With April showers come beautiful May flowers!

We are so excited to see the weather get warmer and the season begin to change. With spring in the air, our theme this month is “Animals, Animals, Animals.” The students will be learning and exploring: Bees, Bugs and Butterflies, Farm Life, Animals of the Jungle, Deep Blue Sea, and Birds and Feathers! This month is going to be hands on FUN!
Teacher Appreciation Week
We will be celebrating National Teacher Appreciation Week from May 4th to May 8th. Our teachers make our school and we will be celebrating the wide range of talent among our amazing staff! We appreciate all that they do and words cannot express our gratitude. Please join us in celebrating our teachers in your own special way or by using the daily themes provided. Look inside the binder on the front desk to see what you teacher’s favorite things are. On Friday, May 8th, bring in a potluck item for your teacher’s “Lucky Potluck Luncheon”. Sign up at the front desk! Thank you for participating!
Week of the Young Child, Spring Break Camp & Earth Day 2015
All of our busy activities for the month of April were a HUGE success with the children. They had a blast making their tie dye shirts, planting herbs and flowers and of course our ladybug release! It was an exciting week and the children looked great in their tie dye! Thank you for your participation! Please check out our great pictures on our digital frame and on our CBA Facebook.

Scholastic Book Fair
We want to thank all the parents who supported our Scholastic Book Fair Fundraiser. We really appreciate all the donations of books as well! We collected a total $1600 and bought school books and supplies from the sales. Thank you so much!

 Teacher Appreciation Week
5/4/2015-5/8/2015
Our teachers are our shining stars! Let us all join to show our gratitude for them!
MONDAY, 5/4- You’re Our Hero!
Teachers will wear super hero clothes or dress as their favorite hero!  The kids (our “sidekicks”) are encouraged to join on the fun too!
Ideas:  super hero themed, gifts from a sidekick, food for your hero to stay strong through the day!
TUESDAY, 5/5- Keep Calm and Teach On!
Administration will provide a teacher breakfast and calming care packages for classrooms.  Help your teacher unwind with a relaxation item.
Ideas: relaxation items, inspiration, poems, candles
WEDNESDAY, 5/6- Big Hearts Grow Little Minds!
Show how much your teacher has helped your child grow and blossom by bringing them a flower!
Ideas: crafted flowers, flower scent items, flowers, their favorite flower
THURSDAY, 5/7- Thanks a Latte!
Administration will write thank you cards and provide coffee, tea and cookies
Ideas:  thank you cards, tumbler, mug, Starbucks, k-cups, coffee/tea theme gifts
FRIDAY, 5/8- Feeding the Minds of Tomorrow Potluck
Ideas:  Sign up at the front desk to bring a food item in for the teachers to share during the day to end our celebration!

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Party!
Join us for a Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Party on Monday May 11th starting at 3:45 pm. We are inviting all mothers to join in the Toddler and PreK-2 Classrooms to celebrate! Please RSVP by emailing or calling the school, or with Ms. Sydney or Ms. Jessica directly. We will serve lemonade, tea, snacks & fruit.

Summer Camp 2015: Activity Fees
Activity Fees will be billed on June 22rd & payment will be due then.
Preschool Activity Fee= $110
(Beginners, Intermediates & Pre-K)
School Age Activity Fee= $230
(Rising Kindergarten- Sixth Grade)

Parent Date Night!
To make the night even more fun for the kids, we have arranged for a complimentary Yoga Class for Toddlers-School Age Children!  Please let us know if you have question or concerns about date night.  Sign up for date night is at the front desk with first child $40 and siblings $35. We are open until 10pm.
Thank you!

SUNSCREEN
It is that time of year again! Please supply your child with sunscreen and complete the required permission slip found at the front desk. Parents are to apply in the morning and the teachers will reapply at appropriate timings through out the day.
CLOSED TOE SHOES & CLOTHES
Please note the importance of sending your child to school in safe, closed toe shoes. We are very physical and busy during the day. Toe injuries are a top injury which can be prevented with proper foot wear. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Check your child’s cubby to ensure that they have weather appropriate clothing in their cubby. This is a good reminder to provide enough underwear and clothing for potty training!

May

05.02.15 Joy of Dance: Ballet and Tap Recital in Clifton
05.04.15- Teacher Appreciation Week
05.08.15
05.08.15 Mother’s Day Parent Date Night 6:30-10:00pm
05.10.15 Mother’s Day
05.11.15 Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Party: Starts at 3:45pm
05.13.15 BSLF Chantilly Kids Campus Field Trip-Spring play dress rehearsal
05.25.15 Memorial Day: CBA CLOSED

June
06.05.15 PRE-K2 Graduation Ceremony
06.12.15 Final Progress Reports
06.19.15 Cookies for Dad’s Day
06.21.15 Father’s Day
06.22.15 Summer Camp KICK OFF WEEK!-Summer Camp Activity Fees Billed Out

Big Steps, Little Feet- PreK2 Final CBA Chantilly Field Trip:
The PreK2 children will be participating in a the Kindergarten play: Beauty and The Beast! Please look out for a permission slip on your child’s cubby soon! Thank you for all your interest in the Chantilly Kids Campus. Please let Ms. Jessica or Ms. Sydney know if you are interested in any programs or information about Kindergarten!

From the Education 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