Director's Message

What an incredible first month we have had at Covenant Preschool! I’ve seen joyous, singing faces in Chapel, tearful, unsure expressions in classrooms, energetic and bold movements on the playground and proud, straight (almost) queues just about everywhere I turn. Are we having fun or what? The children have, for the most part, adjusted to their new schedules. That is due primarily to the teachers, who give your children a sense of peace and comfort each and every day. We are wonderfully blessed by each of the teachers – to see them in the classroom is inspiring and motivating!


We are also blessed by the community of families we have this year! Our Parent Advisory Team (PAT) is outstanding and I am already blown away by the level of involvement that our parents have. We can only flourish as a co-oping school with the help of YOU, the parents. We have so many events and activities that will become special memories for you and your children – take time to enjoy and savor them. I think you will really enjoy reading our first newsletter and finding out what the PAT is up to this year and more ways that you can be involved.

At school, we want to meet the needs of your child on a variety of levels – social, cognitive, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Our Bright Beginnings curriculum provides the basis for the ways in which we will help your child begin to build a foundation of spiritual understanding. Bright Beginnings is designed to help us apply Bible concepts in a way that relate to a child’s everyday life. We will tell Bible stories in a variety of ways that invite your child’s involvement. Music, circle time fun, creative learning activities, finger plays and more will help each child understand the Bible concepts being presented. Each month, we will aim to include a Parent Page that gives an overview of the unit’s Bible concept, Bible verse and Bible stories. In addition, the page will include a short article that explores the unit’s Bible concept as well as simple definitions of some Bible-related words.

Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in the growth of your children. As always, please feel free to contact me with any and all feedback.

With God’s Blessings,

Christy O. Milam

October 2011

PAT President's Message

Hello fellow CPP parents!

I hope everyone is getting into the swing of the school year by now. I don’t know about you but my family is glad to be getting our routines down, and there is nothing better than seeing those happy faces at the end of the school day. I am very grateful that my children have such a warm, loving, and special environment to grow in.

My fellow PAT members have been working already on several important items I wanted to share. We just submitted for approval the budget for 2012 (while we may be on a school calendar, the church works on a yearly calendar) and we worked very hard to make sure our estimates for revenue and expenditures are on target. Bridgette Stahlman has done a fantastic job of crunching numbers to get everything in order. 


Roxi Tsakas has been hard at work preparing our Fall Raffle. This is an important fundraiser that goes directly to support the Preschool’s operating budget. We rely on the families at the preschool to support our Fall and Spring fundraisers in order to provide such an excellent learning environment at Covenant. This year’s raffle has some great prizes and is open to everyone and anyone to participate. 


Brooke Howe added her special touch to make sure our Back to School picnic was a success. Jenny Stone Wolkind has done a great job of getting all of the co-oping schedules organized and room parents signed up. Susanna Butler is busy working on all sorts of publicity for our upcoming raffle as well.  Liz Farrar has gotten this blog up and running in record time and it is going to be a great way to share information. Melissa Abraham, Gayla Zachry and Christy Milam also serve on the PAT and we are so very grateful for them. These women know how to get things done!

The next Parent Advisory Team meeting is October 13^th at 9:15am in FEB 104. Our meetings are open to everyone and we encourage parents to attend. I also wanted to remind everyone to take time occasionally to thank the faculty and staff that work here at Covenant. They really are superstars and are what make this place so special!

Jenny Carman

President, Parent Advisory Team

October 2011

Take Action!

Every month, this is where you go to find out what's going on and what items to add to your awesome and ever-growing To Do List!

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2011 Covenant Presbyterian Preschool and Child’s Day Out Fall Raffle

Tickets on sale October 11 – 21 with the drawing on October 21st (don't have to be present to win.)

Here's what YOU could win: 

- Apple iPad 2 (WHOA!)

- Apple iPod nano

Here's what Preschool Families could win: 


- Your very own parking space at Covenant for one month (7 opportunities to win) 


- A Christmas cookie decorating party for one child's class 


- A special and memorable lunch for your child with his/her teacher

You get to CHOOSE which prize(s) your ticket(s) could be drawn from!!! And this raffle is open to EVERYONE so please sell to anyone who wants a chance to win an iPad2 for $25... which means everyone on the planet. :)

All proceeds from this drawing go to support the operating budget of the preschool. Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100... that's one whole chance to win for FREE. Tickets will be sold on the first floor of the preschool building before drop off at 9am and after pick up at 1pm. Please contact CovenantPAT@gmail.com with any questions.

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Love and Logic - Early Childhood “Parenting” Made Fun!™

There is still space available for the remaining four sessions!!
MORNING SESSION: Tuesdays, October 4 – November 1, 2011 from 10:00-12:00
EVENING SESSION: Sundays, October 2 – October 30, 2011from 6:00-8:00 PM

(Click above then zoom in for full details and contact information!)

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Parent Education Night

We are offering our first Parent Education Night of the year on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 6:30pm, featuring Dr. Paula Stiernberg (from Parenting with Purpose).  Knowing Your Gift is open to anyone in the community!  Please contact Christy directly at cmilam@covenant.org for more information.  Free childcare is available by making a reservation at least 48 hours in advance by contacting childcare@covenant.org.  


As a parent, you have been given the most amazing little gift that continues to grow more amazing as we “unwrap” it. How well do you know your gift, your child? 

During this workshop, Dr. Stiernberg will share the latest research about temperament styles and help you identify which one might be your child’s. Knowing your child’s temperament – and perhaps even your own – will not only help you interact, enjoy and spend quality time with your child, but also help to understand why certain behaviors tend to “push your buttons."

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Hopefest 2011

Until October 20th, please bring your gently used clothing (baby, kid and maternity!), children's' books and baby equipment. Put items in the red bins on the 2nd and 3rd floor. No toys please!

Jenny Carman has delivered two car loads of items and they have been received with great appreciation. Let's finish strong!

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Dad's Pizza Night

This fun gathering is October 20^th at 6:00pm in Room 300.  This is a night for Dads (and granddads and uncles!) to enjoy pizza and fellowship with their children* and other Dads.  There will be an opportunity for Dad to visit the classroom and see what fun things we are doing. It's $6 for Adults and $4 for kids. Please return the form you picked up at your child's class by October 12th.  

*Only bring children attending Covenant, please! And this is the last day for Hopefest so send your items with Dad!

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A Note from Miss Barb

MUSIC WEB SITE

I invite you to visit the web site that I started several years ago to give you and your children access to the songs that we are singing in music class and chapel.  I have not updated it recently, but hopefully will do so shortly.  However, on this site you will find numerous songs that are already posted for you to enjoy.

The site is organized so that you can search various categories for songs, such as by music class or chapel, by age of the child, by active or quiet songs, and by unit number.  You can also search by song title.  Also included are the chapel and music lesson plans for each unit, as well as other items of interest (listed under “Music Notes”).  For each song, there is a link to the words and motions.

Just go to missbarb.org and enter user name “music” and password “pr3sk00l” (00l is zero zero and lower case “L”).  I hope that you will enjoy this with your children!

Barb Miaso

Music Teacher

Bible Study!

Here's what our kids are studying this month! Let's study along with them and encourage as they learn! 

(Click on image to see full size flyer)