Serving La Canada Since 1949
Please come out and march with us at the La Canada Memorial Day Parade on Monday May 31 at 10:00 a.m. School is closed,
and this is an amazing event for the children to be a part of the local community and their school. We carry balloons, a banner,
teachers ride in vintage cars, and it is just a blast.
This blog is courtesy of Miss Pam, one of our amazing teachers:
Last week one of the children asked me if they could bring books outside to read in the yard. At first I was hesitant, thinking that the books would wind up strewn all over the yard. At the same time my instincts are to always listen to the children, as they are my best resource for curriculum. If the children feel they have a say in our school, what ownership that creates.
So now we have a new outside space we are calling the quiet area. We have placed a small table with chairs, some pillows and books. Here the children can sit and read, lay on a pillow with a book, underneath our beautiful elm tree. This morning there were children that wondered in and out of this space, taking time to look over a favorite story .
In the shade of the quiet area children can take a break from all the action in the school yard and have a time to enjoy a book. All this from a belief I have that the best curriculum is what we call emergent curriculum. We practice this when we listen carefully to the children’s interests and implement school activities based on those interests.
“Miss Pam I like the quiet area. Now we can read books outside too.” That made my day:)
There is a wonderful part of our curriculum that does not get enough discussion and that is snack.
Everyday we serve what I think is the best school snack in a school community. Snack also creates unique time of communication and gathering that goes on at the table. Today I was having snack with the children, watching them ask for what they needed, “More grapes please”, as well as talking to each other and laughing over a silly conversation. Over food the children are learning to try different things, to pass items around the table, and to eat away from home with a group.
Today our menu consists of crackers and cheese with grapes. The children delight in making their cracker sandwiches and talking about how sweet the grapes are. Tomorrow we will have strawberry yogurt and fresh strawberries from Oxnard. Wednesday we will have pears and pirates booty, Thursday is casadias and peaches.
We have started serving Nutella on Ritz Crackers and fruit on Fridays. How excited the children are over nutella. We say it is our fun friday treat and everyone agrees it is a tasty way to end the week. When we have an extensive healthy snack we are teaching the children the importance of nutrition along with how to enjoy food. They are encouraged to take their time, relax, and visit with their friends while eating.
In being mindful of the food we serve we are modeling healthy eating. We also ask the children what they like for snack and we make every attempt to adapt our menu to their preferences. We include spaghetti, sandwiches, bagels and many kinds of fruits in our menu.
How fun to have snack at La Canada Preschool.
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and the true validation that our staff is feeling is a gift to behold. Today we had a beautiful luncheon, where parents not only brought in food but came in to watch the children so that the teachers could eat together. We have had flowers and chocolates, along with homemade cards by the children that put Hallmark to shame.
When we feel this type of outreach from the parents we serve, educators are inspired and rejuvenated. It reaffirms why we come to out little school every morning. Suddenly the work is more meaningful and again we are reminded why we are valued. None of my teachers make enough money for the work they do, yet when we feel the love of the parents it lets us know why we choose this profession; because it is more than just a job. It is an extension of the families we work with, and a collaboration in child development with the parents at the helm and the teachers as partners.
Thank you to everyone who reaches out and thanks a teacher. It sustains us.