How did you learn your ABC’s? Probably by singing them. There are research-based reasons why songs “stick” in our brains. Now that we have sophisticated brain imaging technology, we have learned that music activities use both sides of the brain, and stimulate the brain cells to strengthen connections for learning. We have also learned that the brains of very young children (those under five years of age) have a great deal of “plasticity”, meaning their brains are growing and reshaping rapidly as they learn. The more stimulation they get, the stronger the brain growth. So, music and movement is not only fun and exciting for children, it is also an educational tool that enhances brain development.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s guideline, Developmentally Appropriate Practice (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009), “The preschool years are now seen as the key period for establishing positive attitudes and behaviors about learning.” Having enthusiasm for learning is an important factor in school readiness. Music and movement add fun to learning, and keep children engaged in the topic at hand.

 In addition, music’s rhythm patterns prepare the mind for math. To enhance this effect, you can encourage children to count out beats, claps, stomps, taps, spins, skips, etc., and before you know it they are having fun with numbers! Having a child repeat back a simple rhythm on a drum or with a shaker is early patterning, which is an important foundational math skill. Patterns can also be a part of the movement activity during a song as well, like in the song, “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”, in which the children learn the repeated pattern and follow through by identifying each body part. 

And, in the area of reading readiness, singing songs expands your child’s vocabulary and gets them to tune in to the sounds of words (phonemic awareness). One of the easiest ways to encourage singing is to sing together with your child and especially by singing songs with lots of repetition, or call and response sections, so the children can catch on and learn it confidently. Once a child enjoys singing, they can be encouraged to fill in the blanks in the lyrics with their own details, then make up their own verses to songs, make up their own melodies, and to sing their own songs. This lays a creative foundation for them to one day write their own stories. 

Movement activities help lock in learning further, because, as is commonly known, children learn by doing. So, when children sing and dance, they are making connections and stimulating many parts of the brain at once. Movement can also foster creativity, as children explore the use of their bodies to act out the actions in a song’s lyrics, or just move to the way the music makes them feel. Music and movement also can work to enhance emotional development. As children experience and identify different feelings that the music evokes, they can learn to express those feelings through movement. Movement is a wonderful form of self-expression for children, especially for those who do not yet have the words to fully communicate. 

So sing a song, and dance a dance, and invite a child to join you! You’ll be building their brain power while creating lasting memories of fun and togetherness.

Parents or Grandparents, do you have an interesting hobby you could share with the children?  Or, would you like to come in to your child’s classroom to explain what your job is?  Children benefit greatly from seeing their own parent in the classroom, also they learn so much about the world when we share our work and our passions.  Please write a note to your child’s teacher if you would like to come in some time!

As always, if you have any questions about the programs we are offering, please call (732) 929-2500.

Valerie Frost-Lewis, MS Ed.
Owner/Director

Summer Camp Registration

We will offer priority in-house registration for our current Peppermint Tree families beginning February 13th.  Watch your child’s backpack for the registration form.  The Peppermint Tree Summer Camp program is available to children who are 2.5 years old through fifth grade graduates.  We are starting to plan lots of fun trips and activities, so we hope you will join us.  Our Camp Director is Mrs. Carol Sullivan.

We are offering:

School Agers Camp:   For kids graduating 1st – 5th grades

Junior Camp:  For kids 2.5 years through Kindergarten graduates

 Both camps offer plenty of choices for everyone, fun for all!

Including:

• Enriching and entertaining visitors
• Swimming daily in our on-site pools (weather permitting)
• Field Trips
• Arts & Crafts, nature, ball games
• Scavenger hunts & more!

Vision Screening (Free) and Speech and Language Screening  ($20.00 fee) being offered this month

Information and permission slips will be sent home regarding each of these screenings.  Both screenings are optional an no screening is ever performed without written permission from the child’s parent or guardian.  On Friday, February 24th, Caryn Zieve, Lead Therapist from Classic Pediatric Center for Therapy will be offering speech and language screenings for those two years of age through Kindergarten, at a cost of $20.00 per child.  And on Wednesday, February 29th, the State of New Jersey Commission for the Blind will be here to provide vision screening free of charge.  Both screenings are held during the morning session.  You may bring your child in if you want the screening, but your child does not normally attend on the day of the screening. 

We are looking for a “Paddington Bear”-stuffed animal from the story book.  Does anyone have one they can loan to Mrs. Sullivan’s class, or would anyone want to donate one?  Let us know.  Thanks.

Toms River School Holidays in February

Please note the The Toms River Schools will be closed on Friday, 2/17 and Monday 2/20 for President’s Weekend.  Our students who follow the Toms River Schools calendar do not have school at The Peppermint Tree on those days.  However, we will be open for Child Care Only for our children following The Peppermint Tree calendar.  Our doors will open at 7:30 a.m. on those days (not 7:00 a.m.) Please call the office if you need child care on either or both of those days, and your child follows the TR Schools calendar, so we may add the day(s) to your child’s schedule. 

Winter Weather Reminder

If the Toms River schools are closed due to snow, our children who follow the TR calendar DO NOT HAVE SCHOOL.  We will announce our delays and closings on our website www.pepperminttree.com, our phone message, and 94.3 WOBM Stormwatch, and we will send an email message to families and staff.   

 If Toms River Schools have a delayed opening or are closed, we will automatically have an 8:30 opening at the earliest (and not 7:00 a.m.).  This will allow the street plowing and sanding to occur before our staff and families hit the road for the morning.  This will also give us time to assess the weather and road conditions to determine if we can open or if we will have to close for the day.

Lots of Upcoming Events–Please Mark Your Calendars:

• Tuesday, Feb. 7 @ 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Parent and Staff Workshop: Discipline Empowering Adults and Children, at The Children’s Home Society, 1433 Hooper Avenue, 3rd floor.  RSVP to Peppermint Tree office.
• Friday, Feb. 10 @ 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Pajama Club  Children wear PJ’s and eat pizza, watch movies and enjoy popcorn while Mom & Dad get a chance to go out!  $3.00 per child. (Space is limited. RSVP required)
• Friday March 2 – “Read Across America” Parents and Grandparents are invited in to our classrooms all week (Feb 27 – Mar 2) to read a story at 10:00 a.m. each day.  You must arrange the date with your child’s teacher, so we do not have too many visitors in a particular classroom at one time. 
• Monday, March 5 @ 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Strengthening Families Initiative, Next Meeting  Our meeting will be held downstairs in The Peppermint Tree office, and all parents and staff are welcome to help plan ways to support our families. Join us!
• Friday, March 23 @ 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Family Crafty Recycling Night Bring recyclables and make crafty creations together with your child.  Our creations will then be on exhibit at the Ocean County Library!
• Saturday, April 28 @ 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Ocean County Children’s Festival.  This is a FREE event, held at Toms River Intermediate School North, filled with lots of activities for the kids.  The children of The Peppermint Tree will be performing on stage with Mr. Scott the Music Man. (with parental/guardian’s permission)
• Monday, May 7 @ 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Annual Ice Cream Social Make your own sundaes, Mr. Scott the Music Man and lots of fun surprises.  The whole family is invited.

Happy New Year to all of our families and staff!  We have a lot in store for your children and for the whole family in 2012.  During January, we will unveil  a new healthy eating curriculum, “Kidsize Nutrition” in the classrooms for the children, and a preview for the parents on the evening of January 23, too.  This event will be held at 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., and we will provide free dinner and child care.  Our guest will be nutrition consultant, Heather Sabey. 

As always, my door is open to you. If there are any questions, ideas or concerns you’d like to discuss, please feel free to call or email me, or stop in.

All the best in 2012!

Valerie Frost-Lewis (aka “Miss Val”)

Director

Kindergarten Readiness Presentation for Pre-K Parents/Guardians

One of the most frequent  questions we hear from our Pre-K Parents/Guardians is, “Will my child be ready for Kindergarten?”  Miss Val, who holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Mrs. Sullivan, our Kindergarten teacher and our school’s Head Teacher will be presenting a parent workshop on “Kindergarten Readiness” on Monday, January 9th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., to help answer that question.  We will discuss the important foundational skills that children need for success in any Kindergarten classroom, whether it is in the Toms River Public Schools, or in our Full Day Kindergarten, or Half day Kindergarten programs here at Peppermint Tree.

As a part of this discussion, we will outline our options available to your child next year: We will be providing a Full Day Kindergarten class from 9:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., and we are also offering an extended day beyond that for working parents. We will also continue to provide half day Kindergarten before and after public kindergarten for East Dover and Cedar Grove elementary school students, as well. We will explain our curriculum and approach to learning, as well.    We hope you will join us.  Please RSVP to the office by phone or email for this session so we are prepared with the appropriate quantity of handouts.

Registration for the 2012 – 2013 School Year

Very soon we will be beginning our in-house priority registration for the next school year. We are already accepting Kindergarten registrations. Very soon you will receive an application for you to register your child for the next school year. We provide our current families with an opportunity to save a space for their child in advance of opening registration up to the general public. So, please respond soon when you receive the application in your child’s backpack over the next week or so. If you do not want to wait for the paper application to be sent home, you may go ahead and register online beginning now.

Just remember that the non-refundable family registration fee of $75.00 is due at the time of registration in order to secure a spot for your child. Spaces are saved on a first registered and paid, first reserved basis.

Miss Val’s “Brain Lessons” will begin over the next weeks

In the three year old and older classrooms, I will be visiting the classrooms to help the children in exploring how the brain works, and discovering that the harder they work it, the stronger it gets. We will also be learning that our brain grows when we work it, so you can always improve your skills. The children will be involved in a variety of activities around this theme that include reading books about famous inventors who had to keep trying before they succeeded, singing songs that reinforce persistence, and also doing art projects and movement exercises. This should be fun, and I am hoping to help instill in The Peppermint Tree children a life lesson that will carry them through all of their years in school and into the work place.  I developed these lessons based on the latest brain research, and it was the basis of the final work done to complete my Master’s Degree.

Dates to Remember

• First Pizza Lunch (optional) is Friday 1/6/12- be sure to send in your sign up form and make payment before then so we are sure to order enough pizza.
• Strengthening Families Committee meeting: 1/9/12 at 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. All parents and staff are invited to attend to help us plan upcoming events to benefit our community of families.  This is being held right before the Kindergarten Readiness presentation which begins at 7:00 p.m. the same evening.
• No classes on Monday, 1/16/12: Toms River Schools are closed for Martin Luther King Day. We are open for childcare for those children following our Peppermint Tree calendar, as the Peppermint Tree calendar tuition includes this date. If your child follows the Toms River calendar, and needs care on this day, please call the office so we may arrange care for your child. A separate fee will apply.
• Monday, 1/23/12 @ 6:30 p.m: FREE Parent Workshop on “KIDSIZE  NUTRITION”, includes free dinner and childcare at Peppermint Tree. This is a preview of a new curriculum on nutrition for the children.  We will be providing more information and an RSVP form for you to complete after the 1/9/12 Strengthening Families Committee meeting during which we will be developing the final plans for this evening. Please save the date!

2011 Tax Statements

Please note that we will send out your 2011 tax statement (that many of you need for your tax returns) during January.  Please set it aside for when you work on your 2011 tax returns.

Reminders

• Please label all of your child’s belongings that come to school.
• No toys from home are allowed at Peppermint Tree
• Please dress your child for outdoor play, including mittens (NOT gloves) and hats. No boots or scarves. We will not play in the snow, however, we will take the children outside to play in the plowed areas (we place traffic cones to block our driveway when we do this). The playground will re-open when the snow melts. (I am assuming we will get some snow this winter!)

“Pajama Club” Parents Night Out  – Friday, December 2, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

(There’s still room, so RSVP Today!!)

Space is limited, so you MUST RSVP ASAP by responding to this email, calling the office, or sending a note in to your child’s teacher with the names and ages of children you would like to attend.  You may pay the $3.00/child that evening. 

The Peppermint Tree Secret Holiday Gift Shop, being held December 12 – 15, 2011, is an opportunity for your child to participate in giving gifts this holiday season – not just receiving. They will also experience the process of shopping (counting money out and receiving change, and working within a budget).
For the holiday shop, we have purchased a quantity of small, inexpensive gifts suitable for immediate family members, grandparents and dog and/or cat pets, ranging in price from 50 cents to $3.00. If you wish your child to participate, send in whatever you deem suitable in a sealed envelope with the completed form. On your child’s regularly scheduled day, he/she will “shop” with their class for each person listed on their form. This will be an exercise in decision making and money handling. We will also be discussing the concept of thinking about others. All gifts will come home wrapped and tagged. Wrapping paper will be made by children.

Buy a Mr. Scott the Music Man’  CD  or DVD for your child for the holidays!

Your children know and enjoy many of the songs when Mr. Scott visits The Peppermint Tree each month, and they can enjoy his music at home, too!  His music get’s kids off the couch and  movin’ & groovin’…just perfect for cold days when the kids are stuck inside.   

 We have the CD’s on sale at The Peppermint Tree at a special price of $10.00 each, and the DVD is $15.00.  If you would like to order, just write me a note or send an email, call me, or stop in the office.  You can pay in cash or by check made out to The Peppermint Tree.   We will send you the CD or DVD home the next day.  (We will wrap it up and sneak it into your child’s backpack if it is a surprise…just let me know if it is.)  You can visit Mr. Scott’s website to listen to samples of the music and to decide which one you might like to purchase.  www.mrscottmusicman.com

Holiday Cards for Soldiers

The children enjoyed making cards for the soldiers for the holidays.  If you would like to do this at home with your children as well, you can find out about it at:  http://redcrosschat.org/2011/11/03/holiday-mail-for-heroes-2011/

Class Lists

At the request of many parents,  beginning in January we will publish a class list for each classroom, sharing the phone number and an email address of all those who would like to share this information with other families in your child’s class.  This will help facilitate play dates and informal meet ups at playgrounds, etc.  We will send home a permission slip for the class list participation soon.  Please watch your child’s back pack for it.   

 December Calendar Notes

We will be closed for all children and staff on Monday, December 26th and Monday January 2, 2012.  And, there are no classes December 27 – December 30, however we are open for child care on these days.   If your child follows our Peppermint Tree calendar, this week of care is included in your monthly tuition.  If your child follows the Toms River calendar, and you need child care during this week, please let the office know so we may save a space for your child, and adjust your bill for the additional day(s). 

Inclement Weather

In case of snowy or icy conditions, please check our website announcement on the home page, or your email box for updates about school opening on these days.  We also provide this information to WOBM radio and change our outgoing phone message.  We make every effort to open, however the safety of our staff and families are our first concern.  As a guideline, if The Toms River Public Schools have a delayed opening or are closed due to inclement weather, the earliest we will open is 8:30 a.m.  This will give us time to get our driveway and walkways plowed, salted and sanded and determine if we will delay further or have to close for the day.  There are no refunds or credits for inclemet weather closings. 

Annual Flu Shots:

As per the State of New Jersey requirements, all children who attend Peppermint Tree who are under 5 years of age, must get an annual Flu shot, before December 31.  Please send in proof of this vaccination for your child’s file. 

Funds Raised from KidStuff Coupon Book Sale:

Thank you again for the wonderful support on this sale!  Peppermint Tree raised $1000.00 and I wanted to report to you how the funds were spent.  Most items were purchased while at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Convention in earlier November:

Books:

Twelve new books for the children: First Snow in the Woods, Small-Medium-Large, Not Fair Won’t Share, Cool Down and Work Through Anger, I’m Like You You’re Like Me, Sharing Time, Nap Time, Listening Time, Calm Down Time, I’m Not Happy, But Why Can’t I, My Name is Chicken Joe (Book & CD)  Six New Resource Books for the teachers: Mandate for Playful Learning, Challenging Behavior in Young Children, Kindergarten Math Focus, Progression in Play for Babies and Children: Sound and Music and Movement and Beat, Kickstart Music Early Years (3-5 years).

Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks Set (Magnets inside the wood blocks makes these blocks an interesting challenge and allows for structures that stick together.  The children love these!)

Coloratura Wood Blocks Set ( A “designer” set of colorful blocks that inspire creative building that looks beautiful!)

Capital and Lower Case Letter Stories, Dry Erase Flash Cards

“Bubber”  – “The lightest sculpting material on earth.” (2 Tubs-only for those 4 years old or older)

My Very First Game: Feeling and Touching (try to identify shapes just by feeling them)

Magnatabs: Upper Case, Lower Case, Numbers & Free Play (these are intriguing toys to help children practice writing their numbers and letters, or to draw and hold the pencil.  It uses magnets to guide the correct formation of the characters.  Very fun to use!)

Glo Germ Kit:  Handwashing Book & DVD for Children, Ultra Violet Light, Glo Germ Gel.  This is a whole system to teach children about the proper way to wash germs from their hands. 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!

Parent Reminders:

• Label Everything. If item is not labeled, we may label it for you.
• Mittens ONLY/ no gloves no scarves.
• No strings on jackets or hoodies.
• Dress your child in layers.  We go outside every day that it is 32 degrees or higher, and not precipitating. 
• All children must go outside with their group.  If a child is too sick to play outside, then they should stay home from school to rest.
• For safety, please hold your child’s hand in our parking lot and when walking your child back and forth to your car in the pick up or drop off line.
• At 11:30 and 2:00, in the pick up “line”, please don’t move your car if there are children and staff walking by.  Please wait until they have passed, to assure safety.  Also, please do not get out of your car if you get in the pick-up “line”.  Wait for our staff to bring your child to you.  If you need to get out of your car, please do not join the “line”. 

 We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

P. S. One of our families has a few baby items they no longer need, and are willing to donate to a Peppermint Tree family that may want any or all of them: Chicco Travel System (Stroller and Car Seat) which is brown, beige and orange. A high chair and boys clothes up to 2 years.  Just email me at val@pepperminttree.com if you are interested. 

Valerie Frost-Lewis, MS, Ed. (“Miss Val”)

Owner/Director

Thank you so much for supporting our school and your children by attending our October events.  The children had a blast with their grandparents (or “grandparents for a day”) at the Pumpkin Picking Hayride event, and I am sure they will enjoy parading around in their costumes at our Halloween Parade.  These are great opportunities to get to know one another and to share some treats together.

 I also want to thank you for supporting our first fundraiser, the KidStuff Coupon Book sale.  We raised $1,000.00 and have already purchased a special hand washing lesson kit that includes “glow germ gel” and a black light, so the children can see how well they have to wash to get all the germs off of their hands.  There is also a book and DVD that goes along with the lesson.  With cold and flu season upon us, hand washing is probably one of the most valuable lessons for the children!     We still have $900.00 left over that will be used for special activities, equipment and materials, such as our Spring Chick hatching.  Mr. Scott and I are heading to the National Early Childhood Education Conference in Florida this month, so I will be on the look out for the latest innovations to bring back for the children.  I will continue to report to you what we purchase with the fundraising monies.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

 We have another special event for families coming up, and we hope you will continue to participate!   Please mark your calendars for our Thanksgiving Feast, Scheduled for Friday, November 18th at 6:30 p.m. To assure we plan accordingly, please RSVP for this event either by sending back the form that is being sent via email and paper, or simply email me with the number of adults and children that will attend.  Email me at val@pepperminttree.com .  We want to make sure we are prepared!

This year we hope to get the whole Peppermint Tree community involved in sending care packages to U. S. soldiers serving overseas.  We are asking families to send in an item (or items) from the lists of the things the soldiers enjoy receiving.  The lists will be sent out by email and paper.  From Novemner 1st through the Thanksgiving Feast on November 18th, we are collecting the items, and Ms. Jennifer Raffo, a parent volunteer will be taking the items to the collection location for shipping to the soldiers.  The children will also be making cards for the soldiers during school and the entire school will work on a banner to send to the soldiers from The Peppermint Tree.  Please support this effort, and get your child involved in selecting items for the soldiers, so they can experience the spirit of giving. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  We are thankful for our Peppermint Tree families!

Sincerely,

“Miss Val”

Valerie Frost-Lewis, MS Ed.

Owner/Director

Toms River Schools will be closed Thursday, November 10th & Friday, November 11th

As with all school holidays, we do not hold classes on these days.  However, we are open for our fun, recreational child care on these days.  If your child follows the Toms River Schools calendar, your tuition does not cover attendance on these days.  However, if you need child care, we can add your child for either or both of these days for a per day (or half day) fee.  All children on The Peppermint Tree calendar are expected to attend – and your normal hours are prepaid for these days.  Keep in mind that there will be a supplemental fee if your child is at Peppermint Tree for longer than regularly scheduled.  (For example, before and after Kindergarten children are charged $15.00 per day for the additional time.  Call the office with any questions.)

Toms River Schools have early dismissal on November 15th, 16th and 17th

School Ager tuition is based upon the usual number of hours your child is with us.  Additional hours of care due to the early dismissal will be charged at $7.50 per hour or any part of an hour.   This does not apply to students paying the before and after Kindergarten rate: it only applies to those who are charged based on scheduled hours. 

Pre-K and Kindergarten Field Trip to Johnson’s Corner Farm Wednesday, 11/16 9:00 a.m. – 3:00  p.m.

Watch your backpacks for the permission slips if your child is in one of these classes.   The children will be picking cotton, sweet potatoes and corn, and will see how a real farm operates.  It is an enriching experience.   Children must bring a brown bag lunch.  Permission slip must be returned for participation.   All Pre-K and Kindergarten children are invited to attend the field trip, whether they normally attend on Wednesday or not.  Kindergarten children will not be back in time for the afternoon session bus, but please note due to school conferences it is a shorter session of public school that day.  So please consider sending your Kindergarten child for this wonderful experience.  Children are not required to attend and there will be a regular session at school for those who do not attend the field trip.

Our next Strengthening Families Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 11/15 at 6:00 p.m. We will be making last minute plans for the Thanksgiving Feast on 11/18 and planning more family fun events for ther rest of the school year.  All parents/guardians and staff are welcome to attend.  There is no charge for child care during this one hour meeting.   Join us!  The meetings are a fun and informal way to get to know other parents and the staff.

We will be CLOSED for the Thanksgiving Holiday, Thursday and Friday, November 24th & 25th. No classes or child care offered.  Enjoy yourselves!!

Children’s ID Cards:

The Ocean County Sherriff’s Office will be at Peppermint Tree on Monday and Tuesday November 14th and 15th at 9:30 a.m. to create ID cards for each child, that include a photo and their fingerprints.  Please watch your child’s backpack for a permission slip and a card to fill out the pertinent information that will be on the final ID Card.  These cards will be sent home for your use, if needed in an emergency.  No copy is kept by The Peppermint Tree or The Sherriff’s Department.  If your child does not normally attend on a Monday or Tuesday, you may bring him/her in for the ID card project on either morning. 

Parent reminders:

• Check backpacks daily for information from the office or your child’s teacher and art projects from your child.
• Label everything, especially jackets and sweatshirts!
• Please send in an extra set of clothes for the cooler weather. We play outside every day as long as it is not raining or snowing or below 32 degrees F.

Fall is here and we are offering two seasonal family participation events in October:  On Wednesday & Thursday, October 12 & 13, we invite Grandparents to join us for our annual Pumpkin Picking Hayride event, which is held right here at Peppermint Tree.  And, on Thursday and Friday October 27 & 28 we invite Parents to join us for our annual Halloween Parade.  Both events will conclude with cider and donuts on our playground.  Children who do not attend on one of the days of each event, may select a day to participate with their class.

We hope to see all of you during these fun events.  Let’s have a great October together.

Valerie Frost-Lewis, MS Ed.  (“Miss Val”)

Owner/Director

Reminder: KidStuff Book Fundraiser

Orders and payments are now due.  If you have not already purchased or returned the book sent home with your child, please do so ASAP.  Thank you for your support.  Our fundraisers pay for extra materials, equipment, visitors and enrichments that tuition alone doesn’t pay for.

Pizza Lunch

Our monthly pizza lunch offering will begin this month.  There was a sign up form emailed home (or sent home on paper if we do not have your email address).  The charge is $2.50 for pizza and juice, and you only pay for your child’s scheduled days.  Pizza lunch is optional.

 Firemen and Fire Truck to visit

Firemen and Fire Truck to visit to discuss Fire Safety and Prevention on Wednesday, October 19th - If your child does not regularly attend on a Wednesday, he or she may attend during the Firetruck visit between 9:00 a.m. – 11;30 a.m., to extend our classroom learning on fire safety.  And, just to let you know, we also hold fire drills twice per month all during the school year.

Toms River Schools-Closed on Monday, October 10

The Toms River schools will be closed on Monday, October 10th for Columbus Day.  For those of you who are registered for our Peppermint Tree calendar, we are open and we will be expecting your child to attend.  But please be advised that every teacher does not work every holiday.  We also do not use every classroom.  Please prepare your child for these changes.  Please use Mrs. Sullivan’s (front/left) door for entrance.

If you follow the Toms River calendar or attend 9:00 – 11:30 (quarter day) we will not be expecting your child.  But, if you need child care, on this day please call the office and we can arrange to care for your child.  You will be billed for the care on a per day basis.

Strengthening Families (SFI)

Stay tuned for a the date and time of our next SFI meeting  We sent out a survey that included times that work for parents for these meetings.   All staff and parents are welcome to attend.  We provide child care at no additional charge during the one hour meeting.  We will be reviewing the results of our parent survey and planning new events at our next meeting.  Please complete and return the survey, if you have not yet done so.  This will help us plan relevant activities for all of us.  Thanks.

 Accident Report Procedure

Please note that if your child gets a bump, bruise, or scrape, etc., we will note it on our accident log, and ask the parent to sign it at the end of the day.  Parents only should sign this log.  If there is any bump to the head or face we will call you at the time of the accident, as well.

After School Reading Enrichment Program Offered (Optional)

On Thursday, October 6th at 4:00 p.m. we will be offering a free demo class to all children 4 years old and up.  This class is provided by “ECHATT” (Every Child Has a Tale To Tell).  It is a unique program that teaches reading through the use of the child’s own words as well as music and art activities.  If your child enjoys the class, and you wish to sign up for it, there will be a registration form sent home after the free demo class.

Parent Reminders

• Please shut off your car engine when you come to pick up your child, especially if you are waiting in the drop off or pick up line.  Please…no idling…Children are Breathing!
• Label everything: backpacks, lunch boxes, jackets, sweaters, etc.

Thanks!  If there are any questions or concerns please feel free to call us at (732) 929-2500, or send an email: val@pepperminttree.com

Welcome to The Peppermint Tree Child Development Center, 2011 – 2012 school year. We are so very happy to have each and every one of you as part of our group of families this year. Each month you will receive a newsletter from me to keep you updated on events planned here @ the PT. I also post the monthly newsletter on our website for your reference anytime. You can access the daily events schedule and our newsletter at www.pepperminttree.com. If you have provided us with your email address, we will be emailing you with a link to the newsletter rather than giving you a paper newsletter. We would like to save paper where we can, but if you prefer to receive the paper version, please let me know.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to give us a call at the office @ (732) 929-2500.

Sincerely,
Valerie Frost-Lewis , MS Ed.   

(“Miss Val”)
Owner/Director

Back to School Night

You and your children are invited to our “Back to School Night” which will be held on Monday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m.  Each classroom will be set up with tabletop activities and learning centers available for the children to participate in, so you can see how they are enjoying their Peppermint Tree experience.  It is also an opportunity to meet your child’s new friends, other parents and the teacher.  Please do not expect the teacher to provide you with details about your child’s progress, however.  That can be done in a private conferece or on the telephone. 

KidStuff Coupon Books – Please Support our Fall Fundraiser

We are trying something new for us this Fall for Fund Raising.  We are selling the valuable, family-friendly KidStuff Coupon Books.   The cost of the book is only $25.00, and our school earns 50% profit, which will be spent directly on materials and enrichments for the children.  If you have attended in the past, you know that we always report the amount we make on fundraisers and what specifically is bought with the funds.  This is being sold instead of a Fall gift catalogue (which we have done in the past).  We are counting on our families to support this effort!  

Next week, each family will be sent one book home for your review.  You must return it if you are not purchasing it. 

Use just a few coupons and save more than the cost of the coupon book:  The book includes coupons from ShopRite, A & P, Pathmark, McDonald’s Friendly’s, Kohl’s, Five Below, TGI Fridays, Dunkin Donuts, Sears, Bed, Bath & Beyond and many many more stores, restaurants and family activity spot.   

Strengthening Families Initiative

The Peppermint Tree is pleased to be participating in the national Strengthening Families Initiative. Strengthening Families programs support child development by building strong partnerships with the parents and the families of the children in their program. Your Strengthening Families program is not only there for your child—it is there for you. Click HERE to go to the Strengthening Families website.

Activities last year included a parent workshop on “Child Discipline”, along with a Thanksgiving Feast, an ice cream social, a Family Game Night and two pajama nights that allowed the parents a night out.

We are looking for parent volunteers to work as part of a committee to help us to implement this program to benefit our families. We meet once per month to plan activities.   Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 27th at 4:00 p.m. for one hour in The Peppermint Tree office.  Please email Miss Val at val@pepperminttree.com , call the office, or send a note in to your child’s teacher to RSVP to attend this meeting, which is open to all parents/guardians and staff.  We will provide child care free of charge during the meeting. 

Calendar:

Please take note of which calendar you are signed up for: Peppermint Tree or Toms River. The Toms River calendar observes all of the holidays and days off that the Toms River school system observes. The Peppermint Tree calendar has fewer days off and includes 16 more days of care (than the Toms River calendar) during the school year. Please visit or call the office if you need to confirm your calendar.

Enrichment Options (additional fees apply)

The Peppermint Tree is pleased to offer two enrichment options. Your child does not have to be in our care during the class time to participate. You can bring your child in just for the enrichment class if you’d like. If your child is in care at the time of class, we will coordinate their attendance at the enrichment classes. We hope to make your life easier by offering these optional classes during the child care day, so once you pick up your child, you can have relaxing quality time together. No need to shuttle them around to various activities.

Here is the Fall schedule:

Tuesdays: The Fun Bus – “Mobile Gym” @ 9:30a.m., Free Demo 9/20

Wednesdays: Bricks for Kids – Lego building activities class @ 4:00 p.m., Free Demo 9/21

If you would like to sign your child up for any of these programs, watch for the forms and payment instructions to be sent home soon.  Each will be offering a Free Demo for your child to participate to see if they would like to join the class. 

Fire Drills:

Each month we will have scheduled fire drills on different days of the week and times of day. We have documented procedures for our staff to follow for all emergencies, and although we hope we will never need to use them, it is important for the staff and children to practice and feel comfortable with these procedures.

Reminders:

Please return all paperwork, including medical forms, etc. 

Every child under the age of five MUST have a flu shot between September 1st and December 31 each school year.  Please send in your child’s immunization update when this is completed. 

We have several busses coming and going at different times of the day. Please do not park at the yellow curb in front of the school on Partridge Street. In addition, please do not park at the head of the driveway. If you are exiting your vehicle at drop off or pick up, park in the back parking lot or on the street, avoiding the yellow curb.

To avoid a delay in the pickup line at 11:25 or 1:55 dismissal times, please pull your car forward to fasten seatbelts.

Speed limit is 5 mph in the driveway. Please observe for the safety of all.

Special Note: We take photos all year long to document the children’s progress and to remember all the fun and enriching activities we have been experiencing. While we will never identify a child by name, we often put pictures of our activities in our photo albums, on the classroom walls, and sometimes post photos on our website. In the future we may want to place new photos in a brochure for the school, press release or advertisement. Please let us know if we do not have your permission to take photographs that include your child.

We are having a great Summer, with so many visitors, activities, and trips!  Please keep an eye on our calendar so you know what to prepare your children for, and to be aware if your child is attending a field trip.  Some of the field trips include lunch, and some require that you pack a lunch, so be sure you know what your child needs each day.  Feel free to call the office if there are any questions.

Picture Days this week: Wednesday and Thursday, July 13th and 14th 

We will have a photographer on-site who will be taking individual, sibling and full camp group pictures on both days.  If your child does not normally attend camp on Wednesday or Thursday, you may feel free to bring them in for the portraits at 10:00 a.m.  There is no purchase necessary.  The photos be shipped to camp in a few weeks for your review.

Trip and Activity Sign Ups

Please be sure to turn in the sign up sheet and the appropriate fees for any optional activities and trips you would like to sign your child up for.  Our first field trip this session is Tuesday, July 12th, to The Music Man Ice Cream Shop in Lavalette, and there are optional ice cream and pizza days each week.

Parents Invited: Mr. Scott the Music Man, 11:00 a.m. performance on Thursday 7/14/11.

Come and see what the children are talking about.  He is wacky and silly and his music is so much fun to move and groove with!  After the performance, as the children get ready for lunch will also be a good chance to chat with the staff and meet your child’s camp friends.

We need clean baby food jars for sand art later in the summer!

If you have a little one at home that is eating baby food, would you be so kind as to wash the glass jars out, remove the labels and send them in to camp?  We will be offering sand art at our carnival in session 3, and we need more of those jars!  Thanks!

Reminders

Here are a few reminders to assure a smooth and enjoyable summer for all:

• Our summer hours are Mon. – Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  The Half-Day schedule is 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Your child should come to camp with a bathing suit on under clothes each day
• Children should wear sneakers to camp each day, and pack water shoes for sprinkler and other water play activities. NO flip flops or sandals.
• Please apply sunscreen to your child in the morning before camp, and send in a labeled bottle or tube of sunscreen with your child, so we can re-apply it mid-day.
• Bring a towel, and a complete set of extra clothes each day.
• Label all items, especially towels
• Be sure to sign your child in and out on our sign in clip board each day
• After 8:15 a.m., drop off is at the playground.  Pick up is also at the playground.  Please accompany your child into the building to put backpack away in the morning.  (Earlier than 8:15 a.m., drop off is at the left front door-just ring the bell.)
• Lunches: we do not refrigerate or heat up lunches during summer camp.  Lunches are kept in doors, but should include a cold pack (or frozen juice box) to assure freshness.

Thanks for sharing the summer with us!

Valerie Frost-Lewis, MS Ed, Owner/Director

Carol Sullivan, Camp Director

Cherie Elmendorf, Administrator

We are ready to have a great Summer, with so many visitors, activities, and trips planned!  Please keep an eye on our calendar so you know what to prepare your children for, and to be aware if your child is attending a field trip.  Some of the field trips include lunch, and some require that you pack a lunch, so be sure you know what your child needs each day.  Feel free to call the office if there are any questions.

FAMILY POOL PARTY, Thursday, 6/23 at 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Please RSVP!

All family members are invited to this free, fun event!  Join your child in the pool, enjoy the playground together and eat pizza!  This is a great chance for new families to meet the staff, and for families to meet one another.  Please bring your own towels.   Since this is a family event, children must be accompanied by an adult family member to enter the pool area during this party.  We will have a lifeguard on duty (as is always the case when the pool is open).

Please email your RSVP to val@pepperminttree.com, or send a note in with your child, or call the office at 732-929-2500. Please let us know how many adults and how many children will be attending the pool party with your family.

We hope you will join us.

Schedule Addition:

On Thursday, 6/23, at 10:30 a.m. we are hosting a special program called ECHATT, which stands for “Every Child Has a Tale to Tell”.  Our visitor will be Elizabeth Candioti, who has developed this special musical creative storytelling program, which I am sure the children will enjoy.   Please be sure to ask your child all about it on Thursday after camp.

Trip and Activity Sign Ups are now due!!!

Please be sure to turn in the sign up sheet and the appropriate fees for any optional activities and trips you would like to sign your child up for.  Our first field trip is Bowling on Friday, 6/24, and there are optional ice cream and pizza days each week.

We need clean baby food jars for sand art later in the summer!

If you have a little one at home that is eating baby food, would you be so kind as to wash the glass jars out, remove the labels and send them in to camp?  We will be offering sand art at our carnival in session 3, and we need more of those jars!  Thanks!

Reminders

Here are a few reminders to assure a smooth and enjoyable summer for all:

• Our summer hours are Mon. – Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  The Half-Day schedule is 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Your child should come to camp with a bathing suit on under clothes each day
• Children should wear sneakers to camp each day, and pack water shoes for sprinkler and other water play activities. NO flip flops or sandals.
• Please apply sunscreen to your child in the morning before camp, and send in a labeled bottle or tube of sunscreen with your child, so we can re-apply it mid-day.
• Bring a towel, and a complete set of extra clothes each day.
• Label all items, especially towels
• Be sure to sign your child in and out on our sign in clip board each day
• After 8:15 a.m., drop off is at the playground.  Pick up is also at the playground.  Please accompany your child into the building to put backpack away in the morning.
• Lunches: we do not refrigerate or heat up lunches during summer camp.  Lunches are kept in doors, but should include a cold pack (or frozen juice box) to assure freshness.

Let’s have a great summer together!

Valerie Frost-Lewis, MS Ed, Owner/Director

Carol Sullivan, Camp Director

Cherie Elmendorf, Administrator

This is a huge honor, especially since we are being asked back after our presentation at last year’s annual conference. This conference is attended by over 10,000 early childhood educators from around the country and around the world. Last year we had a few hundred people participate in our interactive music and movement session.

Participating in professional development activities is a part of our commitment to advocate for the benefit of young children and to share our work so other early childhood professionals may benefit and positively impact their work with young children. Not only are we sharing our work, but we also go to these conferences to learn from other professionals so we may continue to improve our work with the children and families of The Peppermint Tree.