B”H

 

Dear Parents,

 

Rosh Hashana

The Purple Room Friends have been working hard on their preparations for Rosh Hashana. They will be bringing home the fruits of their labor: a bejeweled crown to remember that on Rosh Hashana we crown Hashem our King, a sand art apple dish and a modge podge honey bowl – both for dipping the apples into honey for a sweet new year, and a Tashlich pond, the art reminiscent of the artist study of the month, Monet. They know that we go to Tashlich on the second day of Rosh Hashana. Purple Room Friends know that the most important Mitzvah of Rosh Hashana is to hear the blowing of the shofar. They know the three sounds blown: Tekiya (one blast), Shevarim (three blasts) and Teru’ah (nine or more blasts).

 

Jemma: “Is Rabbi going blow the Shofar in Shul or the park? Because I kind of like when he blows it in Shul because it reminds me of when we didn’t have coronavirus.”

 

Note: The apple dishes and honey dishes have been toiveled and can be used at your Rosh Hashana table. Please clean without immersing in water.

 

Fine Motor

The Purple Room Friends have been practicing their cutting skills, trying to cut on the line. Straight lines and curvy lines. They will continue to practice this. The Purple Room Friends cut lilies for the Tashlich pond and crowns. 

 

Tasting Math 

The votes are in! Which apple do you like the taste of best? The Purple Room Tasters graphed the results after tasting all three types of apples and this is what they discovered:

Red: Bracha and Ronan

Yellow: Naveed and Angie

Green: Jemma and Leah

All the apples got the same amount of votes: 2!

 

They found a similar result when they graphed the tastes of honey:

Buckwheat honey: 0

Clover honey: 2

Honeycomb honey: 2

Abstaining from tasting: 2

 

The Purple Room Tasters had fun trying to guess what they were tasting while being blindfolded. They tasted sweet and savory things and recognized all the tastes. Sugar got the most votes, even more than honey!

 

Literacy

While reading the sound letter cards this week the Purple Room discovered many starting sounds in connection with Rosh Hashana:

a is for apple, a, a, apple

r is for Rosh Hashana, r, r, Rosh Hashana

p is for pomegranate, p, p, pomegranate

f is for fish, f, f, fish

h is for honey, h, h, honey

c is for carrots, c, c, carrots

 

Kriyah (Hebrew Literacy)

The Purple Room Friends found the letter Gimmel visiting their room this week. Gimmel has a leg that is always going, going to help others.

 

Keeping the Purple Room Safe

The Safekeeping promise was introduced this week to the Purple Room Friends (see pic on the CJP Facebook page). Every morning the children chant the Safekeeper Promise to their friends:

 

When I come to school each day

To keep us safe here’s what I say:

My eyes will watch

My ears will listen

My hands are gentle 

Give gentle taps for attention

My feet will walk

My words are kind

I’ll tell my friends if there’s something I mind

When I’m sad or angry 

I’m a S.T.A.R.

The safe place isn’t very far

To be my best for you and me

And for my whole school family.

 

The Purple Room Friends discussed ways to keep it safe for our friends: using helpful words, quiet voices, walking feet, safe spaces and soft touches.

 

Wishing you and your family a Ketiva V’chatima Tova, L’shana Tova U’metuka – may you be written and sealed for a sweet new year!

 

Have a wonderful Shabbos, Yom Tov and a sweet, happy new year!

 

Morah Perline

 B”H

 

Dear Parents,

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGIE!

Happy birthday to Angie. Angie’s birthday was celebrated with great excitement as it was the first for the Purple Room this year. The Purple Room Friends created a beautiful giant birthday card with the sweetest wishes. 

 

Rosh Hashana

The Purple Room Friends finished creating the sweetest Rosh Hashana cards for their grandparents. After exploring a beeswax honeycomb, the Purple Room Artists made a crayon rubbing to create texture for the cover of the card. Then they drew on bees themselves. They then stamped them and were mailed this week.

 

The Purple Room children are SO excited for Rosh Hashana! They are counting down the days. Every day, when the Hebrew date changes on the luach (calendar), they see how much closer it is getting to Rosh Hashana. 

 

Art

The famous work by Claude Monet (1840-1926) titled Water Lilies has been the inspiration for Art this week in the Purple Room. The children are creating their own ‘Tashlich Pond’ and will be attaching the lilies next week. On Rosh Hashana we go to Tashlich to throw our sins away. The Purple Room Wise Ones know that when we go to Tashliach on Rosh Hashana we look for a body of water that has fish in it. Next week, when they finish the ‘Tashlich Pond’ they will attach the fish, too.

 

Math

The Purple Room Math Whizzes have been doing lots of things with apples. They used the apples to measure themselves. They tasted them and made a survey as to who likes which apples more. They also used the apples to figure out how many go into a pound or two pounds or three by utilizing the weigh scale. 

 

Kriyah (Hebrew Literacy)

The Purple Room Friends found the letter Veis visiting their room this week. Veis is a very close cousin to Beis only he’s missing a ‘bell’ but he looks almost like him.

 

Feelings

Here’s a chant the Purple Room Friends have learned. You can do it at home, too.

 

Bread and butter

Blackberry jam

Say "I love you" as - (fast, slow, high, low, silly, loving) as you can! 

I love you!

 

The Purple Room Friends have been discussing feelings and are learning that being a Star is a healthy way to deal with anger. This song encourages taking three breaths to help a person calm down.

 

The STAR song

When you're feeling really angry, no matter where you are

There's a way to feel better, there's a way to be a star.

With this one thing to remember, you'll stop anger in its tracks

Just stop! take a deep breath and relax 3x

 

Respect for Friends

The Talking Circle has begun in the Purple Room. The Friends sit in a circle so they can see each other and one person holds the ‘talking stick’. When one has the ‘talking stick’ all listen with respect to what that person has to say. They are learning to wait for the ‘talking person’ to be finished before having their say.

 

Thank you, Jemma!

Thank you to Jemma for donating two books to the Purple Room. The new books have joined the library. The Purple Room Friends have so enjoyed reading the new books. 

 

Wishing you and your family a Ketiva V’chatima Tova, L’shana Tova U’metuka – may you be written and sealed for a sweet new year!

 

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

 

Morah Perline

 

 

B”H

Dear Parents,

 

Five Senses

The Purple Room has been exploring the sense of hearing in preparation for Rosh Hashana. They have been testing the sound jars to compare and match sounds. Thank you, Rabbi Deitsch, for blowing the shofar for the Purple Room. The children have been learning the three types of sounds that are blown on Rosh Hashana: Tekiya – one blast, Shevorim – three blasts and Teki’ah – nine blasts.

 

Math

The Purple Room Mathematicians measured their heights utilizing apples of all types: red (Red Delicious), yellow (Golden Delicious) and green (Granny Smith). After graphing they learned that some measured 14 apples long, some 15 and some 16! Then they measured their heights in inches and discovered that they all measured between 42 and 47 inches high!

Kriyah (Hebrew Literacy)

The Purple Room has started reviewing all the Alef Beis letters and are ‘tightroping’ the letter Beis. They are also thinking of words that begin with the letter Beis. They have thought of Beis Hamikdash, Bracha, Baruch … all words they use every day in the Purple Room when davening or eating.

 

Parsha (Weekly Torah Portion)

In this week’s parsha the children learned about the special Bikurim presents the Jewish people would bring to Hashem in the Beis Hamikdash. These would consist of the seven species of grain and fruit with which Hashem blessed the Land of Israel:

 

Song:

These Are the Shivat Haminim (Seven Kinds)

(TTTO: Oh My Darling Clementine)

 

These are Shivat

These are Shivat

These are Shivat Haminim

There are seven different species

That are used for Bikurim.

Wheat and barley, olives, grapes 

Dates and figs, pomegranates.

Wheat and barley, olives, grapes

Dates and figs, pomegranates.

 

Art

The Purple Room Friends are very busy in preparation for Rosh Hashana. They are creating stunning cards utilizing the Claude Monet art style for personal wishes to their grandparents for a sweet new year. For their own homes they created apple dishes with a sand art centerpiece for their Rosh Hashanah tables. 

 

When I grow up I want to be a…

Leah:  ballerina

Naveed: poke-man master

Jemma: teacher

Angie: police officer

Bracha: artist

 

Discussion overheard:

Naveed: Leah, you know you always look pretty?

 

Wishing you and your family a Ketiva V’chatima Tova, L’shana Tova U’metuka – may you be written and sealed for a sweet new year!

 

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

 

Morah Perline

 

 

 B”H

Dear Parents,

Literacy

The Purple Room enjoyed using their new Letter Sound Cards this week being that the emphasis is on phonics, the sounds the letters make. This helps them learn how to sound out words.

The Purple Room friends began ‘writing’ in their journals this week. They illustrated and Morah wrote the words for them. Later in the year they may want to add some words to their entries.

All About Me

The children explored facts about themselves. They observed their eye color, their hair, the things they were wearing. After they were traced in true life size they filled in all their personal details such as details of their faces, clothing etc. They are now displayed in the hallway so they see ‘themselves’ as they walk by.

The Home Corner is now graced with the children’s family photos which the children chalk painted. They altered the pictures at their discretion: some dads’ shirts changed colored and some moms’ hair appeared dyed. ☺ 

Math

The Purple Room Friends were introduced this week to their Work Trays. The trays are individual work encompassing many learning skills. Some trays focus on cognitive skills, some on math, on Literacy, and some on fine motor. For example, one of the trays requires sewing, another on one to one correspondence. Once the child is finished with their tray they sign the card and return it to the shelf for another.

Kriyah (Hebrew Reading)

The Purple Room friends began creating an Alef Beis book. This week they did a crayon rubbing of an Alef for the first page in the book. Tracing the sandpaper Alef gave them sensory knowledge of this letter. Every day after sign in the children tight roped the giant Alef on the floor. They know the three lines of the the Alef are whispering a message: “Hashem loves me!”

Parsha

In this week’s Parsha the Purple Room Whizzes learned about the importance returning lost objects and being sensitive to the feelings of animals. 

Song:

(TTTO: Down By the Bay)

Down by the bay

Where the watermelons grow

Somebody lost

A colored bow.

I checked the name

I gave a call,

“Did you leave a colored bow,

Where the watermelons grow,

Down by the bay?”

Down by the bay

Where the grass grows high

Somebody lost

A colored tie.

I checked the name

I gave a call,

“Did you leave a colored tie,

Where the grass grows high

Down by the bay?”

Parsha Discussion: How have you taken care of animals?

Leah: I take care of the baby chickens. I have one. I named him Pascale. I gave the chickens food.

Jemma: I‘ve never been in a barn. But when I was by my friend’s house one of the dogs had a bee in their mouth – that was Harley, the little one - and I had to help him choke it out. 

Angie:  I take care of Ali, he’s a dog. I put a bandage on him and doggie medicine on Ali’s mouth because he likes it. He feels better with his medicine.

Bracha: My sister had a bee sting because she went to her friendss house and I helped it get away. I put some bee medicine on it and a bandaid and it felt better the next day.

Naveed: I have a dog. His name is Phoenix. My sister only takes care of Phoenix. Lots of time he had a broken leg and he went to the vet. I only like to see a chicken. 

Apples please?

In preparation for Rosh Hashana can you please send two apples to school with your child? We will be using them for many Holiday, art and math activities.

Angie: 2 red apples

Bracha: 2 green apples

Leah: 2 yellow apples

Naveed: 2 red apples

Jemma: 2 yellow apples

Ronan: 2 green apples

Show and Tell
Thank you for sending the pictures/videos of your child’s Show and Tell item this week. In the future please only send a picture of the item. If you wish your child can be holding the item. Utilizing a picture is more beneficial for this activity so that they can better develop confidence and poise in public speaking.

Please whatsapp me a picture the night before:

Monday: Naveed

Tuesday: Leah and Ronan

Wednesday: Jemma and Bracha

Thursday: Angie

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

Morah Perline

 B”H

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a fantastic fun year of learning in the Purple Room! This week the Purple Room Friends have been learning about their new schedule as Purple Room friends: how to start the day, how to care for the classroom materials, how to care for the paints and brushes and many other procedures. It is plain to see they are so very happy to be back at school and have missed it so these very long months. They are already a cohesive and caring group.

They have very quickly acclimated to a Morah who wears a mask all day. I was concerned that it may bother them but it doesn’t seem to at all. It is amazing how children adapt so quickly. Some children are wearing masks and some not. Please let me know if you have a preference. 

The Purple Room Friends have been starting the day with Outdoor Water Play so that they can take advantage of the cooler temperatures before the day becomes too hot.  They really enjoy running and playing in the water and getting some fresh air.

Literacy

The Purple Room has begun reviewing the Alphabet phonetically (sounds of the letters) with Letter Sound cards. They been practicing signing in in the morning utilizing the correct pincer grip and writing from top to bottom.

Math

The Purple Room has been working with Morah Perline on number recognition and one to one correspondence.

Art

See what you see and paint it! The children have been peering in the mirrors and deciding which colors to use and which shapes to paint to get as close as they can to an accurate depiction of their faces. It is so interesting to see how the painting skill evolves over the year as they paint their self portraits every month. In the next few weeks we will be exploring the art of Claude Monet.

Indoor/Outdoor

The Purple Room know the importance of keeping their outdoor shoes out while they wear their indoor shoes in. They collaborated with their friends and traced each other’s feet, then cut and decorated the shapes which are now proudly displayed in the hallway outside the classroom door. Their shoes stay on their footprints when not in use.

Parsha

A Parsha binder will be sent home every Friday for your child to share with his/her family over Shabbos. The Parsha information sheets are to remain in the binder. Please make sure to return the binder every Monday.

This week the children learned how a Jewish king always carried around a Sefer Torah with him all the time. Even though he may be the king, he would always remember there is a King above him watching him as he rules. This King is Hashem. This would help him be a good example to his subjects as he kept the Mitzvos (commandments/good deeds) of the Torah.

They also learned that Hashem wants us to have judges and we discussed how people go to a judge to help them decide what is right when they can’t figure it out themselves.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

Morah Perline

Dear Parents,

The Purple Room was thinking Purim and Pesach, all in the one week! The Purple Room enjoyed a Purim Fun Activity Day with the other classes on the day before Purim. They fished for coins in the water tray to remember the Mitzvah of Purim of giving Tzedoka, matched Alef Beis letters in a Megilla, created noisy graggers with metal jars and sand and filled Mishloach Manos (food gifts) and gave them to a friend. Finally, all the classes enjoyed a Purim Puppet Show superbly acted by the Purim Puppets, ably supported by Morah Perline and Rabbi Tzvi. The grand finale was the Masquerade Parade where each child paraded by so all could see their adorable Purim costumes. Then, midweek, the classroom changed and became full of Pesach learning activities. The Shushan Palace (aka Home Corner) is soon to become a Matza Bakery.

Math

Ordering numbers: in relation to giving money to poor people on Purim, the Purple Room explored pennies. They discerned the year on the penny and then placed it in chronological order on the penny timeline. 

Odds and Evens: After recognizing the number on the pushke, the children lined up the required pennies near the tzedokah box in pairs. Every two pennies made a pair. If the pennies were all paired up the number is called an even number. If they were left with a single penny, the number is called an odd number.

Literacy

The children have been gravitating to the Word Wall enjoying creating sentences on their own. Many Kindergarten children are up to Orange in the Waseca program which focuses on endings as in lamp, or tent (CVCC).

Pesach

The children have already started learning the Ma Nishtana in preparation for the Pesach Seder. They are learning about the story of Pesach and are up to the part where the Jewish People were tricked into slavery. The Purple Room children know that Hashem is going to save the Jewish People and eagerly await to hear the next installment. 

Happy Birthday, Alice!

Happy birthday, Alice! Alice’s 6th birthday was celebrated this week in school. May she continue to be a nachas to her parents, grandparents and family.

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline and Morah Chaya

Dear Parents,

Conscious Discipline – a social-emotional curriculum

As much love as there already is in our classroom, we always want to add more. With the I Love You Rituals that Morah Perline brought back from the Conscious Discipline seminar there is even more love in the air!

Here’s one I Love You Ritual the children already know well. It helps build relationships and creates a deeper appreciation for one another and of themselves:

(TTTO Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Twinkle, twinkle, you’re a star,

What a wonderful child you are.

With bright eyes and nice round cheeks

A talented person from head to feet

Twinkle, twinkle, you’re a star,

What a wonderful child you are.

As we introduce more Conscious Discipline components into the program, parents can also incorporate these elements at home as we venture together in this exciting journey to social and emotional health for our children.

Also from Conscious Discipline, the Purple Room begins each day with a poem called the “Safekeeper Promise” which describes the various ways class members keep themselves and their classroom safe. They know it is the Morah’s job to keep the classroom safe and the children’s job to help keep it safe. 

Purim

In preparation for Purim the Purple Room Artists are creating all kinds of fun things. Making masks was one of them. Making masks meant utilizing cutting skills before adding their own artistic touches. Check out the Purple Room Bulletin board and see how long it takes for you recognize your child.

The projected picture of a palace onto the classroom wall inspired the Purple Room Architects to plan and build a palace of their own. (See CJP Facebook) They used their collaborative skills to work together and listen to their friends’ suggestions. They then put their creative talents to work and changed the Home Corner into an impressive and beautiful palace complete with two thrones, one for a king and one for a queen.

The Purple Room Whizzes know all the characters of the Purim story and fingerprint painted the characters which will become their very own Purim puppets. You will be thoroughly entertained when you ask your child to make a puppet show for you of the story of Purim.

Fine Motor skills were reinforced when the Purple Room Royal Jewelers beaded bracelets for the Queens of their homes – Mommy!

The Purple Room Artists created their own Megilla utilizing paint in different ways for each page. They adored using glitter. But only for Esther and Mordechai!  Marble painting, watercolor painting, sponge painting and symmetry painting were only some of the styles they enjoyed. The children also created a ‘Find It’ Gragger which has ‘Purim charms’ that they hid in the gragger filling (rice). 

The children will bring home a Purim Song sheet to share with their families.

Sounds

The Purple Room explored sounds: quiet whispers, indoor voices and outdoor voices. When they whisper, the sound is very quiet. The Discovery Table has metal vials for the children to shake and match to the sound of the correct matching vial. The Purple Room Whizzes know that the story of Purim had many secrets so that the Jewish People could be saved from the wicked Haman. Esther had to keep it a secret that she was Jewish so that she could help save the Jewish People. The Purple Room Whizzes know that even Hashem is hidden in the Megilla as Hashem’s name is not mentioned there; Hashem is only referred to in code, as ‘Hamelech’ which means ‘THE King’. 

Math

The Purple Room Math Whizzes have been sampling their Math trays over the last week. The math trays have an array of math activities which the children choose daily. Once they have completed a tray they choose a new one so that they experience different math operations.

Davening

The children enjoyed a Davening Party this week with hot cocoa, hot apple cider, (both were passionately requested), popcorn and apple sauce. 

Thank You

Thank you to Rabbi Deitsch who kindly visited the Purple Room to show them a real Megilla and a very old Megilla, too. They have been exploring it on the light table. The children have noticed that many of the Alef Beis letters look a little different than the letters on their chart. Rabbi Deitsch explained that many Alef Beis letters have ‘crowns’.

Farewell

The Purple Room is so sad that Mason is no longer a member of the class as he has moved to a new school. They are happy for him that he will make new friends but they will miss him. The Purple Room is preparing a Goodbye Video for Mason and they hope he will be back soon when they will wish him farewell personally.

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline and Morah Chaya