Back to School- "Preschool Style"

What are some things your preschooler might need to start school at Advent?

Tennis shoes! The children go out on the playground everyday and have movement (Physical Education) class twice a week. 

Sippy cup labels but Sharpies work fine as well :) You can find these at Inchbug  Personalize them by color, text, allergy, photo, or icon. Four for $12.95!

A photo or lovey. This helps reduce the anxiety if the child has something from home with them to start this new transition and/ or new year.

Even though most classrooms won't be asking for crayons, markers, scissors, glues, and other typical school supplies. It still can be fun to restock your household art supplies with your child/ren. Who doesn't love a fresh box of crayons? :)

New Families: Welcome to Advent!!! We are so excited that you are here and can't wait to meet you!  Here are some things that will help you start the new year:

Label your child/ren's clothing

Put a spare outfit in a ziplock bag with socks and undies if potty-trained

You don't need to get a backpack. Advent supplies bags for each child to be hung outside their classroom door. But this also doesn't mean you can't get a backpack if you want to. 

At Orientation, the classroom teachers will inform you of any classroom supplies needed, events and  parties that will be occurring throughout the upcoming year. This will be held August 20th 9:00-12:00 for three and five day children and August 21st 9:00-12:00 for two day children. If possible, last names starting from A-M come at 9:00 and N-Z at 10:30. 

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

“I know it is wet

And the sun is not sunny.

But we can have

Lots of good fun that is funny!”

–The Cat in the Hat

Are you looking for some ways to get through those rainy afternoons with your kiddos? Or maybe a little relief from the scorching sun or buzzing mosquitoes? Here are 25 fun ways to have some fun indoors: Click on the blue activities to learn more.


1.Painting using different mediums 



2. Baking sweet treats
3. Build a Fort and read or watch a movie from inside
4. Sensory Bins

5. Whipping up a Batch of Homemade Playdough
6. Take a fun bath with Bath Paint
7. Make new crayons out of old ones

8. Indoor Picnics
9. Hide and Seek
10. Play Dress Up
11. Living Room Dance Parties

12. Make Silly Videos
13.Indoor Treasure Hunt
14. Homemade Puffy Paint
15. Shaving Cream Painting 

16. Make Your Own Gummy Candy
17. Splendid Spinners Craft
18. Cardboard Creative Cars

19. Rainy Day Word Play
20. Rainy Day Kings and Queens
21. Make Your Own Memory Game
22. Make Your Own Bling
23. Hotter/Colder
24. Play I Spy with a flashlight
25.Jump in the Puddles with rainboots, raincoats and umbrellas

Save the Date!

We would really appreciate all families considering a sponsorship at some level and would really love for people to start securing auction items as soon as possible!  Examples of suggested auction items are weeks at summer camp, music lessons, artwork, bicycles, things for Mom and/or Dad to do (spa visits, golf outings, hunting outings, boat/fishing excursions), trips, autographed items, sporting event tickets/box seats, an AKC registered puppy would be fantastic, and anything else you can think of!

Many thanks to our 2011 sponsors:

Moore Consulting Group for donating all of our graphics design

Apogee Signs for donating a large portion of our printed materials

Angel $1,000

Beverly Spencer

Periodontal Associates of North Florida/Dr. Walter Colon, II

Disciple $500

Kia Autosport

Ms. Charlotte P. Watkins

The Gabor Agency

Sean and Susan Stafford

John W. (Scott) Hartsfield, C.P.A., P.A.

Meredith and Brian Wilson

Shepherd $250

Lori and Laurence Rosenberg

Drs. Chaney, Couch, Grooters Family Dentistry

The Doran Family

Hillary and Timothy Stapleton

Bastien Dental Care

Star $125

Sandy and Ron Stefanick

Bonnie and John Williams

Alison and Bill Thomas

Allen, Norton and Blue

Sarah and Jon Hickman

If you have any questions about this year's silent auction, or would like to serve on the committee, please contact LaurieHartsfield at 850.766.0672 or at hartsfieldhome@aol.com.

Olympics for Toddlers/ Preschoolers

With the Olympics around the corner, what better way to involve your kids in one of our country and planet's greatest sports event, than to make crafts! Here are some fun ideas you can do with your kiddos...

This is a great Olympic torch craft that's simple and fun to make. The one pictured is silver using aluminum foil, but the real 2012 London Olympic torch is gold, so you could substitute gold foil to match. This torch could also be equally good for a medieval Halloween costume.


Materials: 
paper towel roll(or 3 toilet paper rolls tapes together) 
paper cup 
scissors 
aluminum foil or gold foil 
red, yellow, and orange tissue paper 
glue 


Directions: Use the paper towel roll and trace a circle in the bottom of the paper cup and cut out. Push the paper towel roll up ito the cup until it' almost flush with the cup. Wrap the whole tube with foil. Tuck down inside both ends. glue strips of red, yellow, and orange tissue paper down inside the cup.  
source: Busy Bee Kids Crafts


Another great idea...

Here's a fun Olympic Gold medal kids craft for even the youngest students. Great to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics or the school field day.


Materials:
old cereal box
glass to trace a circle
marker
scissors
yellow or gold tissue paper
gold glitter glue or glitter 
hole punch 
ribbon or yarn 


Directions: Use a glass and trace a circle on the cereal box and cut out. Punch a hole at the top Smear with glue and let kids put on small pieces of yellow or gold tissue paper. Add glitter glue or put glue and sprinkle on glitter. Allow to dry. Tie a ribbon or piece of yarn. 
Source: Preschool Learning and Crafts

Here's a great Olympic rings paper plate craft idea that's soo simple.


Materials:
5 paper plates
blue, yellow, black, green, and red crayons or paint
scissors
tape


Directions: Cut the center out of 5 paper plates. Hint, Gently bend the paper plate, cut a slit in the  middle and cut around the inside. Color or paint the rings in the 5 colors. Cut the yellow and green rings.Slip the blue into the yellow and the red into the green. Then slip the black between the yellow and green. Tape the cuts and tape the rings in the back so they don't move. Display your Olympic rings paper plate craft.
Source: Quality Kids Crafts


You can also turn the Olympic rings into an edible learning activity as well by using biscuits, cookies, cupcakes or muffins. Then use the 5 colors to coordinate your food item to the Olympic rings. This is sure to earn a gold medal with your little ones!! Here is a great link for food ideas Click Here.

What Makes Advent Different?

The wide variety of programs offered.

Half Day Program: Classes are available 2,3 or 5 mornings a week from 9:00-12:00.

Before School Program: All children are eligible for before school care from 7:30-9:00 at an additional cost.

Afternoon Out: A drop in program is available on a daily basis. The program runs daily until 2:30. There is an additional cost for this program. Please pack a nutritious lunch for your child.

All Day Program: A full day program runs from 7:30 until 5:30 daily. Children follow the same morning program as the half day children but in addition have lunch, nap and a different grouping for the afternoon part of the day.

Summer Program: A summer program is available with half or full day option. A month’s commitment is necessary to use the program.

Special Areas

Art: Advent has an art room. It is well supplied with a variety of art materials. The art teacher enhances the classroom art by expanding the children’s creative experiences. Lots of pre-reading and writing skills are developed using the art medium.

Cooking: All classes get to cook once a week. The children are introduced to many different foods and cooking language. Math skills are emphasized.

Music/Movement: Children take part in this special area twice a week. A variety of musical experiences are offered to each group. Instruments, parachutes, balance beams add a variety of experiences.

Science Lab: The lab is filled with materials for interesting and thought provoking activities for the children. They are encouraged to explore and be curious about our world.

Outdoor Classroom: Advent recognizes the significant motor development differences in children. To help meet these differences three outdoor classrooms are available for use. One play are ias designed primarily to meet the needs of the youngest children, while the other area is better suited for the needs of four and five year olds. A third space is the courtyard classroom which is available daily with large motor skill activities and water play.

Chapel: The children have a weekly chapel service. The older children actually go to the chapel while the younger ones have the word brought to them. A Christian message is shared and children learn songs to celebrate their faith.