Dear Parents,
It is the time of year we plan a week of Staff appreciation for our school in conjunction with the National Teacher Appreciation Week of May 4th – 10th. Each day we have planned an event to give you ideas of ways to say thank you to the great staff that works with the children.
Monday – Color Me Pretty, Bring your teacher something in her favorite color. The favorite color information is posted outside the classroom on the door.
Tuesday – Teacher Luncheon, a sign up has been provided at the Front Desk.
Wednesday – Special Note Day, Bring your teacher a special note to brighten her day!
Thursday – Teacher Breakfast, a sign up has been provided at the Front Desk.
Friday – Parents Choice Day
A notebook is available in the front office with a list of ideas for each teacher. 
________________________________________________________________________
Parent Sign In/Out Reminder
We want to take this time to remind all of you about an important security feature at Chesterbrook Academy. Please remember to sign your child in and out daily at the front desk. If someone on your child’s authorized pick up list is picking up, please remind them to do so as well. In the event of a true emergency, the Sign in/out sheets will give Chesterbrook Academy as well as the authorities an accurate count of who is actually in our building at any given time. Although we have never had any problem nor do we expect to in the future, this is an important security measure that keeps all of the children safe. Thank you in advance for your compliance and understanding with our security policy. 
_______________________________________________________________________
At Chesterbrook Academy we offer our children the opportunity to participate in Ancillary Programs to enhance their overall development. The registration forms for each program can be found in the front office or by speaking with a member of management.
Monday – Music for Little Ones is an original approach that successfully engages active preschoolers in musical activities, to enhance their overall development. Ms. Kathy meets with the children in small age appropriate groups to conduct the class each Monday at 10 a.m.
Tuesday – Jump Bunch introduces sports and fitness to your child. The year round program utilizes activity plans that offer a different sport or activity with each class. Jump bunch is a lot of fun and the children are always eager to participate. The program helps to build coordination and interest in sports. The coach uses a constant praise and encouragement to teach the students.
Thursday – Soccer Shots is a popular non competitive youth soccer program. This program teaches confidence, fun, character, teamwork, coordination, and imagination. The year long program allows the children to build skills all year.
__________________________________________________________________________
From the Education Department
Developing Writing Skills in Young Children 
– From Crayons to Concepts –
In the early preschool years, writing starts with practicing fine motor skills and progresses to include concepts such as vocabulary, sentence structure and inventive spelling. Our curriculum builds the foundation for writing beginning with our infants. Our teachers not only instruct students how to write, but they also help instill a love of writing and self-expression.
Below are activities we implement in our classrooms to get children excited about writing, as well as fun activities to try with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS
In the classroom: Our infants and toddlers practice picking up and placing objects into containers, building hand strength and coordination.
At-home activity: Give your child plastic cooking utensils, such as spoons and spatulas, along with a large bowl. Place appropriate finger foods in the bowl, and encourage your baby to pick up the utensils and use them to move the food around. Choose utensils with different sized handles so your baby learns how to grasp and hold objects in various ways.
BEGINNERS (Ages 2-3)
In the classroom: During imaginative play, teachers provide pens, markers and crayons to encourage students to practice writing. For instance, they pretend to own a restaurant and write food orders, and pretend to be doctors and take notes about the condition of their stuffed animals.
At-home activity: Incorporate writing activities during playtime. Bring sidewalk chalk outdoors and ask your child to write what they see. Don’t correct spelling or proper letter formations. Show enthusiasm in any efforts he makes, as this is how children learn that words are powerful and have meaning.
INTERMEDIATES (Ages 3-4)
In the classroom: Different writing tools and surfaces make writing more interesting for children. Our Intermediates use chalk on a chalkboard, form letters using modeling clay, and finger paint on canvas.
At-home activity: Three year olds enjoy mimicking adults in their daily activities. Allow your child to engage in a new writing activity with you, such as writing a grocery list or a thank you card. Explain to him what you are writing and the purpose it serves.
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (Ages 4-5)
In the classroom: Teachers make writing fun for our older preschoolers by creating a classroom post office and asking the children to write and mail letters to each other. Through this activity, students practice communicating thoughts and ideas on paper, using proper grip, writing first and last names in correct case, and writing words independently by using inventive spelling. Inventive spelling encourages a love for writing and reinforces phonics. Traditional spelling is encouraged as students move into more formal writing in early elementary grades.
At-home activity: After a family outing, invite your child to write about his day in a journal. Encourage him to use uppercase and lowercase letters. If he asks for help writing more challenging words, have him attempt to spell them by sounding out the word and writing the letters that make that sound. Invite him to read his journal entry to you.
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to develop and practice their writing skills. By setting this foundation, they will be better prepared to communicate thoughts and ideas through writing in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education
May News
Dear Parents,
It is the time of year we plan a week of Staff appreciation for our school in conjunction with the National Teacher Appreciation Week of May 4th – 10th. Each day we have planned an event to give you ideas of ways to say thank you to the great staff that works with the children.
Monday – Color Me Pretty, Bring your teacher something in her favorite color. The favorite color information is posted outside the classroom on the door.
Tuesday – Teacher Luncheon, a sign up has been provided at the Front Desk.
Wednesday – Special Note Day, Bring your teacher a special note to brighten her day!
Thursday – Teacher Breakfast, a sign up has been provided at the Front Desk.
Friday – Parents Choice Day
A notebook is available in the front office with a list of ideas for each teacher.
________________________________________________________________________
Parent Sign In/Out Reminder
We want to take this time to remind all of you about an important security feature at Chesterbrook Academy. Please remember to sign your child in and out daily at the front desk. If someone on your child’s authorized pick up list is picking up, please remind them to do so as well. In the event of a true emergency, the Sign in/out sheets will give Chesterbrook Academy as well as the authorities an accurate count of who is actually in our building at any given time. Although we have never had any problem nor do we expect to in the future, this is an important security measure that keeps all of the children safe. Thank you in advance for your compliance and understanding with our security policy.
_______________________________________________________________________
At Chesterbrook Academy we offer our children the opportunity to participate in Ancillary Programs to enhance their overall development. The registration forms for each program can be found in the front office or by speaking with a member of management.
Monday – Music for Little Ones is an original approach that successfully engages active preschoolers in musical activities, to enhance their overall development. Ms. Kathy meets with the children in small age appropriate groups to conduct the class each Monday at 10 a.m.
Tuesday – Jump Bunch introduces sports and fitness to your child. The year round program utilizes activity plans that offer a different sport or activity with each class. Jump bunch is a lot of fun and the children are always eager to participate. The program helps to build coordination and interest in sports. The coach uses a constant praise and encouragement to teach the students.
Thursday – Soccer Shots is a popular non competitive youth soccer program. This program teaches confidence, fun, character, teamwork, coordination, and imagination. The year long program allows the children to build skills all year.
__________________________________________________________________________
From the Education Department
Developing Writing Skills in Young Children
– From Crayons to Concepts –
In the early preschool years, writing starts with practicing fine motor skills and progresses to include concepts such as vocabulary, sentence structure and inventive spelling. Our curriculum builds the foundation for writing beginning with our infants. Our teachers not only instruct students how to write, but they also help instill a love of writing and self-expression.
Below are activities we implement in our classrooms to get children excited about writing, as well as fun activities to try with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS
In the classroom: Our infants and toddlers practice picking up and placing objects into containers, building hand strength and coordination.
At-home activity: Give your child plastic cooking utensils, such as spoons and spatulas, along with a large bowl. Place appropriate finger foods in the bowl, and encourage your baby to pick up the utensils and use them to move the food around. Choose utensils with different sized handles so your baby learns how to grasp and hold objects in various ways.
BEGINNERS (Ages 2-3)
In the classroom: During imaginative play, teachers provide pens, markers and crayons to encourage students to practice writing. For instance, they pretend to own a restaurant and write food orders, and pretend to be doctors and take notes about the condition of their stuffed animals.
At-home activity: Incorporate writing activities during playtime. Bring sidewalk chalk outdoors and ask your child to write what they see. Don’t correct spelling or proper letter formations. Show enthusiasm in any efforts he makes, as this is how children learn that words are powerful and have meaning.
INTERMEDIATES (Ages 3-4)
In the classroom: Different writing tools and surfaces make writing more interesting for children. Our Intermediates use chalk on a chalkboard, form letters using modeling clay, and finger paint on canvas.
At-home activity: Three year olds enjoy mimicking adults in their daily activities. Allow your child to engage in a new writing activity with you, such as writing a grocery list or a thank you card. Explain to him what you are writing and the purpose it serves.
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (Ages 4-5)
In the classroom: Teachers make writing fun for our older preschoolers by creating a classroom post office and asking the children to write and mail letters to each other. Through this activity, students practice communicating thoughts and ideas on paper, using proper grip, writing first and last names in correct case, and writing words independently by using inventive spelling. Inventive spelling encourages a love for writing and reinforces phonics. Traditional spelling is encouraged as students move into more formal writing in early elementary grades.
At-home activity: After a family outing, invite your child to write about his day in a journal. Encourage him to use uppercase and lowercase letters. If he asks for help writing more challenging words, have him attempt to spell them by sounding out the word and writing the letters that make that sound. Invite him to read his journal entry to you.
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to develop and practice their writing skills. By setting this foundation, they will be better prepared to communicate thoughts and ideas through writing in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education