Wow it’s hard to believe that this school year is already coming to a close! I began working with your precious children mid October and have seen a tremendous amount of growth since then. In the beginning of the year I introduced the children to the concept of Kavod. It was a foreign concept to them as they were just starting to explore their own feelings of empathy. I’m so proud to see how they have taken the idea of kindness and respect  and applied it to their daily interactions with one another. It’s even more amazing to see them remind one another when they need to show Kavod to someone else. 

I’ve also watched their self regulation skills improve greatly. Even though they are still young and have really big feelings  they are now more equipped to calm themselves down when those big feelings arrive. Of course they still need to be reminded of the tools and techniques that they’ve learned sometimes. For example something I say to them when they are very upset or frustrated may be :

“You are okay, take some deep breaths."

"You are brave, and you are strong. You can do this.”

Try this at home and you may find it helpful.

It has been an honor to work with all of you and to be a part of each child's personal journey.  It's been proven that the first 5 years of a child's life are the most important. 90% of the brain develops in these precious years, and I thank you all for choosing me and CJP to help lay a solid foundation for your children.  All of us at CJP can't wait to see you at our annual Moving On Ceremony on Thursday, May 27 beginning at 11am. Thank you for an incredible year.

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Maya

                         

 This week we explored Shavuot concepts. 

We read books like “ Sammy Spider's First Shavuot” and “The  Littlest Mountain”

We also used a small world to tell the story of how Moses traveled through the desert and received the 10 comments and Torah atop Mt. Sinai and brought it back to the Jewish people so that they would have laws/ rules to abide by. 

We did a lot of projects that focused on flowers similar to  those that adorned Mt. Sinai. We also had a group discussion  about the 10 comments and the kids came up with our own rules which we think will help keep us safe and teach Kavod. Earlier this week, placemats went home. The front side had the children's unique rendition of Mount Sinai and on the back is the list of their collective ideas for our 10 Commandments (I know there were only 8, but we tried our best!)

Last, on Friday we made some yummy ice cream to celebrate how we eat dairy on Shavuot.

We made flower baskets to use as center pieces for your table.

Busy building bridges and roadways.

Yehonathan admiring his work.

Ella showing me her flower arrangement.

Shai “ look I made a rose”

Exploring with mixing pint to their desired color.

Used fine motor skills to learn how to manipulate different closures.

The rules that the children collaboratively came up with to keep us safe and to help us show code.

Jonny working on his Mount Sinai and practicing letters.

Yehonathan working on his mountain.

We did a step by step process of how to make ice cream with  4 simple ingredients. 

Large and small plastic bags

Ice

Ice cream salt

Kosher strawberry milk

After we added everything together we shook it like crazy for about five minutes and voila,  we had ice cream.

Final product, of course we had to add sprinkles

Happy little people enjoying the fruit of their labor.

Yummy

Shabbat Shalom! I hope you have a wonderful Shavuot with your families,

Morah Maya

 Dear Parents,

After a week packed full of Shabbos projects, we focused our week on child-led activities, our Mother’s Day projects, and just having fun together. Here are a few pictures that capture some of our adventures.

Carmel made a bike washing station and washed all the bikes and picnic tables on the yard.

 

 Green Room Friends working on their Mother’s Day paintings.

We made crowns out of paper plates and jewels.



Action shot: Jonny taking a leap off the tire structure.

Carmel writing the name of his favorite character on his crown.

Exploring with shaving cream and water in the sensory bins.



Ella working on her balancing skills.

Mila and Yehonathan trying out a seesaw that we made from our building blocks.

 

Flying appear airplanes



 

Exploring bubble foam in the kitchen.



Shaving cream and sprinkles

Carmel giving himself a shower in our outdoor learning space.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Mother's Day!

Morah Maya

We have been so busy these past two weeks preparing for our school Shabbat party. We are very excited about sharing with you all the items we have been working so hard on. Friday each child brought home a Shabbat bag that was filled with very unique and individualized items that can be used at home going forward for Shabbat. Each child created their very own, candle holder, challah cover, picture frame, and a kiddush cup. Every single item in the bag as well as the bag was a multi step process.

The children decorating their picture frames after the paint has dried.


   

Decorating kiddush cup.

  

With the help of Morah Tori each child selected the colors in which they wanted to use to tie dye their challa covers and Shabbat bags.

   

Each child was given a block of clay and a cup of water with the instructions that they can make a candle holder for one or two candles however they like. They were all so very unique!



Once they finalize the shape that they desired they were able to adorn their candleholders with glass and gems.

  

The next day once the clay had dried all of the children painted their candleholders.

  

Each child had the opportunity to decorate a small box which would later be used to hold their kiddush cups. They were each given letter shaped stickers an allowed to use whatever they like. We talked about the different letters that they chose in words that started with those letters. They were also given.markers to add color to their box if they so desired.

 

Once the tie-dye fabric had tried each child used a stencil and custom mixed paint colors to add to their challa cover and Shabbat  bag.

 

Once all the items were completed I laid them out on the table for them to see and admire their work. And last but not least each child filled their own individual bag.

Hope these bags will bring your child and your family much joy this Shabbat and many more to come!

When I said busy, I really mean busy! In addition to preparing our Shabbat bags the children also prepared individual salads for each family that will be attended our school Shabbat celebration.

  

It all began with harvesting and washing greens and broccoli from our garden.

  

We had to supplement with a little bit of store-bought product. The kids cut lettuce and began to stuff each individual container with lettuce, arugula, tomatoes, and broccoli.

  

Bon appétit! We hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Maya