From the Principal’s Office
First off, we want to say thank you for all the wonderful support and gifts of appreciation for our teachers, they sure do deserve it! We had a GREAT turn out for our school wide Mother’s Day Tea. It was so nice to see our moms and grandmas mingling and getting to know each other. We can’t wait for Father’s Day!
Summer Camp is quickly approaching, as we kick off camp on May 23rd!
Along with Summer Camp comes summer Water Days, detailed information on your child’s water days below.
Safe Footwear
Please keep in mind that the safest shoes for children to wear at school are tennis shoes. Sandals, open-toe and slick-soled shoes may not be worn to school. This policy is stated in the Parent Handbook under the Personal Belongings/Clothing section. With summer coming please do not allow children to wear flip-flops or open-toed sandals to school. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but our main objective is to protect the children.
Cubby Clothes
Be sure to stock your child’s cubby box with summer clothing items, now that the weather is getting warmer. It’ also a great time to check the sizes of the clothes you have stored in your child’s cubby. Lastly, remember to keep 2 full changes of clothes in your child’s cubby box.
Reminders
* 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!
* 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.
WATER DAYS
Water Days will be being in early June and we want to give you a heads up of what you can expect:
We will need a water play permission slip turned in for your child to participate, these will be available in the office as well as sent through email.
Please bring your child in on their scheduled water day READY TO GO.
This means, swim suit and sunscreen already on. The children must wear water shoes or close-toed shoes that can easily dry (crocks are ok but NO flip flops)
If your child is in diapers, please make sure to bring in swim diapers for the teachers to put on right before they go out for play.
Keep an eye out for further information to come.
Important Dates to Remember
At Our School
May 2nd-6th Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6th Mother’s Day Tea
May 14th Tap and Tumble Recital
May 23rd Summer Camp Begins
May 30th Closed for Memorial Day
A Word from our Education Department
Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
May
From the Principal’s Office
First off, we want to say thank you for all the wonderful support and gifts of appreciation for our teachers, they sure do deserve it! We had a GREAT turn out for our school wide Mother’s Day Tea. It was so nice to see our moms and grandmas mingling and getting to know each other. We can’t wait for Father’s Day!
Summer Camp is quickly approaching, as we kick off camp on May 23rd!
Along with Summer Camp comes summer Water Days, detailed information on your child’s water days below.
Safe Footwear
Please keep in mind that the safest shoes for children to wear at school are tennis shoes. Sandals, open-toe and slick-soled shoes may not be worn to school. This policy is stated in the Parent Handbook under the Personal Belongings/Clothing section. With summer coming please do not allow children to wear flip-flops or open-toed sandals to school. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but our main objective is to protect the children.
Cubby Clothes
Be sure to stock your child’s cubby box with summer clothing items, now that the weather is getting warmer. It’ also a great time to check the sizes of the clothes you have stored in your child’s cubby. Lastly, remember to keep 2 full changes of clothes in your child’s cubby box.
Reminders
* 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!
* 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.
WATER DAYS
Water Days will be being in early June and we want to give you a heads up of what you can expect:
We will need a water play permission slip turned in for your child to participate, these will be available in the office as well as sent through email.
Please bring your child in on their scheduled water day READY TO GO.
This means, swim suit and sunscreen already on. The children must wear water shoes or close-toed shoes that can easily dry (crocks are ok but NO flip flops)
If your child is in diapers, please make sure to bring in swim diapers for the teachers to put on right before they go out for play.
Keep an eye out for further information to come.
Important Dates to Remember
At Our School
May 2nd-6th Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6th Mother’s Day Tea
May 14th Tap and Tumble Recital
May 23rd Summer Camp Begins
May 30th Closed for Memorial Day
A Word from our Education Department
Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education