The Storyteller Palisades Preschool Newsletter

October, 2008 Santa Monica, Ca.

310-434-9917

Observations

Dear Families and Friends, As we begin to observe the beautiful seasonal changes associated with Fall, we are also observing signs of change—signs of growth and development-- in our children and ourselves during this second month of the preschool year.

We began the year by creating an intention: to collaborate. In my walks around the preschool, my visits to classrooms, my conversations with teachers and with you, I am noticing that many new relationships are forming and that established relationships are deepening--relationships between children, children and teachers, between teachers as colleagues and friends, families and teachers, and among classroom family communities. We have formed committees, come together in the homes of our Room Parents, met as a large community for Back to Preschool Night, welcomed new members to our School Board and will be meeting this week for Parent/Teacher Conferences. The teachers, Karen and I are finding our rhythm as a staff and as a team. The seeds of our collaboration as the children’s educators and care-givers are being sown this fall. The children’s collaboration with one another and with their teachers as co-researchers is also becoming evident in classrooms and on the play yard. Helper Charts and lunchtime conversations, Morning Meetings, cooperation during outside play and clean-up, a class Treasure Hunt, a Tea Party, and small group work with the atelierista are just a few examples of the sprouting sense of community among the children and their teachers. An essential element in our collaboration is communication. Our posted “Planned Possibilities,” snack menus, “Ask me about. . .” pages, Daily Stories, End of the Week Stories, email messages, and this newsletter represent our efforts to communicate with you and include you in the life of the preschool. We hope that you take the time to read and reflect on these communications and we encourage you to ask questions, to make suggestions and to get involved. As members of the Palisades Preschool community, our lives are inter-related. As individuals, class groups, families, teaching teams and staff teams, we impact one another in countless ways. Each web or system exerts an influence on another and so we grow and change—together. Thank you for your eagerness and willingness to be our collaborators in the care and education of the children. –Warm wishes, Nancy

The Storyteller, page 2

A Sense of Place and Community Rosemary Room

A Sense of Place and Community

Sunflower Room

Lunchtime Conversations

Music at PPS Barbara Hoffman, music director for St. Paul’s and an experienced piano

teacher, is offering private piano lessons to our four year olds and their older siblings. She uses an approach that is appropriate for young children. Lessons

will take place at our site, using the piano in the church (310-451-1346). Musician Parker Bent is now joining us each Thursday morning!

Violinist Jessica King will visit classrooms once a month to share her love for the violin and cello with the children.

The Storyteller, page 3

Celebrations Our Room Parents have initiated the sign-up for Celebrations in each

classroom. This year we will be having only two parties—Halloween and Valentine’s Day. On these two occasions, typical sweet treats and decorations on the actual day of the party are welcome.

The other seasonal and cultural celebrations will be acknowledged through the sharing of family traditions. For example, if Cinco de Mayo or Passover is celebrated by one of the families in the Rosemary Room, a family member is invited to briefly share this tradition or celebration with the children by bringing items for the children to experience (e.g., books, clothing, artifacts or symbols, foods, music, art, photos, etc.) If a holiday is not represented within a classroom community, it does not have to be observed with the children.

Christmas and Hanukkah will be observed as (non-religious) traditions, not parties, please. No room decorations are needed for these celebrations.

Please consult with the teachers before making any plans. The dates for the tradition-sharing can be established with teachers. The party dates are included in the school calendar and will be included in the newsletters as well.

Halloween Parade and Parties On Friday, Oct. 31st, we invite all of the children to come to school in their

Halloween costumes! Families are invited to join us for a Halloween Parade in our play yard shortly after drop-off. Children will first meet in their classrooms at 8:45 a.m. You can expect for the parade to last for about 30 to 45 minutes, with plenty of opportunities for photos.

The Halloween parties will follow the parade at about 10:00. Parents who are helping with the party can set up just after the parade. The teachers will settle the children on the rug with a story and songs before and after the party. All children will be dismissed at about 11:00. We will not have Stay & Play or Ballet. If you would like to put up a few decorations for the party, we request that you do so on Thursday afternoon right after dismissal.

Please use good judgment regarding the children’s costumes. Super-heroes are okay, but no swords or other weapons, please. Also, remember that the children will be walking around the bike path and will need to be able to see clearly and to move freely.

Teachers are also invited to wear costumes!!

Room Parents, 2008-2009 Sunflower Room—Laura Lim & Deanne Yamamoto

Dandelion Room—Liz Camfiord, Colleen Ortiz & Samantha Snyder Rosemary Room—Ali Friske, Afifa Nouaili, Camilla Schur & Sonja Seitamo

Cherry Blossom Room—Carol Ester, Shana Grein, Stacy Myrose & Heather Nevell Thank you!!

Our New Woodworking Center is Here!!

Master carpenter, Arne Foss, designed and built our new children’s woodworking center, now located in the far corner of the play yard. Soon we will invite the children to investigate!

The Storyteller, page 4

A Few Reminders Please make sure that all of the Health and Emergency Forms have been submitted

to Karen. We are required by state regulations to have current files for each child. Our billing cycle now begins in July, skips August, and continues in September through

the end of May. There is no tuition for the 2008-09 preschool year due in June. (Charges for tuition and fees for Summer Camp and Transition classes are billed in June.) We appreciate prompt payment of all tuition and fees on the first, fifth or tenth of the month, according to your individual Enrollment Agreement. As a small, independent nonprofit organization we rely on your cooperation in order to provide a quality preschool experience for your child.

You will also see that we are including the $400.00 donation on your tuition invoice, according to the schedule you requested in your Enrollment Agreement. This is an optional, tax-deductible payment.

Karen has initiated the annual Wreath Fundraiser this month. Please see her with any questions or orders that you would like to submit. Thank you!!

Please continue to email Nancy and Karen with messages for teachers, rather than emailing teachers using their personal email addresses. Thank you.

Please remember that our day begins at 8:45 a.m. and we encourage you to wait with your child in front of the preschool if you arrive a little early. We will open our doors and welcome you into the building or onto the play yard at 8:45.

PPS School Board

We would like to welcome new members Timur Bergeroglu, Allison Jacoby, Farnoosh Zamani, and Marika Spielman to our PPS School Board.

Returning members are Jennifer Mirner, President; Janet Hathaway, Secretary; Jeff Rouze, Treasurer; Kristen Abraham, Kate Winegar and Michelle Conte.

Karen and Nancy also serve as non-voting board members. We are grateful to each of you for your commitment to our preschool community.

Health Info and Reminders

As the cold and flu season approaches, please know that we are extra-mindful of the need for hand-washing and other preventative measures. Teachers use a diluted bleach solution to clean table-tops and counters before and after snack and lunch. We have nightly custodial help to maintain the cleanliness of the bathrooms and an additional cleaning person who comes each Saturday to clean the refrigerator and do other light housekeeping tasks. We use our dishwasher to keep the children’s utensils and small toys sanitized and other toy washing takes place regularly. Diapers are changed in the children’s bathrooms only. Our housekeeping committee assists with laundry each week, helping us to keep linens clean. Please keep your child at home if he or she has: a fever, a cold with green or yellow mucous evident, conjunctivitis that has not yet been treated, a suspicious and persistent rash or blisters, a stomach ache with vomiting and/or diarrhea, lice or scabies. We realize that some of these symptoms sometimes appear once children have arrived at school and we will telephone you or your emergency contact person if we believe that your child needs to go home. It is very important that we respect the health needs of all of our children ---and teachers.

Thank you.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to serve our community by offering a preschool experience for children and families that celebrates diversity, creativity and kindness. These values are embedded within a

rich, child-centered curriculum that provides individuals and groups with opportunities to investigate, experience and express themselves through play.