December news

Dates to Remember:
Dec 1 - Date Day, Noon-4:00 PM
Dec 4 - Santa visits, 10:00 AM
Dec 5 - Boomer and the Library Lady visit, 10:00 AM
Dec 7 - Christmas Program.
Dec 14 - Date Night, 5:30-7:30 PM
Dec 21 - Movie, Pajama Day, and Book Exchange!
Dec 24-Jan 1 - UCD Closed for Christmas Break

Themes:
Dec 3-7 - Twas the Night Before Christmas
Dec 10-14 - Seasons: Winter
Dec 17-21 - Christmas
Dec 24-28 - No School! Closed for Christmas Break!!

 Show-and-Tell:
Dec 7 - Something to do with CHRISTMAS!
Dec 14 - My favorite winter HAT, GLOVES, or SCARF!
Dec 21 - FREE CHOICE!

Upcoming Events:
Date Day - Got some Christmas shopping you still need to do?  Sign up for Date Day, Saturday, December 1st from Noon-4:00 PM!  Price of Date Day childcare is $30/1st child, $15/additional child and will include lunch, nap, and entertainment until pick up.    
 
Christmas Program - ​Friday, December 7 is the big day!  UCD's annual Christmas Program, in which the Kindergarten Readiness class are always the stars!  Together with the Toddler and Preschool classes, we will be performing an adaptation of Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore.

What you need to know:  The program will start at 6:00 PM, so please drop your child off (in costume) in our classroom no later than 5:45 PM.  Family members can then head to the church sanctuary to find their seats.

Costumes are winter pajamas and slippers (unless otherwise stated in the memo sent home.) Refreshments will follow the production in the gymnasium.

Movie and Pajama Day - December 21 is a special day here at UCD!  Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas, bring their favorite snuggle buddy, and spend a day relaxing with their friends while we watch Christmas cartoons!

​Book Exchange: This year our school will be participating in a Holiday Book Exchange activity during our pajama party. If you would like your child to participate, please send a wrapped, gender-neutral book to school no later than Friday, December 21. No purchase is necessary, however, should you choose to buy a new book, please do not spend more than $5. The gift tag should be signed, “To: A Friend / From: (Your Child’s Name)”
 
At the pajama party children will exchange books with their classmates. Every child will take home a new book. 

Notes from Ms. Rachel
Cold weather: As the weather continues to get colder, I wanted to remind everyone that unless the temperature dips below 32 degrees (including wind chill) we are required by law to take the children outside for at least 30 minutes in the morning and 30 in the afternoon.  It is a good idea for children to have not only their coats, but whatever layers you feel would be appropriate (i.e hats, gloves, scarves, etc.)

The Elf on the Shelf:  Every Christmas I sit down with my students and read to them, "The Elf on the Shelf" by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A Bell.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with this story, it is an interactive holiday hide-and-seek tradition.  We start by reading  the book and naming our stuffed toy elf.  Our elf then sticks around the classroom magically moving to a different lookout every day because, as the story goes, he flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa Claus every night and then flies back by morning.  The kiddos love looking for his new hiding place every day and it becomes a favorite game until our elf "goes home" on Christmas Eve.  

​As I have worked in childcare for many years, I understand that not every family celebrates Christmas in this manner.  Having said this, please do not hesitate  to let me know if your do not wish your child  to be encouraged to believe in Santa Claus.  It will only take a few moments a day for me to pull your child aside and remind them that we are just pretending.  It will not mess up or interfere with our fun tradition and will allow me to help reinforce your own family's traditions.  Thank you!