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Lakeside Presbyterian Church Weekday Preschool

September 2011 Newsletter

September 2011 Newsletter

Welcome to the 2011 - 2012 School Year!
Thank you for choosing to share this year with us. The whole staff has busy getting their rooms ready for your children. We have cleaned, organized, arranged and rearranged and at last everything is ready. We hope you recieved your postcard from your child’s teacher with the special instructions for the Parent Orientation! It is going to be a fun afternoon and we are all looking forward to spending it with you and your child/ren!

School News
2011-2012 Parent Orientation and Ice Cream Social
Parent Orientation is THIS SUNDAY at 12:45pm. In order to receive the information that will help you and your child have a successful and fun school year and as a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in one of our programs, it is important that you make attending Orientation a priority. Staff and teachers have spent time getting that information together and are looking forward to sharing it with you before your child starts. The Diggity Dudes will be here to entertain your child/ren while you are meeting the teachers and staff. After the concert everyone is invited to enjoy ice cream provided by Mister Softee on the playground! Siblings are welcome to join us, too!

Weekday Preschool Programs
All Weekday Preschool programs begin Monday, September 12th. Arrival for Toddlers Morning Out is 9am and 8:45am for all other programs. We intentionally begin arrival at 8:45am for Playgroup, Preschool and Pre-K so teachers can begin their morning meeting by 9am. It is during these meetings that they set the tone for the day with their class discussing the schedule, sharing “news”, picking a class helper. When you bring your child late they miss starting the day with their classmates and there is a definite disconnect when it happens on a regular basis. We understand that there are those times when arriving late is unavoidable, but when that is not the case please help your child get the most out of their day by bringing them on time through the arrival line or make arrangements to bring them earlier. The Happy Hive opens at 7:30am! In those instances when parking and walking in is necessary, your child must be brought to the Preschool Office. Either Mrs. Lawton or Mrs. Amrhein will take your child to their class. Parents may not take their child to their classroom or let them go by themselves.
Dismissal for Toddlers Morning Out, Playgroup and Preschool begins at 12n. PreK dismissal begins at 1pm. Parents who arrive after staff have finished dismissal and gone inside must park on the playground side and come to Preschool Office to pick up their child. If the parent has to be called charges will be assessed at $7.00 per hour.
Your child must be enrolled in the Happy Hive Child Care program to arrive early or stay late. 

Happy Hive Child Care Program
Our Happy Hive of Busy Bees opened on Tuesday, September 6 with 10 children. Ms. Leigh turned the Extended Hours classroom upside down and inside out the week before creating a whole new room - a home away from home for children enrolled! She and Ms. Emma have done a great job this first week playing, doing crafts and reading stories. After lunch Playgroupers and Preschoolers have napped in the new Nap Room. Pre-Kers rested in the Hive “livingroom”.  Sadly, our time outside has been limited if at all because of the rain but no one is complaining! Please stop and check out the Hive while you are here for Orientation and take a look around. If you would like more information on our Happy Hive Child Care program, please contact the preschool office or email us at .

Happy Hive Nappers
Mrs. Hudson will be the Happy Hive Nap Time Coordinator this year. We will be using the green classroom located on the Preschool hall and she has been busy getting it ready. Nap time will begin at 12:30pm and end around 2:30pm. This year we have purchased new cots for the children to rest on! Please feel free to stop by and take a look at our new Nap Room when you are here for Orientation. 

Safety Bear Tours
The children will be searching for safety bear all around the school on September 16 & 17. Safety Bear helps us teach the children the preschool rules. Look for a list of safety bear’s school rules to come home in your child’s folder on Thursday and Friday. We would appreciate you reinforcing them with your children at home.

Classroom Substitutes
If you are interested in being un our 2011-12 Substitute List, please email Mrs Amrhein or Mrs Lawton at .

Reminders
Cell Phones
We are a cell phone free environment! You will never find any member of the staff using a cell phone when you come into the building or through Arrival and/or Dismissal lines, so please refrain from using your cell phone when you are in the building or through Arrival and /or Dismissal lines. Stay in your car or pull out of line and finish your call if it is that important. Thank you! 

Nuts
We are a “nut-free” school. This is no longer a choice, but the recommendation of the Virginia Department of Health, whose inspection we must pass every year to renew our Religious Exemption status. All items your child brings for snack and lunch must be nut-free items. If your child eats a nut product for breakfast or on the ride to preschool, please have them wash/wipe their hands before you bring them into AM Extended Hours or we take them out of the car at arrival.

Shoes
All children must wear socks and shoes that fit securely on their feet. Hard soled shoes, sandals, slides,“crocs”, boots, flip flops - any shoe that is not secure on their foot is not acceptable for safety reasons. Parents are reminded that their child will not be allowed to go outside with their class or participate in “Move It” class if they do not have on appropriate shoes. We will ask/call a parent to bring appropriate footwear for their child.

Sickness
If a child becomes sick or developes a fever while at school, the parent will be called and arrangements must be made for the immediate pick up of the child. The Preschool is not prepared or equipped to care for sick children. A child must be fever free 24 hours before they may return.

Payments
If you are paying your tuition monthly it is now due no later than the 15th of the month. Parents who have chosen to stay with the Extended Hours they returned with their 2011-12 Enrollment application will be billed at the end of the month with payment due in full upon receipt. If you are going to have a problem making payments when they are due it is extremely important that you let Mrs. Amrhein know immediately. When your payments are not made on time our ability to meet our obligations is compromised - especially to the staff. 

Pastries with Parents
Parents and grandparents, please plan to join us for Pastries with Parents on Wednesday, September 28 from 7:30am - 10am. We plan to host this event once a month, allowing a chance for our parents to meet each other and get a chance to talk. It is a great time to introduce yourself to your child’s new best friend’s mom or dad. The kids will be busy starting their day, this is just for the adults! Drop your child off as per usual and come into the Fellowship Hall and enjoy.

Scholastic Book Orders
An info sheet will come home with your Scholastic packet with instructions on how to log in and the school information to place your Scholastic Orders online. We will also keep this posted on the forum, for reference at any time. Your first order will be due on Wednesday, September 28th.

Unscheduled Closings, Delays, Early Dismissals
Decisions to dismiss early, delay opening or close are made by the Director. If any of these actions must be taken parents will be notified immediately by email using the address parents provided on their Enrollment form, on WRIC/ Channel 8 listed as Lakeside Presbyterian Preschool in the Private Schools section and the information will also be made available as soon as possible on our web site: http://www.lakesidepreschool.org and the Preschool office answering machine.

Classroom UpdatesThis section will link you directly to your child’s class section on our parent discussion forum. The Discussion Forum is here to allow parents more access to their child’s preschool day. It is open to parents and family members of currently enrolled students only.

Toddler Morning Out: - Come visit the Cabbage Patch!

Playgroup:
Mrs. Katie’s Class- Updates from the Playgroup Penguins!

Preschool:
Mrs. Colpo’s Class- Check out the Bluebird Room!
Mrs. Hudson’s Class- News from the All Stars!!
Mrs. Johnson’s Class- What’s the buzz in the Bee Room?

Pre-K:
Mrs. Cooke’s Class- Take a Peek at the Pre-K Platypuses!
Mrs. Oliver’s Class- Bringing news from the Bear’s Den!

The Happy Hive: The Happy Hive of Busy Bees!

Weekly Activities
MoveIt! with Mrs. Parent- Move it with the Monkey Class!
Music with Mrs. Gill- What’s up in Music?

We would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

Highlights This Month