2018 April Newsletter

APRIL 2018

Join us at Springtime at Peachtree to bid on this fabulous artwork and many more one-of-a-kind items!

Springtime at Peachtree . Friday, April 13

The Blue Room, Two-year-old class | Mark-Making on Paper, 2018

DEAR FAMILIES,

Every day at Peachtree, the faculty plans experiences to support the development of creativity in young children. By providing this framework, we provide children with a gift of a rich and memorable childhood while laying the foundation for a lifetime of creative expression. The children are working on many cognitive skills while they are working in this project-based model. They form original ideas through exploration and discovery. In young children, the process of creative exploration is much more important than the end product.

When most of us think of creativity, we think of the fine arts.

However, creativity is in science, math, letters, and phonics. Creativity can be found in all aspects of a young child’s development. We are working with children who will become scientists that will cure a disease, build airplanes, lawyers, teachers and doctors – all who will have that gift of creative expression.

MISS JANE

Calendar APRIL 10

Prospective Parent Tour, 9:30 a.m., Welcome Center at the Family Commons

13

Springtime at Peachtree, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., The Fairmont

19 & 20

Dad’s Day for Toddler/Two-yearold Classes, 8:45 a.m.

23

24

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, Five/Six and M-F Pre-K Classes

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, MWF Pre-K, M-F and MWF Three-year-old Classes

MAY 2&3

9

21

New Family Orientation, 9:00 a.m., The Kellet Chapel Sanctuary

Prospective Parent Tour, 9:30 a.m., Welcome Center at the Family Commons

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, MWF Pre-K, M-F and MWF Three-year-old Classes

5

10 & 11

22

P eachtree Family Festival, 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Rain or Shine

Mother’s Visiting Days

Chapel Service, 9:20 a.m., Sanctuary, Five/Six and M-F Pre-K

14-18 L ast week of Peachtree Afterschool and Extended Classes

23

JUNE 4-7

11-15

18-22

Vacation Bible School

Camp Peaches - Week 1

Camp Peaches - Week 2

AUGUST 20-21

22-23

Welcome Parties,

Frist Days of School

Last Day of School

From Parents’ Council: Spring is here! Now, we just need the temperature to cooperate. What a fun and exciting time at the Preschool as we gear up for a great end of the school year!

A HUGE thank you to all who have already given so generously of their time and talents for Springtime at Peachtree! This is going to be a fantastic event, as always. The Preschool and our Inclusion Program will benefit greatly from the money raised. Thank you especially to our Springtime at Peachtree Committee and specifically our Chair this year, Emily Kaineg. The Committee has worked tirelessly on this amazing event – from the 80’s themed décor, to the band and the once-in-a-lifetime auction items -- YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT. Next up will be our awesome family fun day - Peachtree Family Festival. This event will take place on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event occurs only with the help of our wonderful parents! Look for communication soon (if you haven’t already received it) from your Room Resource Parents as they organize the volunteers for each class. Sign-up for a volunteer spot, invite your friends and family to attend, and get excited for a great day!

As I’ve mentioned before, we are starting to fill our Parents’ Council spots for next year. Parents’ Council is a great way to get involved, and there are some positions that take very little time commitment. We’d love to have you! If you have any interest at all, please let me know.

The Blossom Room (Three-year-olds) celebrating Rock your Socks Day, supporting World Down Syndrome Day

SEEN AND HEARD AROUND PEACHTREE: “Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try” – Dr. Seuss We agree with Dr. Seuss and are privileged to see and hear the many “thinks” young children have. The children in the Orange Room (Two-year-olds) were invited to work with oil pastels and watercolors. We were not surprised when the watercolors reminded them of an ocean. Soon their thinking was rapid fire as they began to create stories to accompany the marks on the paper.

This is just a small sample of the “thinks.” “ Octopuses, baby sharks, daddy sharks, little sharks.” Wells “Daddy sharks! I’m going to paint a lot of water. Once upon a time there was a big shark named Nemo and he lived in the ocean. What about a whale?” Axel “They are friends and they draw the ocean together and they eat apples and blue paper and then they swam together and they found a special story about Nemo.” Wells

LIBBY QUINER 678.749.8073 Libby.quiner@movement.com

“This is my ocean and it has dots. The whale and the shark are happy because they are just happy and get hugs from their Mommies.” Axel We were struck by the way one child threw out an idea- Octopuses, baby sharks, Daddy sharks… and another picked it up and began a story. In addition, we were thrilled to see the way the children built upon each other’s thinking. Not only did the materials (watercolors and pastels) influence the work, but the group did also. We were happy on this day as the children “thinked left and thinked right” and shared their thinking about friendship and happiness with us!

APRIL BLESSING: Dear God, Thank you for being so good to us.

Thank you for listening to our prayers.

Thank you for the world we live in: the summer and the winter; the sunshine and the rain; the time for sowing seeds and the time to gather crops.

Thank you for all the good things the world gives us.

Amen - From Psalm 65 Image at right: Create Class Charlie Gillis , Pre-K Easter Cross, Mixed Media on Canvas, 2018

Teacher Appreciation Special thanks to Lovies BBQ for providing the March lunch for the teachers! Lovies brought in chicken, pork, mac ‘n cheese, Brussels sprouts, cole slaw and all the fixins’ for our sweet staff. It was delicious!

Thanks to parent helpers Heather Ansari, Carrie Brune, Alyssa Davis, Elise Thomason, Lindsey Schoultz and Whitney Mulwee.

For more information on Lovies BBQ visit: https://loviesbbq.com

CHaRM Recycle Drive - April 23 & 24 Drop off during morning and afternoon carpool WHAT IS CHaRM? CHaRM stands for The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials. It is a permanent facility that encourages reuse while diverting thousands of pounds of household hazardous waste, bulky trash and other hard to recycle items from metro-Atlanta households, water supplies, and landfills.

CHaRM’S BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY - Easily accessible and convenient location.

- Accepts a wider range of items than typical curbside recycling.

- Keeps hazardous materials out of our air, water, and soil.

Let us help you get rid of your hard to recycle items and help the Earth while doing it! Bring your paint, electronics, batteries etc... tonus and we will load them up to send to the CHARM facility.

Visit them online at http://livethrive. org/charm/items-accepted/ for a list of accepted items -Anjali Mostellar (aka Charley and Maisy’s mom) Parents’ Council Sustainability Chair

Sustainability

Teacher Spotlight

Do you recycle? It seems like a silly question, but let’s be honest, many people still do not recycle. Lots of things (like cans, bottles, paper, and cardboard) can be remade into either the same kind of thing or new products. Making new items from recycled ones also takes less energy and fewer resources than making products from brand new materials.

This month we are spotlighting Susan Kelly.

Susan is in her first year at Peachtree Presbyterian and is a Music Teacher.

Just about anything in your home (or office or school, etc.) that cannot be reused CAN be recycled into something else. You’d be amazed what can be done with a recycled product! A recycled soda bottle can be made into T-shirts, combs, or hundreds of other plastic goods that can be used for many years. Even your brand new computer case might be made from ordinary recycled plastics. And paper products can take on different forms as well; an old phone book or coloring book might become one of your school books or a notebook.

Your recycling mission is not impossible! In fact, it is very simple: Don’t throw away anything that can be recycled!

Here is a list of things you may be able to recyclealuminum cans, cardboard, electronic equipment, glass (particularly bottles and jars), magazines, metal, newspaper, paper, plastic bags, plastic bottles, steel cans, writing/copy paper, yard waste (leaves, grass).

Just ask your local recycling office about what can be recycled.

Now isn’t that easy? There is so much that YOU can do with very little effort. And the best part is you will probably save yourself a lot of money while you are at it! * National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences article on recycling

CHAPEL Worship Services will be held in the Sanctuary at 9:20 a.m. on Monday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 24.

The donation item for April will be deodorant.

Birthplace / Hometown: London, UK Education: Bachelors degree in Music and English, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from The University of Sheffield, UK Personal: My family and I love being outdoors and exploring new places, both locally and globally. Since moving to Atlanta from Sweden in 2015 with my husband and two daughters, we have spent our free time going on adventures and enjoying the warm climate!

Claim to Fame: Teaching children in 3 different countries...so far...

Favorite Quote: “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.” -Nelson Mandela

Creativity at Peachtree “ Creativity seems to emerge from multiple experiences, coupled with a well-supported development of personal resources, including a sense of freedom to venture beyond the known.�

- Loris Malaguzzi

“ Creativity becomes more visible when adults try to be more attentive to the cognitive processes of children than to the results they achieve in various fields of doing and understanding.�

- Loris Malaguzzi

Parents’ Corner

NURTURED HEART PARENTING Jane Montgomery and Patty Randall recently led a powerful seminar series on the Nurtured Heart Approach to parenting. Nurtured Heart (NHA) was created by Howard Glasser, the Executive Director of the Children’s Success Foundation. The primary idea of NHA is that we can build the inner wealth of children by honoring the greatness that all kids possess.

This goal sounds lofty, but NHA lays out a clear set of practices that we parents can use to help a child grow in this way. The name for these NHA practices is The Three Stands—three interdependent parental resolutions that, with practice, create a virtuous circle of positive behavior in children: Stand 1. Refuse to give energy to the negative.

Jane’s colorful way of explaining Stand 1 is “don’t water the weeds.” The goal is to make misbehavior boring for the child. If a child’s negative behavior is met with an animated, lively, over-the-top reaction from her parent, then the message she receives is “If I throw this fit (or hit the dog, break this thing, etc.), then I’ll get the relational intensity that I crave with my parent.” Instead, when a parent responds to negative behavior with emotional flatness, the child doesn’t get the energized response she had wanted.

As Jane aptly put it, “When your child behaves negatively, don’t become a battery-operated toy coming to life. Don’t turn on all your exciting lights and sounds and buttons.” The blandest, most emotionally neutral way to respond is the most effective—the simple word “Reset” can, over time, come to serve as an invitation to your child to stop his behavior and re-enter a right relationship. It’s a do-over, not a time-out.

Stand 2. Relentlessly pursue and celebrate success.

This Stand is about being present in the moment with your child, and the success of Stand 1 is highly dependent on Stand 2’s deliberate and frequent practice. As Patty put it, “Your child is doing the right thing, probably, 95% of the time. Recognize that.” By “recognize,” though, they don’t mean “gush.” In fact, when we bombard our children with superlatives on their positive behavior (e.g., “Great job!” “That’s amazing!” “You’re incredible!”), it cheapens our praise—and kids can see that.

TOURS FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS meet in the Welcome Center of the Family Commons at 9:30 a.m.

Please invite interested family and friends to attend.

Instead, NHA teaches us to use an ongoing commentary that is a quieter kind of praise. It’s a simple and factual observation of ordinary moments—without attaching value judgments. “You’re waiting your turn.” “I see that you shared your toy with Sally.” “You stayed calm when Johnny’s mom had to cancel the play date. That shows me that you have the quality of flexibility.” You can adjust your language for a younger child as needed. These kinds of compliments should come from us parents very frequently, as they make children feel truly seen.

Stand 3. Clarify the rules.

As the NHA approach points out, a rule for children is more effective when phrased as a negative. “No running” is more direct and less negotiable than “Walking feet.” “Gentle hands” leaves room for wide interpretation, while “No hitting your sister” doesn’t. There are plenty of rules that you haven’t had reason to think of in advance. Patty’s colorful example was “Don’t put the dog in the toilet.” That’s a rule, of course, but it’s one that you’ll likely have to invent in the moment it’s being broken.

That’s okay.

When a rule is broken, predictable and clear consequences—given without emotion or warnings—are most likely to reduce negative behavior.

I, for one, have a lot of practice ahead of me when it comes to implementing this approach, but I can tell it’s going to be worth the effort.

There’s also a lot more info on NHA than can fit in this column. Check out HowardGlasser.com or look him up on Amazon if you’d like to learn more.

- Elise Thomason, PPP Parent

UPCOMING TOUR DATES: Tuesday, April 10 Wednesday, May 9

Visit us online for more information: www.PeachtreePresbyterianPreschool.org

LIBRARY DONATIONS Thank you to the many special guests during Visiting Days who purchased new books for the Library! Our teachers and students are so excited about these additions. If you would like to donate a book on behalf of your child, please contact Elise Thomason at elwoth@gmail.com

MAY 5, 2018 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. (RAIN OR SHINE) The Peachtree Family Festival is a joyful day of carnival games, delicious food and art!

Enjoy old-fashioned games, pony rides, food trucks, a race track, a bake sale, bounce houses, rescue vehicles, a petting zoo, music, dance performances and photos with some beloved characters. In addition, we invite you to experience the expanded Artists’ Market where many local artists will be showcasing their wares.

Calling all artisits - If you are an artist or know of any local talent please consider registering to be a vendor at our Artists’ Market.

Space is limited, but we do have specific needs for ceramics, wood, paper, or fabric good. Please contact Carrie Clendenin via email at whimsylanellc@gmail.com for more information and to submit 3-5 images of your work.

We need LOTS of childrens’ motorized vehicles for the racetrack!

If you have one to contribute, please email peachtreefamilyfestival@ gmail.com.

This is an entirely volunteer-run event and a celebratory crescendo to our students’ school year.

Please contact Carrie Clendinen, Erica Schwalm and Susanne O’Neal at peachtreefamilyfestival@gmail. com for volunteer opportunities.

Honeycomb Exploration After being gifted a honeycomb, the children of The Red Room became fascinated with the dripping motion of the honey and the design of the honeycomb.

This real-life manipulative became the model for the children to create their own honeycomb. They mixed clear glue and food coloring to represent the honey, and they used all of their senses to explore the actual honeycomb and create their own version. This has launched discussions about honey bees, the lifecycle of the bees, and basic pollination.

What do you think is in a “ I learn about honey honeycomb? and bee.” - Savita “I t’s made of holes. Honey “ A beekeeper collects the is coming out of the holes. bees in the hive.”

Honey comes from the - Graham farmer.” -Jackson “Bubbles. Bees.” - Addie “ Crocodiles made the “ It looks like a monster.” honey!” -Aly -Layne “ People made the honey.”

“Honey!” - Graham - Scottie “ I want to eat this!”

-Michael

“It’s for bees!” - Savita

“ Bees make honeycomb.”

-Addie

“ Bees made honey come out of it!”- Scottie

“It’s sticky!” - McCarthy

Book Review from The Tapestry Room (Pre-K): A laugh-out-loud funny new children’s book from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit. The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors reveals the epic tale behind everyone’s favorite playground game!

A riotously funny new picture book from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons came Home, Drew Daywalt, and New York Times bestselling illustrator, Adam Rex. In the Kingdom of Backgarden lived a fearsome warrior named ROCK. ROCK was undefeated in battle, and yet, he felt unfualfilled. So he went in search of a worthy opponent. Little did he know that at that very moment two more warriors were setting forth with the very same idea. When ROCK collides with SCISSORS from the village of Junk Drawer, and the ferocious PAPER, who hails from the Empire of Mum’s Study, an epic and hilarious battle ensues. And the rest, as they say, is history.

What would you tell others about the book?

Ideas to talk to your children about when reading The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors

“ Event thought they battled, they still became friends.”

- How do you think the author came up with this idea?

- Do you play rock, paper, scissors with your friends?

“ Paper covers Rock, Rock beats Scissors, and Scissors cuts Paper.” “ They are all the champions so they wanted to be friends.” “ I want to meet all of them!” “ The book is funny! We love it!”

- This story is a legend. What type of legend could you create?

What would it be about?

- How does the artist make objects in to people?

PEACHTREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2018 God wants us to join His team, to celebrate our salvation, and encourage one another. So what are you waiting for? It’s Game On! We welcome children 4 years old (by September 1, 2018) through rising sixth graders. Spaces are available for 2 and 3-year-olds when a parent volunteers for all four days of Vacation Bible School.

Registration Deadline: May 17 Register Today - http://peachtreechurch.org/news/vbs2018

REGISTER FOR CAMP PEACHES! www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org JUNE 11-15 & JUNE 18-22 Come join the fun at Camp Peaches! Skilled teachers and enthusiastic youth assistants provide an exciting, safe environment for campers to develop their active imagination through hands-on adventures. Unique classes introduce campers to the stimulating world of discovery. Camp Peaches is designed for children who will be Two-years-old by February 28,2018, through rising 3rd graders. Children may attend one or both weeks.

The camp registration fee is $200 for one week or $380 for both.

Registration is non-refundable after May 15, 2018. Refund prior to May 15, 2018, will incur a $25 processing fee.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13,

2018, AT 7PM FOR OUR 7TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER & GALA BENEFITING PEACHTREE PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL & THE INCLUSION PROGRAM.

SOME

FA B U L O U S

AT THE BRAND-NEW,

ON ATL ANTA’S

WEST SIDE

AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE:

1 round of golf for 3 people on the

Baltusrol

lower and upper courses at - members only, so golf is for 3 people plus a pro that is at the course .1 overnight stay in the clubhouse . Lunch,

24 hours of babysitting by two totally

ra d teachers: Ms. Candice and Ms. Amanda! Plan your parent-escape knowing your kids will be entertained and well cared for by this bad-to-the-bone duo.

breakfast, dinner This course has hosted multiple US opens & PGA championships and you can only play with member or guest, so a member has donated this playing with a golf pro...!

BECOME A

SPONSOR to take advantage of VIP perks and support the school with these families and businesses:

DIAMOND SPONSOR

Arco Design/Build PL ATINUM SPONSORS

NCG Cinemas

Rogers Electric & the Schoultz Family The Simpson Organization Crescent Grove Advisors NCG Cinemas

Keep your drinks and food at the perfect temperature with the Yeti Hopper Flip Cooler, 2 Yeti Cups, and Yeti Ice Pack. Also enjoy a Yeti t-shirt. You’ll be set!

GOLD SPONSORS

Mary Elizabeth & Drew Ellenburg Medical Management Associates, Inc. The Heffernan Family The Wood Family Foundation SILVER SPONSORS

GoodSteps Drs. Scott & Sarah Bochar Early Private Bank of Buckhead SEI Group The Schwalm Family

Elise & Chuck Thomason Beth Ready Liz Jones, Beacham & Company Realtors Turner & The Mosteller Family Abacus Solutions & the Carlson Family Alyssa & Mark Davis & American Century Investments Foundation Movement Mortgage & The Quiner Family Tower Wine Butler Tire & Wheels Pratt Clay, LLC

Grab your blue eye-shadow and banana clips and get your tickets here:

HOST SPONSORS The Rubinas Family The Kaineg Family The Clayton Family Amy Kim and John Gira Elan Diamond Group www.getawayto30a.com & The Schuler Family The Higgins Family The Mulwee Family Martenson, Hasbrouck & Simon LLP The Vetter Family The Nash Family Carrie & Eric Brune Susanne & Bert O’Neal Kyle & Karyn Sturgeon Candy Cooper The Durden Family Tucker Family The Lombardo Family Johanbakhshnik Family

Dr. Michael Neimkin Ophthalmic Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery The Blanchette Family The Clendenin Family The Williams Family Stafford’s Studio The Voight Family Kings Fine Art The Brott Family The Matthews Family The Elf on the Shelf The Murphy Family The Jones Family IN-KIND SPONSORS Elise Thomason, Designer Holeman & Finch Bottle Shop Taylor, Feil, Harper, Lumsden, Hess - Attorneys at Law Tito’s Handmade Vodka True Fare

SPRINGTIME18.AUCTION-BID.ORG/

Professional Development On March 2, the teachers of the Preschool drove to Greenville, SC to join their “sister school” colleagues at the annual Project Infinity Whole Project Professional Development Day. Approximately, 170 educators came together to learn about the educational projects of the past, to dialogue about current educational practice and theory and to project for the future work with children, families, and educators. The day included shared

readings and small group discussions, a presentation on American educational theorist John Dewey and and impassioned speech by our own Grant Troutman.

Dewey reminds us of why we value experiential learning at the Preschool for children and adults when he says, “Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.”