United Christian Parish Preschool
September 2015 Newsletter 
PHASE-IN DAYS

Coffee & Muffins          

If you do not have errands to do while your child is at his or her short class this week, join other parents in Room 116 for coffee and snacks.      

 

Just for parents of 3's & 4's 

Stop by Room  117 for a short presentation about Car Line. 

FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Parents,
     The past few days have been really exciting at Preschool.  
     The staff had two great days of getting ready for school to begin.  We worked hard and were sustained by two delicious meals provided by parents--THANKS!
      Visit days are always fun, and we are looking to Thursday and Friday.  We love meeting children and families and welcoming you to our School Family.
     We are appreciative of the work done by parents who have washed toys and done other odd jobs. I include the tuition credit form on each regular monthly newsletter.  Whenever you do work like repairs and playground maintenance and want tuition credit, fill out the form and send it with the remainder of your payment for that month.
     Please join in the opportunities to get involved in your child's school.  Participate with the Parents Group, attend Preschool Parents Night and come enjoy the fun at our Picnic.       
               Jane
PARENTS GROUP
Please join us!      
The Preschool Parent Group wants you to be informed of upcoming school events and what other parents like you are up to.  Whether it's planning the fall festival or an impromptu playdate, there's useful information for you on Shutterrfly. E-mail your Parents Group Chair Jenn Flora  jhflora654@gmail.com  to receive an invitation to join the Shutterfly Site or other questions. Meet other parents and help plan activities at the monthly meetings and online. 

 3 Easy Ways to Help Our Preschool Earn Free Educational Resources!
1. Save UPC labels of participating products and send them to school.
2. Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to United Christian Parish Preschool.
3. Buy Mabel's Labels to keep track of your child's belongings and select UCPP during purchase.
You'll get a flyer with more details during your classroom visit. Hang it on your fridge for quick reference! Thanks!

Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
SNACKS
September
Snacks are listed here each month.  Fresh fruits and vegetables may be served on a different day of the week due to delivery uncertainties.

Generally snacks consist of food items from two food groups, but we are keeping it simple on the short phase-in days this week.        
 
9/14    Graham crackers
9/15    Wheat Thins
9/16    Corn chips, salsa & water
9/17    Ritz crackers & Soy butter
9/18    Raisins & Cheerios
9/21    Peaches & Graham crackers
9/22    Apple slices & Ritz
9/23    Bagels & cream cheese
9/24    Raisins & Cheerios
9/25    Corn chips, salsa & water
9/28    Bananas & gr. Crackers
9/29    Potato wedges, ketchup
10/1    Carrot Chips & hummus
10/2    Applesauce & Ritz crackers
SPREAD THE WORD
Openings 
If your friends or neighbors ask, there are several spaces for 2's, 3's and 4's in our classes.  Encourage them to visit and take a tour.
EXTRA CLOTHING AT SCHOOL
Note the procedure for 3's and 4's
Please read over the Parent Handbook about what to bring to school.  Send a set of clothing including socks in a zip-lock bag.  The teachers will keep these items in the classroom until needed.
PRESCHOOL PARENTS NIGHT         
Thursday, September 17 
     Please join us on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 pm for this special annual event.  You will have an opportunity to join your child's teacher in the classroom and see first hand what your child does each day and understand our goals for him or her.  Please leave your little ones at home; this is an adults-only evening.
     Look at the signs in the entrance when you arrive to see whether you go to your child's classroom or the general session first.
     Parking will be tight.  If the parking lot fills, park on the street and walk up the stairs.  The main door facing North Shore Drive will be open. 
PICNIC - DON'T MISS IT!
Monday, September 21, 5-6:30 pm
     Bring everyone in the family, a couple pot-luck dishes to share, lawn chairs or blankets and come have fun!  We will gather in the playground area to eat and play together.  Preschool supplies plates, flatware and cold water. Very casual, no program, just a relaxed time to have fun with other families.
     You may park on North Shore and come up the steps or park in the parking lot and walk through the building to get to this area.
      There is an area of re-seeded lawn marked with a little bit of orange construction fence.  Please help keep your children out of the area.
ARRIVALS AT SCHOOL FOR 3'S & 4'S
Making Arrivals Safe and Happy on Sept. 14 & 15         
We can all work together to help your child get to their class smoothly.
  • After you drop off your child or children on Monday or Tuesday, stop by Room 117 for a 5 minute presentation on using car line.
  • Use car line to pick up your child Monday and Tuesday, so that we all learn together.
  • Use car line to drop off your child on Wednesday so that we all learn together.  Please be on time.
  • You will receive several nametags on the first day. Please place them on your child before car line on the school days next week so that it is easy for any of the teachers to call the child by name and make them feel more at ease.
  • We have given you tags for your child's school bag so that we can more easily guide the children into their classrooms.
A MESSAGE FROM BETH WILLIAMS, UCP'S INTERIM DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Dear Parents,

     I am delighted to welcome you and your child to the United Christian Parish Preschool, a ministry of the United Christian Parish of Reston. As many of you may know, Billie Sutter retired at the beginning of the summer after 14 years of faithful and dedicated service to this congregation and to the preschool. I began in mid June and had the opportunity to meet some of the children in Vacation Bible School. I look forward to meeting more of you and your children in the upcoming year. I know that we are blessed by your child's participation here, and pray that they will be blessed by their participation here as well.

     As part of our Preschool programming for your children, Jane Plum and I lead Chapel once or twice a month. Chapel is a time for the children to explore God's place in their lives and for sharing Bible stories, songs, and prayer. Should you have questions for me about Chapel or other aspects of your child's spiritual growth, please feel free to contact me at the Church Office: 703-620-3065 or email me at beth@ucpreston.org. 

     At the Parish you can also find worship, Christian education, and music experiences that might interest you and your family. Our worship services are at 8:30 and 11:00 am each Sunday, with childcare through age 3 provided. Godly Play for 4 years through 1st grade offers younger worshipers an opportunity to experience God at their developmental level during part of the 11:00 am worship service. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:50 am, with 4 year olds through 6th grade in Bible Explorers, a rotation format that offers exciting ways to explore God's story in their lives. Two and three year olds have their own self-contained class as do Youth and Adults - all at this time. Genesis Choir for 2nd to 6th graders practices each Wednesday 4:45-5:45 pm and ordinarily leads worship the 4th Sunday of the month. Contact Director Yvonne Kauffman at 703-860-0196 for more information.

     You will be receiving a brochure about these and other opportunities. We look forward to your participation in any and all of these experiences. 

      Blessings,

         Beth
PRESCHOOL YARD SALE
Get Involved  
The Preschool's 5th Annual Children's Items Yard Sale will be on October 3rd from 8-1 this year!  Proceeds from the sale support the Preschool Scholarship Fund.  Please consider donating your family's gently used children's items to the sale!  Items can be dropped off during car line starting on 9/28, or email to have items picked up before then.  The school really needs VOLUNTEERS to make this event a success!  Please sign up here to volunteer to help with sorting and pricing the week of the sale or to work during the yard sale itself!  Please email sjones167@gmail.com with any questions!
CALENDAR
Mo, 9/14               Classes begin
We, 9/16               Car Line begins for arrivals
Th, 9/17                Preschool Parents Night, 7:30 pm
Th/Fr, 9/17 & 18  Gatherings
Mo, 9/21               Add-on Lunch Bunch starts
Mo, 9/21               Pot-luck Picnic 5-6:30 pm
Tu/Th, 9/22 & 24 Chapel
We, 9/30               School closed, Professional Development Day
Sa, 10/3                 Preschool Yard Sale
Th, 10/8                First Conscious Discipline Parent Program
Fr, 10/9                 School closed, FCPS is closed
Mo, 10/13             School closed, Columbus Day Holiday
  
New families might wonder, "What are Gatherings?"  Gatherings are the times when everyone in school gathers to wish other classes well, do our I Love You ritual of the month, welcome new children, celebrate birthdays and other special events.  Parents are always welcome, especially in the month when your child has a birthday.
I LOVE YOU RITUAL
Round and Round the Garden 
The concept of I Love You Rituals is new to many of you, but we hope these little rituals will become part of your life as they are part of ours at school.  As we work to create a School Family here, you can help us and strengthen your connections with your child by doing each month's I Love Ritual with him.  One that all of us are doing this month goes like this:

 

Hold your child's hand gently palm up. Draw circles with your index finger as you say: 

"Round and round the garden"

"Goes the Teddy Bear (or other animal)"


Walk your fingers up your child's arms as you say:

"One step, two step"

 

Give the gentlest tickle under the throat as you say:

 "Tickle under there."
GETTING YOUR SCHOOL BAG READY

Find a Bag or Purchase It at Preschool!  

 

Name It!          

Your child's bag needs his/her name on it, the bigger and brighter the better. Another helpful touch is an identifier that makes the bag special especially for the children who don't read their names yet.

 

Some suggested supplies can be seen on the right.  White fabric paint will show up nicely on the blue bags.  An iron-on decal like the stars shown would be fun for your child to pick out at a craft store. 
LOST AND FOUND
 Claim these in the Preschool Office          
Also there is a knife from a child's picnic set--pink polka dot handle found at playground.
  
Tuition Credit Voucher
If you do work for the preschool and wish to get credit for tuition, complete this form and attach it to your next tuition invoice and payment.

 

Child's Name ___________________________________________

 

Work done _____________________________________________

 

Hours __________ X $12/hour = ___________________________