A Message From the Principal:
Dear Chesterbrook Parents,
April showers bring May flowers! And I am so excited to see spring in the air! We have an exciting and fun spring planned and even more of a fun summer camp planned.
We have a new music program called MusIQ. We have not started this class as of yet, so if you are interested, please let me know! I have two sign ups so far! This is piano based and is for children ages 3 and up. It will not take the place of our current music program as it is very different. Please let me know if you have question about this! Information went home this week, so please let me know if you have questions….
If your child is not currently enrolled in Soccer Shots, JumpBunch, MusIQ, or Music for Little Ones, and you would like them to be, please let me know! These programs run all year (some will have small breaks between sessions) and it’s never too late to get signed up!
I want to remind everyone of a few things as well…. We offer an auto draft option for tuition payments! Please help us go paperless and sign up for this awesome option! If you are interested in this payment option please see Melissa or myself for the form to complete.
Please remember that all tuition is due the Friday before care. If not received at that point a $25.00 late charge will be assessed. This is something that is in place at time of enrollment when you sign off on the tuition agreement. If you have any questions in regards to weekly tuition payments please feel free to speak with me.
With the weather being cold now, we ask that you please check your child’s cubby for a full change of clothes that is weather appropriate. Accidents do happen and we want to make sure that your child remains as comfortable as possible while they are here.
We are very excited about all of the fun planned as we continue to move into the 2014-2015 school year!
Sincerely,
Lindsey Soban, principal
Fun Recipe…
Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas
What you’ll need:
2 (4 1/2-inch, 2 1/4-ounce) plain bagels, sliced in half
1/2 cup lower-sodium marinara sauce
1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken breast
1 cup preshredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
How to make it:
- Preheat broiler.
- Place bagel halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 2 minutes or until lightly toasted.
- Spread 2 tablespoons marinara on cut side of each bagel half. Top each half with 1/4 cup chicken, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Broil bagel halves an additional 2 minutes or until cheese melts.
- 3rd- Egg Hunt
- 17th- Trike-a-thon
- 29th- End of the Month Folders
Enrichment Programs
Why spend your evenings and weekends driving to and from practices and programs when your child can participate in there right here at school? Please see the front desk for more information on any of these wonderful programs!
TUESDAYS: Soccer Shots @ 3pm
Soccer Shots has three rules: Score a goal, be a team player, and HAVE FUN! This is a great way to get some extra physical fitness in and have a blast doing it! Spaces are still available so sign up today!!
WEDNESDAYS: MUSIC FOR LITTLE ONES @ 3
Weekly music classes with Music For Little Ones will be lots of fun!! Each week the children will participate in different songs, and activities with music. They will even get to try different musical instruments. They will receive a CD of all songs learned that session. It is a wonderful, musical experience!
THURSDAYS: JUMP BUNCH @ 10:00am
Jump Bunch introduces sports and fitness to your child in a hands-on setting. It builds coordination and interest in sports, teaches through constant praise and encouragement, offers a safe, non-competitive environment, and promotes healthy fitness and nutrition!
MusIQ- Is a new program we will be offering. Please see Melissa or Lindsey for details.
Sick Policy
The purpose of our sick policy is to reduce the spread of illness among children and to encourage full recuperation of sick children before they return to school. We depend on parents to assist us in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all of our children. We reserve the right to send home any student who shows signs of illness at school. Any student who becomes ill at school will be made comfortable until his/her parent can be notified and the student is picked up from school. A parent must pick up the ill child within one hour of notification. A sick childmust stay home where he/she is most relaxed and comfortable. Children may be sent home if they have any specific symptoms as listed below. In addition, a child must be free of all of these specified symptoms for at least 24 hours before he/she can be returned to school. These symptoms are as follows:
- A fever of 100 degrees or more
- Vomiting within the previous 24-hour period
- Diarrhea within the previous 24-hour period (including recurring episodes of diarrhea at school)
- A heavy nasal discharge indicative of infection
- A constant cough or sore throat
- Fussy, cranky behavior and generally not himself/herself
- A skin rash, excluding diaper rash
- Head lice
- Symptoms of a communicable disease
Following an illness, a child may return to school once he/she has either been seen by a doctor or it has been determined that the illness is not contagious. (A doctor’s clearance may be requested.)
Parent Reminders:
- Please remember that tuition is due on Fridays for the next week. There will be a $25 late fee assessed to your account if payment is received after noon on Mondays.
- Parents, please join us for all of our exciting events this month! Calendars are still available at the front desk!
- No outside food or drink should be brought to school unless your child has allergies or food restrictions. If they are bringing food from home for these reasons, please see me to sign our food waiver. Please see me with any questions.
- Please make sure you are signing your child in and out each day! This is essential as we use the sign in and out sheet to make sure all children are accounted for at fire drills or in case of a real emergency evacuation situation.
- Please make sure all children are washing their hands upon entering the classroom each morning. This will help us prevent spreading germs
- Please make sure there is a weather appropriate change of clothes (or more if potty training) in your child’s cubby!
- In the event of inclement weather, there are a few ways in which we will communicate this to you. You can call the school and it will be on the voicemail message. We will also send an email. I believe I have everyone’s correct email- if I don’t, please get it to me ASAP! You can also check the local news station, WSOC, as well as their website,www.wsoctv.com, or even our school website for information.
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
A Message From the Principal:
Dear Chesterbrook Parents,
April showers bring May flowers! And I am so excited to see spring in the air! We have an exciting and fun spring planned and even more of a fun summer camp planned.
We have a new music program called MusIQ. We have not started this class as of yet, so if you are interested, please let me know! I have two sign ups so far! This is piano based and is for children ages 3 and up. It will not take the place of our current music program as it is very different. Please let me know if you have question about this! Information went home this week, so please let me know if you have questions….
If your child is not currently enrolled in Soccer Shots, JumpBunch, MusIQ, or Music for Little Ones, and you would like them to be, please let me know! These programs run all year (some will have small breaks between sessions) and it’s never too late to get signed up!
I want to remind everyone of a few things as well…. We offer an auto draft option for tuition payments! Please help us go paperless and sign up for this awesome option! If you are interested in this payment option please see Melissa or myself for the form to complete.
Please remember that all tuition is due the Friday before care. If not received at that point a $25.00 late charge will be assessed. This is something that is in place at time of enrollment when you sign off on the tuition agreement. If you have any questions in regards to weekly tuition payments please feel free to speak with me.
With the weather being cold now, we ask that you please check your child’s cubby for a full change of clothes that is weather appropriate. Accidents do happen and we want to make sure that your child remains as comfortable as possible while they are here.
We are very excited about all of the fun planned as we continue to move into the 2014-2015 school year!
Sincerely,
Lindsey Soban, principal
Fun Recipe…
Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas
What you’ll need:
2 (4 1/2-inch, 2 1/4-ounce) plain bagels, sliced in half
1/2 cup lower-sodium marinara sauce
1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken breast
1 cup preshredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
How to make it:
Enrichment Programs
Why spend your evenings and weekends driving to and from practices and programs when your child can participate in there right here at school? Please see the front desk for more information on any of these wonderful programs!
TUESDAYS: Soccer Shots @ 3pm
Soccer Shots has three rules: Score a goal, be a team player, and HAVE FUN! This is a great way to get some extra physical fitness in and have a blast doing it! Spaces are still available so sign up today!!
WEDNESDAYS: MUSIC FOR LITTLE ONES @ 3
Weekly music classes with Music For Little Ones will be lots of fun!! Each week the children will participate in different songs, and activities with music. They will even get to try different musical instruments. They will receive a CD of all songs learned that session. It is a wonderful, musical experience!
THURSDAYS: JUMP BUNCH @ 10:00am
Jump Bunch introduces sports and fitness to your child in a hands-on setting. It builds coordination and interest in sports, teaches through constant praise and encouragement, offers a safe, non-competitive environment, and promotes healthy fitness and nutrition!
MusIQ- Is a new program we will be offering. Please see Melissa or Lindsey for details.
Sick Policy
The purpose of our sick policy is to reduce the spread of illness among children and to encourage full recuperation of sick children before they return to school. We depend on parents to assist us in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all of our children. We reserve the right to send home any student who shows signs of illness at school. Any student who becomes ill at school will be made comfortable until his/her parent can be notified and the student is picked up from school. A parent must pick up the ill child within one hour of notification. A sick childmust stay home where he/she is most relaxed and comfortable. Children may be sent home if they have any specific symptoms as listed below. In addition, a child must be free of all of these specified symptoms for at least 24 hours before he/she can be returned to school. These symptoms are as follows:
Following an illness, a child may return to school once he/she has either been seen by a doctor or it has been determined that the illness is not contagious. (A doctor’s clearance may be requested.)
Parent Reminders:
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