Urban Arts Academy Preschool

Happy Year of the Dragon from UAA Preschool!

2012-01-24T11:09:00.009-06:00

Check out UAA Preschoolers celebrating the Chinese New Year by making Chinese Lanterns and Dancing Dragons!

Gearing up for the 2012 Preschool Play and Potluck!

2012-01-24T10:38:00.010-06:00

UAA Preschoolers are currently creating costumes for the upcoming play "Giraffes Can't Dance."

Come see what happens
to Gerald the giraffe
and all his animal friends
at their performance on
February 16th, 2012
for the Preschool Potluck!

These singing and dancing
preschool animals
start their festivities
at 5pm at the
Urban Arts Academy
3901 Chicago Ave
and hope to see you there!

Upcoming events in November

2011-10-28T09:23:00.005-05:00

November is a very busy month here at Urban Arts! The students will be learning about Dia de los Muertos and Frida Kahol, our artist of the month. We will also be celebrating a different color each day. On these days we will be celebrating each color with different art activities and stories! The color days begin November 1st and end with a celebration November 11th. Here is a list of the colors for each day!

November 1: Wear Red

November 2: Wear Orange

November 3: Wear Yellow

November 4: Wear Green

November 7: Wear Blue

November 8: Wear Purple

November 9: Wear Black

November 10: Wear White

November 11: Wear Rainbow!

Pleas remember November 16th is Give to the Max day! We believe in affordable preschool education to all. Please support our scholarship fund to help make this possible.

http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Urban-Arts-Academy

Our Preschool Potluck is November 18th from 5pm-6:30pm. Please join us for food, music, and a puppet show! The students are working on some wonderful music for this event! Families should bring a plate and cup for each member of their group, they should also bring dish to share. Urban Arts will provide beverages and utensils.

Urban Arts will be at the 2011 ECFE Preschool Fair on Saturday, November 19th from 10:00am until 12:00 pm at Burroughs Community School. If you know of families looking for a preschool home, please invite them to stop by our table!

Pumpkins, Ghosts, Skull's, and Corn 'Oh my'

2011-10-26T09:12:00.007-05:00

The kids in the preschool have been busy learning about Day of the Dead and having fun creating seasonal projects. Today the kids are getting busy and dirty making clay pumpkins, carving the classroom pumpkin, and making SPOOKY ghost prints. For the Day of the Dead kids are working on corn collages and painting paper-mache skulls.

2011-10-12T11:39:00.004-05:00

Urban Arts Academy preschool classes have been busy getting their hands dirty with paper making and creating clay molds of skulls. The kids have also been exploring paper weaving and jewelery making. Current projects have been inspired by fiber artist Melinda Moore Lampkin the featured artist of the month.

Artist of the Month- October

2011-10-06T13:28:00.006-05:00

October: Artist of the Month

Melinda Moore Lampkin!

Melinda Moore Lampkin is an American textile artist who shapes cloth into images of the real world. She typically focuses on vivid renderings of African American life through fabric collage.

Check out one of our UAA students getting ready to get creative with their own fabric designs!

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

2011-09-08T11:00:00.003-05:00

Charles Thomas “Chuck Close

(July 5, 1940-)

Charles Close is an American painter and photographer who achieved fame as a photorealist, through his massive-scale portraits. Most of Close’s work is based on the use of grid as an underlying basis for the representation of an image.

Artist of the Month-May

2011-05-10T11:51:00.002-05:00

Artist of the Month for May is Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)

Mary Cassatt was an American painter and print-maker who lived in France. Most of her images were created from the social and private lives and experiences of women, particularly the personal bond between a mother and child.

April's Artist of the Month

2011-05-09T13:06:00.002-05:00

The Artist of the Month for April is Diego Rivera (December 8, 1886 – November 24, 1957)
Was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato. His works helped establish the Mexican Mural Renaissance. His works also were showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in the 1930’s.

Urban Arts Academy Open House This Saturday!

2011-03-29T14:43:00.002-05:00

Join Us this Sat. April 2 from 10:00-11:30am for the Preschool open house at Urban Arts Academy! This is a great way to meet some of the Preschool teachers and learn more information about the Preschool Program here at Urban Arts Academy.

Reminder

2011-03-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

Reminder that the Urban Arts is hosting their first Preschool Open House this Thursday at 5pm for new families for Fall 2011. Urban Arts is a local art-infused preschool offering small classes in a creative & loving environment. Join us this Thursday, March 16, 5-6:30 or Saturday, April 2^nd 10-11:30. See our spaces, meet our amazing families & teachers and have some fun.

3901 Chicago Ave South….612-827-1641….www.urbanartsacademy.org

Artist of the Month

2011-03-08T12:10:00.003-06:00

The Artist of the Month for March is Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987)

Warhol was an American painter, printmaker, filmmaker and one of the most valuable leading figures in the visual art movement. Warhol also led a successful career in commercial illustration.

To tribute Andy Warhol, Preschool will work on Any Warhol self portraits, the use of bright colors, and recreate Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup can painting.

Hands Hands Fingers Thumbs

2011-02-22T15:12:00.001-06:00

Here is a new video of the UAA PreSchool students performing Hands Hands Fingers Thumbs! Check it Out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erWq_-rFuIg

Valentine Bags!

2011-02-08T14:31:00.002-06:00

Feb. 8, 2011

Today in Preschool we made Valentine's Day Bags for Valentines Day next Monday!

Check them Out!

Artist of the Month

2011-02-01T12:56:00.004-06:00

The artist of the month for February is Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983)

Keats was one of the most important children’s authors and illustrators of the 20^th century. He is known best for introducing multiculturalism in children’s literature and was one of the first children’s authors to include an urban setting for his stories.

In honor of Ezra Jack Keats we will read The Snowy Day, make pet snowballs, and Fabulous Paper Hats in the next weeks to come!

Artist of the Month (January)

2011-02-01T12:12:00.002-06:00

The artist for the month of January is Eric Carle (June 25, 1929- )

Eric Carle is celebrated as the creator of radiantly illustrated designed picture books for children. He is best-known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar . This book has “eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world”. In preschool this month we will learn some of the techniques that Mr. Carle uses when he creates his art.

Here is a link to check out Eric Carle’s AMAZING works and more!!!

www.eric-carle.com/home.html

Artist of the Month

2010-12-02T14:10:00.004-06:00

The artist for the month of December is Grandma Moses (1960-1961).

Many of Grandma Moses's paintings have been used to celebrate special American holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mother's Day. In honor of Grandma Moses, we will be using a "celebrations" theme to create folk inspired artwork to share with our families this holiday season!

Check out these photos of our Grandma Moses mittens.

P-Day

2010-10-22T10:24:00.003-05:00

Greetings Families and Friends! We've had our fare share of unusually warm days but it is finally Autumn. The End of October is here, the leaves have fallen. Springtime Bloom and the lush green foliage of the summer are a distant memory, but as John Keats said, who needs it!

" Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too...."

This is also the time of harvest, and we are celebrating it here at Urban Arts with P-Day- Pumpkin Day! Check out some photos of the kids making delicious pumpkin pies from scratch!

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS

2010-09-29T10:04:00.003-05:00

ONLINE ORDERING:

Every time parents order Scholastic Books online, Urban Arts Academy receives extra bonus points to redeem for more classroom books!

Follow these simple steps:
1. Go to www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
2. Register using your unique username and password.
3. Enter our Class Activation Code: GWVP9
4. Start Shopping!!!

2010-09-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

We're busy bees prepping not one but TWO classrooms for the first day of preschool, Wednesday, September 8th!

We hope to see all currently registered families at our open house, Tuesday September 7th from 4:00-5:30p. You'll get a chance to meet your child's teachers while they explore their classroom and make new friends!

We're still enrolling for preschool! If you're interested in a tour, or know someone who is, please call us at (612)827-1641.

Happy Fall!

Summer Art Camps!

2010-07-05T13:15:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone! Summer Art Camps are off to a great start! We are having tons of fun making giant puppets in Puppet, Puppets Everywhere camp, painting faces in Circus Camp, and learning Spanish in Vivan los Animales!

We were also very excited to have Open Eye Theatre perform a very funny puppet show for us!

Thank You Open Eye!

So far we have been having a very busy and fun Summer, and there are still so many great camps to come! It's not too late to join in on the fun, here is still space available in Wacky Water and mePods and Giant Structures. We will keep you posted on all of our summer art adventures!

2010-03-22T16:17:00.002-05:00

We are now registering for Summer Camps for children ages 3 - 9!

Read camp descriptions, see our brochure, or download a registration form here:
http://urbanartsacademy.org/summer_camps_for_ages_3_9_104862.html

We can't wait to make art with you and your family!

Urban Arts Academy Preschool Open Houses

2010-02-26T15:16:00.003-06:00

Hello all, and sorry for the long break in posting!

We'll be hosting two open houses, March 17th 6:30p - 7:30p, & April 10th 10a - 11:30a, for families interested in joining our preschool family this Fall!

Current families are invited to come to share your stories and experiences with those interested. And of course, let your friends know about these important events!

Give to the Max!

2009-11-18T12:21:00.001-06:00

Thanks to everyone who donated yesterday! We exceeded our goal and are waiting to hear what kind of matching we'll receive!

Scholastic Book Orders

2009-10-13T12:10:00.002-05:00

Urban Arts Preschool families can now place scholastic book orders online by clicking here or by following the link on the right side of the page to Scholastic's website.

Our preschool's login information is as follows:
user ID: UAPreschool
password: bookorder

Welcome to Preschool, Aaneesah!

2009-10-06T15:48:00.002-05:00

With the busy start of the year, many of you know that we have been in the process of hiring a new preschool teacher. Thanks for all of your patience and all the hard work our staff has put in, in order to continue offering quality programming to you and your children.

Urban Arts would like to introduce you to Aaneesah Amatullah, our new preschool teacher in the afternoon and to thank Elisa McBryer for all her hard work filling in for preschool the last month. Joanne and Anna, will be teaching every morning except Wendnesday when Teresa and Anna teach. Aaneesah and Anna will be teaching in the afternoon Monday thru Friday. If you have any questions about the changes please contact Teresa at 827-1641. And here is Aaneesah...

Hola, my name is Aaneesah Amatullah and I am super excited to be a part of the Urban Arts Preschool Team! I'm equally excited to be teaching your child and to incorporate Spanish into the preschool day. I have worked within the School System and Early Childhood Education for over 10 years. I will teach in the afternoons with Anna, Monday thru Friday and I can't wait to meet you all. Adios, Aaneesah

Wrapping up the Summer

2009-08-13T13:14:00.023-05:00

FALL PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE!

September 8, 4-5:30pm

Fall preschool classes start on September 9

What an amazing summer we have had at Urban Arts Summer Preschool Camps! We used our imaginations to take us to fantasy lands, circuses and outer space. We got messy with water, clay and paint. We cooked, we built castles and cities, we moved our bodies in new ways, we spoke Spanish and made lots of new friends! But a picture is worth a thousand words, so see for yourself:

Last Day of Preschool

2009-05-18T08:13:00.002-05:00

Our last day of preschool is this Friday, May 22nd. We will be having an end of the year picnic celebration at Phelps Park from 5-6:30 p.m. (We will move inside to the fellowship hall if it rains. ) Please bring a dish to share and we will provide the beverages. There will be a small graduation ceremony for all students. Hope to see you and your family there!

Swine Flu Information

2009-05-04T10:09:00.002-05:00

I'm sure that you have heard about the swine flu outbreak that has been reported in Mexico and has spread to some cities in the U.S. In the event that this becomes a serious threat, we will follow any recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Department of Public Health.

If Minneapolis Public School closes the district, Urban Arts will be closed. At this time we don't anticipate making any changes to the school day or school related activities. We will keep you updated by posting information in the building, on our website and through email.

In the meantime please follow these guidelines for staying healthy and preventing the spread of flu-like illnesses.
* Wash your hands. Yes, hand washing is the best protection. Alcohol-based hand cleanser does work. Encouraging your child to sing the ABC’s while washing hands is a great trick to hand washing the full two minute recommendation.
* Cover your cough and stay away from sick people as much as possible.
* Students and employees who have the flu should not come to school.

For more information and updates: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/index.html or www.codeReady.org

PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS

2009-03-06T19:50:00.003-06:00

Cost $88.00 a week for either am or pm session. Contact the UAA office for more information and to sign up for one of our exciting camps! 612.827.1641

Please bring a lunch and/or an afternoon snack for all camps.

June 1-4th
Castle Building and a hundred other things to do with cardboard- What can you make with a giant refrigerator box? What if you had ten? In this class we will build a giant castle out of boxes, make crowns and be kings and queens, create our own unicorn to ride around the room and more. A fantasy camp designed especially for your preschooler’s imagination. 9am-12:30 Ages 3-6

Hola’. The Explorer – Yes, this is the preschool Spanish camp where you get to be Dora the explorer and Diego. We will create bug jars, binoculars, make our handmade paper and investigate the world in which we live. A perfect summer camp for the young explorer. 12:30-4 p.m. Ages 3-6

June 8-11th
Fantasy Art Camp- A world full of fairies, unicorns and dragons—a summer arts camp focusing on increasing creativity in children through the arts. We will make paper, tie-dye t shirts and more. We will focus on all the wonderful things you can build, paint and draw which live in your imagination. 9-12:30 p.m. Ages 3-6

Preschool Yoga, Dance and Art Exploration- The preschool art class that moves, twirls and bounces. In this summer camp we will explore movement through dance and yoga as well as creating art with our bodies….paint with your toes, create a musical mural and more. 12:30-4 p.m. Ages 4-6

June 15th-18th
Circus Art Camp- Build your own tin can stilts, perform tricks in the center ring and bring your pet elephant home at the end of the week. We will be clowns, acrobats and jugglers. Join us under the “big top” for summer adventure. 9-12:30 p.m., Ages 3-6

Summer Solstice Art Adventure- Fairies, gnomes and other elemental beings come to celebrate the longest days on midsummer’s eve. We will prepare for this celebration by constructing garden fairy houses, papier-mâché lanterns, fairy boats and more. Folktales, songs and dances will complete our celebration. 12:30-4 p.m., Ages 4-6

June 22-24
Outer Space Adventure- Come ride a giant rocket ship to the moon, build your own robot or alien, create some of the most exciting art in the universe. A science camp designed to build and foster your preschooler’s imagination through the arts. 9-12:30 pm. Ages 3-6

Spanish: Vivan Los Animales! A Spanish Camp especially designed for preschoolers. Children will learn Spanish while creating, art, plays, songs and puppets about their favorite animals. All classes are taught by a native Spanish speaker and offer fun multi-sensory approaches to learning. Come join the animal Fiesta! 12:30-4 pm. Ages 4-6

June 29-July 2
Play with Paint: Drip, drop, splat, and swish. How many ways are there to explore with paint? We'll turn everyday objects into paint brushes, make prints and t-shirts, and spray and splatter paint for colorful, messy fun. 9-12:30 pm. Ages 3-6

Spanish: Around the World…Al rededor del mundo: A Spanish Art Camp which travels around the world! We will explore art, music, food and games from different cultures. All classes are taught by a native Spanish speaker and offer fun multi-sensory approaches to learning. 12:30-4 pm. Ages 4-6

July 6-9
Make It! Shake It! Take It! The summer camp that makes noise!!! Each day we will take home original instruments for our one of a kind kid band. Drums, tambourines, guitars, and more. Let the music play. 9-12:30 pm. Ages 3-6

Spanish: Nuestro Mundo! A Spanish Camp specially designed for children who have little or no experience with a second language. Children will learn Spanish while creating art,singing songs, dancing and playing games. All classes are taught by a native Spanish speaker. 12:30-4:30 pm. Ages 3-6

July 13-16
City Building & Exploration- The summer camp that can only happen in the city. We will create our own city bus out of a giant cardboard box and build our own cities in this summer camp. We’ll use papier-mâché, hammers and nails, clay and glue to build a variety of interesting 3-D objects. 9-12:30 Ages 4-6

Little Hands Cooking Class – Do you love to bake bread or cook pancakes. This is the summer camp full of food and wonderful books and art about food. We will do veggie prints, make chef hats and cook stone soup. Bon Appetite, let’s eat. 12:30-4:30. Ages 4-6

July 20-23
Let’s Pretend- Puppets, masks, costumes will help us transport ourselves to faraway lands and fanciful stories. This is a summer camp to introduce children to the theatre through drama games and play. We will also create a puppet show to perform for our families on the last day. 9-12:30, Ages 3-6

Toys from Mother Nature- Mother Nature is abundant with material for art & play. This week we will create colorful kites using woven willow branches and papier-mâché. We will also felt wool into flying streamer balls and fuzzy toy animals. Join us for summer time stories, songs, games and we will fill the week full of memories. 12:30-4 pm., Ages 3-6

July 27-30
Wacky Water and Summer Fun- This is the summer camp where we can get wet! We will build sharks, be pirates sailing out to sea and mermaids. We will look at all the wonderful art you can make with water and a little bit of sun. Please bring or wear your swim suits. 9-12:30 pm., Ages 3-6

Spanish: The Jobs We Do -We will increase our Spanish vocabulary by looking at all the different jobs people do. We will be astronauts, fire fighters, veterinarians, doctors and explore each job through art and Spanish. We feature art, music and dramatic play, all while learning Spanish. 12:30-3:30 pm.

Aug 3-6
Bajo el Mar…Under the Sea- A Spanish Camp that dives into the ocean. We will explore the world of sea creatures, sunken ships and watery arts while learning new and exciting words, songs and sea creatures in Spanish. All classes are taught by a native Spanish speaker and offer fun multi-sensory approaches to learning. Veronica 9-12:30 pm.

Environmental Art Camp- Have you ever wanted to build your own nest out of twigs and clay or dye cloth with natural dyes. In this class we learn all about what it means to take care of the planet and create lots of wonderful art out of the natural world in which we live. Ages 4-6 12:30-4 pm.

Aug 10- 13
La Comida del Mundo (Food Around the World)
This is a Spanish summer camp where we will learn Spanish by cooking different kinds of food from around the world. We will increase our vocabulary through games, music, and art while feeding our tummies. 9 am-12:30 pm.

Sculpture Camp for the Young Builder- Can we build it? Yes, we can. In this class learn the basics of sculpture and build with wood, clay, paper and more. We will be builders with blocks, boxes and other fun material while learning the basics of design and sculpture. 12:30-4 pm. Ages 4-6

Aug 17-20
Spanish: Vivan Los Animales Two! All new animals. A Spanish Camp especially designed for preschoolers. Children will learn Spanish while creating, art, plays, songs and puppets about their favorite animals. All classes are taught by a native Spanish speaker and offer fun multi-sensory approaches to learning. Come join the animal Fiesta! Veronica 9-12:30 pm. Ages 4-6

Print It! Environmental Art Camp! Our world is an amazing place full of things you can print, sculpt, and explore. Create a sun print, paint a bird house, go on a bug hunt and find out what butterflies eat for breakfast. Bring out the naturalist in your child!!! Elisa 12:30-4 pm. Ages 4-6

New fun site for kids

2009-03-05T21:43:00.003-06:00

I just found a new fun site for kids called Zooborns. It's all about the newest baby animals born at zoos around the world. I put a link to the site on the right sidebar of this blog.

Here is also a link: http://www.zooborns.com/
Check it out!

WINNER!

2009-03-03T20:46:00.002-06:00

Stacy has won our first blog giveaway! Stacy won $20 off of tuition. Thank you everyone who shared ideas and comments. Please leave comments and ideas of fun things you do with your family whenever you visit our blog. We love to have new ideas of what to do with our families!

UAA Gala - Save The Date

2009-02-21T20:06:00.001-06:00

For more information, please contact the UAA office at 612.827.1641.

Wear your PJs!

2009-02-21T19:59:00.002-06:00

Remember to wear your PJs this Thursday and Friday!

Family Night Pictures...Keep Them Coming....

2009-02-03T20:34:00.004-06:00

Here are some pictures a mom sent in from Family Night. If you have any pictures you'd like to share from a UAA event please send them to bermuda_green@hotmail.com.

Winter Family Fun

2009-02-03T20:08:00.001-06:00

What does your family do when you've been stuck inside for the 3rd week of below zero temperatures? Where do you go? What do you do at home for fun? Let's share some ideas to make the end of winter easier for all of us!

OUR FIRST GIVEAWAY!

2009-02-03T19:43:00.008-06:00

I've been reading a blog with a weekly giveaway so I thought I would try one here!

Our first blog giveaway:
Win $20 off of a preschool fee for your child.

3 Ways to enter:
1. Become a follower of our blog. Sign up on the side of the blog under "Follow this Blog". This can be used by parents to connect with each other.
2. Leave a comment on what your family does to make the winter months fun...places you go, things you do...anything. Leave this comment under the entry "Winter Family Fun" just above this entry.
3. Leave a comment on a different entry anywhere on the blog.

BONUS ENTRY:
Be the first to follow the blog!

You can do any or all of the above to enter. Each will count as an individual entry. Winner will be announced on the blog on Friday, February 13.

Good Luck!

Valentine Week

2009-02-03T19:36:00.002-06:00

The children have been working on decorating Valentine bags this week in preparation for Valentine's day. Next week your child can bring Valentines to school if desired. It is recommended that your child write his or her name on the Valentine and not the recipient's name. This way your child can just drop Valentine's into friend's bags instead of hunting for names. If your child wants to address some of the Valentine's there is a class list available on the table in the preschool room.

Family Night

2009-01-17T21:11:00.004-06:00

We had a wonderful turn-out for our family night on one of the coldest nights of the year. The children sang songs, danced, and performed a play. It was a fun night.

Here are a few pictures. If you have any photos you'd like to have posted on our blog, please e-mail them to bermuda_green@hotmail.com .

Free Family Fun

2009-01-06T20:51:00.002-06:00

Through January: Ice skate in downtown St. Paul under the white lights of Rice Park and the towers of Landmark Center. Wells Fargo WinterSkate is open for the season. When you're done gliding and spinning, warm up with cocoa in the tent and check out the 90-foot-tall lighted tree in Rice Park. 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays; bounded by Market, St. Peter and Fifth streets, St. Paul; free, $2 skate rental (free rental if you show a Wells Fargo check or credit card); 651-291-5608 or www.capitalcitypartnership.com.

Find more fun family activities at
www.minnmoms.com

Volunteer Opportunity

2008-11-19T13:43:00.002-06:00

Next week, during our Thanksgiving break, we will be having a cleaning day. Please come help us freshen up the preschool rooms from 10-12 on Tuesday, Nov 25. There will be supervised gym time for your children to run off some energy while you help out.

Raising Creative Kids at the Walker Art Center

2008-11-07T19:06:00.005-06:00

There is a free workshop, Talking to Kids about Tough Art, for parents at the Walker Art Center on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 6-7:30. In this informal discussion, parents will exchange ideas and feedback on the challenges and opportunities that come with looking at contemporary art with kids. After touring the exhibition Tetsumi Kudo: Garden of Metamorphosis, join Family Programs staff to talk openly about encountering mature subject matter in the galleries with kids in tow. Limited childcare is available for children ages 5-10.

Registration is required, for more information please call 612.375.7600.

For additional opportunities and experiences related to Raising Creative Kids, visit
http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/.

Target Free Family Concert this Saturday

2008-11-05T14:29:00.002-06:00

Orchestra hall will be presenting The Tin Forest this Saturday, Nov 8 at 2 & 4. This is part of their Target free family concert series. Ticket office opens at noon that day and there usually are tickets available for both concerts. You can call 612.371.5656 for more information about tickets.

Find more information on the Minnesota Orchestra Website:
http://http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/season/event_detail.cfm?id_event=8090083

Target Free Sunday at MIA this Sunday!

2008-11-05T14:19:00.005-06:00

Art Masala

SUNDAY, November 9
11 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE FREE

Target Family Days are free monthly events for families, kids, and the young at heart. At November's celebration of India, delight in a creative mixture of art, music, dance, and more!

Find out more information at the MIA website:
http://http://www.artsmia.org/index.php?section_id=9

2008-11-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com
'>http://

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thanksgiving Break

2008-10-29T22:01:00.002-05:00

Please note the correct Thanskgiving Break dates of November 24 ~ 28.

Dress Warm

2008-10-29T21:53:00.004-05:00

The boiler at the church has not been in working order this fall. It is expected to be fixed by the end of next week. Please dress your child in layers, the early mornings can be cold in the preschool room.

Enjoy some pictures from this fall.

Fall Festival THIS Thusday!

2008-10-06T19:46:00.002-05:00

Please join preschool families and your child's teacher this Thursday, Oct. 9, from 5-6:30 for our fall festival. The children have been creating special art work to display during the festival. This will be a potluck, please bring a food item to share. Food sign-up is next to the sign up book at the top of the stairs.

Hope to see you there!

Artist of the Month- Alexander Calder

2008-10-06T19:19:00.005-05:00

Here is some information found on the blog http://www.artsmartforkids.blogspot.com/ regarding Alexander Calder:

Alexander Calder invented the mobile. Because of Calder, babies all over the world are lulled to sleep by colorful dangling shapes. Calder also created an entire miniature circus which could be packed into briefcases and carried back and forth between America and Europe. He was certainly a unique artist.Calder was born in Pennsylvania in 1898. His parents were both artists. His father was a sculptor and his mother painted portraits. They knew it was difficult to earn money as an artist so, though they encouraged Calder to create art, they did not want him to choose to art as a job.Alexander Calder’s talent could be seen even in his first sculpture, which he created when he was four years old. As he continued to sculpt, Calder became interested in sculpture that moved. He created a duck that rocked when tapped and a train that ran down a track.He followed his parents’ advice and studied engineering in college. Calder wasn’t happy in any of the jobs he worked after college, though, and decided to become an artist after all.While he studied at the Artist Students’ League in New York, Calder sketched for the National Police Gazette. One of his assignments marked the beginning with a love and fascination for the circus: he sketched scenes from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.Calder moved to Paris in 1926 where he began to build toys that moved. These toys eventually became his own miniature circus. He packed his circus into suitcases and performed in the U.S. and in Europe. You can see a video clip of Cirque Calder at YouTube. Calder seems like quite a character.Calder’s interest in movable art led him to create mobiles. Air currents caused the mobiles to move. Calder also created sculptures that didn’t move. He called them “stabiles.” Most of them were made out of painted wood or metal. Check out the official Alexander Calder website to see pictures of these mobiles and stabiles.In 1973 Calder painted a plane for Braniff International Airways. The plane became a “flying canvas.” He painted one more plane and began a third before he died in 1976.

Visit http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html to make a mobile at home. The activity can be found on the April 15, 2008 entry.

More Fun Free Family Events

2008-09-27T14:22:00.005-05:00

"The Minnesota Orchestra’s popular family concerts are FREE, thanks to generous support from Target. These concerts, many of which feature the Minnesota Orchestra and other great artists, present the world’s finest music in programs sure to delight—as well as teach."

These concerts are fun and a great way to experience the orchestra with young children.

Here's the website to sign up for tickets:
http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/target/enter.cfm

More fun free activities can be found at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts also sponsored by Target. The MIA has a wonderful family room near the D'Amico coffee shop on the ground floor. You can find cozy couches, story books, and blocks there.

Here's the website for more information about the upcoming events:
http//www.artsmia.org/index.php?section_id=44

Children's Theater Tickets for $1

2008-09-04T21:21:00.002-05:00

Children's Theater is offering tickets to Peter Pan for $1 on Friday evenings in September! Their box office number is 612.874-0400. You may need to tell the box office you received the information from the Urban Arts Academy.

A former preschool parent and UAA artist is in the production and e-mailed this letter to alert our staff of this great deal:

Friends,> Children's Theatre is offering $1 tickets for Peter Pan Friday evenings in September. It should be a great show with shadow puppets from Italy. If you're interested call the box office ASAP, they went on sale today. ciao -j

Find more information about Peter Pan at the Children's Theater website: http://http//www.childrenstheatre.org/2009/peterpan.html

Fun Activities for Preschoolers

2008-08-30T20:24:00.004-05:00

I just learned about free classes at the Bell Museum of Natural History for 2 and 3 year olds. The classes are the first Thursday of the month and cover a range of fun, interesting topics. They are geared for the younger preschooler. You do need to pay for admission to the museum unless you can secure a library pass which will get 4 people in for free. I plan to attend the class this Thursday.

This month the topic is "Why do Leaves Change Color" on Sept. 4 from 9:30-11:00. In October the topic is Squirrels. You do need to call and register for classes.

Here is more information at their website.
http://www.bellmuseum.org/calendar.html

If you know of any fun activities that you and your preschooler enjoy around the cities please post a comment about the experience.

Getting Ready for the 1st Days of Kindergarten

2008-08-22T11:31:00.004-05:00

Kindergarten, what a bittersweet time in a parent's life. Some parents may be experiencing kindergarten for the first time this year. Maybe it's an older sibling of a preschooler or a preschooler from last year, but, as you know, kindergarten is a big step in your child's life and your families' as well.

The first few weeks of kindergarten are very tiring both emotionally and physically for new kindergartners. All of the new transitions and concentration that is needed to become accustom to new surroundings often exhaust kindergartners. Tears are very common for the first few weeks. What is amazing is how quickly children adapt and become experts in their new surroundings.

Here are some resources filled with ideas to help with the many transitions kindergarten will bring to your family in the next few weeks.

http://www.education.com/reference/kindergartenreadiness/

http://http//www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=7186

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=83

Books about first days of school:

http://www.tcpl.lib.in.us/youth/firstdaykind.htm

If you have any ideas for the first days of school, please share them with us by posting a comment. All comments can be viewed by all who visit the blog.

1st Payment due Sept 1st

2008-08-13T21:35:00.002-05:00

Payments for this preschool year will be due on the first of each month. (The newsletter recently e-mailed had the incorrect date.) Watch for a September invoice in your Welcome Packet.

Here is a quick reference chart for payment amounts.

Morning or Afternoon Preschool
Cost PER MONTH
1 day a week $78.00
2 days a week $156.00
3 days a week $222.00
4 days a week $280.00
5 days a week $329.00

Full Day Preschool
Cost PER MONTH
1 day a week $136.00
2 days a week $272.00
3 days a week $396.00
4 days a week $512.00
5 days a week $619.00

July Summer Camps

2008-08-12T21:29:00.004-05:00

In Vivan los Animales Preschool Camp we explored the animal kingdom and learned dozens of new Spanish words. We made colorful pinatas and turned them into chicks (pollitos) and tigers (tigres). We made the caterpillars and butterflies from the book 'La Orga Hambrienta' (The Very Hungry Caterpillar). We also decorated the scales of the giant rainbow fish that we read about int El Pez Arco Iris (The Rainbow Fish). To help us even more with our Spanish, we sang many songs in Spanish during circle time. It was great!

In Print It - Environmental Camp we made prints with whatever we could get our hands on: giant leaves, rubber fish, grass, bug stamps...
We met live worms, watched caterpillars disappear into cocoons and painted with real dirt! What a fun, messy, earthy week!

Preschool Open House

2008-08-04T15:09:00.001-05:00

We hope to see you at our Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 4-6. Check out the preschool room and meet our teachers.

Summer Preschool Camps

2008-07-09T13:14:00.003-05:00

We've had a busy and fun summer at the Urban Arts Preschool. Here are some highlights from our June Summer camps.

Under the Sea
In Under the Sea Preschool Camp we swam to the depth of the ocean to learn about the animals that live there. We made fish prints, Atlantis Sculptures , and a giant whale that swallowed us whole! On our last day we became pirates, made treasure chests, and went for a treasure hunt for jewels. At our closing Pirate Party we made floating boats and enjoyed a watermelon treat.

Nuestro Mundo
In Nuestro Mundo Preschool Camp we traveled around the world to explore the art and culture of Ecuadore, Peru, and Mexico. We learned to cook tortillas, sang Spanish songs, and created Maracas to accompany our music. The week ended with a big Pinata Party in the courtyard!

Outer Space
The preschoolers had a blast with Outer Space Art Camp. We made alienships, rocket kites, and a kid-sized spaceship to the moon! We became aliens, read about sheep in space, and celebrated our week with a Rocket Party!

Art Supplies Needed

2008-05-08T19:08:00.002-05:00

The Urban Arts Academy will be accepting any unneeded art and building supplies you may have around the house during our Takin it to the Streets event. Useful supplies: yarn, buttons, cloth, tin cans, tools, wood, glue, paper, paints, brushes, hot glue guns, etc... If you have items around the house that you aren't using and you want to find a home where they will get used, please bring them Thursday, May 22 to our end of the year celebration. There will be a receptacle with a sign for donations. Thank you and hope to see you there!

Affordable Family Fun

2008-05-06T19:26:00.003-05:00

If you have any fun activities that you enjoy doing with your family that are cost friendly, please feel free to post a comment and it will be put on the blog.

Here is a link to Arty Pants. The Tuesday Play Date at the Walker Art Center for 2-5 year olds. They are from 11-1 a couple Tuesdays each month. Children and activities are free with adult admission.

http://calendar.walkerart.org/event.wac?id=3541

Summer Preschool Camps

2008-05-01T11:50:00.002-05:00

Summer Preschool Camps are filling quickly! Print-It, week 7, is now closed. We are excited about the huge response we have received for our camps. What a fun summer this will be!

A Message From Lisa

2008-05-01T11:44:00.003-05:00

Mondays at preschool have been focused on nature, bugs, water, and frogs this session. We have been preparing for our class video of 5 Green and Speckled Frogs. We will continue this nature focus as we watch for the many changes and new growth that Spring will bring to our environment.

We are in the middle of a clay project. The children enjoyed going down to the clay room and getting dirty as they began the work on their projects a few weeks ago.

We will have show and tell this coming Monday, May 5. Your child is invited to bring an item to show the class during our circle time.

End of the Year Celebration

2008-05-01T11:42:00.003-05:00

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend our end of the year celebration for all Urban Arts children!

Takin' It To The Streets
Thursday, May 22 from 5-7 in the Calvary Parking Lot

Come share hot dogs, performances, and art with the preschool and urban arts students.

A Message From JoAnne

2008-04-27T17:46:00.001-05:00

Hello Preschool Families! As you may have noticed, we are making movies this spring. Each day of the week will be represented by a short film to be unveiled at our end-of-the-year family night. For my three days, we'll be producing "There Was an Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe" (Tuesday), "Urban Arts Had a Farm" (Thursday) and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" (Friday). We're making props, sets, costumes, puppets. . .everything we need for some top-rate productions!

There seems to be so few weeks left all of a sudden (and so much fun art still to try!). We'll fill in the rest of our weeks with more spring art (animals, plants, wind and rain). As part of our exploration of spring, I'd like to make a wind sculpture out of paper-covered dry-cleaner hangers. On a recent trip to Washington D.C., I saw an interesting sculpture made out of hangers at an art museum on the National Mall. I appreciated it for the reasons art museum patrons are supposed to, but my strongest reaction was: I could try this with preschoolers! So, if you have any paper-covered wire hangers around, or any connections at an area dry cleaner, we could use at least 15 - I've got two already. We'll paint on the paper and then connect them into a hanging sculpture that moves in a breeze.

I'm also interested in collecting large empty oatmeal cartons and plastic tubs with lids (the kind jumbo packs of pretzels and animal crackers come in). I'll use them this summer to make drums in our Shake It! Make It! camp.

When the weather improves (think warm thoughts everyone) I'd love to get us outside to make kites, sidewalk chalk and paint in the courtyard. Any day now. . . .

JoAnne

Summer Arts Camps

2008-04-27T16:08:00.002-05:00

You can now register for our Summer Arts Camps. More information about camp offerings can be found at http://urbanartsacademy.org/summer_preschool_camps_2008_90441.html

Welcome

2008-04-06T20:10:00.002-05:00

Thank you for visiting our new preschool blog. This was designed to be a place for us to communicate with parents and share what is going on at preschool. The blog will be updated weekly with new information from the teachers as well as some photos of children's work from time to time. We will have a calendar of events to help you stay informed. It would also be nice if parents would share family friendly activities they know about that are happening around the cities. You can do this by posting comments after a weekly entry. Please feel free to leave comments or ideas of other things you would like to see included on the blog. We hope you find this a useful communication tool.

Information about the Summer Preschool Art Camps will be coming very soon!

Registration Now Open for Fall 2008

2008-03-09T15:23:00.004-05:00

We will be offering full day, morning, and afternoon preschool 5 days a week this fall. Morning sessions will be from 9:00 to 12:30 p.m. Afternoon sessions will be from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Full day preschool is from 9:00 to 4:30 with supervised large motor activities from 12:30-1:00 for children signed up in our full day program.

Please join us at one of our open houses to learn more about our preschool program.
To register for preschool please go to our website at http://urbanartsacademy.org/register_for_preschool_now_88257.html

Family Night Potluck

2008-03-09T15:19:00.006-05:00

Winter Preschool Families, please join us for food, fun, and a see our cities on Thursday, March 27 from 5-7. This is a great opportunity to meet other preschool families!
The children had fun creating and painting their cities.

Open House

2008-03-09T15:15:00.003-05:00

Please come meet our teachers and tour our classroom at our Annual Open Houses on Thursday, April 17 at 7 pm or Thursday, April 24 at 1pm.