Bear Cub Facts May 7, 2017
Dear Parents,

Thank you for showering us with your kind words, encouragement, flowers, treats and gifts this week during Teacher Appreciation.  We all feel very blessed to serve here at Bethany and are so glad that you are part of the Bethany family!

We hope that you will join us Friday evening for our "Evening with Mom."  We will have a special snack, story time, and work on a Mother's Day craft.  Come to your child's classroom at 6 p.m.

Summer is a special time.  I think fondly of trips to the beach, the pool and the park.  Here are a few summer resources for you to enjoy as you prepare to renew and relax enjoying outdoor family time this summer:

 

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

Join us this summer and fall at Bethany Lutheran Preschool


Dates for your calendar:

May 12 - Evening with Mom  6 p.m. sign up sheets are in your child's classroom
May 20 - Fun Day 11-3
May 29 - Memorial Day - Preschool Closed
June 8 - Last Day of Preschool for the 2016-17 School Year
June 9 - Preschool Closed to Prepare for Summer Session
June 12 - Summer Session Begins

2016-2017 School Year Calendar

This week in Jesus Circle:

God Gives the Gift of the Holy Spirit - Blessed at Pentecost (Acts 2)
Discovery Points
Law: Sometimes our actions and words don't show and tell the love of Jesus.
Gospel: The Holy Spirit helps us tell the Good News that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
Sanctification: Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can share the love of Jesus everywhere. 
 
Connections for home: (from One in Christ, Preschool B 2013 CPH)
Have you ever had such good news that you couldn't wait to tell everyone?  Well, what news could be better than that of Jesus' love and forgiveness?  It's too good to  keep a secret!  This week's Bible story tells us that Jesus wants people of all nations to know His love and salvation.  The Good News of Jesus is for everyone-from your own backyard to faraway places!  All people need to hear about Jesus, no matter who they are or where they live!
Remember that your children learn from you!  As you show readiness to speak about God's love in Jesus, they, too, will become enthusiastic.  Make this a simple part of your everyday conversation:  "God gave us a beautiful day"; "Let's pray that God will help Grandma to feel better"; "Praise God!  I've got some good news!" 
 
Read more about the Bible lesson on pages 421-424 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 May 8-12:

Monday:  AM banana, grahams & water  
PM cottage cheese, cantaloupe & water

Tuesday:  AM yogurt, raisins & water
PM Cheerios, milk 

Wednesday:   AM cucumber, hummus, pretzels & water  
PM apples, Cheez-Its & water

Thursday:  AM turkey sandwich & water  
PM strawberries, Triscuits & water
 
Friday:  AM toast, apple butter, pears & water  
PM tangerines, Goldfish crackers & water

Snack Prayer this Month:  
Be present at our table, Lord; be here and everywhere adored.  These mercies bless, and grant that we may feast in paradise with thee.  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 - Aimee Coleman


"I am the Administrative Assistant to Youth, Discipleship and Youth.  I help with Confirmation, Vacation Bible School, and Youth.  I also update the church's website, newsletter, calendar and the Bethany Bullet.  I have been married for 29 years and am the mom of 3 adults.  I enjoy reading and going to baseball games.  I have been at Bethany since 1997."  

From Our Handbook -  Preschool Summer Camp

Camp runs for several weeks during the summer depending on the calendar year.  The only holiday observed is 4th of July.  Hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted.  Tuition and information regarding the program are available in March or April.  This program runs separate from the  school year program.  This parent handbook applies to the preschool summer camp.  You will be charged only for the weeks your child has registered to attend.  Fees are prepaid and are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Extracurricular Activities: 

Bethany Lutheran Preschool offers Webby Dance on Mondays at 8:45 a.m. and Thursdays;and   Play Sports on Mondays from 10-11:30.   For more information, please see the sign up forms in the preschool hallway.
Conscious Discipline Tip:  Why is the active calming activity called "draining" but the icon is of a faucet?
Draining is an active calming technique where we drain our stress out of our bodies through our fingertips like water through a faucet. So, the technique has components of both "drain" and "faucet". We took creative liberties with the name and icon in order to include both components. (Plus we think faucets are cuter than drains, don't you?) To practice draining: Extend your arms out, pretending your arms are faucets. Tighten your arm, shoulder and face muscles. Exhale slowly making a "sssshhh" sound and release all your muscles, draining the stress right out through your fingertips!

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.    The 2017-18 calendar is now available.
The school office is now selling limited quantities of Bethany tote bags.
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, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.  Babysitting is provided. 

Save the date for our Lego Fun Day on Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. -3 p.m.  Do you or someone you know own a local business?  Please consider asking for a donation for the fun day raffle.  Contact Jennifer Newton for more info at 714-337-2722.  To sign up to assist with Fun Day go to  http://signup.com/go/MbMUKB.
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.
  • Challenge yourself to read the Bible in 2017.  The study is posted on our blogspot www.bethanylutheran.blogsport.com.
  • Do you have Kohl's charge?  You can buy Kohl's Care Fundraising Gift Cards from Scrip to pay your bill.
  • Our annual Men's Retreat will take place October 7-9 at Luther Glen Retreat Center in Oak Glen, CA.
  • Save the date for Vacation Bible School 2017 which will be held June 19-23.  Our theme is Maker Fun Factory - Created by God, Built for a Purpose.
  • Bethany Music Ministry announces the return of our summer fine arts camp for kids entering Kindergarten - 7th grades.  "Weather the Weather" is our theme.  Registration is $100 per child.  Contact Mara Widmann for additional information at 562-421-4711 ext. 55.
  • Save the date for our annual Raise a Glass event on Saturday, October 21.  This is a unique fundraiser event to support our Student Success Program.  If you are interested in donating auction items, please contact Sheri Esswein at 714-863-5615.
  • Beginner bike riding group is starting at 8 a.m. on 4/1, 5/6 and 6/3.  Contact Greg for more information 714-229-0757.

 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:
 
  • Attend our PTL meeting Tuesday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the library
  • Donate wipes and diaper changing gloves
  • Sign up to work at the Fun Day on May 20 at http://signup.com/go/MbMUKB
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com:

http://signup.com/go/MbMUKB

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

 

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:
 NEW!  Family Matters - Mary
 NEW!      Parent Pages - May
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!    Frozen yogurt
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. 
 
Please join the Board of Evangelism in praying for The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod; Pacific Southwest District-LCMS; Concordia University Irvine; Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Missouri.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! -2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
STAY CONNECTED:
Bethany Lutheran Preschool | 562-429-7335 | Email |   www.bethanylutheran.org