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Director's Note...
Dear Parents,
Advent is the season that begins the liturgical (church) year. It consists of four Sundays starting with today. The word advent is derived from the Latin adventus, which means "coming" or "arrival." For Christians, Advent is the time when the church patiently prepares for the coming of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Click here for more ideas on family Advent preparation. You can also access free Advent devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Abiding Savior Lutheran Preschool students are preparing to share with you the Gospel message of the birth of our Savior. We hope you will join us on December 10 at 5 p.m.We have a SignUpGenius started if you would like to bring a case of water or cookies. Each day for the next two weeks the children will spend their music time in the church practicing.
Worship here at Abiding Savior this Advent Season. Services are Wednesday, November 30, December 7, 14, and 21 at 6:00 p.m. This coming Wednesday, November 30, following the Advent Service, we will hold our first Christmas Tree Lighting on the patio. The tree will be up throughout the Christmas season for all to enjoy!
December 19-22, we will be offering Christmas Camp. Space is limited and will be determined on a first-come-first-serve basis upon receiving your completed registration form. We will have limited classrooms open, so children from different classes will be mixed. Our hours will be 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Click here for our Christmas Camp enrollment form.
Grace and Peace,
Mary Wolfinbarger
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This Week in Jesus Circle
Bible Story: God Has a Plan for Salvation The Savior is Coming! (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7) Discovery Points: Law: Because of sin, we need a Savior. Gospel: God loved the world so much that He gave His Son to save us from the punishment of our sins. All along, God knew what needed to be done. Sanctification: Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can trust that our caring God always knows what we need. We rejoice that our Savior was born! Bible Words: “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Luke 1:47
You can read this week's story in "The Story Bible" on pages 269-271.
Dear Family: This week we talked about Jesus’ birth! Read about the angels praising God. The story is in your Bible in Luke 2:8–14. We, too, can praise God for sending Jesus to be our Savior.
What other reasons do you have for praising God? How many can you name? Let your child choose a Jesus song to sing this week. Make homemade rhythm instruments to play as you sing. Thank God for sending Jesus at Christmas to be our Savior.
Our chapel offerings will go toward the Grantparent Program. The purpose of the Grantparent Program is to provide tuition assistance to students in urban communities so that they can receive an excellent Christian and academic education. Many children living in urban communities need to hear the Good News of Jesus in a safe, nurturing environment, but they can't afford tuition to attend a Lutheran school.
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From Our Handbook
Arrival and Departure
We ask that children arrive by 8:45 am at the very latest. It is difficult for the child when he/she is dropped off after the structured part of the class has begun, and it is disruptive for the teacher and the other children.
Children attending "Full-Day" Preschool may arrive between 7:00 and 8:45 am and be picked up any time between 2:50 and 6:00 pm or alternate closing time. After 6:00 pm or alternate closing time, late fees apply and are billed via FACTS:
1-5 Minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. or alternate closing time = $10.00
6-10 Minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. or alternate closing time = $20.00
11-15 Minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. or alternate closing time = $30.00
16-20 Minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. or alternate closing time = $40.00
21-25 Minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. or alternate closing time = $50.00
26-30 Minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. or alternate closing time = $60.00
31 + Minutes beyond 6:00 p.m. or alternate closing time = $75.00
Children attending "Half-Day" may arrive between 8:30 and 8:45 am and be picked up between 11:15 and 11:30 am. Children attending "School-Day" may arrive between 8:30 am and 8:45 am and be picked up between 2:50 and 3:00 pm. Children picked up after the time of their designated program will be billed an hourly fee of $14. Preschool students with siblings at Abiding Savior Elementary School may arrive at 8:15 am at no additional charge. Between 8:20 – 8:25 am, the students who have before-school care are transitioning into their regularclassrooms, so please do not arrive during this time. The classroom doors open at 8:25. Please wait outside the classroom door until it is opened by the teacher to signal that they are ready to greet their class for the day.
Do not leave your child on the playground unattended or inside the preschool without your teacher's knowledge. Unattended siblings should not be left in vehicles at any time. Siblings must remain within arm's reach of a parent and may not participate in playground or classroom activities.
We realize some situations or circumstances occur beyond your control, but please make every effort to be on time. Being timely sends your child a message that you care. Please get in touch with the preschool office to advise us of situations so we can relay the message to your child's teacher and, more importantly, your child.
When it is apparent a parent is running late, the teacher in charge will call all numbers in the order you specify. If your child has not been picked up by 6:45 pm, if we haven't heard from you and can't get in touch with anyone on your child's emergency list, we will call the Orange County Sheriff's Department and release your child to their custody.
Repeated late pickups may be cause for asking you to withdraw your child. Please notify the preschool office if your child will be absent for the day.
(See also Traffic Flow and Parking.)
2022-2023 Parent Handbook
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Extra Curricular Activities
We offer several enrichment programs for your child. There is limited space in each class and a minimum number of participants required to offer the class.
- Amazing Athletes – This is a sports and fitness class offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:30-12:15.
- Showtime Dance – This is a dance program which includes Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop and Jazz. Dance is offered Monday for Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Rivers' classes; Monday for boy's hip hop;Thursday and Fridays for all other classes from 11:30-12:15.
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Parenting Tip from Conscious Discipline
How can I say “no” and be heard?
In its simplest terms, saying “no” and being heard is called “assertiveness.” It is a key skill that both adults and children must cultivate in order to develop healthy relationships. Assertive commands focus on what you want to have happen, give clear information about what to do, and are given in a tone of voice that says “just do it.” Conscious Discipline (educators) and Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline (parents) spend ample time focusing on the skill of assertiveness. The following tips from these publications will get you started:
Focus on What To Do: When you are upset, you are always focused on what you don’t want. Use active calming techniques to regain your composure as necessary, and then shift your focus away from what’s wrong. Instead, focus on what you want to have happen. Have you ever heard an Olympic athlete visualize “not losing?” No! They focus on diving their cleanest dive or running their fastest race in order to achieve their goal. You must do the same with your goal is to paint a picture with your words and gestures of exactly what you want the child to do.
“Don’t you dare touch anything in this store” focuses on what you don’t want (don’t touch). Pivot and reframe it in the positive, “Keep your hands in your pockets.” All assertive commands give usable information. “Don’t ____” is not usable information because it doesn’t tell what to do. “Don’t hit your brother” becomes: “When you want your brother to move say, “move please.”
Give the Command Assertively: There are three tones of voice we use when we communicate: passive, aggressive and assertive.
A passive approach says, “Approve of me, love me, is it okay with you if___.” A passive approach does not engender respect or compliance, so a passive person often resorts to manipulation or ‘going through the back door’ to get their needs met. Passive communication is not effective communication.
An aggressive approach says, “I am right and you are wrong, no matter what.” It often includes threats, blame, severe consequences or “you” statements that are focused solely on the other person. An aggressive approach invites a defensive response and engenders fear. Aggressive communication is not effective communication.
An assertive approach says, “Do this,” in a clear and respectful manner with a voice of no doubt. With children, follow these steps to deliver an assertive command:
Establish eye contact by approaching the child, getting down on his/her level and moving closer until he/she notices you. For easily distracted children, you may need to get as close as six inches.
Verbally tell the child what you want him/her to do. State your expectations clearly and simply. Be certain that the statement is formulated in the positive… focus on what you want them to do and paint a clear picture with your words. “Hold my hand so you are safe when we cross the street.” “Give me the scissors. They are sharp and could cut you.” “Use a quiet voice while we are in the museum.” “Pick up the markers and put them in the shoe box.”
Give visual, auditory and tactile cues as often as possible. Demonstrate a gentle touch, gesture in the direction you wish the child to move, practice what a soft voice sounds like, etc.
Send the nonverbal message “just do it” with the tone of your voice and with your nonverbal stance as you give the command. If your nonverbal cues are passive, your child may easily refuse. If your nonverbal cues are aggressive, your child will resist in self-defense. When nonverbal and verbal communication both say, “Just do it,” you let the child know your command has meaning.
Celebrate your child’s success. The minute the child begins to show any degree of compliance, jump in with praise. Even if s/he wasn’t really going to comply, s/he likely will comply once you begin to praise him/her. “Good for you,” “You did it,” and “way to go” followed by a description of the child’s action are great ways to celebrate them without judging. “Way to go! You’re reaching for my hand so we can cross the street safely!”
If your child chooses not to comply, repeat the request and say, “I’m going to show you what to do.” Lead the child gently and instructively in completing the request. Say, “I’m going to show you how to cross the street safely” and take the child’s hand in yours.
Conscious Discipline Website
Conscious Discipline and the Bible
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In Our Prayers
Thank you for your continued prayers for the loved ones connected to our center. If there is a need in your family and you would like to add someone to the prayer list, please let me know. This week we pray for:
+ Our November birthdays including Hudson, Carter, Nikolas, Londyn, Winson, Isla, Leon, Royal, Riley, Jaxon, Zella, Olivia
+ Our November Baptism birthdays: Dani, Jaxston, Sophia, Eiza, Thomas, Harper
+ This week we also pray for the following students: Abi, Lily, Carter, Hope and Kamren
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Wednesday Morning Adult Bible Study We meet in the Gathering Grounds coffee shop each Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Please join us as we study the book of Philipians.
Go to smile.amazon.com, select Abiding Savior as your charitable organization, and amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your purchases to support Abiding Savior. Every time you log in after that, the site will remember Abiding Savior as your selected charity.
Ask your friends and family to sign up and support us!
Mark your calendar for Advent by Candlelight, Saturday, December 17.
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