From the Principal’s Office:
A big thank you to all the families who attended our Hot Cocoa Social! We raised over eight hundred dollars for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with your bids & donations. We will be having our classroom Valentine’s Day parties on Friday, February 12th from 3pm to 3:45pm. All students & parents are welcome to attend these parties. As a reminder we only allow store bought treats to be brought to school, no homemade items (and no items containing nuts or nut products). If you have questions about what to bring please speak with your child’s teacher. We want all our students to safely enjoy their Valentine’s Day!
We are still going outside weather permitting so please make sure your child has appropriate outerwear for winter weather. We recommend bringing a hat, gloves, and coat each day. Please bring snow pants and boots on days when snow is present on the ground. We want all our students to enjoy some winter fun this month!
Please take a moment and scroll down to read the article “Helping Your Preschooler Develop Positive Friendship Skills” by Dr. Lauren Starnes.
My favorite books about love and feelings
1. Today I feel silly & other moods that make my day by Jamie Lee Curtis
2. Mama, do you love me? by Barbara M. Joose
3. Whoever you are by Mem Fox
4. Love you forever by Robert Munch
5. The way I feel by Janan Cain
Wishing you and your family a heart felt February!
Nicole Gleason
Principal
Our calendar for the 2015-2016 school years is viewable online at: http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com.
Upcoming Events
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
- Open House for New Families on Saturday, March 12th
- Egg Hunt on Friday, March 18th
School Spotlight
STEM Curriculum Night
Please join us on Tuesday, March 8th from 6:00pm to 7:00pm to explore multi-sensory activities with your child in our Infant and Toddler programs and STEM activities with your Beginner, Intermediate, and Prek child. This is a family event, older siblings are welcome to join us too!
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
Helping Your Preschooler Develop Positive Friendship Skills
Are you puzzled by some of your child’s social behaviors? Have you noticed that your toddler doesn’t interact with other children very often? Does your three-year-old get frustrated when a classmate won’t play with him? Will your four-year-old only play with her best friend?
These are all normal social behaviors for preschoolers. Learning how to develop friendships is a lifelong process. Children’s social behaviors evolve from smiling and cooing at others, to engaging in parallel play, to eventually forming friendships and playing together.
Below are ways we help develop friendships in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Before they can communicate verbally, infants build connections by smiling, cooing and crying. By two months old, they might turn toward other infants, and by twelve months, they begin to imitate their peers. Teachers help facilitate this relationship by sitting infants near each other during activities such as story time and tummy time.
At home: Even though infants don’t really play with one another, they still benefit from “play dates” with other infants. Sit your infant face-to-face with another infant or in close proximity to an older sibling, and provide each child separate toys. Note when your infant watches the other child and what captures his attention.
Recommended reading: Friends by Helen Oxenbury and Let’s Play by Leo Lionni
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: Many young children tend to engage in “parallel play.” They play near other children, but each child is doing something different. This is a natural phase of development. As children get older, they begin to enjoy more shared activities with their peers. For example, they might enjoy splashing their hands at the water table with others, looking at books while sitting close to a friend, and dancing to music with their classmates.
At home: Invite another parent and child to your home for a play date. Blocks, balls, dress up clothes and toy kitchen sets are great toys for children at this age. Don’t force them to play with each other. Instead, let the children decide on the level of interaction.
Recommended reading: Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle and I Can Share by Karen Katz
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: In the Beginner classroom, teachers refer to classmates as “friends.” Students learn about personal space and begin to practice good manners by saying please and thank you.
At home: Model positive behaviors while playing with your child. Say “I’m going to roll the ball to you. Can you please roll the ball back to me?” Afterward, say “Thank you. You are being a good friend.”
Recommended reading: How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Let’s be Friends by P. K. Hallinan
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Between ages three and four, children attempt to understand social situations, but often do so from an egocentric point of view. They need adult guidance to help them navigate peer conflict and model appropriate friendship-making behaviors. Small group activities help children learn how to follow directions, take turns and develop friendships.
At home: Ask your child about their friends and what games they played together. If he says, “Andrew didn’t play with me today. He’s mean,” you could say, “Andrew may have wanted to play a different game today. Maybe you can play together tomorrow. What does Andrew like to play?”
Recommended reading: Just My Friend and Me by Mercer Mayer and Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: Friendship in Pre-K and Pre-K2 is usually reciprocal and deliberate as children become more skilled in social interactions and look for peers with shared interests. Our character education program reinforces friendship making skills using songs, games, books and brain-builder activities to nurture skills such as collaboration, understanding feelings and resolving conflicts.
At home: Bring your child to events that include multiple children, such as birthday parties, or encourage your child to play a board game that requires multiple players. Ask him to introduce himself to the other children, or encourage him to play the game taking turns. If you notice frustration from your child, say, “In order to play the game, we all have to play together.”
Recommended reading: Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel and A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
Don’t be concerned about the number of friends your child has, as it is more about quality than quantity. Each child will develop friendships at his own pace. What matters most is the development of social skills such as collaboration and problem-solving, which will help him transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
February News
From the Principal’s Office:
A big thank you to all the families who attended our Hot Cocoa Social! We raised over eight hundred dollars for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with your bids & donations. We will be having our classroom Valentine’s Day parties on Friday, February 12th from 3pm to 3:45pm. All students & parents are welcome to attend these parties. As a reminder we only allow store bought treats to be brought to school, no homemade items (and no items containing nuts or nut products). If you have questions about what to bring please speak with your child’s teacher. We want all our students to safely enjoy their Valentine’s Day!
We are still going outside weather permitting so please make sure your child has appropriate outerwear for winter weather. We recommend bringing a hat, gloves, and coat each day. Please bring snow pants and boots on days when snow is present on the ground. We want all our students to enjoy some winter fun this month!
Please take a moment and scroll down to read the article “Helping Your Preschooler Develop Positive Friendship Skills” by Dr. Lauren Starnes.
My favorite books about love and feelings
1. Today I feel silly & other moods that make my day by Jamie Lee Curtis
2. Mama, do you love me? by Barbara M. Joose
3. Whoever you are by Mem Fox
4. Love you forever by Robert Munch
5. The way I feel by Janan Cain
Wishing you and your family a heart felt February!
Nicole Gleason
Principal
Our calendar for the 2015-2016 school years is viewable online at: http://centralnaperville.chesterbrookacademy.com.
Upcoming Events
February
March
School Spotlight
STEM Curriculum Night
Please join us on Tuesday, March 8th from 6:00pm to 7:00pm to explore multi-sensory activities with your child in our Infant and Toddler programs and STEM activities with your Beginner, Intermediate, and Prek child. This is a family event, older siblings are welcome to join us too!
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
Helping Your Preschooler Develop Positive Friendship Skills
Are you puzzled by some of your child’s social behaviors? Have you noticed that your toddler doesn’t interact with other children very often? Does your three-year-old get frustrated when a classmate won’t play with him? Will your four-year-old only play with her best friend?
These are all normal social behaviors for preschoolers. Learning how to develop friendships is a lifelong process. Children’s social behaviors evolve from smiling and cooing at others, to engaging in parallel play, to eventually forming friendships and playing together.
Below are ways we help develop friendships in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Before they can communicate verbally, infants build connections by smiling, cooing and crying. By two months old, they might turn toward other infants, and by twelve months, they begin to imitate their peers. Teachers help facilitate this relationship by sitting infants near each other during activities such as story time and tummy time.
At home: Even though infants don’t really play with one another, they still benefit from “play dates” with other infants. Sit your infant face-to-face with another infant or in close proximity to an older sibling, and provide each child separate toys. Note when your infant watches the other child and what captures his attention.
Recommended reading: Friends by Helen Oxenbury and Let’s Play by Leo Lionni
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: Many young children tend to engage in “parallel play.” They play near other children, but each child is doing something different. This is a natural phase of development. As children get older, they begin to enjoy more shared activities with their peers. For example, they might enjoy splashing their hands at the water table with others, looking at books while sitting close to a friend, and dancing to music with their classmates.
At home: Invite another parent and child to your home for a play date. Blocks, balls, dress up clothes and toy kitchen sets are great toys for children at this age. Don’t force them to play with each other. Instead, let the children decide on the level of interaction.
Recommended reading: Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle and I Can Share by Karen Katz
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: In the Beginner classroom, teachers refer to classmates as “friends.” Students learn about personal space and begin to practice good manners by saying please and thank you.
At home: Model positive behaviors while playing with your child. Say “I’m going to roll the ball to you. Can you please roll the ball back to me?” Afterward, say “Thank you. You are being a good friend.”
Recommended reading: How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Let’s be Friends by P. K. Hallinan
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Between ages three and four, children attempt to understand social situations, but often do so from an egocentric point of view. They need adult guidance to help them navigate peer conflict and model appropriate friendship-making behaviors. Small group activities help children learn how to follow directions, take turns and develop friendships.
At home: Ask your child about their friends and what games they played together. If he says, “Andrew didn’t play with me today. He’s mean,” you could say, “Andrew may have wanted to play a different game today. Maybe you can play together tomorrow. What does Andrew like to play?”
Recommended reading: Just My Friend and Me by Mercer Mayer and Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: Friendship in Pre-K and Pre-K2 is usually reciprocal and deliberate as children become more skilled in social interactions and look for peers with shared interests. Our character education program reinforces friendship making skills using songs, games, books and brain-builder activities to nurture skills such as collaboration, understanding feelings and resolving conflicts.
At home: Bring your child to events that include multiple children, such as birthday parties, or encourage your child to play a board game that requires multiple players. Ask him to introduce himself to the other children, or encourage him to play the game taking turns. If you notice frustration from your child, say, “In order to play the game, we all have to play together.”
Recommended reading: Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel and A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
Don’t be concerned about the number of friends your child has, as it is more about quality than quantity. Each child will develop friendships at his own pace. What matters most is the development of social skills such as collaboration and problem-solving, which will help him transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education