Family Traditions and Sharing, Elf Louise Project, Gift Idea, Vacation Reminder, Grandparent Days, STEP Parenting Class

Big Acorn Thanks go out to the following families for their generous donations and quick response to our fundraising letter:  Amanda and Jon Sylvie, Micki and Don Philbin, Juliette and Marc Laliberte, Rosemary and Joe Martinez, Lizzy and Ben Bosell, and friend Melvin Krenek.  We appreciate your generous support without which The Acorn could never continue to exist.

Family Traditions & the Season of Sharing:  We’d like to share with you the approach the teachers will be taking in their holiday activities with the children.  At The Acorn we really like to emphasize the fact that this is a season for giving, sharing, togetherness, and showing our care and love for others.  In our time of celebrating, we will be trying to help the children look outwardly and think of how they can show others that they care for them.  Some of the activities our teachers are planning are making gifts, cards, ornaments, and wrapping paper for parents and family members and looking at ways to help in the community.  Once again, all the classes will collect toys for the Elf Louise Project.  This wonderful community service project is particularly dear to us since Elf Louise is an Acorn parent whose son Christopher graduated from The Acorn in the late 80’s.  Since Louise is struggling with a recent cancer diagnosis, we are especially eager to help gather lots of toys this year to help her generous cause.  We encourage you to help your child select at least one “like new” toy in very good condition from home that he/she has outgrown or no longer uses, or bring a new purchased toy, to give to a less fortunate child that otherwise might not receive a Christmas present.  The “Elves” have stipulated only new stuffed toys be shared, as one previously loved cannot be cleaned properly.  We will accept items up through Monday, December 14th.

We should add that outside of singing traditional songs, we essentially don’t put any emphasis on Santa Claus here at school, because that is usually associated with, “What are you going to ask for?” or, “What do you want to get for Christmas?”  Children are egocentric enough, and at this time of year we want them to be thinking about what they can do for and give to others.  So the kinds of activities we choose will be those that encourage a spirit of sharing, giving, caring, and kindness of the season.

The Kindergarten will perform their version of the annual Christmas Nativity Play for the other classes during the weeks before Christmas.  It is a wonderful Acorn tradition and after hearing the nativity story, the children enjoy writing and telling it in their own way for the play.  All classes will enjoy hearing the Nativity story, as well as sharing in Hanukkah and other family celebrations and the traditions of the season.  This sharing of customs and traditions is a lovely way of starting that crucial step of caring for and appreciating each other.  It is such a self esteem builder as the children relate their own experiences, and it instills an appreciation for the beauty of other cultures and celebrations in which our friends may participate!

Vacation Reminder:  We’ve turned our calendars to December, and our Christmas break is coming soon!  Our last day of school this month is Friday, December 18th.  Vacation begins on Saturday, December 19th, and runs through Monday, January 4th.  Classes resume Tuesday, January 5th.  (Mon., Jan 4th, is a teacher work day and staff meeting.)

The Acorn’s 30th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Fundraiser - Saturday evening, March 6th, 2010, at the San Antonio Country Club.  As you all know, our big 30th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser will be Saturday, March 6th at the San Antonio Country Club.  We’ll have a dance band, taste good wines from around the world, and have our attractive silent auction including the projects that each class of children has helped create – quilts, works of art, etc.  Tickets are $75 per person of which our cost of the party is over $50.  While you get together with family and friends over the holidays, please remember to talk up our party.  Lots of grandparents, family members, and friends always attend this fun event and especially on major anniversaries like our 30th.  Also, as you are doing your Christmas shopping and ringing the cash registers, please remember to ask for prize donations.  A copy of our prize request letter is attached.  You can copy it or come into the office for extras any time you want.  Thanks!

Planning Meeting Th., Jan. 7th, 10:45 A.M.  Come and get involved! Watch this space for updates and information!

Jan. 11 Fundraiser Kickoff Coffee  Mark your calendars and plan on dropping by the Strash family home during school hours – there will be a packet waiting there for every family!  More details when we return in Jan.

Gift Idea:  A thoughtful and lasting gift for someone on your list might be a personalized brick in The Acorn walkway.  You can obtain one for a $75 donation.  These bricks would be installed next summer.

2009 Preview:

Grandparents Days: A special time next semester is the week we host all of our Grandparents Days in each class.  We hope that each child can have a grandparent (or two or three or four!) to come and share in the fun!  The schedule is as follows:
Mon., Feb 8
10:30 – 11:30 AM: Kindergarten
2:15 – 3:15 PM  4 Day PM Class

Tues., Feb. 9
10:15 – 11:15 AM: 2 Day AM Class
2:15 – 3:15 PM:  5 yr. old Class

Wed., Feb. 10
9:00 – 10:00 AM: 3 day AM Class

Thurs., Feb. 11
9:00 – 10:00 5 Day AM Class

Fri., Feb. 13
2:15 – 3:15 PM:  3 Day PM Class
Jan.-Feb. Events

Jan. 5  Classes Resume
Jan. 14  Meeting for Next Year’s Kindergarten Parents
Jan. 15 Kindergarten Observations
Jan. 11 Fundraiser Kickoff Coffee
Jan. 18 MLK Day Holiday
Jan. 19 Enrollment begins
Feb. 15 President’s Day Holiday
March 6 Fundraiser at SACC
STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) Parenting Class:  The Acorn is hosting a seven week course to help moms and dads through the many facets of early parenting.  We’ve all experienced moments of power struggles and stubborn arguments where the situation has us baffled beyond our wits end!  Who would ever imagine we could be so befuddled by a three year old!!!!  This course will be led by Katie Gaebel, a Four Day PM teacher, who earned her BA in Special and Early Childhood Education and holds her Masters Degree in Elementary School Counseling.  Katie has taught numerous STEP classes over the years including the last two years here at The Acorn.  This course will cover understanding young children and their behavior, building their self-esteem, communication skills for parents, setting limits, effective positive discipline, how to help children learn to cooperate, and nurturing emotional and social development.  The content is so relevant and of great value to every parent.  The classes will be held on Mon. evenings, starting January 25th. The cost will be $90 for one parent and an additional $55 if both parents attend.  This includes one parent workbook per family that will be used throughout the course.  Information and Enrollment Forms are attached; mark your calendars now and plan on enrolling! (Class size limited to the first 20 parents.)
Pick Up Time – Please be Prompt:  We know this is a busy season for all, but please plan accordingly so you can pick up your children on time.  If you are late and they are in the office, be prepared to pay your late fee.  Late fees begin at 11:45 for A.M. preschool classes, 12:05 for Kindergarten, and 3:45 for the afternoon classes.  Also, as a reminder, please keep longer conversations for another time, and keep our pickup line moving.  Thanks!

Enjoy your family time together!

Rich and Jo

The Acorn will be closed for the week of November 23rd for parent/teacher conferences and the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Have a wonderful week!

A tour for families interested in enrolling their children at The Acorn will be held on Saturday morning, November 14th, at 10:00 AM.  Please give us a call at 210-826-8804 if you plan to attend.  It will last approximately 1 1/2 hours, and is for adults only.  At that time you can complete an application and turn it in with a $25 application fee.  This will keep your name on the waiting list.

We hope to see you there!