Hello all,
Well, it may have been “Winter Week” at PPA but with temperatures much warmer than usual, we are not so sure Mother Nature got the news! As the students spent each day running and racing around the playground enjoying weather close to 65 degrees, they wondered if Winter was actually coming! Thankfully, the teachers had some “Magic Snow” for the students to explore in their activity stations (see below). The students reaped the best of both worlds as they enjoyed the late December sunshine and the “Magic Snow” inside the classroom while discussing all of the wonders and splendors of our upcoming season – Winter! If only the (room temperature) magic kind of snow was the only kind of snow that we could see this winter!
Throughout each morning of “Winter Week”, the students completed win-teriffic activities and crafted beautiful winter-themed art projects to display in their homes! For their morning work on Monday, the students used various colored glitter paint to create beautiful hanging snowflakes! As is the case with real snowflakes, no two PPA snowflakes were the same! They sure turned out great.
In the afternoon on Monday, the students prepared to say goodbye to the Fall as they discussed the upcoming season, Winter! The students created a list of the different things that happen in winter on Monday and a list of Winter Favorites on Tuesday! Also throughout “Winter Week”, the students spent each afternoon rehearsing for the “PPA Holiday Party Winter Performance!” Each day, the students rehearsed the songs that they would be performing at the end of the week at the holiday party! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this blog post to view footage of the AMAZING performances!
For morning work on Tuesday, the students took inspiration from the most famous cookie of all – The Gingerbread Man! After hearing the story of the fast and feisty Gingerbread man, the students created the following art project to help them decorate their homes but also remember one of the story’s messages – teasing is not nice.
On Wednesday, the students created a special art project to honor a super cool winter friend – the penguin! Here is how they did it!
Thursday was the final winter craft day of the week at PPA. The students used their hands, some beads, and a few bells to transform a pipe cleaner into a merry jingle bell ringer! The students had such a blast working their ringers into their afternoon music rehearsal it was decided that the ringers would be incorporated into the performance on Friday afternoon! What fun it was!
After a full week of hard work, the students were thrilled to learn that Friday had finally arrived! Ready to celebrate, the students spent the morning rehearsing their musical performance of not one but TWO winter songs! They also took turns coming up and sharing what they will be doing over the holiday break when school is closed. Many of the students will be traveling to different parts of the country (some even the world) to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year! How exciting! They also participated in a technology presentation where they listened to and practiced singing along with some winter holiday songs including (but not limited to) “Jingle Bells”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “Feliz Navidad” and “Dreidel, Dreidel, Driedel” to name a few!
Before long, it was time to party! The PPA parents began arriving at 2:00 p.m. and the party began! To start the party, Miss Jocelyn read a special winter story! After the story, the students gathered together “on stage” as it was time for the show! To start, the student sang and danced along to “The Snowky Pokey”- a winter take on the Hokey Pokey! For the finale, the students, using their ringers, performed a very adorable rendition of Jingle Bells!
Wow! The “PPA Holiday Party Winter Performance” was a complete success! The students did such an incredible job performing and what better way to reward them than with yummy holiday treats! The students and their families spread around the classroom and helped themselves to a wide assortment of delicious goodies! What an amazing turnout the 2015 PPA Winter Holiday Celebration had! Thank you to all of the families that were in attendance; we hope you had a great time!
Everyone at Park Prep Academy would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the students and their families a wonderful, happy, healthy holiday and new year! As always, thank you for reading and we will see you next year! Be sure to view all of the photos from the party by clicking the link at the bottom of this blog entry!
-PPA
REMINDERS:
School Closed for Winter Recess
12/21/14 – 1/1/15
School Resumes on
Monday, January 4th
THEME FOR NEXT WEEK:
