First Church Preschool Newsletter
APRIL 2010
Happy Spring!
Looks like spring is here and maybe we can put away the umbrellas for a few days. Finally! We have been on some
wet but 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 can go home till next year. Any unidentified items will be displayed for you
to claim. Rain boots can remain here a bit longer since they are still needed for mud from time to time, especially since
we seem to be having so much rainy weather. Please remember to add spring clothes to their extra clothes bag.
Don’t forget to check the sizes as they have also probably grown a bit since the fall.
Thank you to everyone who came to our Community Event on March 20th. 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 successfully raised $600.00 to be used for unexpected and costly lead testing. ($400.00 for testing,
$200.00 for the report, and another $150.00 to come back and verify that the abatement is complete, and meets the
State standard). Though the Church is assisting with the expense, it is still a huge hit for our budget.
The lead testing is required by the State and is certainly done in the best interest of the children, and all who use the
facility. You will be relieved to know that no lead was found in the classrooms or other areas used by the pre-school.
However, their device did indicate lead in some of the previous coats of paint on the stairs. As a result, they will need
to be covered to prevent any lead dust that may be caused from friction. That expense will also be subsidized by the
funds raised. So thank you once again.
Thank you also for returning your NAEYC parent surveys so promptly. We are still continuing the re-accreditation
process. Over the next few months you may see additional requests for information or help. Please let me know if you
want to help or have any questions.
The April vacation week is just around the corner. Our Preschool program will be closed starting with Monday, April
19th through Friday, April 23rd. You may sign up for optional-care for any day or morning of that week, if needed.
Forms are due, so if you are interested in any days please return your registration form as soon as possible. It looks
like we have sufficient enrollment (at least 6 children each day), for every day but Monday. I will keep you posted. We
will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., staffed by Karen, Renee and myself with a mixed age group in the 5’s room. It
is usually a low-key but fun filled week. You will be billed for whatever days you sign up for. We really do need an
accurate number in advance so we can have appropriate coverage.
Our Spring Parent Work Day is scheduled for Saturday May 1st, rain or shine. We will be working from
8:30 am – 11:30 am cleaning up the playground, getting the gardens and digging-box ready, as well as redistributing
the mulch around the swing set and climbing areas. There are also plenty of general spring clean-up tasks that need
to get done. We have some indoor jobs such as painting and kitchen tasks as well. Children are encouraged to come
and help with some of the work but will also need to be supervised. We will need hammers, saws, rakes, shovels and
wheelbarrows or carts to transport debris! We will also need materials for indoor and outdoor painting including
caulking guns, clear kitchen caulk, putty knives, and spackle. If you have any of these materials and can help we
would really appreciate it.
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. If you have questions please see me.
Enjoy all the beautiful colors of spring!
Dawn