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April News

A Message from the Principal:

April Showers Brings May Flowers!

April? Is it April already? Where did the time go? After a long winter we sure want to enjoy every spring day as much as we can. The weather is getting better and it is a plus to go outside and get some extra fresh air. I am sure all of us are ready for nice warm days. During this month we are celebrating Seasons. Our weekly themes for the month of April are Week 1 “Season Change”, Week 2 “Weather Watchers”, Week 3 “Solar System,” Week 4 “Going Green.”

SPRING
Author: Unknown

The long cold winter is melting away,
A single red bird was spotted today.

Through the mist the sun is peeking,
Squirrels are about and acorn-seeking.

New life has come to fields and woods,
Kids venture out in sweatshirts with hoods.

In just a few weeks the river will flow,
Blossoms on trees will be starting to show.

There’s still a chill in the springtime air,
Winter is gone but the memory is still there.

Summer is waiting a few months beyond,
To warm the air and the meadow and pond.

A gopher peers out from the holes that he makes,
Springtime is when the whole world awakes.

Last but not least, a friendly reminder that the weather is now changing. Please make sure your child has appropriate outside wear along with a seasonal change of clothing (please check the sizes as they might have grow a few inches within the last 6 months). We want each student to enjoy the outside time. We are going to remain inside if the weather is lower than 32º.

We are very excited to have you and your family with us. Please take a moment during drop off sor pick ups to sign your child in and out from their classrooms.

Sincerely,

Ms. Mila, Principal

Ms. Katie, Assistant Principal

Ms. Shelly, Administrative Assistant


Friendly Reminders:

Communication – We invite you to please check your child’s folder or cubby daily for any updates or important information.

EOM – End Of Month Folders go home the last week of every month to share all the fun activities your child did for the month and to share information regarding the upcoming month. Please do not forget to bring the folder back to be refilled for the upcoming month (please return folder empty to the teacher). Thank you!

Cubby Items – Please keep an appropriate extra change of clothes in your child’s cubby at all times including socks. Please, NO toys! (Nap time loves OK!)

Sign in/out – Please sign in/out your child/ren when dropping them off and picking them up.

Download our 2014-15 School Year Calendar

Download our April Newsletter

Download our April Calendar

Like Us on Facebook


Upcoming Events:

  • Week of 3/30/15 through 4/3/15 ………. “SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR”
  • Wednesday, April 1st ………. “April Fool’s Day”
  • Thursday, April 2nd ………. Pre-K2 Field Trip to “Brooke Grove Retirement Village
  • Wednesday, April 15th ………. “Income Taxes Due”
  • Thursday, April 16th ………. “LifeTouch” Pictures (M-F and T-R families
  • Friday, April 17th ………. “LifeTouch” Pictures (MWF and ALL)
  • Friday, April 17th ………. “Excite Soccer” Starts today!
  • Wednesday, April 22nd ………. Earth Day! “Annual Lady Bug Release” @10:30am
  • Thursday 23 and Friday 24 ………. Belmont ES Kindergarten Orientation
  • Friday, April 24th ………. “PARENT’S NIGHT OUT” 6:30pm – 9:00pm
  • Sunday, May 17 @2:00pm ………. OLNEY DAYS PARADE! Theme: “Olney – A Place That Makees You Smile”

For Parents

Tax Statements: If you need a tax statement, please email Ms. Mila at Mila.Morales@nlcinc.com, and Ms. Shelly at Shelly.Poe@nlcinc.com. This statement will include the total year expenses paid and tax identification number.

Parent Referral: All parents want the very best education possible for their child. If you think your family has that, spread the word and become a Chesterbrook Academy Ambassador!

If there’s one thing parents love to do, it’s talk about their children’s successes.When friends ask you about your child’s experiences at Chesterbrook Academy, what type of success strories do you share? Do you mention the personal and educational discoveries your child is making thanks to our advanced curriculum? Do you talk about the new levels of self and social confidence your child has gained thanks to our encouraging atmosphere? Whatever glowing reports you deliver about how your child is growing with his or her education, we couldn’t be more appreciative. In fact we’d like to show you just how thankful we are for your endorsements. Now when you tell other parents about our school, you can become a Chesterbrook Academy Ambassador.

For every new child you refer who enrolls at our school for three months, you’ll receive an Ambassador Certificate for a FREE week of tuition for your child. It’s our way of saying thanks for doing what comes naturally – singing the praises of your child and sharing your experiences with the Chesterbrook Academy difference.

Feliz Cumpleaños! … to all of our ** A P R I L **  BIRTHDAY FRIENDS!

Weather Alerts: Please read our inclement weather policy. For weather related closures you can:

  1. Visit our website at olney.chesterbrookacademy.com
  2. Call the school and listen to the voicemail – 301-924-5919
  3. Check your email for direct updates
  4. For Text Message Alerts please complete this form

Drop-In Care: If your child is enrolled in our AM/PM Care programs and you need a drop-in day, the fee is $35.00 per child, per day.

If your child is enrolled in our Full Day Preschool Program – Part Time – and you need a drop-in day, the fee is $60.00 per child, per day.

Any family that is not currently enrolled but registered for the school year and need a drop-in care, the fee is $60.00 per child, per day.

Parking Lot Requests
Please be sure NOT to park in the fire lane or in front of the building. This is a fire violation and also an obstruction to others and can be very dangerous! The same applies to our handicapped spaces.  Please enter by the front of the building and exit by the pool side, this will create a nice flow of traffic.  If there are parking spaces available, please use them!  Thank you! We are also asking that all parents please enter and exit the building through the front door. Please do not use the playground gates. It is important that we are able to monitor parents and chidren leaving the building as well as remembering to sign your child in and out. We would also like to ask that all parents please drive slowly into the lot to avoid hitting other cars, children or parents during drop off and pick up. Lastly, we do ask that you please turn your car off when coming into the building. Thank you!

Nut-Free School
We would like to remind our families that we are a PEANUT AND NUT FREE SCHOOL. We have many children with severe nut allergies. Please make sure to talk to your child’s teachers before bringing any special treats including field trips.

Before & After Care Policies
If your child is enrolled in our AM/PM Care programs, children must be accompanied by parents when entering the building and taken to their AM/PM Care classrooms. Please use front door to enter and exit our school. Due to safety reasons do not exit through playground gates. Parents and caregivers must sign children in/out everyday. All children including the full day preschool requires parents to walk in children and leave children with the teachers.

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. CBA is not responsible. Toys from home can get lost, be broken, stolen, etc… and can cause fighting among the children.

Open Enrollments for Ongoing Enrichment Programs:

  • FuNation” – MONDAYS !  Computer Lessons.  Beginner’s program that combines technology, and animated characters. An instructor guides the children through more than forty topics such as numbers, letters, rhymes, self, time, music and colors. Ready for the future! March Newsletter
  • Music 4 Life” – TUESDAYS !  Starting December 4th! Music and movement (ages 2+) Creative music and movement classes teach children to express themselves musically to cultural folk songs and dances, percussion, rhythms and basic music theory while incorporating American Sign Language! 2014-2015 Schedule
  • Little Dancers” – THURSDAYS !  Ballet lessons.  Engage in the art of dance that tells a story. Children learn to express themselves with music, and other benefits such as improved posture, flexibility, coordination, strength and grace. 2014-2015 Schedule.
  • Excite Soccer” – FRIDAYS !  Soccer lessons.  Students will be encouraged to develop their mental, physical, and social abilities through creative soccer games and other activities taught by highly experienced staff for over thirteen years.

Tuition reminders:

Please remember that the tuition is due the Friday prior to the week of service. Tuition which is not received by Tuesday at noon will automatically have a $25 late charge applied.

Auto Payment: Save yourself time, checks, and late fees by enrolling in our Automatic Payment system (ACH). Tuition fees can be deducted directly from your checking or savings account. Information is available at the front desk.

Vacation and Schedule Requests: Two Weeks Notice is required to request your free week vacation after 6 full months of enrollment (1 vacation week per School Year), and  Four Weeks Notice  for any schedule changes.

Referral Program: How easy is it to receive a free weeks tuition? Just refer a family and after 90 days of enrollment you earn a FREE week!

SPIRIT OUTWEAR – We offer school apparel, if you are interested in getting some School spirit Gear… log in to our school store at http://olneycb825.qbstores.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

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