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The House That Students Built
Scott Andersen | November 22, 2010 | Comment

Students at The Grove School of Cary worked with a professional carpenter to learn some of the essentials of house building. The carpenter showed the students the entire process of developing a blueprint, to measuring and buying materials, to assembling the house and then the final steps of furnishing the house.
The photos below show some of the steps the students took in their learning about building a house and also shows the finished product of their model house. (Scroll over photo for short description.)

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Student Work Photos
groveadmin | November 22, 2010 | Comment
Our students are always busy. From building a house, to painting pumpkins and doing a science experiment about how they will roll, to making all kinds of art, to exercising by navigating through a “spider wed”, it’s always fun! Enjoy the photos below.

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Our Cozy Little Feast
Shelley Hill | November 19, 2010 | Comment
Families from the Grove School of Plano gathered Nov. 18 to enjoy a wholesome feast together. One of the goals of our school is to help develop community from within our families. What better way then to eat a delicious meal! Moms, dads, and children all enjoyed eating, socializing and being part of a wonderful school community.

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Family Feast Fun!
Lorrie Schelkle | November 19, 2010 | Comments (2)
Families and staff members of The Grove School of Cary participated Nov. 18 in our first annual Family Feast of Thanks. Families gathered in the late afternoon to assemble gift boxes to be given to staff members who work at the Ronald McDonald House in Durham. (See photo below of Scharmen Konieczka from the Ronald McDonald House.)

In preparation for the project, each class in the school made special jars containing the ingredients for delicious treats. Each gift box contained a jar of soup mix, cookie mix and hot chocolate mix. Along with the tasty treats, a special candle and mug was also included.
This project was just one way to thank a group of workers who help children each and every day.
Following the service project, the families enjoy a wonderful pot-luck meal together.
Scharmen came to the Grove School Monday to pick up the boxes to deliver them to the staff. All of us at The Grove School say a big THANK YOU to them.
Enjoy the photos below.

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Wrap Around is Enriching and Strands Are Grand
Lorrie Schelkle | November 10, 2010 | Comment
As you can see..there is a lot going on! Healthy Fit, which is everyday, is a fun way for kids to practice their motor skills as they learn to coordinate how they move and the class includes a featured healthy food.

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Kajal Will NOT Get the Flu This Year!
Dr. Shefali Parmar | November 9, 2010 | Comment
Kajal is almost three years old and is in stellar health. This could all change if she were to get the flu. Despite being in excellent health, she could be one of the 20,000 children under the age of 5 that get hospitalized for complications related to the flu. This is not acceptable to me – I am a pediatrician, and more importantly, I am her mom.
Kajal is probably one of the first toddlers in Cary to receive her flu vaccine. With the arrival of the first flu vaccine shipment to my clinic, I escort Kajal there to receive hers. She is first in line as she is my first priority. Then, my husband and I get ours, along with the staff at Cornerstone Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. We personally have a responsiblity to get vaccinated against the flu. Transmitting undetected influenza to one of my patients is simply unacceptable.
There is little flu activity at this time in Raleigh, North Carolina and it’s surrounding communities. Some sporadic cases have been confirmed - especially among those that have arrrived from abroad. This “quiet” time makes it the perfect opportunity to get yor flu vaccine and prevent it all together.
By vaccinating Kajal, she is protecting Adi, Jake, Jack, Miss Katie, and Elizabeth – and even Elizabeth’s new baby brother. Kajal and I are stopping flu at the door. You can help us do the same.
Not everyone can get the flu vaccine, so it is even more important for those of us that are in good health to do so. Let’s protect our little friends and their families.
Here are some reliable web resources for more information:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/childcaresettings.htm

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The Grove School receives an Environmental Award from the City of Plano
groveadmin | November 6, 2010 | Comment
The Grove School of Plano was recently honored by the City of Plano, TX with an Environmental Star of Excellence award. The City of Plano recognizes companies, schools, and other entities that make a difference in the community and in the world by raising the standards for environmentally friendly practices. As an educational institution, The Grove School of Plano was selected due to our efforts to recycle an existing structure by renovating with a focus to preserving the environment. From the glue used to construct our lobby furniture, to the flooring inside and out, to the watera nd air filtration, to the idle-free zone, and to the paint and cleaners we employ, we strive to make all decisions in the best interest of students and of our planet.
To complete this project, many resources were studied and special materials were purchased. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) were consulted and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as post and pre consumer recycled materials were studied. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction and was well referenced in the development of The Grove School. The LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, 2009 and The Green Book by Rogers and Kostigen were also consulted as guides for decision making.
The answer to preserving the planet is in education. Education about sustainable products, recycling, composting, alternative energies, post consumer waste, and organic practices. At The Grove School, we believe that this education starts early, with hands on experiences and first hand knowledge. This school was designed to help support the creation of the next generation, one that has high expectations for sustainable practices to be pervasive, permanent, and progressive.
This award acknowledges the efforts of many people who collaborated to create the first private preschool in the DFW metroplex that has a comprehensive focus on mind, body, and planet.

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A Work in Progress…
Lorrie Schelkle | November 5, 2010 | Comment
My husband, Allen, works for the DOT…we have this on-going joke about the number of people it actually takes to repair a road.
What an interesting thought…accomplishment of a task is tied to the process of a task. After all, what is a product if not the compilation of things that complete it.
Case in point…there is a showcase of an experience outside the preschool classroom. During their farm unit, Miss Gina and Miss Hunter created a cow from recyclable material and used a glove to create utters. The children actually milked the cow and later used milk to create butter.
Whereas when we look at the standing construction worker as we drive by for a brief moment of time as one not getting anything done, we miss the bigger picture that my husband sees on a daily basis. He sees the step by step, incremental progress being made on the road.
The same is true for how we teach our children at The Grove School. We must also show the progress of our students by clearly showing the PROCESS that they experience during their learning. We call this “evidence of learning.” I will be sharing more on that very soon.

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Upcoming Events at The Grove School of Cary
Scott Andersen | November 5, 2010 | Comment
November is always a busy month as it begins the “holiday season.” Well, it’s no different for us here at The Grove School. The following highlights some key dates in the weeks to come.
Nov. 18 – We are holding our Family Feast of Thanks (4:30 – 6pm). We will be assembling care packages for the staff at the Ronald McDonald house and then we will enjoy a nice pot luck dinner here at the school.
Nov. 29-30 – Student Conferences
Nov. 24 – School Closed for professional development
Nov. 25 – School Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 26 – School Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 16 – We are having a Family Night of Giving (details TBA)
Dec. 24-31 – School Closed for Holidays
Be sure to mark these on your calendars!

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Upcoming Events at The Grove School of Plano
Shelley Hill | November 5, 2010 | Comment
November is always a busy month as it begins the “holiday season.” Well, it’s no different for us here at The Grove School. The following highlights some key dates in the weeks to come.
Nov. 18 – Family Feast of Thanks
Nov. 24 – School Closed for professional development
Nov. 25 – School Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 26 – School Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 16 – We are having a Family Night of Giving (details TBA)
Dec. 24-31 – School Closed for Holidays
Be sure to mark these on your calendars!
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