From The Principals Desk:
Happy March Chesterbrook Families,
We had a great February! We got to explore snow! We had a successful Parents night out and who could forget all of the love in the air for Valentine’s Day.
This month is going to be even better! “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you.” This month is Dr. Seuss’ birthday! Please enjoy reading with your child and celebrating the amazing birth of an amazing writer! Keep a look out for all of the fun activities your child will be doing through Parent Share!
We will start our Scholastic Book Fair on March 2nd. This will last a week. Please take some time to look at the books with your child. Reading is so important and what better way to show them that is to read with them. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Soccer Shots starts back up this month. Please make sure your registration is turned in prior to March 4th. Our enrichment programs are amazing! If you want something special to sign your child up for we have Daisy Dance on Mondays, Tae Kwon Do on Tuesdays, Soccer Shots on Wednesdays, Music for Little ones on Thursdays and our new addition Stretch and Grow on Fridays. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these amazing enrichment programs.
Thank you all for being the amazing parents that you are!
Sincerely,
Jac-Lynn Johnson
Principal
Dates to Remember
- April 3: Good Friday
- April 3: “EGG”stravaganza at 3:30PM
- April 5: Happy Easter!
- April 13: Week of the Young Child begins
- April 13: Family Day- Dress like your parent-Bring in baby picture of your parent!
- April 14: Nutrition Day- Bring your favorite healthy snack for a classroom party!
- April 15: Education Day- Dress like your favorite book character and bring that book!
- April 16: Fitness Day- Wear your sports gear! Pre-K Kickball game!
- April 17: Rest & Wellness Day- Wear your PJ’s- St. Jude’s TRIKE-A-THON
- April 22: Happy Earth Day- Bring in packet of seeds!
- April 24: Arbor Day!
- April 24: PJ Day Curing Leukemia
April 13-17
Monday: Family Day
Tuesday: Nutrition Day
Wednesday: Education Day
Thursday: Fitness Day
Friday: St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon
April 22
April 24th
Spring Pictures
April 28th:Infants-Toddlers-Beginners- Siblings
April 29th: Beginners-Intermediate-PreK A-PreK B Graduation
*If your child is graduating and has a sibling they will be Friday
Science Corner
Homemade Watercolour Paint Discs
It’s easy! All you need are a few basic pantry ingredients!
Recipe:
- 4 tbsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Light Corn Syrup (also known as Karo syrup ) I didn’t have “light” so I used golden corn syrup
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (known as corn flour in the UK)
- Food colouring (gels produce a more intense colour than liquid food colouring)
- Mini Muffin Tin (or ice cube tray)
Mixing your homemade paints:
- Mix your baking soda and vinegar together (hello science experiment) and wait for the fizzing to stop. It’s handy if you mix in a container that has a spout (I used a 2c measuring cup).
- Add the corn syrup and cornstarch, and mix well until the cornstarch has dissolved.
- Pour into your containers (double batch of watercolours half-filled all 12 compartments of a mini muffin tin).
- Now, grab your colours and have some fun! Stir colour in with a toothpick or popsicle stick and mix well for about a minute. We used Wilton Icing Gels colour all but two of our paints; for the red and yellow, we used liquid food colour.
- For the liquid colours, we added 6 drops to get the intense colour we were looking for. An extra pinch of cornstarch helped compensate for the extra liquid.
- Now the hard part: waiting. Your watercolour paints have to dry completely. Apparently this could take up to 2 days, but I left mine beside our gas fireplace overnight, and they were dry in less than 24 hours.
- When your watercolours are dry, simply grab a paint brush and some water and test them out! I couldn’t wait to try ours, and I was so impressed with them when I did.
The paints glide on smoothly, the colours look super. They’re nicer than any dollar store watercolours we’ve ever used. They’re a little chalky when they dry, but not as bad dollar store paints that we’ve been using recently.
Please remember to take your Links to Learning Folders home April 30th.
Reminders
Enrichment: Check out the enrichment programs offered by Chesterbrook Academy!
- Tae Kwon Do
- Music for Little Ones – Weekly music classes with Music For Little Ones will be lots of fun this Fall Each child will receive a cd of the songs at the end of the semester. The price for Fall semester will be $135.00 or $45 per month. Music class is held on Thursday mornings at 9:30.
- Soccer Shots
- Daisy Dance
Like us on Facebook! Visit http://www.facebook.com/ChesterbrookAcademy today!
Parent Referrals: 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 stories 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 one 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.
At the front desk are referral certificates you can give to friends and colleagues who ask about our school. If you have any questions about how you can become a Chesterbrook Academy Ambassador please contact an administrator.
Spirit Wear: What’s a better way for your child to show their school spirit!!? You can now order online and have your items shipped to the school. Check out the link below for items that sport our Chesterbrook logo. There are so many items to choose from!!
Peanut Free Zone: Chesterbrook Academy is a Peanut Free school. We do not serve any food containing peanuts and/or peanut extract or peanut by-products. Please do not bring any foods/snacks with peanuts, peanut extract or peanut by-products in them to the school.
Inclement Weather Policy: In the event of inclement weather, parents should call the school’s telephone number (704-875-1177) and listen to the voice mail by 5:30 am for a message regarding the operating hours. This is our primary method of communication to parents. We will also use eNotify to send out an email to all families who have provided us with a current email address.
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
April News
From The Principals Desk:
Happy March Chesterbrook Families,
We had a great February! We got to explore snow! We had a successful Parents night out and who could forget all of the love in the air for Valentine’s Day.
This month is going to be even better! “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you.” This month is Dr. Seuss’ birthday! Please enjoy reading with your child and celebrating the amazing birth of an amazing writer! Keep a look out for all of the fun activities your child will be doing through Parent Share!
We will start our Scholastic Book Fair on March 2nd. This will last a week. Please take some time to look at the books with your child. Reading is so important and what better way to show them that is to read with them. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Soccer Shots starts back up this month. Please make sure your registration is turned in prior to March 4th. Our enrichment programs are amazing! If you want something special to sign your child up for we have Daisy Dance on Mondays, Tae Kwon Do on Tuesdays, Soccer Shots on Wednesdays, Music for Little ones on Thursdays and our new addition Stretch and Grow on Fridays. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these amazing enrichment programs.
Thank you all for being the amazing parents that you are!
Sincerely,
Jac-Lynn Johnson
Principal
Dates to Remember
April 13-17
Monday: Family Day
Tuesday: Nutrition Day
Wednesday: Education Day
Thursday: Fitness Day
Friday: St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon
Spring Pictures
April 28th:Infants-Toddlers-Beginners- Siblings
April 29th: Beginners-Intermediate-PreK A-PreK B Graduation
*If your child is graduating and has a sibling they will be Friday
Science Corner
Homemade Watercolour Paint Discs
It’s easy! All you need are a few basic pantry ingredients!
Recipe:
Mixing your homemade paints:
The paints glide on smoothly, the colours look super. They’re nicer than any dollar store watercolours we’ve ever used. They’re a little chalky when they dry, but not as bad dollar store paints that we’ve been using recently.
Reminders
Enrichment: Check out the enrichment programs offered by Chesterbrook Academy!
Like us on Facebook! Visit http://www.facebook.com/ChesterbrookAcademy today!
Parent Referrals: 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 stories 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 one 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.
At the front desk are referral certificates you can give to friends and colleagues who ask about our school. If you have any questions about how you can become a Chesterbrook Academy Ambassador please contact an administrator.
Spirit Wear: What’s a better way for your child to show their school spirit!!? You can now order online and have your items shipped to the school. Check out the link below for items that sport our Chesterbrook logo. There are so many items to choose from!!
Peanut Free Zone: Chesterbrook Academy is a Peanut Free school. We do not serve any food containing peanuts and/or peanut extract or peanut by-products. Please do not bring any foods/snacks with peanuts, peanut extract or peanut by-products in them to the school.
Inclement Weather Policy: In the event of inclement weather, parents should call the school’s telephone number (704-875-1177) and listen to the voice mail by 5:30 am for a message regarding the operating hours. This is our primary method of communication to parents. We will also use eNotify to send out an email to all families who have provided us with a current email address.
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:
BEGINNERS (Ages 2-3):
INTERMEDIATES (Ages 3-4):
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (Ages 4-5):
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