The first month of the year is gone already! Parent reports will be going out this month if you have not already received them. You can request a parent conference if you would like to discuss your child’s development or get a more thorough understanding of the parent report. Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in our Little Caesar’s Fundraiser. We were able to meet our goal of 50 kits sold!! Thank you for all of your enthusiasm and assistance with this program!!! The Little Caesar’s orders will be delivered on Wednesday, February 10th by 3:00pm. We will call you when the orders come in. Orders MUST be picked up on Wednesday, February 10th before 6:15pm.
Ice Cream Social
Friday, February 12th we will be hosting an ice cream social. VPK only children will participate at 11am and the rest of the school will participate at 2:30pm. The cost is $3 per person. Parents are welcome to attend. The Ice Cream Social is sponsored by the VPK classes and all the proceeds from the social will go to funding their end of the year “prom”.
March Menus
March is quickly coming upon us. We will be sending out March lunch menus this week. They will be due by Friday, February 12th. Please, make sure to get your orders in on time. It is crucial to the ordering process. If you do not get your menus in on time you will have to pack your child’s lunch.
Soccer
Soccer will start a 7 week session on Tuesday, February 9th. Sign up today so you don’t miss!! More information is available in the front office! Also, don’t forget about dance and Amazing Athletes.
Picture Day
Spring Picture Day is coming up. We will be having pictures on Monday, February 29th, Tuesday, March 1st, and Wednesday, March 2nd.
Monday, February 29th: Rooms 1, 2, 3, & 4
Tuesday, March 1st: Rooms 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9
Wednesday, March 2nd: Cap and Gown, make ups
Wacky Wednesday
This month our Wacky Wednesday theme is Red/Heart Day! February is National Heart Month and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. On Wednesday, February 10th wear your red or hearts and help us turn the school RED!!
School Closures
Chesterbrook Academy will be closed on Monday, February 15th in observance of President’s Day. Our annual scheduled teacher in-service will be held on this day.
Spring Break
Spring Break is coming up soon! There will be no VPK from Friday, March 18th thru Friday, March 25th. We will have school age camp available for this week. Please, sign up in advance if you are interested in utilizing the School Age Camp for this week as we can only permit a limited amount of children. VPK wrap-around children and the rest of the age levels will have class as normally scheduled.
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.
Kindergarten Kickoff
What to do after VPK has ended and Kindergarten has not started yet??? Here at Chesterbrook Academy we have our Kindergarten Kickoff Program. There are two options for this program. We have our full time option for $175 per week or our 9:00am-1:00pm option for $145 per week. This program continues on the learning throughout the summer in order to help give them that extra advantage when they start kindergarten. You can sign up for one week or 11 weeks. Please see the front office to sign up!
Summer Camp
Elementary Summer Camp spaces are very limited!!! Sign-up now for our fun-filled summer camp. There are only a few spaces left! We have our summer filled with great field trips, swimming, and fun in house activities. Only $175 per week and you can choose the weeks you wish to attend. See the front office to sign up!
Uniforms
As a reminder: 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. Please see the front desk to order uniforms.
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.
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 on the due date, 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.
- Tuition: payments are due the 1st of each week. A $25 late fee will be applied to all tuition payments turned in after Monday of each week.
- Late pick-up: fees apply to children picked up after 6:15 pm. There is a fee of $2 per minute after 6:15 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 melody.mcdonald@nlcinc.com or call (954) 749-1333. 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- Sunrise provides a safe and warm family environment in a rich academic setting that focuses on fun and creative hands-on learning for each individual student. Our school promotes self-expression, yet maintains a structured program for a great head start in “life”.
To ensure that each child receives the best care possible, it is critical that parents and teachers maintain frequent and accurate communication. Please feel free to call or stop by at any time to see how your child is doing. We always have an open door policy!
A Message from Our Education Department:
Helping Your Preschooler Develop Positive Friendship Skills
Are you puzzled by some of your child’s social behaviors? Have you noticed that your toddler doesn’t interact with other children very often? Does your three-year-old get frustrated when a classmate won’t play with him? Will your four-year-old only play with her best friend?
These are all normal social behaviors for preschoolers. Learning how to develop friendships is a lifelong process. Children’s social behaviors evolve from smiling and cooing at others, to engaging in parallel play, to eventually forming friendships and playing together.
Below are ways we help develop friendships in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Before they can communicate verbally, infants build connections by smiling, cooing and crying. By two months old, they might turn toward other infants, and by twelve months, they begin to imitate their peers. Teachers help facilitate this relationship by sitting infants near each other during activities such as story time and tummy time.
At home: Even though infants don’t really play with one another, they still benefit from “play dates” with other infants. Sit your infant face-to-face with another infant or in close proximity to an older sibling, and provide each child separate toys. Note when your infant watches the other child and what captures his attention.
Recommended reading: Friends by Helen Oxenbury and Let’s Play by Leo Lionni
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: Many young children tend to engage in “parallel play.” They play near other children, but each child is doing something different. This is a natural phase of development. As children get older, they begin to enjoy more shared activities with their peers. For example, they might enjoy splashing their hands at the water table with others, looking at books while sitting close to a friend, and dancing to music with their classmates.
At home: Invite another parent and child to your home for a play date. Blocks, balls, dress up clothes and toy kitchen sets are great toys for children at this age. Don’t force them to play with each other. Instead, let the children decide on the level of interaction.
Recommended reading: Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle and I Can Share by Karen Katz
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: In the Beginner classroom, teachers refer to classmates as “friends.” Students learn about personal space and begin to practice good manners by saying please and thank you.
At home: Model positive behaviors while playing with your child. Say “I’m going to roll the ball to you. Can you please roll the ball back to me?” Afterward, say “Thank you. You are being a good friend.”
Recommended reading: How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Let’s be Friends by P. K. Hallinan
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Between ages three and four, children attempt to understand social situations, but often do so from an egocentric point of view. They need adult guidance to help them navigate peer conflict and model appropriate friendship-making behaviors. Small group activities help children learn how to follow directions, take turns and develop friendships.
At home: Ask your child about their friends and what games they played together. If he says, “Andrew didn’t play with me today. He’s mean,” you could say, “Andrew may have wanted to play a different game today. Maybe you can play together tomorrow. What does Andrew like to play?”
Recommended reading: Just My Friend and Me by Mercer Mayer and Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: Friendship in Pre-K and Pre-K2 is usually reciprocal and deliberate as children become more skilled in social interactions and look for peers with shared interests. Our character education program reinforces friendship making skills using songs, games, books and brain-builder activities to nurture skills such as collaboration, understanding feelings and resolving conflicts.
At home: Bring your child to events that include multiple children, such as birthday parties, or encourage your child to play a board game that requires multiple players. Ask him to introduce himself to the other children, or encourage him to play the game taking turns. If you notice frustration from your child, say, “In order to play the game, we all have to play together.”
Recommended reading: Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel and A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
Don’t be concerned about the number of friends your child has, as it is more about quality than quantity. Each child will develop friendships at his own pace. What matters most is the development of social skills such as collaboration and problem-solving, which will help him transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
February 2016 News
The first month of the year is gone already! Parent reports will be going out this month if you have not already received them. You can request a parent conference if you would like to discuss your child’s development or get a more thorough understanding of the parent report. Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in our Little Caesar’s Fundraiser. We were able to meet our goal of 50 kits sold!! Thank you for all of your enthusiasm and assistance with this program!!! The Little Caesar’s orders will be delivered on Wednesday, February 10th by 3:00pm. We will call you when the orders come in. Orders MUST be picked up on Wednesday, February 10th before 6:15pm.
Ice Cream Social
Friday, February 12th we will be hosting an ice cream social. VPK only children will participate at 11am and the rest of the school will participate at 2:30pm. The cost is $3 per person. Parents are welcome to attend. The Ice Cream Social is sponsored by the VPK classes and all the proceeds from the social will go to funding their end of the year “prom”.
March Menus
March is quickly coming upon us. We will be sending out March lunch menus this week. They will be due by Friday, February 12th. Please, make sure to get your orders in on time. It is crucial to the ordering process. If you do not get your menus in on time you will have to pack your child’s lunch.
Soccer
Soccer will start a 7 week session on Tuesday, February 9th. Sign up today so you don’t miss!! More information is available in the front office! Also, don’t forget about dance and Amazing Athletes.
Picture Day
Spring Picture Day is coming up. We will be having pictures on Monday, February 29th, Tuesday, March 1st, and Wednesday, March 2nd.
Monday, February 29th: Rooms 1, 2, 3, & 4
Tuesday, March 1st: Rooms 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9
Wednesday, March 2nd: Cap and Gown, make ups
Wacky Wednesday
This month our Wacky Wednesday theme is Red/Heart Day! February is National Heart Month and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. On Wednesday, February 10th wear your red or hearts and help us turn the school RED!!
School Closures
Chesterbrook Academy will be closed on Monday, February 15th in observance of President’s Day. Our annual scheduled teacher in-service will be held on this day.
Spring Break
Spring Break is coming up soon! There will be no VPK from Friday, March 18th thru Friday, March 25th. We will have school age camp available for this week. Please, sign up in advance if you are interested in utilizing the School Age Camp for this week as we can only permit a limited amount of children. VPK wrap-around children and the rest of the age levels will have class as normally scheduled.
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.
Kindergarten Kickoff
What to do after VPK has ended and Kindergarten has not started yet??? Here at Chesterbrook Academy we have our Kindergarten Kickoff Program. There are two options for this program. We have our full time option for $175 per week or our 9:00am-1:00pm option for $145 per week. This program continues on the learning throughout the summer in order to help give them that extra advantage when they start kindergarten. You can sign up for one week or 11 weeks. Please see the front office to sign up!
Summer Camp
Elementary Summer Camp spaces are very limited!!! Sign-up now for our fun-filled summer camp. There are only a few spaces left! We have our summer filled with great field trips, swimming, and fun in house activities. Only $175 per week and you can choose the weeks you wish to attend. See the front office to sign up!
Uniforms
As a reminder: 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. Please see the front desk to order uniforms.
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.
Reminders
Here are a few reminders and updates to keep us on track for the rest of the school year:
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 melody.mcdonald@nlcinc.com or call (954) 749-1333. 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.
To ensure that each child receives the best care possible, it is critical that parents and teachers maintain frequent and accurate communication. Please feel free to call or stop by at any time to see how your child is doing. We always have an open door policy!
A Message from Our Education Department:
Helping Your Preschooler Develop Positive Friendship Skills
Are you puzzled by some of your child’s social behaviors? Have you noticed that your toddler doesn’t interact with other children very often? Does your three-year-old get frustrated when a classmate won’t play with him? Will your four-year-old only play with her best friend?
These are all normal social behaviors for preschoolers. Learning how to develop friendships is a lifelong process. Children’s social behaviors evolve from smiling and cooing at others, to engaging in parallel play, to eventually forming friendships and playing together.
Below are ways we help develop friendships in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Before they can communicate verbally, infants build connections by smiling, cooing and crying. By two months old, they might turn toward other infants, and by twelve months, they begin to imitate their peers. Teachers help facilitate this relationship by sitting infants near each other during activities such as story time and tummy time.
At home: Even though infants don’t really play with one another, they still benefit from “play dates” with other infants. Sit your infant face-to-face with another infant or in close proximity to an older sibling, and provide each child separate toys. Note when your infant watches the other child and what captures his attention.
Recommended reading: Friends by Helen Oxenbury and Let’s Play by Leo Lionni
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: Many young children tend to engage in “parallel play.” They play near other children, but each child is doing something different. This is a natural phase of development. As children get older, they begin to enjoy more shared activities with their peers. For example, they might enjoy splashing their hands at the water table with others, looking at books while sitting close to a friend, and dancing to music with their classmates.
At home: Invite another parent and child to your home for a play date. Blocks, balls, dress up clothes and toy kitchen sets are great toys for children at this age. Don’t force them to play with each other. Instead, let the children decide on the level of interaction.
Recommended reading: Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle and I Can Share by Karen Katz
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: In the Beginner classroom, teachers refer to classmates as “friends.” Students learn about personal space and begin to practice good manners by saying please and thank you.
At home: Model positive behaviors while playing with your child. Say “I’m going to roll the ball to you. Can you please roll the ball back to me?” Afterward, say “Thank you. You are being a good friend.”
Recommended reading: How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Let’s be Friends by P. K. Hallinan
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Between ages three and four, children attempt to understand social situations, but often do so from an egocentric point of view. They need adult guidance to help them navigate peer conflict and model appropriate friendship-making behaviors. Small group activities help children learn how to follow directions, take turns and develop friendships.
At home: Ask your child about their friends and what games they played together. If he says, “Andrew didn’t play with me today. He’s mean,” you could say, “Andrew may have wanted to play a different game today. Maybe you can play together tomorrow. What does Andrew like to play?”
Recommended reading: Just My Friend and Me by Mercer Mayer and Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: Friendship in Pre-K and Pre-K2 is usually reciprocal and deliberate as children become more skilled in social interactions and look for peers with shared interests. Our character education program reinforces friendship making skills using songs, games, books and brain-builder activities to nurture skills such as collaboration, understanding feelings and resolving conflicts.
At home: Bring your child to events that include multiple children, such as birthday parties, or encourage your child to play a board game that requires multiple players. Ask him to introduce himself to the other children, or encourage him to play the game taking turns. If you notice frustration from your child, say, “In order to play the game, we all have to play together.”
Recommended reading: Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel and A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
Don’t be concerned about the number of friends your child has, as it is more about quality than quantity. Each child will develop friendships at his own pace. What matters most is the development of social skills such as collaboration and problem-solving, which will help him transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education