Header Image

April

From the Principal’s Office

I want to thank all of our families again for bearing with us through our journey of getting Links 2 Home up and running. We have heard great feedback and are excited to utilize the program to better connect you with the learning going on in your children’s classrooms. Even though it may not feel like it, spring is here and we look forward to all the fun it brings. Below you will find a list of upcoming events to start the season right. Summer Camp is also upon us and we are finalizing the calendar of activities.

 

Franklin Park Conservatory Field Trip

Intermediate and Pre-K families: Keep an eye out for permission slips this week for our first field trip of the year to the Franklin Park Conservatory on APRIL 20th. Itinerary information will be coming as well. Any and all chaperones are welcome! J

Spring has Sprung!

Spring is in the air but we all know this is Ohio and we can experience a wide variety of weather experiences in a single day.  Please keep in mind that the children do go outside as long as the temperature is 25 degrees or above.  It is always a good idea to keep an extra hat, mittens or gloves in your child’s cubby through April.

Lifetouch Portraits

We will be having Lifetouch join us on APRIL 28th and 29th for our spring portraits and class photos.

Siblings, Infant/T2 on Thursday, April 28th

Beginner-Pre-K on Friday, April 29th

Please see the office if you are not scheduled on either one of our portrait days and we can see if we can make accommodations if you would like.

 

 

Reminders

*Now that Links 2 Home is up and running please let the office know if you are not receiving reports or are having trouble opening the app. We want to ensure all families can take advantage of this exciting communication system.

*Please check your child’s cubby to make sure they have season appropriate clothes that fit comfortable if the need arises for them to be changed. This includes two complete changes of clothes and a spare pair of shoes as well, just in case!

Please make sure that you are signing your child in every morning and out every evening, even if your child’s group is in another classroom. Thank you for your consistency with signing the book!

*  Morning Snack schedules have been adjusted. Please note the following:

Toddler Two          7:50-8:10

Beginner               8:10-8:30

Intermediate          8:30-8:50

Pre-K                    8:50-9:10

These adjustments have been made to enable each class to have their own time in the cafeteria. Please make sure you are providing breakfast at home if you are dropping your child off outside their scheduled snack time.

*  Don’t forget to check your child’s cubby for important information from their teachers and the office.

*  Parking Lot Safety – Remember to drive slowly and cautiously through our parking lots. There are several small children and their families in the parking lot throughout the day and we want to be sure that everyone is safe! In addition, please do not leave children in the car unattended.  It is also important that you do not leave your car running while in our school. Also, all families must enter and exit through the main lobby.  Please do not leave with your child out of the playground gates.

*  Tuition Due –Please make sure that your account is current with the tuition cycle.  There will be a $25 late fee assessed to all payments made after Tuesday at Noon of the tuition week.  If you are interested in our automatic withdrawal program or to begin payment by credit card please stop by the office to pick up an authorization form.

 Important Dates to Remember

April 10th – 15th – Week of the Young Child

April 20th – Franklin Park Conservatory Field Trip

April 22nd – Earth Day

April 28th– 29th– Lifetouch Portraits

 

A Word from our Education Department

Linking Learning with Nature

Spring is here! Flowers are blooming, days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Now is a great time for children to explore these environmental changes happening in the world around them.

Not only are children curious about nature, but research shows that it has a profound influence on their problem solving skills, creativity, imagination and cognitive ability. Because of this, our teachers incorporate nature in all aspects of our Links to Learning curriculum.

Below are ways we connect learning with nature, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.

INFANTS/TODDLERS:

In the classroom: After reading a book about springtime, teachers bring children outdoors to explore and investigate objects in nature. The children have fun crumbling leaves, smelling flowers and looking at clouds.

At home: Take tummy time outdoors and allow your infant to explore different sights, sounds and textures. Encourage him to move and grab things by placing objects just beyond his reach. For toddlers, ask questions like, “Who made that chirping sound” or “Can you point to the flowers?”

Recommended reading: Wake Up! Wake Up! A Springtime Lift-the-Flap Book by Kathryn Davis,                Welcome Spring by Little Scholastic

BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):

In the classroom: Our Beginners read books about seasonal changes, then bring the story to life by going outdoors to find real-world examples.

At home: Help make your child aware of the seasonal changes going on around him. Talk a walk with him and ask questions such as “Why do we see flowers growing now?” or “What do flowers need in order to grow?” Encourage him to use his creativity when answering.

Recommended reading: Over in the Meadow by Olive Wadsworth, Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson

INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):

In the classroom: Students plant seeds in their school garden and learn about the importance of caring for them. Through this activity, they practice math skills such as measuring, sorting, counting and making predictions.

At home: Set up a bird feeder outside a window that your child can easily see. Let him help you fill it with birdfeed. As the birds come to eat, ask your child to talk about them. “What color are they?” “Are they big or small?” “What are they doing?”

Recommended reading: Little Seed by Eric Carle, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):

In the classroom: Pre-K and Pre-K 2 students explore the sounds they hear in nature while playing outdoors. They then use recycled and natural materials, such as string and pine cones, to make their own wind chime.

At home: Reuse junk mail for a fun arts and crafts activity with your child. Encourage him to look through flyers and magazines to find words and pictures that he recognizes. Then, ask him to create a collage by cutting and gluing them to a piece of paper or poster board.

Recommended reading: And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, About Springtime, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to think creatively and imaginatively about the world around them. By setting this foundation, children build confidence in their own unique thoughts and maintain a thirst for learning as they enter elementary school and beyond.

– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education

 

This entry was posted in Dublin. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.