Nursery School News
2020
AUGUST Newsletter for Parents:
THANKS FOR A GREAT BEGINNING!
A BIG THANK YOU, goes out to all the parents for your patience and understanding in this time of uncertainty. I saw a quote from one of my instructors that said, “Now is a time for flexibility, patience and forgiveness.”
Thank you for helping your children learn the boundaries and safety rules. Please remember that licensing rules require children to be accompanied by an adult at all times when they are at school. If your child goes to the restroom to wash hands in the morning, please accompany him/her. When picking up your child from the playground, please make sure you come inside the gate to greet your child and sign him/her out. When returning to your car, please open the gate for your child and make sure you are holding your child’s hand while you are returning to your vehicle. Please do not allow your children to run through the parking lot.
If your child is to go home with someone other than their usual pick up person, please fill out a transportation permission slip (these are located by the tuition box) and give it to your child’s teacher in the morning. This helps us to know there will be a change in your child’s regular routine. Please also make sure this person is listed as someone who has permission to pick up your child on their enrollment form, thanks.
Please make sure your child has a complete change of clothes in their locker including underwear or diapers and socks. PLEASE LABEL YOUR CHILD’S JACKETS AND OTHER CLOTHING WITH THEIR NAME. Please check your child’s locker for papers and notes in the morning when you bring him/her to class.
ALEXANDER GUESTHOUSE AND PARKING LOT SAFETY
As you turn into the church off of Kentucky Ave, remember we share the drive with Alexander Guesthouse. Their residents like to walk outside during the day. These are elderly individuals who may not always be aware of traffic. Please drive slowly up and down the hill to the nursery school. Please continue to drive slowly in the parking lot as our children are not aware of traffic and might dart around cars. Thanks for your help in keeping everyone safe.
In addition, we ask that you NOT park at the very end of the building in the spaces marked “Church Staff” as you come up the hill to the parking lot, these spaces are reserved for church staff only. Thanks!
PARENT INFORMATION BOARD
In case you have not noticed, we have moved our parent information board. It is located above the water fountain outside the oldest classroom (Ms. Kimberly and Ms. Mary’s room). If there is any information you would like to see up there, please let me know. I will be changing out newsletters and other information monthly, so please make sure you check the boards on a regular basis.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Feel free to downlaod a Parent Participation sheet to fill out and return it to Shona at your earliest convenience. It is a way that you can help our school throughout the school year. Reminder: if you have requested a scholarship, you are required to volunteer your time or talent.
Check out our Parent Facebook page, Chapel on the Hill Parents, as well as our regular Facebook page.
AFTERNOON CLASSES BEGINNING
Afternoon classes start August 31st. If your child is signed up for the afternoons, please send them to school with a healthy sack lunch and drink for them to enjoy on the days they will be staying for the afternoon. Remember: No nut products due to allergies. Thanks! If you would like to sign your child up for the afternoons with a standing reservation or would like them to drop in for an afternoon, please talk with Shona. Thanks
KIDS’ LUNCH IN
Kids’ Lunch In is an optional service provided by the nursery school teachers on Fridays and is not part of the regular Nursery School program. It is separate from the afternoon classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Lunch In will be held on Fridays from 12:00 pm until 1:30 or 2:55, with the exception of the days the Christmas and Spring Sings are held. There will be a sign-up list on the white board outside Ms. Shona’s office for Lunch In. The fee is $7.50 (1:30 pick up) or $15.00 (2:55 pick up). Please pay in cash and place the money in a small envelope (some are provided), write your name on it to ensure credit for the payment, and put it in the basket on the shelf. This money is not part of the tuition, as it goes directly to the teachers. Please mark the list to indicate that you’ve paid. Children bring a sack lunch and a drink. Don’t forget to sign out with the teacher when you pick up your child from Lunch In.
TUITION PAYMENTS
As a reminder, tuition is due by the 1st of each month. If that falls on a weekend or a holiday, just pay when nursery school resumes. The fees you paid over the summer were for registration and May 2021 tuition. Starting in September please try to pay tuition by the 10th of the month. If your circumstance necessitates a payment later in the month, please let Shona know. Tuition rates are posted next to the tuition box outside Ms. Shona’s office and on our website under the class offerings tab on the Parent Information page. We also offer PayPal and have a card reader in the office as well as invoicing from PayPal. TUITION ROUND UP is a great way to help a child with scholarship needs. Just write your check for a few dollars more than your regular tuition rate and those extra dollars will go towards a child’s financial aid. Please note on the check the additional amount is for Tuition Round Up.
PERSONAL SAFETY CURRICULUM
The information about the Personal Safety Program has been put on our YouTube channel. We also have books and posters used in the program that you can review. The oldest class will be beginning the program later that week. The younger classes will begin after the winter holidays. The youngest class will not be participating in the program.
KROGER REWARDS PROGRAM
If you shop at Kroger and would like to help out the nursery school, please link your Kroger card to the school through the Community Rewards Program. Go to Kroger.com, create an account if you don’t already have one, and then go to the Community Rewards Program and link your card to United Church Nursery School. Thanks!
AMAZON SMILES PROGRAM
Please remember: next time you make an Amazon purchase, please purchase through Amazon Smile. A portion of the proceeds of all "Smile" eligible items will be donated to the nursery school. Here is how you can register our school with Amazon Smile:
1. Go to Smile.Amazon.com
2. Under your account, select "your Amazon Smile."
3. Search for United Church Chapel on the Hill
4. Several options will come up, scroll down until you find the Chapel on the Hill for "Oak Ridge, TN"
To help our school, please make sure that when you make purchases from Amazon, you need to make sure that you make your purchases under your "Amazon Smile" account...not just Amazon. Thank you!
SEPTEMBER 2020 CALENDAR FOR NURSERY SCHOOL PARENTS
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY:
Monday, September 7 NURSERY SCHOOL CLOSED - Oak Ridge Schools Closed
Tues. September 15: Parents' Welcome Brunch 9:00-10:00
Weds, September 16: Parents' Welcome Brunch 9:00-10:00
The nursery school board will be hosting a “Parent Welcome Brunch” on September 15 and 16, Tuesday and Wednesday at drop off time. It will be held in the parking lot by the playground. Younger children are always welcome to attend the brunch. In addition, the nursery school board will have handouts and display of ideas about family friendly activities in our area. If you have an activity or place you like to take your family in the area, please let Shona know and we will add it to our list. So bring your coffee and meet other nursery school parents and connect for the up-coming year.
Fall Break: September 28th – October 9th NURSERY SCHOOL CLOSED
Nursery school will be closed for the two weeks of fall break from Monday, September 28th through Friday, October 9th. Nursery school will resume on Monday, October 12.
KIDS’ LUNCH IN: Every Friday we offer Kids’ Lunch In. This is for nursery school children 30 months and older. The children can stay later at school, eat lunch with their teachers and enjoy fun on the playground and with their friends. If you would like for your child to stay for lunch in please sign the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway next to Shona’s office and send them to school with a sack lunch and drink. The cost is $7.50 from 12:00 to 1:30 and $15 from 12:00 to 2:55. Cash only please. Thanks!
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
Please send your child to school in sturdy, closed toed shoes. No flip-flops please.
Please make sure that your child has a change of clothes in their lockers. This will help them feel more comfortable to be able to wear their own clothes if they need to change them for any reason throughout the day. If you child needs to borrow nursery school clothes, please launder them and return to the nursery school. PLEASE LABEL YOUR CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
SCHOOL PICTURES Oct. 12th -16th
Mark your calendars for school pictures. They are scheduled for the week of October 12th. Tara Knieser of Dixie Pixels photography will be at the nursery school taking outdoor fall portraits of the children. She will begin on Monday and continue to photograph some children each day until everyone who chooses can have their picture taken. A schedule of when each class will have their picture made will be distributed before Fall Break. Tara does great work and we are excited to have her photograph us again this year. More information on picture packages is to come. There is no obligation to purchase pictures if you have your child’s photograph taken.
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
A pdf of the newsletters can be found on the Parent Resource Page.
Every Friday - Kids Lunch In
Sept. 7 - closed for Labor Day
Sept. 15 - Welcome Brunch/Parent Discussion about Personal Safety Curriculum
Sept.16 - Welcome Brunch/Parent Discussion about Personal Safety Curriculum
Sept. 28 - Fall Break Begins