A Message From the Principal:
We are in the final stretch of our 2014/2015 school year, and it is clearly evident that our children are reaching new heights in development. Many of our children are working on skills that are at a higher level to meet their growing needs. That’s the beauty of our Links to Learning curriculum, it grows with your child. That said, student transitions to the next program level will take place on June 8th after our VPK/Pre-K Graduation. You will be notified in advance to prepare your child for what lies ahead.
I hope you have taken a moment to visit our Innovation Lab. The children truly are enjoying their time in there exploring, creating, and discovering many experiments and activities. Each classroom has a scheduled time twice per week.
March’s Wacky Wednesday allowed us to use our super powers with a fun Super Hero Day. This month will call for some creativity as we gear up for a Senior Citizen Dress Up Day on April 15th.
For Parents
Spring Pictures: Pictures are right around the corner! April 23 (Room’s 1,3,5,7) and April 24 (Room’s 2,4,6 and all class pictures). Sibling portraits will be on the day of the youngest sibling.
Future VPK Students: It also time for the parents of our future VPK students to start the process to receive their child’s VPK voucher from the state office. Application for VPK vouchers for 2015-2016 will begin in January. Please check http://www.familycentral.org/VPKRegisterBC for how to obtain your child’s VPK voucher for the 2015-2016 school year.
Graduation: All graduates who will be participating in our graduation ceremony should have already turned in their Grad Pack form and payment. Once again as a reminder, our graduation ceremony will be on June 6th at 10 am. Pre-graduation pictures will be on Friday, March 13th. The cap and gown will cover your child’s clothes and will be provided by us for the pictures.
Early Registration: Our school is so happy to see that so many of our families took advantage of our Early Registration for the 2015-2016 school year. Spaces are now starting to fill up for many of our programs. Any remaining spaces are now being offered to the community. If your family did not take advantage of our promotion and would like to save your child’s spot for next school year, please see us at the front desk ASAP.
Scholastic Book Fair: Thank you for your participation and purchases as a part of our Scholastic Book Fair. It was great to have so many of our families join us for our fun filled Saturday Story Time as well. We love sharing our love for reading with all of you. As a part of our Book Fair, our school earned $1113.66 in new books. This was in addition to the wonderful books many parents donated on the teacher’s wish list. Thank you again for our continued support.
Original Works Program: In business since 1989, Original Works is the #1 art based fundraising company in the country, and currently works with thousands of schools and hundreds of thousands of students each year.
Through the Original Works program, each child will have the opportunity to have their very own artwork reproduced onto a variety of high quality products. The products range from magnets, mugs and mouse pads, to ceramic tiles, t-shirts, note cards and nearly two dozen other products.
Each child is eligible to participate in this wonderful program. Once the artwork is created, parents and children will have the opportunity to select which product or products they would like to feature their artwork. The program is designed to encourage creativity and student self-esteem. The resulting products make unique gifts that are practical for any season or occasion. Complete details on the program will be sent home shortly. For more information on Original Works please visit their website at www.originalworks.com.
Kindergarten Kick Off: Activities include independence skills, social skills, reading comprehension skills, problem solving skills, writing skills, data collecting skills, fun Friday field trips, swimming pool activities and more! Kindergarten Kick Off starts June 8th. There are two options for this program: KKO Only Monday through Thursday from 9am-1pm and Fridays 9am-3pm for $155 per week OR KKO Extended Monday through Friday all day 6:45am-6:30pm for $200 per week.
Parent Communication: We want to keep our parents involved and one way to do that is making sure to read the information posted on your child’s classroom’s parent board as well as checking their folder for papers to go home each day. The “ What We Learned Today” paper located on the classroom doors will also share a special activity from the class’s day. I encourage you to ask your child questions about that activity. This is a great way to get them to share their day with you. Also, always feel free to talk to the teachers at drop off/pick up or call and check in throughout the day.
Another thing we love to do at Chesterbrook Academy Pembroke Pines is take lots of pictures and videos. This helps you see the activities that are happening in our classrooms. Please make sure to make it a habit to check out all of our learning boards in the classrooms and hallways to see work samples, pictures, and QR codes. To watch the videos, all you need to do is download a free QR reader on your smart phone and scan the code. If you need help, please stop by the front desk. We don’t want anyone to miss out on catching these great videos! We also now have a special app called PARENT SHARE where our teachers are able to e-mail pictures directly to you using our I-pod Touches.
Menus: Menus are located in the front lobby. Please feel free to see us up front with any questions that you have about the menu or ordering. All menus are due by the due date. If you do not turn your menu in on time, you will need to pack lunch for your child.
Parent Boards: We are constantly taking pictures and videos to share. Make sure to check the education boards around the school for work samples, pictures, and qr codes with videos of all the great things happening here at Chesterbrook Academy!
Food Activities: The state of Florida now requires all child care centers to obtain written permission for all food related activities. This includes all of those great sensory activities as a part of our hands on learning approach, classroom cooking projects and parties including birthday celebrations. Thank you to all of our amazing parents for signing and returning our sensory activities waivers in a timely manner so that all of our students could continue participating in all of those amazing activities. Please be on the lookout for the different cooking project and parties permission slips that will go home as needed. Without the return of these forms, your child will not be able to participate. Thank you in advance for making sure all of our students will be included.
Book Fair Info: Reading books is so important for development for every child from birth. Our school participates in the scholastic reading club. This is a great way to find age appropriate books for your child at a reasonable price. The flyer will go home every month and parents will have the option of choosing books to buy for their little ones. Visithttps://clubs2.scholastic.com to order and pay online. The classroom code is kv8yx.
Uniforms: All students in our intermediate and Pre-k programs are required to wear uniforms. The uniform consists of a Black Polo with the Chesterbrook Logo and Khaki bottoms. If you have already purchased the navy blue CBA polos for the fall we will allow the children to continue to wear navy blue for the school year, but as you buy new uniforms, please purchase the black ones. Please see the front desk to order uniforms.
VPK Hours: Our school VPK hours are 9AM-12 Noon. As a part of the VPK program, the state requires that all VPK students are at school during VPK hours. For more information, please see the front desk.
Dates to Reminder:
- April 3rd: Non-VPK Day- Good Friday
- April 7th– Scholastic Reading Club orders due
- April 15th– Wacky Wednesday Senior Citizen Day
- April 22nd- Earth Day Lady Bug Release
- April 23rd- Room’s 1,3,5,7
- April 24th- Room’s 2,4,6, and All Class Pictures
- *Sibling portraits will be on the day of the youngest sibling.
- May 4th-8th –Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 8th– Muffin for Mom: Grab a special treat during drop off
Reminders
Here are a few reminders and updates to keep us on track for the rest of the school year:
- Contact and Emergency Information: Please remember to update your information at the front desk if there are any changes.
- Lunch Menus: are due before the beginning of the month, so that we can order from the catering company. If we don’t have your child’s lunch menu, we can’t order a lunch. Please pack a lunch for your child if you haven’t filled out a lunch menu.
- Peanuts: can cause severe allergy symptoms; therefore, we are a peanut free facility. Do not include any peanut products in your child’s lunch or snack.
- Tuition: payments are due the 1st of each month. A $25 late fee will be applied to all tuition payments turned in after the 5th day of each month.
- Late pick-up: fees apply to children picked up after 6:30 pm. There is a fee of $1 per minute after 6:30 pm as stated on your tuition fee schedule agreement.
- Sick Policy: Children may be sent home if they have any concerning symptoms. In addition, a child must be free of all of these symptoms for at least 24 hours before he/she can return to school. These symptoms include:
– A Fever of 100 degrees or more
– Vomiting within the previous 24-hour period
– Diarrhea within the previous 24-hour period
– Symptoms of a communicable disease
– Fussy, cranky behavior and generally not himself/ herself
Following an illness, a child may return to school once he/she has either been seen by a doctor or it has been determined that illness is not contagious. ( A doctor’s clearance may be requested.) Please help us keep all of our children healthy by following these rules.If you have any questions or concerns please let us know. You can talk with your child’s teacher or any one of us in the front office. Also, you can email me at christina.roberts@nlcinc.com or call (954) 443-3002. As always my door is always open, please feel free to stop by, email me or call with any questions, concerns or comments. Our goal is to provide each family with a fulfilling educational experience.
Parent Ambassador Referral Program: Spread the word about Chesterbrook Academy and save on your child’s tuition. Stop by the front Office for more details.
Chesterbrook Academy has six locations in South Florida: Coconut Creek, Cooper City, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines, Port St. Lucie and Palm Beach Gardens.
Our Mission: Chesterbrook Academy provides a safe environment that is loving, nurturing, educational, and individualized for each student. Our school utilizes a rigorous academic curriculum that promotes respect, acceptance and achievement for creating a foundation that is everlasting.
What does our SACS CASI Accreditation mean to you?
“Accreditation is inextricably linked to institution and educational system improvement. The accreditation process asks institutions and systems to critically evaluate their vision, strategies, priorities, leadership, and programs and resources. The process of earning and maintaining accreditation provides institutions and educational systems with clear and compelling direction for implementing changes to move toward excellence.”
– www.advanc-ed.org
A Message From Our 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
April News
A Message From the Principal:
We are in the final stretch of our 2014/2015 school year, and it is clearly evident that our children are reaching new heights in development. Many of our children are working on skills that are at a higher level to meet their growing needs. That’s the beauty of our Links to Learning curriculum, it grows with your child. That said, student transitions to the next program level will take place on June 8th after our VPK/Pre-K Graduation. You will be notified in advance to prepare your child for what lies ahead.
I hope you have taken a moment to visit our Innovation Lab. The children truly are enjoying their time in there exploring, creating, and discovering many experiments and activities. Each classroom has a scheduled time twice per week.
March’s Wacky Wednesday allowed us to use our super powers with a fun Super Hero Day. This month will call for some creativity as we gear up for a Senior Citizen Dress Up Day on April 15th.
For Parents
Spring Pictures: Pictures are right around the corner! April 23 (Room’s 1,3,5,7) and April 24 (Room’s 2,4,6 and all class pictures). Sibling portraits will be on the day of the youngest sibling.
Future VPK Students: It also time for the parents of our future VPK students to start the process to receive their child’s VPK voucher from the state office. Application for VPK vouchers for 2015-2016 will begin in January. Please check http://www.familycentral.org/VPKRegisterBC for how to obtain your child’s VPK voucher for the 2015-2016 school year.
Graduation: All graduates who will be participating in our graduation ceremony should have already turned in their Grad Pack form and payment. Once again as a reminder, our graduation ceremony will be on June 6th at 10 am. Pre-graduation pictures will be on Friday, March 13th. The cap and gown will cover your child’s clothes and will be provided by us for the pictures.
Early Registration: Our school is so happy to see that so many of our families took advantage of our Early Registration for the 2015-2016 school year. Spaces are now starting to fill up for many of our programs. Any remaining spaces are now being offered to the community. If your family did not take advantage of our promotion and would like to save your child’s spot for next school year, please see us at the front desk ASAP.
Scholastic Book Fair: Thank you for your participation and purchases as a part of our Scholastic Book Fair. It was great to have so many of our families join us for our fun filled Saturday Story Time as well. We love sharing our love for reading with all of you. As a part of our Book Fair, our school earned $1113.66 in new books. This was in addition to the wonderful books many parents donated on the teacher’s wish list. Thank you again for our continued support.
Original Works Program: In business since 1989, Original Works is the #1 art based fundraising company in the country, and currently works with thousands of schools and hundreds of thousands of students each year.
Through the Original Works program, each child will have the opportunity to have their very own artwork reproduced onto a variety of high quality products. The products range from magnets, mugs and mouse pads, to ceramic tiles, t-shirts, note cards and nearly two dozen other products.
Each child is eligible to participate in this wonderful program. Once the artwork is created, parents and children will have the opportunity to select which product or products they would like to feature their artwork. The program is designed to encourage creativity and student self-esteem. The resulting products make unique gifts that are practical for any season or occasion. Complete details on the program will be sent home shortly. For more information on Original Works please visit their website at www.originalworks.com.
Kindergarten Kick Off: Activities include independence skills, social skills, reading comprehension skills, problem solving skills, writing skills, data collecting skills, fun Friday field trips, swimming pool activities and more! Kindergarten Kick Off starts June 8th. There are two options for this program: KKO Only Monday through Thursday from 9am-1pm and Fridays 9am-3pm for $155 per week OR KKO Extended Monday through Friday all day 6:45am-6:30pm for $200 per week.
Parent Communication: We want to keep our parents involved and one way to do that is making sure to read the information posted on your child’s classroom’s parent board as well as checking their folder for papers to go home each day. The “ What We Learned Today” paper located on the classroom doors will also share a special activity from the class’s day. I encourage you to ask your child questions about that activity. This is a great way to get them to share their day with you. Also, always feel free to talk to the teachers at drop off/pick up or call and check in throughout the day.
Another thing we love to do at Chesterbrook Academy Pembroke Pines is take lots of pictures and videos. This helps you see the activities that are happening in our classrooms. Please make sure to make it a habit to check out all of our learning boards in the classrooms and hallways to see work samples, pictures, and QR codes. To watch the videos, all you need to do is download a free QR reader on your smart phone and scan the code. If you need help, please stop by the front desk. We don’t want anyone to miss out on catching these great videos! We also now have a special app called PARENT SHARE where our teachers are able to e-mail pictures directly to you using our I-pod Touches.
Menus: Menus are located in the front lobby. Please feel free to see us up front with any questions that you have about the menu or ordering. All menus are due by the due date. If you do not turn your menu in on time, you will need to pack lunch for your child.
Parent Boards: We are constantly taking pictures and videos to share. Make sure to check the education boards around the school for work samples, pictures, and qr codes with videos of all the great things happening here at Chesterbrook Academy!
Food Activities: The state of Florida now requires all child care centers to obtain written permission for all food related activities. This includes all of those great sensory activities as a part of our hands on learning approach, classroom cooking projects and parties including birthday celebrations. Thank you to all of our amazing parents for signing and returning our sensory activities waivers in a timely manner so that all of our students could continue participating in all of those amazing activities. Please be on the lookout for the different cooking project and parties permission slips that will go home as needed. Without the return of these forms, your child will not be able to participate. Thank you in advance for making sure all of our students will be included.
Book Fair Info: Reading books is so important for development for every child from birth. Our school participates in the scholastic reading club. This is a great way to find age appropriate books for your child at a reasonable price. The flyer will go home every month and parents will have the option of choosing books to buy for their little ones. Visithttps://clubs2.scholastic.com to order and pay online. The classroom code is kv8yx.
Uniforms: All students in our intermediate and Pre-k programs are required to wear uniforms. The uniform consists of a Black Polo with the Chesterbrook Logo and Khaki bottoms. If you have already purchased the navy blue CBA polos for the fall we will allow the children to continue to wear navy blue for the school year, but as you buy new uniforms, please purchase the black ones. Please see the front desk to order uniforms.
VPK Hours: Our school VPK hours are 9AM-12 Noon. As a part of the VPK program, the state requires that all VPK students are at school during VPK hours. For more information, please see the front desk.
Dates to Reminder:
Reminders
Here are a few reminders and updates to keep us on track for the rest of the school year:
– A Fever of 100 degrees or more
– Vomiting within the previous 24-hour period
– Diarrhea within the previous 24-hour period
– Symptoms of a communicable disease
– Fussy, cranky behavior and generally not himself/ herself
Following an illness, a child may return to school once he/she has either been seen by a doctor or it has been determined that illness is not contagious. ( A doctor’s clearance may be requested.) Please help us keep all of our children healthy by following these rules.If you have any questions or concerns please let us know. You can talk with your child’s teacher or any one of us in the front office. Also, you can email me at christina.roberts@nlcinc.com or call (954) 443-3002. As always my door is always open, please feel free to stop by, email me or call with any questions, concerns or comments. Our goal is to provide each family with a fulfilling educational experience.
Parent Ambassador Referral Program: Spread the word about Chesterbrook Academy and save on your child’s tuition. Stop by the front Office for more details.
Chesterbrook Academy has six locations in South Florida: Coconut Creek, Cooper City, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines, Port St. Lucie and Palm Beach Gardens.
Our Mission: Chesterbrook Academy provides a safe environment that is loving, nurturing, educational, and individualized for each student. Our school utilizes a rigorous academic curriculum that promotes respect, acceptance and achievement for creating a foundation that is everlasting.
What does our SACS CASI Accreditation mean to you?
“Accreditation is inextricably linked to institution and educational system improvement. The accreditation process asks institutions and systems to critically evaluate their vision, strategies, priorities, leadership, and programs and resources. The process of earning and maintaining accreditation provides institutions and educational systems with clear and compelling direction for implementing changes to move toward excellence.”
– www.advanc-ed.org
A Message From Our 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:
BEGINNERS (Ages 2-3):
INTERMEDIATES (Ages 3-4):
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (Ages 4-5):
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