A F D S

the FIRST step to success

“AND I TELL YOU, YOU ARE PETER, AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH…” MATTHEW 16:18 In April, we learned Jesus encouraged Peter to continue Jesus’ work and "feed His sheep." In May, we will learn how Peter followed Jesus' instruction by telling people about the goodness of Jesus and His saving power.  Like Peter, we can tell the good news about Jesus and his disciples.

INFANT - Kindergarten

Atlanta First Day School

May @ AFDS

Mini-Messenger

May Birthdays!

5/1: Cruz J. 5/2: Chase K. 5/11: Ms. N.

5/22: Leda L. 5/24: Cole C. 5/25: Luke H. 5/28: Gabriel D.

Dear Families, 

During the month of May, we would like to celebrate all of the wonderful women who’ve loved and cared for us during the course of our lives. We would also like to thank all of the women of AFDS and Atlanta First United Methodist Church who have nurtured this program, church and community since 1847. Happy Mother’s Day! Love, Dr. Nadia J. Jones, CFLE Executive Director 

CHAPEL Recap

Exploring Recycle, Reduce and Reuse May 1st-5th: Teacher Appreciation Week Friday, May 5th: Cinco De Mayo Wednesday, May 10th: Summer Orientation Friday, May 12th: Muffins for Mom Sunday, May, 14th: Mother’s Day Saturday, May 20th: Armed Forces Day Monday, May 29th: No School – Memorial Day

Exploring Building and Engineering June 5th-9th: Parent/Teacher Conferences Friday, June 9th: Last Day of School and Pre-K BBQ Sunday, June 11th: Pre-K Graduation Monday, June 12th: 1st Day of Summer Camp

June @ AFDS

Infants During the month of April, our class learned about Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The babies explored items that can be thrown away. We also learned about multiple things that can be recycled. We used empty food boxes to make building blocks. The

babies loved stacking the boxes and making towers with the help of our teachers.

With the assistance of the teachers, the students painted with a paintbrush to the tune of Mary had a Little Lamb using the colors red, purple, and light blue. The infants will continue creating art using their fingers, feet, and hands, while our

toddlers will continue to explore different textures including glue and finger paint.

We also enjoyed participating in different activities during Week of The Young Child. The babies danced, ate yummy stir fry, had fun getting dirty in the garden and ended the week at a fun filled carnival.

Lastly, we would like to take this time to wish two of our infants a Happy Birthday! Cole C. will turn one on May 24 and Luke H. will turn one on May 26.

Blessings,

Ms. Bowden, Ms Desmond & Ms. Sanders

Toddler A This was a very exciting month! We were so excited to see the butterflies come out of their cocoon. We were able to release them and watch them fly away. We enjoyed recycling by tearing up paper and creating sensory bottles using old water bottles. We also enjoyed exploring soil and planting seeds to create our small garden.

With love, Mrs. Altizer, Mrs. Powell & Ms. Mitchell

Toddler B Our theme in April was Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. During this theme, we built a garbage truck using tissue paper to symbolize trash and talked about the colors and shapes of the truck. We also made “Mr. Toddler B,” the robot. He is made from your diaper boxes, aluminum paper, straws, buttons, water bottles and butcher paper. We

worked on him for a week in order for him to be ready for the school to see. Come check out “Mr. Toddler B” in the hallway.

From April 24-28, we had Week of the Young Child. The picture shown here is of the first day’s Dance Party. We shook our sillies out and danced until we fell to the floor.

As we leave recycling, we will enter Building and Engineering. We will learn how to put materials together using fine motor skills. We will use our cognitive senses to recognize familiar, or famous, buildings around the city of Atlanta. If you have pictures of familiar buildings please bring them in, or email them to us throughout

the study.

With love, Mrs. Gamble, Ms. N & Ms. Garrett

Classroom Recap

Twos In April, the Two’s Class did a study on Insects and Animals. The children were introduced to “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” After reading the book, we discussed the life cycle of a butterfly. The children created their own caterpillar by tracing circles on a green sheet of paper and they cut them out. We discussed ladybugs and created pet ladybugs out of rocks. We encouraged the children to count the number of ladybug rocks, then graphed them to see how many each child made. Let’s not forget about the children’s worm farm! We are always in need of soil, used coffee grounds, fresh fruit, and vegetable scraps for our worm farm.

This month, we introduced the study Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The children have been learning the importance of living in a clean environment. We have also learned a variety of ways that we can help keep our planet clean.

Blessings, Ms. Brinkley, Ms. Pearson & Mrs. Massar

Preschool A & Preschool B REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, OH MY!

Preschool A and B friends are determined to SAVE THE EARTH, and to that end, our intrepid Captains set out on an adventure that began with shredding old magazines, seed germination. Our adventure culminated with our Work Together Wednesday garden day and the lesson for the day was we must share in the responsibility of maintaining our planet's natural resources.

Last month, we explored nature for our study Insects and Animals. Building in last month’s Insects and Animals unit, we will learn about recycling and ways to care for our special world and all of its creatures. Our germinated seeds are growing into gorgeous Cardinal Climbers and Nasturtiums and we will add them to the variety of plants our families so generously donated to help us beautify the playground. Please stop by the playground and take a look at our gorgeous garden. We plan to fill the remaining space with beans, cantaloupe, lemon and okra, with luck… sun, rain, dirt and love!

With love, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Lara, Ms. Fite & Mrs. Felix

Pre-K Over the past several weeks, Pre-K finished up learning about bugs and was introduced to a new study, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The students spend some time learning about the types of items what we recycle and how important it is to take care of our earth. As a class, we came up with different ways we can protect our earth. The students also learned about pollution by reading the story The Lorax. The students also used the story to write how they would stop someone from cutting down trees. For Math, the students focused a lot on number order by using double digit numbers. We also spent some time making graphs and reviewing symmetry. During Art, the students created their own recyclable art project by using items from our scrape box. The students also made their own newspaper person and flower.

Over the next few weeks, Pre-K will spend some time learning about the Environmental print. The students will be doing a number activities focus Math, Art, Writing, and Social Studies all focused on the Environmental print. During Science, the students will start learning about the solar system. Each group will be creating their very own solar system book; we cannot wait to see how it all turns out!

With love, Mrs. Lowe & Ms. KJ

Classroom Recap

3 Fun Activities to Teach Kids About Money

These simple activities teach kids about basic financial principles, including charitable giving, delayed gratification, budgeting, saving money, and compounding interest.

1. Pay It Forward: The most important financial habit of all might be giving back, so here’s a way to offer your child an incentive to be charitable—a concept he can understand as young as age 4. Start by talking your child through why we all need to give, and how even a few dollars can make a big difference to someone in need. Then announce your matching offer: For every quarter your kid saves for charity, you’ll put in a quarter of your own. Research together organizations known for using small amounts of cash to do big things for a greater impact.

2. Easy as Pie: Nothing motivates kids (or adults) to learn quite like dessert! This activity teaches children ages 6 and older how to draw up and execute a budget—skills that’ll be valuable later in life. First, visit your local bakery and price a whole pie (apple, blueberry, peach—whatever calls out to your kid’s sweet tooth). Now, the challenge: Can he bake the same treat for less? Head to the grocery store, armed with a recipe, to price each ingredient. If the total comes in under the bakery price, get cooking. If not, you’ll have to comparison-shop—can he find a less expensive vanilla extract?— until you hit on a way to do it for less. Very Interest-ing

3. Benjamin Franklin had it half right: A penny saved is actually more than a penny earned, if you stash it in an interest-bearing account. Compounding interest is a cornerstone of personal finance: Not only does our invested money earn interest, its interest earns interest as well. Kids 7 and older will get this if you give them a concrete example— and what’s more concrete than free money? Since savings accounts these days fetch a measly 1 percent at most, demonstrate the principle with an exaggerated rate: 100 percent. Start by giving your child a penny. Each day after, pay him interest equaling the amount he already has: On day two, give him one more penny, bringing his total to two cents; on day three, give him two more. Stop on day 11, unless you’re willing to part with serious cash. By then, that penny will have grown to $10.24—all thanks to compounding interest. 

May 6-7: Chastain Park Arts Festival Enjoy the sixth annual festival that features more than 180 artists and crafters as well as a children’s area.

May 7: 12th Annual May Day FestivalEnjoy nature, shop among regional

artisans, encounter strolling performers and street artists, and watch the

traditional maypole dance.

May 12-13: Pick’n in Grant Park Who doesn’t love a BBQ competition?

When you aren't munching, enjoy music, a play zone for kids and a street market.

May 13-14: Sweet Auburn Springfest Set to restore Auburn Avenue as the “greatest street on the planet” with

family fun, food, art, shopping and music.

Now-June 4: Georgia Renaissance This festival takes you back in history

so you can experience the colorful Renaissance period with food,

rides, artisan markets and games.

May 20-21: Malcolm X Festival Celebrates his life through cultural

expressions, music and performances.

May 20: Fire in the Fourth Festival Commemorating the Atlanta fire of 1917 (It destroyed much of the Fourth Ward),

brings fire sculptures and a lot more.

May 25-29: Atlanta Game Fest 29Board game enthusiasts, this is for you.

May 26-28: Decatur Arts Festival This features something for everyone and

includes an artists' market, kids arts festival, performers and literary exhibits.

May 27: Atlanta Caribbean CarnivalThe sights and sounds of the Caribbean come alive with bands, parades, food,

music and lots of dancing.

May 26-28: Atlanta Jazz FestivalOne of the largest free jazz festivals in

the country, features 100+ of the country’s best jazz performers, a

neighborhood jazz series, youth jazz competitions and a kids zone.

Family Fun IN THE CITY

Ingredients • 2 containers low-fat lemon yogurt • 8 Strawberries • 4 Ice- cream size scoops watermelon • 1 banana sliced • 1 cup blueberries • 1 cup granola cereal

Preparation 1. Combine the yogurt and 4 of the strawberries in a blender. Cover and

whirl until smooth. Divide half the mixture among four breakfast bowls or parfait glasses.

2. Place a scoop of watermelon in each bowl. Surround with banana slices and blueberries.

3. With the help of an adult, pour the remaining yogurt sauce evenly over the fruit.

4. Sprinkle each sundae evenly with cereal. Top each with one of the remaining strawberries.

Makes four servings.

Cooking Project Corner Big Bird’s Breakfast Sundae

AFDS Parent’s Corner

A1Kids.org Email: Info@A1Kids.org 404-333-0270

Thanks for your support! You are AWESOME! The Myles Family

Chic-fil-A Family Fun Day

Jill Brown, Chasity Jones, Michelle Krupa

Family Fun Day Carnival Helpers

Miguel Christie,Mr & Mrs. Lester Irma McHoney, Sarah Murphy

Matt Thomas, Work Together Wednesday

Helpers & Supplies The Home Depot

Work Together Wednesday

Each and every family who donated items to make Week of the Young Child successful!