From the Principal’s Office:
Happy New Year from Chesterbrook Academy Preschool! I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past year as your principal. It has been an honor to watch your children grow, develop, and reach milestones. We are dedicated to providing you and your family with the best possible care and education. This month you will receive our online Parent Assurance Review. Please take a moment to fill out the online survey to help us improve the services and programs we provide you. We appreciate your partnership and support as we strengthen our commitment to providing the best first learning experience for your children.
In January, we are again hosting our Hot Cocoa Social & Silent Auction on Saturday, January 23rd from 10:00am to 1:00pm. This year Olaf & Elsa will be visiting our school from 11:30am to 12:30pm during the Hot Cocoa Social. This month we are also supplying you with information about winter weather, snowy days, and school closings in our “School Spotlight” section.
Please take a moment to scroll down to the article titled “The Value of Visual Art Activities for Your Preschooler” by Dr. Lauren Starnes.
My favorite books about winter and snow:
1. The snowy day by Ezra Jack Keats
2. The wild toboggan ride by Suzan Reid
3. Snowmen at night by Caralyn Buehner
4. The biggest snowball fight by Angela Shelf Mederis
5. Snow by Uri Shulevitz
Wishing you and your family a year filled with happiness from all the staff at Chesterbrook Academy!
Nicole Gleason
Principal
Our calendar for the 2015-2016 school years is viewable online at: http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com.
Upcoming Events
January
- Chesterbrook Academy is closed on Friday, January 1st
- MLK Day on Monday, January 18th
- Hot Cocoa Social & Silent Auction on Saturday, January 23rd
- Open House on Saturday, January 23rd
February
- Valentine’s Day Parties on Friday, February 12th from 3pm to 3:45pm
- Chesterbrook Academy is closed on Monday, February 15th
- Parent Reports & End of Month Folders sent home on Wednesday, February 24th
March
- Book Fair begins on Monday, March 7th
- STEM Curriculum Night on Tuesday, March 8th
- Egg Hunt on Friday, March 18th
School Spotlight
Snow Conditions and School Closing: ‘Tis the season for messy weather! Chesterbrook Academy makes every effort to remain open for our parents. However, in case of severe weather, we may find it necessary to close for the day or to reduce our schedule. In an effort to keep families informed, we will be sending out an Email to all parents, in the event we have to close our building or delay a start of school. Please check your Email in the morning to determine whether the school schedule will be changing for the day. You should receive this notification by 5:45am. We will also put information on our Website in the “News” section regarding the closing or delayed start of our day. Please view this information at http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com. This is the most efficient and quickest way to get updated information about any closing or delay in schedule.
On days when snow storms develop during the work day, please try to make other arrangements for your children to be picked up if you can not leave work early enough to get here by 6:30pm. We want everyone to get home in a safe and timely manner, including our staff members.
As always, our first priority is to the safety and health of our children, staff, and parents. If you are running late, please take your time and drive safely- we’ll take good care of your little one until you get here. It is important to call us to let us know you are running late and to update us on your progress, so we know what to expect. Remember to allow extra time for travel, since late pick-up charges can get expensive and frustrating.
Please take a moment to review how traffic should flow in our parking lot: Traffic is to enter the parking lot on the Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School side and then follow all the way around the lot and park on the preschool side. Traffic should exit the parking lot on our preschool side. Please make sure to slow down near the cross walk so that you are able to watch for pedestrians crossing from one building to the next and to avoid any accidents or injuries. Heavy traffic times are from 8:30am to 8:45am and 3:35pm to 3:55pm; to avoid these heavy traffic times please arrive to the campus either before or after these arrival and dismissal times.
Become a Chesterbrook Ambassador!
If you refer a family to any Chesterbrook Academy school, you will receive a free week of tuition off of your oldest child’s tuition. There is no limit to the number of families you refer. Note: The referred family must be full-time student and enrolled for 90 days before the free week of tuition can be applied. If the referral is for a part time student you will receive one hundred dollars off your child’s tuition.
Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School
Please take a moment each month to view what is new and exciting at our Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School website at: http://naperville.chesterbrookacademy.com. You can learn more about all the specialty teachers under the Parent tab or enjoy reading the elementary newsletter.
From the Education Department
The Value of Visual Art Activities for Your Preschooler
Visual art experiences help children develop skills such as critical thinking, self-expression, problem-solving, communication and collaboration. Our teachers focus on process-based art education, in which the experience of creating art is valued over the end product.
In our classrooms, teachers integrate art into many aspects of our Links to Learning curriculum. After reading a book about polar bears, teachers might ask students to create their own polar bears using sponges, paint, markers and paper. They encourage students to talk about their art, providing a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary, particularly words related to colors, shapes,textures, and emotions.
Our students are also exposed to and inspired by famous artwork. In order to cultivate that fascination, we discuss famous artists and art works and ask students to create replicas of well-known paintings and sculptures. For example, after learning about Michelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, teachers mimic the activity in the classroom. They tape paper underneath tables, and students practice painting a masterpiece while lying down.
Below are visual art activities you and your child can do at home, as well as recommended reading.
At Home:
• Provide your child with finger paint, a large piece of paper and a smock. Let him create a masterpiece. Talk about how the paint feels and what colors and shapes he creates on the paper.
• Start a journal with your child. Have him draw a picture of something that happened during the day. Avoid giving direction. Instead of saying “Draw a picture of your teacher and classmates,” encourage him to experiment using different colored markers or crayons. If age appropriate, ask your child to write a few words to describe the picture.
• Give your child a piece of paper and a box of crayons or markers. Show him how to use the materials to make dots, lines and swirls on the paper. Let him take over and have fun. Encourage conversation about your child’s art by saying, “Tell me about what you made” or “I see you used a lot of blue in your picture. Why did you choose that color?”
• Ask your child to decorate a sign for his bedroom door using various art materials. Have him write his name on the sign.
Recommended Reading:
• The Dot by Peter Reynolds
• Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
• Art by Patrick McDonnell
• Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
• Mix It Up by Herve Tullet
It is wonderful to share the joy that children naturally take in using art materials. Giving children extra opportunities to connect art to the world around them, contributes to happiness and future success in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
January News
From the Principal’s Office:
Happy New Year from Chesterbrook Academy Preschool! I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past year as your principal. It has been an honor to watch your children grow, develop, and reach milestones. We are dedicated to providing you and your family with the best possible care and education. This month you will receive our online Parent Assurance Review. Please take a moment to fill out the online survey to help us improve the services and programs we provide you. We appreciate your partnership and support as we strengthen our commitment to providing the best first learning experience for your children.
In January, we are again hosting our Hot Cocoa Social & Silent Auction on Saturday, January 23rd from 10:00am to 1:00pm. This year Olaf & Elsa will be visiting our school from 11:30am to 12:30pm during the Hot Cocoa Social. This month we are also supplying you with information about winter weather, snowy days, and school closings in our “School Spotlight” section.
Please take a moment to scroll down to the article titled “The Value of Visual Art Activities for Your Preschooler” by Dr. Lauren Starnes.
My favorite books about winter and snow:
1. The snowy day by Ezra Jack Keats
2. The wild toboggan ride by Suzan Reid
3. Snowmen at night by Caralyn Buehner
4. The biggest snowball fight by Angela Shelf Mederis
5. Snow by Uri Shulevitz
Wishing you and your family a year filled with happiness from all the staff at Chesterbrook Academy!
Nicole Gleason
Principal
Our calendar for the 2015-2016 school years is viewable online at: http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com.
Upcoming Events
January
February
March
School Spotlight
Snow Conditions and School Closing: ‘Tis the season for messy weather! Chesterbrook Academy makes every effort to remain open for our parents. However, in case of severe weather, we may find it necessary to close for the day or to reduce our schedule. In an effort to keep families informed, we will be sending out an Email to all parents, in the event we have to close our building or delay a start of school. Please check your Email in the morning to determine whether the school schedule will be changing for the day. You should receive this notification by 5:45am. We will also put information on our Website in the “News” section regarding the closing or delayed start of our day. Please view this information at http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com. This is the most efficient and quickest way to get updated information about any closing or delay in schedule.
On days when snow storms develop during the work day, please try to make other arrangements for your children to be picked up if you can not leave work early enough to get here by 6:30pm. We want everyone to get home in a safe and timely manner, including our staff members.
As always, our first priority is to the safety and health of our children, staff, and parents. If you are running late, please take your time and drive safely- we’ll take good care of your little one until you get here. It is important to call us to let us know you are running late and to update us on your progress, so we know what to expect. Remember to allow extra time for travel, since late pick-up charges can get expensive and frustrating.
Please take a moment to review how traffic should flow in our parking lot: Traffic is to enter the parking lot on the Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School side and then follow all the way around the lot and park on the preschool side. Traffic should exit the parking lot on our preschool side. Please make sure to slow down near the cross walk so that you are able to watch for pedestrians crossing from one building to the next and to avoid any accidents or injuries. Heavy traffic times are from 8:30am to 8:45am and 3:35pm to 3:55pm; to avoid these heavy traffic times please arrive to the campus either before or after these arrival and dismissal times.
Become a Chesterbrook Ambassador!
If you refer a family to any Chesterbrook Academy school, you will receive a free week of tuition off of your oldest child’s tuition. There is no limit to the number of families you refer. Note: The referred family must be full-time student and enrolled for 90 days before the free week of tuition can be applied. If the referral is for a part time student you will receive one hundred dollars off your child’s tuition.
Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School
Please take a moment each month to view what is new and exciting at our Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School website at: http://naperville.chesterbrookacademy.com. You can learn more about all the specialty teachers under the Parent tab or enjoy reading the elementary newsletter.
From the Education Department
The Value of Visual Art Activities for Your Preschooler
Visual art experiences help children develop skills such as critical thinking, self-expression, problem-solving, communication and collaboration. Our teachers focus on process-based art education, in which the experience of creating art is valued over the end product.
In our classrooms, teachers integrate art into many aspects of our Links to Learning curriculum. After reading a book about polar bears, teachers might ask students to create their own polar bears using sponges, paint, markers and paper. They encourage students to talk about their art, providing a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary, particularly words related to colors, shapes,textures, and emotions.
Our students are also exposed to and inspired by famous artwork. In order to cultivate that fascination, we discuss famous artists and art works and ask students to create replicas of well-known paintings and sculptures. For example, after learning about Michelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, teachers mimic the activity in the classroom. They tape paper underneath tables, and students practice painting a masterpiece while lying down.
Below are visual art activities you and your child can do at home, as well as recommended reading.
At Home:
• Provide your child with finger paint, a large piece of paper and a smock. Let him create a masterpiece. Talk about how the paint feels and what colors and shapes he creates on the paper.
• Start a journal with your child. Have him draw a picture of something that happened during the day. Avoid giving direction. Instead of saying “Draw a picture of your teacher and classmates,” encourage him to experiment using different colored markers or crayons. If age appropriate, ask your child to write a few words to describe the picture.
• Give your child a piece of paper and a box of crayons or markers. Show him how to use the materials to make dots, lines and swirls on the paper. Let him take over and have fun. Encourage conversation about your child’s art by saying, “Tell me about what you made” or “I see you used a lot of blue in your picture. Why did you choose that color?”
• Ask your child to decorate a sign for his bedroom door using various art materials. Have him write his name on the sign.
Recommended Reading:
• The Dot by Peter Reynolds
• Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
• Art by Patrick McDonnell
• Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
• Mix It Up by Herve Tullet
It is wonderful to share the joy that children naturally take in using art materials. Giving children extra opportunities to connect art to the world around them, contributes to happiness and future success in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education