Blog

Grace Cooperative Preschool has launched its Fall Flower Power fundraising campaign! For every purchase made, 50% of the proceeds go directly to the school. It’s a wonderful way to beautify your garden AND to help our favorite preschool – all you have to do is visit http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=17057  and place your order, no later than October 30, 2013.   Please help us spread the word to friends and family – and Go Grace!

One of our neighboring co-op preschools in El Cerrito is hosting a community workshop on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 am – 12:30 pm, featuring Bev Bos, an early childhood expert, author and teacher. Her presentation focuses on “real play, and how children, by nature’s design, spontaneously engage in play.” The workshop includes music, story-telling and the opportunity for participants to examine the power of real play from their own childhood and families. The workshop will take place at El Cerrito High School Theater, 540 Ashbury in El Cerrrito. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and doors open at 9:30 am. Advance tickets can be purchased through brownpapertickets.com. The event is adults only.

Open to the community, Grace Presbyterian Church will be holding its annual Animal Blessing & Festival on Sunday, Sept. 29, 4 – 6 pm. Attendees are invited to bring their pets for a blessing of the animals. Desserts and beverages will be sold as a fundraiser to benefit Grace Cooperative Preschool.

Our days (and evenings) have been busy at Grace Preschool these first few weeks.  After positive and productive orientations for parents and children, we’ve enjoyed many exciting experiences!

 

A big “thank you!” to all of the families (including aunties, grandparents, and cousins) who joined together to march in the Walnut Festival Parade.  Your decorating looked very festive!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights of the beginning school days included painting our cardboard houses and building a “community.”  I overheard one of the MWF children instructing a friend to “Come visit me and knock on my door.” The houses were partly inspired by the children’s book, “The Big Orange Splot”, by Daniel Pinkwater.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both morning classes took a walk to the apple trees by the grassy hill (near the Oak Room).  After picking apples, they returned and TTh children had a “tasting   experience.”  MWF children made applesauce.

–  Marlene

Hey Grace Families! Thank you to all who helped make this year’s Twilight Parade another successful and fun one for our preschool! On Friday night we had folks busily turning scooters, strollers and bikes into eye-catching works of art, and on Saturday night we had a great turnout to march down Main St. and show off our school spirit! It was awesome to see so many kids AND adults dressed up – King Walnut had to have been impressed!

Happy New Year!  I know some folks think our year begins in January, but, for me, it seems to start in September with the opening of school. I’ve had the good fortune to begin my year (actually in July and August) with home visits to newly enrolled children.  What fun that is!  I get such a mixture of shyness, excitement, anticipation and pleasure!  And that’s just the family!  The children display everything from awe to unadulterated joy.  Oh, to be that young and to have so much before us.  . . . . wait a minute, we are and we do!  It’s called Grace Preschool!

We have a blend of new and returning families, which represents potential for experience, energy and enthusiasm.  The diversity of the Bay Area is reflected in our families in many and positive ways.  This is a source of strength for our Grace community.  I encourage you to reach out – tell your family story – hear others’ stories – be open to connecting and sharing.  We will try to provide a number of opportunities for you to do this.  Because we have three classes we sometimes don’t know everyone.  Because we are one preschool we want to make a real effort to connect.

On behalf of the staff –  Marlene, Meg, Joy, & Trish  – Welcome to Grace Preschool  2012-2014 !

Over the summer, the Grace Co-Op parents and other members of the community completed a new playground renovation project. The new concept play area highlights music and the natural world in all aspects of play.  Here is a wonderful write-up in the August 23, 2012 edition of the Contra Costa Times.