Calendar:
September 1st: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday
September 2nd: Practice Exit Drill
September 29th - October 10th Fall Break
October 13th NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day
October 17th Practice Exit Drill
October 22nd Practice Severe Weather Drill
THANKS FOR A GREAT BEGINNING
Thank you for being so patient with us as we have navigated this school year. The children have adapted well and seem to be enjoying being back in school.
Reminder: Doors open at 8:55 am. This allows teachers to have a full 30 minutes to set up their classrooms.
Per the Department of Human Services, everyone should be signing their child in with your own unique code. This is for your child's safety and using someone else’s code puts us in violation of the DHS rules and regulations. Anyone who is on a child's approved pick-up list, has their own unique code and MUST use it to sign a child in and out. This includes parents, grandparents, babysitters, aunts, uncles, etc.
If your child is to go home with someone other than their usual pick-up person, please let us know through messages in Brightwheel or you can also fill out a transportation permission slip (these are located by the tuition box) and give 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 in Brightwheel, 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. Please send your child to school in sturdy, closed toed shoes. Children are climbing, jumping, running, swinging, playing in the little woods and riding big wheels at school. They will be able to more safely participate in these activities if they have well-fitting, closed toe shoes. NO FLIP FLOPS PLEASE! Thanks for your help!!
SUBSTITUTES NEEDED!
If any parent is interested in becoming a substitute for the school, please let Shona know. I will set up a substitution orientation for everyone that is interested. It is a great way to get to know the classrooms and teachers.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Parents and/or family members should not post any child, other than their own, on any social media. If there is another child in a picture with your child, please block out the face. There are families in the school that do not want their child’s picture on social media.
ALEXANDER GUESTHOUSE AND PARKING LOT SAFETY
As you turn into the church parking lot off of Kentucky Ave, remember that we share the drive with Alexander Guesthouse. Their residents like to walk outside during the day and these elderly individuals may not always be aware of traffic. Please drive slowly up and down the hill to the nursery school and in the parking lot as our children are also 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 a parent information board. It is located outside the office. 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.
We also have a new information shelf right inside the doorway. Underneath the shelf are some parenting books that are available for parents to take and read. Also, if you have any parenting books that you are looking to find a new home for, we would love them. Just put them with the rest of the books.
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 every Friday that school is in session from noon until 1:30 pm or 2:55 pm, except for the days the Christmas and Spring Sings are held, and reservations are needed. The fee is $10.00 (1:30 pm pick up) or $20.00 (2:55 pm pick up) and is due whether your child attends that day or not. 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 white basket on the shelf. This money is not part of the tuition, as it goes directly to the teachers. 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.
NO NUTS PLEASE
We have children in the school that have nut allergies (tree nuts and peanuts). Please do not send any nuts or nut butters in your child's lunchbox including those items like granola bars and yogurt that contain nuts. If you have questions, please check with your child’s teachers for more specific needs for your child’s classroom. Thanks
EARLY DROP OFF
We have an early drop off starting at 8:00 am to accommodate parents who need to drop off their child before 8:55 am. This program is similar to the Friday lunch in program as it is an extra service provided based on teacher availability. Because it is an extra service, we ask that the money be paid on a weekly basis and be paid in cash since the money goes directly to the teachers. If you must write a check, please make it out to Shona Ellis so that she can cash it and give the money to the teachers. Space is limited so reservations are needed, and the cost is $5 per child paid whether your child attends or not. If you are interested in participating, please see Shona.
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. If your circumstance necessitates a payment later in the month, please let Shona know. Tuition rates are posted next to the tuition box in the main hallway and on our website at ucnschool.org.
PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE
Every year we ask parents and families to help us maintain our playground. As fall is quickly approaching, we need volunteers to help keep leaves raked off the playground. We always need help raking the gravel back under the swings and around the bottom of the slides as it gets kicked by the children during play. The flower garden is also in desperate need of weeding. If you would be willing to help with playground maintenance this year, please let Shona or Patricia know. Many hands make light work, thanks to all who volunteer.
KROGER REWARDS PROGRAM
If you shop at Kroger and would like to help 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!
FOOD CITY REWARDS
If you shop at Food City and would like to help the nursery school, please link your Food City value card to the school through the My School Bucks Program. Go to foodcity.com or open the app, create an account if you don’t already have one, and then go to the My School Bucks and link your card to United Church Nursery School. Our school id is 60489. Thanks!
REMINDER: FALL BREAK IS SEPTEMBER 30TH - OCTOBER 11th, SO THE NURSERY SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED DURING THAT TIME.
Shona Ellis
Director