CALENDAR
Sept. 29th – Oct. 10th: Fall Break NO SCHOOL
October 13th: NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day
October 16th: Open House for the Bear Cubs class families
October 17th: Practice Exit Drill
October 20th – 24th: Fall pictures at the school
October 22nd: Practice Severe Weather Drill
November 4th: Election Day - NO SCHOOL
November 11th: Practice Exit Drill
November 16th: Bake Sale Fundraiser / Nursery School Appreciation Sunday
Nov. 26th - 28th: Thanksgiving Holiday NO SCHOOL
FALL FESTIVALS & TRUNK OR TREATS
With Halloween coming up, here is a list of trunk or treats in the area. You can also find a post on Moms of Oak Ridge Facebook page.
Sept. 26 & 27 - Atomic Fall Festival
Oct. 2 – YWCA Trunk or Treat
Oct. 11 – Tennessee Harvest Festival at the Oak Ridge Farmer’s Market
Oct. 17 & 18 – St. Mary’s Fall Festival
Oct. 17 – Howl-o-ween Trick or Treat at the Little Ponderosa Zoo & Rescue
Oct. 18 – Oak Ridge Veterinary Hospital Trunk or Treat
Oct. 25 – Spooky Pooch Halloween Bash at Hops & Hounds
Oct. 26 – Kern UMC Trunk or Treat
Oct. 29 – Wildcats for Change Trunk or Treat at Oak Ridge High School
FALL PICTURES
We will once again be having fall pictures done during the week of October 20th-24th. Shannon Ottinger is going to be the photographer, and she will be photographing the children in the woods by the picnic tables. We will start every day at 9:00 am and will do a couple of classes a day. I will send out a schedule and a permission slip when we return on the 14th.
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.
PLAYGROUND SAFETY
Please make sure that the purple hook is latched every time you go in and out of the gate. This is for the safety of the children as some tend to unlock the gate and run out into the parking lot.
Children love to stay and play after school on the playground but to do so, please follow the rules of the playground. The rules are there for safety reasons and you will be asked to leave if your child does not follow them. Our playground rules are listed below as a reminder.
Climb Safely
1. Use both hands at all times on the monkey bars
2. Hang only by your hands instead of your knees
3. Wait for a teacher/adult before climbing
4. Stay off the top of the monkey bars
Play Safely in the Sandbox
1. Sand is only for digging (not throwing)
2. Sand needs to stay in the sandbox
3. Keep the sand low
4. Keep the gravel and sand apart
Use the Caterpillar Safely
1. Only go through (stay off the top)
2. Come out feet first
Swing Safely
1. Only sit or lay on your belly (not standing on the swings)
2. Hold on with both hands (don't have anything else in your hands)
3. Wait until the swing is still to get off (instead of jumping off)
4. Swing back and forth ONLY (no spinning)
Slide Safely
1. Slide on your bottom (not headfirst)
2. Wait until the person ahead of you is finished sliding before going down the slide
3. Two slides are for sliding; one slide is for climbing! Look at the ARROWS to know which slide to climb
Use the Bikes Safely
1. Stay on the pavement (stay off the curb)
2. Stay between the fence and the bike rope
3. Look in front of you when riding
4. The areas by the brown doors are only for sitting (no chalk or riding bikes there)
PARENTS: Please leave the playground by 12:10pm as it will be used for the afternoon classes. Never leave a child unattended. (In your car, or on the playground.) Please lock and latch the gate every time for the safety of all the children.
PARENTS: We reserve the right to ask you to leave the playground with your child/ren if you are not following the playground safety rules when with your child/ren. Thank you for your co-operation.
RIDING TOYS IN THE PARKING LOT
Once we return from fall break, we will be using half of the parking lot at least two days a week to play with riding toys. Ropes will be strung across the parking lot to designate the riding area. Please help us set a good example by using the area between the two wooden posts (in the middle of the parking lot) to enter/exit rather than climbing over or going through the ropes.
HALLOWEEN SAFETY
Halloween is quickly approaching. It is a fun time for children. Please do not send your child to school in their costumes. We will have many dress-up clothes for them to enjoy at school as the holiday approaches. Please see the last page that contains the safety tips for Halloween from safekids.org. We hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday.
Parents may discuss any concerns with the director. At any time during the year, parents and teachers may request a conference.