Newsletter - Westfield Presbyterian Nursery School and Kindergarten

TURTLE TALK
PRESBYTERIAN NURSERY SCHOOL
KINDERGARTEN
WINTER 2015
&
From the Directors Desk
21
We have had such a lovely start to our 2015-2016 year filled with
many smiles and giggles. The children seemed to transition
seamlessly into their new classes and immediately began
fostering new friendships. The mild fall has allowed for lots of
outside play for the children and provided beautiful foliage to
create a picturesque Mindowaskin Park for all of us to enjoy.
36
PNS&K has had a very busy start to the year including lots of
class outings from as close as Mindowaskin Park to as far as
Doyle’s Farm in Hillsborough. The children have loved
exploring, investigating and making all kinds of new
discoveries. There have also been many fun activities provided
by our wonderful PTO beginning with our Welcome Teas, ‘Rock
n Ice Cream’, Turtle Garden sprucing up, the Halloween Trail,
Parent Education Night, the PTO Newsletter and the special
treats and thoughtful dinner provided for the staff through
Teacher Appreciation—THANK YOU!! If you are interested in
becoming involved in PNS&K activities please feel free to
contact our Co-Presidents Jeanette Cohen and Naomi Wood
who will gladly put you to work!
48
Our teachers are constantly attending workshops and have been looking forward to learning more about
fine motor development and strategies to improve it which will be presented to us by Trinitas hospital
during our evening staff meeting in November. We have also been sharing many interesting articles
about the importance of play and child development including this recent one:
http://www.ilslearningcorner.com/2015-11-why-crossing-the-midline-activities-helped-this-child-listento-his-teacher/
The article talks about the importance of gross motor activities that are crucial to a child’s overall
development and their ability to focus. Our dedicated staff is always eager to learn new information and
techniques that will help our students. The holidays are quickly approaching and we will be celebrating
with Cookies with Santa and our Christmas program on December 18. We are planning to have a parent
information meeting the second week December in order to give information registration in January. If
you are a newer family, you will be able to ask any questions and speak with other parents who have
children ahead of yours in PNS&K. There will also be a Kindergarten presentation by our six teachers on
January 7th at 7:00 pm explaining our all day program. All are welcome to attend but priority is given to
our currently enrolled families. Thank you so much for your generous donations of Halloween candy and
toiletries to ‘Operation Gratitude’. We love to be able to support our troops and are so excited that our
‘Red Ball’ adult social committee is planning for a “Red White and Blue Ball” at the Westfield Armory. It
will be a wonderful way for us to support our troops as well as an enjoyable evening for all. Last year’s
“Well Read Ball” enabled us to replace the playground fencing as well as provide many updates inside of
PNS&K. Thank you again for your continued support and for sharing your children with us!
JENNIFER COLLUM
Director
Let it Snow...
Bring on the cold weather and check out a
few of our favorite winter activities!
1
CRYSTAL SPRINGS
Hop in the car for
this perfect day
trip or getaway!
Enjoy lots of family
friendly
experiences
throughout the
holiday season
and maybe escape
for a little spa
getaway at one of
the two amazing
spa facilities on
the property!
2
PAPERMILL PLAYHOUSE
"What better way to
spend a Saturday
morning than introducing
your child to the live
theater experience with
characters and stories
they love?" All shows take
place on select Saturdays
at 10am. Tickets range in
price from $10.00 to
$20.00. Tickets may be
purchased by calling
973-376-4343 or online at
papermill.org
3
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER
Treat your family to a
beloved holiday tradition
with Breakfast with
Santa at the Rock Center
Cafe of The Sea Grill.
Make their Christmas
dreams come true with a
breakfast set amidst the
seasons most iconic
destination.
therinkatrockcenter.com
Compiled By: Sarah Himmelbaum
Yesterday's
News
Last month the kindergarten classes took their
first field trip on a bus to Doyle’s Unami Farm
in Hillsborough. As if the bus ride itself wasn’t
exciting enough, they also enjoyed everything
from touring the grounds, petting and feeding
animals, watching an apple cider
demonstration, and taking a scenic hayride.
Doyle’s is a sixth-generation family farm with
a friendly staff who really allowed the children
to be hands on. Almost everyone took a turn
milking a dairy goat. “We were only old
enough to milk the goats this time, but one day,
when we grow up, maybe we can go back and be
old enough for the cow,” said Sadie Soriero, of
Mrs. Marcotullio and Mrs. McGlynn’s class.
The children also watched a sheep get sheared,
and fed goats and a horse! “My favorite part
was feeding apples to the horses. They kept
falling out of the horse’s mouth and it was
funny,” said Campbell Skinner, of Mrs. Blake
and Mrs. Cohen’s class. Kai Vasquez, of Mrs.
Gerstein and Mrs. Potter’s class, also
remembers feeding the animals. He said, “I
loved having the goats lick my hand while I
was feeding them.” The day ended in the
pumpkin patch where both children and adults
could harvest their own pumpkin and pick an
ear of popcorn. They learned they could put
the popcorn in a paper bag to dry out for
several weeks, and then pop it in the
microwave to make popcorn – a great souvenir
for a really fun day!
PNS&K Presents:
The Cutest Halloween Parade
EVER!
PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION PNS&K Parents,
We want to send a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the parents,
whether PNSK veterans or new to the school, that co­chaired
and volunteered to bring us this fall’s many fun PNSK events:
The Welcome Coffees at the beginning of the year, while
seeming to be in the distant past, were a great way to spend
time chatting with other parents and learning about the PTO
committees while the children became acquainted with their
new classrooms, teachers and friends.
Thanks to Suzanne Welsh and Janine Flannery for planning
the Rock N Ice Cream Social on October 2nd, featuring
Preschool of Rock ­ around 50 children enjoyed ice cream
and danced their hearts out!
On October 22nd it was time for the parents to enjoy a night
out at the Parent Social at Ferraro’s – it was great to see so
many new families join the fun!
The Halloween festivities were not “dampened” by the
weather! The Halloween parades and sing­a­longs were
adorable whether inside or out, and Masae Szopinski, Amy
Hassler and their committee did a fabulous job creating a
Halloween Trail adventure in Assembly Hall.
Other PTO committees that can’t go unmentioned: Thank you
to Nicole Jacobs and committee for beautifying our Turtle
Garden – a place we all appreciate as we enter the school.
Susannah Lucas and Jillian Telesca and the Teacher
Appreciation Committee have continued to bring a smile to
our teacher’s faces by providing weekly snacks in the
teacher’s lounge and hosting the November Teacher
Appreciation Dinner.
On November 17 Lindsay Wagner, Sue Reich and many
volunteers did a great job prepping our children for their
school pictures.
As Always, we'd like to extend a very big thank you to all of
the PNS&K parents. Your participation in and support of the
PTO enhances each childs amazing experience at PNS&K.
We could not do it without you! Thanks,
Naomi Benson & Jeannette Cohen
PNS&K
This 'n' That
IMPORTANT
DATES DECEMBER EVENTS
12/5- COOKIES WITH SANTA
12/7- PARENT INFO SESSION FOR
2016-2017 REGISTRATION
12/11- PARENT INFO SESSION FOR
2016-2017 REGISTRATION
12/15- STAY & PLAY
12/16- STAY & PLAY
12/18- CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
12/21-12/31 CHRISTMAS VACATION
HALLWAY
CHIT-CHAT
The children in Mrs. Savnik's class were seated at
the tables and waiting to be called to the line for
dismissal.
Mrs. Savnik: Luke
Luke: Did you call my name?
Mrs. Savnik: Yes, I said 'Luke'.
Luke: Luke P. Hansen?
Mrs. Savnik: P?
Luke: Nah, That's okay. I'll wait till I get home.
When walking from lunch to the playground Eleanor
asked Mrs. Andretta 'How come your purse is so
big?' Mrs. Andretta said 'Because I keep a lot of
stuff in it.' Eleanor turned to her friend and said 'Mrs.
Andretta must be rich because it looks like her purse
is filled with money.'
#PNSKCUTIES
JANUARY & FEBRUARY EVENTS
1/4- SCHOOL REOPENS
1/7- KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE
7PM
1/18- SCHOOL CLOSED FOR MLK
DAY
1/26- NO CLASSES- PARENT/
TEACHER CONFERENCES
2/12-2/19- WINTER BREAK
WANT TO SEE
YOUR LITTLE CUTIE
IN THE NEXT
NEWSLETTER?
EMAIL PHOTOS TO:
SARAHHIMMELBAUM@GMAIL.COM
Kindergarten
Corner
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
The Kindergarten
Class Pets
Trixie-K208
Sonic- K208
Whiskers-K108
Making Learning Fun!
The
Peanut
Gallery
Take Note
Newsletter
Team
EditorJami Neary
Editor & DesignSarah Himmelbaum
Fun Fact:
Contributing Authors:
Naomi Benson
Faye Bowie
Lauren McGovern
Susan Pastir
Jennette Cohen
iPhone Users:
Click on this newsletter and save to your
phones iBooks for quick reference to show
family or check important dates!
Great Ideas!
Have ideas or interested in volunteering for
winter and spring events? Please reach out
to your PTO Presidents – the more the
merrier!
Naomi Benson
naomivbenson@gmail.com
Jeannette Cohen
limaj25@hotmail.com
Save The Date!
"Red, White, & Blue Ball" to be held at the
Westfield Armory on Saturday, May 21. Save
the Date as this is a large fundraising event
for PNS&K! If you are interested in
volunteering please contact Robyn Gaito
robyngaito@gmail.com and Morgan Toriello
morgantoriello@gmail.com
Registration- 2016
Registration for the next school year will
start in a few weeks on January 4th. This
year we are going to try something new
for our in house families. We are excited
to be offering an informal Question and
Answer session and tours next Monday,
December 7th and Friday, December
11th. The sessions will be held in
Assembly Hall beginning at 9:10 am and
12:35 pm. Some of our veteran parents,
with children in older classes, will be on
hand to talk with you informally and
answer any questions you may have
about the three year old, four year old
and kindergarten classes.
Please stop in the office or send
an email to let us know which session
you plan to attend.
pnsandk@verizon.net