Parents don’t forget that Career Day is tomorrow.  Preschool will be in the school gymnasium from 10:00-11:00am for the morning session and 12:00-1:00pm for the afternoon session. We will have parent volunteers set up with demonstrations of their careers.  We should have a good variety of careers such as a policeman, writer/photographer, therapy dog, environmental biologist, and many more.

It is never to early to start talking to your child about careers that interest them.  We are asking that your child dress up that day as what they want to be when they grow up.

Thank you to all of our volunteers!

One little tidbit that was not mentioned though was the importance of having a bedtime routine.  I have found that the events leading up to bedtime are very important to make it a good experience for you and your child.  Consistency is key with routines.  The key is to get your child’s body into a rhythm so they get tired at the same time every night.  A bedtime routine should start the same every night. About an hour before you want your child to go to bed, you should be starting the routine.  It is very beneficial to eliminate television or any stimulating technology such as video games, at this time.  I would definitely recommend ending the  bedtime routine with a story to ensure that you have reading with your child part of everyday.

Here are some links related to sleep and bedtime:

Bedtime Books

Tips from Sesame Workshop to Help Your Child Sleep – Children Sleep Ideas

Help Getting Your Preschooler to Sleep

Here is the article from SECA:

We hear it all the time: our children aren’t getting enough sleep and our busy modern lifestyle is to blame. So, how much sleep do children need, how much sleep are they getting, and what exactly determines how much is “enough” sleep, anyway? That’s precisely what a group of researchers from the University of South Australia wanted to know, so they did a little sleuthing and found 300 relevant studies dating all the way back to 1897. Their research, published in the March issue of Pediatrics, led them to some interesting findings:

Children get less and less sleep every year.

Over the 112 years covered in the study, the amount of time children spend sleeping has seen a decline of about 0.71 minutes each year.

The recommended amount of sleep has declined at an almost identical rate.

Age-specific recommendations for sleep duration have decreased by 0.73 minutes each year.

Children have always gotten less sleep than recommended.

Whatever the recommendation of the day, children have consistently slept about 37 minutes less than that recommended amount.

Modern life and overstimulation have always been blamed.

In the late 19th century it was gaslights and trolley cars; today, computers and other digital devices take the heat for keeping our children –and us– awake. For more than 100 years, it has been widely believed that new technologies keep children from being able to wind down and go to sleep.

Sleep recommendations are subjective.

Perhaps the most significant finding is that there really isn’t any empirical evidence telling us exactly how much sleep children should get. According to Tim Olds, senior author of the study, “it’s an arbitrary public-health line in the sand that people draw.”

What does all of this mean for children today?

Though it’s difficult to determine just how many hours of sleep children need, scientists seem to have a fairly good idea. After all, even though recommendations have changed, the total change over more than a century has only been about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Whatever the optimal amount, it seems that there may be at least some merit to the concern that children aren’t sleeping enough: research shows that 20% of children report being sleepy during the day and having trouble focusing in school, and that 60% say they would like to get more sleep. Currently, the National Sleep Foundation in Arlington, Virginia sets the following guidelines:

• Babies from 3 to 11 months: 14 to 15 hours
• Toddlers from 1 to 3 years: 12 to 14 hours
• Preschoolers: 11 to 13 hours
• Elementary schoolers: 10 to 11 hours
• Older children and teens: at least 8.5 hours

How can you make sure your children are getting enough sleep?

Whether you are a parent, teacher, or caregiver, you know the children you see each day well enough to know when they’re just not performing at their best. When you see this happening, work with parents –and doctors if necessary– to determine if a lack of sleep may be the cause. If so, take steps to ensure that the child not only has enough time in his or her schedule for sleep, but also has good sleep habits and an evening routine that is conducive to sleep. If bedtime or naptime seem to be a constant struggle, see the parent handout (right) for tips on helping children get to sleep.
Sweet dreams!
_____________________
Sources:

• Bonnie Rochman, “A History of Kids and Sleep: Why They Never Get Enough,” TIME Healthland, February 13, 2012, <http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/13/a-history-of-kids-and-sleep-its-never-enough/>, accessed on February 15, 2012.
• Lisa Ann Matricciani, Tim S. Olds, Sarah Blunden, Gabrielle Rigney, and Marie T. Williams, “Never Enough Sleep: A Brief History of Sleep Recommendations for Children” [Abstract], Pediatrics, February 13, 2012, <http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/02/08/peds.2011-2039>, accessed on February 15, 2012.

Here is great link on some activities and books to. Read to your child during the holiday season.  I’m going to try to do some of these with my children!

Picture day will be this Thursday, October 27th for the entire school.  This is also the day that Preschool will be going to the Pumpkin Patch.  We plan to have pictures taken early in the morning before breakfast and as soon as the afternoon session begins before lunch is served.  After the meals, we will be going on the field trip.  It will be a busy day, but the two activities should not conflict with one another.  Make sure to dress your child in comfortable shoes for the field trip.

Preschool classes will be going to the Pumpkin Patch Thursday October 27th at Happy Jack’s Farm in Frankfort.  The AM classes will go at 9:15am and the PM classes will go at 1:15pm to the farm.  The field trip cost is $6.00 per child which includes a hayride, one pumpkin, corn to feed the animals, pumpkin painting (optional), and going through the “Enchanted Forest.”  Adults and chaperones are free but must purchase a pumpkin if they would like one.   Parents will need to drive seperately to the farm if you are not a chaperone.  In order to be a chaperone, you will need to have already had a background check on file with Central Office.  Parents are welcome to take their child home from the farm, but will need to sign their child out with their teacher before leaving.  Please contact Cara Doyle or your child’s teacher if you have any questions.  I hope you are enjoying your fall break and look forward to preschool being back in session on Monday October 24th.

Partners in Progress,

Cara Doyle

875-8661

cara.doyle@frankfort.kyschools.us

Ms. Yates’s class did a cooking project on experimenting with Green Eggs and Ham.  The students made a prediction of whether or not they would like green eggs and ham.  Then the students decided if their prediction was right or wrong.  They had a lot of fun cooking and testing the food!

Here are just a few ideas to help your preschooler transition well from home to school:

• Make sure your child gets a good nights sleep. 
• Get everything that you can ready the night before.  The less hectic a morning is for a child, the more relaxed they will be when coming to school and leaving their parent.
• Have routines in place and prompt your child with signals to remind them of the transition.  Examples might be having a written out schedule that they help create.  Eat breakfast, brush your teeth, get dressed, etc.
• When dropping off your child.  Tell them good-bye and reassure them that you will be back later.  Do not linger when a child is upset.  This tends to increase their crying because they understand that the more they are upset, the more likely you are to stay.  Do not sneak out.  This will teach your child to be more fearful since they will always be wondering if you are going to suddenly disappear. 
• Each child is different.  Some children will happily adjust the first day and tell you good-bye without being upset.  Other children may take as long as several weeks to transition to school without being upset.

This week was yellow week!  We worked on learning the routine at school and rules.  We read several books on going to school and school buses.  Preschoolers also learned about the letter A and the number 1. 

Please be patient with us while we are fine tuning our bus routes.  We had combined two runs in the middle of the day so we were running behind the first few days.  Please have your child ready to go so that we are not waiting a long time which puts the bus route further behind.  Thanks for your help!

Did you know that our school was in the Herald Leader?  There were even some pictures of preschoolers.  Here’s the link: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/08/01/1831320/school-begins-in-frankfort.html

I can’t believe how fast the summer has gone by!  Here are some upcoming events at Second Street School.  Remember preschool does not begin until August 8th.

July 27th 7:30am to 11:00am   Kindergarten Jumpstart

Kindergarten students will attend a half day orientation session that will give them the opportunity to get to know teachers and school procedures.  Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions, complete records requests, and tour the school.  It is requested that parents drop students off with teachers for the session and then return to pick up at 11am. 

July 27th 5:45pm to 7:45pm   Back to School Swim Party

All families are invited to attend a Back to School Swim Party at the Juniper Hills Swimming Pool from 5:45pm to 7:45pm.

July 28th  6:00pm to 7:30pm    Readifest/Open House

All families are invited to attend our open house.  Mr. Harley will be starting with everyone in the gymnasium for introductions of staff and a brief overview of the evening.  Afterwards, families can go through the school and visit their child’s classroom.  Preschool teachers will be available in your child’s room to meet you and answer any questions.  I will have a table set up outside of the room for you to drop off any registration papers.  I hope to see you there!

Preschool teachers will also be contacting families the first week of school for screenings and to do some home visits.