From the Desk of the Principal:

Dear Parents,

Spring is here at last! Hopefully all of the cold winter weather is behind us. We are all looking forward to warm days filled with sunshine and out side time!

One of our favorite things to do in Spring is to grow caterpillars and release the butterflies. All of the classes will be participating again this year from the Beginners and up. The children really get excited by this magical transformation. Please take some time at  pick up and drop off to check on the butterfly gardens in your child’s classroom. It is a great way to encourage your child’s interest in learning and share some time together.

The spring also brings many activities here at school. Be sure to keep an eye out for information for the many upcoming events.

Have a great month!

Jen

Reminders

• Be sure your child is in sneakers!
• Have weather appropriate clothes for your child in his or her extra clothes box in their cubbies.
• Remember to sign your child in each morning and out each night!
• Check your email, the school voice mail, NBC10, or 6ABC for school closings or late openings.  Be sure it reads Chesterbrook Academy, Audubon, PA
• Remember our sick policy.  Your child will be sent home for: 100 fever, runny nose/cough/vomiting/diarrhea
• Check your child’s cubby for any paperwork that needs to be returned.
• PLEASE do not bring children’s toys to school–unless it is for designated class days or show-n-tell.
• When picking your child up, please be sure they stay with you at all times.
• Do not keep your car on while it is unattended.
• It is very important to sign your child in and out each and every day!!!!
• When dropping your child off in the morning, please be sure to make eye contact with the teachers, so they know that your child has arrived at school. Also if the class is outside please walk your child out and inform the teachers.
• Parent Referrals: Every time you refer a family to Chesterbrook Academy and they enroll, you are eligible for a free week of tuition for your child. The new enrolled child must be enrolled for 90 days to receive the credit.

New Infant Policies and Procedures:

Dear Infant Parents,

Chesterbrook Academy Schools are the industry leaders in providing strong early childhood programs for their children. We are constantly evaluating our current operational practices and identifying new ways to continue to keep our children safe and healthy.

This communication is to make you aware of two initiatives that we have in place in our infant program. The first initiative is to make our families aware of recent information and trainings associated with safe sleep practices. We will then ask that you adopt our Safe Sleep Practice as part of the enrollment process. The second initiative is one that has enhanced our bottle feeding practices.

The Safe Sleep initiative is in place for all of our infant families. You will be educated on the Safe Sleep Practice at the time of enrollment. You will also be asked to sign the document which shares that they understand and will adhere to the expectations of the Safe Sleep Practice. All of our infant staff have been trained on the procedure and have a certificate of completion on file. As new infant teachers are hired they will be trained on both the Safe Sleep Practice and Bottle Feeding and Labeling System. Our safe sleep practice includes the elimination of any and all soft items in the crib. Soft items would include stuffed animals, dolls, mobiles, bumpers, blankets and lovies. Our rooms are kept at temperatures that are warm enough for the babies. However, if you would still like your child to have some type of outerwear, i.e. blanket, the Association of American Pediatrics recommends a sleep sack.

The second initiative is a color-coded labeling system for our Infant Program. Each child is assigned a specific color and Cubby tags, Crib labels, Daily Sheets, and Bottles are identified by that color. Chesterbrook Academy will supply you with all materials needed from our labeling system supplier, Applied Labels. You are welcome to preview the system and materials on Applied Labels website at www.appliedlabels.com.

Our preschool management team is ready to assist you with enrollment at Chesterbrook Academy and answer any questions you may have. We are looking forward to having your family join ours.

Sincerely,

Donna Bonfiglio-Miller

Executive Director

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