Bear Cub Facts September 3, 2017
Dear Parents,  

The first weeks of school bring many firsts for the children including our first fire drill, first chapel, first time for Pre-K/TK to meet their 6th grade buddies, first friends, sometimes even first time away from Mom and Dad.  Our prayer is that you will find our staff and classrooms a loving and Christ-centered extension of your home.



We want to be your partner and have set up lots of ways to stay in touch.   Knowing that the preschool supplements the home life, a close relationship with parents is encouraged so that home and school may each benefit from cooperation, planning and understanding.
  • We invite the parents to view the classroom in action and have special days set aside for parents each year to participate. You and your family are welcome to visit the school and your child's classroom anytime during the school year. When visiting, you are required to stop by the school office to sign in and get a "visitor's badge". Due to insurance restrictions and Title 22 regulations, only enrolled children may stay in the classroom without their parents present.  SB792 also requires that anyone who engages with children have a copy of the following immunization records on file in the preschool office:  yearly flu shot, measles, pertussis, and tb.
  • Our teachers want to become closely acquainted with you. When children are present in the classroom, teachers are required to give their full attention to the children.  If you need an extended visit with the teacher, it is possible to meet with him or her after the preschool hours or by phone.
  • Parent conferences are scheduled for a day in March. Dates for these conferences will be announced in advance and by appointment.  The schedules will be posted in the preschool classrooms.  Parents are provided with an assessment three times a year.  The first assessment is given in October as a skills check.  The second is given at the Parent Teacher Conference and the final is given in June.
  • A weekly newsletter and other important communications are sent home via email. One posted copy is available on the parent board.   It is also posted on our website and our app. 
  • Preschool parents are encouraged to take part in the Parent Teacher League with the elementary school parents.
  • We also have opportunities for parents to help with special days.
  • We invite parents to attend parent information nights, our annual Christmas service, parent workdays, and other special scheduled family days.
  • Important notices are placed in the paper folders with your child's work. Please check them daily.
  • We also have a school app that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.  You can sign up for push notifications.  If you have a preschool child you will login with the username and password:  preschool.  If you have a child in both the dayschool and preschool login with the username and password:  all.
  • Families may receive phone messages and can opt in for e-mail notifications from SchoolMessenger each year.
  • Many of our classrooms are using the Remind App this year.  Please check with your child's teacher to sign up.
We hope that you and your family have a safe and restful Labor Day Weekend and we look forward to seeing you back at school on Tuesday!  


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

Dates for your calendar:

September 4 Labor Day, Preschool Closed
September 6 New Parent Orientation 6 p.m. in the choir room
September 6 Room Parent Meeting 7:15 p.m. in the library
September 8 Parent Teacher League (PTL) bonfire at Bolsa Chica Beach
September 11 Webby Dance and PlaySports Preview Day
This week in Jesus Circle: 

Creation is God's Gift for Us to Enjoy
God Made the World (Genesis 1)
Discovery Points
Law:   Sometimes we don't take care of God's world.
Gospel:   Our wise and powerful God loves and forgives us in Jesus.
Sanctification:   Through the power of the Holy Spirit, enjoy, appreciate, and care for God's creation!
Bible Words
"God saw that it was good."  Genesis 1:10

Dear Family,
Talk to your child about God and His creation.  Explain that long ago, except for God, there was only emptiness.  God made creation out of nothing.  God said, "Let there be light," and there was light; "Let there be water," and there was water; and "Let there be dry ground," and there was dry ground.  All things God made were good!  Continue by explaining that God said the Word and filled the earth with plants.  These provided food and made a beautiful home for the many animals and the people that He created next.  God is so good!  Read pages 21-25 in The Story Bible.  (Excerpt from One in Christ, Preschool B 2013 CPH.)

Tuesday, September 5, we will have our first chapel in church.  Chapel offerings this year will go to benefit Mission Alaska, Mission India, and Lutheran Special Education Ministries.  Last year we raised almost $600 for each mission.  The first Tuesday of the month we will celebrate Baptism birthdays in chapel.  If you have not already done so, please return your Baptism birthday form to your teacher. 

This Month in the Classroom
Scope and Sequence
 
Themes of the Month:   God Blesses Me and My World, apples, families, all about me, rules and routines
 
Portfolio
self-portrait, name recognition, 1st day of school photo, story about me, measurements, handprints, footprints, body parts, school prayers
 
Each week, the children explore, express and create through the use of centers within each classroom. Each teacher posts lesson plans in the classroom that show the activities for the week.  Below is our scope and sequence for each age level for the month from which the lesson plans and activities are developed.
 
Social/Emotional Development Ages 4-5:  Identifies body parts and functions.  Identifies a variety of feelings.  Understands the roll of teachers and caregivers.
  
Social Studies Development Ages 4-5:  Identifies traits of a good citizen (honesty, cooperation).  Identifies models of good citizenship (Jesus).
 
Physical Education Development Ages 4-5:  Uses materials appropriately.  Practices emergency drills.  Builds and constructs with a variety of materials.  Uses dominant hand most of the time which is___.  Demonstrates ability to balance.  Pours from containers.
  
Fine Art Development Ages 4-5:  Names common art materials.
  
Language Arts Development Ages 4-5:  Recognizes own name.  Draws pictures to represent writing.  Letter recognition, phonemics and writing for letters L,F,E,H.  Speech (articulation) is understood by peers.   Speech (articulation) is understood by adults.
 
Science Development Ages 4-5:  Identifies common physical properties of objects (size, color, shape, etc.).
 
Mathematics Development Ages 4-5: Counts from 1-30.  Understands the relationship between numbers and quantity.  Identifies the number of objects in a group, using one-to-one correspondence.  Demonstrates concepts of time (morning, lunchtime, nighttime, etc.).  Describes the relative positions of objects (above, below, etc.).
 
Social/Emotional Development Ages 2-3:  Identifies body parts and functions.  Identifies a variety of feelings.  Understands the roll of teachers and caregivers.
 
Social Studies Development Ages 2-3: Identifies traits of a good citizen (honesty, cooperation) (3 year olds).  Identifies models of good citizenship (Jesus)(3 year olds).
  
Physical Education Development Ages 2-3:  Uses materials appropriately.  Practices emergency drills.  Builds and constructs with a variety of materials.  Uses dominant hand most of the time which is___.  Demonstrates ability to balance (3 year olds).  Pours from containers.
 
Fine Art Development Ages 2-3:  Names common art materials.
 
Language Arts Development Ages 2-3:  
Recognizes own name.  Draws pictures to represent writing (3 year olds).  Speech (articulation) is understood by peers. Speech (articulation) is understood by adults.
 
Science Development Ages 2-3:  Identifies common physical properties of objects (size, color, shape, etc.)
  
Mathematics Development Ages 2-3:  Counts from 1-10.  Understands the relationship between numbers and quantity (3 year olds).  Identifies the number of objects in a group, using one-to-one correspondence (3 year olds).  Describes the relative positions of objects (above, below, etc.)

Snack for the week of September 4-8:

Monday:  Closed in observance of Labor Day

Tuesday: AM banana, graham crackers & water 
PM quesadilla & water

Wednesday: AM ham sandwich & water 
PM grapes, Ritz crackers & water

Thursday: AM pretzels, oranges & water 
PM chicken nuggets & water
 
Friday: AM string cheese, Saltines & water 
PM watermelon, animal crackers & water

Prayer for September:   Round this table, here to pray.  First we thank you for this day.  For our families and our friends.  Countless blessings that God sends.  Amen.

Staff in the Spotlight - Jennifer DeJongh


I am a graduate of Bethany Lutheran School and have been a member of Bethany Lutheran Church since I was born.  I received my Bachelor's Degree from CSUF and my Teaching Credential and Colloquy from Concordia Irvine.  My husband, Gerrit, and I have 3 children, Grace, 12, Scott, 11, and Tyler, 9 who attend Bethany Lutheran Dayschool.  This year I am also serving as a surrogate for a family and will be delivering twins in April.   Some hobbies I enjoy include scrapbooking, organizing, and baking.  I look forward to serving here at Bethany teaching Transitional Kindergarten.
From Our Handbook -  History

Bethany Lutheran Preschool has been serving the community for over 40 years.  We share our campus with the elementary and middle school which includes kindergarten through 8th grade.  The preschool accommodates up to 75 students per day with about 90 children served each week.  The State of California Department of Social Services licenses our facility.  In 2009 and again in 2015 we received full accreditation from the NLSA (National Lutheran School Accreditation).  We are part of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Extracurricular Activities: 

Bethany Lutheran Preschool offers Webby Dance and   Play Sports on Mondays.   For more information, please see the sign up forms in the preschool hallway.  Our children will have a preview day on Monday, September 11 with their class.
Conscious Discipline Tip:  What should I do when my preschooler doesn't want to leave preschool? In the morning she doesn't want to leave me, but at pick up time, I can't get her out the door!

Your preschooler communicates to you through his/her actions. She is probably saying, "I missed you all day. I love you so much. I had fun today, but I'm still mad at you for not being with me." Let go of the list of things you are going to be late for and your agenda, and become present in this moment. This allows you to stop being angry or trying to bribe the child. Speak to the moment. Bend down at her eye level and say, "You've had a great day with all your friends. It's hard to leave when you are having so much fun. You seem angry. When you feel angry, you can be a drain or a balloon. Which do you choose?" Perform the active calming technique and breathe together. Then assertively provide two positive choices, "You can take my hand or skip to the car" (or two other acceptable choices for getting into the car.

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.  This week our Pre-K and TK students had a chance to meet their 6th Grade Buddies and played a "Get to Know You" game.


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 Carlson: msjencarlson@gmail.com

We hope you have Friday, Sept. 8 set aside for our second annual bonfire at Bolsa Chica State Beach!  This is a "bring your own dinner" event...the PTL will provide the s'mores.   Stay tuned for more details, including how to find us at the beach!

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
    Box Tops, Box Tops, send in your Box Tops! Please save your Box Tops and start sending them in now. We are going to have a surprise for all classrooms that bring in 50 Box tops by October 20th. Thank you!
  • 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 starting August 27.  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 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.
  • Thursday Morning Men's Bible Study is back at 6 a.m. in the Parish Lounge.  All men are welcome.  Men's Saturday Breakfast and Bible Study is set for Saturday, August 19 at 8:00 a.m. in the Parish Lounge.  Contact Kfink@bethanylutheran.org for more information.
  • Join us Sunday, September 10 at 9:30 a.m. for a VBS reunion.  
 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:
 
  • Stitching our cots
  • Stitching our parachute
  • Shoveling our rubber nuggets from the bottom of the playground back to the top.
  • Fixing our tricycles
  • Donations of gloves for diaper changes
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
Frozen yogurt
Birthdays in September
May Jesus bless you the whole year through
Joseph Ayala
Caleb Bennett
Saige Defreitas
Nyah Kelly
Augustine Perry
Kaylee Shourt


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. 

+ The Playter Family on the birth of their son, Nathan
+ Abigail Lott, Joseph Ayala, Eli Baldwin, Lana Thai, Jakob Singleton 
+ Lori Zuniga, mother of Miss Jessica, who was diagnosed with cancer
+ Emily, dear friend of the Osborn family, who has been diagnosed with cancer
+ Lukas, who will be undergoing surgery for tonsils and adenoids in November
+ Millie, Debbie Burn's mother-in-law, who is on hospice care
+ All of those who have been effected by Hurricane Harvey
+ Please join the Board of Evangelism in praying for Lutheran Bible Translators; Concordia Publishing House; Lutheran World Relief; and Orphan Grain Train.

"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another..." 1 John 1:7 
STAY CONNECTED:
Bethany Lutheran Preschool | 562-429-7335 | Email |   www.bethanylutheran.org