Hello all,

“All About ME Week” was simply outstanding! The second week of the 2018-2019 school year was such a great one; we simply cannot wait to see what the rest of the year has in store! Read on below to learn all about the fun that was had and learning that took place!

After having a phenomenal start of school, the students returned to PPA ready to get right to work on Monday! Seeing that the theme for the week was “All About ME”, the students spent the entire week getting to know their friends (and teachers) by discussing what makes them unique and what makes them similar to their friends. The students’ homework assignment to create an “All About ME” poster really helped everyone learn about each other! Throughout the week, the students took turns coming up in front of their classmates and telling (or sharing) all about their poster. By the end of the week, the teachers had strung together the AMAZING “All About ME” posters to be displayed throughout the classroom. As you can see, the students (and families) of PPA did such a fabulous job on these posters.

 

 

After story time and morning meeting each morning, the students headed off to their morning activity stations. In small groups, the students worked and played around the classroom. While working in their morning stations, the students were called over by the head teachers to begin their morning work. Each activity that the students worked on throughout the week related back to the theme of the week – “All About ME”.

On Monday, the students created an “I love ME because…” mirror art project!  The students worked their hand muscles by squeezing glitter glue and selecting gems to put around their mirrors!  The students were also asked to identify a reason why they love themselves.  Needless to say, their answers were AMAZING – just like the students themselves!  Since it is the policy of PPA to never publish a photograph of a student revealing his/her name, the photos have been edited accordingly. Here is how the completed “I love ME because…” mirror art project turned out!

 

 

During the afternoons of “All About ME Week”, the students practiced an activity known to PPA as “Charting”. Charting is something the students do each day during morning meeting to help practice very important mathematical skills including counting and comparing number values, organizing data, recognizing and writing numbers and more! Throughout the week, the students charted about everything including their hair color, age, gender, hometown, and favorite food! In order to complete the charts, the teachers asked each student the question. Once each student responded a tally was added to the board to represent their answer. Once all the students had answered the question, the students counted the tallies and practiced identifying and writing the numbers. Take a look below to see the results from Tuesday’s Age Chart!

 

 

For their morning work on Tuesday, the students practiced identifying the letters of their names with the help of a PPA favorite book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!  In the story written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, the lowercase letters of the alphabet all climb to the top of a coconut tree.  Just as the last and final letter, little z, makes its way up to the top of the tree – the tree begins to wobble – Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room?  The answer is no, there was not enough room!  All of the letters came crashing down!  Thankfully, the grown-up or uppercase letters were there to help those little letters after the fall.  For their morning work, the students assembled their very own coconut tree and stamped it with the letters of their names!  What a cute and fun activity it was!  Again, since it is the policy of PPA to never publish a photograph of a student revealing his/her name, the photographs have been modified below.

 

 

For their morning work on Wednesday (and Thursday), the students were asked to bring in a family photograph. This photograph would be used to help them construct a PPA student family portrait. Using crayons, the students began drawing and their family portraits started coming to life. The family portraits were so incredible that they will be kept at school to be displayed on a clothesline in the classroom so everyone at PPA can see them! Be sure to take a look at your family on your next visit to PPA!

 

 

In the afternoon on Wednesday (and Thursday), the PPA students had music class where they sang along to a few classroom favorites including “Five Little Ducks” and “Apples and Bananas”. Seeing that the students of PPA are such a sensational bunch, the teachers taught them a song called, “I Am Special”. You will probably hear your child singing the song at home soon!

 

I Am Special Song

Sung to the tune of “Frère Jacques”

I am special.

I am special.

Do you see?

Do you see?

I am very special.

I am very special.

(give yourself a hug) I love me!

(give yourself a hug) I love me!

 

The students spent Thursday morning creating colorful masterpieces at the PPA art easel.  Needless to say, these free painting were BEAUTIFUL!  Here they are in action!

 

 

For their morning work on Friday, the students created an art project which would help decorate the classroom! The students used assorted construction paper shapes to assemble their very own Minion character!   The students were then asked to identify one reason why they each love PPA!  Needless to say, their answers were excellent! Be sure to take a look at the bulletin board on your next visit to PPA!’

 

 

Friday afternoon wrapped up with another awesome music class! The students rehearsed their “I am Special” song from earlier in the week but also had a blast playing the “All About ME” Hokey Pokey. In the game, the students were asked to listen carefully to figure out what part of themselves to put in. The students put their green eyes in, took their green eyes out! They put their brown hair in, took their brown hair out! It was quite a silly way to play an old classic and learn about ourselves in the process!

Wow! What a great week “All About ME Week” was. The 2018-2019 school year is bound to be a fabulous one! As always, thank you for reading and we will see you next week!

-PPA

Reminders:

If you have not done so already, please send in a family photo + the All About Me Poster next week.

Upcoming School Events:

Back to School Night

Wednesday, September 26th (7:00-8:00 p.m.)

This is a parent only event where the school-wide curricular goals, policies and procedures will be discussed. Please try to make arrangements to have at least one parent attend.

PPA Pumpkin Picking and Decorating Party

Friday, September 28th (2:00-3:00 p.m.)

All PPA students and parents are welcome to attend this event. Two Day students and families should arrive at 2:00 p.m.

Aftercare is not available.