From time to time, we have outside visitors bring special presentations to ECPC. Recently, the Bug Mobile brought a variety of creepy-crawlies to introduce our kids to the world of insects in a very hands-on way!
Lecture: Healthy Brain Develpment
A large and growing body of research supports the importance of play and the power of play-based early education in children’s development. The Bay Area abounds with opportunities to hear directly from educators and researchers with experience in these topics.
El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative will endeavor to share relevant research and events that illuminate the school’s philosophy and methods, and why we’ve adopted them.
- What: The East Bay Waldorf School is hosting a presentation on Healthy Brain Development in the Young Child by Waldorf educator and author Sharifa Oppenheimer. It is free and open to the public. RSVP to soni@eastbaywaldorf.org.
- When: Thurs., Feb. 25, 7:00 pm
- Where: EBWS, 3800 Clark Rd., El Sobrante
Igloo and forest ignite imaginations
A surprise welcomed our little ECPC co-opers back to school after the winter break. A milk-jug igloo and a forest of recycled Christmas trees transformed our front-yard sandbox into an imagination playground.
At a time when midyear doldrums threaten and children have to readjust to school after vacation, changes to the school environment can reignite their excitement and spark new play to entice them back into the routine. (And participating parents might say it helps re-engerize us, too!)
Parents collected rinsed-out gallon milk jugs for months ahead of time — many of them from Peet’s (thanks!) — and families brought in their Christmas trees after the new year. Before school resumed, volunteer parents gathered to prepare the scene. They built the milk jug igloo using hot glue guns (no kids allowed for this one!) and “planted” the trees in the sand.
Thank you to all the volunteers and jug/tree donors who made our winter wonderland happen! The igloo and forest have been a temporary treat, but don’t worry — just like Frosty the Snowman, this ECPC tradition will be back again next year (and as long as we have wonderful member families who keep our school the most magical place around…if that sounds like someone you know, they can apply today)!
Enrichment classes: Spanish & music
At ECPC, our kids spend most of their time following their interests wherever they lead — into our huge sand play area or onto the play structures, into the art area or any of the several indoor play spaces. At the end of each day, though, the teachers gather them for a brief group time, and twice a week that group time is replaced by enrichment classes taught by outside teachers.
Tuesdays the kids have music class and Thursdays they have a bilingual Spanish-English music and dance class. Below are pictures from the bilingual Thursday class taught by Kirah Caminos, who introduces the children to basic Spanish, as well as word music, musical instruments and choreography.
Winter Open House (plus magical forest!)
Please join us for our Winter Open House on Sunday, Jan. 10 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. This is a great chance for prospective preschoolers and their grownups to check out our amazing grounds and warm community. Parents and children are welcome.
What to expect at Open House:
- Explore our school — 2 large yards with play structures and sand boxes, spacious playrooms and art room
- Experience ECPC-style art and free play
- Engage with current and prospective families
- Enjoy snack for kids and grownups
It will be a fun morning for prospective families and a great chance to learn more about the programs and philosophy of our play-based cooperative. And as a bonus, visitors to our Winter Open House will get to explore our special January-only play installation: a magical forest of recycled Christmas trees planted in our huge front sandbox.
Click for more info on enrollment.
Bowl-A-Thon
We had our annual bowl-a-thon in the beginning of November. ECPC kids and their families turned out to Albany Bowl for a fun morning of bowling and school spirit.
This school tradition was a great opportunity for the kids to try out bowling, hang out with their ECPC friends, and reach out to their community to support their school. Plus, participants won prizes for their fundraising efforts. Thanks to everyone who made the bowl-a-thon happen!
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