online at www.snacksafely.com
3’s Class
TRAINS AND ROCKETS
OH NO!!—Monster Time!
We are bringing those monsters out of the shadowy corners and closets, right into the sunlit classroom. The best way we
know how to conquer fears is to meet them head on. All month long we’ll be talking about what’s real and pretend. So,
monsters beware—your days are numbered!
We have passed our first major hurdle with flying colors—the first month of school. Our next three hurdles will be this
month—our first fire drill, our first field trip, and our first school party. We’ll plan ahead and proceed with caution so
we can take these three hurdles with ease. The procedure for our first fire drills will be explained and taken in steps to
keep the children calm and unafraid. Our first field trip is a fun fall adventure to Unangst Tree Farm(10/3) on Route 512
(Beth-Bath Pike) north of Route 22 (you will receive directions). We will meet there no later than 9:15am. While there
we can go on a hay ride and pick our own pumpkins, (one for each child and one for each adult), play with loose corn in a
“corn box”, and visit a petting zoo! What fun! The cost is $5.50 per person (parent & child) which should have been
prepaid to a teacher. Please put exact change (no checks) in an envelope with child’s name. If cancellation is necessary you will
receive a phone call by 8:30am and we will have class at 9:00am.
Next comes our first school party-Halloween! (Thursday, 10/31). Halloween can be stressful for this age group, but we
will be discussing the difference between real and pretend to lessen the anxiety some children might have with “spooky
things”. We encourage you to speak a lot this month with your child(ren) at home to reinforce our efforts. On 10/31,
children are to arrive in costume, ready for the Halloween Parade. No weapons, masks, or face paint will be allowed.
Weapons are never allowed at St. Andrews Nursery School and masks can impair a child’s vision
and can be
quite frightening to other children. Face paint can also alter a child’s face and scare another
child.
This way we can all have fun!
Reminders:
 Starting Tuesday, October 1, dismissal will be at 11:30am A FULL Session!!
 Your child’s baby shoe or small toddler size shoe for class project by October 8
 Meet at Unangst Tree Farm by 9:15am on Thursday, October 3. If cancelled-Rockets and Trains have class in classroom
 A great smile for class photos on Tuesday, October 22
 1 empty cereal box by October 22
 Bring a camera on Tuesday, October 31 for Halloween Parade at 9:00am.
2’s Class
MINNOWS
We are excited to welcome your children to St. Andrew's Nursery School as we begin October and our Minnow
class. This month will find us getting the children accustomed to coming to school, playing with others, singing,
dancing, and leaving you (possibly) the first time.
On Wednesday, October 30, parents are invited to join us at 10:40 for
Halloween snack and to see the silly masks we will make in
class! Please be sure to remember your cameras!!!
Minnow Reminder: Monday Class-October 21-Photo Day-regular
class time
1.
Gently-used kids clothing in small sizes (3, 4,
St Andrews Wish List
For October
Baby Wipes—Any
brand
We try to do our part in recycling.
If thinking about throwing
out
Ask us first!
The items listed below are always
a
something
welcome!
5, 6, & 7)
Disinfecting Wipes—
Any brand
4’s Class
Caterpillars and Butterflies
The Fall season is upon us and with it comes marvelous changes—the beautiful changes of colors in the leaves, the
cool, crisp changes in the weather, and the wonderful changes that occur in our children as they become more
comfortable in school.
During October the children will be introduced to ghosts, goblins, scaries, and sillies with the idea that pretend can be
fun. Fall and Halloween projects will include filling the remainder of our farm number book, exploring varied
painting methods, continuing scissor use, and learning to follow directions while reinforcing numbers. The end result
will be a beautiful counting book, created by your child, to be used as an important learning tool. You can extend the
book at home by adding more number pages and your own special artwork.
See the calendar on page 1 for our October 30 Halloween Party and parade information. Children come in
costume—of their choice. (Please make sure there is comfortable school clothing and shoes either under the
costume, or in the child’s backpack.) A shopping bag labeled with your child’s name and left in the cubby will help
us keep the costume together for you.
Reminders:
 Friday, October 4—Field trip to Easton Firehouse-Caterpillars at 10:00am and Butterflies at 1:00pm
 Monday, October 21—A happy face for class photos
 Friday, October 25—one adult-size shoe box
 Wednesday, October 30—Come in costume* and bring a camera
*(No weapons, allowed at St Andrews Nursery School)
 Empty half-gallon cardboard juice/milk container by November 6
4+’s
Dinosaurs
Summer is officially over now and we will say “good-bye” to the ocean, and “hello” to the russet beauty of Fall. As
we lose our ‘sea-legs’ the children will discover how animals prepare for winter and observe the changes in our
environment. Words such as ‘hibernate’ and ‘migrate’ will become part of our vocabulary. We will be focusing on
the letters F, M, and H. Be on the lookout for these alphabet letter pages to be coming home on Tuesdays. What a
great opportunity to spend some alone time with your child reading “their” book as Angelica’s adventure unfolds.
Halloween will also haunt our classroom—pumpkins, spiders, and haunted houses will lend a spooky atmosphere.
Our field trip to Unangst Tree Farms will be on Thursday, October 24, at 12:30pm. Raindate is Friday, Oct 25 .
In the spirit of “accepting others” regardless of size, shape, color, and culture, we will be presenting different
languages to the Dinosaur Class. Presently, we are learning some Spanish words and numbers. Hola—hello;
adios—goodbye; uno (1); dos (2); tres (3); cuatro (4); cinco (5); seis (6); siete (7); ocho (8); nueve (9); and diez (10).
Don’t forget to ask your child about these new Spanish words.


Fish Hatchery Field Trip, Allentown, PA—Thursday, October 3 at 12:30pm (Raindate Friday, October 4)
Class photos—Monday, October 21.
Children come to school in costume* on Thursday, October 31
first
parade, then we party.
*(No weapons, allowed at St Andrews Nursery School)
we
The Skeleton
The skeleton is dancing on his boney toes
Tipping, tapping, on and on he goes.
The Witch
The witch is on her broom stick,
riding very fast.
Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo—Halloween at last!
Pumpkin Magic
Start with a pumpkin,
round and fat.
Turn into a Jack-o-lantern,
just like that!
Something’s Moaning
Haunted House Song
(Tune: Wheels on the Bus)
The steps in the house go
creak, creak, creak
creak, creak, creak
creak, creak, creak
The steps in the house go
creak, creak, creak
On Halloween1
There’s something moaning in the old oak tree.
There’s something groaning in the old oak tree.
I’m not scared, ‘cause I’m safe inside.
I’m not scared, but I think I’ll hide!
The bats in the house go
swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..
The ghosts in the house go
boo, boo, boo...
The cats in the house go
meow, meow, meow...
The mice in the house go
squeak, squeak, squeak...
Halloween Song
This is the way that the bats go by
Bats go by-bats go by
This is the way that the bats go by on Halloween
Leaves
Leaves are falling lightly,
to the ground.
Red and brown and yellow,
falling, falling, down.
Gray Squirrel
Gray squirrel, Gray squirrel
Swish your bushy tail
Put a nut between your toes
Wrinkle up your little nose
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel...
This is the way that the ghosts floats by..
This is the way the that the black cat creeps ..
This is the way that the witch flies by..
This is the way that the skeleton rattles..
Jack-O-Lantern
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern,
You are such a funny sight,
As you sit there in the window,
Looking out at night.
Parents often cringe with the thought of trusting their child
with a scissors. However, cutting is an important nursery
school skill that develops eye-hand coordination and requires much practice. This practice can be accomplished
safely by using child blunt-tip scissors, in a specified area
and with an adult.
Gentle reminders may be needed:
1.) to use the stronger hand,
2.) hold the paper in one hand and the scissors in the other,
3.) hold the scissors with the thumb on top and the blade
pointed away from you,
4.) snip and move the scissors forward,
5.) cut along the line.
Children can build muscle strength by cutting clay worms,
straws, styrofoam, etc. Add variety to practice sessions by
cutting coupons or pictures out of magazines, cutting scraps
of construction paper to make confetti or mosaic pieces,
cutting newspaper into strips for papermaché
projects or fire-starting fuel for the fireplace.
Cutting on lines is especially challenging.
Begin with straight lines and progress to curves
as it becomes easier.
This cutting practice along with other eye-hand coordination
activities are good pre-reading and pre-writing kinds of
skills.