What We've Been Up To...
Sweet Home Covenant
Annual Spring Fundraiser
Our annual spring fundraiser, Sweet Home Covenant, is coming up February 22, 2014 at the fabulous Cedar Door. An important part of this fundraiser is the Silent Auction. We rely on Covenant families to help procure these items and they are always amazing! Please take a moment to look over our mind jogger and see what great items you can help us enter into this year’s auction.
Do you know anyone with…
· A vacation home (beach, ski resort, lake house, etc.)
· A time share
· A service business (construction, painting, window cleaning, tree trimming, etc.)
· A talent (artist, jewelry maker, pottery maker, photographer, etc.)
· Season tickets (Ballet, Theatre, Symphony, Opera, Sports Teams)
· Sports paraphernalia
· A restaurant (gift cards at $100 or above if possible)
· A stationary business (Christmas cards, birth announcements, thank you cards, etc)
· A salon or spa
· A boat (ride on the lake)
Do you know anyone who could donate…
· A round of golf
· Sports lessons (tennis, golf, dance, swimming, etc.)
· Personal training sessions
· Pilates, yoga, exercise or nutrition instruction
· Ipad, computer
· Flat screen television
If you or anyone you know has the ability to donate one of these items or something else please contact Molly Moore, Fundraising Chair at moldini1@gmail.com or at 512-661-8188. Thank you for everything you do for our school and I look forward to seeing you at Sweet Home Covenant.
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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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Thursday, Jan. 16 – Co-op Observation Day
Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 9:15am – PAT Meeting
Monday, Jan. 27 – Friday, Feb. 7 – Current Student Open Registration
Wednesday, Jan. 29 – Parent Education Brown Bag Lunch with Ashley Ellison, LCSW featuring a preview of Love and Logic
Saturday, Feb. 22 - Sweet Home Covenant Annual Fundraiser
Save the Date!
Wednesday, Jan. 15 and Thursday, Jan. 16 – Make and Take in 2nd Floor LobbyThursday, Jan. 16 – Co-op Observation Day
Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 9:15am – PAT Meeting
Monday, Jan. 27 – Friday, Feb. 7 – Current Student Open Registration
Wednesday, Jan. 29 – Parent Education Brown Bag Lunch with Ashley Ellison, LCSW featuring a preview of Love and Logic
Saturday, Feb. 22 - Sweet Home Covenant Annual Fundraiser
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Meet the Teacher
Ms. Jenni
Name: Jenni McCollum
Job: 2's Lead Teacher
Years at CPP:8 years
Job Before CPP: Manager at Hoover's Home Cooking
Hometown: Los Angeles
Children: Dylan (21) and Grace (15) - They are both a joy!
Favorite Book: The Secret Life of Bees
Favorite Children's Book: The Giving Tree
Favorite Band: Beatles and Rolling Stones
Hobbies: Hiking and Camping
Favorite Food: All food, especially cheeseburgers!
Pets: A two-year-old Beagle named Shug. He is a rescue dog and so much fun - they love to get him to howl!
Dream Vacation Spot: Greece
Role Model: Her mom.
Favorite Quote: "There is no teaching without learning, one requires the other."
Favorite thing about CPP: "I love the children, of course! They make me laugh, they keep me young at heart."
Ms. Alyssa
Name: Alyssa Kelly
Job: 2's Assistant Teacher
Years at CPP: This is her first year here!
Job Before CPP: Finishing a double Bachelor's Degree in Music and Psychology at the University of Missouri - Columbia. MIZ-ZOU!
Favorite Book: SOOO MANY! Wicked, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Life of Pi, The Hunger Games, Blue Like Jazz
Favorite Movies: The Family Stone, Inception, Sex and the City, Rain Man, Iron Man movies, Dark Knight trilogy, He's Just Not That Into You, Love Actually
Hobbies: Music, Music, Music!! She is an aspiring singer/songwriter, has played the violin for 13 years and also plays the piano and a little guitar. She also loves to read, watch movies, eat and sleep!
Favorite Food: A tie between ice cream and pasta
Pets: Her sister has two cats, so now she's a partial cat owner, since they live together. Their names are Milo and Cinderella, and they are wacky!
Dream Vacation Spot: Italy, among many others!!
Favorite thing about CPP: "So far I love it all! A great sense of community and the kids are adorable and delightful!"_____________________________________
Bible Units
In Chapel, the children have started learning about how God Loves Everyone. The verse "I will be glad and rejoice in your love," (Psalm 31:7) is being repeated throughout the next few weeks by Munn, Jill and Christy. They are learning through the Bible Stories of John Preaching and Baptizing Jesus (Matthew 3:1-6, 13-17: Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:1-18), Jesus Choosing Helpers (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:27-28), The Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:11-14; Luke 15:1-7) and The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).
Please
talk with your child about Chapel and learn with them as they digest
these important concepts. They may even teach you a song or two!
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Make and Take
This
month, the Make and Take will be on Wednesday, January 15th and
Thursday, January 16th. This month our fabulous hosts are Lynette Weber and Kirsten Scarbrough. Thanks to all of our volunteers this year...
we're super excited to see the fun Make and Take crafts that are coming up this Spring!
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Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
Quick Photo Tips for Photographing KidsDon’t expect them to be all smiles.
Follow their lead.
Capture real moments that are genuine.
Try to do posed photos first, then…
Let them play!
Props can be fun- like a bucket of pumpkins for Halloween, apples for the fall, a big old fashioned lollipop, a colorful balloon, or even just letting them chose their favorite toy(s) to pose/play with.
A little bribery never hurt anyone (think Smarties, not messy M&M’s)
Weird noises are a great attention getting tool. Use sparingly.
Use little games like telephone, tickling, or follow the leader to get good candid photos.
Get on their level.
Indirect, natural light is your camera’s best friend.
Be ready! The sweetest moments happen very quickly, you have to act fast to capture them.
Know when to say when.
A HUGE thank you to Megan Little for sharing these wonderful photo tips with us! We are so blessed to have such a talented photographer and parent in our school's community. Thank you, Megan!
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Who Knew?
Have you been wondering whether or not to start chores? Have you decided to start, but don't know which chores to start with? Well, let us help! Below you will find a list of age-appropriate chores. Here's to a cleaner and more organized household!Age-Appropriate Chores
2-3 Years of AgeFeed pets.
Wash vegetables in a kitchen sink full of water or tub of water on the counter.
Begin putting away their toys.
"Tell time" to begin giving Mommy (or Mommy and Daddy) some "alone" time. (Use duct tape to tape over the minutes on a digital clock. Train them to know only the hour at first.)
Brush teeth with limited help.
Age 4
Fill out a limited chore chart - using pictures for tooth brushing and putting away toys.
Begin sorting laundry. (Have a different colored basket for each color: blues/blacks, grays/khackis, whites, reds/pinks/oranges.)
Set a table - all except for knives!
Put away toys in the yard.
Tidy room alone or with limited help. Use pictures of toys from the box to identify on shelves where the toys need to be placed. AVOID toy boxes; these frustrate kids!
Learn where to put papers - from school and Sunday school.
Help make their bed.
Age 5
Begin folding laundry. (Use a Sharpie marker to put dashes along the fold of a washcloth. Then kids can move on to undies, matching socks, and folding hand towels.)
Answer the phone only when Mom and/or Dad are home.
Make their beds.
Keep their rooms clean. Tidy rooms daily.
Put dirty clothes in a laundry basket or hamper.
Clear the table and put items away.
Wipe up their own spills.
Fix their own snack (from list approved ahead of time by Mom).
Begin using a word chore chart - instead of pictures.
Put away papers on a daily basis.
Bring in the newspaper.
Collect trash from small trash cans around the house.
Clean windows using vinegar and water. (Hint: Use old newspaper and you won't have streaks.)
Clean trash out of the car.
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Happy Birthday to You!
Finnuala
Gee (1/16)
Wyatt
Russell (1/18)
Alexander
Doles (1/19)
Harris
Tarun (1/27)
Henry
Egliht (1/30)
Constance
Carlin (2/4)
Peyton
Luckett (2/4)
Sam
Hanna (2/5)
Nancy
Bissell (2/7)
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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.comCovenant 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 107Contact: 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 4th
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 4th 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 5th and 6th
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.
