GOOD SHEPHERD NURSERY SCHOOL October 2005 Newsletter

Welcome!!

 We are so happy to be back at school to begin our twentieth year!  The excitement has been evident with all the preparations to welcome your children for another year of learning and growing in a safe and nurturing environment.   Your pocket folder contains a staff schedule so you will know which teachers are here on the days your children come to school.  Information about our upcoming field trips will come home next week.  A “Parent Coffee” is in the works for October, and we’ll forward details as soon as they become available. 

Each month you will receive a newsletter prepared by all the staff that describes what is happening during circle time and the activities available at our learning centers.  Included with the newsletter each month will be a monthly school calendar, a snack calendar, and relevant articles pertaining to early childhood.  I urge you to read your newsletters from cover to cover as they contain lots of important information.  Book club flyers and a complimentary copy of “Parent and Child” magazine will come home periodically.  You can generally expect to receive your monthly tuition statement during the second week of each month.  You may send tuition payments directly to school in your child’s school bag. 

I urge you to keep the lines of communication open as we progress through the school year.  We’re here to serve you! We will certainly do our best to keep you informed about school happenings and your child’s progress.

Miss Cathy

 

Calendar Notes

    September 18                        Extended Days begin for Pre-K1

September 26, 27                 Field Trips to Jane and Paul’s Farm

     October 9                              Columbus Day – No School

     October 12                            Parent Information Night 7:00 p.m.

October 17                            CPR Course 6:00 p.m.

October 18, 19                      School Photo Days

     October 31                            Registration opens for current and former families

 

The school calendar you receive each month lists the “theme” of the week that the children discuss during circle time, upcoming events, scheduled celebration days, and children’s birthdays.  If a child’s name appears on a certain day along with a star, it means that particular day is their celebration day.  If a cake appears next to their name, it’s their actual birthday!  Further information about celebration days will be sent home next week.  The October calendar also notes some “color” days.  If it’s “red” day, the children can wear red if they wish to do so, and so on with the other colors listed. 

Fruit Juice

The guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics state that children between the ages of 1 and 6 should limit fruit juice consumption to between four and six ounces per day.  It is our policy to serve water along with a nutritious snack to the children each day.  If your child is a picky eater and you wish him or her to have a small serving of juice while they are at school, please let us know (in writing) and we will be happy to provide a small 100% apple juice box for your child.  If you are interested in reading more about these guidelines, there is a copy of the article on file in the office or you can read the online version: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/107/5/1210.

NO PEANUTS!!!!!

We have one staff member and several children enrolled who have severe allergies to peanuts.  WE ARE A PEANUT-FREE SCHOOL.  Please do not send any food in your child’s school bag (except packed lunches when appropriate).  If your child has any food containing peanuts before he or she comes to school, please make sure their hands and face are washed thoroughly and that there is no trace of the food on their clothing before bringing them to school.  It is surprising how many packaged foods contain traces of peanuts.  Please check ingredients carefully.  Less than 1/1000 of a teaspoon of peanut oil can kill a person with a peanut allergy!  Further information about allergic reactions is provided later in this newsletter. 

Seat Belts and Parking

Please note that because of insurance liability, the staff is unable to buckle your child into their car seat at dismissal time.  We will bring your child directly to your car, but you are responsible for securing them inside the car.

Remember – do not park in front of the school entrance during arrival and dismissal times.  This area is reserved for cars dropping off or picking up children.  If you wish to come into the school, even very briefly, please park elsewhere. 

We take the children on two field trips each year.  Parents have the option of following the school bus if they are concerned that the buses do not have seat belts.  Many of us have wondered why there is any debate about the use of seat belts in school buses.  There is a number you may call to learn about this issue and how you may influence your town to implement the use of seat belts.  You may contact Safe Guard Seats at 1-877-bus seat. 

Marking Belongings

Please remember to mark all of your child’s belongings.  The children don’t always remember what belongs to them, and the teachers cannot possibly keep track of who wore or brought what!

Physical Exams and Immunizations

 The Department of Early Education and Care (formerly the Office of Child Care Services) requires that we have on file a current physical exam and immunization record.  Failure to comply with this regulation could jeopardize our license to operate.  You will receive a reminder when your child’s medical forms are approaching the expiration date.  Since it often takes months to obtain an appointment for a physical exam, please be aware of this date, and call your pediatrician’s office well ahead of time.  If you are unable to obtain an appointment before the current exam expires, EEC will accept an appointment date that is within a reasonable time of the expiration date, but we will still be cited for a noncompliance.

 

CPR COURSE

Staff members are required to keep current certifications for first aid and CPR.  GSNS  will host a CPR course on October 17 at 6:00 p.m., and parents are welcome to attend.  Gail Parslow, R.N. will teach the course and the fee per person is $40.  Please let me know if you would like to sign up for this course. 

Enrichment Classes

We have a two openings in our Friday morning enrichment class.  The class follows the regular daily schedule and in previous years has offered special activities such as “favorite book days”, science projects and producing a child-written and illustrated book of stories.  Please let me know if you are interested in enrolling your child.  

School Closing

Although we generally follow the calendar for the Medway Public Schools, please note that we will have school on Jewish holidays and curriculum days when the public schools are closed.  Please check our school calendar each month for important information.  You can also check our website: www.goodshepherdnurseryschool.org. 

Educational Philosophy

 An article about understanding the importance of play is included in this newsletter.  This will be repetitive for some of you, but we believe that it is representative of our philosophy and is worth repeating.  You will also find a description of the hand-washing method that we teach the children and a sheet that shows the proper way to form letters.  If your child shows interest in learning to form letters, please teach him/her the correct way, and encourage the use of lower case letters for all but the first letters in names.  DO NOT PUSH A CHILD WHO SHOWS NO INTEREST.  Mastering letters is a Kindergarten skill (we check with area Kindergarten teachers every year).  I suggest that you review this material even if you have had a child in our program in the past.
 

Good Morning Song (Tune: Skip to My Lou)  Hello, how are you? Hello, how are you? Hello, how are you? How are you today?. I’m fine, how about you?  I’m fine, how about you? I’m fine, how about you? How are you today? Turn to your neighbors and shake their hands.  Turn to your neighbors and shake their hands. Turn to your neighbors and shake their hands.  How are you today? Goodbye Song  Goodbye everybody, goodbye. Goodbye everybody, goodbye. We sang and we played and We had a great day! Goodbye, everybody, goodbye!

Morning Prayer  Father, bless our school today. Bless all we do and all we say. We want to do the things we should, To be to others kind and good. Father, help us as we play To be more loving every day. Be in every song we sing. Lord, to you these prayers we bring. Grace  Come, Lord Jesus, be out guest. And let this food and drink be blessed. Amen.