We will celebrate Kansas' 158th birthday on Tuesday, January 29, with an Early Childhood Pioneer Day celebration in the south gym from 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Students will rotate with their teachers to various stations such as listening to a story, singing songs, watching a quilter and spinner, making butter and eating cornbread muffins, crushing grain (cereal), peeling apples and tasting them, petting farm animals, roping cows, washing clothes on a washboard, and playing pioneer games. Around 10:30 a.m., all students will stop and do some scatter square dancing. Parents and guests are invited to join us in this activity, which is simple and fun. The students are looking forward to it.
Students who not attend school in the morning, or do not attend school on Tuesdays, are invited to participate in the event as long as they are accompanied by an adult. It is such a fun time and students have been greatly anticipating it. I hope everyone will choose to be attend.
Students are invited to dress up for this occasion in clothing appropriate for the pioneer days. Last week I brought some items to school as examples for the children and mentioned some other ideas, as well. Items included:
1. Blue Jeans
2. Flannel shirts, Western shirts, or shirts with cowboys, farmers, horses, or farm animals
3. Suspenders
4. Overalls
5. Jean skirts, vest, dresses, or jackets
6. Chaps
7. A short lasso tied to a belt loop
8. Cowboy hat
9. Cowboy boots
10. Bandana
11. A sheriff's badge (you can even make one from paper)
12. Pioneer Dress, Bonnet, or apron
13. Native American outfit
14. Coonskin cap
15. Western belt or a rope used as a belt
Please remember that there is no need to buy anything special for this day. There is bound to be something in your child's closet that is already appropriate.
Happy Birthday, Kansas.
