Header Image

April News

A Message From the Principal’s Office:

Believe it or not Spring is here!!  Hopefully we will be feeling warmer temps soon!!

We have planted our vegetable and flower seeds in our classrooms and they are growing like crazy, so hopefully we will be able to get our garden up and running in the next week or two.  Each classroom will take their plants and plant them in our school garden.   Last year we were very successful with our cucumbers.   This year we are hoping to have a few more veggies to share with you!!  Keep your fingers crossed!

The Scholastic Book Fair is Starting Monday, March 30th and will run through Friday, April 3rd.  There are many great books available to purchase.

Our annual Egg Hunt will be on Wednesday, April 1st.  We need your help to make it a successful egg hunt.  We are asking that you bring in filled plastic eggs for the children to collect.  All egg donations can be left at the front desk.  We will be doing the egg hunts during the morning outside times on Wednesday.

This month is also the month we take time to appreciate our children, parents and staff.  The week of the 13th we will be having Child Appreciation Week, the week of the 20th is Parent Appreciation Week and the week of the 27th is Teacher Appreciation Week.  We will be sending home a schedule of events for each week, so keep an eye out for the upcoming events.

April 22nd is Earth Day and we will be having our annual school wide Ladybug Release.  We will be releasing about 3,000 ladybugs into the environment to help protect our plants and trees.  For the ladybug release we ask that your child dresses in Red and black.   During the week of the 20th each classroom will be learning about ladybugs and why they are important to our environment.   On Friday the 24th we will be wrapping up our ladybug week with a Ladybug Ball.  We will be having a dance party to celebrate Spring and the important job of ladybugs.

What a busy month!!!

Important: Parents please remember we are a nut free school.  We have many children in the school that have nut allergies and it is very important that you do not bring in any items with nuts in them.

* If for any reason you need to make a change to your child’s schedule, please remember you need to notify us in advance. This includes vacations and day changes!


April Events

  • March 30th -April 3rd  Scholastic Book Fair
  • 1st- Egg Hunt
  • 5th- Happy Easter!
  • 6th- Spring Session of Makin Music Starts
  • 13th-17th Child Appreciation week
  • 20-24th Parent Appreciation Week
  • 22nd Earth Day-Ladybug Release -wear red and black
  • 27th-May 1st Teacher Appreciation Week

Coming up:

  • Summer camp information and registration will be coming home soon.
  • Spring Portraits will be on May 4th and 5th
  • Mother’s Day Tea will be on Friday,May 8th at 3:30PM
  • May 25th Closed for Memorial Day
  • Pre-K Graduation will be held Friday, June 12th(Tentative- This date is subject to change)
  • Father’s Day Happy Hour will be Friday, June 19th at 3:30PM
  • Transition week will be the week of June 15th
  • Summer Camp starts Monday, June 22nd

 


For Parents:

Toys
Please limit the amount of toys that come in from home.  If your child does bring in a toy from home please have them put it in their cubby at drop off.

Sick Policy
According to the parent handbook we will send children home for the following reasons. We also reserve the right to send a child home for any signs of communicable diseases:

  • Fever 100.5 or higher
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea (reoccurring)
  • Cough/Sore Throat
  • Fussy, cranky, excessive crying
  • Head lice
  • Unknown rash

A child must be 24 hour symptom and medicine free in order to return to school.

Withdraw Policy or change of Schedule
In order to withdraw or change your child’s Schedule, four weeks written notice must be given (per the tuition policy). If you are withdrawing for any period beyond 3 weeks, your spot may be secured by paying the registration fee ($80). If the registration fee is not paid prior to your withdraw, your child’s spot is not guaranteed upon your return. All withdraws must be made in writing.  If you need to change you child’s schedule for any reasons( part time families -days they are attending that week, number a days they will attend going forward, etc)  you need to let us know in advance.

Vacations Credits
Each family receives one vacation credit a year after you have been enrolled here for 6 consecutive months.  Our year starts the first week in July and goes until the last week in June.  You must use the credit in a single week and you need to put it in writing 2 weeks prior to the time you want off.  We have vacation request on the console located outside of Infants.  There are no exceptions!

Labeling
Please make sure you have labeled all your child’s clothing items.  This helps limit mix ups!!!

Parking Lot Safety

  • Please do not leave your car running in the parking lot.
  • Please drive slowly and take care while backing out of parking spots.
  • Please do not park in the handicap spot in front of the school unless you have the proper permit

Parent Ambassador
Don’t forget to take advantage of our AMBASSADOR PROGRAM-  For every family that you recommend and enrolls in our school, you will receive a free week of tuition after they have been with us for 90 days. Please see Kim or Julie if you would like more details!  We would like to thank the many families that have recommended us to family and friends!!!

Tuition
Tuition is due on Friday prior to the academic week. There is a $25 late fee for tuition that is not received by Monday morning.


Education Department

Appreciating the Wonders of Mother Nature

Spring is here and Earth Day is right around the corner, providing a wonderful opportunity to connect children with nature and reinforce the importance of preserving and protecting the world around us.

Our Links to Learning curriculum uses hands-on activities to cultivate a deeper connection to the earth and foster academic, physical and social skill development.

Below are activities we implement in our classrooms to get children excited about nature, as well as activities and books to read with your child at home.

INFANTS/TODDLERS:

  • In the classroom: Our teachers provide natural objects, such as leaves, pinecones and flowers for the children to see and touch. We help children associate words with the concrete objects they represent.
  • At-home activity: Allow your child to experience different textured fruits, such as an orange, watermelon and cantaloupe. Talk about what he sees, smells, tastes and feels.
  • Recommended reading: Colors from Nature from PlayBac Publishing and The Earth Book by Todd Parr

BEGINNERS (Ages 2-3):

  • In the classroom: Around age two, children begin to understand interdependencies in nature. For instance, they learn that ladybugs feed on insects that are harmful to gardens, trees and shrubs. On Earth Day, many of our students have the opportunity to release ladybugs to help local gardens.
  • At-home activity: Take a walk outdoors with your child and play a game of “I Spy.” Ask him point out objects found in the springtime, for example a red flower, a blue bird or a colorful butterfly.
  • Recommended reading: Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration by Alyssa Satin Capucilli & David T. Wenzel and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

INTERMEDIATES (Ages 3-4):

  • In the classroom: As our Intermediates gain a greater understanding and appreciation for how living things grow, the class may adopt a pet such as a fish or bunny. Students develop math, science and language skills by measuring the pet’s food, observing the pet’s behavior and habitat, and learning new vocabulary. Research shows that when children have the opportunity to care for animals, they practice nurturing behaviors that help them interact in gentle ways with people also.
  • At-home activity: Create a small garden and allow your child to help you plant and water seeds, either outdoors or indoors. Ask him to predict what the plant will look like by drawing pictures in his journal. Check the plant regularly so he can observe and measure changes in growth. Discuss the importance of watering and caring for the plant.
  • Recommended reading: Our Earth by Anne Rockwell and the poem “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out!” by Shel Silverstein

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

  • In the classroom: Teachers encourage our older preschoolers to reuse recyclable materials in fun and unconventional ways. For instance, our students use cardboard boxes to create a castle, milk jug lids to sort and match, and plastic bottles to create beautiful, unique artwork.
  • At-home activity: Set up a recycling station using cardboard boxes, and label each box with the words “metal”, “plastic” and “paper”. Throughout the month, ask your child to help sort your family’s recyclables by placing the items into the correct box. Explain that recycling is just one way that we can be kind to the earth. Ask him to name a few other ways, such as conserving electricity, picking up litter and planting a garden.
  • Recommended reading: A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry and The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

We create a path for lifelong learning by providing numerous opportunities for children to study and explore nature. These hands-on experiences lead to growth in all areas of development as students transition into elementary school and beyond.

– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education

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