Bear Cub Facts February 19, 2017
Dear Parents,

We will be closed on Monday, February 20 in observance of President's Day.


Our Pre-K and TK students enjoyed the Teddy Bear Picnic with their 6th Grade Buddies this week.  We had snack and played games with Mrs. Dahlin, our Kindergarten Teacher.  Each child received a special "Future Bethany Bear t-shirt" and Teddy Bear.  The elementary school office will be open on Tuesday, February 21 from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. to accept Kindergarten enrollments.  Bethany Preschool families have priority for registration through this date.

Enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year has begun at preschool as well.  Our Bethany Lutheran families have priority through February 21 before we open enrollment up to the public.  For our students in Pre-K who are considering the " Gift of Time," please note that you may complete an enrollment form for both Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten.  After your parent conference on March 3, you may also sign up for the Chancy Bruce Developmental Screening to assist you in making this important decision in your child's life.  Please see Mary Wolfinbarger for more information.


In His Service,
Mary Wolfinbarger
Bethany Lutheran Preschool
562-429-7335 
 
http://www.bethanylutheran.org/

Dates for your calendar:

February 20 - President's Day preschool closed
March 3 - Parent Teacher Conferences preschool is closed
March 4 - Grandparent's Day (Please note date change)
March 10 - Night at the Museum Open House
 
 
2016-2017 School Year Calendar

This week in Jesus Circle:

God Forgives Those Who Wander from Him - The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Discovery Points
Law:   Sometimes, you do what you want instead of what God wants.
Gospel:   Even though you don't deserve to be called His child, our compassionate God has found you and forgiven you.
Sanctification:   Through the power of the Holy Spirit, tell God you're sorry for your sins, and know His forgiveness because of Jesus.

Connections for home: (from One in Christ, Preschool B 2013 CPH)
Forgiveness is difficult to explain to young children.  The best thing that we can do to teach it is to model forgiveness.  We are to be forgiving as God is forgiving to us.  When a child sins, very often we feel anger over the wrongdoing.   Anger is a very real emotion.  However, it is wise to separate the anger we feel about the wrong committed from the way we feel about our children.  We do not love the sin, but we continue to love the child.  
Here is a great message to give your child:  "I don't like it when you take things that don't belong to you, and I can't let you do it anymore.  It hurts me, it hurts other people, and it hurts you.  It makes Jesus sad.  But remember, I forgive you and Jesus forgives you.  I will always love you, and Jesus always loves you!" That is, after all, the same message that Jesus gives to us!

Read more about the Bible lesson on pages 374-376 in The Story Bible.
 
Chapel is held in the church on Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m.  Chapel money will be collected this year to benefit Mission India, Mission Alaska, and Corazones Para Guatemala (Hearts for Guatemala).
Snack for the week of February 20- February 24:

Monday:   We are closed for President's Day
 
Tuesday:  AM cheese sandwich & water  
PM grapes, Tofu, Goldfish Crackers & water
 
Wednesday:  AM bagels, cream cheese & water  
PM apples, Triscuits & water

Thursday:  AM tangerines, toast, apple butter & water  
PM carrots, ranch dressing, Ritz Crackers & water
 
Friday:    AM chicken nuggets, ketchup & water  
PM eggs, pretzels & water 

Snack Prayer this Month:  
We thank you Lord for daily bread, for rain and sunny weather.  We thank you Lord for this our food and that we are together.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Father.  Thank you Lord for this our food and that we are together. Amen.
 
 
Did you know that you can purchase your child's lunch delivered to the school through Choice Lunch.  The password is Bethany.
Staff in the Spotlight - Kathy Tucker, Admissions 


Kathy serves as our Admissions Counselor and is the proud Mother and Grandmother of past and present Bethany students.
From Our Handbook - Birthdays


Each teacher designates a special day to recognize each child's birthday.  We celebrate each child's birthday with singing and a birthday crown.  The children are also recognized at our weekly chapel service.  If you would like to bring in a special treat or small token to share with the children in your child's class, please contact your child's teacher.  In addition, Baptism birthdays are celebrated each month in chapel.

Extracurricular Activities: 

Bethany Lutheran Preschool offers Webby Dance on Mondays at 8:45 a.m. and Thursdays; Soccer Shots on Tuesdays from 10:50-11:30 a.m.;  Play Sports on Mondays from 10-11:30.   For more information, please see the sign up forms in the preschool hallway.
Conscious Discipline Tip:  How do you recognize the difference between a child who is having normal behavior issues and one who needs specialized services?


Developmentally, children between the ages of 3-5 years old will test and question authority to determine what is and is not allowed. Children at this age check the limits and boundaries to figure out the expectations and rules of the environment. When the behaviors become persistent and maladaptive to an extreme degree and they impede with the child's learning process, then it would be recommended that the referral for special services begin. These children may also have an inability to form interpersonal relationships with others and/or inconsistent moods including depression. Some children may exhibit similar behaviors during a stressful time; such as the death of a loved one, recent move, change of schools, or other life changing scenarios. For that reason, it is imperative that the child be observed over an extended period of time and not just referred due to a momentary reaction.



Conscious Discipline Website

Bethany Lutheran School News:

Bethany Lutheran School follows a similar calendar year to Bethany Lutheran Church Preschool.  Keep up with our elementary and middle school students in our Bear Facts publication.    

Thank you to everyone who donated pennies during National Lutheran School's Week.  The preschool donated 4920 pennies and came in 3rd place.  All of the money raised will go towards Hearts for Jesus Ministry which supports Corazones Para Guatemala.
Parent Teacher League:

Parents, you are ALL members of our Parent Teacher League (PTL), our amazing group of parent leadership and an important part of making Bethany such a special place.
Would you like to get involved in a PTL activity? There's a place for you! Just contact our PTL President, Jen Deeble: drdeeble@gmail.com   
 
Our next PTL meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.  Babysitting is provided. 

The 2nd Annual Ball Drop will take place at 6 p.m. on March 10 before the Night at the Museum.  Funds raised will be used for outdoor music at the preschool.
Opportunities to Worship Faithfully, Form Spiritually, Serve Passionately, Give Proportionately, and Share Intentionally:

  • Follow Bethany on Twitter @RevKevBethany and  www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach 
  • Renew your Ralphs Club cards each year after August 31 using our Bethany NPO # 83441.
  • Box tops for education is a program that allows our schools to get 10 cents for every box top turned in.  The money received from the program helps our schools buy needed equipment and supplies.  Clip the box tops and place them in the container on the sign-in shelf.
  • Labels for Education is a program where our school and church families can work together to earn "free stuff" for our schools.  Labels and caps can be placed in the collection container on the sign-in shelf.
  • Home Bible Study Groups are now forming.  Contact Pastor Seth, Pastor Kritzer, or Karl Fink for more information.
  • Lazy Acres contributes 4% to Bethany.  Make sure to show your Lazy Acres Community Card. 
  • Griefshare meets on Sundays at 1 p.m. in the Conference Room.  Contact kfink@bethanylutheran.org for more info.
  • Family Lenten Devotions will begin on March 8 and continue every Wednesday in Lent at 5:30 p.m. in the church.  Classic Lenten worship services will continue at 7 p.m. with Soup Suppers being offered between 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Challenge yourself to read the Bible in 2017.  The study is posted on our blogspot www.bethanylutheran.blogsport.com.
  • Join us for Tea at Bethany on May 6.  Our guest speaker is Sister Maryama Burger author of From the Crescent to the Cross.  Contact Cindy Stock 562-818-4643 for more information.
  • The Brianna Esswein Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Friday, March 24 at the Lakewood Country Club at 1 p.m.  Cost is $125/golfer.
  • Do you have Kohl's charge?  You can buy Kohl's Care Fundraising Gift Cards from Scrip to pay your bill.
  • Join us Friday, May 5 for a fun filled evening watching the Angels take on the Houston Astros at 7 p.m.  More information coming soon.

 At Bethany, worship is a celebration of what God has done for us in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior-His initiative in our life, His saving events throughout history. Worship is a remembrance, a reenactment-if-you-will, of God's redemptive acts for all people throughout history; it is also a joyful reception through faith, by God's people now, who live to proclaim His redeeming grace to all the world. The Lutheran understanding of "Gottesdienst" or "God's service to us" and "our service to God" are foundational to all that we do in worship. God first comes to us, and we respond in confession, joyful praise, prayer and humble faith.

 
Worship Service times are: 
 Sunday at 8:00AM, 9:30AM and 10:55AM (convergent/blended style) 


SCRIP

Are you purchasing SCRIP?  If not, you are passing up an easy way to help with your tuition payments and to help Bethany.  SCRIP is simply gift certificates.  You purchase them from us, and use them as you would any gift card.  Since Bethany is able to purchase the cards in bulk, the gift cards cost less than their face value; and the profit is divided between your tuition and funds for various groups at Bethany.  If you have any questions about the Scrip program contact Carol Grudt, 420-7783 x58 or cgrudt@bethanylutheran.org.

FISH Opportunities:

We suggest opportunities that will help you fulfill your FISH commitments; while taking care of some of our needs.  We will post these needs/opportunities in the weekly newsletter, by email and in posters that will be put up on the parent board by the sign in sheet.     Opportunities currently available include:
 
  • donations of diaper changing gloves and wipes

 

Once you have completed a FISH opportunity, you may complete a form located in the preschool hallway or online.

Helpful Websites and Links for Parents and Children:


Preschool play websites:
  
Websites and links for parents:
 
Devotions:
 
Ideas you can use at home:
 Numbers - HWT
Gross and Fine Motor Activities from Chancy and Bruce
Mental Health Chancy and Bruce
 
Healthy snacks for kids:
10 tips to decrease added sugars
Healthy celebrations
NEW!  Hard Candy
In Our Prayers:

Thank you for your continued prayers for the loved ones connected to our center. If there is a need in your family and you would like to add someone to the prayer list, please let me know.  
 
In addition, we pray for the children and staff in our center (one a day), look for your child's name listed below throughout the year. 
 
+  Cassie Macias, Austin Christie, Samuel Salazar, Addison Nielsen and Tommy Briles
+  Please join the Board of Evangelism in praying for Reverent Pal Jacob; Christian Outreach in Action; Habitat for Humanity; Jesse and Kelly Sipan - Mission Aviation Fellowship
+  The Ayala and Chung families in thankfulness for the blessing of new babies.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  -John 13:34
STAY CONNECTED:
Bethany Lutheran Preschool | 562-429-7335 | Email |   www.bethanylutheran.org