Happy Back to School 2015! We had a great start to the new school year and we once again, welcome all of our new and returning families to Chesterbrook Academy Pembroke Pines. We are so excited to have the privilege to get to know each one of your children and support them through the process of learning and developing this school year.
We are also looking forward to partnering with you, our parents because we know together we can surely bring your little ones to that next level. Please make sure to check your e-mails, child’s file folder (or clipboards – Infant/Toddler) in their classroom, and read the What We Learned Today for their class daily. These are just some of the ways that we plan to help keep you in the loop of what is happening in your child’s classroom and the school.
A part of us working together as a team for your child includes you understanding what are the goals and expectations for the classroom and program that your child is in for this school year. We do remind you that each one of our programs build and progress off of one another to help prepare them for their future. For our returning parents, this means your little one’s classroom /program goals are completely different from the previous! They were able to learn and develop into who they are today and we love to see how much they have changed. Their new program will be focusing on goals and milestones that are now appropriate for them. We invite and strongly encourage you to make the time to join your child’s teacher for a Curriculum Night Wednesday, September 30th 2015 from 6:30pm-7:30pm. This is an excellent opportunity for you as the parents to understand the development skill milestones and goals the teachers are working on daily in class. The teachers will also explain the set up and routine of their program. You will become the students and be able to see the school through the eyes of your little one! In order for you and the other parents to get the most of this event, we do ask that you make the appropriate arrangements for your little ones to stay home. We promise that we will have plenty other events throughout the year where they are the focus but for this event, it is about sharing information with parents.
With the amazing growth between the two schools on our campus, we know the traffic can sometimes be frustrating. Thank you so much for following the procedures that were added this school year in order to keep everyone, especially the students safe. As a reminder: During the prime morning drop off time 8:30am-9:30am, we ask that you follow the procedures listed below. These same procedures will be in placed between 3:00pm-3:45pm as Paladin Academy end of school day dismissal.
- All traffic on the Pines Campus will be one way during arrival and dismissal times. Please do not attempt to enter the secondary entrance located on the east side of the property.
- During morning peak hours, parking will be at a premium.
- Parents are reminded to avoid parking along curbs or blocking driveways as such actions are a violation of City of Pembroke Pines ordnances. This may require you to circle back.
- We ask parents to be considerate of those waiting for parking when inside visiting.
- Please give way to school busses that may be arriving.
- As a reminder, a parent should never enter a school building while leaving their car running, unlocked and with vital possessions left inside (such as a purse, tablet, etc.).
Thank you again for your help in ensuring our campus is safe!
The 3rd Thursday of every month marks a Silly School Spirit Day! We encourage you to have fun and send your child to school dressed to reflect the theme. The Silly School Spirit Day themes for the whole school year were sent home the first day of school in your child’s folder and are also located on our website under the calendar section.
School wide events are always posted on our school website calendar and homepage. For activities and events pertaining to your child’s individual class, please refer to the class’s weekly newsletter and parent board.
Please keep the follow upcoming events in mind:
- Monday, Sept. 7th– Chesterbrook Academy will be closed in honor of Labor Day
- Monday, Sept. 14th– Non-VPK Day. No school for VPK Only students and additional fees apply for full time VPK students who attend before noon.
- Tuesday, Sept. 15th– Picture Day: Rooms 2,4,6,8* Sibling pictures will be on the younger child’s day.
- Wednesday, Sept 16th– Picture Day Rooms 1,3,5,7* Sibling pictures will be on the younger child’s day.
- Thursday, Sept 17th– First Silly Spirit Day of the school year! Theme is Super Hero.
- Wednesday, Sept 23rd– Non-VPK Day. No school for VPK Only students and additional fees apply for full time VPK students who attend before noon.
- Wednesday, September 30th– Curriculum Night for Parents Only 6:30pm-7:30pm
- Friday, Oct.30th– Trunk or Treat 6:30pm-8:00pm * Cars participating will need to be parked by 6:00pm to decorate their trunk. More info will go home as the date gets closer.
A message from Nobel Learning Communities’ Education Department:
Developing Balance Skills in Young Children
From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
September 2015 News
Happy Back to School 2015! We had a great start to the new school year and we once again, welcome all of our new and returning families to Chesterbrook Academy Pembroke Pines. We are so excited to have the privilege to get to know each one of your children and support them through the process of learning and developing this school year.
We are also looking forward to partnering with you, our parents because we know together we can surely bring your little ones to that next level. Please make sure to check your e-mails, child’s file folder (or clipboards – Infant/Toddler) in their classroom, and read the What We Learned Today for their class daily. These are just some of the ways that we plan to help keep you in the loop of what is happening in your child’s classroom and the school.
A part of us working together as a team for your child includes you understanding what are the goals and expectations for the classroom and program that your child is in for this school year. We do remind you that each one of our programs build and progress off of one another to help prepare them for their future. For our returning parents, this means your little one’s classroom /program goals are completely different from the previous! They were able to learn and develop into who they are today and we love to see how much they have changed. Their new program will be focusing on goals and milestones that are now appropriate for them. We invite and strongly encourage you to make the time to join your child’s teacher for a Curriculum Night Wednesday, September 30th 2015 from 6:30pm-7:30pm. This is an excellent opportunity for you as the parents to understand the development skill milestones and goals the teachers are working on daily in class. The teachers will also explain the set up and routine of their program. You will become the students and be able to see the school through the eyes of your little one! In order for you and the other parents to get the most of this event, we do ask that you make the appropriate arrangements for your little ones to stay home. We promise that we will have plenty other events throughout the year where they are the focus but for this event, it is about sharing information with parents.
With the amazing growth between the two schools on our campus, we know the traffic can sometimes be frustrating. Thank you so much for following the procedures that were added this school year in order to keep everyone, especially the students safe. As a reminder: During the prime morning drop off time 8:30am-9:30am, we ask that you follow the procedures listed below. These same procedures will be in placed between 3:00pm-3:45pm as Paladin Academy end of school day dismissal.
Thank you again for your help in ensuring our campus is safe!
The 3rd Thursday of every month marks a Silly School Spirit Day! We encourage you to have fun and send your child to school dressed to reflect the theme. The Silly School Spirit Day themes for the whole school year were sent home the first day of school in your child’s folder and are also located on our website under the calendar section.
School wide events are always posted on our school website calendar and homepage. For activities and events pertaining to your child’s individual class, please refer to the class’s weekly newsletter and parent board.
Please keep the follow upcoming events in mind:
A message from Nobel Learning Communities’ Education Department:
Developing Balance Skills in Young Children
From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education