This month's newsletter topics

Fall Fun- School Pictures-October and November Calendar – Music -MECP-Colds and Flu and sickness, Oh MY! – Reminders – We are collecting…

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Fall Fun

What a great start to the school year at Hands On Art and Play! The students are having a great time and learning so many things. We have so much fun in circle time with everyone taking turns doing their jobs. Some kids do the weather report, others sing the calendar song. Each day we have an alphabet and number pal. Be sure to ask your kids what their job was for the day, and have them sing you the songs. They are doing a great job learning all of circle time songs!



 
The students had fun learning about leaves and apples. We tasted apples, printed with apples, and painted apple trees. Ask your child to sing you “5 little apples up in a tree “.
Leaves and trees also give the children opportunities to learn and play. We made glitter leaves, collected leaves and printed with them. We learned a few new songs. Ask your child to sing you the song about raking the leaves, or the leaves falling down.
We are looking forward to a visit from “Talk About Trees”. Talk About Trees is an interactive, science-based program for preschool through eighth grade students. This program brings the forest into the classroom and helps to encourage awareness and appreciation for the value of trees and forests in our daily lives. The program also encourages an understanding about the protection, management and conservation of the renewable forest. Joan, a former Hands On parent, leads the Talk About Trees program and works with all of our students to create recycled paper. We also look at fruit and nuts that come from trees, as well as all different types of cones and needles. Our students love having Joan visit twice in the fall.  One day of learning in the classroom and a second day when we go out to explore the trees around our school.  Talk About trees will visit October 23th and November 14th.
 

School Pictures

It is that time again!  School pictures will be Wednesday and  Thursday November 14 and 15th.  Douglas Frierott is a former Hands On parent and has been doing our class pictures for the last few years.  They are great, you can see some at http://www.douglasfrierott.com
We will start photos in the morning and every child will have their individual pictures taken and we will also do class photo each day. You do not have to purchase the photos, but if you do please bring a check for Douglas the day of photos.  A 5 x 7 class picture is $25. For $35 you get the class picture and a 5 x 7 print of your child.  Photos will be emailed to you so you can choose the one you want him to print.  Digital files will also be available.  Please let us know if you would like to have your siblings pictures taken as well.  If your child does not attend school on Wednesday or Thursday you can still join us for photos.

October and November Calendar

October is a busy month. Children and families are settling in to their new schedules and the holiday are just around the corner. Preschool children love to celebrate and have parties. Over the next few months our students will do many projects centered on holidays our families may celebrate at home. Children are invited to talk about the holidays their families celebrate and will learn what other celebrations take place around the world. If you have a fun tradition that you would like to share with the class, let your teacher know.
Because Hands On children attend our school on different schedules, we try to make sure that we include some sort of celebration each day so that all the children get to participate in something special and do not feel that they are missing out.

Multnomah Early Childhood Program

Many of our students work with MECP to help them gain skills they need to be successful.  Each week we have a few other teachers in the classroom and your child may talk about Teacher Karla or Teacher Amanda.  Here is a little more information about them and their program.
My name is Karla Gill. I am a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) with Multnomah Early Childhood Program (MECP). I work with children at Hands On Art and Play that have been identified though MECP to have speech/language/communication needs. I am at school every Monday for most of the morning and even though I am there for specific children, I am integrated into the classroom as another teacher and I interact with all of the children throughout the day. I follow the Hands On Art and Play model and collaborate with the teacher to find ways to make the classroom accessible to everyone. Amanda Rathbone is a Early Childhood Special Education Teacher with MECP that will be working with children at Hands On Art and Play as well. If you have any questions about your child’s development or would like an evaluation to determine if your child would benefit from such services, you are welcome to call the MECP intake team at 503-261-5535. Or if you catch me at pick-up time, I am happy to field questions.

Fall Calendar

Wednesday, Oct. 3-
Music Class with Aaron Nigel Smith
Tuesday, Oct. 9 –
Music Class with Chuck Cheesman
Wednesday,Oct.17-
Music Class with World Fusin Events, Flamenquitos
Saturday, Oct. 20th-
St. David Auction and Gala
Tuesday, Oct. 23 – 
Talk About Trees Oregon Forest Program
Wednesday, Oct. 31 – 
Halloween Party! Children can wear or bring costumes to school and we will have a Halloween party!
All Hands On families and siblings are invited to join us from 11:45-12:30 for the party, even if you do not attend school on a Wednesday.
Look for a sign-up sheet on the door to see how you can help.
Thursday, November 1st – 
Pajama Day! You are probably tired from all that trick-or-treating so wear pajamas to school and have breakfast for lunch! Look for a sign-up sheet on the door to see how you can help.
Monday, November 12-
No School, Veteran’s Day.
November 14 and 15th-
School Pictures 9:30 AM
November 14th-
Talk About Trees nature walk
Mon-Friday, Nov. 19-23  –
No School, enjoy Thanksgiving vacation!

Colds and Flu and sickness, Oh MY!

It is the season of germs!

• If your child is sick, please keep him or her at home. Preschool children want to be at home when they are feeling bad.
• If your child has a bad cough, has diarrhea, fever, rash or green goop running from eyes or nose, he or she should stay at home.

We do our best to keep things clean around here and appreciate it if you keep your child home when they are sick. We appreciate knowing what your child has in case we need to inform other parents.
Please help us by reminding your kids to cough/sneeze into a tissue or their inner elbow and wash their hands often.

St. David of Wales Auction and Gala

Hands On has been located in this building for over 10 years and although we are not religiously affiliated with the church we do care about the building community.  Some of our teachers and their families will be joining the celebration and we want to make sure all of the Hands On families know they are welcome to attend.  Saturday, October 20th.  Live auction, sign up parties, raffles, entertainment, food and drink.  Childcare included. $25 per person.http://www.saintdavidpdx.org/gala.html

Reminders

• Tuition payments are due on the 1^st and late after the 5^th of each month.
• Morning preschool starts at 9 AM and ends at 12:30.
• Afternoon preschool begins at 12:30 and ends at 3 PM.
• Early care is available after 8:30 AM for a $5 fee, or free for 4 and 5 day a week children.
• If you are late picking up your child you will be billed $15 for the first 15 minutes.  If you are later than 30 minutes you will be billed for an additional day of school, $40.
• Please send your child to school with a coat, and make sure it has their name in it.  Some children will have the same coat and this makes it easier for them to find if they take it off on the playground.
• Don’t forget to pack extra clothes for your child to leave at school.  We have some, but often kids are more comfortable in their own extra clothes.
• Please pack non-breakable dishes in lunches.

We are collecting:

Please help us collect items we need for some of our projects this year. Here is a list of what we are looking for currently:

• Milk cartons, juice and 1/2 cartons.
• Picture frames, any size, old or new.
• Shoe boxes, any size.
• Gift bags, all sizes.

Please feel free to call us at 503-239-8521  or email us with any questions you have, as always.