Bear Cub Facts June 9, 2019
Dear Parents,

Next week will be filled with fun as we finish out our 2018-2019 school year including:
 
Monday - Reptile Show
Tuesday - Last Chapel 
Wednesday - Field Day and Yearbook Day
Thursday - Pizza and orange lunch provided by the preschool
Friday - Please note we will be closed to prepare for summer  

The teachers have been working very hard on the children's final assessments for the year.  You will be receiving them in your child's portfolio next week.  We hope that you and your family will treasure the portfolio and the memories of Bethany Lutheran Preschool for years to come! 
 
If you are enrolled for the summer session, we will keep your child's bedding and medications and move it to their new classroom.  Check your child's extra clothing to see if it will still fit them.  If it will not, please bring a new set for the summer.  If you are not enrolled for the summer, please take your child's bedding, any medications and extra clothing on their last day of school.

We pray for safe travels this summer and God's blessings to all of our children who will be moving on to Kindergarten.  Please stay in touch and join us each year for some of the wonderful traditions that we have including our Community Happy Birthday Jesus Party, Community Easter Egg Hunt and Vacation Bible School.  

Thank you for letting us be part of your child's early childhood.  We have enjoyed watching the children grow spiritually, emotionally, cognitively, socially, academically and physically this year.   We know that the children will leave here knowing that Jesus loves them and is with them wherever they go. 
 

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

June 13 Last day of school 
June 14 Preschool closed to prepare for summer 
June 17 Summer Session begins 
June 18 Stop by the office to welcome our new director, Miss Tammy
 
2018-2019 Preschool Calendar
This week in Jesus Circle: 

The Good Shepherd - God Provides for His People (John 10:1-18; Psalm 23)
Discovery Points
Law:  You need Jesus.  You can't take care of yourself or live without God's care.
Gospel:  Jesus cares for us and gives us what we need, including protection from the devil.
Sanctification:  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, peacefully trust in Jesus to take care of all your needs.

Bible Words
"We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." Psalm 100:3

Connections for home: (from One in Christ, Preschool B 2013 CPH)
Words for the family:
A sheep can't be alone.  It needs someone to care for it.  The Bible says that we are like sheep.  We wander away from God and don't listen to Him.  We do what  we want to.  Think of how you handled the situation the last time your child disobeyed you.  You probably were frustrated, but God has mercy.  He always forgives us and, in fact, comes searching for us!
A wolf can hurt a sheep.  The devil tries to hurt us, but Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  He protects us!  Jesus even gave His life for us so that we wouldn't die forever.  Jesus died on the cross so that we would be rescued.
Whenever you find a quiet moment by yourself, remember the quiet and peace our Good Shepherd gives.  Read Psalm 23 and think about how God calms our troubled hearts.  We will go through terrible valleys, but Jesus is always with us.  And the mountain vistas, crystal-clear streams, and pleasant pastures on the other side are worth waiting for.  We will be with our Guide and Protector forever, in His heavenly land, always by His side, and always enjoying His blessings.  
 
Read more about the Bible lesson on page 367 of The Story Bible. 
 
 
On Tuesdays we go to chapel in the church.  Chapel offerings this year will go to benefit   Mission Alaska, Mission India , and  Hope and Care for Children .  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. You can view our chapel sessions each week with your child on our website blog .

June:   For all your goodness Lord, we give you thanks.  Thanks for the food we eat; thanks for the friends we meet; for each new day we greet; we give you thanks.  Amen.  (Can sing)

Snack for the week of June 10-14

Monday:  
AM toast, apple butter, raisins & water
PM broccoli, hummus, Ritz & water

Tuesday:  
AM waffles, tofu, syrup & water
PM cottage cheese, peaches & water

Wednesday: 
AM pears, Cheez-Its & water
PM bagel, cream cheese & water

Thursday: 
AM vanilla yogurt, strawberries & water
PM Raisin Bran, milk

Friday: 
We are closed this day to prepare for our new friends coming to summer school

June:   For all your goodness Lord, we give you thanks.  Thanks for the food we eat; thanks for the friends we meet; for each new day we greet; we give you thanks.  Amen.  (Can sing)
From Our Handbook - Safety of Your Child

Realizing the potential for violence in today's world, we believe your child will be as safe as possible at Bethany Lutheran Preschool.
Teachers are instructed to always ask for picture identification when a child is picked up by someone we do not recognize - even if it is the child's parent.
If we see someone on campus we do not recognize we will find out why he/she is here.
Should your child be severely injured at preschool, we will call "911" first then the parent. For this reason we must always have correct current telephone numbers on file for you.
If you have concerns regarding the safety of your child, please talk with the director.


Extracurricular Activities: 

Bethany Lutheran Preschool offers Webby Dance at 9:00 a.m. and   Play Sports starting at 9:30 a.m.on Mondays.   For more information, please see the sign up forms in the preschool hallway.  
Conscious Discipline Tip: Article: "Help! I've learned about parenting with CD and I started strong, but now I just feel like I'm doing it all wrong!"

First of all, breathe. The skill of composure helps us to turn off the negative responses to our situations and refocus our energy in a positive direction. Take a moment to breathe deeply and calm.
Once you're in a calm, relaxed state, remember first the power of acceptance. "The moment is as it is." This is important because when we fight against the moment with what we think "should be" it only creates frustration that can turn into anger or just plain giving up. Avoid giving in to the frustration and anger that can come with feeling like you're failing. Instead, accept the moment as it is and determine to move forward. You're a good parent and just seeking out information on how to do this parenting thing in a better way, demonstrates that your intentions and motivations are in the right place. Reaffirm that with yourself as much as possible. Change will not happen in your home overnight...it will probably take more like a few years...and that's ok.



We are starting a special group just for you!  Please contact Jennifer or Tabitha at mops@bethanylutheran.org or call 562-429-7335.  Our meetings are held in the Parish Lounge on the first and third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.
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.  EDC (Extended Daycare) is offering Summer Camp.  
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, send in your Box Tops!  Please save your Box Tops and start sending them in now.  Classes that bring in the most box tops by February 22 will receive a pizza party lunch!
  • Lazy Acres contributes 4% to Bethany.  Make sure to show your Lazy Acres Community Card. 
  • Challenge yourself to read the Bible.  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. 
  • Bible Discovery for Preschool meets every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in Room 101.
  • Men's Bible Study Fellowship meets every Monday from 6:55 p.m. -8:30 p.m. in the Choir Room starting September 10.  Contact Don at 562-596-0489 for more information.
  • Evening Prayer, a time of prayer, singing and communion, will be held on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.  You can expect a casual, meditative environment with a time of worship that will enrich you and provide respite during the middle of the week.
  • Griefshare begins Sunday, February 10 at 1 p.m. contact Karl for more information at kfink@bethanylutheran.org
  • Ted Pearson is collecting wheelchairs for Joni and Friends Wheels of the World.  If you know of one that Ted can collect please contact him at tedranda@verizon.net.
  • Save the Date:
  • We are excited to announce a new location for Raise A Glass 2019!  Mark your calendars for  Sunday, September 8, 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the L.A. County Fire Museum in Bellflower.  Our event will start with a cocktail and appetizers in the Fire Museum, with time to check out the fire engines and equipment, including world famous Engine 51!  The party continues upstairs in a bright, open room ready for your silent auction/shopping pleasure to support our Student Success Program. Questions about Student Success?  Contact Jill Moorman 562-307-6123 or jmoorman@bethanylutheran.org  
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) 


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 meet the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.  Childcare is provided.  
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
  • Donations of Kleenex boxes for the classrooms

Once you have completed a FISH opportunity, you may complete a form located in the preschool hallway or online.  Please check with your child's teacher for additional opportunities to help in the classroom such as ordering Scholastic books, making play dough, supplying gardening items, etc.

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.

Helpful Websites and Links for Parents and Children:


Let's Be Disciples
Do You Know Who Jesus Is?
Sharing Your Faith
Learning to Pray
The Easter Story
The Christmas Journey
The Bully

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
Responding to Your Child's Bite
Understanding Your Child's Behavior: Reading Your Child's Cues from Birth to Age 2

Healthy snacks for kids:
10 tips to decrease added sugars
Healthy celebrations
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 of our center and staff of Bethany Lutheran (one a day), look for your child's name listed below throughout the year. 

+ Please join the Board of Evangelism in praying for our mission partners: Alaska Mission for Christ, Reverend Arthur and Eva Rickman, Reverend Paul Jacob and Christian Outreach in Action.
+Miss Leticia's father, Jose, who underwent knee surgery in August
+ Kishan's aunt 
+ The Campbell family on their finalized adoption and in prayer for future adoptions
+ Miss Tabitha's grandmother, Joyce
+ Debbie Castlen's mother, DeVonne
+ Miss Vannessa's mother
+ Mr. Maekawa
+ All of our students who will be going on to Kindergarten
+ Miss Belinda on her retirement
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
Bethany Lutheran Preschool | 562-429-7335 | Email |   www.bethanylutheran.org