September 2019 Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2019

Join us at Pumpkin Patch Saturday, September 28 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Beginnings: The Ivy Room, Pre-K class | Paint on Paper

DEAR FAMILIES,

Sixty years ago, just around the corner on Mathieson Drive, Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool opened its doors to 20 five-year-old children for kindergarten. At that time, kindergarten was not offered in public schools.

The mission was “…created to provide an early educational program of the highest quality, founded on a firm commitment to God and a dedication to the highest professional standards”. That mission has stood the test of time and remains the same.

Today, we know much more about the early years in humans. Research tells us that the first five years of a child’s life are a time of great promise and considerable risk. Having responsive relationships with adults, growthpromoting experiences and healthy environments builds the sturdy brain architecture for the foundation of resilience and a desire to learn. At Peachtree, we base our practices on the work from the Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University). Harvard has been instrumental in studying the science of early childhood development. Out of this was born Project Zero and work with Reggio Children.

Peachtree is excited to reach this milestone, but more importantly excited to continue to provide the highest professional standards through our study of early childhood and best practices. One of our values is professional development. The Preschool is currently a partner in providing a community professional development experience at SunTrust Plaza – The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children. In this newsletter, you will also see other professional development staff attended on pages 12 and 13.

As Peachtree did sixty years ago, we enter this year focused on providing the children and families an early educational program of the highest quality.

Best,

MISS JANE

Calendar SEPTEMBER 9-13

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24

Peachtree Afterschool and Extended Classes begin

Pre-K and Five/Six Parents’ Night Out Party, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., Thomas’ Home

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

Individual Pictures

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12

Inclusion Parent Coffee, 9:00 a.m., Gathering Area

Three-year-old Parents’ Night Out Party, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., Mosteller’s Home

Room Parent Meeting, 9:15 a.m., Room 2303

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

Pumpkin Patch, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Peachtree Church

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14-15

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Prospective Parent Tour, 9:30 a.m., Lobby of the Family Commons

SCHOOL HOLIDAY- No School

Toddler Parents’ Night Out Party, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., Bigger’s Home

9-20

Room Parent Meeting, 9:15 a.m., Room 2303

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OCTOBER

4 Professional Development - No School

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16 Prospective Parent Tour, 9:30 a.m., Lobby of the Family Commons

17-18

24 Halloween Parades, M-F Pre-K and Five/Six, 9:20 a.m., Fellowship Hall

Food Drive

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Coffee Chat, Leaving the Preschool, 11:00 a.m., Room 2303

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9 Vision Screening, Room 4305

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

Halloween Parades, MWF Pre-K and all Three-year-old classes, 9:20 a.m., Fellowship Hall

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Two-year-old Parents’ Night Out Party, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., Bradford’s Home

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

Images above: Five/Six start of school

31 T/Th Parent Teacher Conversations, No School for T/Th classes

From Parents’ Council: Parents,

Welcome to another great year at Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool! We are so excited that your family is a part of Peachtree. You’ve made a great decision, and your child will thrive here. We look forward to getting to know you!

Parents are an integral part of a child’s school experience, and the depth of parent involvement is one of the reasons that the Preschool is such an amazing place. There are MANY opportunities for families to become involved at the Preschool.

Some of these include: volunteering as a Room Parent in your classroom, signing up for classroom celebrations throughout the year, and working on school-wide initiatives and events through Parents’ Council. The Parents’ Council is a group of parent volunteers who chair, manage, support or help with various activities throughout the school year. Some volunteer roles are easy, one-time activities, and others require more of a time commitment....there is something for everyone! Committees include the Art Studio, Carpool, Library, Teacher Appreciation, Outdoor Classroom, Springtime at Peachtree (evening gala), and Peachtree Family Festival – just to name a few. This is likely your child’s first experience with school, and we know it can be overwhelming. Volunteering is a great way to plug in and build a community for yourself. We promise you will make wonderful friends and have a great time while doing it.

We encourage you to take the time to read this newsletter each month. You will learn about upcoming events at the Preschool, and maybe even see a photo of your child!

Any questions or interested in volunteering? Please contact me at 404-213-3484 or alisongrubinas@yahoo.com.

Blessings,

Alison Rubinas Parents’ Council Chair 404.213.3484 alisongrubinas@yahoo.com

The Yellow Room (Two-year-olds)

2019-2020 Individual Picture Schedule Monday, September 9 Bohntinsky/Purcell/Somodean/Troutman Fiveash/Leete/Linder Keough/Pope/Smith

Tuesday, September 10 Sewell/Traynelis/Williams Bell/Fleetwood/Montana Gross/Justice/Wright Wednesday, September 11 Farr/Parker/Pereira Rothschild/Underwood Burke/Rackley/Ross Thursday, September 12 Amstutz/Klitenic/Myers Beacham/Kirtland/Parker Carroll/Rhodes/Sarijian Friday, September 13 Barnhart/Olivier/Quintana Adams/Freaney Carlyle/Dergan Monday, September 16 Jones/Weber Boswell/Larson/Wasilewsky Owens/Wells/Young Tuesday, September 17 Burke/Rackley/Ross Boswell/Larson/Leete Adams/Freaney Wednesday, September 18 Thompson/Wamsley Crump/Reed Thursday, September 19 Carlyle/Dergan Thompson/Wamsley Jones/Wasilewsky/Weber Friday, September 20 Nichols/Vailes MacLane/Tilgner

Peachtree Afterschool The Preschool offers afterschool opportunities, staffed by Peachtree faculty, for children ages two-years-old through six-years-old. There are two sessions for the 2019 - 2020 school year. Pick-up is at 1:15 p.m. in the Family Commons carpool line.

Session One: Week of September 9 - Week of December 9 Session Two: Week of January 6 - Week of May 11 Afternoon Storytime: This literacy program is designed to develop children’s foundational skills with letter sounds, letter identification, phonemic awareness and rhyming in order to enhance a love of reading. Each week will focus on a different children’s book. Afternoon Storytime meets on Fridays ($418). (Children in Pre-K and Five/Six classes) Create: In this class, children will explore different mediums while working with a variety of materials. Create meets on Tuesdays ($456) and Thursdays ($494). (Children in Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes) Hola Amigos: This is an immersion program that uses stories, games, finger plays, songs and movement. Children will be introduced to the basics of the Spanish language and exposed to concepts including colors, body parts, numbers, family members and common phrases. Hola Amigos meets on Thursdays ($494) and Fridays ($418).

(Children in Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes) Language of Food: This class helps children gain awareness and appreciation of where our food comes from and how we use all of our senses to discover food.

Among the activities, children will plant vegetables in the Outdoor Classroom, prepare seasonal food items, learn about setting a table, table manners, and interact with the Peachtree chickens. The Language of Food class meets on Tuesdays ($456) and Fridays ($418). (Children in Twoyear-old, Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes) Music Class: This program offers an afternoon of singing, dancing and making music in a fun, engaging environment.

Children will embrace their love for music with familiar songs, movement and exposure to traditional and non-

traditional instruments. Music Class meets on Thursdays ($494). (Children in Two-year-old, Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes) Splendid Day: This program offers an extension of the Preschool day with indoor and outdoor play. Splendid Day meets on Monday ($360), Tuesday ($360), and Wednesday ($390). (Children in Two-year-old, Three-yearold and Pre-K classes) Super Heroes Club: Designed to help children develop confident social skills, this class focuses on age appropriate concepts including sharing, turn taking, problem solving and creating play schemes together with peers. The instructors are Inclusion Teachers: Emma Cutler, Grant Troutman and Katie Troutman. Super Heroes Club meets on Wednesdays ($715), Thursdays ($715) and Fridays ($605) until 1:50 p.m. *If you are new to the class please contact Katie Troutman before registering. ktroutman@ peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org.

Tell Me All About It: Children are invited to expand their spoken language and listening skills through play, art, songs and more. This class will focus on individualized receptive and expressive language targets, listening skills and speech goals while also working with the family to support children with hearing loss or language needs at school and home.

Tell Me All About It meets on Fridays ($528). *If your child is new to the program, please contact Corine Parker before registering cparker@peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org.

(Children in Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes) The Great Outdoors: Children enjoy the Outdoor Classroom where they will encounter everything nature has to offer. Children will experience working in the garden, “cooking” in the Mud Kitchen, sketching the environment, searching for bugs and caring for the chickens. The Great Outdoors meets on Mondays ($456) and Thursdays ($494). (Children in Two-year-old, Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes)

Peachtree Pals - early morning program

NEW! Peachtree Pals: early morning drop off; staffed with Preschool faculty.

Monday - Friday, 7:45 – 8:45 a.m. September 9 – December 18.

SIGN UP at www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org

SEPTEMBER BLESSING:

Teacher Spotlight

For each new morning with its light,

This month we are spotlighting Sarah Wood. This is Sarah’s first year at Peachtree Presbyterian. She is our new Associate Director/Admissions Director.

For rest and shelter of the night,

Birthplace / Hometown: Winchester, Kentucky / Dunwoody, Georgia

For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.

Education: BBA Georgia State University summa cum laude / MAT Early Childhood College of Charleston

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image at bottom The Coral Class Watercolor on Paper, 2019 Expressions

Personal/Claim to Fame: Published author in The Teacher Educator journal, state champion swimmer, traveled to 24 countries (and counting!)

Favorite Quote: ”The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth” - African proverb

CHAPEL Students in the Three-year-old, Pre-K and Five/Six classes attend a Chapel service in the Sanctuary each month. Katie Manning leads the service that includes guest speakers, songs and Bible stories.

Worship Services 9:20 a.m. on Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24.

Each month, students are encouraged to participate in an outreach project by bringing toiletry items for Buckhead Christian Ministry (BCM). September’s donation item is deodorant. Children will bring the donation to Chapel and place in a wagon at the front of the Sanctuary.

Welcome Parties and the First Days of School

Parents’ Corner Kelli Francis

Fellow parents, welcome to the 20192020 school year!

Whether your heart belongs to summer or fall, I’d like to think there’s one thing we can all agree on.

There’s nothing quite like the start of a new school year. I love walking through the halls that first time, seeing familiar faces; hugging everyone who will tolerate it; and watching my daughter, Kate, take it in. It’s a brief moment in time – one brimming with possibility and at the same time, guaranteed to return us to the comforting hum of familiar routines.

There’s one other thing I feel at this time of year, and I would imagine I’m not alone in this either. Without fail, the parental part of my brain begins thinking about how this school year will set the stage for the next one and the one after that and the one after that. Before long, I’m making developmental to-do lists full of notes like ‘practice scissor skills’ and ‘more Play-Doh,’ and ‘executive function!’

This year, however, I’ve decided to get radical. I’ve made the decision, for

SIGN UP ONLINE FOR PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT WWW.PEACHTREEPRESBYTERIANPRESCHOOL.ORG

once, to try and stay gauzy, wrapped in the raw energy and promise of a new school year without getting too far ahead of myself.

This new perspective arrives on the heels of a personal shift – a return to my career. A job I started over the summer promises to push me into areas of my industry that my writer’s brain has not gone before –like SQL and Python. As I take online courses, I’m struck by how increasingly easy it is to acquire new skills. Learning

curves today pale in comparison to what they were when I began my career 23 years ago.

Our children will grow up with the certainty that any piece of information they could ever need is readily available to them. They will have a myriad of ways to learn – such as the assisted communication app that Kate is beginning to use on her iPad

following a regression with expressive language. Maybe we don’t need to worry about them after all. Maybe the answer is to stay gauzy and to keep them enveloped in their wondrous, glitter-coated, Crayola-hued childhood for as long as possible.

If a 45-year-old code-averse writer can learn SQL in an afternoon, just imagine what they can do in their lifetimes.

- Kelli Francis, Peachtree Parent

Professional Development

60 3

educators attended Bing Nursery School Summer Institute at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA.

educators enrolled in the Nurtured Heart Approach workshop.

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educators attended the Planning and Projecting workshop at the Preschool.

We believe professional growth is vital to build and maintain the quality of experience for children and families. Throughout the summer, the staff participated in professional development. From the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA), Nurtured Heart course and local and national conferences, the staff invested in educational exchange.

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Peachtree staff attended the Wonder of Learning: The 100 languages of Children exhibit.

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educators participated in the NAREA Summer Conference and Project Infinity School Tours.

educators attended the Project Infinity Summer Institute.

The Great Turtle Escape The Creek Room - Pre-K

Here are a few theories: The first days of school are always exciting. This was especially ture for the children and teachers in the Creek Room when they arrived Friday morning to find two of their three turtles had escaped. The teachers used this as an opportunity to learn more about the class and spent time listening to the children sharing their thoughts and theories on “how” and “why” the turtles escaped.

“I think the turtles held onto a hot air balloon. The daddy and the baby escaped, but the mommy stayed in the tank. They wanted to check out everything in the room.”

“We think they were hiding because they were scared.”

“They wanted to see all over the class and play in the areas.”

The children’s thoughts reflected some of the feelings they may have experienced in the first days of school. Not to worry the turtles are safe and sound back together.

Stay tuned – the turtle’s adventure will continue to be a source of learning for all of us.

drawings above of the Creek Room class “great turtle escape”.

2019 Virtual Stroller-K Push for Good:

The third annual Stroller-K is taking a new course! This year’s event is a Virtual event – meaning you and your friends and family can do it whenever you’d like!

The purpose of the Stroller-K is to “push for good”

by supporting Project Infinity – a collaboration of schools in Atlanta, Georgia and Greenville, South Carolina - including Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool.

The “race” is done whenever you’d like! Whether you

sign-up for a 5K, take a stroll with your family around the park, get a group of Preschool parents together for a walk/ run/ skip/ or night of dancing! Whatever you want – you can do it!

Cost:

Any donation amount is greatly appreciated and will support unique learning experiences for educators and parents (such as The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children exhibit in Atlanta – see below).

The suggested donation amount is $25 - $50.

Register today: www.inspiredpractices.org/stroller-k/ Peachtree is honored to be a host for the Wonder of

Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children Exhibit together

with four other Project Infinity Schools: Saint Anne’s Day School, Grant Park Cooperative Preschool, The Nest Nursery School and Greenville First Baptist Day School. The exhibit is at the atrium at SunTrust Plaza Garden Offices. The interactive exhibit is open to the public, and we invite parents to participate by visiting while it is still in Atlanta.

Parking and admission are free.

PEACHTREE PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL AND PEACHTREE CHURCH

pumpkin

Patch Saturday 28th 10am to 1pm

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SePTember

Games

Food Trucks Pumpkin Patch Artisan Market

www.peachtreepresbyterianpreschool.org