Aril 14, 15, 16-April chapel

May 22-Last day of school

 

Mark your calendar--these are the dates that are listed in your Parent Handbook for no lunch bunch.

Volunteers Needed

Bring everyone in the family, a main dish and a side dish, lawn chairs or blanket to sit on.  Rain dates 5/13 and 5/15.

Deadline is April 4. 

Camp will be held June 2-6 and 9-13. Forms will be sent home later this week.  Children must be age 3 by March 31.  Return forms by April 18. 

 

Vacation Bible School

It's PARENT NIGHT OUT and you're invited to plan for it now!  The UCP Youth Group and their adult assistants want to care for your children (6 months-6^th grade) while their parents take some time to enjoy themselves on a special PNO- Parent Night Out.  Registration is available by calling the Church Office: 703-620-3065 by April 15. The cost is $20 for the first child, $10 for the second and $5 for all others in the same family. Be prepared to give name and grade of elementary school children and age of Preschoolers and younger, along with phone number and an email address.

 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 19, 5:30-9:30pm at 11508 North Shore Drive!  Supper will NOT be served, but snacks will be provided, along with lots of fun and loving care.  All proceeds go to the Youth Group's Moringa Tree project, helping to provide good nutrition and clean water to African villages.  Questions to Director of Christian Education Billie Sutter at the Church Office or ucpbillie@covad.net.

We are glad you are part of our family now!  It seems like September is a long way off.  Feel free to come to events we announce in the newsletter.  We especially look forward to seeing you at summer playdates at the playground.

 

     This is the longest newsletter of the year; I hope you keep reading to the end.  There are lots of happenings around Preschool and lots of information to share with you. 

     Please take advantage of opportunities to get involved.  Come to a parent coffee, join us for Parents Day, join us for a showing of the Conscious Discipline video, come to the Book Fair and bring your children to our story teller.

     I go home in the evening very tired sometimes but never bored.  Something wonderful happens every day.  The yearly supply of caterpillars arrived today and we're looking forward to watching them develop.  At April Chapel we will thank God for this wonderful part of Creation.   

                                                        Jane

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education association, with nearly 100,000 members and a network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates.

The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

We will send home a flyer during the week with more information about our concerns for children everywhere.

One of our focuses during this week is the advancement of literacy, not only for all children, but especially for the children in our school.  We are doing several things to this end.      

1.  Holding a book fair from Monday, April 14th through Wednesday, April 16th at Barnes and Noble. 

2.  Hosting a special story teller on April 24th.

3.  Sending home publications from the National Institute for Literacy that pertain to your role in advancing literacy.

4.  Writing Books.  Many of our three and four year olds are writing their own books.  If you have not yet seen your child's book, watch for it to come home in April.

We are holding a Book Fair at Barnes and Noble, Spectrum Center, Reston on April 14th through April 16th.

 

Any purchase you make during that time will benefit our school!

 

 Book Fair Number

The Preschool staff viewed several segments of a video series, Conscious Discipline Live last year.  We have since used the video to help new teachers see the philosophy and strategies used to help guide children's behavior. Staff members have described this video series we have studied "life changing."  We would love to share the experience with you.  Please join us on Wednesday April 30 at 9:30 am or 7 pm at Lake Anne in the sanctuary for the first two segments "Becoming Brain Smart" and "Composure".  Both segments will be shown morning and evening.  Those who attend will choose a time if they wish to see the next segments.

 This special program for families will be held on April 24th at 3 p.m. at Hunters Woods and 7 p.m. at Lake Anne.

 

We hope everyone will delight in this interactive program of stories and songs for spring by story teller Barbara Effron. Her Storytime Express programs have been entertaining children and adults since 1983.  With guitar and singing she brings stories to life and invites audience participation.

 

So, mark your calendars, invite your friends, and join us for a great presentation!

Parents who do not usually bring their children to school (traditionally the dads) are invited to come share a continental breakfast and enjoy usual school activities with your child at our early morning events.

 

Every year the Preschool Advisory Committee conducts a survey of families to see how the preschool is meeting your and your child's needs.  Part of the survey is the official NAEYC Accreditation Survey and the other part asks additional questions that we like to know about.  Please take a few moments and complete this very important questionaire.  PAC uses the results to plan improvements to the school and as part of its annual strategic planning process.   

Deadlines 

Clarification

       The 3-day Monday/Wednesday/Thursday (w/ no lunch bunch) class for 3's and 4's is a mixed age class with seven 3's and seven 4's.  We have had such classes for several years with great results for the children.  If any of you want to move your 3-year-old into the 3/4 class, please send a note or an e-mail to the Director.

Fairfax County Public Schools has been working on forming partnerships with pre-K programs and parents to help all children enter kindergarten ready to continue learning and succeeding.  If you have questions about skills needed, see  http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/OECFS/kinder/indicators.htm .  As we have said before, some of the most important things you can do are to read books to your child and encourage him to be independent--taking care of his belonging, putting on her coat, cleaning up after himself.

Assessor Visit