March 2020 - Peachtree Presbyterian Preschooler

MARCH 2020

Springtime is Coming and YOU NEED TICKETS

March 20, 2020 l 7:00 pm The Fairmont www.SpringtimeAtPeachtree.org

DEAR FAMILIES,

We look forward to seeing everyone at Springtime at Peachtree on March 20. This is a time we can all come together to celebrate and raise needed funds for the Preschool’s Inclusion Program. At Peachtree, our goal is for inclusion to encourage a sense of community and belonging with our families, educators and children.

The Preschool just finished the six-week Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) for parents. We had over 20 parents participate in the class. It was a time for parents to be together as they studied this approach based on relationships and building the inner wealth in children. NHA provides parents a great framework for daily living through relationships.

See you at Springtime.

MISS JANE

Calendar MARCH 2-6

20

Winter Break - No School

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

13

21

Dad’s Day for Three-year-old Classes, 8:45 a.m.

18, 19, 20 Class Pictures with Anne Carr

World Down Syndrome Day - wear crazy socks!

25

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

28 Pound the Pavement for Peter Family Fun Run, 8:30 a.m., Capital City Club

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

APRIL 6 - 10

Spring Break - No School

13

Easter Monday - No School

25 & 26

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

29, 30 New Family Orientation, 9:00 a.m., The Kellet Chapel Sanctuary

26

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

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

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

7&8

19

Mother’s Visiting Days

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

13 - 17 L ast week of Peachtree Afterschool and Extended Classes

20 Last Day of School

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

JUNE 1-4

8 - 12

15 - 19

Vacation Bible School

Camp Peaches - Week 1

Camp Peaches - Week 2

From Parents’ Council: PARENTS,

Spring has (almost) sprung! This is a very exciting time of year at Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool! Spring brings lots of fun activities, and we hope you will participate and enjoy. Please be sure to check out your Room Parents’ weekly emails and the Preschool website to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Two of the Preschool’s largest and most exciting events will be here soon: Springtime at Peachtree on Friday, March 20, and Peachtree Family Festival on Saturday, May 2. Springtime at Peachtree is a 1960s Mad Men Inspired Cocktail Party this year. The Springtime event is our annual auction and gala benefitting the Preschool’s Inclusion Program. Book your babysitters and purchase your tickets now for this fun night (www. springtimeatpeachtree.org).

Peachtree Family Festival is a day of fun for the whole family! Come enjoy pony rides, face painting, bounce houses, and so much more! Please invite family members, friends, and neighbors to both of these wonderful events.

As wild as it seems, we are actually already planning for the upcoming year. Are you interested in getting involved in Parents’ Council? We would really love to have you! We are looking for committee chairs and welcome everyone who is interested. Also, if you have any suggestions for next year, we would love to hear new ideas. Please contact me at alisongrubinas@yahoo.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

We will celebrate wearing our CRAZY socks on Friday, March 20 at the Preschool.

Why was March 21 chosen as the day for World Down Syndrome Day? The date is to symbolize the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down Syndrome.

To bring awareness, people across the world will be wearing crazy socks.

Alison Rubinas Parents’ Council Chair alisongrubinas@yahoo.com

EASTER CHAPEL Chapel services will be held in the Sanctuary at 9:20 a.m. on Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31.

No donations will be collected for Chapel this month.

P E A C H T R E E P R E S BY T E R I A N P R E S C H O O L

THANKS OUR

SPRINGTIME AT PEACHTREE DONORS DIAMOND:

THE ROGERS FAMILY PLATINUM:

EMILY & MARK ALLENBACH THE ROBERTSON FAMILY THE WAGUESPACK FAMILY

GOLD: Don’t forget to wear your crazy socks on March 21 MEGAN & NED DOUTHAT JONATHAN & JENNIFER SHAPELEIGH

JAY & KELLYE HAWES IN HONOR OF BROOKS HAWES

THE VETTER FAMILY THE SCHWALM FAMILY

THE SCHAUB FAMILY

BOYD & MELODY SIMPSON

CAROLINE & BERNARD HEFFERNAN

SILVER: & THE ELLENBURG FAMILY

& JENNIFER LARKIN FESS & THE HOPKINS FAMILY

& THE GEIGER FAMILY

THE BRACEY FAMILY THE BRUNE FAMILY THE CAVAZUTI FAMILY THE FOWLER FAMILY

THE GOODMAN FAMILY MOLLY & BARRY HOWELL THE MERRITT FAMILY THE MONEY FAMILY DONALD SHAPELEIGH

HOST: THE ALLEN FAMILY THE KAINEG FAMILY THE HEATH FAMILY DRS. SARAH BOCHAR & SCOTT EARLY THE RUBINAS FAMILY THE PETERSON FAMILY

THE ISTANBULLUOGLU FAMILY THE JONES FAMILY DR. AMY KIM AND JOHN GIRA THE BONUSO FAMILY THE STEIGERWALT FAMILY

THE GOWER FAMILY THE OLUFADE FAMILY THE WYNEN FAMILY & THE RHINO FAMILY

TO BECOME A SPONSOR, VISIT WWW.SPRINGTIMEATPEACHTREE.ORG

MARCH BLESSING God Hear My Prayer God in heaven hear my Prayer, keep me in thy loving care.

Be my guide in all I do, bless all those who love me too.

Amen Traditional

CLASS PICTURE SCHEDULE MARCH 18- MARCH 20 Wednesday,March 18 Crump/Reed Thompson/Wamsley Heather Freaney Boswell/Larson/Wasilewsky Carlyle/Dergan Jones/Stafford Burke/Rackley/Ross Farr/Parker/Perira Rothschild/Underwood Thursday, March 19 Heather Freaney Carlyle/Dergan Jones/Reed/Weber Thompson/Wamsley Boswell/Larson/Leete Burke/Rackley/Ross Maclane/Tilgner Nichols/Vailes Bohntinsky/Purcell/Somodean/Troutman Friday, March 20 Amstutz/Klitenic/Myers Barnhart/Olivier/Quintana Beacham/Kirtland/Parker Carroll/Rhodes/Sarajian Fiveash/Leete/Lindler Bell/Fleetwood/Montana Gross/Justice/Wright Keough/Pope/Smith Owens/Wells/Young Sewell/Traynelis/Williams

Teacher Spotlight This month we are spotlighting the teachers in a toddler Toddler/Two class, Bailey Crump and Julie Reed

Bailey Crump Hometown: Charleston, SC Education: College of Charleston Personal: I moved to Atlanta in 2017 and nannied for two families, five children in total, full time. I am the second of four children so I love the chaos! My older sister and niece live in Atlanta and the rest of my family is in Charleston. My boyfriend of 7 years is a Marine Corps. officer stationed in North Carolina and is currently deployed in Norway! Julie and I make a great team, and, as it turns out, she nannied my best friend growing up! I adore my sweet Toddler/Two’s class and being a part of the Peachtree family!

Claim to Fame: Tina Fey has a picture of me on her phone!

Favorite Quote: “Just keep swimming.” -Dory Julie Reed Hometown: Atlanta!

Education: Dekalb Christian Academy and Samford University Personal: For years, I housed trade show attendees before making the move to manage Miami Circle design show rooms. I have lovingly cared for children in a part or full time capacity since I was twelve and feel privileged to be teaching my dear Toddler/Two class.

Claim to Fame: I have traveled all over the world and lived in Australia for a time. I booked 125,000 hotel room nights in the city of Atlanta yearly!

Favorite Quote: “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” -Fred Rogers

Dads Visit Dads in the Pre-K, and Five / Six classes were invited to spend some time in the classroom.

Each class offered various experiences with

the dads —including paper airplane making, building using real tools, creating clay sculptures and exploring the school.

Parents’ Corner Kelli Francis

I am a big fan of podcasts, and there’s one episode in particular that I like to listen to frequently.

My favorite aspect of this particular podcast episode is when the speaker, who is a leader in the personal development space, says that the central question of our lives is whether we will decide to make the choices that enhance our spirit, which she equates with love, or whether we will make choices that drain our power, which she equates with fear. She offers a relatable example, concluding that even in a small moment, like being in the grocery store and deciding to buy something that we know isn’t healthy for us – even in such a seemingly insignificant moment, we have taken a small step toward fear.

Until I heard this, I associated fear with big moments in life. Yet once invited to examine my everyday choices and thought patterns as either love or fear, I’ve started to realize that almost all of them are rooted in fear. From the stress that I feel inside of my daily routine to my unrelenting tendency to find comfort in the nearest carb, to the sleep I lose every week worrying about my daughter’s future – all of it is steeped in fear.

Something in me worries that I can’t do it all; that I’m not strong enough; that I’m going to be taken down by the challenges at hand. Worse, the fear isn’t limited to my inner life – because every

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.

judgment, snarky remark, or sharp comment I make is an indication of fearful insecurity.

In contrast, I have always believed that love was a feeling. Yet the more I examine my actions, the more I understand the power we all possess to choose. We can look at ourselves and each other and see strengths or shortcomings. We can offer grace or withhold it. We can choose to laugh with or at each other; see commonalities or differences; show interest or indifference; be loyal or subject to judgment and gossip; cheer each other on or dissect each other. Every choice we make is from either love or fear.

Getting that choice right is my top resolution for 2020, and that’s what I’m thinking about as Spring approaches. I’m going to use that day as an experiment, to see if I can really let love win for a day. Can I treat myself right for a day? Can I come in peace, and offer grace? The truth is, I’m not at all sure. All I know is that I have the power to make that choice, and I’m going to keep trying until I get it right.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES: Wednesday, March 25 Thursday, April 23 Tuesday, May 5 Visit us online for more information: www.PeachtreePresbyterianPreschool.org

MOTORIZED VEHICLES We need LOTS of children’s’ motorized vehicles for the racetrack! If you have one to lend, please email Allison Russell, allisonwrussell@gmail.com.

MAY 2, 2020 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. (RAIN OR SHINE) PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE TODAY WWW.PEACHTREEPRESBYTERIANPRESCHOOL.ORG

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.

This is an entirely volunteer-run event and a celebratory crescendo to our students’ school year. If you are interested in helping, please reach out to Kristin Heath (kristin.b.heath@ gmail.com) or Elizabeth Abshire(ebasbhire@ gmail.com).

The Five/Six Class Greatness in the Five/Six Room Greatness, in all of its simple complexities, is truly everywhere. It is not exclusive to any form or way of life, but is accessible and attainable within every moment we choose to perceive that way. Actively recognizing greatness, for the teachers in the Five/Six class, has become a practice of mindfulness that helps enhance appreciation for those seemingly mundane moments and small acts of benevolence that are often overlooked and taken for granted. It is when they make time to practice stillness, anchoring their body to their breath and intentionally deciding to slow down, they become more fully aware of the magnitude of greatness that flourishes within each encounter. Their hope was for that same awareness to manifest in our small group yoga and meditation practices, and through our shared conversations. “ . . . a school made up of assemblies of ateliers, of places where the children’s hands, rather than being bored, can joyfully converse anew with their minds. � - Loris Malaguzzi

POUND THE PAVEMENT FOR PETER Save the Date: March 28, 2020 What: A Family Fun Run. Pound the Pavement for Peter is a Family 5K Fun Run which started in 2009 in honor of Peter Hopkins, who, suffering from a Peroxisomal Disorder (PBD), lived his life with many disabilities, and eventually lost his life at age 3. This event is held to raise awareness and funds to help families and children with disabilities and debilitating diseases.

Place: Capital City Club, Brookhaven Time: 8:30 a.m. Registration Begins at 7:30 a.m.

REGISTER FOR CAMP PEACHES! www.PeachtreePresbyterianPreschool.org JUNE 8-12 & JUNE 15-19 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 28,2020, through rising 3rd graders. Children may attend one or both weeks.

The camp registration fee is $225 for one week or $425 for both.

Registration is non-refundable after May 15, 2020. Refund prior to May 15, 2020, will incur a $25 processing fee.

The Studio is Collecting Materials The world is full of materials to touch, discover, and explore. To find, collect, sort, and use materials is to begin a delightful adventure. We invite you to search for materials with your child. Review the list below and then start the search and gathering. Clean, organize, and place the treasures in a bag marked “studio� and bring it to school.

Thank you for your help in building up a collection of recycled materials rich in possibility!

Metal pieces: keys/ bolts/ chains/rings (no nails please) Metal spoons/forks Wood pieces/scraps/bobbins/spools Small ceramic tiles Seashells River rocks Interesting driftwood Tree bark Snake skin Antlers Seedpods

Dried insects Dried flowers & spices Dried moss Dried leaves Feathers Beautiful yarn/ fabric trims/ ribbons Jewelry Mirrors Sea glass Baskets Altoids containers/tins Transparent containers

Afternoon of Stories The sixth annual Afternoon of Stories was on February 9. The Preschool was full of excitement as we welcomed children and families on a beautiful winter afternoon for time devoted to listening to the vibrant music of words. After months of preparing for the event, the school was transformed into a space of imagination: full of magic, whimsy, and joy. Classrooms were overflowing with children who were overjoyed to hear the stories. Over 350 people enjoyed classic

and new tales told in the oral tradition and over 30 staff and parents participated as storytellers, assistants, set designers, and audience.

We are grateful to Bitsy’s, the official snack of the afternoon, for providing the delicious and healthy treat that was perfect for munching during an exciting story. The commitment to craft the Afternoon of Stories is illustrative of the dedication to being present with children through storytelling and to early childhood held by staff and families.

“I have a surprise to tell. I heard a story- over thereand I saw my friends. It was a show called Three Little Pigs and Pete the Cat!” Jackson, three-yearold “I love this event. The teachers do such a great job sharing stories. They really go out of their way to make everything fun. It’s perfect.” Overheard in the hallway- Liz Jones “It was so much fun! At first, I was a bit nervous when I saw the crowd of people, but then I saw the children and my heart settled. I’ve learned so much

through this process and each time the story gets better.” Jenny Wamsley, educator/storyteller We encourage you to tell stories to each other at home. Studies reinforce the importance of oral storytelling in the development of an individual’s social and emotional abilities, cognitive growth, as well as their language skills. Socially and emotionally, oral storytelling is much more personal than telling a story using a book. You may enjoy the book “Storytelling with Children’ by Nancy Mellon as a resource.

“ The wider the range of possibilitieswe offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.�

-Loris Malaguzzi

Fun Auction Items: Concert tickets: Justin Bieber, Zac Brown Band and more!

Travel: Ski condo in Breckinridge, Couples Diving Vacation in Little Cayman, Serenbe, and more!

Springtime is Coming and YOU NEED TICKETS

Sports: VIP Braves experience, signed sports items, tickets to United, Falcons, and more!

March 20, 2020 7:00 pm The Fairmont

Food and Wine: Wine tastings, Restaurant experiences, The Queso Truck, a Pig Roast, and more!

www.SpringtimeAtPeachtree.org