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Christ the King Community Daycare
68-02 Metropolitan Avenue,
Middle Village, NY 11379
718-417-6770
www.ctkny.org
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May is here and finally some cheerful Spring weather. One of the most exciting highlights of April was our Earth Day celebration. The children planted flowers with their teachers and administrators. A very special thank you goes out to all who worked so hard to make it such a fun day. Please take the time to stop and enjoy the Earth Day flowers your child's class has planted at our CTK Garden Walk located along the big playground path.
With the arrival of Spring, we will be spending more time outdoors. Classes will be going on nature walks to follow up with the care and watering of their flowers, while also observing their growth. We will learn about baby animals, insects and their life cycles. Our Painted Lady butterfly larvae will arrive this month, and we hope to release the mature butterflies before Memorial Day. Learning about science and nature helps children expand their vocabulary and develop a better understanding of basic science concepts in daily life.
We will also be encouraging the children to be more physically active than ever. As their large motor muscles are developing in leaps and bounds, the children will have lots of opportunities through exercise and games, such as, soccer, freeze dance, musical chairs, red light green light, parachutes and more. We also support children as they develop specific skills, like jumping, kicking, catching and throwing. These are skills that the children will use for a lifetime of physical activity, including sports.
Another popular event that we all enjoyed last month was our annual Recycling Contest. Each class created masterpiece, ranging from “cleverly creative” to “out of this world”. Every class was indeed a winner. Some of the highlights were:
Puppies –Hot Air Balloons, made from face mask and plastic cups.
Angels –Guitar, made from tissue boxes, and Bat Mobile made from toilet paper rolls .
Monkeys – the Hungry Caterpillar, made from paper towel rolls.
Bumblebees –Gumball Machine, from pretzel jug and pom-poms.
Lions – Blossoming Tree, made from wrapping paper rolls, Buttons , marker caps and more.
Chipmunks – Blasted Off to Outer Space –made from “out of this world" materials.
Sunflowers – Vases –made from water bottles and tissue boxes and toilet paper rolls.
And the winning votes went to
Instagram : The Bumblebees
Facebook : The Sunflowers
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- Covid Reminders:
- If your child is awaiting Covid test results, they may not attend Daycare/ Pre-K until the test results are received.
- Familes are to maintain social distancing when dropping off and picking up a child. Families must stand at least 6 feet apart from one another if they are waiting for their child to be admitted or dismissed fro their teachers.
- Parents must not stand in doorways or enter classrooms for any reason.
- Only one parent/ guardian will be permitted into the facility for drop off and pick up, and a face covering is required.
- Parents and guardians must not congregate in the hallways or outside the CK Kids field.
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Please Note: The Pre-K and Daycare will be closed on May 31st in observance of Memorial Day.
- Weather Information/ School Closing- Please check our website www.ctkny.org, as well as our Instagram and Facebook page, for the latest in school closing information. You will also receive an email notification.
- When calling the facility, please keep in mind that calls should be ideally be made between 12-2pm while the children are napping. The daycare phone number is 718-417-6770.
- Please remember to make sure your child's cubby contains weather-appropriate clothing. We also appreciate all of our parents continuing to bring in diapers and a box of wipes twice each month on the 1st and the 15th.
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Colors: Purple and Pink
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Concepts: Baby Animals, Insects, Growing Plants, Flowers and Vegetables
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Shape: Square
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Letters: W, X, Y
- Number(s):
Ages (1-2) # 9
Ages (3-4) #'s 17, 18
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Science with the Bumblebees
April showers bring May flowers! One of the topics the Bumblebees discussed last month was “Water.” We talked about how much it rained and how we were going to start to see flowers bloom. We even got to plant flowers on Earth Day, which was so much fun! The Bumblebees also loved getting to make their own rainbows after we discussed how rainbows can form after it rains. When we went to the Science Center, we would read books about different animals and talk about which animals belong on land, in the sea or in the sky. The children loved telling Miss Danielle where each animal belonged! The Bumblebees can’t wait to explore more Science topics in the month of May.
Science with the Pandas
As we entered the month of April, the theme the Panda class was excited to explore was “PLANTS!” The students learned all about the plant and flower lifecycles. To tie into March’s theme of “Water,” the children learned how important water is to a plant lifecycle along with sun, air and soil. As we learned about lifecycles, the Pandas were able to explore different kind of beans (red kidney beans, lima beans, black beans, & orange lentil beans). After exploring each bean, the Pandas planted their own bean plant. The children picked their favorite beans and planted them in a zip-lock bag with wet paper towel. Each day the Pandas observed their beans to check for the phase of the cycle, germination. Another Science activity the Pandas enjoyed was planting flowers! On Earth Day, the Pandas planted flowers outside, next to our playground. They enjoyed learning about the different parts of the flowers and using their knowledge from the classroom outside while planting!
Science with the Dolphins
The unit theme we explored last month was "Plants." One activity we did for science was sequencing the Life Cycle of a Plant. Students were provided with individuals pictures of each part of the plant life cycle. Students were asked to place these pictures in the correct order of how the life of a plant occurs. Then as a class we discussed the correct order of the sequencing of the life cycle of a plant and what happens in each part.
The second science activity we did was observing plants on a light table. As a class we used the light table and placed various types of plants on it (sunflower, rose and daisy). Then we noted what we could see. We made an anchor chart and wrote down similarities and differences between our various types of flowers (sunflower, rose and daisy). As we continue to work on our plant theme, the students are excited to begin next month’s theme which is babies. As a class will discuss how babies grow big and tall just like plants.
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Math with the Puppies
For the month of April, the Puppies focused on math. Throughout our day, we try to incorporate counting with the children in a variety of ways, whether it is using number flash cards, counting out how many snacks we are eating or counting how many toes are on our feet! Last week we did an art project in the classroom to continue to learn about counting. Each child sat at the table with a paper and 4 ladybugs. We used our fingers and paint to make spots on the ladybugs, starting with one spot on the first, and adding an additional spot to the each following ladybug, leaving the last with 4 spots. Good counting Puppies!
Math with the Lions
In the Lions room we always try our best to incorporate math into our everyday lessons and play. In the month of April there were so many opportunities to use our math skills in all different ways. We started with the planets. We learned how many there are, which planets are further from the sun, which is the biggest and the smallest, and how many moons some of them have. We then moved on to the colors of the rainbow, which we learned was a set pattern.
We had the most fun on Earth Day, celebrating the planet we love so much. In making our recycling project we learned how to balance when we added “branches” to our tree, we learned how to space things out so they weren’t on top of each other, and of course we counted how many of each thing we placed on our tree. When the children planted, we tried making patterns with the flowers and discussed how much space the flowers needed to grow. We talked about how much water they needed and how tall they would grow. The children enjoyed learning all these lessons and were surprised to learn how much math they did every single day without even knowing it.
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Art with Snugglies II
The babies in Snugglies II had fun with art last month. The teachers introduced all the colors of the rainbow. We read books about colors during Circle Time and we pointed out the different colors on our walks in the playground. During art we used different shades of blue to make clouds and rain with our footprint. The children had the most adorable reactions to the feel of paint on their little toes. Then, we used red, orange, yellow, green and purple to create flowers. As the saying goes, "April Showers Bring May Flowers!"
Art with the Monkeys
April was a pleasant month as we welcomed the warmer weather and blooming flowers. The Monkeys discussed the season of Spring, and how plants change during this time. With plants comes intriguing bugs! The Monkeys loved to see and learn about different insects that are more common in the Spring time. We read the popular story, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar!” We created our own caterpillars with pom-poms, which we glued in a line onto a cut out paper leaf. We also created a BIG caterpillar for our recycling project. For this activity, the children each painted a paper roll and we attached them all together with pipe cleaners. We used a paper cup for its head, which the children also painted. They created a grassy platform out of a box and tissue paper for the caterpillar’s home. The children had so much fun with our insect project and book has become one of the Monkeys favorites!
Art with the Bears
Welcome May! Last month's theme, "Plants and Flowers" was explored throughout all of the centers in the classroom. The students were able to engage in many multi-sensory activities. During small group time, the students worked with the SMART Board and we discussed different types of flowers. During group meeting time, we talked about the parts of flowers such as petals, stems, leaves and roots. The children then went into centers and looked at different types of flowers and painted them. The children had a great time using water color paint to create their own masterpieces. The children loved looking at their art work on the bulletin board and discuss what everyone painted.
The Bears are excited to learn about this month’s Unit theme: Babies.
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Music with Chipmunks
During the Month of April, the weather began to feel more like spring and the children were enthusiastic about exercise. We found that one of their favorite forms of exercise was yoga. At the start of Meeting Time each day, Ms. Gina puts on the relaxation music and the children go right into stretching and doing their yoga. They are getting better and better at forming their poses, such as the tree pose and downward dog.
We have also been learning about the letter X. Each time we visit the Music and Movement Room, we put the Xylophone on the Beam Projector and the children each get a turn playing their own tune for us! They also enjoy playing with the hand held Xylophones as well! Music and Movement is such a fun way to get the children to learn, exercise and have fun!
Music with the Turtles
During the month of April, the Turtles learned all about plants and the lifecycle. We sang along to the sound of rain drops by singing, “Drip drop, drip drop, drip, drop, drip, drop.” We also sang “Mr. Sun” every time it rained hoping to make the rain stop; sometimes it worked! As we continued our lessons on plants, we continued to learn new songs. The children loved singing, “One Little Speckled Frog” since we made lily pads along with the rest of our flowers. We also learned a song called, “The Needs of a Plant” and one called, “The Plant Parts Song.” Singing helped us remember what we were learning in a fun way. We planted our own plants for Earth Day, as well. Since mother Earth does so much for us, we wanted to give something back by returning some flowers to her.
Last month we also had an Easter party and an egg hunt! The kids had a chance to search for and locate many different, beautiful eggs created by the children and their families. During the hunt we played many fun Easter songs and even created our own song singing, “We are going on an egg hunt,” which went to the tune of “We are going on a bear hunt.” The Turtles love singing each and every day.
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Gym with the Angels
The Angels have so much fun in the gym. From the rollercoasters to the rides in cars and bicycles, there are so many activities to choose from. One game we like to play is called “In and Out.” The teachers take some hula hoops and line them up in a row on the floor leaving some space in between each. Then the children each take turns hopping down the line of hula hoops chanting “In” each time we jump in and “Out” each time we jump out. The Angels also have fun playing the “In and Out” game with the tunnel. This game is so much fun and it also reinforces spatial concepts.
Tech and Gym with the Sunflowers
Technology and gym are presented in your child’s everyday life. Technology is presented when we use our Computer Room and Music and Movement Room! Last month, we went to the Computer room and learned about Earth Day and recycling. The children learned about ways we can help to save our planet! The Music and Movement Room has the BEAM projector that shines on the floor so the children could play games and get moving! They love playing Candy and Balloon Pop. With these games, they reinforce colors as they move around popping the items.
The Sunflowers get exercise by going outside and playing with the balls, by running around, and playing on our amazing playground that they absolutely love! The children love to go through the tunnel and slide down the slides. The children also do yoga in the gym by following along on our big television!! They follow along so well and really enjoy going on the adventures that the yoga instructor takes them on! Exercising and moving is a very important part of your child’s health and growth and with our great specialty rooms, exercise will always be done and made fun!
Gym and Tech with the Ducks
In the month of April the unit theme was “Plants.” During gym the Ducks made up a plant life cycle dancing game. Students identified the stages of the life cycle of a flower or bean. Then they added a pose or dance move they felt looked like the lifecycle. For example, Summer said the part of the lifecycle she wanted to explore was the seed. She then curled up into a ball and said she looked like the seed. This continued with all of the students and soon we were making poses and dancing to reflect the life cycles of beans and flowers.
Students also used technology to learn more about plants last month. The class realized that certain plants only grow in certain environments. Students named an environment and then we used the Smartboard to look up the different plants that grow there. For example, we found out that cacti grow in the dessert. These plants grow there because they do not need that much water. Then we looked up plants that lived in the rainforest. Students realized that if we moved a cactus from the dessert to the rainforest it wouldn’t be able to grow there.
We are looking forward to this month’s unit theme “Babies.” Students loved to learn about the life cycles of plants and they are looking forward to learning about the life cycles of animals.
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With the warm weather here, our children are able to spend more time outdoors. This calls for a couple of reminders.
· Please remember to apply sunscreen every morning.
· Please bring in sunscreen labeled with your child’s name.
· Sunhats or caps are a great shield from the sun but please consider safety. Be sure that hats or caps do not obstruct your child’s view.
· Keep in mind your child is wearing the proper footwear. Sandals and flip-flops look adorable but may become a potential hazard for running and climbing. Please see that your child is wearing toe-enclosed sandals or sneakers.
· Please remember to replace your child's cubby with weather appropriate clothing. Make sure all items are labeled with your child's name. Please take notice of replacing your child’s spare clothing.
Last by not least, I would like to acknowledge all of the mothers who drop off and pick their children up after stressful days of work. As a mother, I know you are exhausted and would rather go home and have some time to yourself. Instead, I hear you in the hallways asking your child about their day in school. I see you checking in with teachers about your child’s day in school and whether they ate accordingly to your schedule. I see you checking to make sure your child has what they need in their cubbies or calling to find out if they are feeling better, sleeping and eating. I see you juggling the bags, bottles and sippy cups as you head in and out of the door to wherever it is that is next on your list. A mother is someone who eternally puts their child before themselves.
Happy Mother’s Day!
all of our ID safety precau
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Angels
Angels
After a trip to the zoo, Giovanni came to school and told all of his friends and teachers that he saw an elephant!
Bears
During Center Time the children were playing with the different types of seeds and had asked if we could plant them. Ellianna, Sophia R, Olivia and Micaela, were having so much fun, so we got out the soil and a container. The girls put the soil and seeds in, Ellianna said to everyone, “I can’t wait to see our flowers. My mom is going to love these flowers.” Then the girls asked if they can give the plants to their moms.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Bumblebees
When talking about where different animals live, Miss Danielle asked the class “What about us? Are we on land, in the sea or up in the sky?” Elora said, “We are in school!”
Chipmunks
While learning about the parts of the book, Ms. Gina told the children that the bind of the book is sometimes called the spine. McKayla then replied to Ms. Gina, “We have big spines in our backs!”
Dolphins
The children were looking at plants on a light table. Luna said, “We are just like these plants. We are all beautiful, but we are all different!”
Ducks
While playing the lifecycle game Makayla said she wanted to show us the final flower stage and she spread her hands out wide and spun around in a circle. Students loved coping her and spinning together. Then Jackson said he would be the leaves and he moved his arms up and down. Christopher said he wanted to be the bean that just grew a stem. Christopher then stood up straight and touched his toes. Students had so much fun coming up with new poses.
Lions
Miss Melissa was trying to get the children’s attention and said, “Come on guys.” Vera responded, “I’m not a guy, I’m a women.”
Monkeys
Lucca Bella celebrated her birthday on a Sunday. The next day was Alexandras’ and Mias’ birthday. When we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to them in class Lucca Bella said, “My birthday is over, now it’s your turn!”
Pandas
The children were planting outside for Earth Day. Nicole was shoveling in the dirt when she noticed a worm. Nicole exclaimed, “Look Ms. Krystal I see a worm!” All of the students crowded around when Nicole held it in her hand. She said “The worm is part of nature; it’s good for the plants.”
Sunflowers
Emma leaves at 12:00, but still enjoys making her bed for nap time! When Emma’s mom comes to pick her up, she grabs her bed and yells, “WAIT! My bedroom!!” We all had a good laugh!
Turtles
Miss Samantha came back from her lunch break and said hello to all the children. Upon hearing Miss Samantha’s voice, Lorelai exclaimed, “YOU’RE FINALLY BACK!? WHERE WERE YOU? YOU WERE GONE 100 HOURS! I THOUGHT YOU WERE EATING A GIANT PIZZA!” Miss Samantha responded with, “I’m sorry! I was on my lunch break, and did my homework for college” Lorelai reacted with a confused expression, ...homework ??
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