Weekly themes for April deal with the Earth and outer space:

• Week 1- “Seasons Change”
• Week 2- “Weather Watchers”
• Week 3- “Solar Systems”
• Week 4- “Going Green/Recycling and Earth”

IMPORTANT DATES:

• April 3- School Egg Hunt (10 am-11 am)
• April 10-Parents’ Night Out: Flower Planting! (6:30 pm-9:30 pm)
• April 17-Spirit Day: Crazy Hair Day!
• April 20-24-Week of the Young Child
• April 22-Ladybug Release (10 am-11 am)
• April 24-Week of the Young Child Family Barbeque (3:30 pm-4:30 pm)

Parent Communication Center

The parent communication center is located in our front lobby. The communication center contains the following:

• Vacation Credit Request Forms – Please remember that vacation credits run July 1st to July 1st not on calendar year
• Receipt & Statement book
• Alternative Pick Up Binder
• Extra Lunch & Snack Menus
• Daily postings of important events and due dates
• Food Policy

As a reminder, it is a school policy that food from home is not allowed in the building for our Beginners and up. It is to hard to monitor all the different types of food that can be brought in and we do have some severe allergies in our building. All children Beginners and up must eat breakfast at home before coming to school, please refrain from sending muffins, Dunkin Donuts, cereal, sandwiches, etc.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to come and speak with someone at the front desk.

Tuition Policy
Please remember that tuition is due every Friday for the upcoming week and that it is late at noon on Monday. All tuition turned in after noon on Monday will receive a $25.00 late payment fee. If you have any questions, please feel free to stop by the front desk.

Late Pick Up Policy
Please remember that our hours of operation are 6:30am to 6:30pm. As a reminder our late pick up fee is $1 per minute starting at 6:31pm. Please be sure to pick up on time and if you do plan to be late, we ask that you please call to give us a heads up.

Toy Policy
Toys from home are not permitted at school. Please refrain from allowing your child to bring in toys from home, unless it is their scheduled show and share day or a stuffed animal for nap time. Toys from home can get lost, be broken, stolen, etc… and can cause fighting among the children.

From Chesterbrook Elementary

Our elementary school is a unique private school community. We provide a superior education today and a foundation for continued academic success tomorrow. We partner closely with parents to create the best understanding of each child’s strengths and opportunities. We offer personalized attention to students, without the high tuition rates you would expect for a private school of this caliber. Please contact me directly with any questions at lydia.soto@nlcinc.com or 703-404-0202

Priority Enrollment
Now is the time to guarantee that your child will have a spot in our full-day kindergarten program for the 2014-2015 school year. If you have any questions regarding registration, don’t hesitate to contact Lydia Sotot, Chesterbrook Elementary Principal, at 703-404-0202 or lydia.soto@nlcinc.com.

From the 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