Parker's Move Up Ceremony 2014

The "school year" at the JCC ends June 30 and Parker will be moving up to a new room starting July 1.  We had a parents only "Meet the Teacher" night a couple weeks ago and learned about her new class.  We have heard such good things about the new lead teacher, Ms Moore.  They will be putting a lot of emphasis on independence...dressing themselves, serving their own lunches, etc.  Each day has a special class that they get to participate in:

• Play Gym, click on link to see photos from JCC website
• Gymnasium - this is just the big gym for the rec center.  They have been using it in her current class to play games like Duck, Duck, Goose and a simplified version of kickball, but it will become more structured in her next year with a designated gym teacher, Mr. Dave.  
• Shabbot Sing-a-long - This is on Fridays and Parker has been participating on it all along.  The exciting thing is that her teachers said they will often take the kids to stand in back of a Zumba class on Fridays after singing and they all follow along...how cute is that!?  Parker will love it.  The teachers said it is great for the kids after sitting still and singing all morning.
• Swimming - we are most excited about this.  They have swim lessons every Monday!  It is at the JCC's indoor pool and they have a real instructor and report cards at the end of the year.

Here is a photo of the notes from the developmental checklist her current teacher did for end of the year, hopefully you can read it:

And some photos and video from the "move up" picnic they had this week.

As a room parent, I organized a year end gift for her teachers.  I had all the parents send me a photo, created this collage and then had it printed as a mounted photo at Wal-mart.

Parker's closest friend is Mia.  They have been in the same room since they were one year old but will not be together in the new school year.  Aaron is another good buddy and he will be moving to the new room, as well as Dominic, Grace, Benjamin, Elanna, and Devin.  

They have been transitioning them to the new room by having visits over the last few days.  Parker's first visit was last Thursday and I heard from our friend, whose son told her that Parker cried when they went in at first but then she stopped and they had fun.  I asked her teachers about that and they said all of the other kids had visited for the first time the day before, which was Wednesday and Parker was home with me, so that probably made her feel uncomfortable...everyone else had already been there once.  But her teachers said since then she has been great and no more tears.

We are sure she will love her new room and new friends and before long she will be a class/teacher favorite just like she is now!!