FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Chesterbrook Parents,
May has arrived and it brought BEAUTIFUL weather! I am so excited for spring to be here and all of the fun things we have planned! Summer camp is right around the corner too! Please be on the finalized calendar and letters regarding fees in the next few weeks.
Our St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon was a HUGE success! We were able to collect over $1700 to help these children! Thank you all SO much for this!
We have a new music program called MusIQ and it has officially begun! If you are interested please let me know! 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!
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 warm 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 spring and summer!
Sincerely,
Lindsey Soban, principal
——————————————————————————-
FUN RECIPE
Monster Cookie Pizza
What you’ll need:
How to make it:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a mixing bowl beat the shortening and butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 1 1/4 cups of the flour and the brown sugar and beat until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix until incorporated. Add the vanilla and baking soda. Beat in the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour and mix until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Using a large ice-cream scoop, place full scoops of the batter on a cookie sheet with no sides. Bake for 5 minutes or until they start to melt. Remove from oven and place on a cookie sheet with sides or a medium size jelly roll pan. Finish baking about 6 to 10 minutes or until cookie base is dark brown. Remove from oven and let cool. They can be sliced into squares or broken into pieces.
——————————————————————————–
DATES TO REMEMBER
8th- Original Works orders due
13th- St. Johns Photos
14th- St. John’s Photos
29th- End of the month folders go home
29th – Pre-K graduation at 6:30pm
——————————————————————————–
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!
THURSDAYS: MusIQ @3pm Is a piano based music program for children ages 3 and up. Classical music and keyboard skills are taught. Please see us for more 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 child must 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.)
——————————————————————————–
A POWERFUL CONNECTION TO A LIFE FULL OF LEARNING
The perfect balance of learning and play!
We are so excited to announce that you will see our Links to Learning improvements starting in September! Please see Mrs. Lindsey or Mrs. Melissa for more details!
Children are expecting the perfect balance of learning and play in a safe, nurturing environment. Our Links to Learning curriculum helps to create life long learners. Introducing concepts in reading, math, art, music, science, and much more. You will receive professional updates, as well as ideas to continue the learning process at home. Our pre-k program is also in line with the Common Core Standards so you child will be well prepared for Kindergarten!
OUR PROGRAM
LINKS TO LEARNING (LTL): Links to Learning is an integrated series of programs for children ages six weeks to five years that engages the young learner’s senses, mind and body. The components of each program build upon each other as children grow and develop, ensuring an excellent preparation for elementary school. Links to Learning takes advantage of a child’s readiness to learn with activities that are fun, challenging, easily understood – and meaningful. The curriculum gives a child the freedom to discover in a supportive, loving and nurturing environment. It is truly the perfect balance of learning and play!
BABY SIGN: In our infant and toddler classrooms, baby sign language is taught to our students to help teachers better understand the needs of our children! Each month two new signs will be taught- including the basic “need” signs of more, all done, mommy, daddy, diaper, milk, tired, and many many more!
SPANISH: From the ages 2 to 5, children display an amazing capacity for learning language. By integrating Spanish throughout the day at an early age, children get a head-start on acquiring a second language. They develop listening and speaking skills while honing conversational skills, as well as explore music, clothing and activities from another culture right in their own classroom.
SPORTS, PLAY & ACTIVE RECREATION FOR KIDS! (SPARK): Spark promotes physical activity in ways that are creative and fun. It teaches social skills and enhances personal skills with maintaining high activity time.
SECOND STEP: Our character education program is designed for our Pre-K students but may be appropriate for our intermediate students in some cases. This wonderful program helps teach children how to recognize feelings of others, how to handle conflict on their own, how to take turns, share, and wait patiently for their turn to talk- to name a few! Parents will get ideas to take home as well to help with this program!
LETTER BUDDIES: This wonderful program is a supplement to our already amazing Links to Learning Language and Literacy component. This is for children who are ready to start with sight words and reading in our pre-k program. This will not be for every student, however it is a great resource for children who are ready to begin reading!
——————————————————————————–
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 voice mail 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 EDUCATIONAL 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 Newsletter
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Chesterbrook Parents,
May has arrived and it brought BEAUTIFUL weather! I am so excited for spring to be here and all of the fun things we have planned! Summer camp is right around the corner too! Please be on the finalized calendar and letters regarding fees in the next few weeks.
Our St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon was a HUGE success! We were able to collect over $1700 to help these children! Thank you all SO much for this!
We have a new music program called MusIQ and it has officially begun! If you are interested please let me know! 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!
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 warm 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 spring and summer!
Sincerely,
Lindsey Soban, principal
——————————————————————————-
FUN RECIPE
Monster Cookie Pizza
What you’ll need:
How to make it:
——————————————————————————–
DATES TO REMEMBER
8th- Original Works orders due
13th- St. Johns Photos
14th- St. John’s Photos
29th- End of the month folders go home
29th – Pre-K graduation at 6:30pm
——————————————————————————–
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!
THURSDAYS: MusIQ @3pm Is a piano based music program for children ages 3 and up. Classical music and keyboard skills are taught. Please see us for more 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 child must 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.)
——————————————————————————–
A POWERFUL CONNECTION TO A LIFE FULL OF LEARNING
The perfect balance of learning and play!
We are so excited to announce that you will see our Links to Learning improvements starting in September! Please see Mrs. Lindsey or Mrs. Melissa for more details!
Children are expecting the perfect balance of learning and play in a safe, nurturing environment. Our Links to Learning curriculum helps to create life long learners. Introducing concepts in reading, math, art, music, science, and much more. You will receive professional updates, as well as ideas to continue the learning process at home. Our pre-k program is also in line with the Common Core Standards so you child will be well prepared for Kindergarten!
OUR PROGRAM
LINKS TO LEARNING (LTL): Links to Learning is an integrated series of programs for children ages six weeks to five years that engages the young learner’s senses, mind and body. The components of each program build upon each other as children grow and develop, ensuring an excellent preparation for elementary school. Links to Learning takes advantage of a child’s readiness to learn with activities that are fun, challenging, easily understood – and meaningful. The curriculum gives a child the freedom to discover in a supportive, loving and nurturing environment. It is truly the perfect balance of learning and play!
BABY SIGN: In our infant and toddler classrooms, baby sign language is taught to our students to help teachers better understand the needs of our children! Each month two new signs will be taught- including the basic “need” signs of more, all done, mommy, daddy, diaper, milk, tired, and many many more!
SPANISH: From the ages 2 to 5, children display an amazing capacity for learning language. By integrating Spanish throughout the day at an early age, children get a head-start on acquiring a second language. They develop listening and speaking skills while honing conversational skills, as well as explore music, clothing and activities from another culture right in their own classroom.
SPORTS, PLAY & ACTIVE RECREATION FOR KIDS! (SPARK): Spark promotes physical activity in ways that are creative and fun. It teaches social skills and enhances personal skills with maintaining high activity time.
SECOND STEP: Our character education program is designed for our Pre-K students but may be appropriate for our intermediate students in some cases. This wonderful program helps teach children how to recognize feelings of others, how to handle conflict on their own, how to take turns, share, and wait patiently for their turn to talk- to name a few! Parents will get ideas to take home as well to help with this program!
LETTER BUDDIES: This wonderful program is a supplement to our already amazing Links to Learning Language and Literacy component. This is for children who are ready to start with sight words and reading in our pre-k program. This will not be for every student, however it is a great resource for children who are ready to begin reading!
——————————————————————————–
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 voice mail 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 EDUCATIONAL 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