February Newsletter

What We've Been Up To...

Sweet Home Covenant

Spring 2013 Covenant

Preschool and Child’s Day Out Fundraiser


SAVE THE DATE!


5:30pm – 8:30pm

February 23, 2013

The Cedar Door

This is an adults-only social event and silent auction at the Cedar Door that raises money for the preschool’s operating budget. Get ready to kick up your heels and have a great time at this year's Sweet Home Covenant fundraiser and silent auction! Join us on Saturday, February 23rd at The Cedar Door, downtown 2nd and Brazos, from 5:30-8:30pm.  There will be delicious food and drinks, a silent auction full of amazing items and lots of good times!  Valet parking is available for only $8.  As part of the fundraiser, the silent auction helps to raise more than $10,000 in contributions.  Additionally, we have sponsorship opportunities available for the event. 100% of the contributions will go towards the operation of the school, enrichment opportunities like Spanish and Music classes, supplies for the classrooms, student scholarships and ongoing improvements to the school.

Tickets are $45 per person, $80 per couple. For more info, email Roxi Tsakas at CovenantPAT@gmail.com or stop by the preschool office!


Please RSVP by Friday, February 15th

Sweet Home Covenant February 23 – Sample Mini Photo Books Are In! 
You can pre-order your child's mini class photo book. They will have pictures of all your child's classmates, his/her teacher, and our amazing staff and chapel.  Pictures were taken by fellow CPP parents and professional photographers Megan Little and Elizabeth Moore. The mini books will be offered at 1 for $18 or 2 for $30. Additional books will be $15 each.  Please turn in RSVP's for the event at the office. Contact Roxi Tsakas at CovenantPAT@gmail.com with any questions.

Parking Permit “P”:
As part of our fall raffle, we offer a “reserved” parking spot that is in the front circle drive of the church.  Some of you may not be aware of it, but the sign says “Reserved for Parking Permit “P” – the “P” meaning “preschool.”  The winners of this spot change from month to month but sadly they do not always get to park there.  Please observe that this is a “reserved” spot.  Offenders will get friendly “reminders” placed on their windshields!! 

Extended Care, FUN Fridays and Enrichment Mondays:
Remember that we have early care available from 8:00am – 9:00am and from 1:00pm – 2:15pm each day.  You can sign up for the entire month or just “drop-in” when you have an extra errand to run.  We are also happy to share that we have drop-in availability for FUN Fridays (for threes).  We would LOVE to offer Enrichment Mondays (for fours and pre-K) where kids are able to have a full class day featuring Science, Cooking, Movement or Art .  However, we need at least three kids to sign up in order to offer the Monday class.  Please email cmilam@covenant.org for more information, if you're interested.

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Save the Date!

 Thursday, Feb. 14 at 9:00am – PAT Meeting
Wednesday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, Feb. 21 at 9:00am – Make and Take activities in the 2nd floor lobby

Saturday, Feb. 23 - Sweet Home Covenant Fundraiser @ The Cedar Door

 Sunday, May 26 - Registration closes for Camp Kingdom Vacation Bible School

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Meet the Teacher!

Constance Carlin (or should we say Zimmerman now!?!?) is the Lead Toddler II teacher at Covenant Presbyterian Preschool.  However, she states that her job is also "Beckett's mommy."  Constance has been at CPP for two years now, and says she loves being part of an amazing team!  Before she came to Covenant, Constance was a Play Therapist for Safe Place for six years.

As previously mentioned, Constance has a 3 year old son named Beckett, who is in Mrs. Carsner's class here at CPP.  He loves "his school" and Constance says, "Personally, I think he is one of the funniest and cutest kids ever!"  

You might be surprised to know that Constance lived in England and attended the University of Sussex for her Master's degree in Social Work.  Her favorite food is EVERYTHING!  Especially, Italian food, Sushi and coffee!  Constance loves to go listen to live bands in her free time.  She also loves reading, dancing and being around kids.  Constance and Beck have a dog named Jasper who is 2 1/2, and apparently, the sweetest guy ever!  They recently rescued him from the animal shelter.  

Constance's favorite cartoon character is Bam-Bam becuase he knows how to express himself with very few words... A man of action!

When asked her favorite thing about teaching at Covenant, Constance said, "I feel like I'm walking on cloud nine when I am here.  It is truly one of the happiest places I have ever been.  The team here amazes me daily." 

We are so blessed to have Constance as our Lead Toddler II teacher!     

Meet Marissa Galvan-Hernandez, the Toddler II's Teacher's Aide!  Marissa is experiencing her first year here at Covenant, but has taught before at Habibi's Hutch preschool in South Austin, where she painted kids and made potions!  She also substituted at NYOS elementary charter school, working with Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Marissa is a proud Mama of two very bright and handsome little boys.  They both play chess in their school's chess club, and also love basketball, soccer and football... which are either being watched on TV or played in the backyard!

You might be surprised to learn that Marissa has run a total of five 5K's and four of them were MUD runs!!  She even ran a 5K on Mother's Day morning!  Marissa's favorite food is pizza, and her hobbies are reading, or browsing on her Kindle Fire.  Her family just added a dragonscale beta fish named Voxin to their home.  And once they settle into their new house, they hope to adopt a dog!

Marissa's favorite cartoon character is Tigger, from Winnie the Pooh.  She loves that he is full of energy, bouncy, happy and a great friend!  

Her favorite thing about teaching at Covenant is, first, the families are awesome!  Second, she loves the unconditional love and hugs from the little ones.  Third, the teachers are unique and a fantastic group of ladies!  

We are so blessed to have Marissa as our Toddler II's Teacher's Aide!

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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!

Last week, we heard the story about the Good Samaritan and continued learning that  “God Wants Us to Love and Care for Others” – just in time for Valentine’s Day!

This week, we learned about Ash Wednesday.  The children and teachers at Covenant observed this event in a very special way today, as pastor Paul Parsons placed ashes in the sign of the cross on children’s foreheads this morning in Chapel.  What a sight to behold.  While their little minds cannot quite grasp the entire concept of lent (nor can I sometimes), they were certainly affirmed that Jesus loves them!

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Make and Take

Make and Take will be Wednesday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, Feb. 21 at 9:00am in the second floor lobby.  Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to grab a quick craft to do at home with your kid(s)! 

Also, the Make and Take girls will be needing volunteers to help facilitate Make and Takes next year, so if you're interested in helping one month, please contact Kristen McDavid or Erinn Windler so they can keep your contact information for next year.

Kristen McDavid - kkmcdavid@gmail.com
Erinn Windler - erinnwindler@yahoo.com
  

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Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

We, as moms, have a hard job.  It requires long hours, LOTS of energy and most of all, a servant heart.  I think sometimes people who are no longer moms of little ones, or people who have never had children, forget how tiring our job is, and just how long and hard we work.  Please take some time out for yourself, read the following article and take comfort in what an amazing job you are doing!  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/dont-carpe-diem_b_1206346.html

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Happy Birthday to You! 

                         Nancy Bissell (2/7)

Jenny Carman (2/9) 

Julia Millikin (2/12) 

Jenny Runkel (2/16)

Bonnie Bownds (2/17) 

Will Clements (2/24)

Karson Rutledge (2/28)
Ford Grant (3/5)

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Covenant Happenings

Vacation Bible School

Kingdom Rock, June 17-21, 2013

Where kids stand strong for God.
Get ready for a week of faith, fun and friends. At Covenant's Vacation Bible School, kids learn about God and the Bible through song, taste, smell, touch and sight. It's a glorious week of fun activities that center around God. For more information, download the Parent Letter and FAQ @ http://www.covenant.org/vbs, then download the appropriate registration form and return the completed form to Stacey Grooms.
 

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.