October 2013 Newsletter

What We've Been Up To...

The Lions Class is IN THE LEAD for the Cookie Party!!

As you already know, the Parent Activities Team kicked off our fall fundraiser last week!  This year, the classes will be racing to a cookie party finish and the class that raises the most money will win!  The suggested minimum donation is $25 and for every $25 you donate, you will be entered to win a Milk & Honey spa package valued at $250!  So far, the top three classes are:

1st Place – Mischievous Monkeys ($325)
2nd Place – Learning Lions ($275)
3rd Place – Brainy Bears ($225)

Donation slips (ACH or check only please) can be found on the second and third floors and the winner will be announced at Dad’s Pizza Night of October 24.  We’re not quite halfway to our goal, so let’s keep this race going! 

A Very Special THANK YOU!! 

THANK YOU to the Rutledge Family for our 2013-2014 Student Directories
We received our school directories yesterday and have distributed to all of our families – they are BEAUTIFUL!  A HUGE thank you to the Rutledge Family (Karen and Thomas a.k.a. mom and dad to Karson in the Jivin’ Giraffes) for DONATING their time, energy and resources to print the directories at no cost to the school!  This is an AWESOME gift and it is their FOURTH year to provide this service to us.  Please tell them “thank you” if you see them! 

Back to School Picnic... in the rain!

Well, it might have been humid, then wet, then crazy inside, but we had a wonderful time at the Back to School Picnic!  Thank you to everyone who came out for such a fun night... and to everyone who helped us make the mad dash inside with all of our picnic gear!

Covenant's Director of Children and Preteen Ministries Retires

 Below is the letter from Gayla Stuart, Covenant's Director of Children and Preteen Ministries.  We have loved her dearly, and are so sad to see her go.  She has done wonders with our programs here and we wish her all the best as she continues to do God's work!

Dear Covenant Saints,

“Train a child up in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not stray!” Proverbs 22:6.  For the last 12 years it has been my privilege and honor to serve Covenant Presbyterian Church by serving His children and their families and I loved every minute of it.  It is now time for me to see what else God has in store for my journey.  While it makes me sad to think about leaving, I smile at what we have accomplished.  Together, we have taught Sunday school, had great VBS experiences, Trunk or Treated our way through the Bible, had Advent Event, experienced live nativities complete with camels and Christmas Eve services, given away hundreds of Bibles, taken VBS to Cuba, led mission camps, established a preteen ministry called Club 56, had many fun Whatawednesdays, participated in communion conversations and worship workshops,  Christmas in July, and numerous memorable moments on the steps for children’s sermons and so much more. 

You have loved my family, been supportive of our ministry, and for that I am grateful.  Covenant not only raised me from childhood, it continues to raise children today with the same love and grace that I experienced at their age.  It is a special place and one I will always be proud to call home.  I inherited a good program when I took over and with lots of help from staff and volunteers, have tried to pour love into it over the years and continue to see it thrive and succeed.  I hope and pray it has glorified God; it has certainly brought joy to my life!

My last Sunday here will be December 8, 2013.  I look forward to hugging your neck and thanking you in person until then.  It has been a humbling experience serving Christ in this way and I am a changed person for it.  Thank you for allowing me to be such an integral part of your family as together with God, we “Train these children up in the way they should go, so when they are old they will never stray!”

God Bless you -  I love you,

Gayla Stuart, Director of Children and Preteen Ministries

 

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If you have pictures from a Covenant Presbyterian Preschool event, please send them to Elizabeth Moore (eamoore@me.com), so that we can feature you on the blog!  Please send pictures of adults only.

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Save the Date!

Monday, Oct. 14:

 School CLOSED (no Fives or Fours Enrichment Monday)

Wednesday, Oct. 16 and Thursday, Oct. 17:

Make and Take activity in the lobby at drop-off

Thursday, Oct. 17 and Friday, Oct. 18:
Firefighter Visits 

Monday, Oct. 21:
Four’s Enrichment Monday with Snap Kitchen (space still available)

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 @ 5:30pm-7pm
Trunk or Treat your way through the Bible!
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 each trunk transformed into a Bible story, hear the point of the story and receive a treat that reinforces that story.  Think of Sunday school and tailgating coming together!!
Dinner for a small fee outside at 5:30pm, “10 Commandments Croquet”, Pentecost Bouncy House, Noah’s Zoo, and more!
Bring all your friends!
Sign up for a trunk below!  Questions?  Contact Gayla Stuart at gstuart@covenant.org

Thursday, Oct. 24 @ 6:00pm-7:30pm
Dad's Pizza Night

Friday, Oct. 25:
Fours and Fives Conferences and Staff Development (School CLOSED)

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Meet the Teacher

Meet Ms. Nancy!

 

Name: Nancy Bissell
Job: Lead Teacher, Toddler 1's
Years at CPP: 3 years
Job Before CPP: 22 years at home with her kids
Hometown: Ashland, Kentucky
Children: 2 boys: Danny is a senior at UNT Denton and Tom is a senior at Anderson High School.  Both boys attended CPP, starting with the Toddler 1 class and ending with the 4's class (that was before there was a 5's class!)
Favorite Book: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Favorite Movie: Napoleon Dynamite
Favorite Children's Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Favorite Band: Eagles, Doobie Brothers, The Beatles
Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Crocheting, and giving my sons unsolicited advice!
Favorite Food: Chocolate
Pets: Ginger the grumpy cat and Ruby the compulsive dog who doesn't understand Ginger's need for personal space
Dream Vacation Spot: Scandinavia
Role Model: My 83 year old parents
Favorite Quote: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6
Favorite thing about CPP:  Being invested in the lives of these wonderful children and their families.  I love my job!

Meet Ms. Constance! 

 

 Name: Constance Carlin
Job: Toddler 1 - Assistant teacher
Years at CPP: 3 years
Job Before CPP: SafePlace as a Play Therapist; I have a Masters in Social Work and still maintain my license by doing therapy sessions there every now and then.
Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana
Children: Beckett who is 4 years old and is in the Bears class and Adler Jane who is two months old and will attend CPP next year as a Koala.  Beck loves CPP and I feel blessed that both my son and daughter will experience CPP's magic.
Favorite Band: The Head and the Heart
Hobbies: Kids, Kids and more Kids!  My own kids, the kids I teach, the kids I counsel, the neighborhood kids.  I also love going to see live music and yoga!
Favorite Food: Italian and Sushi... but I am from Louisiana so I do miss REAL Cajun food.
Pets: One dog named Jasper that we rescued 2 years ago... He is amazing!
Dream Vacation Spot: Europe... I've travels all over most of it.
Role Model: My grandfather
Favorite thing about CPP:  The people - staff, parents, custodians, visitors, etc. - everyone that walks in these doors adds to the beauty of this place.  I can always feel God's presence here!!

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Bible Units

Again, Chapel is an especially exciting time during the week where our kids visit the sanctuary and learn a Bible Story.  They have "guest speakers" such as Covenant's pastors, Jill Williams and Munn Hinds, as well as Christy Milam, our Director, and Gayla Stuart, the Director of Children's Ministries for the church.  The students sing, dance and learn about God... it's wonderful!  If you have a chance, come up and join us one day in Chapel... You'll quickly see why it's a favorite time of week for students and teachers alike!

This month our little ones are still learning that "God Loves Me and Always Helps Me."  They are learning through scripture to "Hear the word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28).  This week Gayla Stuart continued teaching that “The Bible Helps Me Learn Good and Right Ways to Live.”  Please take time to ask your kids about what they are learning in Chapel and to discuss their discoveries.  You may learn something new, too!

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Make and Take

We are so blessed to have the Make and Takes back this year!  For those of you that are new to us, Make and Takes are a fun craft for you and your kids, that can be assembled here at school and then taken home to enjoy.  They are educational and clever, but most of all, a way to create a fun time out for you and your kids!  Make and Takes are offered one Wednesday and Thursday per month, directly after drop off. 

This month, the Make and Take will be on Wednesday, October 16th and Thursday, October 17th.  This month our fabulous hosts are Diane Hurtado and Megan Little.  Thanks in advance to all of our volunteers for the year... we're super excited to see the fun Make and Take crafts that will be coming our way!!

 

  

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Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

          A special thank you to Erinn Windler for adding some much-needed diversity and input to the blog this month!  Erinn found some EASY lunch/snack ideas specifically for October that are PEANUT FREE!  Enjoy!

Jack-o-Lantern Quesadilla:  
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/5e/48/93/5e4893e77b37c2c5cdbbb4f732996bbe.jpg

Jack-o-Lantern Mandarin Oranges:  
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/df/ec/d9/dfecd9bc863cefb001f155b758285c33.jpg

Jack-o-Lantern Fruit Cups:  
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/2d/9e/44/2d9e4489434a97222311e531ce2ba3df.jpg

Pumpkin Cheese Slices:  
http://www.listotic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/64-Non-Candy-Halloween-Snack-Ideas33.jpg

Ghost Bananas:  
http://www.listotic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/64-Non-Candy-Halloween-Snack-Ideas38.jpg

Ghost Pizzas:  
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/8e/75/94/8e759478fc00cce06ceffceee8914952.jpg

Ghost Eggs:  
http://static.spoonful.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_420x420/public/recipes/Eggs-1.jpg?itok=jacHTN4V

Ghost String Cheese:  
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/7d/61/5b/7d615ba50582d65793f9f8d4a6dcceab.jpg

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Happy Birthday to You!  

Juniper Gee (10/17)

Angie Bird (10/21)

Jack Roberts (10/24)

Lucy Clough (10/30)

Leighton Scarbrough (10/31)

Weston Roberts (11/1)

Zoey Jalleh (11/17)

Boone Thompson (11/8)

James Sharp (11/12)

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Covenant Happenings

The MoMs Group

When: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Where: SA 114 Contact: Becky Butterworth, beckybutterworth@gmail.com, or Rachel Gossen, rachel.gossen@gmail.com

Covenant MoMs Group is for new, expecting and experienced moms. We generally meet on the first and third Monday of each month from 9:30-11:30 a.m. to share informative and helpful presentations, parenting ideas, and general support.
All meetings are open to Covenant members and non-members alike. Free childcare is available from our wonderful Covenant childcare staff and infants are always welcome in our meetings. Please make childcare reservations at least 48 hours in advance by contacting childcare@covenant.org or 334-3020. Come join us for coffee and a snack. We provide interesting topics, support from understanding moms and well-deserved breaks for busy, hard-working moms!

Lunch Group

When: 11:30–1 p.m. (3-4 times a year, dates pending) Where: FE 107
Contact: Amy Johnson at aanort@yahoo.com or Gelsey Mahanes at gelseym@gmail.com

We also have meetings for working moms and moms who are unable to attend the morning meetings. The MoMs Lunch Group meets over lunch to give mothers (especially those who work in jobs outside the home) time to meet other moms, get practical advice and enjoy lunch and fellowship. Lunch and childcare are provided free of charge with a reservation.
Please make childcare reservations at least 48 hours in advance by contacting childcare@covenant.org or 334-3020. Please make lunch reservations at least 48 hours in advance by contacting Amy Johnson at aanort@yahoo.com.
For more information about the MoMs Group, please contact Rachel Gossen at 426-7120 or rachel.gossen@gmail.com or Alicia Gostylo at 589-6161 or azappgo@gmail.com.
 

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.