Family Fun Day was such a blast! Thank you for your help, attendance and support to make this day happen! The Camellia children have been busy visiting their new Primary classrooms and they are having a great time visiting. Some Mulberry children have been visiting Camellia class too and the Camellia children have been showing them graciously around the classroom, showing them how to do activities and routines. Its been really wonderful to see them as amazing role models!                        

Happy Parent's Day Ginkgo Families.  We have created a gift that will bring you together for a little cooking and sharing.  As we continue learning about animals, Australia, and time, we notice what animals are all over GLM. We have been creating rhythms and music with our clap sticks from Australia.  As we explore time, we look at the clock to see what time is work time, lunch time, and nap time.  The minute hand moves fast but the hour hand moves slow, why is that?  We have been exploring communication and how changes in our voice can effect our message; What happens with a calm voice? What happens with a frustrated voice?  Just a reminder, we put sunscreen on around lunch and reapply in the afternoon.  If you'd like to send a hat to school, it can stay in the cubby or on the hook.       

 
It's the end of May already! Jacaranda is beginning to experience some changes as we host visiting toddlers from the brown Cottage, who will be moving into Jacaranda at the beginning of our summer program. In anticipation of this, we have begun discussing the coming closure of the school year and what this means for our class. Both Ellie and Hattie will have their last day with us on 6/15, the last day of school. Sam, Nico and Zoe will also be leaving GLM, but are all participating in some of the sessions of the summer program. With the third years moving on, all in Jacaranda are moving up, and so the first years are becoming second years and the second years become kindergartners! Our present kindergartners have all been very gracious hosts to the toddler visitors, giving them lessons on the work and orienting them to things like cleaning up their spills!

 In Juniper, one of the children's favorite classroom activities is baking. They are enjoying baking various breads by using the bread machine. Not only is this fun for them, but they are also learning at the same time! They are incorporating measuring skills, learning about metric units and using math to calculate amounts of ingredients. With all the life skills of bread baking this week the children had the opportunity to have fun with learning math, reading, problem solving, and planning as they made 40 mini loafs of banana bread for gifts to their parents. What a happy production! Happy Parents Day!     

We hope that the children have delivered their special gifts to you by now.  The children were excited to make the rainbow cakes and it took great willpower to not eat them beforehand.  After spooning a portion of each of the colorful batters into the jars, the children watched them disappear into the oven and then reappear as deliciously, colorful cakes.  As Parents' Day approached, we discussed the idea of families of all forms - from living with moms and dads, aunts and grandparents, or a single adult.  The children loved to share about the family members close-by and faraway.  We hope that you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!                    

This week Mulberry children were excited to make banana bread and zucchini bread for their parents to thank them for parents day.  The children are beginning to harvest the garden in order to prepare for planting summer vegetables next Friday. If you are interested in helping with our garden let Mrs. Aima know.