From the Principal’s Office:

It is officially April! We are so thankful to be able to get outside on a regular basis and are looking forward to warm, sunny day!

This month is extremely busy and we get ready to celebrate the parents, children and teachers in our building during our annual appreciation weeks! We are looking forward to breakfasts, afternoon snacks, ice cream parties, a Ladybug Ball and more during our appreciation weeks. Keep an eye out for information on these upcoming events.

Watch out for Summer Camp information that is headed your way! We are finalizing our field trips and in house guests so you know what is planned.

Don’t forget about our extracurricular activities! These activities are a great way to keep your child active during the winter season and one less thing for you to have to do at night or on the weekends. We currently are offering Lil’ Sports, Lil’ Karate, Soccer Shots, and Makin’ Music! Sign up today.

April:

• Monday’s- Little Sports
• Wednesday’s- Soccer Shots
• Thursday’s- Makin’ Music
• Thursday, April 2nd- Spring Egg Hunt
• Week of April 13- Parent Appreciation
• Week of April 20- Child Appreciation Week
• Wednesday, April 22nd- Ladybug Ball
• Week of April 27- Teacher Appreciation Week

For Parents

When is Chesterbrook Academy Closed? Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day and 4th of July. We will also close early on Christmas Eve 3:00 pm.

Parent Referral Program: Have you heard about our Parent Referral program? If you refer a family and are mentioned on their application, we will credit you for the referral. New families who enroll part time reward you $100 off of one week of tuition and families who enroll full time reward you a FREE WEEK OF TUITION. Please see Sara for more details.

Withdraw Policy: In order to withdraw your child from school, four weeks notice must be given (per the tuition policy). If you are withdrawing for any period beyond 3 weeks, your spot may be secured by paying the registration fee ($80). If the registration fee is not paid prior to your withdraw, your child’s spot is not guaranteed upon your return. All withdraws must be made in writing.

Vacation Credits: Families are allotted one week’s worth of vacation credit per fiscal year (July 1-June 30). This credit is used for a Monday-Friday week when your child will not be in the building. Your family must be enrolled for 6 months prior to being eligible for the vacation credit! Please remember: 2 Weeks notice must given in order to take advantage of this credit.

Wellness Policy: According to the parent handbook we will send children home for the following reasons. We also reserve the right to send a child home for any signs of communicable diseases:

• Fever 100.5 or higher
• Vomitting
• Diarrhea (reoccuring)
• Cough/Sore Throat
• Fussy, cranky, excessive crying
• Head lice
• Unknown rash

A child must be 24 hour symptom and medicine free in order to return to school.

Parking Lot Safety: Please maintain a safe driving speed through the parking lot at all times. Please do not leave your car running in the parking lot. Please do not sit in the parking lot on your cell phones, as space is extremely limited. Please do not allow your child to be unattended in the parking lot at any time.

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