Enrichment and Event Dates

Noah's Ark Preschool welcomes a number of special guests each month! 

Music and Movement with Kate Deeley:
Mrs. Deeley visits the Llamas every Wednesday from 9:00-9:30, the Lions every Wednesday from 9:30-10:00, and the Lambs every other Thursday from 9:00-9:30.  * Music will begin September 28, 2011.

Kate has her degree from Boston University and is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist.   She has a strong musical background and plays the clarinet, the auto harp, and the keyboard during class.  In her music and movement class her goals are to create an environment to maximize gross motor development, to introduce a multitude of instruments (wind, string, brass, percussion), to introduce musical terms (rhythm, range, tone), to play a number of instruments (rhythm sticks, tamborines, bells, maracas), and to establish an atmosphere where every child is comfortable and confident expressing him/herself through music and movement. 

Mrs.Deeley's two children attended Noah's Ark Preschool, and she is pleased to be back in the Noah's Ark community!

Story Time with Reverend Heike Werder:
Rev. Heike visits with each class once a month to share a story and talk with the children.  Rev. Heike joins the Lions on Mondays at 9:45, the Llamas on Mondays at 10:00, and the Lambs on Tuesdays at 10:00 based on the following schedule:
October 3 & 4
November 7 & 8
December 5 & 6 
January 9 & 10 
February 6 & 7 
March 5 & 6 
April 2 & 3 
May 7 & 8 

Reverend Heike Werder is the Associate Minister at the Congregational Church of Needham; a position she has held since 1999.  She grew up in East Germany where she went to seminary.  In 1990, Rev. Heike moved to the United States and continued her studies; she was the Associate Minister at a Congregational Church in Essex Junction, VT prior to coming to Needham.  A focus of Rev. Heike's at the church is ministering to families and directing the Sunday School.  The establishment of a preschool at the church (Noah's Ark Preschool!) was one of the first projects she worked on here and is delighted that it has grown into such a wonderful preschool!

When Rev. Heike vistis the NAP classes, she offers an opening prayer, sings songs, shares Biblical stories and talks about their messages.  Her goal is to share stories from the Bible and to make connections to the children's lives.  Rev. Heike is an engaging and nurturing story teller, and she is a wonderful part of our enrichment experience.

Audubon with Mrs. Jessica Watson:
Mrs. Jessica meets with the Llamas and Lions one Monday each month.  She visits the Llamas at 9:00 and the Lions at 9:30.  The schedule and topics for the year are as follows:
September 26th: Terrific Trees
October 24th: Bats and Spiders
November 28th: Migration
December 19th: Making Tracks
January 30th: Winter Sleepers
February 27th: Owls and Owl Babies
March 26th: Amazing Amphibians
April 30th: Snakes and Other Reptiles
May 21st: Bees 

Jessica Watson is the Preschool Outreach Coordinator/Educator from Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of the Massachusetts Audubon.  Through visiting NAP on a regular basis, Mrs. Jessica aims to become more than just a "special guest"!  Her presentations each month include stories, natural artifacts, sounds, and scientific games and experiements that engage the children's five senses.  Imagination, listening skills, gross and fine motor movement, and singing are skills she hopes to nurture at each visit in addition to the information she is providing on each topic.  Jessica follows her visits with a newsletter so parents and children can discuss what was learned; her topics are based on animals and natural occurrences that the children would see in their environment here in Massachusetts.

Mrs. Jessica is very engaging and the children are excited for her visit each month.  Be sure to ask your children about her "chicken bag"!


In addition to our weekly/monthly enrichment offerings, we are pleased to announce the following additions to our schedule:


Monday, February 13th: PUMPERNICKEL PUPPETS!
Monday, March 12th: MUSIC & IMAGINATION with Elaine Kessler!
YOGA!  Lambs: April 3, 10, 24 and May 1st.
             Llamas & Lions: April 2, 9, 23 and 30th.