First Church Preschool                                                   NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2009 Happy Spring!       Looks like spring is finally here!  We have been on some enjoyable spring walks identifying some of the wonderful signs of spring.  Hopefully the warmer weather is here to stay and snow pants, gloves and mittens will soon be sent home. Unidentified items will be displayed for you to claim.  Boots will remain here a bit longer since they are still needed for mud from time to time, especially in the rainy weather.   Please remember to add spring clothes to their extra clothes bag.  It is amazing how much they have Thank you to everyone who came to our Community Event this past Saturday. Special thanks to all the Board members for all their help in putting this program together, especially our Fundraising Committee. As a result of your support and generosity we were successful in raising close to $500.00 to be used toward replacing the ejector pump in the 3’s room. We have two other special events this month back to back.  Tomorrow Paul Recker, a singer/storyteller will be here to perform at 10:15 for all the children.  Then on Wednesday, we will be having another dental program conducted by Ryna Cerrito (Miranda and Isabella’s mom) and the dental hygienist from her office, to reinforce with our children the importance of proper oral hygiene. The April vacation week is just around the corner. Our Preschool program will be closed the week starting with Monday, April 14th through Friday, April 18th.  You may sign up for optional-care-days with the form below.  Please return it to me by Tuesday, April 8th or sooner, if possible.  If we have sufficient enrollment (at least 5 children each day), we will be open for all 5 days, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., staffed by Karen, and Lisa and myself with a mixed age group in the 4’s room. You will be billed for whatever days you sign up.  We really do need an accurate number in advance so we can have appropriate coverage. Our Spring Parent Work Day is scheduled for Saturday April 25th.  We will be working from 9am – 11:30 cleaning up sand, switching our climbers, getting the gardens and digging box ready as well as adding mulch to the swing set and climbing areas.  There are also plenty of general spring clean-up tasks that need to get done.  Children are encouraged to come and help with some of the work but do need some supervision. We will need hammers, saws, rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows or carts to transport and spread the mulch!  Please sign up for any hours you are able to help. Together we will be able to get all this done more quickly.  We hope to have warm and sunny weather. Children love to see their parents involved with their school as well as experiencing the fruits of their labor. As always, your help is much appreciated and keeps our costs down, so please come and help if you can. Soon we will begin the self-portrait drawings for the creation of our much loved, annual 1st Church tee-shirts.   Drawings will be displayed and an order sheet for child and adult sizes will be posted later in April.  Teachers will be working on final Performance Standards and Assessments; opportunities for final spring conferences will be available in May.   Summer program plans are beginning to take shape as we look ahead to the end of the school year.  Information and registration forms for this separate program will be available in early May for those of you who are interested.  Summer program is open to all children in the current 3’s and 4’s rooms and to preschoolers not currently enrolled, if we have space.  You can sign up for 2-5 days per week for 2-8 weeks.  It is only available for graduating Kindergartners under special circumstances. If you have questions please see me.   Enjoy all the beautiful colors of spring! Dawn - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---- Optional Day Sign-Up for April 13 – 17, 2009 Hours available - 8:00 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. Please return by Tuesday, April 7th! Cost: $24 mornings (to 12:45)/ $42 full-day _________________________________________________________________ Child’s Name Monday AM PM   Tuesday AM PM   Wednesday AM PM   Thursday AM PM   Friday AM PM    Please circle the days and times needed