How Does Your Garden Grow?

The children in Room 4 have been using their green thumbs to beautify the entrance of the building with perennials and plant vegetables for use in the meals and snacks.

Through a grant from CLOCC (The Coalition to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children), Lutheran Day was able to purchase 'Earth Boxes' to grow organic vegetables.  Currently, we have 7 containers planted with cucumbers, peppers, and egg plant.  Tomatoes and green beans have been planted in the front of the building.  Children will water the plants and help to harvest as the fruit ripens.  Studies show that children are more likely to eat vegetables  when they participate in growing them.

Celebrating Young Children

Each year, Lutheran Day observes the Week of the Young Child.  This year's activities were held each day the week of April 20-24, 2009.  Children enjoyed special crafts, a visit from "Officer Friendly" of the Chicago Police Department, an afternoon of kite flying and more.  On Tuesday, April 21, families gathered for our annual Pot Luck and Talent Show.  In addition to an all-school choir, several brave individual children performed a song or recited a poem for the parents and relatives.  Watch for a gallery of pictures of the event coming soon.

The Family That Reads Together...

On March 17, 2009, families enjoyed an evening of reading activities featuring the books of Dr. Seuss (his birthday is in March) at our First Annual Family Reading Night.  Children and their parents read "The Foot Book," "Green Eggs and Ham," "One Fish, Two Fish" and others.  Families were also introduced to "GROW,"  a new eco-friendly  book by Logan Square author Alyson Beaton.  One lucky family received their own autographed copy of the book.  

Studies show that young children who are read to on a daily basis develop strong reading readiness skills and become life-long readers.  At Lutheran Day, we take literacy seriously and we make reading a family affair. 

 

In addition to our Family Reading Night, the children in Room 4 participated in Book It, a national reading program that rewards children for reading books.

Christmas Memories

Advent and Christmas celebrations at Lutheran Day are always special.  Each week, the children gathered for worship in preparation for Christmas.  Each classroom took turns being the Advent choir, and guest speakers provided an age-appropriate message.  Rev. Erik Christiansen (St. Luke’s Lutheran Chicago), Mr. Charles Ashe (CLEF), and Rev. Joanne Fitzgerald (Grace Lutheran Elmwood Park) were our special guests during the month of December.

 Our Annual Christmas program was held on Tuesday, December 9.  Each classroom performed Christmas songs before a standing-room-only crowd in the Recreation Room.  Our 4-year-old classroom retold the story of Jesus’ birth in song and a Christmas play.  None of the children experienced stage fright but spoke their lines with great enthusiasm.  We were all blessed.

On Thursday, December 18, the children celebrated Christmas in their classrooms, opening gifts provided by members of Edison Park Lutheran Church (Chicago) and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church (Lincolnshire).  What a blessing for these children and their families—especially in this year of economic hardship! The children loved their gifts and the parents were deeply touched by the generosity of people whom they had never met.   Thank you!

Finally, Lutheran Day had a special visitor on December 22.  Miss Teen Puerto Rico, Leticia Rivera, dropped by to say hello and distribute a Christmas gift for each child.  This visit was especially meaningful since Ms. Rivera is a former Lutheran Day student.  We always enjoy hearing from former students and seeing what God is doing in their lives.  

Happy New Year!

Let It Snow!

Like much of the Midwest, Chicago experienced record-setting snow during the month of December.  What do you do when it snows?  Make snow angels!  The children bundled up and took advantage of the white stuff, making snow angels and snowballs and learning about solids and liquids.  

Where's The Fire?

A fireman came to Lutheran Day in October, but there was no fire.  Officer Rodriguez, father of one of our 4 year olds, demonstrated the use of his equipment and taught the children fire safety as a part of Fire Prevention Month.  Several children had the opportunity to try on his boots and hat.  His visit also encouraged interest in pretending to be fire fighters and playing with fire trucks.