From the Principal’s Office:
This month we will be strengthening our commitment to excellence by hosting our Annual Teacher In-Service on Wednesday, November 11th. Chesterbrook Academy Preschool is closed for Veteran’s Day; but we will be meeting with our district of thirteen preschools to attend trainings and workshops covering early childhood topics. Teacher In-Service allows our teachers to learn from leaders in early childhood while brainstorming and sharing best practices from the field. I recently attended Nobel Learning Communities Annual Principal’s Conference and presented to my fellow principals on new STEM initiatives in our school; a big Thank You to Ms. Callie & Ms. Tina for their contribution to my presentation. As part of a professional learning community we as educators are continuously growing, learning, and leading together. We can’t wait to share all that we have learned with our families in order to improve the services and programs we provide you.
This month we will be celebrating all that we are thankful for with our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 19th (See School Spotlight for Info). We will also be sending home our first Parent Reports on Wednesday, November 25th. Parent reports are a glimpse of your child’s development along with giving you information on the goals and skills your child will be working towards in the upcoming period. Kindergarten readiness conferences will occur in December (sign up sheets will be posted the week of Thanksgiving) for our Prek, Prek2B, Prek2A students heading off to kindergarten in the fall of 2016.
Please take a moment to scroll down to the article titled “4 Ways to Instill Thankfulness in Young Children” by Dr. Lauren Starnes.
Top Five Favorite Books about Thankfulness
1. A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
2. A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
3. Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Sonja Lamut
4. Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
5. Just so Thankful by Mercer Meyer
Five Little Turkeys
Five little turkeys by the front door,
One waddled off, then there were four.
Four little turkeys out under the tree,
One waddled off, then there were three.
Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, then there were two.
Two little turkeys in the noonday sun,
One waddled off, then there was one.
One little turkey-better run away!
Soon it will be Thanksgiving Day!
Thank you for sharing your family with us this fall! We are so very thankful to be part of your child’s first learning experience!
Nicole Gleason
Principal
Our calendar for the 2015-2016 school years is viewable online at: http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com.
Upcoming Events
November
- Chesterbrook Academy is Closed for Veteran’s Day on Wednesday, November 11th
- Thanksgiving Dinner at CAES on Thursday, November 19th
- Food Drive Begins on Monday, November 23rd
- Parent Reports Sent Home on Wednesday, November 25th
- Chesterbrook Academy is Closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th for Thanksgiving Holiday
- Book Fair begins on Monday, November 30th
December
- Kindergarten Readiness Conferences for Prek, Prek2B, and Prek2A during the week of December 7th & 14th
- Holiday Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 5th
- Winter Program for all students on Saturday, December 12th
- Chesterbrook Academy is closing early at 3:00pm on on Thursday, December 24th
- Chesterbrook Academy is closed on Friday, December 25th
- Chesterbrook Academy is closing early at 3:00pm on Thursday, December 31st
- Chesterbrook Academy is closed on Friday, January 1st
School Spotlight
Thanksgiving Dinner
Please join us on Thursday, November 19th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm for our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Ms. Jen and Ms. Nicole will be cooking up a wonderful thanksgiving dinner for all our Chesterbrook Academy Preschool and Elementary families. Prek, Prek2B, and Prek2A students will be performing at 5:30pm and CAES choir will be performing at 6:30pm. We hope to see you there!
Winter Program
Mark your calendar our winter program will be on Saturday, December 12th. All our students will be performing on stage (and some parents too). Performances will begin at 10:15am, so we are asking families to arrive by 10:00am. More information coming.
Please take a moment to review how traffic should flow in our parking lot: Traffic is to enter the parking lot on the Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School side and then follow all the way around the lot and park on the preschool side. Traffic should exit the parking lot on our preschool side. Please make sure to slow down near the cross walk so that you are able to watch for pedestrians crossing from one building to the next and to avoid any accidents or injuries. Heavy traffic times are from 8:30am to 8:45am and 3:35pm to 3:55pm; to avoid these heavy traffic times please arrive to the campus either before or after these arrival and dismissal times.
Become a Chesterbrook Ambassador!
If you refer a family to any Chesterbrook Academy school, you will receive a free week of tuition off of your oldest child’s tuition. There is no limit to the number of families you refer. Note: The referred family must be full-time student and enrolled for 90 days before the free week of tuition can be applied. If the referral is for a part time student you will receive one hundred dollars off your child’s tuition.
Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School
Please take a moment each month to view what is new and exciting at our Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School website at: http://naperville.chesterbrookacademy.com. You can learn more about all the specialty teachers under the Parent tab or enjoy reading the elementary newsletter.
From the Education Department
4 Ways to Instill Thankfulness in Young Children
It’s never too early to teach your child about thankfulness. By learning concepts of generosity and compassion, children strengthen their connection to their community and become sensitive to the feelings of others.
The holiday season is quickly approaching, so now is a great time to reinforce the importance of thankfulness and giving back to those in need.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
TODDLERS: Be a good role model
In the classroom: Our teachers introduce “please” and “thank you” to our toddlers by using sign language and verbal communication. Students practice good manners with their dolls, stuffed animals and each other.
At home: Modeling positive behaviors is a great way to teach your child good manners. Say “please” before asking him to do something, and always follow with “thank you.”
Recommended reading: Little Critter® I Am Helping by Mercer Mayer
BEGINNERS: Share your gratitude out loud
In the classroom: Our teachers encourage our Beginner students to name a few of their favorite toys and games, and bring one in from home to share with friends. By sharing their belongings, children nurture connections with their classmates, and build necessary problem-solving skills.
At home: Talk with your child about the things in your life for which you are thankful, and ask him to name a few as well. Extend the discussion beyond physical possessions. For instance, if he is thankful for a favorite toy, say “Grandma bought you that toy, and we are thankful for her.”
Recommended reading: Spot Helps Out by Eric Hill
INTERMEDIATES: Show appreciation through actions
In the classroom: By age three, children begin to understand the concept of appreciation. They create birthday cards for their teachers, make art projects for friends, and write thank you cards for classroom visitors.
At home: Go shopping with your child, and buy a small token of appreciation for a friend or family member. Ask your child to draw a picture or write a thank you note to accompany the gift.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Good Deeds by Norman Bridwell
PRE-K/PRE-K2: Give back to those in need
In the classroom: During the holidays, many of our schools host donation drives for organizations in need. Our older preschoolers discuss why they are participating, count the items donated, and sometimes have the opportunity to deliver the donations.
At home: Donate canned goods to a local food pantry, and allow your child to choose the food that he would like to donate. Explain to him that you are thankful to have good food to eat, and that you want to make sure that others have the same.
Recommended reading: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to develop thankfulness and show gratitude towards others. By setting this positive foundation, your child will be more appreciative and generous as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
November News
From the Principal’s Office:
This month we will be strengthening our commitment to excellence by hosting our Annual Teacher In-Service on Wednesday, November 11th. Chesterbrook Academy Preschool is closed for Veteran’s Day; but we will be meeting with our district of thirteen preschools to attend trainings and workshops covering early childhood topics. Teacher In-Service allows our teachers to learn from leaders in early childhood while brainstorming and sharing best practices from the field. I recently attended Nobel Learning Communities Annual Principal’s Conference and presented to my fellow principals on new STEM initiatives in our school; a big Thank You to Ms. Callie & Ms. Tina for their contribution to my presentation. As part of a professional learning community we as educators are continuously growing, learning, and leading together. We can’t wait to share all that we have learned with our families in order to improve the services and programs we provide you.
This month we will be celebrating all that we are thankful for with our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 19th (See School Spotlight for Info). We will also be sending home our first Parent Reports on Wednesday, November 25th. Parent reports are a glimpse of your child’s development along with giving you information on the goals and skills your child will be working towards in the upcoming period. Kindergarten readiness conferences will occur in December (sign up sheets will be posted the week of Thanksgiving) for our Prek, Prek2B, Prek2A students heading off to kindergarten in the fall of 2016.
Please take a moment to scroll down to the article titled “4 Ways to Instill Thankfulness in Young Children” by Dr. Lauren Starnes.
Top Five Favorite Books about Thankfulness
1. A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
2. A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
3. Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Sonja Lamut
4. Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
5. Just so Thankful by Mercer Meyer
Five Little Turkeys
Five little turkeys by the front door,
One waddled off, then there were four.
Four little turkeys out under the tree,
One waddled off, then there were three.
Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, then there were two.
Two little turkeys in the noonday sun,
One waddled off, then there was one.
One little turkey-better run away!
Soon it will be Thanksgiving Day!
Thank you for sharing your family with us this fall! We are so very thankful to be part of your child’s first learning experience!
Nicole Gleason
Principal
Our calendar for the 2015-2016 school years is viewable online at: http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com.
Upcoming Events
November
December
School Spotlight
Thanksgiving Dinner
Please join us on Thursday, November 19th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm for our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Ms. Jen and Ms. Nicole will be cooking up a wonderful thanksgiving dinner for all our Chesterbrook Academy Preschool and Elementary families. Prek, Prek2B, and Prek2A students will be performing at 5:30pm and CAES choir will be performing at 6:30pm. We hope to see you there!
Winter Program
Mark your calendar our winter program will be on Saturday, December 12th. All our students will be performing on stage (and some parents too). Performances will begin at 10:15am, so we are asking families to arrive by 10:00am. More information coming.
Please take a moment to review how traffic should flow in our parking lot: Traffic is to enter the parking lot on the Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School side and then follow all the way around the lot and park on the preschool side. Traffic should exit the parking lot on our preschool side. Please make sure to slow down near the cross walk so that you are able to watch for pedestrians crossing from one building to the next and to avoid any accidents or injuries. Heavy traffic times are from 8:30am to 8:45am and 3:35pm to 3:55pm; to avoid these heavy traffic times please arrive to the campus either before or after these arrival and dismissal times.
Become a Chesterbrook Ambassador!
If you refer a family to any Chesterbrook Academy school, you will receive a free week of tuition off of your oldest child’s tuition. There is no limit to the number of families you refer. Note: The referred family must be full-time student and enrolled for 90 days before the free week of tuition can be applied. If the referral is for a part time student you will receive one hundred dollars off your child’s tuition.
Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School
Please take a moment each month to view what is new and exciting at our Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School website at: http://naperville.chesterbrookacademy.com. You can learn more about all the specialty teachers under the Parent tab or enjoy reading the elementary newsletter.
From the Education Department
4 Ways to Instill Thankfulness in Young Children
It’s never too early to teach your child about thankfulness. By learning concepts of generosity and compassion, children strengthen their connection to their community and become sensitive to the feelings of others.
The holiday season is quickly approaching, so now is a great time to reinforce the importance of thankfulness and giving back to those in need.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
TODDLERS: Be a good role model
In the classroom: Our teachers introduce “please” and “thank you” to our toddlers by using sign language and verbal communication. Students practice good manners with their dolls, stuffed animals and each other.
At home: Modeling positive behaviors is a great way to teach your child good manners. Say “please” before asking him to do something, and always follow with “thank you.”
Recommended reading: Little Critter® I Am Helping by Mercer Mayer
BEGINNERS: Share your gratitude out loud
In the classroom: Our teachers encourage our Beginner students to name a few of their favorite toys and games, and bring one in from home to share with friends. By sharing their belongings, children nurture connections with their classmates, and build necessary problem-solving skills.
At home: Talk with your child about the things in your life for which you are thankful, and ask him to name a few as well. Extend the discussion beyond physical possessions. For instance, if he is thankful for a favorite toy, say “Grandma bought you that toy, and we are thankful for her.”
Recommended reading: Spot Helps Out by Eric Hill
INTERMEDIATES: Show appreciation through actions
In the classroom: By age three, children begin to understand the concept of appreciation. They create birthday cards for their teachers, make art projects for friends, and write thank you cards for classroom visitors.
At home: Go shopping with your child, and buy a small token of appreciation for a friend or family member. Ask your child to draw a picture or write a thank you note to accompany the gift.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Good Deeds by Norman Bridwell
PRE-K/PRE-K2: Give back to those in need
In the classroom: During the holidays, many of our schools host donation drives for organizations in need. Our older preschoolers discuss why they are participating, count the items donated, and sometimes have the opportunity to deliver the donations.
At home: Donate canned goods to a local food pantry, and allow your child to choose the food that he would like to donate. Explain to him that you are thankful to have good food to eat, and that you want to make sure that others have the same.
Recommended reading: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to develop thankfulness and show gratitude towards others. By setting this positive foundation, your child will be more appreciative and generous as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education