Header Image

September News

From the Principal’s Office:

Happy September!

Welcome to the 2015-16 Academic Year!  I am so excited to begin a new year with all of the children and their families here at Chesterbrook.  I cannot believe how quickly the summer passed.  We have lots of new faces, new classrooms, and new teachers in new program levels.  All of the teachers are excited to start a brand new year. 

As the days continue to stay warmer and eventually become cooler, begin thinking about bringing in a seasonal change of clothes for your children.  We will at some point send home summer clothes and sunscreen.  Please remember to label your child’s clothing, jackets, bottles, nap items and sippy cups to avoid confusion of items being sent home with another family. 

Just a reminder about the security of our building; do not share the door code with your children or allow them to punch in the numbers.  The code is for the protection of your child and others.  If you do not know the person walking in behind you, do not let them in; allow them to punch in the code themselves.

The sign in and out binder on the front desk is another way we keep your children safe.  Noting the times your children arrive and leave helps us track which adult brought or picked up the child.  Our teachers also keep records of attendance in the classrooms, so please make sure your child’s teacher acknowledges you at drop off or pick up; especially when picking your children up from the playground areas. Thank you for helping to keep our children safe.


For Parents:

When is Chesterbrook Academy Closed? Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day and 4th of July (We will be closed July 3rd)

We will also close early on Christmas Eve 3:00 pm.

Withdraw Policy: In order to withdraw your child from school, four weeks 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.

Vacation Credits: Families are allotted one week’s worth of vacation credit per fiscal year (July 1-June 30). This credit is used for a Monday-Friday week when your child will not be in the building. Your family must be enrolled for 6 months prior to being eligible for the vacation credit! Please remember: 2 Weeks notice must given in order to take advantage of this credit.

Wellness 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.

Parking Lot Safety: Please maintain a safe driving speed through the parking lot at all times. Please do not leave your car running in the parking lot. Please do not sit in the parking lot on your cell phones, as space is extremely limited. Please do not allow your child to be unattended in the parking lot at any time.


 

From the Education Department

Developing Balance Skills in Young Children

From Tummy Time to Bike Riding

Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.

 

Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.

Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.

INFANTS:

In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.

At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.

TODDLERS (ages 1-2):

In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.

At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.

BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):

In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control.  We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.

At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.

INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):

In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.

At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”

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

In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.

At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.

 

Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills 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

 

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