Dear P.A.W.S Community,
This week Valentine’s Day was celebrated in a variety of ways. I thank you for sending in your lovely tokens of appreciation and caring to the children and staff at P.A.W.S.! We have a wonderful community and I am grateful for the support and kindness we receive from you, our P.A.W.S. families! It was such fun to see the joy on the children’s faces as they handed out the little paper hearts and Valentine’s Day cards that they brought in to delight their friends and teachers. Valentine’s Day often inspires us to prepare little caring acts of kindness and friendship and reminds me of one of my favorite Ted Talks by Orly Wahba called Kindness. I encourage you to find ten minutes during vacation week to watch it, and if you have an interest and another 2 minutes, you may enjoy The Science of Kindness, too! The children’s book How Kind by Mary Murphy shares a theme similar to the message of kindness in the music video highlighted in Orly Wahba’s Ted Talk. Reading the book How Kind with your child, might be a preschool-friendly way to begin a conversation about how one act of kindness can create a ripple effect that inspires more, and continued acts of kindness!
This year, a parent at P.A.W.S. told me about a tradition she started with her child whereby, each day, as they drive to preschool, the parent says, “Today, I will do something kind and helpful and let’s think of something kind or helpful you can do at school.” They brainstorm some ideas that the child might be able to complete such as being kind, caring or helpful and they come up with a plan for how she might to be a good friend and help others. At the end of the day, when the parent and the child are driving home from school, they talk about the kind and helpful things they were able to do that day to bring a little happiness and joy to others. Perhaps the parent shares that she held the door for someone at the store, paid for a coffee for the person in the drive-thru behind her, or smiled, said hello, and thank you to the letter carrier when he delivered the mail. The child shares that perhaps she helped a classmate pick up the blocks after playing, shared her crayons at the art center, or offered to take turns during a game! I loved hearing about this family’s daily kindness and caring tradition. We support, encourage, recognize, and nurture acts of caring and kindness in every classroom each day to help each child develop skills to become thoughtful, kind, and caring. This fun tradition connects children and parents and gives them a special way to talk about their day!
I hope you will build on the momentum of thoughtfulness, love, and caring that you started this week with the giving and receiving of Valentine’s Day cards. If you are traveling far away or if you are enjoying a stay-cation in Wellesley, may you and your child find moments during the February vacation week, to actively engage in acts of kindness, and enjoy spending time talking together about all of the kind, friendly, and helpful things you did and noticed!
Attached here are links to lists of books that encourage kindness. If you don’t have access to the books and can’t get to the public library, many of the books may be available online. Often you may find books uploaded to You Tube. Here are two I found with a quick search: Horton Hears A Who, and Because of You. You will be able to find many others as well! Have fun finding your child’s favorite stories!
P.A.W.S for Important Dates and Reminders:
2/20 – 2/24 – No School – Happy Vacation Week!
2/28 – 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM @ the Fiske Library – Transition to Kindergarten Night for Families of
Students with Special Needs (Snow Date 3/2 @ 6:30 PM, Fiske Library) RSVP to cashmani@wellesleyps.org if you plan to attend.
3/2 – Read Across America Day – NEA’s Read Across America is an annual reading
motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to
celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.
“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” – Dr. Seuss
3/ 4 – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM @ Sprague School – Kindergarten Round-Up for Kindergarten
Registration (Snow date 3/18 @ Sprague 9:00-12:00)
3/9 – 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM – P.A.W.S. Information Night and School Tour for new and prospective families interested in enrolling their
preschooler at P.A.W.S. – As you know, P.A.W.S. is the hidden gem of Wellesley! Help us get the word out – we are enrolling for classes starting in September 2017!
3/17 – GREEN DAY – All are invited to wear something GREEN to school!
P.A.W.S. to Save the Date:
P.A.W.S. Spring Auction
4/1 – 6:00 PM @ Wellesley Community Center – P.A.W.S. Spring Auction – Our exciting theme
this year for the auction will be “Reaching for the Stars”. The P.A.W.S. Auction is a silent
auction and social event that brings P.A.W.S. parents together and raises money that
directly benefits every child at our preschool. Be sure to line up your babysitter, buy your
tickets, and join us for this stellar event!
*Attached you will find an Auction Donation Request Form and the Parent Support Letter. We appreciate your help!
Donation Request PAWS Auction 2017.docx
Parent Support Letter 2017.doc
P.A.W.S. and Plan Ahead:
3/29 – 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Parent Teacher Conferences – Your child’s classroom teacher will contact you to schedule your parent conference time.
4/4 – 11:45 AM – Early Dismissal Day – This is a Tuesday. All P.A.W.S. classes that meet on Tuesday will dismiss at 11:45 AM to accommodate the Early Dismissal day for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Your child’s classroom teacher will contact you to schedule your parent conference time.
4/ 5 – 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Parent/Teacher Conferences – Your child’s classroom teacher will contact you to schedule your parent conference time.
4/14 – No School – Good Friday
4/19 – 4/21 – April Vacation Week
Wishing you a safe, fun, and inspiring vacation! I look forward to hearing about your acts of kindness and caring when we return to school on Monday, February 27, 2017!
Best,
‘Becca Z.