May 2016 Newsletter
May is here and we have been in a bit of a monsoon it seems the first few days. I am hoping all these rainy days will go away soon and sunny skies will be all abound. This month in the school we are busy preparing for the merger with our Royersford Chesterbrook Academy, those families will officially be joining us on June 13th. In the upcoming weeks until this takes place we will be moving some furniture into our classrooms and new toys! We are so excited for this transition to take place. We ask that you please bear with us as we consolidate the two schools. In addition to the merger, we are preparing for summer camp! Part of this preparation is changing classrooms around. We are excited to announce that the Pre-K classrooms that are housed in building B will move to building A the week of June 13th. Officially, in the summer months and in the fall our Building B will house all of our Before and After care programs, our Kindergarten Enrichment program and our Kindergarten classroom. We are making this change due to the fact that it is more developmentally and age appropriate for our students. We will keep you posted and updated as the classroom changes occur. It is our goal to make these changes as seamless as possible and have everything completed over the weekend, so we do not disrupt the students during the school day, also to make everything easier on you at drop off and pick up time.
We will be hosting the St. Jude’s Trike – A – Thon on May 20th. This is a great way for the students to raise money for the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. All donations need to be returned by May 27th.
Don’t forget we are closed on Monday May 30th to observe Memorial Day. Have a happy and safe 3 day weekend.
Donna Baus
Principal
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 2016 News
May 2016 Newsletter
May is here and we have been in a bit of a monsoon it seems the first few days. I am hoping all these rainy days will go away soon and sunny skies will be all abound. This month in the school we are busy preparing for the merger with our Royersford Chesterbrook Academy, those families will officially be joining us on June 13th. In the upcoming weeks until this takes place we will be moving some furniture into our classrooms and new toys! We are so excited for this transition to take place. We ask that you please bear with us as we consolidate the two schools. In addition to the merger, we are preparing for summer camp! Part of this preparation is changing classrooms around. We are excited to announce that the Pre-K classrooms that are housed in building B will move to building A the week of June 13th. Officially, in the summer months and in the fall our Building B will house all of our Before and After care programs, our Kindergarten Enrichment program and our Kindergarten classroom. We are making this change due to the fact that it is more developmentally and age appropriate for our students. We will keep you posted and updated as the classroom changes occur. It is our goal to make these changes as seamless as possible and have everything completed over the weekend, so we do not disrupt the students during the school day, also to make everything easier on you at drop off and pick up time.
We will be hosting the St. Jude’s Trike – A – Thon on May 20th. This is a great way for the students to raise money for the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. All donations need to be returned by May 27th.
Don’t forget we are closed on Monday May 30th to observe Memorial Day. Have a happy and safe 3 day weekend.
Donna Baus
Principal
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