Sharing the Holiday Spirit!

On Monday the Alpha students walked next door to Winston Park to sing beautiful carols and spread holiday cheer!

The children sang Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza favorites loud and clear as Mrs. McIvor played her guitar and Mrs. Gootson directed, bringing warm smiles of joy from our friends at Winston Park.

Back in the classroom, the boys and girls were busy wrapping gifts for their parents in the colorful bags they had decorated.

After opening the bag, they wrapped their hand print tile in
tissue and then pulled the ribbon from the spool before cutting
it!

On the playground, some enjoyed singing their favorite holiday tunes while playing musical instruments!

Others spent time measuring and baking breads and muffins in the sensory table with flour.

Then we celebrated a very special birthday, sharing pictures, stories and memories!

Critical thinking and visual discrimination skills were put to the test, with the introduction to a new shape and color board game. The children practiced taking turns by rolling dice, one to determine color and the other for shape. Next they selected that colored shape and found it's match on the playing board. They even learned a new shape, the pentagon!

Some enjoyed writing their names on dry erase boards, using their name cards to reinforce letter formation.

Following the Holiday Sing in the Janet Root Theater, the Alpha children enjoyed many activities at the  holiday party! They made gingerbread houses with graham crackers and icing and decorated it with gumdrops, licorice and M& M's.

Some parents even joined in the fun!

Have you ever seen a "Florida Snowman?" The boys and girls used pincher fingers to place sequins, beads, glittery snowflakes, a carrot nose and one "special item" in a small water bottle.

Then they added a scarf and a hat!

What ???? ... a clothes relay to include hats, boots, jackets, mittens and even a tie!

Playing with penguins in the snow ):-

Making hot cocoa mix was lots of fun, measuring cocoa, marshmallows and chocolate morsels in to a funnel took a little concentration.

After a spoon was added and the bow was tied, the children made their own name labels.

Thank you to the many parents, grandparents and friends that helped make our holiday party even more special.    I hope that you and your families enjoyed the holidays and best wishes for a happy, healthy new year in 2013!

Upcoming Dates:
1/3 Classes resume
1/8 Fire Station Field Trip
1/21 Martin Luther King holiday
1/25 Grandparents and Special Friends Day - Noon Dismissal
2/14 Valentine's Day Party 10:00