From the Principal’s Desk:
We have had a very exciting July including our Pre-K’s field trip and your donations to Special Olympics, our school road trip from room to room and across the US, creating our rain forest throughout our school, visits from Gymboree, the always thrilling puppet show, and of course all of our super hero fun. There were so many opportunities for learning and such an abundance of great pictures that we could not even send them all out so look for some coming soon.
Do you want to save money on your tuition? Send a friend to our Open house this Saturday, August 8 from 10-1 and give them a parent referral certificate. See Elise or Mary Kay for program details.
Just a few friendly reminders for August. Please be sure to put sunblock on your child before they come to school each day. Due to the high heat we have been going outside early in the morning to avoid the later day sun. All children need to have closed toe shoes for outside time. Please send them in the morning, in appropriate footwear, to help us provide the safest outside time as possible.
Next week our school will be learning to “pay it forward” as we learn to give back to our communities. We will be baking cookies for our community heroes and hosting a lemonade stand on Tues, Wed and Thurs in our lobby. All monies from our lemonade stand will go to Alex’s Lemonade. We will also have a donation box for care packages that we will be shipping to animals in service. Look for details later this week.
We are so happy that you and your family are part of the Chesterbrook community. If you have suggestions or feedback our door is always open.
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
8/3/15-8/5/15: Laugh Out Loud Dress Up Photography
8/3/15: Wear your favorite Sports Shirt
8/4/15: The Hat Man Show 10am
8/5/15: Jr. Olympics Field Day Activities
8/12/15: Makin’Music 10am
8/14/15: Pack and ship charitable care packages for community service project.
8/17/15: STEM: begin building a “camper” using recycled materials.
8/19/15: Kona Water Ice Truck visit
From the Education Department:
Reestablishing Routines for Your Preschooler
Maintaining Order & Staying on Track
As we reach the end of summer, now is a great time to reestablish comforting routines for your preschooler. Routines help children build self-confidence and independence, cope with transitions, and gain a better understanding of the world around them.
Our Links to Learning curriculum promotes students’ social and emotional development, which is necessary for following directions and demonstrating self-control. Our teachers focus on the importance of healthy living and safety routines in the Wellness component of our curriculum.
Here are some examples of ways we establish routines in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: Naptime gives children an opportunity to recharge and reboot. Our toddlers transition from napping in cribs to napping in cots. Teachers schedule naps at the same time and in the same area of the classroom every day. Soothing music is played to help toddlers wind down.
At home: Talk with your child’s teacher about the naptime routine at school. Minimize naptime battles by attempting to maintain the same routine at home.
Recommended reading: Naptime by Elizabeth Verdick
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Around age two, children begin to learn basic self-help skills such as dressing themselves. Our Beginner students practice snaps and zippers, and are encouraged to complete basic sequences like putting on socks before shoes.
At home: Offer your child a choice during routines in order to increase his interest in the activity. For example, lay out two outfit options for him to wear. Allow him to choose the outfit he prefers. Give him ample time to dress himself before offering assistance. Praise every attempt.
Recommended reading: Let’s Get Dressed by Caroline Church
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Teachers focus on the importance of sleep in the Wellness component of our curriculum. Students read and act out We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen. They discuss why the bear was sleeping, and why sleep is important.
At home: Create a bedtime routine for your child. For example, bathe, brush teeth, read a story, go to sleep. Follow the same sequence of events at the same time and in the same order every night.
Recommended reading: The Going-to-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older students follow an arrival routine at the start of every school day. They sign themselves in, say goodbye to their parents, and put away their belongings. Students learn rhymes and songs to help remind themselves what to do when they enter the classroom.
At home: Mornings are critical for setting the tone for a successful and positive day. Establish a morning routine for your child with a maximum of four steps. For example, get dressed, brush hair, brush teeth, eat breakfast.
Recommended reading: Waking Up is Hard to Do by Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield
Following routines helps children develop the habits of responsibility that will be crucial for their future success and well-being. Kindergarten students are expected to follow instructions, listen to their teacher and complete specific tasks. By setting routines in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
August Newsletter
From the Principal’s Desk:
We have had a very exciting July including our Pre-K’s field trip and your donations to Special Olympics, our school road trip from room to room and across the US, creating our rain forest throughout our school, visits from Gymboree, the always thrilling puppet show, and of course all of our super hero fun. There were so many opportunities for learning and such an abundance of great pictures that we could not even send them all out so look for some coming soon.
Do you want to save money on your tuition? Send a friend to our Open house this Saturday, August 8 from 10-1 and give them a parent referral certificate. See Elise or Mary Kay for program details.
Just a few friendly reminders for August. Please be sure to put sunblock on your child before they come to school each day. Due to the high heat we have been going outside early in the morning to avoid the later day sun. All children need to have closed toe shoes for outside time. Please send them in the morning, in appropriate footwear, to help us provide the safest outside time as possible.
Next week our school will be learning to “pay it forward” as we learn to give back to our communities. We will be baking cookies for our community heroes and hosting a lemonade stand on Tues, Wed and Thurs in our lobby. All monies from our lemonade stand will go to Alex’s Lemonade. We will also have a donation box for care packages that we will be shipping to animals in service. Look for details later this week.
We are so happy that you and your family are part of the Chesterbrook community. If you have suggestions or feedback our door is always open.
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
8/3/15-8/5/15: Laugh Out Loud Dress Up Photography
8/3/15: Wear your favorite Sports Shirt
8/4/15: The Hat Man Show 10am
8/5/15: Jr. Olympics Field Day Activities
8/12/15: Makin’Music 10am
8/14/15: Pack and ship charitable care packages for community service project.
8/17/15: STEM: begin building a “camper” using recycled materials.
8/19/15: Kona Water Ice Truck visit
From the Education Department:
Reestablishing Routines for Your Preschooler
Maintaining Order & Staying on Track
As we reach the end of summer, now is a great time to reestablish comforting routines for your preschooler. Routines help children build self-confidence and independence, cope with transitions, and gain a better understanding of the world around them.
Our Links to Learning curriculum promotes students’ social and emotional development, which is necessary for following directions and demonstrating self-control. Our teachers focus on the importance of healthy living and safety routines in the Wellness component of our curriculum.
Here are some examples of ways we establish routines in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: Naptime gives children an opportunity to recharge and reboot. Our toddlers transition from napping in cribs to napping in cots. Teachers schedule naps at the same time and in the same area of the classroom every day. Soothing music is played to help toddlers wind down.
At home: Talk with your child’s teacher about the naptime routine at school. Minimize naptime battles by attempting to maintain the same routine at home.
Recommended reading: Naptime by Elizabeth Verdick
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Around age two, children begin to learn basic self-help skills such as dressing themselves. Our Beginner students practice snaps and zippers, and are encouraged to complete basic sequences like putting on socks before shoes.
At home: Offer your child a choice during routines in order to increase his interest in the activity. For example, lay out two outfit options for him to wear. Allow him to choose the outfit he prefers. Give him ample time to dress himself before offering assistance. Praise every attempt.
Recommended reading: Let’s Get Dressed by Caroline Church
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Teachers focus on the importance of sleep in the Wellness component of our curriculum. Students read and act out We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen. They discuss why the bear was sleeping, and why sleep is important.
At home: Create a bedtime routine for your child. For example, bathe, brush teeth, read a story, go to sleep. Follow the same sequence of events at the same time and in the same order every night.
Recommended reading: The Going-to-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older students follow an arrival routine at the start of every school day. They sign themselves in, say goodbye to their parents, and put away their belongings. Students learn rhymes and songs to help remind themselves what to do when they enter the classroom.
At home: Mornings are critical for setting the tone for a successful and positive day. Establish a morning routine for your child with a maximum of four steps. For example, get dressed, brush hair, brush teeth, eat breakfast.
Recommended reading: Waking Up is Hard to Do by Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield
Following routines helps children develop the habits of responsibility that will be crucial for their future success and well-being. Kindergarten students are expected to follow instructions, listen to their teacher and complete specific tasks. By setting routines in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education