Thursday, December 10, 2015

            Next Week’s Skills in Pre-K

                                      December 14-18, 2015                                               


Bible – Jesus’s Birth, Isaiah 9:3
Themes – Review letters A-L, Christmas Fun

Skills – Writing Names (Please practice writing with the first
letter capital and the rest lowercase)
             Rhyming Words, ABB patterns
                       
Show and Tell – Please bring a picture of your Christmas tree.  Students 1-7 will share on Monday and Students 8-14 will share on Tuesday.

Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, December 16th – John Wesley Villas Christmas visit (Children can wear a Christmas outfit)
Wednesday, December 16th – No Late Start
Friday, December 18th – Happy Birthday Jesus Party,
        Christmas Sing-a-long, and Early Dismissal (Children can wear
a Christmas outfit)

Thank you! 
To Andi for our L snack
To Reece’s Daddy for being our guest reader   
Joy to the World!
By Susan Causey, M.Ed., LPC

            When Nehemiah read the words of the law to the Israelites who had just completed rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, they began to weep and mourn. Presumably, they were grief-stricken for their sins, and fearful they wouldn’t be able to live up to the law of God. But Nehemiah comforted them by saying: "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 NASB)
            Sounds like Christmas! The joy of the Lord gives us courage, strength and a defense against evil. Remember how the joy of the “Whos” in “Whoville” broke the Grinch’s evil spell and intentions in Dr. Seuss’s Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
            The Israelites began to understand that God’s law was for their good, to guide them, direct them and restore them. They were to celebrate all that God had done for them during a seven-day feast, and then come together as an assembly. The Bible says “…their joy was very great.” (Nehemiah 8:17 NIV)
            No matter what their circumstances were, they realized they had a perfect heavenly Father who cared for them. This was the foundation for their joy.

            According to Nehemiah, chapter 9:
·         They were able to confess their sins and be forgiven. They were free of guilt.
·         They understood that God was sovereign “from everlasting to everlasting.”
·         They celebrated God’s faithfulness. He would keep His promises.
·         They celebrated because God made a way for them through the Red Sea. He listened to their cries and provided a path.
·         God led them with a pillar of a cloud by day and fire by night. He guided them.
·         He gave them commands that were just and right. He taught them right from wrong.
·         He fed them with bread from heaven and quenched their thirst from the rock. He was their Provider.
·         He instructed and admonished them with His Spirit.
·         He was merciful and patient. He forgave them when they were disobedient and stubborn.
·         He provided land and possessions in abundance.

            God demonstrates love for His children by setting boundaries for them, being faithful to them, guiding and directing them, providing for them, and forgiving them. He demonstrates perfect parental love. Even in the New Testament, His law is important. Jesus said:
            “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 NIV) 
            “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 15:10-12 NASB)
            The ultimate commandment is to love God and love others. We have even more to celebrate than these early Israelites or the “Whos,” because God is still the same God, and because He loved us, He has sent Jesus to free us from our sins, to give us easier access to His throne, and to give us the desire and the power to live within his law.             Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!

The Ten Commandments
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Lower School Newsletter
from Wade Putnal - December 3rd, 2015

Our mission at First Presbyterian Day School is to educate and equip students
to change the world for God’s glory.

   The Elementary Christmas program, “Christmas in Central Park” is one week away! Performances are Thursday, December 10th at 1 and 7pm. All students in 1st – 5th grade will be involved. Also, check out the FPD Music Room blog at www.fpdmusic.com where all song lyrics are in the “Special Programs and Events” tab. Costume Information:
§  1st-4th grade Boys & Girls and 5th Grade Chorus and 5th Grade Band members: Students should wear blue jeans or black pants, a long-sleeve top in red, green, or white (small print is fine; no logos, please), and a winter scarf (any color is fine.) They are going to be dressed as neighborhood kids at an outdoor Christmas party. Please wear to school on Thurs., Dec. 10th.
§  Shoes: Everyday school shoes (tennis shoes) are fine.
§  Questions? Email Mindy Krejci at mindy.krejci@fpdmacon.org

   BACKPACK MINISTRIES: Please send: fruit cups, Vienna sausages, tuna packets, applesauce, juice pouches and juice boxes. Thanks for helping as we minister to needy children in our community.

   Please label all jackets, coats, sweaters, hats, mittens, lunchboxes, etc. All unclaimed/unlabeled items will be removed during the Christmas holidays.

   Christmas is coming and The Viking Store has all sorts of items for any-age Viking, including “Viking Bucks” gift cards available in any amount! Get ready for cooler weather with uniform-approved outerwear and scarves. We have so many new products including room decorations, car tags and stuffed bears wearing a cheerleading uniform or letterman’s jacket. SPECIAL: $5 (or less) Christmas Grab Bags are a great gift idea for a friend or as a stocking stuffer. Visit us at www.fpdmacon.org/tvs and “like us” on Facebook @ FPD-The Viking Store. Open school days 7:45am- 3:30pm. Located in the MAC near the cafeteria. 

   The Viking Store will be open until 3:30 on Thursday, Dec. 10, during the Elementary Christmas music program. This is a great time for parents and grandparents to shop!

   “Sneak a Peek” at all the fun things our elementary classes are doing by regularly visiting our Teacher Blog pages online! In addition to grade level blogs, you can visit our art, music, science lab, computer, and Spanish blog pages. Just go to: www.fpdmacon.org; Click “Community;” then “Teacher Blog.”
   LATE ARRIVALS reminder: If your child arrives to school after 8:15 am (8:50 am on late-start Wednesdays) they should enter school at the front Elementary office, and they need to be signed in as well. Thank you.

   NEW: Our water bottle refill station is now installed in the MAC near The Viking Store. It calculates how many plastic water bottles we are keeping out of the landfill, and it saves money and helps our environment.

   FPD CARES! Did you know there is a group of FPD parents and friends who count it a privilege to regularly pray for you? You are welcome to send in any request which will confidentially be passed along to our prayer partners. Email: fpdprayer@gmail.com

   DRESS CODE Reminder: Socks, tights, and leggings should be predominately solid red, white, black or gray. All accessories (hairbows, headbands, etc) should also be school approved colors.

   MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
·         DRESS DOWN DAY - Friday, December 11th - Donations will support Raoul and Karen Armbrister with Karazim Ministries in the Bahamas
·         NO LATE START on Wednesday, December 16th. School begins at 8:10am.
·         Christmas Sing-a-long, Fri, Dec. 18th, 10:15 am, Clark Fine Arts Auditorium
·         Last Day of School – Fri, Dec. 18th – ½ day - Early dismissal. No lunch served.
·         Christmas Holidays – December 21st to January 4th, 2016, for students
·          First Day of School in 2016 – Tuesday, January 5th
·         MLK Holiday – Monday, January 18th, 2016 – No School 
·         Please invite your friends to our upcoming Open House for Prospective Families:
FPD Open House, 3K-12th grade, Sunday, January 24, 2016, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in the Clark Fine Arts Center lobby. If you know anyone that you’d like us to contact, email: admissions@fpdmacon.org


     Prayers and blessings to all as we celebrate at school and in our homes the Greatest Gift of All … JESUS.” Enjoy time together and making memories children will treasure in their hearts forever! You and your children are gifts to me each day.
                  Merry Christmas!
                  Wade Putnal


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Next Week’s Skills in Pre-K

November 30-December 4, 2015                                               

Bible – Jesus’s Birth

Themes – Letter Kk, Awesome Animals,

Skills - Rhyming Words, AAB patterns
                       
Show and Tell – Bring something to share from your
Thanksgiving break.

Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, December 16th – John Wesley Villas Christmas visit
and No Late Start
Friday, December 18th – Happy Birthday Jesus Party,
        Christmas Sing-a-long, and Early Dismissal

Thank you! 
To all of our parents and grandparents that helped with our
field trip and Thanksgiving feast.  We couldn’t have done it
without you!
MC900336123[1]Lower School Newsletter from Wade Putnal
November 12th, 2015
Our mission at First Presbyterian Day School is to educate and equip students
to change the world for God’s glory.

   Our “Sip and See” Open House (3K-5th Grade) is Tuesday, November 17th and also Thursday, November 19th. Friends may Drop In from 9am-11am for coffee and tours, to see our students and teachers engaged in learning. Please invite your families, friends, and neighbors to come discover why FPD is a “Great Place to Be!”

   LATE ARRIVALS reminder: If your child arrives to school after 8:15 am (8:50 am on late-start Wednesdays) they should enter school at the front Elementary office, and they need to be signed in as well. Thank you.

   Thank you for helping us not disturb student instruction and learning time by refraining from knocking on hallway doors that are locked. These doors are locked for the safety of all teachers and students. If you need to enter the building, please come to the front Elementary Office and sign in.

   The Elementary Christmas program, “Christmas in Central Park” is only a few weeks away! Performances are Thursday, December 10th at 1 and 7pm. All students in 1st – 5th grade will be involved. Also, check out the FPD Music Room blog at www.fpdmusic.com where all song lyrics are under the “Special Programs and Events” tab. Costume Information:
  • 1st-4th grade Boys & Girls and 5th Grade Chorus and 5th Grade Band members: Students should wear blue jeans or black pants, a long-sleeve top in red, green, or white (small print is fine, but no logos, please), and a winter scarf (any color is fine.) They are going to be dressed as neighborhood kids at an outdoor Christmas party. Please wear this to school on Thursday, December 10th.
  • Shoes: Everyday school shoes (tennis shoes) are fine.
  • Questions? Email Mindy Krejci at mindy.krejci@fpdmacon.org

   Moms in Prayer meets Monday, Nov. 16th at 12:30 in the elementary multi-purpose room. Come join other FPD parents to lift up our students, families, faculty, administrators, and staff to the Lord in prayer.
   Christmas is coming! The Viking Store has tons of gift ideas - including “Viking Bucks” $$ cards! We have uniform-approved outerwear and short-sleeved Lands’ End polo shirts. Order your personalized Christmas ornaments and football jerseys now to ensure Christmas delivery. Check out our FPD spirit wall hangings to decorate your Vikings’ room, plus a great selection of automobile plates. *Be sure to look for the “Christmas Gift Guide” flyer in this week’s signed papers.* Facebook: FPD-The Viking Store or www.fpdmacon.org/TheVikingStore. Open 7:30a -3:30p in the MAC.        

   FPD CARES! Did you know that there is a group of FPD parents and friends who count it a privilege to regularly pray for you? This group is committed to pray for our school and the needs of our FPD family. You are welcome to send in any request which will confidentially be passed along to our prayer partners. Email: fpdprayer@gmail.com

   With cooler weather, please label all things that your child brings to school - water bottles, coats, jackets, lunchboxes, hats, bookbags, and all!

   The FPD Middle School Robotics Team is collecting used household batteries of any size for a recycling project. You may bring batteries to the Elementary Office through December 4. Thanks for your help in this environmental awareness project!

 


MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
  • Lower School Chapel: November 17th and December 1st - 12:05 pm. Join us!
  • Dress Down Day for Casa Hogar Orphanage in Acapulco, Mexico: Fri., Nov. 20th
  • Thanksgiving Holidays: November 23rd–27th (Offices closed 25th- 27th)



May God continue to bless you and your family. May FPD continue to be a place where we all can show God’s love each and every day.
We are so thankful for the families, students, and staff at our school.
Enjoy making memories with family and friends over the coming holidays!
With a grateful heart,

Wade Putnal
Counselor’s Corner 
November 16, 2015
“Self-Esteem or Confidence”
By Susan Causey, M.Ed., LPC

Self-esteem has been the byword of positive parenting for decades.  It is important for a person to understand his great value and to have a favorable impression of himself.  The second greatest commandment behind "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” (Matthew 22:37) is “Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31)
However, with all the emphasis on children’s fragile egos, parents have become overly concerned about damaging their child’s self-esteem.  As a result they may fail to discipline them. They worry about asserting their God-given authority.  Or at times, parents may give the child so much power over what happens in the family that the child’s ego is not only positive, but inflated.  A bloated self-esteem leads to an egocentric mentality.  The child may develop a demanding and self-focused attitude.  Ironically, instead of making his esteem stronger, the child develops insecurities and an entitlement attitude.  This attitude will lead to great disappointment and feelings of resentment when life does not give him the same power and influence.  The measuring stick his parents used will be switched when measured against the challenges of living as a self-sufficient, resilient, and successful adult.
My last “Counselor’s Corner” newsletter spoke of the virtues of humility, gratitude, and self-control as being the single greatest predictor of adult happiness, wealth, health, and well-being.  Instead of self-focus, teaching your child to love the Lord and others builds the values which will bring him ultimate reward.  Instead of self-esteem, the Bible says we are to esteem others as better than ourselves.  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)  Scripture teaches us to put our confidence in the Lord and in our value before him.  Other encouraging verses are:
“Put no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:4)
“Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” (Job 4:6)
“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:21, 22)
“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:4)
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” (Hebrews 10:35)

It is a dangerous thing to put your security in yourself. Health may wane. Abilities, looks, wealth, and circumstances may change. Training a child to have confidence in the Lord will give him a security and strength which endures.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Next Week’s Skills in Pre-K

November 9-13, 2015                                             Bible – Psalm 100

Themes – Letter J, Awesome Animals, The First Thanksgiving

Skills – Writing Names (Please practice writing with the first letter capital and the rest lowercase) Rhyming Words, ABC patterns

Show and Tell – Bring something you are thankful for.

We want to keep our students healthy during the upcoming cold
and flu season.  Please note our school’s sickness policy –
students should be fever free and throw up free for 24 hours
before returning to school.

Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, Nov. 18th     John Wesley Villas (Thanksgiving Program
                                        Dress Rehearsal)
Friday, Nov. 20th             Thanksgiving Program and Feast
  (Invitations are in folders today) 
  Parents, grandparents, and special friends
  are all invited.

Thank you! 
Ruby for our I snack

Holli Edwards for being our guest reader      
Character Building Year
Turn your child’s hurt into his strength
By Susan Causey, M.Ed., LPC, School Counselor

       When my girls were in elementary school, occasionally we would have a year which was more difficult than others. Perhaps all of her best friends ended up in the other class or maybe she had a “personality conflict” with her teacher. This usually meant that the teacher was strict and would not let her get by with misplacing things or messy homework. Maybe she was just going through an awkward stage and felt like “nobody liked her,” or someone was being mean. We called these “character building years.”
Of course, as a parent, we want our children to be happy, but what we need to do is to keep their ultimate happiness in mind. Character building years give parents a great opportunity to build life skills in their child. How the hurts and disappointments are handled makes all the difference in whether the challenges build up and strengthen your child or lead to resentment and a “victim” mentality.
The secret is keeping your eyes on your ultimate goal - raising a well-adjusted, confident, and self-reliant adult. When your child feels mistreated by another student, focus on what can be learned instead of the hurt. The Bible teaches us to pray for those who mistreat us. (Luke 6:27-28) It teaches us that our confidence should rest in the Lord and that our value comes from being His child instead of a label that a hurtful “friend” may place on us. (Psalm 71:5) It teaches us to speak the truth in love and not to repay evil for evil. (1 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 4:15)
Practically speaking, if a child can learn to respond from a position of strength and confidence, a “bully” will not be inclined to mess with him/her. Bullies like to target victims, so a person who responds with love and strength does not give the bully the power and may ultimately win him over.
As far as a teacher conflict, encouraging your child to respect and obey his/her teacher even though she may not be the favorite teaches your child to honor the chain of command God has put in place. Of course, all of our teachers are loving and have the best interests of our students at heart, even if they seem strict. They have the ultimate happiness and success of their students in mind.
I recently heard psychologist Dr. Leonard Sax on the secret to happiness. Longitudinal studies have provided evidence that the single biggest predictor of adult happiness, health, wealth and success is the measure of character and virtue in a child. How do you teach virtue? You teach virtue by requiring good behavior. A child goes back to the familiar, or as the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) What is the most important virtue? He says it is humility, teaching your child to esteem others as more important than themselves.
Some practical ways to teach virtue, self-control, and humility are requiring your child:

·         to eat their supper (whatever you fix) before dessert
·         to clean their room before bedtime
·         to be responsible for their homework
·         to limit their screen time
·         to be respectful of others
·         to listen more than speaking out
·         to not run around inside someone else’s house
·         to use good manners                       

Happy Parenting!

Counselor Causey

Fall Fun

Fall has been busy and fun in Prek!  We enjoyed a field trip to the pumpkin patch.
We planted winter flowers and greens in our garden.
We celebrated all of the beautiful colors that God created on Rainbow Day.
New middle school book buddies came to read to us.
And we even got a visit from Little Red Riding Hood and Box Tops the Wolf.  They brought us stickers as a reward for our school collecting over 8000 box tops!  Keep sending in your box tops!