Newark Cooperative Preschool  

February

1^st Tuition for March is due(3’s $65.00; 4’s $75.00), please pay your tuition on time to avoid any late fees.

6^th 4’s bring an item of clothing they wore as a baby to show.

13^th 4’s Valentine Party

14^th 3’s Valentine Party

15^th-21^stBring in Book Exchange Books

18^th NO SCHOOL – 4’s Inservice Day

19^th NO SCHOOL – 3’s Inservice Day

27^th 3’s Pajama Party and Book Exchange

28^th 4’s Book Exchange and Crazy Sock Day

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO PARENT MEETING IN FEBRUARY.

Newsletter articles are due by February 15^th to Shirley.

Fund-Raising Update – On 1/22/02 we had a profit of $150.00 from Tupperware sales. Hopefully, we will have some additional orders.

Next Fund Raiser: Human-I-Tees.

PM 4’s welcomes Michael Shaffer, Jr. and his parents Michael and Wendy.

*Melissa Miller(Michael 4AM) for being our tuition coordinator;

*Deserae Mace (Colleen 3’s) for being our registration coordinator;

*Mary Downs (Chris 4AM) for arranging the car seat safety demonstration.

I know it is hard to believe that we are half way through this year and already thinking of next school year. However, the enrollment forms have already gone out to those families who are planning on returning for the 2002-2003 school year. Please complete your enrollment forms and return them as soon as you can. Enrollment forms must be mailed to the preschool so that they have a post mark date. It is to ensure that the families have enrolled within the time limit. Just remember that if there are more families enrolled then the class will allow there will be a lottery to determine who receives those spaces.

If you know of a family looking for a preschool please let them know about NCP. I talk to everyone I know about the school, in the supermarket, church, parties, parks, the pool. Anywhere I know people will listen and are interested in a school. And word does spread, so even if they don't have a child someone they know might.

I am urging families to think about what job they would like for next year. We need families to fill Board Positions, only two of the current board members are returning next year. You must call me and let me know what job you would like to do or continue to do next school year. The board positions are as follows:

President

Treasurer

VP of Admissions

Secretary

Registration forms for the 2001-2002 school year need to be mailed to the Preschool address as soon as possible to retain your returning family status. If more than 16 families request the 4AM class, a lottery will be held on February 14^th. Please keep in mind mail delivery delays when returning your forms. If a lottery is needed, the first 16 names selected will be placed on a list for the 4AM class in order their names were selected in the lottery. Others requesting the 4AM class will be placed in the 4PM class in order and moved to the 4AM class if openings become available. Those requesting the 4PM class will be placed in the 4PM class. If more than 13 returning families request the 3AM class the same procedure will be followed.

We have been having a colorful month! The kids are enjoying our color unit. Please continue to work with your child at home, on their cutting skills. They really enjoy having something to feed the "color eater." We will continue with colors in February, finishing up the unit with the colors pink and red.

During February, we will talk about books and complete our color unit by making a color book to bring home.

Valentine’s Day will give us the opportunity to talk about love and the ways we show love. Our party will be on the 14^th. Please us a class list when writing your valentines, so that you don’t forget anyone.

I want to thank all the parents for their support this year. I feel we have had a very successful year so far and I believe the cooperative aspect of our school is the reason.

Please note: There is no school for the 3’s on Tuesday, February 19^th.

During the month we will talk about our body and how it works. To show the children how much they have grown; they should all bring in an item of clothes they wore as a baby on the 6^th. This unit will be followed by a unit on Showing Love which will end with our Valentine’s parties on the 13^th and 14^th.

We will spend the rest of the month learning about books and how to create a book. The 3’s will make a color book and the 4’s will create a book about themselves. This activity will end with a book exchange on the 27^th and 28^th. Each child should bring in a used book they no longer want. All the books will be mixed up and each child will select a "new" book to take home. Books should be turned in February 15^th through the 21^st. Do not sent in super-hero books or Power Ranger type books. Each book should have a good cover and all pages intact.

We will exchange Valentine’s cards at our parties on the 13^th and 14^th. This is a great opportunity for you and your child to create a Valentine’s greeting for all the children in the class. Use your updated class list to avoid missing any friends. Paper hearts decorated with glitter, sequins or paint are always popular.

Crazy sock day is a day to wear mis-matched socks or a special pair of decorated socks or cute character socks. Tuck pants legs in so we can see the socks.

I have been saying rhyming words and opposites with the children. Unfortunately I do not get the opportunity to do this as often as I would like. Please, do this with your child. It is a great way to pass the time in the car, in a doctor’s office or just when some quieter, calmer time is needed. The children love to recite nursery rhymes. I am looking forward to meeting all of the 3’s when I begin to come in to the class to read periodically.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, January 2^nd, 2002 to prepare registration materials and discuss the budget for the upcoming school year. The Board will present a budget to the members at the March Business meeting which reflects an increase of $10.00 per month. We are basing the budget on having two 3’s classes but just one 4’s class.

~During the cold and flu season, please be considerate of the other children and teachers. If your child or you as a parent helper have had a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the last 24 hours, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO SCHOOL. But, remember that it is your responsibility to obtain a replacement helper.

~When you are helping in the classroom it is appropriate to remind the children to use good manners, and to remind children to be kind to classmates.

~When a glue bottle is empty please do not throw it away. We can refill it!

Please let your friends and neighbors know they can schedule a visit in the classroom if they have interest in our program for next year by calling:

Please have them leave a message if Karen or I cannot answer the telephone. Have them include the class/age level they wish to visit. Registration for families new to the preschool will be mailed out on February 15^th.