Welcome, Spring! Welcome sunshine and flowers! Welcome, early summer days! We're glad to have you back!
The months have flown by as we watched the days grow longer and warmer. The flowering shrubs of Hazel Drive Early Childhood Center have bloomed and are filled with the buzzing of busy bumblebees. Our beautiful children are blooming, and our school is abuzz with the happy sounds of childhood! Time to get you up-to-date on the goings-on as we motored our way through the late spring, celebrated the end of the school year, and launched into summer camp!
After the long winter, the children were delighted to shed their winter gear and head out to the into the sunshine first with just a light jacket, and then - short sleeves! Our playground offers many opportunities for growing the bonds of friendship, and for growing those big muscles. The climbing wall is a popular site. Sometimes there is a gathering on the deck to play and pretend before shooting down the big green slide - - Bumpity-bump, whee! Riding a tricycle with a buddy, kicking a ball, or simply running from one end of the playground to the other as fast as you can all help our bodies and minds to grow.
The sandbox is a beehive of activity. There is a lot of imagination at work as the children build castles, bake pies and play "Patty Cake," and even make a big pot of bubbling tomato sauce loaded up with meatballs! There are roads to be constructed and foundations to be dug. The dump trucks are getting filled with their loads to carry. Sometimes it's just fun to experiment with scooping, pouring and molding the sand, and when you're finished doing all that, just giving it a good stomp!
All the children of Hazel Drive continued their learning from the winter months as we worked through the end of our school year.
The Little Bunnies and Cottontails were masters of Circle Time. They could recite the Pledge of Allegiance beautifully, sing "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "God Bless America" with gusto! They know the colors of the flag and even know how many stars are on the American flag! When asked, "Why are there fifty stars?" they shout out, "Because there are fifty states!" They know the names of some states like New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Florida, California and even New York, because sometimes Miss Laura goes there! They are champs at counting the numbers on the calendar and figuring out which comes next. They could also determine the pattern of the numbers on the calendar to determine what color comes next.
Our littlest children ended the school year with a sing-along celebration. We set up chairs in a big, big round circle in our big red, white and blue room. It was soon filled with moms and dads, grandparents, aunties and uncles, brothers and sisters and even some cousins! We sang a whole bunch of our favorite songs while our invited guests joined in or just had a blast watching! What a joyful combination of singing, movement and laughter! There were smiles EVERYWHERE!
The Big Hoppers continued their learning of letters, numbers, writing and drawing as they hopped through spring! From the beginning to the end of the school year, every month each child drew a self-potrait in pencil. It is fascinating to observe the increase in details in their drawings as the children grew more proficient. These drawings were collected in colorful books bound by Miss Gloria that made beautiful keepsakes for their parents.
Miss Gloria planned lots of science lessons. All year long, the Big Hoppers used beans for counting and classifying. One day they each put a bean or two in a transparent plastic cup with a dampened paper towel on the bottom. Imagine their surprise and delight when a beautiful bean plant grew from that seemingly inanimate object! They studied and drew the parts of the plant, and every child in the room could say "germination" and tell you what that big word means!
When the world outside began to green up, the Big Hoppers learned more about plants. The little guy pictured here is painting his leaf with nature's green paint, chlorophyll. His "Helping Hand" is holding the paper while the fingers of his writing hand gain strength, dexterity and accuracy. All the while, he is learning the wonder of the nature that surrounds us! 
Big Hoppers and our oldest group, the Wascally Wabbits, used their imaginations and some great props to enhance their make-believe play and learning. The grocery store was open for business, and as the clerk extolled the benefits of healthy foods, the customers made their choices and money was exchanged. The veterinarian was "IN" at the Hazel Drive Animal Hospital, complete with a waiting room and receptionist taking calls and checking in visitors. The big kids brought their stuffed pets from home, and gave a description of the patient's symptoms. Our young vets took their jobs very seriously, and happily, all pets were restored to health!
The Wascally Wabbits continued to build their bodies and minds as they grew throughout the spring. Under the guidance of Miss Missy, they learned to be good citizens of Hazel Drive and the bigger social world that they will join as they move on to big schools. The important social skills of following rules, cooperating, sharing and negotiating, and being a good friend were practiced.
The big boys and girls completed their ABC Books and Number Books as they completed their year of learning. Their work was collected into spiral-bound volumes that are keepsakes as well as learning tools. Every letter of the alphabet was made into a clever picture of an object beginning with that sound! For example, little cars drove on a road shaped like the letter "C!" They sharpened their intellects and well as their social skills by playing games like "Uno," "Lucky Catch" and "Connect Four," to name a few. Lots of laughter could be heard, too, as the big kids sat around the game table!
There are happy faces on display as we SWING INTO SUMMER! The seasons roll by, and the years start to pile up, and we realize that we are starting our sixth year! Our school is populated by lively, loving children and loving, hard-working teachers who make it look easy! Our school is a little corner of the universe that is abundantly blessed with joy and fulfillment. We are endlessly grateful!
We send our best wishes your way! Have a beautiful summer!
Love,The Hazel Drive Staff
