Favorite Children’s CDs

Just in time for your last-minute holiday shopping, read on for suggestions of CDs enjoyed by fellow CCC families. You can also check out the recent posts on favorite books and favorite videos. Thanks to all who shared—I know these lists have given me lots of ideas!

Kate (Milo, BY) writes, “This summer we fell madly in love with the CD set of Winnie the Pooh read by British actor Jim Broadbent. It's a three-CD set, and I'm sure we listened to it easily more than 10 times over within the scope of a month. Amazingly enough, Phil and I both find it both sweet and hilarious every time.”

Lately Milo’s family has been taking a break from kid music, Kate says, “Though we always love Dan Zanes, Elizabeth Mitchell and the like ... but lately Milo has been really into The Mikado! Go figure. Trying to do more classic Beatles as well.”

Samantha says that Patrick (FY) has been enjoying A Bam Bam Diddly by Father Goose, as well as anything by Dan Zanes or Bev Bos, and the soundtrack to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (from 1973).

Ula (BY) has been listening to 96 Degrees in the Shade by Third World.

Josie (BY) and her big brother Sam like Dino 5, says their mom Ellen, “hip-hop for kids with Tracy Triceratops and Billy Brontosauras.”

Elise (Hazel Rose, BY) writes, “Our favorite kids CDs are still Octapretzel (local band) and Melita's Delicate Web. Though they are not for children, we both love Amy Bruckmeier's CDs!!!” (Amy is Ula’s mom in the Back Yard, and Pearl seconds the recommendation!)

Kristen (Mazi, BY and Finn, FY) suggests the Putamayo Kids series—“Any of their CDs are great.” Also African Lullaby from the Ellipsis Arts Lullabies series.

And finally, Ani shares that Ian (FY) has caught the spirit of the season and “loves, loves, loves Christmas songs this year, especially ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ and ‘Jingle Bells.’” Lately Ani has overheard Ian making up his own words to songs, including, "Here comes Santa Claus... going to jail!"

Well, Ian, I hope Santa can stay out of trouble long enough to deliver the goods. And to all, my wishes for a joyous holiday season!

Favorite Children’s Videos

From Charlie Chaplin to Japanese animation to a Canadian farm documentary, CCC parents share recommendations for kid-friendly videos. Pick up some ideas for your next family movie night. Don’t forget the popcorn!

Annie (Alex, FY) writes, “We have recently discovered and fallen in love with The Little Travelers for our weekly movie night. They are two girls from Southern California who travel around the world. The movies are stories of their adventures and they're full of sweetness, curiosity and exploration. They're really well done. We've watched Bali, Japan and Iran... Bali being our favorite. We highly recommend!”

Val (Rudy, BY) reports, “Just got a hot tip on a DVD from Farmer Stanley at the Little Farm in Tilden. There's a group out of Manitoba called Rural Route Video with a DVD called Katherine's Farm, a year in the life of a young girl growing up on a Canadian farm... Just our speed.”

Samantha (Patrick, FY) recommends both Dan Zanes concert DVDs, Eloise videos, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (“He has a big sister who did not watch these at 3, by the way”). She adds two of his favorite TV shows right now are Wordgirl and Super Why.

Ani (Ian, FY) says Ian’s top movie picks are: Toy Story, Cinderella, Up and any Pixar movie.

Amy (Ula, BY) writes, “Ula is loving Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Season 1 of Sesame Street, downloaded off of iTunes. She loves the song about 'Dad, D-A-D, Dad!’”

Kristen (mom of Mazi, BY and Finn, FY) recommends: Scholastic Video Collection (“tons of great books made into simple video form”) and some true classics: Charlie Chaplin, The Red Balloon and The Three Stooges.

Ellen (Josie, BY) writes, “Kirikou is a favorite. It's based on a West African folktale. Kirikou, a walking, talking, tiny newborn saves his village from the evil sorceress. Cool animation and good music too.”

Elise (Hazel Rose, BY): “Charlie and Lola have been nice to have around. They are British animated siblings who have a nice relationship. All of the Hayao Miyazaki movies that are age appropriate are well loved by both of us: Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo (when it comes out), and well, yes, a lot of the way age inappropriate ones, too: Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa, Monoke, Spirited Away.” Elise advises that parents pre-screen to make sure these are a good fit for their kids.

Kate (Milo, BY) also chimes in on Miyazaki films, including My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. She adds, “There are a bunch of other great ones that are pretty wild and scary and probably not suited for this audience, but our kids love them: Porco Rosso, Laputa, Howl's Moving Castle, etc.”

And Kate writes, “We can't get enough of the BBC Series by David Attenborough: The Life of Birds, The Life of Mammals, The Blue Planet. Literally, Milo's first choice these days when picking something to watch.”

“Otherwise, old school Looney Tunes: The Rabbit of Seville ... Amazing animation with the fantastic scores from Carl Stalling. We love the classical music mixed in. And now our kids will listen to the Barber of Seville!”

Want to watch now? Kate suggests these classics on YouTube: Tom and Jerry play the Hollywood Bowl (Die Fledermaus), and Tom and Jerry play Franz Liszt.

What are your family’s favorite videos? Share them below!

Favorite Children's Books

Reading with kids is one of the true joys of parenthood, a time to reconnect with treasured classics and discover new favorites, and a time to connect with our kids, hear their ideas and explore the world together through books.

Here CCC parents share some of the titles they have enjoyed with their little ones. Read on if you’re looking for inspiration for your family’s library.

Lately Aeneas’ (FY) family has been reading My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett. His mom Jessica writes, “We were looking for chapter books to capture Aeneas' attention. It took a little adjustment for him to get used to fewer pictures and more text.” But, she adds, “He is starting to own with pride the idea that we are reading a chapter book.”

Hazel Rose (BY) enjoys the Flower Fairies Friends book series (authors include Kay Woodward and Pippa Le Quesne). Her mom Elise writes, “They have good stories that always involve the main character making a mistake natural to their own temperament, and then having to solve the muddle that ensues, usually with help. They teach great friendship and self-knowledge values through engaging stories.” Hazel Rose also likes Pippi Longstocking and its sequels (Back Yarders may have noted Pippi as one of HR’s fashion icons).

Ian (FY) is fond of anything Toy Story or super-hero-related. Other favorites, says his mom Ani, include Where the Wild Things Are, Corduroy (“about a defective toy store bear who finally gets adopted”), Just Me and My Family by Mercer Mayer (“has cute little anecdotes about spending time with family”) and Caps For Sale.

Milo’s (BY) family enjoys Elsa Beskow’s beautifully illustrated classics for bedtime, including Peter's Old House, Christopher's Harvest Time and The Sun Egg. For chapter books, his mom Kate writes, “We love anything by Roald Dahl, most recently The Giraffe, The Pelly and Me and Danny the Champion of the World. You can get these on CD read by the author and they are wonderful too.”

She adds, “We also love Astrid Lindgren's chapter book series on The Children of Noisy Village—stories of three families of children who live on neighboring farms in rural Sweden around the turn of the century. There is also a picture book called Christmas in Noisy Village that is a classic we've been reading since I was a kid!”

Kristen, mom of Mazi (BY) and Finn (FY), shares two of her boys’ top picks: Pierre in Love by Sara Pennypacker, and Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman.

A favorite of Pearl’s (BY) is The Amazing Bone by William Steig, about a pig named Pearl who befriends a talking bone. Other great books by William Steig are Farmer Palmer’s Wagon Ride and Spinky Sulks, about a particularly tenacious sulker. She has also been enjoying longer books of late—a recent fave: The Velveteen Rabbit.

Patrick (FY) likes anything by Margaret Mahy, including The Great White Man Eating Shark, Jam, The Three-Legged Cat, The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate and The Rattlebang Picnic. He has also enjoyed Thatcher Hurd’s Artdog, Mystery on the Docks and Pea Patch Jig as well as Mordicai Gerstein’s Mountains of Tibet. His mom Samantha adds he also likes books about stars, planets or Greek myths (especially Cyclops and Medusa).

Ula (BY) and her mom Amy recently checked out David Soman’s superhero inspired Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy from the library. Amy writes, “Even though she usually doesn't like to hear a story more than once, or possibly twice, we've read this about twice a day for three days. I guess she likes it?”

So…. feeling inspired and ready to shop? Milo's mom Kate reminds us to check out our great Bay Area independent bookstores. Among her faves are Mrs. Dalloway's (“they can order almost anything for you and are super nice!”), Pegasus, Books Inc. and Moe's. And recently she visited City Lights in San Francisco, with their “small but utterly unbelievable children's section. I could have spent a thousand dollars there easily! Really amazing stuff I haven't seen anywhere else.” And of course you can always take your wish list to your local library and test out new titles before you buy!

Does your family have a favorite children’s book not mentioned here? Share it in the comments section below!

Sandbox Diaries Vol. 3

Overheard at CCC...

Pearl (BY) on the day of the school Feast: "I walked a Front Yarder named Wren to the feast and I sat with her too."
Mom: "Wren, that's a pretty name. Did you know that's a kind of bird?"
Pearl (exasperated): "She wasn't a BIRD mom; she was a little GIRL!"

Back Yarders Hazel Rose and Josie figuring out their game.
Hazel Rose: "I want to be the main character."
Josie: "Why do you always want to be the main character?"
Hazel Rose: "Because the main character never dies."
Josie: "Let's have two main characters."
Hazel Rose: "OK!"

Back Yarders Host a Feast

Last month the Back Yarders welcomed the Front Yarders to their classroom for the annual pre-Thanksgiving Feast. Prior to the big event, Back Yard teacher Lara read the classic tale Stone Soup with the kids. On the day of the Feast, each child brought an assigned vegetable and the class worked together to cook up their own (and might I add delicious!) version of stone soup.

In their roles as hosts, the Back Yarders were each assigned a Front Yarder to escort to the table and to sit with at lunch time. Front Yarders made cornbread to contribute to the meal. With the whole school--kids, teachers and participating parents--gathered together over warm bowls of soup, the Feast was a vision of community togetherness, a perfect beginning to the holiday season.

(Thanks to Annie Burke for the photo)

Food, Glorious Food

Front Yard mom Sara Hinkley shares the culinary joys of the season, and a recipe for a delicious CCC-inspired cranberry relish.

For the past several weeks, the Front Yarders have been busy peeling, mixing, measuring, grinding, cutting, baking and eating. They made applesauce (first making "apple yoyos"), pumpkin pancakes, cornmeal pancakes, cornbread (for the all-school feast) and cranberry relish (which every Front Yarder got to take home for Thanksgiving weekend).

This is the season for eating: for celebrating the last big harvest before winter, for cherishing the foods associated with early Americans (pumpkin, cranberry, corn, sweet potatoes, nuts), for celebrating our own cultural traditions, and filling up on warm, spiced, sweet foods for the long winter. As Allyssa reminded some of us on Friday, food is a wonderful way for children to learn about each other's cultures and backgrounds. The way to each others' hearts may just be through our stomachs!

Recipes for everything but the relish are on the wiki. Here's my adaptation of Allyssa's recipe for relish (almost the same as my mom's, who grew up on Cape Cod, where cranberries are taken very seriously.)

Cranberry Relish
1 bag cranberries (washed)
1 orange (cut into wedges, skin left on but seeds removed)
1 apple (cored)
juice of about 1/2 lemon
cinnamon (optional)
small fistful dried cherries
sugar to taste

Blend in a food processor (or hand-grinder, pictured above) and eat! I've found it does best if you let it sit to let the sugar dissolve before refrigerating. And I try to stop the food processor before it turns into mush.

-- Sara Hinkley, Ethan (FY)

A (Pin) Smashing Success

Topping off the Halloween weekend, CCC’ers gathered for the first-ever bowlathon fundraiser on Nov. 1 at the Albany Bowl. While the event raised an impressive sum for the school, the image of our little preschoolers bowling was, well… priceless. Sporting tiny bowling shoes, they hefted the weighty balls, sending them rolling slowly, slowly, down the bumpered lanes, proud faces beaming.

The event was the inspiration of the fundraising team, co-chaired by Nina Dessart and Caroline White. Here the co-chairs share some bowlathon highlights and their ideas for future escapades.

What was the thinking behind doing a bowlathon fundraiser?
We wanted the fall fundraiser to be a fun event that could involve the whole community (especially the children), require only a small investment of everyone's time and energy, and be very inexpensive to produce. And in fundraising, you always want to look for "the baby seal" (a Greenpeace reference), something that will engage donors' hearts and make them want to contribute, perhaps more than they normally/usually would. We thought that the idea of three- and four-year-olds bowling would be a hoot and an easy thing for friends and families to want to support.

The online giving approach to fundraising is a first for CCC, no? Were you happy with the outcome?
It was indeed the first online giving that CCC has tried and we are happy with the way that it worked for this event. The personalized page option that the service that we used, Firstgiving.com, provides makes it so easy for people to email it out to their contacts, which many non-fundraisers find is an easier way to ask for donations. And donors can see their gift actually helping their bowler reach her/his fundraising goal. The system also makes it easy on our end for us to track who raised what, so that families get credit for their fundraising efforts. Not everyone is comfortable giving online, which is why we still received many pledges by check, but overall, online donation processing is the trend in nonprofit fundraising of which CCC was happy to take full advantage.

For most of the kids, it was their first time in a bowling alley. Any reactions?
We were surprised to see just how comfortable most of them seemed! Amalia, a seasoned bowler, or just naturally skilled, gave pointers to Hazel Rose. Alex couldn't stop bowling, and yes, they had to turn on the lights just to urge him off the lanes! Maybe individual parents dealt with their own kids' anxiety, but to us, they just seemed to be taking it all in stride and having a good time. And we'd been alerted to some parents' reservations about a visit from Mr. Pin, but as we looked around, most of the kids were laughing and smiling, and some (go Sage!) were even dancing!

Anything else you'd like to share about the bowlathon?
Our deep appreciation for everyone's efforts gathering pledges! We had an amazing rate of participation--37 families raised money for CCC. That has to be a record! And to date, we've raised more than $6,000, with pledges still coming in! Caroline here: At one point when the lights went off and disco lights went on, Michael Jackson blaring, I thought: "What have we done? Is this really appropriate for preschool children?" But as I braved the lanes to check in with families, I saw tons of happy faces and giggles, especially from the parents! It's one thing to be experiencing community within the magical grounds of CCC; it’s another thing entirely to feel community outside, contained and lots of laughter. I was so proud of being a part of CCC.

And what's next for team FUNdraising?
We are in the planning stages for the May 8th auction and for another new, yet-to-be-unveiled fundraising venture for CCC. Other plans include Dinner and a Movie. You go to dinner without the kids. We provide the movie and other nighttime activities. More info coming soon!

Rainy Season

Inspired by last week's rain showers, Front Yard mom Sara Hinkley shares some reflections on the changing seasons.

On Friday at CCC, we had our first big rain of the season. Most of the kids enjoyed the drizzle for a while, pulling out coats and boots and sticking it out on the hill. But as the rain got heavier almost everyone moved indoors. (And I got my first taste of the lovely spirited chaos that is indoors on a rainy day!) We had fun getting everyone into warm clothes and feeling cozy.

By lunchtime, only Nolan was still outside: "I still need to be getting wet!" he told Auden over and over. But finally it was time to dry off for lunch, and so he did.

I often think of the Bay Area as a place without real seasons, and feel a bit wistful trying to explain snow to Ethan, or remembering the warm summer evenings I spent playing outside as a kid. But life at CCC has felt very attuned to the seasons lately, and seeing all the changes through a preschooler's eyes reminds me that the cycles of life are rich with possibilities for learning and exploring.

-- Sara Hinkley (Ethan, FY)
(Ethan's favorite book about rain is In The Rain With Baby Duck)

Jack O' Mountains

Annie Burke (mom of Alex, FY) shares a special CCC moment--an unexpected surprise at pick-up time last night.

When I went to get Alex at Tea Time this evening, I found the kids, Hannah and Brian walking out of the building towards the back. They were following Brian who was telling a story about Jack O Mountains. Brian crouched down with some matches (the kids were standing away at a safe distance, of course) in the sandbox. After a few minutes and several matches we saw this (see photo).

They built it during the afternoon and waited until it was dark--now about 5:20--to light him up. The kids oooo-ed and awww-ed... and so did the gathering parents who were there to pick up their kids. I missed the story that Brian told but it was clear that whatever it was, it was full of imagination, passion and a deep care for our kids. That place and the teachers who breathe life into it everyday are pretty special.

-- Annie (Alex, FY)

Sandbox Diaries Vol. 2

Two more dispatches from the Sandbox Diaries (courtesy of Allyssa):

Finn (FY), yelling out while swinging a stuffed leopard: "I've got danger by the tail!"

Henry (FY), responding to a friend who disagreed with him about who was playing under the loft: "You hurt my feelings. You broke my heart."

Become a Fan of CCC!

From Mickey Butts--A.K.A. Rudy's Dad, BY Parent, Alumni Outreach Guy and Facebook Gardener:

CCC has a new page on Facebook. Please go to this page and become a fan: http://www.facebook.com/cccpreschool

Many organizations are creating pages because of the interactivity and functionality they offer. Among other things, you can get updates directly to your wall when new content is posted on CCC's page. Read the latest from the CCC blog, which is now integrated with CCC's Facebook page, or automatically see the posts of other CCC fans. It's an ongoing discussion.

The page is open to everyone who has a connection to CCC, including alums, current families, family members, and friends. My hope is that the page will foster even greater connections among everyone who cares about CCC. And it's not just about one-way messages from the school: I can envision this being a useful place to post questions and comments from current parents for someone in another classroom or for CCC alums, such as relevant recommendations, events, and things you need. Kind of like a Berkeley Parents Network, but for CCCers, and more targeted to folks with a similar sensibility perhaps.

It could become a hub for relevant person-to-person conversations that don't always work well by e-mail across classrooms and with parents no longer at CCC. For instance, it was somewhat complicated by e-mail, but we recently found a great (and free!) hand-me-down bike for Rudy through a posting to some CCC alums. That could have happened instantly with a quick post on Facebook. Many people in the CCC community might be able to suggest a doctor, offer insight about an elementary school their child now attends, suggest a great upcoming event for kids, or whatever. Once you leave CCC, this could be another great way to stay in touch and reconnect with folks you know from CCC.

So please become a fan of CCC, and let's learn together what this new feature of Facebook can offer.

Cheers,
Mickey Butts

Berkeley Kindergarten Info Session

To parents interested in the Berkeley public schools,
You may want to attend the following event:

Berkeley Public Education Foundation:
Kindergarten Information Event
Berkeley Public Education Foundation will be hosting a free informational session on November 15, from 4 to 6 PM to introduce pre-school parents to Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) kindergartens, and provide an overview of the registration and placement processes. Melisandra Leonardos from BUSD's Admissions Office will present and respond to questions. Location: Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley. Please RSVP with your name and the number attending to bpef@berkeley.k12.ca.us, or 510-644-6244. (Note: This is not an event geared to children, but children are welcome to accompany you if needed. No childcare is
provided.)

Subscribe to this Newsletter with RSS

Want to find out when there's a new post to the CCC Preschool News Blog? Here are some tips on how to use an RSS Feed Reader. Thanks to Mickey (Rudy, BY) for his help with this!

What is RSS?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is perfect for those who want to read CCC Preschool News articles as they are posted. Subscribing to an RSS feed is different from subscribing to an e-mail newsletter. Rather than filling your inbox, the notices are sent to your RSS Feed Reader. You can subscribe to this "news feed" from most websites or blogs.

How do I subscribe to an RSS Feed?

Simply post the following address into your favorite RSS Feed Reader: http://cccpreschoolnews.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss.

There are a variety of formats available, and you can experiment to find the one most convenient for you. Here are a few examples of the variety of RSS readers available today.

• Web Browsers: Directly from your favorite Web browser software: Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc...
• On-Line Services: Most on-line providers offer RSS Readers such as Google Reader and MyYahoo
• E-mail Programs: RSS readers are now built into email programs like Apple Mail * and Outlook
  
• Stand-alone Readers: You can download software applications called RSS Readers like Newsgator

* For example, I have Apple Mail and here's how I subscribed: Go to File and select "Add RSS Feeds." Then select "Specify a Custom Feed URL" and paste in the above web address. The posts show up under RSS in the left-hand column. Simple!

Front Yard Rainbow Stew

By request, Allyssa shares the "recipe" for Rainbow Stew - a mushy, colorful concoction that is a visual and tactile delight!

Rainbow stew is created from a gooey base of cooked cornstarch. It is divided and food coloring added to create primary colors (blue, red, yellow). Scoop some of each color into a zip lock bag and seal (push out the air and after closing the bag, use duct tape to make sure that gooey mess stays in!)

Then the squeezing begins and the colors blend, creating a rainbow of colors. It is both satisfying and fun to touch, and also to experience visually the creation of new colors. It is so much more meaningful to see that blue and yellow make green, rather than being told it will happen.

When we make "rainbow stew" it is amusing to see kids use their feet to squish, sit on them, carry the colorful baggies around and use them in their play all morning. Then in the end, the cubbies are full of baggies with fairly gross looking mush! They are not meant to save, so after a short time, toss it!
- Allyssa

Rainbow Stew Recipe
(When I make it for the class, I multiply by 6!)

1c. cornstarch
1/3 c. sugar
4 c. water
food coloring (blue, red, yellow)

Mix dry ingredients, add water, cook over medium heat until thick. Divide "stew" by three and use food coloring to make each portion a different color.

Halloweeeeeeeeen!

The count-down has begun. There are costumes to make (or, in our family's case, search for frantically online), pumpkins to carve and trick-or-treat itineraries to map out.

Meanwhile, the classrooms at CCC are bustling with activities to celebrate the season. Front-yarders are enjoying Halloween-themed books and songs, roasting pumpkin seeds, making pumpkin pancakes and painting their own faces. Allyssa will be sharing a favorite book, Go Away Big Green Monster, a great selection for this time of year that helps take the scariness out of monsters. And on the Friday before Halloween, kids can hunt for pumpkins on the hill!

Back-yarders are also busy with DIY activities, Lara reports—making costumes and masks, decorating mini pumpkins and learning about witches, including the historical role of witches as women with knowledge of herbs and medicine. The kids have even been concocting their own potions. The Back Yard is also celebrating Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with an altar in the classroom and sugar skulls for the children to decorate and take home.

Outside of CCC, families are enjoying all kinds of spooky fun. Kate (Milo, BY) writes, "Halloween has traditionally been the only holiday we spend at our own house. And we love it for that. The kids can hardly wait to decorate and it's all we can do to wait till October 1st to bring out the bins of bats and skulls and costumes." Milo's family also enjoys an annual trip to Sebastopol to go pumpkin-patching with friends.

On Halloween night in years past, Ravi (FY) and his family hit popular streets like Mariposa (near CCC) or Belvedere in San Francisco. "We used to call these streets the Castro, but for kids," says his mom Promita. But as the kids have been getting older, their traditions have changed. Now they have Arizmendi pizza and spooky snacks with a few friends before trick-or-treating in their neighborhood.

And finally, Alex (FY) and his family have found a great way to let the magic of Halloween live on... and on. His mom Annie tells us, "One of our traditions is to let our jack o' lanterns decompose in our veggie beds. It's fun to watch them get all smooshed and crumble into the dirt. And then in the spring, up come little baby pumpkin plants!"

How is your family celebrating Halloween? Share your favorite pumpkin patch, trick-or-treat destination or a special tradition your family enjoys in this "spirited" season!

Allyssa's Pumpkin Pancakes

A Halloween Front Yard tradition, these delicious pancakes make a perfect breakfast treat for this time of year.

• 2 c. flour
• 3 T. Brown sugar (packed)
• 3 t. baking powder
• 1 t. salt
• 1 t. cinnamon
• ½ t. ginger
• ¼ t. nutmeg
• 1 ½ c. milk
• 1 ¼ c. pumpkin
• 4 eggs or 8 T. cornstarch
• ¼ c. melted butter

Mix wet and dry ingredients separately. Combine. Cook. Add a drizzle of maple syrup… mmm.

Feeling fancy? Try them with candied ginger butter: In a bowl, with wooden spoon, stir 2 T. finely chopped candied ginger into ¼ cup soft butter. Spread on warm pumpkin pancakes.

Open House, Saturday Oct. 17

Please join us on Saturday, October 17th 9:30 - 11:30am for our annual Open House. If you are interested in applying, this is your chance to see the school and talk to current parents. There will be snacks and activities for prospective preschoolers.

Current parents: Please sign up to help! Slots are available for set-up, attending the event, and clean-up. Look for the sign-up sheet at the front gate.

Sandbox Diaries: Inaugural Post

One of the sheer joys of hanging out with a bunch of three- and four-year-olds is listening in on their conversations—hearing their perspectives on the world around them, their refreshing (sometimes brutal) honesty and, of course, those adorable malapropisms.

Sometime back, a parent began collecting quotes overheard at CCC for the school newsletter, named them “The Sandbox Diaries,” and a tradition was born. And because traditions are precious, we continue the Sandbox Diaries here, on the blog, with a few recent dispatches:

Overheard on the patio:
Sasha (BY): This is where the cars go if they want to drive to Oakland, or Russia.

Overheard on the hill:
Colette (BY): Nikko, Nikko! I have some exciting news to tell you!
Nikko (BY): What?
Colette: Now I can take x-ray pictures with my x-ray eyes!

To be continued…

Welcome!

Welcome to the CCC blog!

Children’s Community Center (CCC) is a cooperative preschool – the oldest west of the Mississippi – located in Berkeley, California. We are a diverse, fun-loving and devoted group of parents and teachers, brought together by love for our kids.

This blog is a place to share school news and other interesting tidbits as they arise from our community. Thanks for reading, and for joining in the discussion!