Chesterbrook Academy
April News
Note from the Office
April will be a busy month as we prepare to celebrate the Week of the Young Child. We will have daily activities each day during the week of April 11th to 15th. The highlight of the week will be the Art Show. The Art Show will be a new activity this year. Each class will be choosing a different artist as their inspiration. We will have the art on display on Thursday, April 14th from 3 to 6. So be sure to allow yourself some extra time at pick-up time to check out all of the fabulous art work.
Our other big activity this month will be our Annual Ladybug Day. We will be releasing ladybugs on Friday, April 22nd at 10:00a.m. Parents are welcome to join us in our release.
We are looking forward to the warm weather and a wonderful spring.
Karen
Kindergarten
Kindergarten SAT10 testing will be held the week of April 18-22. Please make every effort to be in school on those days.
Save the Date:
Kindergarten graduation will be held at our Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School on Friday, June 10th at 1:30.
Camp
All Elementary age students need to return their camp forms a soon as possible. Camp calendars are available at the front desk or by e-mail. If there are any questions regarding camp please see Miss Karen or Miss Meagan.
Camp is also open to all Children up to 5th grade.
Picture Day
Picture Day is this Wednesday, April 6th. Dress to impress and please return your picture form with your desired background information.
Picture Day can be very hectic. Please drop your children off in their classrooms as usual and allow then to settle in as normal. We will take the children for their pictures when their class is ready. Class pictures will be taken at 10:00(or as close as possible). If you intend to come in for your class picture , please have your child here by 10:00.
Education
Linking Learning with Nature
Spring is here! Flowers are blooming, days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Now is a great time for children to explore these environmental changes happening in the world around them.
Not only are children curious about nature, but research shows that it has a profound influence on their problem solving skills, creativity, imagination and cognitive ability. Because of this, our teachers incorporate nature in all aspects of our Links to Learning curriculum.
Below are ways we connect learning with nature, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: After reading a book about springtime, teachers bring children outdoors to explore and investigate objects in nature. The children have fun crumbling leaves, smelling flowers and looking at clouds.
At home: Take tummy time outdoors and allow your infant to explore different sights, sounds and textures. Encourage him to move and grab things by placing objects just beyond his reach. For toddlers, ask questions like, “Who made that chirping sound” or “Can you point to the flowers?”
Recommended reading: Wake Up! Wake Up! A Springtime Lift-the-Flap Book by Kathryn Davis, Welcome Spring by Little Scholastic
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Our Beginners read books about seasonal changes, then bring the story to life by going outdoors to find real-world examples.
At home: Help make your child aware of the seasonal changes going on around him. Talk a walk with him and ask questions such as “Why do we see flowers growing now?” or “What do flowers need in order to grow?” Encourage him to use his creativity when answering.
Recommended reading: Over in the Meadow by Olive Wadsworth, Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Students plant seeds in their school garden and learn about the importance of caring for them. Through this activity, they practice math skills such as measuring, sorting, counting and making predictions.
At home: Set up a bird feeder outside a window that your child can easily see. Let him help you fill it with birdfeed. As the birds come to eat, ask your child to talk about them. “What color are they?” “Are they big or small?” “What are they doing?”
Recommended reading: Little Seed by Eric Carle, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Pre-K and Pre-K 2 students explore the sounds they hear in nature while playing outdoors. They then use recycled and natural materials, such as string and pine cones, to make their own wind chime.
At home: Reuse junk mail for a fun arts and crafts activity with your child. Encourage him to look through flyers and magazines to find words and pictures that he recognizes. Then, ask him to create a collage by cutting and gluing them to a piece of paper or poster board.
Recommended reading: And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, About Springtime, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to think creatively and imaginatively about the world around them. By setting this foundation, children build confidence in their own unique thoughts and maintain a thirst for learning as they enter elementary school and beyond.
- Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education