From the Principal’s Office
Dear Parents,
We have a lot of fun and exciting events coming up over the next couple months! Be sure to check your email for details. If you are not receiving school emails please let me know or send a message at randi.kinsella@nlcinc.com or kristin.mackey@nlcinc.com to get added.
We also try to keep children healthy during the colder months by following the DCFS illness policy. We are required to send children home when they have signs of communicable colds, flus, and other illnesses. Children may not return to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours. We understand missing work can be difficult, but we appreciate your help keeping all our children as healthy as possible this winter. If you have any questions about whether or not your child should attend school, pelase call us and we will work through it with you.
We are running an Early Bird Registration for the 2015-2016 school year until March 20! Register your child to ensure their spot and get 1/2 off the Registration Fee during this time!
As always any questions please let us know!
Stay Warm!!!
Randi & Kristin
March Dates:
- March 8: Daylight Savings- Spring Forward
- March2-20: Early Bird Registration for 2015-2016 School Year
- March 17-18: LifeTouch Picture Days!
Curriculum Corner:
As many of you may know, Illinois has adopted the Common Core State Standards and has already begun to phase them in. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide a clear understanding of what students are expected to learn in Kindergarten through high school in the areas of Language & Literacy and Mathematics. The CCSS were designed to create consistency among the different states and to best prepare students for success in college and in their careers. As of today, all but two states have adopted the CCSS and will have them completely phased in by 2014.
Therefore, we must increase the academic rigor in our PreK programs, in order to ensure that our students will be well-prepared for Kindergarten. We are currently in the process of realigning our Links to Learning curriculum with the CCSS and retraining all our Intermediate, PreK and PreK2 teachers on phonemic awareness, phonological awareness and sight words.
Please visit http://www.corestandards.org for more information on the Common Core State Standards.
Our full day kindergarten program prepares children for the future.
Kindergarten is an exciting and important time for children, when we nurture their innate love of learning and curiosity about the world, in order to set the tone for the rest of their formal education.
We give children the strong foundation they need for future success.
Our proven, well-rounded curriculum builds sound reading, writing, math and problem-solving skills. During kindergarten, the children also become comfortable in a more structured classroom setting.
The right kindergarten experience can do wonders in helping children discover their best selves. Our schools provide the ideal combination of innovative curriculum, a dedicated teaching staff and a nurturing environment.
Just a Reminder…
We also have a couple reminders we would like you to be aware of… Tuition is due every Friday for the following week. Please drop your payment into the tuition box at the front desk or sign up for our Automatic Payment Program. A late fee will be charged if we do not have payment by noon on Monday.
Chesterbrook Academy is no longer accept cash payments. All payments must be by check, money order or automatic payment. Now would be a great time to set up for automatic payments if you aren’t already participating in them. Payments are pulled from checking or savings accounts on Monday nights for the current week’s tuition. It usually takes a couple of weeks for the automatic payments to begin once the enrollment form is turned in to the office. Once the automatic payments are set up, all tuition payments can be paid by way of ACH. Enrollment forms can be found at the front desk.
We are required by DCFS to keep a copy of each child’s birth certificate in their school file. If you have not already done so, please bring an original birth certificate for your child to us. We will copy it and return your original to you.
From the Education Team
Learning About the Uses and Benefits of Technology
Children today have many opportunities to interact with technology for entertainment value and learning. Most often we think of children using computer technology, including handheld devices loaded with games, books, music and movies. In moderation, these devices can aid in children’s learning and development.
Within our academic curriculum, we involve children in activities and reflection on ways that technology can improve our understanding of the world around us, help us do our jobs, and make the world a better place. We help children see how the understanding of science and math moves technology forward, and that someday they too might create new and improved ways to do things.
Below are a few ways that we integrate technology in our classrooms and some ideas to try at home.
INTERMEDIATES
- In the classroom: Beginning in our Intermediate program, students learn common technology vocabulary, such as mouse, keyboard and email. Students also explore the double meaning of verbs that describe online and offline activities, such as “tapping” and “surfing”.
- At home: Dot. by Randi Zuckerberg is a great book to read with your child to continue the learning at home. Dot, the main character, is a tech savvy little girl who leaves her electronic devices at home while she taps, swipes and shares in the real world.
PRE-K
- In the classroom: Teachers encourage our older preschoolers to use technology as a tool to express themselves. For example, students use a camera to take photos of seasonal changes outdoors and write what they observed in their journal. This activity promotes creativity and provides a fun opportunity to practice writing skills.
- At home: Allow your child to explore his world using digital photography tools. Ask him to describe his photos and explain why he chose those objects or locations to photograph. Encourage him to use descriptive language and emotion vocabulary.
In summary, we provide numerous opportunities for children to explore technology in our classrooms. Through these activities, children become excited to use technology educationally, and are better prepared to use technology in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education
For Parents
Become a Chesterbrook Ambassador!
If you refer a family to any Chesterbrook Academy school, you will receive a free week of tuition for your family. There is no limit to the number of families you refer. Note: The referred family must be full-time student and enrolled for 90 days before the free week of tuition can be applied. If the referral is for a part time student you will receive one hundred dollars off your child’s tuition.
Stay Healthy
To keep ahead of the flu virus, at home please be sure to have your children wash their hands, cover their mouths when coughing, etc. We are reminding children of this throughout the day at school. We are also sanitizing toys and surfaces. In an effort to promote a healthy environment for children, parents and teachers, if you feel you child has flu symptoms please seek medical attention and follow Chesterbrook Academy’s sick policy. We will also have hand sanitizer at the front desk for parent use as well.
Tuition Payments
Tuition is due every Friday by noon for the following week. You can drop your check made payable to Chesterbrook in teh locked tuition box at the front desk. Payments received after 12pm on Monday will receive a $25 late fee. We accept personal checks and money orders. You may also sign up for the automatic payment program, which allows us to automatically collect weekly tuition from your bank account. The program is simple to sign up and safe to use. Stop by the front desk for more information and authorization forms.
March News
From the Principal’s Office
Dear Parents,
We have a lot of fun and exciting events coming up over the next couple months! Be sure to check your email for details. If you are not receiving school emails please let me know or send a message at randi.kinsella@nlcinc.com or kristin.mackey@nlcinc.com to get added.
We also try to keep children healthy during the colder months by following the DCFS illness policy. We are required to send children home when they have signs of communicable colds, flus, and other illnesses. Children may not return to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours. We understand missing work can be difficult, but we appreciate your help keeping all our children as healthy as possible this winter. If you have any questions about whether or not your child should attend school, pelase call us and we will work through it with you.
We are running an Early Bird Registration for the 2015-2016 school year until March 20! Register your child to ensure their spot and get 1/2 off the Registration Fee during this time!
As always any questions please let us know!
Stay Warm!!!
Randi & Kristin
March Dates:
Curriculum Corner:
As many of you may know, Illinois has adopted the Common Core State Standards and has already begun to phase them in. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide a clear understanding of what students are expected to learn in Kindergarten through high school in the areas of Language & Literacy and Mathematics. The CCSS were designed to create consistency among the different states and to best prepare students for success in college and in their careers. As of today, all but two states have adopted the CCSS and will have them completely phased in by 2014.
Therefore, we must increase the academic rigor in our PreK programs, in order to ensure that our students will be well-prepared for Kindergarten. We are currently in the process of realigning our Links to Learning curriculum with the CCSS and retraining all our Intermediate, PreK and PreK2 teachers on phonemic awareness, phonological awareness and sight words.
Please visit http://www.corestandards.org for more information on the Common Core State Standards.
Our full day kindergarten program prepares children for the future.
Kindergarten is an exciting and important time for children, when we nurture their innate love of learning and curiosity about the world, in order to set the tone for the rest of their formal education.
We give children the strong foundation they need for future success.
Our proven, well-rounded curriculum builds sound reading, writing, math and problem-solving skills. During kindergarten, the children also become comfortable in a more structured classroom setting.
The right kindergarten experience can do wonders in helping children discover their best selves. Our schools provide the ideal combination of innovative curriculum, a dedicated teaching staff and a nurturing environment.
Just a Reminder…
We also have a couple reminders we would like you to be aware of… Tuition is due every Friday for the following week. Please drop your payment into the tuition box at the front desk or sign up for our Automatic Payment Program. A late fee will be charged if we do not have payment by noon on Monday.
Chesterbrook Academy is no longer accept cash payments. All payments must be by check, money order or automatic payment. Now would be a great time to set up for automatic payments if you aren’t already participating in them. Payments are pulled from checking or savings accounts on Monday nights for the current week’s tuition. It usually takes a couple of weeks for the automatic payments to begin once the enrollment form is turned in to the office. Once the automatic payments are set up, all tuition payments can be paid by way of ACH. Enrollment forms can be found at the front desk.
We are required by DCFS to keep a copy of each child’s birth certificate in their school file. If you have not already done so, please bring an original birth certificate for your child to us. We will copy it and return your original to you.
From the Education Team
Learning About the Uses and Benefits of Technology
Children today have many opportunities to interact with technology for entertainment value and learning. Most often we think of children using computer technology, including handheld devices loaded with games, books, music and movies. In moderation, these devices can aid in children’s learning and development.
Within our academic curriculum, we involve children in activities and reflection on ways that technology can improve our understanding of the world around us, help us do our jobs, and make the world a better place. We help children see how the understanding of science and math moves technology forward, and that someday they too might create new and improved ways to do things.
Below are a few ways that we integrate technology in our classrooms and some ideas to try at home.
INTERMEDIATES
PRE-K
In summary, we provide numerous opportunities for children to explore technology in our classrooms. Through these activities, children become excited to use technology educationally, and are better prepared to use technology in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education
For Parents
Become a Chesterbrook Ambassador!
If you refer a family to any Chesterbrook Academy school, you will receive a free week of tuition for your family. There is no limit to the number of families you refer. Note: The referred family must be full-time student and enrolled for 90 days before the free week of tuition can be applied. If the referral is for a part time student you will receive one hundred dollars off your child’s tuition.
Stay Healthy
To keep ahead of the flu virus, at home please be sure to have your children wash their hands, cover their mouths when coughing, etc. We are reminding children of this throughout the day at school. We are also sanitizing toys and surfaces. In an effort to promote a healthy environment for children, parents and teachers, if you feel you child has flu symptoms please seek medical attention and follow Chesterbrook Academy’s sick policy. We will also have hand sanitizer at the front desk for parent use as well.
Tuition Payments
Tuition is due every Friday by noon for the following week. You can drop your check made payable to Chesterbrook in teh locked tuition box at the front desk. Payments received after 12pm on Monday will receive a $25 late fee. We accept personal checks and money orders. You may also sign up for the automatic payment program, which allows us to automatically collect weekly tuition from your bank account. The program is simple to sign up and safe to use. Stop by the front desk for more information and authorization forms.