It's About Family

So what were Miss Jaimie's 5-year-olds next door doing while we 4-year-olds were working and studying so hard?

Before I get to that, let me tell you first that our theme this week was all about family. You see, when you're family, you stick together; when you're family, you're always welcome.

Corey shows us his family while Miss Forbis signs "father" to the class.

Ben's family album even includes the "dog".

We learn that some families speak a different language. We count along in English and Spanish as Miss Forbis reads from ¡Fiesta! where three children buy things at the store to put inside a birthday piñata. They take uno canasta (one basket) and fill it with dos trompetas (two horns), tres animalitos (three toy animals)... etc.

N.C. State senior Miss Lauren (between Miss White and Miss Forbis) is our newest volunteer. She joins us as we try to find Marlon under the red scarf.
Where is Marlon?
Where is Marlon?
Here I am.
Here I am.
Hello Marlon.
Hello Marlon.
Glad that you're in music.
Glad that you're in music.
Welcome to our family Lauren! We're glad you're in music, too.

Miss White leads the way and shows us how to make really neat aprons with polka dots, squares, moons and every shape imaginable. Afterwards, she lets the aprons dry on the family drying rack.

Let me philosophize: Hatred makes no sense in a world where a group of strangers can grow into a family in less than two weeks. Perhaps the seeds of our world’s salvation lie in something as simple as getting to know our neighbors.

I'm just telling you this because you're like one of the family, so it's OK.

And oh yes, what was Miss Jaimie's class doing? Well YOU figure it out! It had nothing to do with work – it had everything to do with bubbles. But it's OK – they're family. See, when you're family, you look out for each other. We all need to chase bubbles now and then! (Thanks Miss Jamie for the video.)

Click here if you'd like to chase bubbles too.

Learning About Me

It's nearly three weeks into the new school year already and I'm learning more and more about me.

I can pick the way I say good morning – like a skunk,

…or I can pick "underwater" and say good morning like Spongebob Squarepants.

I learn how to say (and sign) that the sun is yellow today.

…and I learn from the iPad that we're having chicken nuggets for lunch.

During snack time, I can't say or sign "goldfish" yet, but I can "touch" it to my teacher.

After I find my name, I can pick a sticker to wear.

I also learned about something called feelings – that there are words about the way I feel, words like happy - sad - mad - excited - scared - silly.

This is what happy looks like.

I learned songs by picking them from the iPad screen. Today we sang "Icky Sticky Bubble Gum."

And then Miss Paula taught me how to play her big drum.

After that, she taught my friends how to play the drum together as a team. Then Miss White showed us – one at a time – how to walk across white paper with paint on our bare feet. I think she wanted us to leave our footprints for posterity. Unfortunately, I was "de-painted" just before I could leave my footprints on my clothes, in my hair, or anywhere else.

I think we make one HECK of a team!
This is what we sound like…and LOOK like!



So that's what I (we) learned this week. What did YOU learn?
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Announcements (Thanks Debbie):
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Imagine having to reuse soiled diapers!
1 in 20 American moms struggling with diaper needs have cleaned out and reused wet or soiled diapers. You can help prevent that by donating your Rewards Points to Every Little Bottom. For every 2 points you contribute, HUGGIES® Brand will donate one diaper to their community partner, Feeding America. For a simple donation of 16 Rewards Points, you can diaper a baby in need for a day.
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Open a world of reading at home!
Scholastic Book Clubs is teaming up with Kellogg's to highlight the importance of reading every day. With the purchase of any two specially marked Kellogg's packages from Walmart stores this fall, you'll receive an offer for a $5 Book Coupon from Scholastic Book Clubs. The coupons can be redeemed at checkout or submitted with your order, just like any other Scholastic Book Clubs coupon.
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Turn labels into cash!
Frankie Lemmon School is excited about partnering with Tyson products to earn money for the school. Clip Tyson Project A Plus section on Tyson bags and boxes, (please see examples below), and turn into the school office. Each clipping redeemed is worth 24 cents. Thanks to everyone for your continued support. Learn more on Parents' Night, October 4.

Getting to Know You

Today was only the second class day of this new year. After parents' orientation day on Wednesday, the teachers and therapists are very busy with initial assessments of our new friends in areas of abilities, disabilities, anxieties and a whole checklist of needs.

Below are some introductory remarks from our new friends. (with thanks to Kate Harper Designs at kidcards.blogspot.com.)

Speech therapist Sharon Hanvey is determining who needs what in the areas of speech and language therapy, which is required for every student.

Physical therapist Eliza Bankert will be teaching gross motor skills, specializing in things like how to go up and down stairs and how to step up on curbs...safely.

Occupational therapist Vicki Demaster specializes in "fine motor" and "visual motor" skills in areas such as handwriting, self-dressing, and "crossing the midline" – the ability to reach across the middle of the body with the arms and legs crossing over to the opposite side. It's a skill needed for reading, writing, and even for reaching toward your foot to put on a shoe and sock with both hands.

That's not all that's new! Check out the school's completely revamped website at: frankielemmonschool.org. There's even a link to my blog. (Look up "Volunteer Opportunities" under "Ways to Give".)

More new things are afoot…
Look for updates on the future expansion of the Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center, continued advancement of school programs, and increased collaboration with the community and like-minded partners.

Last but not least…what is TIE?
Harris Teeter's Together In Education program (TIE) helps schools raise funds for anything from basic supplies to computers. Next time you go to the store, just give the cashier your VIC Card along with the Frankie Lemmon school number (2569). From then on, whenever you purchase certain Harris Teeter Brand products, the store will automatically contribute a percentage of your purchase to the school. It's painless and you are giving away someone else's money!

There are many other ways to "Shop and Give" as well. Look under "Ways to Give" on the school's website.