Last few days of the year!

What a peaceful and enjoyable last few days we enjoyed.

 Painting....our hands...the table....

 Watercolors....

More Finger Painting....Body Painting....

creating cool textures with the grate of the fence behind the mural....

Final Shabbat Party for the year...

 All the boys were "Abba's" ...Drinking L'chaim!

All the girls were Ima's...

Lighting Shabbat Candles....

 

 Enjoy your Summer break!

Stay tuned for Gan Camarillo Preschool Summer Days....coming in 2 weeks- when our Summer Program Starts on July 1!

What should a Pre-School end of year celebration look like?

Concluding a year of Preschool is an important milestone. To celebrate the growth and accomplishments from this past year, all parents were invited for an end of year celebration!

As with everything at Gan Camarillo, a lot of thought goes into HOW we can mark this milestone in a way that will be meaningful for both the children and the parents, yet at the same time recognize WHAT is being celebrated!

Here's what we came up with....

 

We wanted to celebrate the fact that we look at ourselves as PARTNERS with each child's parent...to give a wholesome education...

 

 

...And so the first part of our program was an activity that required a partnership! A hunt where the parents and children TOGETHER had to find letters and bring them back to contribute to a puzzle! Only working TOGETHER, did we achieve our goal!

...We also enjoyed a potluck Bagel Lunch following the ceremony...that was a delicious spread, all coming together from the JOINT efforts of all the parents!

Searching for the letters!

Finding a letter!

We wanted to celebrate the fact that the children have LEARNED to work together, as well as recognize shapes, colors and letters ...

 

 

...And so the activity included each child deciphering which colors, shapes and letters needed to be found/matched and taped onto the board...onto the matching color lines or shapes!

We wanted to remind ourselves of our philosophy- that EACH CHILD is unique and we celebrate the fact that our curriculum caters to the many different learning styles. We also believe that each child is like a seed, being nurtured in its first 5 years of life, and every experience the child has will mold its future... 

 

 

...And so the final product of our word hunt- was the sentence, "At Gan Camarillo, each child is a different flower and all together make a beautiful garden."

Children sang a beautiful song reflecting what Gan Camarillo is all about!

 Our graduates were presented with their artwork that was made in celebration and recognition of their graduating Preschool.  (See Blog post for more info)

It was a joyous and meaningful occasion, enjoyed by all who participated!

Graduation Art work--Final Product!

The rest of the process of the children working on their masterpieces 

(layering and mixing colors onto canvas, shaping/molding newsprint into roots/trunks/branches, shlacking the artwork and placing the pictures)

 did not get captured on camera.... due to the fact that each child and Morah Keren were completely immersed and involved in the moment!

I share with you the beautiful final products...

 

 

 

 

 

 

As well as the beautiful letter from Sigrid Orlet- our Artist of Inspiration.

To the children who are graduating from Gan Camarillo:

 

The artwork you created in celebration of your graduation is more pure and more

powerful than anything of my work. And with that the students surpass the humble teacher

with the purity of their hearts and minds. It is exactly the way it is supposed to be. 

I am grateful. 

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful, beautiful book you created

for me. I love it so much and I am moved to tears by your generosity.

 

And so today, as you graduate from preschool, may your roots always be strong and

may you continue to grow into majestic trees.

 

May your joy and kidness fill the hearts of humankind and may the light that you are

brighten the dark places.

 

All my love and blessings to you, your parents and to the amazing teachers at Gan Camarillo.

 

You are loved,

 

Sigrid

 

 Check out Sigrid's Blog for more on her work!

 

I also share with you the meaning of the artwork that is mounted on the back of the canvas.

- Graduation Art Project 5773-

At Gan Camarillo, each child is viewed as a seed, that we nurture with the utmost care, since the seeds every experience will shape and color the quality of its matured self.

This piece of art was created by a Gan Camarillo Graduate in celebration of the special milestone of graduating Preschool. The tree, with visibly strong roots is symbolic of the strong foundation the child has received.  Strong roots come from our curriculum which is driven by solid Jewish Values, along with a perfect balance of love and care from Morah’s who model kindness,   respect, responsibility and belief in Hashem.

Gan Camarillo blesses each graduate to continue growing into a strong “tree” ~ into a “Mench” ~ that will continue to give fruits ~ “Mitzvot” ~ making the world a brighter, more beautiful place.

We thank artist Sigrid Orlet of the Studio Channel Islands for her inspiration and guidance in creating this masterpiece.