FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL
April was such a fun and busy month! Some of the many activities and events we had include PJ Day (to benefit and
raise awareness for the North Carolina chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), our Week of the Young Child activities, and our Ladybug Release was a huge success. We released 1500 ladybugs into nature, and the children had a blast! Thank you all to the parents who attended for making our Earth Day Ladybug Release a huge success. Also, thank you to all families who made donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during our Pajama Day on April 8. We raised over $180 to help blood cancer patients through LLS! Finally, Week of the Young Child was so much fun! The children enjoyed Superhero or Storybook Character Day on Monday, got to wear jerseys and sports shirts on Child Health Day, made a special Class Book on Wednesday, enjoyed stories read by special readers on Thursday, and then finally, enjoyed our Trike-A-Thon day on Friday! We also were able to raise over $200 for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital!
During the month of April, we also welcomed Ms. Candi Staines, our Assistant Principal, and baby Margeaux back to Chesterbrook Academy! She was so glad to see everyone! We also said farewell to the Acting Principal, Melanie Spurlock, and we sincerely thank her for her leadership and guidance during her time here. I want to personally thank you all again for making the transition for me and my boys so welcoming! I am excited to be here and with Ms. Staines’ help, make Chesterbrook Academy the best preschool program in the area for your little ones.
We look forward to May! Teacher Appreciation Week will be starting May with a bang from May 2 though May 6. During this week we will be doing lots of fun things for our wonderful teachers to show our appreciation for all the hard work they do. We are sincerely grateful to our teachers, and we want to make sure we thank them accordingly! Also, we sincerely hope that all of our mothers have a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8! We will have something special planned for our mothers on the following Monday, May 9, so please stay tuned for more details on this event soon! Please remember that we will be closed on Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. Finally, Links to Learning Folders will go home on Tuesday, May 31.
We are excited to announce that we will have Chesterbrook Academy Spirit Night at Sweetfrog Frozen Yogurt the afternoon of Tuesday, May 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The whole family is invited to come and enjoy some frozen yogurt, just be sure to tell them you’re from Chesterbrook Academy! This is also a great time to get to know those families who you usually see for only a few minutes during drop off and pick up time. The address to SweetFrog is 13855 Conlan Circle, Charlotte, NC 28277. Please let us know if you think your family will be able to attend, or if you have any questions or concerns.
We will be getting ready for Summer Camp with our preschoolers as well as our school agers. An email will go out in the coming weeks detailing the activities, calendar, and activity fees for our Preschool and Elementary Summer Camps this summer, so please be on the look out for that. Our Elementary Summer Camp is filling up fast, so make sure to sign up if you are interested in having your child attend!
As always, we will always be here to help you in any way possible if you have any questions or concerns.
Kindest Regards,
William Gordon, Principal
william.gordon@nlcinc.com
UPCOMING EVENTS AND SPECIAL DAYS
May 2-6: Teacher Appreciation Week
Tuesday, May 3: National Teacher Appreciation Day
Thursday, May 5: Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Sunday, May 8: Happy Mother’s Day!
Monday, May 9: Mother’s Day Event
Saturday, May 14: National Dance Like a Chicken Day!
Saturday, May 21: Armed Forces Day
Tuesday, May 24: Chesterbrook Academy Spirit Night at Sweetfrog from 5:30 to 7:30 pm!
Monday, May 30: Chesterbrook Academy Closed in Observance of Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 31: Links to Learning Folders Go Home
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!
WEDNESDAYS: Soccer Shots @ 9:30am 
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: Yogi Bears Yoga @ 3pm As a yogi with a passion for yoga and all the benefits it offers the mind and body, it is our yoga instructors personal goal to share her practice with our young ones so the each child in time can cultivate his or her own practice.
THURSDAYS: JUMP BUNCH @ 9:30am 
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!
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Next week, May 2-6, is National Teacher Appreciation Week. During this week we will celebrate the hard work and effort of our wonderful teachers. We are sincerely grateful for our amazing teachers, and we want to make sure they are thanked and appreciated for all they do. Please help in the celebration of our teachers by joining in the festivities!
Monday, May 2: Flower Day! Bring a flower for your teachers on this day!
Tuesday, May 3: Make a Card Day! Have your child make a card for his or her teachers.
Wednesday, May 4: Sweet Treat Day! Make a sweet treat for your teacher on this day (please remember, peanut-free)!
Thursday, May 5: Class Supplies Day! Feel free to bring some supplies for your child’s teachers to use in the classroom!
Friday, May 6: Children’s Choice Day! Let them pick one last gift to show their teachers how much they appreciate them!
A HUGE “Thank You!” to all of our wonderful teachers! We appreciate the hard work and effort you all put into creating a wonderful environment for our students!
AUTOMATIC DRAFT PROGRAM
“CHECK” IT OUT… No checks necessary! Enroll in our Automatic Payment Program and never write another check for your monthly tuition or pay another late payment. Tuition can be automatically deducted from your checking account. You can find more information about the ACH program here in the office. Click below for an Automatic Draft form and let us sign you up today!
ACH Sign Up Form
PARENT SIGN IN/OUT POLICY REMINDER
We wanted to take this time to remind you all about an important security feature here at Chesterbrook. Please remember to sign your child in and out on a regular basis on the class Sign In/Out sheets located at the front desk. If someone on your child’s authorized pick-up list is picking up, please remind him or her to do so as well. In the event of a true emergency, the Sign In/Out sheets will give Chesterbrook as well as the authorities an accurate count of who is actually in our building at any given time. Although we have never had any problem nor do we expect to in the future, this is an important security measure that keeps all of the children safe. Thank you for your continued compliance with our security policies.
FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT NOBEL
Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
-Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
May Newsletter
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL
April was such a fun and busy month! Some of the many activities and events we had include PJ Day (to benefit and
raise awareness for the North Carolina chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), our Week of the Young Child activities, and our Ladybug Release was a huge success. We released 1500 ladybugs into nature, and the children had a blast! Thank you all to the parents who attended for making our Earth Day Ladybug Release a huge success. Also, thank you to all families who made donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during our Pajama Day on April 8. We raised over $180 to help blood cancer patients through LLS! Finally, Week of the Young Child was so much fun! The children enjoyed Superhero or Storybook Character Day on Monday, got to wear jerseys and sports shirts on Child Health Day, made a special Class Book on Wednesday, enjoyed stories read by special readers on Thursday, and then finally, enjoyed our Trike-A-Thon day on Friday! We also were able to raise over $200 for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital!
During the month of April, we also welcomed Ms. Candi Staines, our Assistant Principal, and baby Margeaux back to Chesterbrook Academy! She was so glad to see everyone! We also said farewell to the Acting Principal, Melanie Spurlock, and we sincerely thank her for her leadership and guidance during her time here. I want to personally thank you all again for making the transition for me and my boys so welcoming! I am excited to be here and with Ms. Staines’ help, make Chesterbrook Academy the best preschool program in the area for your little ones.
We look forward to May! Teacher Appreciation Week will be starting May with a bang from May 2 though May 6. During this week we will be doing lots of fun things for our wonderful teachers to show our appreciation for all the hard work they do. We are sincerely grateful to our teachers, and we want to make sure we thank them accordingly! Also, we sincerely hope that all of our mothers have a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8! We will have something special planned for our mothers on the following Monday, May 9, so please stay tuned for more details on this event soon! Please remember that we will be closed on Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. Finally, Links to Learning Folders will go home on Tuesday, May 31.
We are excited to announce that we will have Chesterbrook Academy Spirit Night at Sweetfrog Frozen Yogurt the afternoon of Tuesday, May 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The whole family is invited to come and enjoy some frozen yogurt, just be sure to tell them you’re from Chesterbrook Academy! This is also a great time to get to know those families who you usually see for only a few minutes during drop off and pick up time. The address to SweetFrog is 13855 Conlan Circle, Charlotte, NC 28277. Please let us know if you think your family will be able to attend, or if you have any questions or concerns.
We will be getting ready for Summer Camp with our preschoolers as well as our school agers. An email will go out in the coming weeks detailing the activities, calendar, and activity fees for our Preschool and Elementary Summer Camps this summer, so please be on the look out for that. Our Elementary Summer Camp is filling up fast, so make sure to sign up if you are interested in having your child attend!
As always, we will always be here to help you in any way possible if you have any questions or concerns.
Kindest Regards,
William Gordon, Principal
william.gordon@nlcinc.com
UPCOMING EVENTS AND SPECIAL DAYS
May 2-6: Teacher Appreciation Week
Tuesday, May 3: National Teacher Appreciation Day
Thursday, May 5: Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Sunday, May 8: Happy Mother’s Day!
Monday, May 9: Mother’s Day Event
Saturday, May 14: National Dance Like a Chicken Day!
Saturday, May 21: Armed Forces Day
Tuesday, May 24: Chesterbrook Academy Spirit Night at Sweetfrog from 5:30 to 7:30 pm!
Monday, May 30: Chesterbrook Academy Closed in Observance of Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 31: Links to Learning Folders Go Home
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!
WEDNESDAYS: Soccer Shots @ 9:30am
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: Yogi Bears Yoga @ 3pm As a yogi with a passion for yoga and all the benefits it offers the mind and body, it is our yoga instructors personal goal to share her practice with our young ones so the each child in time can cultivate his or her own practice.
THURSDAYS: JUMP BUNCH @ 9:30am
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!
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Next week, May 2-6, is National Teacher Appreciation Week. During this week we will celebrate the hard work and effort of our wonderful teachers. We are sincerely grateful for our amazing teachers, and we want to make sure they are thanked and appreciated for all they do. Please help in the celebration of our teachers by joining in the festivities!
Monday, May 2: Flower Day! Bring a flower for your teachers on this day!
Tuesday, May 3: Make a Card Day! Have your child make a card for his or her teachers.
Wednesday, May 4: Sweet Treat Day! Make a sweet treat for your teacher on this day (please remember, peanut-free)!
Thursday, May 5: Class Supplies Day! Feel free to bring some supplies for your child’s teachers to use in the classroom!
Friday, May 6: Children’s Choice Day! Let them pick one last gift to show their teachers how much they appreciate them!
A HUGE “Thank You!” to all of our wonderful teachers! We appreciate the hard work and effort you all put into creating a wonderful environment for our students!
AUTOMATIC DRAFT PROGRAM
“CHECK” IT OUT… No checks necessary! Enroll in our Automatic Payment Program and never write another check for your monthly tuition or pay another late payment. Tuition can be automatically deducted from your checking account. You can find more information about the ACH program here in the office. Click below for an Automatic Draft form and let us sign you up today!
ACH Sign Up Form
PARENT SIGN IN/OUT POLICY REMINDER
We wanted to take this time to remind you all about an important security feature here at Chesterbrook. Please remember to sign your child in and out on a regular basis on the class Sign In/Out sheets located at the front desk. If someone on your child’s authorized pick-up list is picking up, please remind him or her to do so as well. In the event of a true emergency, the Sign In/Out sheets will give Chesterbrook as well as the authorities an accurate count of who is actually in our building at any given time. Although we have never had any problem nor do we expect to in the future, this is an important security measure that keeps all of the children safe. Thank you for your continued compliance with our security policies.
FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT NOBEL
Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
-Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education