October Newsletter #2

What's Been Happening...

Fall Raffle

 

The Fall Raffle is here! Tickets are being sold Tuesday - Friday Oct. 16-25 during pick-up and drop-off in the 2nd floor lobby. 

Here's what YOU could win:
- Milk + Honey Spa Package for Two ($500 value)
- Kindle Fire HD

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!!!  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.  Each ticket goes toward ONE prize so the more tickets you buy, the more prizes you can enter to win.  Or, if you KNOW what you want, you can put ALL your tickets toward that prize to increase your chances.  You can show your support for our wonderful school and get an amazing prize at the same time!  

 Tickets will be sold in the second floor lobby before drop off at 9am and after pick up at 1pm, as well as at Dad's Pizza Night.  Please email covenantPAT@gmail.com with any questions, or see Roxi Tsakas, PAT Fundraising Chair.

Hope Fest 2012

 
The Preschool’s Parent Advisory Team is undertaking its mission project for the year, HopeFest, which will occur on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9:30am-3:00pm at Reagan High School.  The PAT is helping  gather the items needed: gently used infant and children’s clothes, maternity clothes, children’s books, baby care items (bottles, crib sheets, blankets, towels) and equipment (strollers, cribs, pack and plays); no toys please.   

If you have these items, the boxes are on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the Fellowship and Education building.  They will be out until Thursday, Oct. 25th. For more information, contact PAT President Bridgette Stahlman at bridgette.stahlman@gmail.com.  Here is the link to the HopeFest website:  http://hopefestaustin.org/Home.html where you can see more information including volunteer sign-ups.

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Save the Date!

Fall Raffle - October 16-25 (Raffle will be drawn on the 25th)
Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 17 & 18 - Make and Take after Drop-Off
Thursday, Oct. 18 and Friday, Oct. 19 at 9:30am – Fire Truck Visit on campus
Thursday, Oct. 25 – Dad’s Pizza Night 6:00pm-7:30pm
Friday, Oct. 26 – Fours and Pre-K Conferences and Staff Development (School CLOSED) 

Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 14 & 15 - Make and Take after Drop-Off

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Meet the Teacher!

  Meet Covenant Presbyterian Preschool's Three's Teacher in the Elephant Room, Jennifer Carsner!  This is Jennifer's first year teaching at CPP, but both of her girls have attended/attend here.  Before teaching at CPP Jennifer stayed home with her girls, and before that she was a Kindergarten and First Grade teacher.  

Jennifer's two girls are Lucy (7), who is a CPP alumni and is now at Casis, and Lily (5), who is currently in Ms. Lisby's Lions class.  

One amazing thing you might be interested to know about Jennifer is that she used to race dirt bikes!!  Her favorite food is Mexican food, and she says she could literally east chips, salsa and guacamole every day!  Jennifer loves running, lifting weights, traveling and spending time outside with her family.  

Jennifer's favorite cartoon character is Curious George, because she loves monkeys!  She had a stuffed monkey as a child that she carried everywhere and she still has him today.  

So far, Jennifer's favorite thing about working at Covenant is getting to know all of the sweet children and their families.  She loves what a supportive and loving community we have!

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Bible Units

Take some time to check out what Bible Unit your child is studying at school... You might find great opportunities to discuss what he/she is learning at home!  We're still on the same Bible Unit as the past few weeks.

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Make and Take

We are all LOVING the Make and Takes!  The October Make and Take (still going on... drop by tomorrow, the 18th, if you missed it today!) has already been a huge hit!  Many of CPP's moms and dads stopped by today to trace designs such as pumpkins, ghosts, angels, boats, leaves and many others onto foam board.  Then, they cut the designs and hole-punched the edges to prepare the crafts for their kiddos.  Parents left with colorful string and their designs in hand, ready for a great after-school project!  

If you haven't been able to check out the Make and Take, be sure to stop by next month on November 14th and 15th to pick up the newest craft.  This is such a quick and easy way to spend time with your child, while having something new and interesting to work on!

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Who Knew? 

  A leading researcher in the field of cognitive development says when children pretend, they’re not just being silly—they’re doing science!

Read more:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Let-the-Children-Play-Its-Good-for-Them.html?device=ipad

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  Happy Birthday to You! 

Thomas Witzel (10/7) 

Miles Windler (10/8) 

Ruby Grant (10/12) 

Reese McDavid (10/13) 

Thomas Traweek (10/13) 

Angie Bird (10/21) 

Marissa Galvan-Hernandez (10/23) 

Jack Roberts (10/24) 

Max Abraham (10/28)  

Lucy Clough (10/30) 

Charlie Farrar (10/30) 

Leighton Scarbrough (10/31) 

Recent Birthdays We Missed! 

 Luke McReynolds (9/6) 

Kenner Stahlman (9/9) 

Mary Watterson (9/10) 

Dylan Stokes (9/10)

 Riley Furlong (9/11)

George Gray (9/11) 

Jennifer Carsner (9/14)  

Millie Weber (9/18)

Henry Haegelin (9/18)

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Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

1st Corinthians 13 for Moms

If my child speaks in the tongues of men or of angels, masters sign language at six months and Spanish and Mandrin Chinese by six years, but does not learn to love, she is only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If he has the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge- ABCs at a year, reading by two, writing chapter books in Kindergarten-but does not have love, he is nothing. If I volunteer for every mommy ministry-MOPS, AWANA, Sunday School, and if I give all I possess to the poor (or at least bring loads of groceries to the food bank), but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy other mother's lifestyle choices or possessions, it does not boast in the areas of my children’s natural strengths (while covering for their faults), it is not proud of the way my child potty trained before your child. It does not dishonor others by insisting that my method of parenting is the best, it is not self-seeking-hoping that you’ll notice how smart, talented or well rounded I am raising my child to be. It is not easily angered by perceived slights or misjudgments, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth that all of parenting is fueled and driven by God’s grace. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails-even where I have fallen painfully short of God’s best for my children. But where there are competitions to see whose body bounces back best after childbirth, they will cease; where there are verbal fights over the correct methods of discipline, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge about the best way to feed and clothe and nurture a child, it will pass away. For we know in part and we parent incompletely, but when they are fully grown, what we thought we knew about raising our children will disappear. When I was a new parent, I thought, spoke and reasoned with immaturity and without grace. As my children grew, I asked God to give me the wisdom to put these childish ways behind me. For now we see our children’s future as only a reflection as in a mirror; one day we will behold their adults selves face to face. Now I know in part; then we shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Written by Katie Loveland, a public health Program Manager who lives with her husband and two adorable children in Montana. 

http://www.lifewithjack.com/2012/05/1st-corinthians-13-for-moms.html

 Fresh New Ideas...

Looking for ideas on what to cook for your guests this month, or needing some more information on how to keep your kids safe this Halloween?  Check out H.E.B.'s My Texas Life Monthly Magazine online, or pick one up the next time you're at the store.  It's a great, quick read that is jam-packed with great ideas and information... not to mention coupons!!

http://www.heb.com/page/whats-in-store/texas-archive/2012/october 

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Covenant Happenings

"Trunk or Treat"  October 24th
For the seventh consecutive year, Covenant Children's and Preteen Ministries hosts "Trunk or Treat Your Way through the Bible" Wednesday, October 24th, 5:30-7:00 p.m. This annual event has grown to be a real favorite. It is a wonderful way for kids to learn the Bible in a hands-on way as they go from car to car, see how each trunk has been transformed into a Bible story, hear the point of the story and receive a "treat" that reinforces the Bible point; think of Sunday school and tailgating coming together! For more information, contact Gayla Stuart at gstuart@covenant.org or 334-3042.

Wednesdays for Children at Covenant

On Wednesday nights from 6-7:30 children four years old through 4^th grade are invited to meet with Coach Kelly for a time of very active games with a Biblical message. Midway through the evening the kids are divided into age groups to explore the Bible through story time, crafts, snacks and Bible story videos.

To reserve childcare for children three years and younger during Wednesday night activities, contact childcare@covenant.org.

Children's Choirs

Covenant offers children's choirs for children ages 4 by Sept. 1, 2012, through 6th grade. The choirs rehearse on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. during the school year. In addition to experiencing the joy of music and singing, our choir members learn the importance and the excitement of being actively involved in worship. The children sing special music at worship services, present a Christmas program, and perform in our annual spring musical.

• Choristers: 4th - 6th grades
• Carolers: 2nd and 3rd grades
• Sunshine Singers: 1st grade
• Praise Makers: Kindergarten
• Music Makers: Pre-Kindergarten

Questions? Contact Stacy Curtis at scurtis@covenant.org or 334-3033.

Children's Programs at 9:30 on Sundays 

Covenant offers numerous learning programs for your children. At 9:30 a.m. on Sundays, kids can play games and socialize while learning about the Bible. Refer to the menu at left for more information on these programs.

Tot Spot 

Tot Spot is loving childcare for babies three months up to two years old. It is available Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

Preschool Place

Preschool Place is Sunday school for two-year-olds through pre-kindergarten. At 9:30 a.m. on Sundays, Children enjoy an hour of song, prayer, Bible story time and crafts. The curriculum is activity-oriented for those energetic little ones. Tons of fun!

zone k-4

zone k-4, for kids in kindergarten through 4^th grade, is Sundays at 9:30 a.m. This elementary age Sunday School program provides 10 different learning labs for children to be immersed in the Bible. It incorporates food, games, computers, science, art, music and storytelling. The children are divided into groups according to grade and gender and are led by “Shepherds” to a different lab each week. The hands-on lesson presented at each station reflects stories being studied throughout the year.

“Bible Bucks” are issued to students for memorizing the point of the day, the scripture of the month, leading in prayer, etc. Those bucks can be redeemed at our “Inspiration Store” where kids can purchase items that reinforce what we are teaching in zone k-4. Our hour concludes with a large gathering time where we sing songs of worship and praise. It is truly an energizing and motivating hour for kids!

Club 56

Club 56 is a Sunday school program for 5^th and 6^th graders on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Club 56 starts the hour with fun games that introduce the Bible lesson for the day. Later in the hour students break into groups by gender and have deeper discussion and prayer time. Club 56 on Sunday mornings is led by Club 56 parents and our fabulous Club 56 Interns.
 

Children's Programs at 11 a.m. on Sundays

Treasure Island

Children, from four-years-old to second graders, may sail away to Treasure Island at our 11 a.m. services.  Kids begin the hour with their families in either the 11 a.m. Traditional or the Contemporary Service. After 10-15 minutes, the kids are invited to join a member of the Children and Preteen Ministry staff and make their way to FE 300. There, the kids learn a Bible story and engage in activities that enhance the learning experience. Parents should pick their kids in in FE 300 at the conclusion of the worship service.