News & Current Events - March-April, 2011

Director’s Corner
As March begins, the educators promote reading to children with the celebration of Dr.Seuss, one of the most beloved children's authors. In school across America, volunteers will read one-on-one to children. We hope you can do the same!

Upcoming events
Dr. Seuss Birthday celebration - March 2nd :  How silly can we become – that’s what we are celebrating. How many fun games can we play and how silly can the crafts and décor of the room will be. Looking forward to a fun event …

Blood Drive March 3rd  -  1:30 -6:00pm. Every year, Barrington Academy hosts a few Blood Drives in collaboration with Life South. Life South brings its van along with a nurse to collect blood and we help our parents in preparing for donating blood, by making  sure their children are taken care of and they have plenty of cookies and water to replenish yourself afterwards. Each donor walks away with a T-shirt.

MDA Hop-A-Thon March 7th -11th : Two million volunteers are the driving force that enables MDA to accelerate its worldwide research program and provide diagnostic and follow-up care through 220 clinics nationwide. The program offers a week-long disability awareness lesson plan; hands-on activities for the children with books and a video; and other free educational materials. Barrington is always looking for ways to help its community and build lasting relationships.

Barrington hop day March 11th  For all our students and some teachers too.

Muffins for mom March 31st : Social event for all mothers to associate with more parents and build relationships. We invite all mothers to visit their children at Barrington and share coffee and muffins with the teachers and staff.

Scholastic Book Fair  March 28th -April 1st  :Our second annual Book Fair is here. The theme will be spring and summer light reading for all age groups. We are ready to have some fun.

Spring Portraits April 26th : Parents are going to love this Spring’s Cap and Gown and additional Spring portraits. Great backgrounds and spring dresses to come.

Summer Camp Registration
We are accepting applications for Summer Camp beginning April 1st. Campers are going to participate in various theme related activities on site and off site. Our swimming pool will be open all summer. All children who can swim will be able to cool down in the pool daily and the others will have the opportunity to sign up for lessons and learn with our swim instructors. Wonderful themes like Hawaiian Hullabaloo and Pirates Adventure are being planned for our happy campers. Come join the fun!

Georgia Pre K 2011-2012 Registration
We have opened our doors for Georgia Pre K registration for the school year 2011 -2012 from February 21st. Please remember to bring all the forms along with Birth certificate, Proof of residence and other required documents back to the school after you have picked up a packet from us. Our spots fill up very quickly, so very soon you will be on the waiting list. Hurry !

Extra change of clothing
All children (even the four year olds) need a change of clothing in case of an accident. There have been several times that the children have had accidents and they do not have a change of clothes or the parent cannot be contacted. Please make sure that your child has a change of clothing pertinent to the weather. We do not have extra clothing on site.

Scholastic Book Club
We provide the opportunity to bring you the Scholastic Book Clubs every month and Scholastic Book Fairs from time to time. Each month your child receives an order form with different types of books and educational products. For every order we receive the center receives FREE books. So please help us enrich our classroom libraries and our children’s minds with wonderful and exciting books. See the monthly take home letter with your book order form.

Friday Folders
Don’t forget it is very important to check your child’s folder daily and specially on Fridays. The children work hard on their projects and papers. At times, important office memos may be in your child’s folder coming home to you on Fridays. Please make sure to sign the papers if required, and pay attention to all the upcoming events happenings at our school, enriching you child’s experience in learning.

Highlights for March / April

• March  is National Nutrition Month
• March is Women’s History Month
• March is Family Fun Month
• April is National Humor Month
• April is Lawn and Garden Month

Themes:  for March
Dr. Suess :   Students will be reading books by Dr. Seuss and making fun and whacky crafts based on his books.
Books : Horton Hatches the egg , If I ran the circus , If I ran the zoo
Experiments : Make a Dr. Seuss hat from paper bag , Toe Painting

Ocean Life : Students will be learning about different animals and plants that live in the ocean with hands on experiments in water.
Books : All about Turtles, The earth is mostly Ocean
Experiments: Sock White Whale, Paper Bag Octopus

Farm Life : This theme encourages the students to learn about various aspects of living on a farm and farm animals and products.
Books : Life of a Goat, Life of a Cow
Experiments : Make farm Houses,

Themes:  for April
Spring : Spring is in the Air. Our students will have fun experimenting with sand and flowers and watching bugs and butterflies.
Books : The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring, Spring Has Sprung! Bear in the Big Blue House
Experiments: Making handcrafted Bug and Butterfly, paper flowers

Lush Gardens  : Students will be learning about different  types of plants and flowers planted in Georgia gardens. We will also be planting little seeds in pots and watch them grow with tender care.
Books: The Carrot Seed, The Gardener
Experiments: Making Flower pots, Painting with Potato

Tadpoles and Frogs : This theme will help the students explore the life in a pond. Tadpoles and Frog are the main invertebrates to be found in a pond and we will learn about their life through our eyes.
 Books: The Hare and The Tortoise, Mrs. Turtle and Her Kids, From Tadpole to Frog, Lifecycle of a Frog
Experiments: Make turtles with balloons, Make frogs with bottle caps

Baby Animals : Students will learn about animals and their babies. Puppies, kittens, calves, fawns, cubs, ducklings, piglets and chick will be the topic of discussion. So much to learn here !
Books: Chicken little, The poky little puppy
Experiment:  Make bunnies in the grass, Make little ducklings