Starksboro Cooperative Preschool Newsletter - November 5, 2011

Aides in the AM - Jill/Vicki/Melissa/Beth/Daniel

Aides in the PM -  Ann/___/Heidi

 

This week, the Harvest Area theme will continue.  We will also visit Lewis Creek Farm on Tuesday and Wednesday (morning class), and on Tuesday with the afternoon class to further highlight the theme.  We will add in some cooking projects featuring seasonal veggies throughout the week that we will also enjoy at snack and mealtimes. 

 

Parent conferences were held last friday.  If you were unable to make it and would like to schedule a conference after (or possibly during) school hours, please let me know!

 

Cooperative Responsibility Information:  

I have identified a new family job that will need some action right away; see below.  Also we still have a high need for parents to sign up for aiding.  Please stay in touch with me about this if you are planning to buy out of this responsibility.  I will be contacting parents who have not yet signed up or stated their buy-out preferences to check in during the next week or so.

 

New Family Job - GARDENER -  this will involve working on the preschool’s community garden space right behind the building.  You will be able to work on it anytime you want, which is a plus for the busiest parents.  We have already cleared much of last year’s growth away, but it needs some attention before the whole garden is fertilized and turned over next weekend - so a visit will need to be made some time during the week ahead.  Future tasks will include helping make a preschool garden sign, and helping us out next spring when we (the preschoolers) get ready to plant, as well as  helping us mulch the entire space before school ends for the summer.  I have been doing this myself for the last two years with some help from parents.  A big part of the gardener’s job will be to enlist other parents to help out over the summer.  In the past,  I have asked returning families to each visit once over the summer  to make sure the rows are clear and the plants are doing well.  Our super mulching really works to keep the summer work down.   This past summer, I was unable to keep up with the whole project, so I am hopeful that the addition of a parent to organize this effort, we will help us have a super garden experience in the spring!  Email me if interested for more details!

 

Parent Aiding Update:  I have highlighted all names in yellow on the aiding sign-up sheet posted in the classroom, that are aligned with the website calendar.  I will then be able to keep track of any new sign-ups and update the website - please continue to sign up to help us out - we really need and appreciate it!

 

Something we need right away - FABRIC! 

Fall/Winter weather is here, and it is time to “button up” the building as best we can to save heating costs and increase our comfort!  We will be constructing curtains for the parlor and some “draft dodgers” to keep cold air out along the baseboards.  Does anyone have yardage to contribute?  Colors and patterns are not that important - please bring in what you have, or email me if you have questions about this.

 

Weather related info:

•    Now that we are heating the parlor space, it is important to remember that the heat is on, and to keep the doors closed during the day.  If it warms up and the burner is off, we will surely open the windows and/or doors for fresh air. 

•   Dress your children warmly!  Although this week’s forecast is for warmer temps, the cold is lurking!  Warm clothing, which includes mittens (better than gloves), warm waterproof boots, snowpants and jackets and a neckwarmer or scarf will be needed very soon.  We have a few extras here to help when children get wet, but if you have good waterproof gear, they will have time to dry out in between our trips outside.  Let me know if you are in need -  ex-preschool parents will often donate their outgrown items to us.  Good places to shop locally are Once Upon a Child, the Rugged Bear, and  EMS.