Bear Cub Facts May 28, 2018
Dear Parents,

We will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.  We give thanks to God for the "vocation" that He has given to the men and women of our Armed Forces over the years to serve as "Christian Soldiers", who throughout the ages have sacrificed so much and given of themselves so freely to defend the freedoms of our Country, including the freedom to worship and to believe in Jesus Christ.  We honor all those who have served in our Nation's military, especially those who have sacrificed their lives out of their love for God and out of their duty and service to their Country.  As we remember the examples their lives leave us, our prayer is that God would bless us too with that  same self-sacrificing love- for Him, for our families and friends, and also for our Country. 
 
We have really enjoyed our year with your family.  We pray that Bethany has been a real extension of your home where your children have grown spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively in a Christ-centered environment.  Please take a moment to take our brief survey if you have not already done so to let us know how we're doing.  We take your feedback to heart and often make enhancements based on your suggestions.  My door is also always open, if you would like to talk to me personally about this year, please stop by or notate on your survey that you'd like me to give you a call.

If you have not already registered for summer camp, please do so this week so that we can ensure that we have the days and dates that you need for your child.  Our summer registration form is linked here.


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

We are very excited that we will soon begin our Renaissance construction project. The permits have been pulled but the process has taken longer than we had hoped. Thank you for your patience! We will continue to keep you updated throughout the summer as to when things will begin and what adjustments we have made on campus to ensure everyone's safety.

Attached is our  summer enrollment form. We offer both a  Kindergarten Readiness Camp and a Son-Shine theme based camp.  We are excited to share a fun and faith-filled summer with you and your family!

Dates for your calendar:
       
May 28 Memorial Day - Preschool Closed
June 1 - Long Beach Aquarium Truck onsite (please make sure to turn in "field trip" form)
June 4 - pajama day
June 5 -  bubbles
June 6 - field day
June 7 - pizza and orange lunch provided by preschool
June 8 - Preschool closed to get ready for summer
This week in Jesus Circle: 

Jesus Says to Show Mercy
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
Discovery Points
Law:   Sometimes we don't show loving kindness to others.
Gospel:   Jesus is merciful and reaches out to help and save us by taking away our sins and leading us to show His kindness to others.
Sanctification:   Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we grow in love for our neighbors (anyone who needs kindness).
Connections for home: (from One in Christ, Preschool B 2013 CPH)
 
You probably know the story or have heard the phrase "a good Samaritan."  In this Bible story, Jesus shows what selfless love looks like.  He taught that true love includes mercy to all, just as God's love includes mercy for all. 
Selfless love comes to us through Jesus.  He is the Good Samaritan.  He found us beat up by our sins and unable to help ourselves.  Jesus has wrapped us in His sacrificial love and paid for our eternal care through His death and resurrection.  We are healed and sent on our way to serve others, following His example of love to us. 
As a family, learn the Bible Words.  Consider ways to show God's love to your neighbors.  Consider ways to show thanks to God and to others who show mercy to you.
Make mercy packs to distribute to the homeless.  In a plastic zippered bag, put a snack bar, a toothbrush, toothpaste, hand cleanser, soap, and a small bag of tissues.  The next time you stop at an intersection and find someone who needs your help, reach for the zippered bag to share with someone who needs help and mercy.

 
Read more about the story on page 364-366 of The Story Bible

We go to chapel on Tuesday morning at 9:15 a.m.  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.  

We invite you to share chapel with your child each week at home.  Your child will enjoy seeing the songs and pointing out their friends at Bethany.  Each chapel is about 20 minutes in length.  Come back each week to our website at http://www.bethanylutheran.org/preschool/ and click on the corner right blog link for chapel.

Mealtime prayer for  May: The Lord is good to me and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the apple seed. The Lord is good to me. Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Aaaamen.
Snack for the week of May 28 - June 1
Monday:  
Closed for Memorial Day

Tuesday:  
AM Go-Gurt, Club crackers & water
PM cantaloupe, graham crackers & water

Wednesday: 
AM quesadilla & water
PM cucumber, hummus, Saltines & water

Thursday: 
AM apples, Cheez-Its & water
PM turkey sandwich & water

Friday: 
AM Nutri Grain fruit bars and water
PM Go-Gurt, Goldfish crackers and water

Mealtime prayer for  May: The Lord is good to me and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the apple seed. The Lord is good to me. Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Aaaamen.
From Our Handbook - Earthquake/Emergency Procedures

In the event of an earthquake or other disaster, your child will be provided for at Bethany Lutheran Preschool until you can come to get him/her. Bethany Lutheran Preschool has a plan for evacuating the buildings in case of a severe emergency. If the building is deemed unsafe, we will go to the large grassy field adjacent to the parking lot.

We have food, water, medical supplies, blankets, search and rescue tools and other provisions to care for the children for up to 72 hours.

Our staff has been trained in CPR and pediatric first aid.

In case of a disaster, the gates to the parking lot will be locked and when parents come for children there will be someone posted at the Clark gate to bring your child to you. It is imperative we have the emergency cards that were included in your registration papers up to date and on file at all times. Anyone not listed on this card to pick up your child will be turned away and we will stay with the child until an authorized adult comes.

We conduct monthly fire drills and earthquake drills four times per year. A copy of our campus disaster plan is posted on our bulletin board in the entry hallway of the preschool and available upon request.

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.  
Conscious Discipline Tip: Do you have a child who expresses anger through hitting? 

Do you have a child who expresses anger through hitting? This printable book will assist in helping your child find alternative ways to handle life when things don't go his or her way. This type of book is called a social story and is designed to help children learn socially acceptable alternative ways to get their needs met. You may choose to print this book as is or use it as a prototype to develop your own. It is best to make your own book using photos of the child needing new skills Read the book daily with your child. Practice the breathing techniques everyday with your child when he or she is calm. When the child is unable to breathe for themselves, an adult must breathe for the child.


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.
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.

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.  
  • 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.
  • Men's Bible Study Fellowship www.bsfinternational.org  meets every Monday evening from 6:55-8:50 p.m. in Bethany's choir room.  Contact Don Baldwin at 562-596-0489 for more information.
  • Living Way Bible Study meets starting October 4 at 7 p.m. following ReFuel workship.  Contact kkritzer@bethanylutheran.org for more information.
  • Bible Discovery is held every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and includes ages preschool - adult.  We are looking for volunteers to assist and donations of Lego bricks.  Contact Kayleigh or Pastor Seth for more information.
  • Women's Thursday Morning Bible Study in the Parish Lounge from 9:15-11 a.m.
  • Reserve your  tickets for the game on May 29th for the LA Dodgers game.  Contact smoorman@bethanylutheran.org for more information.
  • Bethany's Women's Retreat is set for October 12-14 at the Aldersgate Retreat site in Pacific Palisades.  Cost will be $250 per person for two nights and 4 meals.
  • Men's Retreat is scheduled for September 28-30 at Luther Glen Retreat Center in Oak Glen.
  • VBS is set for June 18-22.
  • My Fair Lady Command Performance for Mission India will be held August 2 at the Long Beach Playhouse.  Tickets $30.  More information coming soon.  
  • Raise a Glass for Student Success.  Save the date Saturday, September 29, 2018.
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) 


   Bethany Bullet  

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.
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
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. 

+ Erika Alvarado, Cindy Morrison, Camille Ayers, Mara Widmann, and Carol Grudt
+ Please join the Board of Evangelism in praying for Lutheran Braille Workers, Thrivent Financial, Lutheran Women's Missionary League, and Lutheran Bible Translators.
+Miss Mandy's niece, Evelyn, who is having procedures done as they are concerned with brain development
+Miss Leticia's father, Jose, who will undergo knee surgery soon
+The Shourt girls who will be baptized on Sunday
+ Jack's family on their move to Oregon
+ The Neally family on the death of Bonnie's mother
+ The Schuldheisz family who have taken a call to Washington
+ Jessica, Christina, and Kara on their graduations
+ The Santos family on the birth of their son
"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
Romans 15:5-6
STAY CONNECTED:
Bethany Lutheran Preschool | 562-429-7335 | Email |   www.bethanylutheran.org