JESUS TIME
Our worship lessons will help the children learn more about the life of Jesus after His birth. We will learn about Jesus as a boy, and how He loved to worship in the temple-church and learn more about God and the Bible. He grew bigger and stronger in His knowledge of God, and in His love for His family and friends, too. God chooses us to love others and helps us to tell them about Jesus, our Savior.

THEME/CONCEPTS
We will learn about “Outer Space” during the month of January. We will have many special projects and activities and our lessons will include learning about the different planets, the sun, moon and stars. The COLOR of the month is YELLOW, our SHAPE of the month is the RECTANGLE and our NUMBERS are 6-10. The LETTERS of the month are “5″, “J”, “D”, and “P”.

Library Books – On January 9th and 10th, the children will go to the Children’s Library in our church and be allowed to check out books, cassettes, and videos. We ask that you help your child enjoy them and continue to teach your child how to care for them, and return them (on or before) the next library day.

REMINDERS

• Please remember to sign your child in and out at drop off and pick-up each day. It is important and a great help to us.
• No School – Monday, January 16th – Martin Luther King Day
• Please remember to listen to the radio during adverse weather conditions. If Effingham Unit #40 Schools are closed, the Eagle’s Nest Preschool will be closed. WXEF often names the Eagle’s Nest Preschool closing as a courtesy.

BOOK ORDERS
Book Orders Due: No later than Thursday, January 19th. Please remember to make checks payable to SCHOLASTIC.

PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION FOR 2012-2013
Registration forms are being accepted for the 2012-2013 preschool year beginning in January. Registration is accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is open to:

1. Members of St. John’s during the first half of January
2. Current Enrollees/siblings during the second half of January
3. Effingham area community beginning February 1st

If you are interested, or know of a friend or neighbor that is interested, please send your registration form and fees as soon as possible. Extra registration packets may be picked up outside the classrooms on the bulletin board, upstairs in the office or mailed to you or a friend or neighbor by calling the church office at 342-4334.

MOMMY AND ME CLASSES
Our Mommy and Me Classes will begin on Friday, February 10th. This Mini Day of preschool will allow children that are just turning 3 years old the opportunity to be introduced to preschool fun with Mommy at their side. The Class will meet on Fridays from 9 to 10:30 A.M. The classes will meet each Friday, February 10th – March 30th. Please submit your Mommy and Me registration form as soon as possible.

PARENT LENDING LIBRARY
There are many interesting and helpful parenting books available in our Parent Lending Library. The books outside the doors of the 4 year old classroom are available for parents to check out for a two week period.

SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to everyone who helped to make our lives a little brighter throughout the month of December. A special thanks to the Moms and Dads that helped with Jesus’ Birthday Party and our Christmas program, especially helping the children put on their shepherd and angel costumes! We can never express to you how much your help is truly appreciated.

We pray that you and your families will be blessed throughout the New Year of 2012! Sincerely,

Mrs. Esker

JESUS TIME
All of our December lessons will help us learn about the Christmas Story.  God cares for us so much, that He sent Jesus to be our Savior-to save all people from their sins.  We will learn about the birth of Jesus Christ, the true reason for celebrating Christmas.

THEME/CONCEPTS
“Christmas Around the World” is the theme for the month of December and we will learn how people in other countries celebrate Christmas.  We have several special projects and activities scheduled throughout the month.  The COLOR of the month is GREEN, and the shape for the month is the STAR.

The 4 and 5 year old classes will learn the letters “Q,” and “G,” and the numbers 1 through 5.
The 3 year olds will be working on the letter “C” and number 5.

Library Books – On December 7th and 8th, the children will go to the Children’s Library in our church and be allowed to check out books, cassettes, and videos.  We ask that you help your child enjoy them and continue to teach your child how to care for them, and return them (on or before) the next library day.

REMINDERS:
• Please remember to sign your child in and out at drop off and pick up each day.  It is important and a great help to us.
• Jesus’ Birthday Party – December 19th and 20th – 10:45 AM
• No School – December 21st – January 3rd
Classes resume on Wednesday, January 4th
• Thanks for saving the Campbell’s Soup Labels.  Please be careful to not cut or tear through the UPC Label.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Jesus’ Birthday Party: We are so excited to celebrate the birth of our Savior with a birthday party.  Please join us in the chapel for our annual Christmas Program and Party.

Monday – December 19th at 10:45 A.M.
Tuesday – December 20th at 10:45 A.M.

Of course, grandparents or other special guests are welcome.  Hope you can make it, and don’t forget your camera!

A Special Thank You:
An overwhelming THANKS to everyone who contributed to our Thanksgiving Feast and a special THANKS to our parents that helped with our “Thanksgiving” celebration.

Mommy and Me Classes:
The “Mommy and Me Class” will be offered again this spring.  This class is for children that will be 3 years old by September 1, 2012.  This class offers your child the opportunity to be introduced to the world of preschool with the security of Mommy at their side.  Each child and parent will experience a mini day of preschool complete with Jesus time, learning activities, large motor activities, songs, stories and lots of fun playtime with friends and Mommy.  Please know that Daddies are more than welcome to come also, but due to space in the classroom only one parent can attend at a time.  Children are not required to be potty trained for this class.

Please tell your friends and watch for sign-up information!

May you have the gift of faith,
the blessing of hope
and the peace of His love
at Christmas and always.

Sandy Esker and Eagle’s Nest Preschool

JESUS TIME
During the month of November we will be learning about Naaman, Jonah, and Daniel and the lions.  These Bible stories remind us how God helps us every day.  God’s forgiving love helps us to love others, even when we don’t want to.  We will learn that God hears our praises and our prayers.  He sends His holy angels to protect us and rescue us from harm.  He sends His Son, Jesus to rescue us from sin.  God does so much for each of us, and we have reason to praise and thank Him.  Thanksgiving is a special time to give God our thanks and praise.

THEME/CONCEPTS
During the month of November, many of our lessons will focus on “Native Americans” and the Thanksgiving story.  The COLOR of the month is BROWN, and our SHAPE is the SQUARE.  The 4 and 5 year old classes will learn the LETTERS “U,” “C,” and “0.” and will work on the NUMBERS 1-5.  The 3 year olds will be working on the LETTER “N” and the NUMBER “4.”

Library Books – On November 14th and 15th the children will again go to the Children’s Library in our church, and be allowed to check out books, cassettes, and videos.  We ask that you help your child enjoy them and continue to teach your child how to care for them, and return them (on or before the next library day).

REMINDERS:
• Please remember to sign your child in and out at drop off and pick up each day.  It is important and a great help to us.
• No School – Friday, November 11th – Veteran’s Day
• Thanksgiving Feast – November 22nd and 23rd
• No School – November 24th and 25th – Thanksgiving Break
• Please remember to check your refrigerator note!  Please remember to bring snacks on the days that your child is listed as our “Snack Helper.”
• Preschool tuition can be placed in the mailbox downstairs, near the 4 year old classroom or turned into the church office.

BOOK ORDERS
Book Orders due: No later than TUESDAY, November 15th Please remember to make checks payable to SCHOLASTIC.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Thanksgiving Feast: We will celebrate Thanksgiving with a very special feast at preschool.  We are all very thankful for our families, especially our Grandparents.  This year we would like to invite our Grandparents or other Special Adults, along with parents to join us for our Thanksgiving Celebration and Feast.  Our celebration will begin in the church at 10:45 AM.  We will sing some special songs for our guests.  Then we will share our special feasts.  All of our classes will enjoy their feasts together in the large gym area.  The preschool will provide the traditional pumpkin pies! Each child is asked to bring 25 of his/her favorite foods.  There will be many great choices for your child to choose from, so very small portions are plenty.  Example: 25 wedges of apple instead of 25 whole apples or 25 small cups of macaroni and cheese or ice cream.  Please help your child place his/her special favorite food in the gym on the table labeled for your child’s class.  And please, invite your child’s grandparents or special guests to come and celebrate with us.

Praise the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
Psalm 106:1

UPCOMING EVENTS
• December 19th and 20th – Jesus’ Birthday Party and Christmas Program

God bless,
Sandy Esker, Director