How to Use New Toys

Fiona discovered it first. The sensory tub which had been filled with blue water and the new whales and sharks ( 6" plastic toy animals). She examined each animal and put it back in the water. Then she looked at the display of shells, rocks and sea glass. She took a piece of brown paper and the pastels and created a picture of a whale in the ocean. She used the props to create shells and rocks in the bed of her ocean. Her whale was spouting above a waterline.

Then Cash came in. He came right over to the sensory tub. Fiona joined him. They tested the buoyancy of each animal. Then Fiona discovered that by peering through the side of the sensory tub it looked "just like an aquarium." So she spread towels on the floor and looked under the sensory tub. Excited by the view of the water from underneath, especially the motion of the water caused by Cash's splashing, she invited him to see it. They took turns being the splasher and the observer.

Then Elizabeth joined them. At first Elizabeth simply wanted to splash the whales in the water. Then she wanted to drop the rocks and sea glass into the water, from a height, to make a larger splash. But Fiona encouraged her to look underneath. Soon Elizabeth was taking turns with Cash and Fiona: two children laying on towels on the floor under the sensory table while one "stirred" the water to propel the animals into centrifugal motion.

This activity lasted over 20 minutes. The teacher in the room simply observed and took notes. No adult was necessary.

Summer Community Build

On Saturday, July 17th new and returning Home Sweet Home families worked with teachers and Big Friends on a Community Build. Many projects were fully accomplished, and good ground broken on ambitious works, too. But the most important aspect of this event was the camaraderie forged between munching bagels at 8:30AM to mid-morning store runs for more lumber and dashing home for the shop vac to the 3:00PM mop-up.

In gratitude for the terrific energy of our Home Sweet Home Preschool Community who loaned their muscle; donated their power tools, trucks and time; and made new friends while conspiring on the common goal of enhancing the learning environment for all the children.

So what actually happened? We got so much done!
* Light and Shadow Observatory painted - done! (and curtain rod attached)
* Playground doors cleaned, sanded, painted - done!
* Classroom #2 closet organized - done!
* Earthquake proof tall shelving - done!
* Stain three shelving units - done!
* Play kitchen built - done!
* Play cart built - done!
* Child furniture hinges/screws tightened - done!
* Reclaimed stumps fetched and delivered - done!
* New seeds planted - done and done!
Our sandbox received a lot of good advice and plans to continue until it is completed. The workers involved are scheduling with Sky to finish the project. Kathleen ordered a liner. HSH wants to schedule the truck of sand for a school-day so the children will have the excitement of seeing the big dump. Some of our moms took home sewing projects to create curtains and brighten our cushions. As much as we completed, more and more ideas emerged.

We learned many things from our community build that will spur our success moving forward.
1. Establish a parent chair for the Build (to support communication and planning)
2. Ask the design-minded parents to a mini-meeting to vete big projects (this will streamline shopping)
3. Organize a clean-up committee to ensure all classrooms are restored and child-ready for the first day back at preschool.
4. Waterbottles, waterbottles, waterbottles!

Our thanks to the families and teachers who were able to participate:
Allison, Brandt, Byrne-Sarno, Casaes, Chin, Davidson, Fletcher, Means, O'Keefe, Price, Reynolds, Sorenson, Speed, Stewart, Von Stroheim and Young.

HSH would like to gratefully acknowledge Starbucks and Panera for donating refreshments for the continental breakfast.

The next HSH Community Build is scheduled for Saturday, October 23!