CALENDAR
Feb. 4th - “Souper” Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall @ 6:00 pm
Feb. 12th & 13th– Valentine’s exchange
Feb. 16th – Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL)
Feb. 28th – Annual Pancake Breakfast @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am at Fire & Salt
March 16th-27 - Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
March 30th – Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL)
April 3rd – Good Friday(NO SCHOOL)
May 1st – Spring Sing @ 10:30 am
May 25th – Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
May 28th & 29th– Last day picnics @ 11:00 am
“SOUPER” WEDNESDAY
The Fellowship Committee with the church is offering a “souper” meal on February 4th @ 6:00 pm. The menu is Potato or Chicken Noodle Soup. Attendees do not have to bring anything, but you are welcome to bring a side dish if you would like. No program, just food and fellowship. Simply call the church office at 865-482-1016 to let them know how many to expect.
VALENTINE’S DAY
Valentine’s day is on a Saturday this year so the T/TH classes will have their Valentine’s activities on February 12th and the MWF classes will have their Valentine’s activities on February 13th. This is a special day for the children, with a Valentine snack, songs and stories, but it is not a party. Each class will also have a Valentine exchange. If your child comes all five days, there will be an exchange in both the T/TH and MWF classes. It is not required that your child bring Valentines to exchange; that is up to you and your child. (We will have extra Valentines so all can participate if they wish.) Each child will have a decorated paper bag for bringing home their Valentines.
We have a special request: Please do not address the valentines with their classmates’ names. Please sign your child’s name only on the valentines so that it will be possible for your child to distribute them among the bags by himself/herself. Children like to be independent. It can be difficult for them to match a name on a card with the name on the bag. Thanks for helping your child.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY
I thought it might be helpful for the parents to know what is involved in the staff development days. The one on January 5th, we did emergency preparedness training and had a training class on supervision that was done by a CCR&R coach. We will be having a CPR training session on Saturday, February 21st and then for the staff development day, we will finish our emergency preparedness training.
ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Mark your calendars! Our Pancake Breakfast fundraiser is coming up. It will be held at Fire & Salt on February 28th from 8:00 – 10:00 am. Alex Gass (former Nursery School parent) has graciously offered to host our pancake breakfast this year and will be serving bacon, sausage, and pancakes with topping options. This will be an all-you-can-eat buffet. Prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children (3-12) in advance (although not written on the actual ticket) and $15 for adults, $10 for children (3-12) at the door. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. We need volunteers to work the breakfast. The sign-up genius link will be sent out by the end of the week. Working the breakfast is always a good time!
Everyone will receive a packet of 10 tickets. The tickets are easy to sell and people will buy them even if they don’t plan on attending. It is through your support that the fundraiser can be a success. The ticket money and/or leftover tickets are due back on February 26th and 27th. All proceeds from the breakfast will go towards the tuition assistance program.
TUITION QUESTIONS
Since I have gotten questions regarding tuition, here is the paragraph from the Handbook regarding how tuition is figured with a couple of added explanations.
The tuition is based on the cost (total number of days attended from August to May) to send a child to nursery school for the school year. This cost is divided into ten monthly payments for ease of budgeting. There is no reduction in fees regardless of the number of days the school is open or the child’s attendance. In extenuating circumstances, an adjustment of fees may be considered. Written requests should be submitted to the Nursery School Board.
If you have any questions, please see Shona.
WEATHER CHANGES
With colder weather here, please double check your child’s cubby for cold weather appropriate extra clothing. Please label all hats, coats, mittens, extra clothes, backpacks and lunch boxes (and tupperware/utensils etc within them) to ensure that your child receives their items. Also, if the wind chill is above 32 degrees, we do go outside for at least 30 minutes, so please make sure your child is dressed appropriately and has appropriate outside apparel. Thank you!
In case of inclement weather, we follow the OAK RIDGE SCHOOLS not Anderson County. As soon as I get notifications from the district, I will send them out on Brightwheel. If Oak Ridge Schools are closed, we are closed. If Oak Ridge Schools are on a 1-hour delay, we will be too, so we will open at 10:00 am. If Oak Ridge Schools are on a 2-hour delay, we will be closed for the day. If you have any questions, please contact Shona.
NO NUTS PLEASE
We are still a nut free facility due to nut allergies (tree nuts and peanuts). Please do not send nuts or nut butters in your child’s lunch box. Thanks.
PARENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We love having our parents and families being involved in the classroom. Please check with your child’s teacher for any volunteer opportunities in their class such as reading stories, doing holiday art, or sharing a special talent. Also, if you have any old towels that you are no longer using and need to find a home for, please consider bringing them to the school.
PARKING LOT SAFETY
PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY in the parking lot. Because we share a parking lot with Alexander Guest House and those residents like to get out and walk, please SLOW DOWN when you enter our parking lot. Nothing is more important than the safety of those residents as well as the children. Even if you are running late, slowing down as you approach the parking lot is essential. Please hold your child’s hand as you are walking to and from your car.
DHS RULES AND REGULATIONS
On January 5th, all staff attended a training course on the importance of active supervision, led by a Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Coach. After some discussion with the coach, we realized that we needed to reinforce some of the rules that are not always followed 100%. These are things we get evaluated and scored on, and we always strive for the BEST quality of care. We appreciate your support in keeping us compliant with these stringent standards. If you would like to have more information about the following, please contact Shona.
1. Once your child is signed in, they are legally in our care. So, if for example, you sign your child in, and then they say they need to go to the bathroom – the teachers need to be the ones to do it. (So, please – ask your child if they need to go potty before signing them in.)
2. The same thing applies at pick-up time. If you sign your child out – legally, they are in your care. You may not sign your child out and then leave them on the playground/in the classroom.
3. This one pertains to siblings/carpool parents. Please sign EACH child in/out at their classroom (instead of signing in/out both children at one room and then bringing/getting the other child.
According to the DHS rules and regulations, children may not be left unattended in the school or on the playground. If you enter the school and your child turns the corner at the water fountain to where you can’t see them, it puts us into non-compliance. Please keep your child within view, which includes not letting them enter the classroom or bathroom without you. This can be tricky with siblings, please reach out to any staff member for assistance. Thanks!
Parents may discuss any concerns with the director. At any time during the year, parents and teachers may request a conference.
Shona Ellis
Director
865-482-2221