CCC Preschool News

Fundraiser at CCC!!!

2011-04-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

Dear CCC Community,

Our annual CCC auction is fast approaching. In the weeks of planning leading up to this event many parent volunteers, headed by the fundraising committee, are working like busy bees to make this event a great success. You might think that the money we raise in our fundraising efforts goes directly to our school. Think again! All money raised from our CCC auction goes to support our scholarship program. Our scholarship program allows families with special financial needs to join our community. What a great event to support. We hope that alumni and current families rally together to join the fun and spend their money on the wonderful items the fundraising committee has collected.

The Polynesian theme is perfect to set off the night. So come in your flower dresses, shirts, and leis. The greatly anticipated event is on Saturday April 16th from 6:00 to 10:00.

The food will be delicious and will be a combination of Hawaiian catered and homemade Hawaiian specialties (organized by Deedee (Meiko FY).

We will have two choice of music for the evening:
DJ CB & a live performance by The Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band. Please check them out on their website www.kapalakiko.org

And of course the information you really want to hear is the big ticket items from vendors:
We have tickets from the following places:
Philharmonia Baroque (www.philharmonia.org)
Berkeley Symphony Orchestra (www.berkeleysymphony.org)
The Jazzschool (www.jazzschool.com)
San Francisco Early Music Society (www.sfems.org)
Berkeley Repertory Theatre (www.berkeleyrep.org)
Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse (www.thefreight.org) and more...

MORE ITEMS INCLUDE:
A Black and White photo session from Nan Phelps Photography (www.nanphelps.com)

Adam's Trail-a-bike from Missing Link Bicycle Co-operative (www.missinglink.org)

plus a variety of camps for kids!

BIG TICKET ITEMS CONTRIBUTED BY OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS:
Margo Lowe (Aurelio FY) - Amazing jewelry from her store. (www.mlowejewels.com)

Jenifer (Zoe FY) - Original artwork (www.jeniferkent.com)

Tim Slifer (Eli FY) - Gourmet dinner for two prepared by professional chef (aka Tim), who has cooked at various restaurants such as Chez Panisse, Zuni Cafe, Oliveto's and Stars.

Runa Basu (Gitanjali FY) - Comprehensive medical evaluation and osteopathic treatment (www.ecoosteopathy.com)

Debby Gipsman Roisman (Meirave FY) - Folk music house concert, plus two of her CD's (www.cdbaby.com/cd/debbygipsman)

Kathy Chew - Two hand-knitted blankets

And many more!! (We have such a talented and generous community!!)

And finally we want to send a shot out and a big thanks to Tod World (Tod and Jenny's event planning business (Tallulah FY)) for all their support and contributions to making this a special event.

We hope to see you all there! Aloha!

Sincerely,

Jessica and Shareef Salaam (Aeneas BY)

Storytelling at CCC "The Hobbit" with Big Brian

2011-02-03T05:52:00.000-08:00

Storytelling is an integral part of CCC. In the Frontyard the children get storytelling during circle time with Allyssa, during the parent meeting when the children are outside with the staff, and outside during lunch with the parents reading books to the children. Jim Beatty does stories when he is with the children as well. In the Backyard the children hear storytelling during circle time with Lara. The bulk of the storytelling is during lunch time. As Backyard parents it is impressive to watch the teachers: mostly Auden, Big Brian and Ryan take turns telling a story to the children during lunch. The children are captivated as they slowly chomp away. Storytelling is a unique part of CCC that we wanted to highlight and honor. Thank you to the teachers who make this a part of our children's experience. They love it!

February 8th - March 29th is the annual event of our beloved Big Brian's storytelling of The Hobbit. Big Brian will be in the Backyard every Tuesday at 1:00 sweeping the children away and igniting their imaginations. As new parents to CCC almost three years ago we did not take advantage of this hidden treasure. We were unsure of the story and were not aware of the deep thought, preparation, and talent that went into this event. Our hope is that this blog will allow you to make an informed decision to allow your child to have this experience one of their years at CCC. Brian's unique approach to this story and the sharing of it with the children is a CCC tradition that started many years ago and has become a part of our CCC culture. Please read below as Big Brian discusses it in his own words in the following interview:

How long have you been reading the Hobbit to the children at CCC?
and
How did you decide to start reading the Hobbit to the children at CCC?

"I can't recall exactly when I started, but it was in the early '90's, when the afternoon program was being notably underutilized, and I offered to tell the Hobbit in 4-year-old terms as a draw to greater attendance. I do recall that it worked quite well in bringing more children to attend for at least that one day of the week."

How did you choose the Hobbit over other stories?

" I discovered and fell madly in love with Tolkien's work in my late twenty's, and was still infatuated when the above situation arose."

What appeals to you about the hobbit?

"Tolkien and his colleagues described their style of writing as mythopoeic, in which they attempted to write new works with the power and depth of the great myths. I think that Tolkien succeeded magnificently in his attempts, with "The Hobbit" being a child focused book that adults can enjoy, and "The Lord of the Rings" being an adult focused book that children can enjoy once they're old enough (7-8?)."

What are children's past reactions to the reading that you remember?

"I believe that children need all kinds of creative images to work with in their play, and I try in my storytelling to provide a range of such imagery. The reactions that move me most involve seeing the children disperse after hearing the weekly installment and heading off to play Bilbo and Gandalf and embark on adventures. Some of them even want to indulge in the dark side, and play at being goblins.
During the telling, reactions range widely according to personality, with some kids eagerly listening to even the most frightening aspects of the drama, while others decide it's too intense and get up to play elsewhere. There are usually one or two who leave the immediate story circle when things get intense, but don't want to fully break away, and so place themselves nearby to keep an ear on the action."

In your eyes what is the appropriateness of the books content for Front yarders vs. Back yarders?

"Age-appropriateness is so important, and yet hard to gauge individually. I get surprised every year by a few young children who choose to not miss a single minute of "The Hobbit", while some older kids I thought would really enjoy the story leave after five minutes to engage in their own play choices."

Is there anyway that parents can support this reading by reading at home too?

"A few parents have read the story concurrently with my presentation at CCC, but I can't say that this is supportive at either end. Some of the children who have had this experience seem to enjoy hearing my digested version and then hearing Tolkien's full verbiage, though I think that several aspects of the full book are not age-appropriate in general, which is why I render it for the preschool level. The only problem with hearing it at home is if the home presentation gets ahead of the one at school, and the child keeps jumping up and yelling out what's about to happen..."

What are the special ways you read the Hobbit?

"I'm not an actor, and can't memorize lines well. Each night before the story day, I read the 2-3 chapters I'll be telling to make sure they're fresh, and then tell them in my own words as the images unfold in my imaginative memory. If I were to tell the story to 9-year-olds, I would see the same imagery in my mind, but use different language that fit my audience. I bring the book only to show Tolkien's original paintings and drawings, and to read a few lines where his words are really needed to get the full story.
For me, the most important aspect of telling any story is that the teller has a strong positive relationship to the story. I can't do justice to a story I don't like, or that I don't understand. Once I've found a story that I admire, I tell it with no judgment of belief or disbelief, I enter the story in my imagination and tell it as truth in the moment and context of that story, and that provides the power that makes it magical to my young audience.
I've never felt comfortable telling when there are too many adults in the room, because I feel that adults live too much in the mindset of skepticism, which kills the magic and leaves me feeling as if I'm flailing around trying to talk to atheists about the nature of Gods and Goddesses, when I'm simply trying to share a story that I believe has archetypal value. I aspire to the day when I can tell a story to any audience with enough inner power to push past all intellectual stands of disbelief, but this may just be an egotistic fantasy..."

What are your favorite parts and why?

"I love Bilbo's choice to leave behind the comfort of Hobbit culture and head out into the unknown, the scene with the rock giants playing rock ball, Bjorn the Bear-Man, and most of all, Bilbo's conversation with Smaug the dragon, although the part in which Bard the Bowman shoots Smaug from the sky is a close second. Why I like these parts is tied to my persona, and would take some time to diagnose and report on..."

Does each yard/age group get something different out of the story from your perspective?

"We would have to do serious socio/psychological studies to precisely determine what each child gets from the story, and how different that substance might be if they get to hear it both as a front yarder and again as a back yarder. From my perspective, I judge my success from the look of magical wonder that glows from a child's eyes as I'm telling, and secondly, whether they then take the imagery into their play."

How can parents encourage storytelling in their children?
"By engaging their child's imaginations in appropriate ways as often as possible. Yet it still depends on the child's persona, as imaginative input is impossible to judge as to how it will reappear as an outer manifestation. A few kids will probably never engage in telling a story themselves, while others will spin more yarns than anyone wants to hear, including ones to justify their poor behavior."

Thank you for reading,

Jessica and Shareef Salaam
February 2011

Optional Diversity Community Meetings

2011-01-16T15:12:00.001-08:00

Please read the blog and add to our list of children's books on diversity. Please also share with us children's books that you read to your children and why. We want to hear from you!

We also want you at the upcoming optional diversity meeting on January 31st:

For the upcoming meeting our two diversity chairs Rikki and Mollie have selected two readings that will be discussed at the meeting from these two resources: The First short reading is entitled, "The Complexity of Identity: Who Am I?" by, Beverly Daniel Tatum. The second is an excerpt from Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by, Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards.
We hope community members will respond to their e-mail and join us for a continued discussion on diversity.

At our last meeting discussed in more detail below we had about 11 of us who attended the meeting, 3 of which were teachers and four board members. We hope to have more participation in the upcoming meeting. Be corageous! Make it a priority! Join us for more dialogue on January 31st.

We had an optional diversity meeting back in November 8th, 2010. For this first meeting, we were asked by our diversity chairs Mollie and Rikki to bring a favorite preschool age appropriate book that we felt communicated an important message about diversity for young children. We critically examined the messages the books communicated to children and brainstormed follow up questions/conversation starters we could utilize as parents to engage our children in their own learning about these topics.

We asked attendees to share with us the books they chose and why. Here are a few comments:

Kathy Chew (Teacher):
Dim Sum by Grace Lin
"Diversity is an important part of my CCC experience and I try to attend each meeting. This year's meetings have been awesome; attended by a number of CCC members and discussions on a variety of topics. I chose to share Dim Sum by Grace Lin. This is a book I purchased many years ago to share with our children. We enjoyed reading about a young Chinese girl's experience of going to a restaurant with her family to eat dim sum, a variety of Chinese dumplings and desserts. As our kids (and now grandsons) grow, reading is always an imporatant part of our family time. As a parent and teacher, I search for books that show pictures and tell stories of many family structures. When I find a book with Chinese culture, I am even more excited. This book also shares a common idea that everyone can relate to: food!"

Rikki Moreno (Diversity Chair):
Pablo's Tree by Pat Mora
"I chose this book because it wove together the magic of a boy's tradition of celebrating his birthday year after year with his grandfather. The book touched on the topics of adoption, cultural traditions and family relationships in a way that was age appropriate for our children. Lastly, the illustrations were sweet, simple and interesting."

Elizabeth Stark (Front Yard Rep):
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by LeUyen Pham
"I love this book because it's about a little girl of color running for president of her school when she finds out there's never been a woman president of the United States. It's a book about gender exclusion, but to my mind, it makes good points about race, too, and about voters picking "the best person for the job," not the person who looks like them or seems to share an identity with them. And how that might change the world . . . It's a little sophisticated for our 3 & 4 crowd, but my kids enjoy it, and it's not too early for them to see images of an African-American woman (and possibly also Latina) President. I'm preparing them for the future!"

Mollie Crittenden (Diversity Chair):
My People, by Langston Hughes, Photos by Charles R. Smith
"I like this book because it does several things. It teaches children an important and beautiful poem written by an important African American writer. It affirms blackness and black people as being beautiful inside (souls) and out. It has great photographs of people, and lends itself easily to conversations about how to be black is beautiful and bright (which contradicts most messages in our society about Black and dark skinned people), and what a soul is/how important it is to be beautiful on the inside."

Mollie put together a list of some children's books that focus on different aspects of diversity:

Diverse Families:
Families are Different by, Nina Pellegrini
Daddy, Papa and Me by, Leslea Newman
Mommy, Mama and Me by, Leslea Newman
And Tango Makes Three by, Justin Richardson
Heather Has Two Mommies by, Leslea Newman
Who's In A Family by, Robert Skutch
Buddy G. My Two Moms and Me by, Mary Warren Folk
The Family Book by, Todd Parr

(Anti) Gender Stereotypes:
The Sissy Duckling by, Harvey Fierstein
The Paper Bag Princess by,
Oliver Button Is A Sissy by, Tomie de Paola
Amazing Grace by, Mary Hoffman
Princess Grace by, Mary Hoffman

African-American:
Shades of Black by, Sandra L. Pinkney
My People (Langston Hughes) photos by, Charles R. Smith
Amazing Grace by, Mary Hoffman
Princess Grace by, Mary Hoffman
I Love My Hair, by Natasha Tarpley
Be Boy Buzz by, Bell Hooks
Happy to Be Nappy by, Bell Hooks
Yo! Yes? by, Chris Raschke
My First Kwanzaa by, Karen Katz
Before John Was A Jazz Giant by, Carole Weatherford
Grace for President by, Kelly Dipucchio

Latino:
Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English by, Alma Flor Ada
Margaret and Margarita by, Lynn Reiser
My Way/A Mi Manera by, Lynn Reiser
My Abuelita by, Tony Johnston
Abuela by, Arthur Dorros
Pablo's Tree by, Pat Mora

Asian American (we need more titles):
Dim Sum by, Grace Lin

Bi-racial Kids/Families:
Black, White, Just Right by, Marguerite W. Davol
Black is Brown is Tan by, Arnold Adoff
My Tw Grannies by, Floella Benjamin
Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids by, Kip Fulbeck

Affirming Diversity in General:
I Like Being Me! by, Todd Parr
It's OK to Be Different by, Todd Parr
The Colors of Us by, Karen Katz
26 Big Things Small Hands Do by, Coleen Paratore
Everybody Cooks Rice by, Nora Dooley

Diversity: "The work is not the workshop"

2011-01-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

As we start the new year we have an opportunity to expect more of ourselves and to strive for progress in our lives. We would like to publisize all the great efforts of CCC in this direction. On November 30th we had Tarah Fleming from Start Dialog (www.startdialog.com) come and talk to our community. She said things like "the work is not the workshop" meaning our work to continue anti-bias education is in our everyday lives. Especially at those inopportune moments when your child springs a question on you that you may not know how to answer. She also said intention and impact are two different things.

Tarah shared with us what she believes is the key to peace. She shared Sue Miller Hurst's five disciplines of dialogue:
1.) Listen
2.) Suspend Certainty - for a minute believe and practice "I don't know"
3.) Hold the Space for Difference - Can you stay at the table with someone you consider culturally and ethically rude? How you interact with this person is a skill.
4.) Slow down the Inquiry - allow for silence, pauses, suspend interogation, summarizing, and clarifying. Allow people to share and tell more without interruptions.
5.) Speak from Awareness - Bring forth your experience. Do you speak from a place that you always speak from? Speak from who you are right now.

You can download these principles in more detail: mfinley.com/kraken/sue_miller_hurst.pdf

As we move forward let us continue to do the work in our community!

Our diversity chair Mollie could not have said it better: "Our next challenge, from my perspective, is to figure out how we are going to utilize and practice the information Tarah exposed us to in our work together."

Mollie and Rikki have sent out extensive e-mails with resources and information for us to continue to gain heightened awareness and consiousness building.

Please share with us your comments and what you think the next challenge is for our community in relation to diversity.

The Last Hurrah

2010-08-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Back Yarders celebrated their “Last Hurrah” with a camp-in at CCC. After a potluck dinner and a screening of the movie Kiki’s Delivery Service, kids and their grown-ups, and a healthy showing of siblings, settled into their tents and said good-night (with exceptions: Rumors that certain young parties attended an 11pm mint tea party have been confirmed).

In the morning, there were pancakes, lots of running around and hide-and-seek in the tents. Lara led a final circle with songs accompanied by Gabriel on guitar. Even after Lara declared the last song, “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” kids kept shouting out more requests, and more songs were sung—it seemed that no one wanted the circle to end.

For me and Pearl, after being away from school for the summer, the camp-in was a reminder of how much we enjoy the CCC community, and of the great friendships we have both made there. A neighbor of ours, whose kids attended CCC 20 years ago, told me that they still have many friends from those days. I can see why. These past two years have been so incredibly rich for our entire family. I never cease to be amazed by the creativity, commitment, kindness and love that abound at CCC.

So I won’t say good-bye, but so long, see you all soonish (as Rachel said in a recent email). I truly look forward to keeping in touch. And for those who continue on at CCC, enjoy these precious times. I know you will.

A Greener CCC

2010-05-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

This year, Elise (Hazel Rose, BY) created and filled a new parent administrative position at CCC. As the school’s first “Green Guru,” Elise set out to help the community implement eco-friendly procedures, such as using greener products and cutting down on waste throughout the school.

I asked Elise to share some highlights from the past year.

Cleaning alternatives. One accomplishment was the adoption of Benefact, a nontoxic cleaner used in place of bleach products for cleaning surfaces. (Bleach has several known adverse effects on health and the environment.) But, Elise notes that some bleach must still be used for sanitizing dishes, due to licensing requirements for preschools. Purchasing a dishwasher (perhaps a project for the future?) would eliminate the need for bleach, she adds.

Cutting down on waste. Elise had a longtime leaky sink repaired; got the classrooms to start composting soiled paper products through the municipal compost program; and worked to improve the school’s compost system for food scraps. She also worked to cut down on paper towels and dish sponges by collecting old towels and rags to make washable cleaning cloths.

Future Green Projects. Elise has begun investigating solar panels (Do they work? Need to be cleaned? How to maintain?). She has also introduced ideas for greening supplies that teachers usually buy, and she has looked into a green school certification—a project for one to two years down the road.

“There is a lot yet to do, mainly in educating people so participation in all of it is more smooth, and implementing new systems,” says Elise.

The next Green Guru? As administrative positions for next year are being filled, Elise adds her two cents on the future of the Green Guru position: “I feel that if the school wants to commit to sustainability, the Green Guru position should be permanent. I think that is the only way for any more than one year's worth of slow progress to be made in this arena.”

A big thanks to Elise for helping our community to think and act more greenly!

Snack Week: Easy Pizza

2010-04-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

Kids everywhere love pizza. Front Yarders have recently enjoyed two different takes on the perennial favorite.

English Muffin Pizzas
- Sara (Ethan, FY)

Sara notes these were surprisingly easy, and the kids loved them!

Whole wheat English muffins (Sara bought 32 muffins and almost ran out)
One large bag of shredded mozzarella (optional: shredded Tofurella for those with dairy allergies)
One jar of Trader Joe's pizza sauce

Cut the muffins in half and then again (so they're half-moons). Spread with pizza sauce, and top with shredded cheese. Bake in the convection oven until cheese is bubbling.

Pizza Faces
- Annie (Alex, FY)

A slightly more ambitious effort, Annie offers this recipe from Molly Katzen's Pretend Soup cookbook. The recipe calls for making the pizza dough, and I've included a link to help you in that effort, but no one will judge you if you opt to buy fresh dough at the Cheeseboard or Trader Joe's.

1. Make the pizza dough.

2. Preheat the oven to 400°. Lightly oil a baking tray.

3. Flour a wooden board. For each individual pizza, take a quarter of the dough and roll it out until it is about a 1/4 inch thick. (Note: This is very flexible! It doesn't really matter how thick—or even in what shape—the pizza ends up. Children love it regardless). Place on the baking tray.

4. Spread 1 tablespoon tomato sauce over the dough. Add slices of zucchini and mushrooms to create faces. Sprinkle with Parmesan and a small handful of mozzarella.

5. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until brown on the bottom and bubbly on top.

6. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, then eat!

Snack Week: Sushi and Spring Rolls

2010-04-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

Yelena (Sasha, BY) shares two fun recipes that got kids eating seaweed and vegetables. Way to go Yelena!

Vegan Sushi

Spread hummus on a sheet of nori (Yelena bought hers at Berkeley Bowl) and top it with a thin layer (approx. 3 to 4 tablespoons) of brown rice or sushi rice. Roll up and serve with soy sauce.

Veggie Spring Rolls

Soak rice paper (also from Berkeley Bowl) in warm water to soften. Assemble a variety of fillings and let children choose:
Seasonal veggies
Julienned carrots
Lettuce
Green onions (although these weren't popular with the children)
Sprouts
Flower petals (a "hot item")
Cucumbers, etc.

Place fillings in paper and make into rolls. Serve with a dipping sauce. Yelena mixed soy sauce, lemon juice, sesame oil and maple syrup. Delicious!

Snack Week: Sticks and Dips

2010-04-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

It's easy to turn snack time into a fun activity for kids. Todd (Piper, BY) served up this successful combo a little while back.

Fruit Kabobs

1. Cut up assorted fruits (melon, pineapple, bananas, oranges, pears, berries, kiwis, etc).
2. Put the fruit on wooden skewers (or tooth picks, wood or plastic drink stirs) to make kabobs. This is something the kids can do themselves if you put the fruit out in bowls for them to choose from.
3. Serve kabobs with small bowls of yogurt (plain or vanilla) for dipping.

Bread Sticks and Dips

Simple: Just buy some bread sticks and serve with dips. Todd used whipped cream cheese. You could also try hummus or bean dip. Kids love dipping, and there's no need for utensils. Hooray for easy clean-up!

Snack Week: Keeping it simple

2010-04-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

Elise (Hazel Rose, BY) shares some of her snack-time favorites. These are delicious, kid-pleasing and healthy as well as light on prep and clean-up. What's more, they both seem to fill the room with irresistible aromas that bring kids running to the table.

My favorite snack (which I now make every time):

Popcorn with brewer's yeast
Toasted sunflower seeds
Dried cranberries (renamed "blood raisins" on a vampireish day)
Apple pieces

For some reason this snack seems to have the right magic of "something for everyone," is all whole foods, doesn't have the allergy foods of the Back Yarders, and is easy on the wallet (as long as the cranberries are limited ). Please don't bring this snack to the Back Yard on the same week that I have snack! Because I will be bringing it, too :).

Another successful one:

Toast and Tea

Toast with jam and/or butter (I used that sprouted wheat bread)
Apple pieces
Toasted sunflower seeds or pecans
Tea (chamomile, mint, whatever ...)

I just toasted the bread as people came and quartered it, so if a lot came at once each got a quarter at first, or all the pieces if only one person was there. They seemed to like the idea of tea more than actually drinking it, but it did draw more people in. I asked each one what they wanted on toast as they came.

-- Elise (Hazel Rose, BY)

Snack Week: Beans and Rice

2010-04-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a crowd pleasing recipe from Mazi and Finn's mom Kristen. Beans and rice ... so nice!

Beans and Rice, Jamaican Style
Serves 6-8

1 cup red kidney beans
warm filtered water
1 can coconut milk (or 7oz creamed coconut)
1 bunch green onions, chopped
(3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped) I don’t use this but I bet it’s good
3 cloves garlic, mashed
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper

Serve with rice

Cover beans with warm water, and leave overnight in a warm place. In the morning, drain and rinse the beans, bring to a boil and skim. Add remaining ingredients except rice. Cover and simmer for about 6-8 hours or until beans are tender. (I just throw beans and ingredients in crockpot and cook on high for 4-5 hours) Serve over warm brown rice. Yum.

-- Kristen (Finn, FY & Mazi BY)

Snack Week: Oatmeal

2010-04-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

Hummus, carrots, crackers, cheese, apples -- for most of last year, this simple combination was my "go-to" whenever my turn came up as snack parent. The kids liked it, it was healthy enough, and did I mention it was simple? But at some point in our second year, my snack combo just wasn't doing it for me. I was in a rut; I needed inspiration, so I turned to my fellow grown-ups, many of whom were decidedly more ambitious and creative than I in the culinary department, and some of whom shared my love for easiness, but brought some fresh ideas to the table (so to speak).

So this week, I'll be posting a few of these ideas and recipes -- let's call this little foray Snack Week. So grab a rice cake, and come along! First stop ...

Oatmeal Bar!

This one is so easy, and the kids really like it. Just whip up a big pot of oatmeal, and bring a bunch of fixin's for kids to spoon and sprinkle on themselves. It's like a salad bar, but for hot cereal. Some toppings might include:

Apple Sauce
Cinnamon
Berries
Bananas
Raisins
Dried Cranberries
Nuts
Yogurt
Milk
Soy or Rice Milk

Having lots of things on the table to spoon from gives kids the chance to practice, "Please pass the ..." and everyone likes to customize. This snack also generates lots of conversation around likes and dislikes, unexpected combinations of flavors, textures, etc.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year

2010-03-11T20:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Year of the Tiger! Last month, CCC'ers enjoyed a whole week of activities celebrating the Lunar New Year. The children made and hung paper lanterns, decorated a large paper dragon with sparkles and shiny scales and paraded the dragon around the school with lots of noisy drums.

At circle time in both classrooms, teacher Kathy Chew explained Chinese New Year traditions and passed out red envelopes, with the help of her grandson. Below, she shares what this holiday means to her.

The Lunar New Year is a special time for our family, when we look forward to sharing time together and with friends. To prepare for the beginning of a new year, we clean the house, get a haircut and new clothes, and buy a bag of rice. We decorate our home with flowers or plum blossoms, set out a plate of oranges (for good luck), put up red and gold symbols for happy thoughts of peace, health and happiness and prepare a special candy box with treats to share with visitors.

During a two-week celebration, we visit family and friends. Children are given red envelopes, decorated with pictures or symbols to wish children a Happy New Year. At the end of the two weeks, there is a parade with many firecrackers, drums and cymbals; the loud noises are to scare away bad luck. There are also many lions/dragons, a symbol of good luck.

There are 12 years in our lunar cycle. Each year is linked to an animal. This is the year of the Tiger, special for me as I am beginning my fifth cycle.

At CCC, I shared how my family celebrates and invited our grandson Tyler to come help me pass out red envelopes and say "Gung Hay Fot Choy" (Happy New Year) to each front and back yard friend. What a special moment for me as a teacher, parent and grandparent.

-- Kathy Chew

Love, Sweet Love

2010-02-15T09:36:00.000-08:00

Love was in the air at CCC on Friday with the annual Valentine's Day celebration. Children brought cards and other small tokens to fill each others' Valentine bags and decorated the classrooms with lots and lots of construction paper hearts.

Back Yarders traveled to the Front Yard for a group serenade of love songs, including favorites like If You Love Me and Skinnamarink. Then the older children escorted their younger schoolmates to the Back Yard classroom for the traditional "ice cream sodies"--Italian strawberry soda with vanilla ice cream... and straws, of course!

Afterward, both yards were open as the kids mingled, played beanbag toss, put on tattoos and painted their own faces. Meanwhile, the plum trees bloomed brilliantly all around, their pink flowers a perfect complement to the colors and joyful spirit of the day.

Thanks to Annie (Alex, FY) for the photo.

Looking at Art

2010-02-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

Last month, Back Yarders enjoyed a field trip to the Berkeley Art Center in Live Oak Park, a short walk down the street from CCC. Lara and participating parents took the kids in two groups to view the center’s annual members’ showcase—a collection of diverse works all responding to this year’s theme of “red.”

BAC’s Suzanne Tan and Ann Weber greeted the children and quickly dispatched them on a lively treasure hunt through the gallery, searching the paintings, drawings, photos and sculptures for a list of images.

Afterward, each child was asked to stand next to his or her favorite piece of art, and to talk about why it was special. Before leaving, all of the children deposited money in the donation box, while Suzanne and Ann explained the role of donations in supporting the gallery. The kids really seemed to enjoy the outing and Lara hopes to plan more trips to BAC in the future.

For me personally, I was struck by how simple and effective the two age-appropriate activities were and it made me want to get out to more museums and galleries with Pearl, and certainly to do more drop-ins at the BAC, which is a free and easy outing on our way home from school.

I recently came across this article on the Savvy Source website, written by Ginger Carlson. She includes tips for helping kids to observe art, describing observation as fundamental to their own creative process. She has some great ideas for starting conversations with kids about what they see in a work of art and how it makes them feel.

And if you want to explore this topic more, she also includes a list of books on helping children “learn to look” and connect with the world of art on a deeper level. With any luck, these kinds of activities can plant the seeds for a lifetime of enjoyment and appreciation for the arts.

Sandbox Diaries Vol. 4: Poop!

2010-01-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

Overheard at CCC, courtesy of Allyssa:

A picnic was underway in the Front Yard. Amy was serving food and Alex approached.
Alex (to Amy): "Do you have any poop?"
Amy, after looking carefully: "I have a little poop."
Alex: "I want some real wicked pirate poop!"

Henry, glaring at himself in the mirror: "Abracadabra! I'm gonna cast a spell and turn you into a stinky poopy bottom head!"

Kindergarten Q&A: Rick and Otto

2010-01-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

If you enjoyed the Kindergarten Q&A with Anna and Elsa, read on for another interview, this time with Rick Reed and his son Otto, who graduated from CCC last year. Lay your kindergarten fears to rest, Rick says, "It's all going to work out fine." Meanwhile, Otto shares a somewhat contrasting perspective...

Where is your child attending school?
Rick: St. Paul’s in Oakland.

School choice is often a personal one, but do you have anything you'd like to share about why you chose your school?
When we were choosing CCC, it just felt right the minute we walked through the gate. All the rational ideas about what we were looking for were trumped by the “this is it” feeling. We looked at multiple options for kindergartens. St. Paul’s was the last place we looked. Until we walked in the door, no place had that “this is it” feeling like CCC.

Of course, just because the place felt good to us, didn’t mean Otto would like it, but, so far, so good.

How is your child's transition to kindergarten going? Any surprises?
It’s a really long day—8:30 in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon. There’s no napping! As working parents, we were counting on having Otto in aftercare. Aftercare was wonderful at CCC! But to our surprise, Otto has been too tired, and because the aftercare at his new school is for kids from K–8th grade, the little kids don’t get enough structured attention. The most challenging part is we miss Auden and the CCC aftercare.

How do you think your time at CCC helped prepare you and your child for kindergarten (and beyond)?
In terms of his parents, all the opportunities for participation in class gave us a window into the world of our kids. What a relief to see the range of different behaviors and how Otto fits. We also learned ways of talking with Otto (what’s your plan?), and of understanding his nature by watching how he approached his first weeks as a Front Yarder (he’s very slow to warm-up to new situations).

In terms of Otto, he really went from a feral beast to semi-civilized. He also made enduring friendships at CCC and to this day talks about his CCC buddies.

Any words of advice for current backyard families gearing up for kindergarten?
I can’t say that every family will have the Eureka! feeling we had when we toured St. Paul’s. But in talking with so many of the BY kids from Otto’s class, whether they are going to Cragmont, Thousand Oaks, Jefferson, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X or Park Day, they all report REALLY LIKING their new schools. So, I’d say as rationally challenging as it is for us parents to pick the “right school,” our kids are amazingly flexible and are likely to thrive wherever they land.

So, relax! It’s all going to work out fine.

Q&A with Otto:

What do you remember most about being at CCC?
Making tin foil swords with Teo.

What is something cool about being in kindergarten?
I haven’t decided on that yet.

How is kindergarten different from being at CCC?
(Unlike CCC), they make you do things in kindergarten and I don’t like it.

Concrete Pour: Go Behind the Scenes!

2010-01-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

Coming back from the winter break, Back Yarders met with a delightful surprise: brand new concrete paths and patio in their play area. Many immediately took to the trikes and wagons, which had long been challenging to ride over the cracks and bumps in the old asphalt. What a difference!

The new concrete is stronger (with the addition of steel supports), and because the hard surfaces are all concrete, instead of the old concrete/asphalt mix, the entire yard is now unified, giving a sense of more space. The grade on the paths is also easier for kids to manage and there is no longer an issue of rainwater running towards the building.

Here Andy Brucker, Buildings and Grounds Chair, shares some of the behind-the-scenes action, which included threats of rain, major demolition and an accidental concrete spew! Read on for the details:

Over the break we removed all the existing cabinetry. Next we started the demo process, which took three days. The demolition contractor had to bring out a mini-bobcat (small tractor) with a concrete breaker, which made a lot of noise but helped get the concrete out. The concrete was much thicker than expected and really took a while to remove. I think there were seven people lugging the concrete up to the dumpster for two days.

Next up was the layout phase: trying to figure out how to slope the concrete to allow the water to run off in the right directions and make it safe and pleasurable to walk, run and ride on. I did the layout with the contractor and his foreman. It took about four hours.

Then it was time for the big construction crew to come in and build forms for the concrete and set up the re-bar (structural steel). The crew was six people, and that took a day and a half. This took place during Monday of the second week of the break.

Then it was time to pour the concrete, except the weather reports were always calling for a chance of rain, which was making it look like it would be impossible to finish the concrete before the kids returned on January the 4th. That was definitely the hardest part of the entire job for me, worrying about the weather is a tough slog.

Anyway, we decided to pour on New Year's Eve day. At first the concrete pump broke and spewed concrete all over the place (Front Yard and Back), and the rain clouds seemed to be coming in. But eventually the sun broke out, and everything started going smoothly.

I woke up New Years Day and took all the family and Caroline and Sage up to see the beautiful new Back Yard that would be there to enjoy for years to come. That was a great way to start a new decade!

Plans and fundraising for the project were in the works for more than two years. Contributing to the design were Andy, the CCC teachers, Saul Picardo (CCC alum and architect) and Phil Worman (CCC alum and former B&G chair). Demolition of the cabinets was accomplished by the B&G crew. A big thanks to Andy and the B&G crew, and to all families past and present who donated time and money to this wonderful improvement!

(PS: For anyone needing help with concrete, Andy would like to recommend Mike Lozica, Lozica Contracting Inc. who did the demolition, concrete and finishing. “Mike was a pleasure to work with and a great concrete contractor. His number is (510) 334-6029. If anyone needs any type of concrete work done, he's reasonable and reliable.”)

(PPS: Want to see more photos of the pour in process? Join CCC's facebook page and check out the photo album: http://www.facebook.com/cccpreschool )

Kindergarten Q&A: Anna and Elsa

2010-01-06T23:33:00.000-08:00

For Back Yard families, attention is turning to life beyond CCC. Kindergarten is on the horizon. Between all the conversations, school tours, information nights, open houses and online reviews, this can be a confusing and even anxiety-provoking time. Not to mention the fact that our little ones are - gasp! - growing up.

Fortunately, we have a great resource to guide the way: our CCC alums! In coming weeks, we'll be hearing from parents and kids who have made the transition from CCC to elementary school. Sure it's a big world out there, but they say it's not so scary.

First up, a Q&A with Anna Rainier and her daughter Elsa, who graduated from CCC last year:

Where is your child attending school?
Anna: Oxford Elementary School.

School choice is often a personal one, but do you have anything you'd like to share about why you chose your school?
I picked it because it is one of the smaller schools and I like the location. I also took my time to visit all the schools in the Central Zone (the zone we are in) and from all those visits I liked Cragmont and Oxford the best. What made me decide in the end was the size (Oxford being smaller), Janet Levenson, the principal who is such an awesome person, and they have a teacher's aid in each of the kindergarten classrooms. I also had in mind that if Elsa wanted to do after school at CCC, Oxford was a good choice. Elsa's kindergarten teacher walks her over when class is done at 1:20.

How is your child's transition to kindergarten going? Any surprises?
At this point Elsa has transitioned and is very happy to be a kindergartner. In the beginning it was really rough though, and she did not want to go to school. Every morning was a struggle with lots of "pep" talk to get there on time (which is 8am at Oxford). She also kept asking why can I not be at CCC? What was and still is difficult for me is the emphasis on academics and therefore less attention to conflict resolution, social skills and building of a community. They are after all just 5 (or some just 4) years old and need a lot of help to grow.

How do you think your time at CCC helped prepare you and your child for kindergarten (and beyond)?
All the talking and checking in with your friends that the teachers and parents do at CCC prepare the children to deal with conflicts by themselves. CCC kids know how to communicate and are not afraid to ask for what they need. Elsa already knows most of the parents and she sees them as someone to go to for support.

Any words of advice for current backyard families gearing up for kindergarten?
Take a deep breath and keep repeating: Everything will be just fine...

Q&A with Elsa:

What do you remember most about being at CCC?
Allyssa and Lara.

What is something cool about being in kindergarten?
Having a really nice teacher, Ms. Henderson. It is cool to learn how to write and read.

How is kindergarten different from being at CCC?
It is a much bigger school but the classroom is smaller. And you have to wear shoes.

Favorite Children’s CDs

2009-12-16T22:15:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-17T22:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-06T23:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

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!