Take Action!

SPRING FLING!
Come join us on the Playground on Thursday, May 10th!
You still have time to make your reservation for this end of year event from 6:00pm-7:30pm.
Please bring a BLANKET or LAWN CHAIR to sit on, along with your appetite, as Covenant’s Chef Mark prepares fajitas with all the fixing’s. This is a really fun way to celebrate the end of the school year with your children’s friends and parents.


WE HEART MOMS! 
And we want to celebrate you with "Mom Day" this week...
Three’s, Four’s and Pre-K:
Muffins with Moms
Thursday, May 10th at/after drop off.
Please stick around after drop off for a special ‘surprise’ from your child and then join the other moms in the 3rd floor big room for Muffins with Moms  in the 3rd floor big room for another thank you from CPP for all of your support throughout the year.
Toddler I, Toddler II and Two’s classes:
Popsicles on the Playground
12:40 on Thursday May 10th For Tue/Thurs
12:40 on Friday May 11th For Wed/Fri
Please meet your child on the playground at for a special ‘surprise’ and to enjoy some fun time and popsicles with your child!

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
is May 23rd!
Graduation for the 4 year old and Pre-K kids moving on to Kindergarten next year is May 23rd at 12:15 in Room 300. Reception will follow.

INTRODUCING THE PARENT ADVISORY TEAM for 2012-2013

President - Bridgette Stahlman
Secretary - Kristen McDavid
Treasurer - Shannon Knisely
Fundraising - chair: Roxi Tsakas, co-chair: Jenny Carman
Parent Activities - Erinn Windler
Publicity - Angela Zumwalt
Hospitatlity and Volunteer Coordinator - Brooke Howe
Newsletter - Liz Farrar

A VERY Special Thanks to 

 for helping sponsor our Mom's Day events! 

And HAVE A HAPPY SUMMER!

Hope for the Weary Mom

Friends,

I want to invite you to an event I am excited to be a part of -- mostly because I AM A WEARY MOM!

Have you ever felt fresh-out of awesomeness? Maybe you are still knee-deep in diapers, potty training, pre-schooling weariness. Or maybe your sleepless nights come from worrying about school choices, balancing homework, when to have 'the talk' and how to manage iPhones and texting! Or maybe your chauffeuring days to and fro are dwindling, but now you have a teen-age driver headed to college soon. 

Whatever age or stage you find yourself on this amazing journey of motherhood, this morning of HOPE is just for you.

Please join me on Saturday, April 14 at 9:30 am at Covenant Presbyterian Church for a morning of encouragement led by speakers, authors and fellow weary moms Brooke McGlothlin and Stacey Thacker. Brooke and Stacey recently wrote Hope for the Weary Mom: Where God Meets You in Your Mess (which is trending #1 on Amazon in Parenthood). They will share stories from their own parenting journeys and give hope and encouragement with practical applications for you.

The event is free, open to the public and there is free-childcare (3 mos - 12 years). Registration is recommended and childcare reservations are required. For more information and online registration please go to: 

http://www.lamplightersbiblestudy.com/kitchen-table-talks/

Please join me at this event! I promise you'll walk away feeling a little less weary and more filled with HOPE.

Let me know if you have questions or want more information. Hope to see you on the 14th! 

Spread the word - bring friends, share at school, your church. Forward this email. The more the merrier!

Love and HOPE, 

Kristin Schell

Sweet Home Covenant!

***Please read the entire post! Info on childcare below!***

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 25th at The Cedar Door, downtown 2nd and Brazos, from 6-9pm. There will be delicious food and drinks, a silent auction full of amazing items, and lots of good times!

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, including teacher and staff expenses, enrichment opportunities for students, supplies, ongoing improvements to classrooms and facilities, and scholarships for students.

Portraits

You can also pre-order a 5x7 professional portrait of your child taken by CPP parent Jill Baumhover of Jill Bee Designs for only $15. Siblings can pose together in one photo. You will be notified in advance of the date that the pictures will be taken so that you may send your child to school looking picture ready. Can't make it to the event but still want to get that photo taken? No problem, just check the Lil' Pardner box on the sign-up form and turn in to the office.

Early Bird Drawing

Purchase your tickets to Sweet Home Covenant before Feb. 7th to be entered into our Early Bird Drawing! Forms must be in the office by 1pm on Tuesday, Feb. 7th to be eligible.

Tennis Anyone?

This year's silent auction offers a Tennis Membership to River Place Country Club. You will be bidding on the initiation fee, a retail value of $2500. The membership entitles you to Club amenities that include 8 lighted courts, the fitness center, group classes, swimming and complete dining and social privileges in the beautiful Hill Country Clubhouse. Monthly dues are $175/month to be paid by the winning bidder.

If tennis isn't your thing but you would still love to enjoy the Club amenities, you can bid on the Social Membership. It offers all the same amenities, excluding the tennis courts. You will be bidding on the initiation fee, a retail value of $750. Monthly dues are $135/month to be paid by the winning bidder. You can visit www.riverplaceclub.com to preview all they have to offer.


Childcare
Childcare is open to anyone who purchases tickets to the fundraiser, but reservations must be made by Wednesday, February 22nd at 5 pm.

Reservations should be emailed to childcare@covenant.org

Ages 3 months – 12 years are eligible

Children can be checked in at the desk on the 2nd floor starting at 5:30pm

Older children will get to watch movies in the movie room on the 3rd floor, while younger kids will watch a movie on the 2nd floor (siblings may not be together, depending on ages)

Cheese pizza will be provided, please send along a labeled sippy cup/container for water. Don’t forget to send along diapers or bottles if needed

Pajamas can be sent along to change into later

Take Action!

***Not too much on here this month! Please read all the way through. Some great service and growth opportunities below as well as information on Christmas Eve Services at Covenant!***

Help Support the New Nursery at New Covenant Fellowship Church

NCF, Covenant’s sister church, has welcomed several new babies into their church family since April and is converting a large classroom to a true nursery.

They would be so blessed to accept your hand-me-downs of the following items...

Our wish list is as follows:

Partitions

1 rocking chair

1 small changing table

2 small bookshelves

1 crock pot

1-2 folding child size table and 6-10 chairs

4 folding cribs

2 baby swings

Stuffed animals

Assorted toys

Crib bedding sets (at least 4)

Diaper wipes

Cleaning materials

Donations can be left with Christy Milam or contact Nikkie Lee at nlee@ncfaustin.org to coordinate a pick-up.

Christmas Service Schedule at Covenant Presbyterian

Saturday, December 24, 2011

2 p.m. A traditional service with communion in the Sanctuary
3:30 p.m.: A contemporary service in FE 200
5 p.m.: A service for families with young children in the Sanctuary
6:30 p.m.: A service for families with older children in the Sanctuary
8:30 p.m.: A candlelight communion service with the choir in the Sanctuary
10:30 p.m.: A candlelight communion service in the Sanctuary

*Please note that childcare services will only be available during the 8:30 p.m. service.


The Marriage Course

The Marriage Course is basically the cheapest date night in town (which is why we attended it initially).  For a total of $135 per couple, you and your spouse get to share a three course dinner over candlelight for seven evenings, and childcare is included!  

While we initially attended the class since it seemed like a really cheap easy date night, it ended up having a truly positive impact on our marriage.  We went into the class feeling like we had a great marriage, but the class made it even better by helping us open up some additional lines of communication between us. 

Each evening begins with a meal. Over dinner, couples have an opportunity to spend time together.  Dinner is followed by a video presentation, interspersed with exercises and questions for each couple to discuss privately.  At no time during the course is there any group discussion or any requirement to disclose anything personal to anyone other than your spouse. 

We will be leading the class, but the real instruction is on video.  We use materials from "The Marriage Course."  They have very popular with all the past participants.  The materials are nondenominational and even my Jewish business partner and her spouse felt comfortable with them.  For more information, see the website at www.alphausa.org/Group/Group.aspx?ID=1000042047.

The course will be held Fridays, January 13 – March 2, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m in the Fellowship Hall (FEB 200).  If you have any interest in the course, please email me a covenantmarriagecourse@yahoo.com or give me a call at 789-6430 for details. The Application form is below.

Childcare is available by reservation (reserve each session separately). Contact childcare@covenant.org. 

Thanks,
JoAnne McIntosh

Application (click to increase size and print):

HOLIDAY BREAK ACTIVITIES

Here is list of ideas for activities to do with your kiddos as you spend the holiday break together!  ENJOY!

(Two separate pages... Click to increase size and print)

CPP Spring Fundraiser!

Covenant Spring Fundraiser - Saturday, February 25

The Preschool spring fundraiser “Sweet Home Covenant” is coming up February 25, 2012 from 6-9 PM at the Cedar Door. We will offer childcare at Covenant free of charge to all attendees starting at 5:30 until 9:30, so get ready to kick up your heels, have a great time with your Covenant friends and help Covenant at the same time! Tickets will go on sale when we return from the Christmas break. There will also be sponsorship opportunities, so if you have a business or your company might be willing to sponsor this event, please let us know.

As part of the fundraiser, we will have a silent auction to help raise more than $10,000 in contributions. The fundraising committee is looking for goods/services to be donated for the silent auction portion of the fundraiser. 100% of the contributions will go towards the operation of the school, including teacher and staff expenses, enrichment opportunities for students, supplies, ongoing improvements to classrooms and facilities, and scholarships for students. 

If you have goods or services that you are willing to donate, please contact the Fundraising Chair, Roxi Tsakas at 809-6514 or CovenantPAT@gmail.com. Thank you!

Take Action!

***Events are listed in order by date, not by importance(!), please read through the whole list and mark your calendars!!***


GIVING TREES

In the spirit of the season, the PAT will be posting “Giving Trees” on the teachers’ doors.  The trees have “leaves” on them with items that the teachers would like for their classrooms.  If you are interested in making a donation, just remove the leaf and take it with you.  Bring your item directly to the classroom and say “thank you” to your child’s teacher!  

THANKSGIVING FEASTS

The threes, fours and pre-k classrooms will have special Thanksgiving Feasts.  On Thursday, Nov. 17, the Pandas, Elephants and Giraffes will still have their pizza with some additional menu items keeping in spirit of the season.  On Friday, Nov. 18, Bears, Tigers and Lions will go all out and celebrate their own Thanksgiving with a complete feast.  Because of this event, the fours and pre-k classes ONLY will move their pizza day to Thursday, Nov. 17.  Please know that our Wednesday/Friday Child’s Day Out students will still eat their pizza on that Friday as usual.

ADVENT EVENT: Journey to Bethlehem

“Journey to Bethlehem” is an Advent experience designed for children to participate with their parents and grandparents. It’s a chance to spend some quality time together before being plunged into the whirlwind that surrounds the holiday season. Rather than being hustled and bustled from store to store, you can enjoy learning a trade from a shopkeeper and work on projects for as much or as little time as you want. In addition there will be a farmers’ market filled with produce to sample, a stable with a wide range of small animals to pet, and folk music.

Advent Event is November 30th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Eaton Hall. Join us as we begin the season of Advent by leaving the modern world behind and prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of a very special baby! 

For more information, contact Stacey Grooms at sgrooms@covenant.org or 334-3005.


BOOK FAIR
The Scholastic Book Fair is November 28th – December 2nd on the third floor next to Ms. Barb’s Music room. 


The Book Fair will be open at the beginning and end of the school day, as well as Wednesday evening from 4:30 – 6:00pm. A portion of all sales goes towards donating books to the school library. AND it’s a great opportunity for Christmas shopping and coincides with...


GRANDPARENTS' DAYS
We are so excited to announce Covenant Preschool's first "Grandparents or Special Friend’s Day"! On Thursday, December 1st (3's classes) and Friday, Dec. 2nd (4's and Pre-K classes), Covenant Preschool would like to thank and honor some of the special adults in your child's life by welcoming them to the school and sharing a Christmas lunch.

This will be a chance for your child to choose someone important to them (a grandparent, aunt or uncle, a favorite babysitter or a neighbor would be perfect!) and invite them to school to see their classroom, meet their friends and share a pizza lunch.

Pizza, drinks, and holiday desserts will be provided by the preschool. *And please don't worry if your child doesn't have a friend able to come that day -- we'll make sure the event is fun for all!*

The school book fair will also be open before and after the event if Grandparents or Special Friends would like to stop by.

Please send any questions to Emily Taylor (ETaylor@covenant.org).

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEETING

Spring Home Covenant is Coming! Please join Roxi Tsakas and this great committee on Tuesday, December 6th at 9:15am in FEB 104 as they continue the planning process! Your connections and expertise are so crucial to the success and continued growth of this event. Please join us or contact Roxi if you'd like to help. CovenantPAT@gmail.com


CHRISTMAS CHAPEL

We hope to see you at our Christmas Chapel and Reception on Thursday, December 15 at 9:30 am in the Sanctuary.  All friends and families of preschoolers are encouraged to attend to watch our three, four and five year-olds sing Christmas songs and hear the story of the birth of Jesus. Following the service, the children will return to their classrooms for the day while parents enjoy wonderful refreshments provided by our parent volunteers!

BOOK SPRING PROJECT

CPP is partnering with the Lamplighter’s Bible Study program to support a program called Book Spring!

We’ll be collecting pre-reading and early reading books in a box in front of room 200 on Wednesdays.  Book Spring is for children who are seen in the Seton clinics and are “prescribed” reading by the doctors. It  gets the children up to speed with their reading and involves parents in their children’s education.  They constantly need book donations.  It’s a great way to recycle books our children have outgrown.  

Hazel Nichols is in charge of this ministry, if you or would like more information. hazelrn@earthlink.net

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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