O.D.N.S. Learning Activities and Events Throughout the Year
The following article snippets give you an idea of the interesting and fun learning activities and events the children participate in throughout the year at O.D.N.S.
O.D.N.S. Welcomes Fall 2011!
ODNS is off to a fine start as we welcomed 56 students back on September 12. In these past few weeks we have all settled into our classroom routines and the children are enjoying themselves.
October has always been a favorite month at Open Door where we get to experience first-hand the beauty of nature in our village location. Some classes have already had a field trip to Kelkenberg Farms, while many of us seize the opportunity for a fall walk when the weather allows it.
On Tuesday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m., our staff will host an Open House for parents to visit the classrooms and socialize. Each teacher will present a short computerized slide show of their classes along with a description of activities their children experience each day.
Toward the end of October we’ll decorate our rooms with kid-friendly Halloween artwork and celebrate with costume parties on Monday, October 31. Parents will be invited to hear a short program of Halloween songs and finger plays presented by each class.
Spring 2011 Arrives at O.D.N.S
Each year the month of May seems to fly by the quickest, leaving the staff and parents wondering – “where did the year go?” The year took us through three seasons, many event filled holidays, a number of special field trips and visitors to our classrooms and days of enriching growth and development for our children. Simply put we had loads of fun! Walks to Garrison Park, a Metro bus ride to Anderson’s for ice cream and a field trip to Dream Castle (behind Island Park) are on the agenda for the students this month. The Davies family has been inviting the 4- and 5-year-olds to tour the castle grounds for the past 30 years. To round out this fun filled year we are looking forward to the Pre-K Mother’s Day Tea and Class day celebration, school picnics and a final Moving Up Day on May 27.
Mondrian, Monet, Seurat, Michelangelo, Jackson Pollack???
You’d expect to see these famous artists’ masterpieces in worldwide galleries, but look no further than the 4-year-old classrooms at Open Door! The children have been experimenting with various art techniques while getting ready for their Spring Art Show and Concert May 6. Artwork will be displayed during the first few weeks of May - all are welcome to view the children’s creations during this time. See you in September!
End of Winter 2011 Events at O.D.N.S.
The end of the winter season was a fine time to host two special events at Open Door last month. First, the ODNS Board planned a Family Pizza Night on March 1 and 3. It was a treat for the students to return to school at night with their families and be served pizza by their teachers.
The second event was our annual Dad’s Pancake Breakfast on March 10 and 11. The entire lower level of the building was put to use as griddle and fry pan stations were set up to accommodate our young chefs and their dads. When all jobs were done, we sat together in Fillmore Hall to enjoy a delicious breakfast. Afterward, if time permitted, dads read, played games, and even came to the gym with us. Dads commented on how much they enjoyed being a part of their children’s morning here at Open Door.
Rather than take her class to the Williamsville Library during the winter months, Mrs. Sexton invited parents of her Pre-K students to come into class on a weekly basis to read their child’s favorite book. They will soon start a unit on space and take a field trip to the planetarium at Williamsville North.
Our Pre-K class is a popular class designed to bridge the year between preschool and kindergarten. It provides an extra year of growth and development for young 5-year-olds before they enter kindergarten. Mrs. Sexton provides a creative and stimulating environment for her students that maximizes their skills and prepares them fully for their future in elementary school.
December 2010 and January 2011 at O.D.N.S.
The first three weeks in December, Open Door will sponsor a food drive to help stock the Food Pantry at WUMC. Each week the children will bring in a specific food item. Then as we walk up to the gym, we’ll drop them off at the “food closet” as the children call it. The idea of giving from our abundance is a welcome value to instill at any age.
Our Christmas parties for students and their families will take place on the mornings of December 21 and 22. The nursery school will be closed from December 22 -31, with classes resuming on January 3, 2011. In January, the students will delight in a visit from the Niagara Falls Aquarium’s “Touch Tank”. This presentation kicks off our ocean unit, when each classroom transforms itself into an under the sea experience.
Dad's March Pancake Breakfast
A good time was had by all at our recent Dad’s Pancake Breakfast. Dads or special guests entered at 9:00 a.m. and went straight to work mixing, frying, and flipping along with their pint-sized assistants. We all assembled in Fillmore Hall at 9:30 to enjoy a delicious breakfast with a little time left over for our guests to read a book or interact with their children in the classroom. This was a true memory-making event!