August 26, 2008
Dear Families,
Welcome to another year at the Early Education Center! We have been working hard over the past week getting the classroom ready for your children. The beginning of the school year is such an exciting time. One of the things I love about teaching is that each fall we get a fresh start on a new year full of possibilities. So it is with great pleasure that I open the doors of our school and look forward to the year ahead.
I want to encourage you to look around our classroom. Your children will spend a lot of time here, and we want you to be as comfortable as they are. Just inside the door are the cubbies. Your child may keep their coat on the hooks and use the small section (or basket) for daily artwork to go home or long term storage.
There is a family bookshelf on top of the cubbies- you may sign out any books that interest you. Near the circle rug is our schedule, the children can read the day’s activities in words and pictures. Children refer to this schedule throughout the day- they like knowing what’s next. Across the room is the family bulletin board, where more detailed weekly plans are posted for interested families. The week’s menus are posted on the family bulletin board as well; these postings are a good source of information if your child doesn’t open up much about the day. We also post newsletters, local children’s events or other things that may interest you.
The blue table is the art table. Children may choose any materials from the nearby art shelf to use as they wish. We have a cozy couch for reading, relaxing or chatting with friends. The block areas and housekeeping are hubs of focused activity, and the brown tables generally have groups of children sitting with manipulatives or “table toys”.
Both groups of preschoolers will spend the next few weeks getting to know each other and getting to know the routines, materials, and expectations of school and their new group. I am sure the children will be tired as they adjust (or re-adjust) to being in a school setting. It often happens that children “hold it together” at school, and then are tired (and cranky) at home. I hope this prediction doesn’t come true, but I thought I’d mention it.
As you may already know, the Cherry Hill building has a busy parking lot. Our Supervisory Union has offices in the building and the church next door has parishioners coming and going all day. The children’s safety is our primary concern. Therefore we must insist that you hold your child’s hand in the parking lot- do not let him/her walk alone to or from your car. Please be sure that anyone picking up or dropping off your child knows these rules as well.
The TuTh group will be having lunch at school. We provide school lunch free of charge for any child that chooses it. Your child may wish to bring lunch from home: attached is a lunch menu to help you and your child decide if you want school lunch or lunch from home. After the Spring Break we will walk to Central Elementary School for lunch- when that gets closer we’ll let you know if you are eligible for free or reduced price lunch or if you’ll need to pay full price.
Things to remember about lunch:
*We all eat together, encouraging a family-like atmosphere.
*We don’t comment negatively or positively on a child’s eating and we let them choose what and how much they eat. See the parent handbook for more info on our “Feeding Guidelines”.
*School lunch will always include protein, a carbohydrate/grain, 2 fruits/veggies and milk. We most often skip the dessert.
*Your child can choose the menu entree, a cheeseburger or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Your child will get the side dishes listed on the menu with whatever they choose.
*If you send in lunch from home, it will stay in the refrigerator until lunchtime. We can provide milk or water if you’d like. Please do not send in candy with your child’s lunch.
I am writing this before school starts, I will write more next week to let you know how the first days are going.
Here’s to a wonderful year together,
Jennifer
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