Dear Parents,

March is a super busy month at the Peppermint Tree, from start to finish!   In addition to our monthly visit from Mr. Scott the Music Man, The Ocean County Library Storyteller is visiting on Monday, March 3rd, our we will hold our annual Muscular Dystrophy Hop-A-Thon during the week of March 10th! We enjoy bringing an enriching and exciting program to your children each month.  And, March is no exception.  So, let’s have a great month together!

Our next Strengthening Families Meeting will be held Wednesday, March 12th at 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Child Care is provided at no charge.

Please consider joining us!  All parents/guardians and staff are welcome to help us plan events and activities that benefit The Peppermint Tree children and families.   Come and meet your fellow Peppermint Tree parents and help us continue to bring great experiences to our kids and families.  This awesome volunteer group was  responsible for planning our “Kids Night Club” event on February 28th!.  The next event we are planning is “Parent Dessert & Discuss”, which will be held on Wednesday, March 26th, at 6:30 p.m.

Announcing: “Parent Dessert & Discuss”,  Wednesday, March 26, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Child Care to be provided at no charge)

Organized by our Strengthening Families group, this evening will be a fun and relaxing opportunity to connect with other parents.  Please send in your RSVP form sent home by email, so we can plan accordingly.  Also, we’d like to pre-plan some discussion topics, so please send in some ideas so we can get the conversation started with topics of interest!   This event is “BYOD”–Bring your own dessert!  (Bringing a dessert is not required—but it will be fun!)

Announcing a new Fundraiser celebrating YOUR CHILD’S CREATIVITY—coming to Peppermint Tree!  Thank you in advance you for your support!!!

Our last fundraiser of the year CELEBRATES THE CHILDREN’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CREATIVITY!!!   We are working with “Square 1 Art” to bring this program to The Peppermint Tree.   How quickly the children change and grow…our new art fundraiser will not only benefit the children by providing us funds for materials, it offers you the opportunity to purchase items featuring your own child’s artwork.  We are working toward purchasing some new outdoor supplies for the Spring.  Thanks for your participation in our fund raising events, that make these “extra’s” possible!

The children will be working on their artwork toward the end of March, but if you’d like a preview of the program and what will be available, got to:   www.square1art.com

Each child will receive a sheet of free stickers with their artwork printed on it, and you will get a custom printed catalog, featuring your child’s artwork, to review.  We appreciate your support!

MDA Hop-A-Thon, Week of March 10, 2014

We have chosen the MDA Hop-A-Thon for the past few years as an annual charity opportunity, because the MDA provides us with excellent materials to teach the children about those who are sick and in wheel chairs, and about being thankful for their strong muscles, and using them to help children in need.  It is a wonderful program, and the children really enjoy “Hopping to Help”.   Each class will learn about helping others and about children with disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, as a part of their participation in the Hop-A-Thon.  Please look for the envelope that will be sent home with your child to provide your permission for participation, and to send in a donation to the MDA if you are able.  Thanks for supporting your child’s efforts to help children in need.

Upcoming April Events

• Budding Artists Gallery – ” at Toms River Library (all through the month of April) We will be submitting artwork from our students for this art show-more details to come.
• Ocean County Children’s Festival: Sunday, April 6th, at Toms River Library – mark your calendars, more details to come.  A Professional Children’s Theatre performance of “If You Give  Moose a Muffin” will be offered!
• Girls Leadership Institute program for Girls and an adult in Kindergarten or 1st Grade.  Wednesday evenings, April 23, 30, May 7 & 14.  We are so proud that The Peppermint Tree is the pilot site for Ocean County for the nationally recognized non-profit program.   REGISTER TODAY, space is very limited, and the program is being opened up to the public.     Go to: http://www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org/programs/new-jersey/parent/daughter-grades-k-1

Registration for Summer Camp 2014 and Fall 2014 School Year are now in Full Swing

We are now accepting both summer camp and school year 2014-2015 registrations from the general public, and we are doing a bit of advertising for this, as well.  If you have not yet registered your child, please do so as soon as possible, so we can be sure to save you a spot, for the schedule you need.  With our on-site swimming pools and extensive activities, our summer camp tends to fill quickly.  You can register quite easily, for both Fall and Summer, on-line at our secure website: https://www.pepperminttree.com/registration/ or by filling out the paper application we sent home recently.

Please keep in mind that there is a $75.00 family registration fee to reserve your spot for Summer and for the Fall.  A separate fee is required for each session, however, one fee covers all children in your family for that session.  We need a separate application form filled out for each child.  We also offer online payment for the Registration Fee and  for tuition as well, via PayPal.    See our website (any page but the home page) for the button to “click” on to pay us via PayPal.   If you have any questions, just call us at 732-929-2500.

A quick reminder about Summer Camp tuition:  The first payment for summer camp is due on June 1, as is your last payment for school tuition (unless you get your security deposit applied).  Some families choose to begin paying for Summer Camp in advance by making partial payments to offset the extra tuition due in June.  We will gladly work out a payment plan that will work for you.  Just call the office.

Join the Summer Fun at Peppermint Tree Summer Camp!

We have so much to offer with field trips, daily themes, swimming pools, swim lessons, and visitors: there is non-stop action and choices to keep your child active and happy all summer long.  We offer three, three-week sessions.  Your child can attend 2, 3, 4, or 5 days per week.   If you haven’t yet tried our summer camp, why don’t you sign your child up for at least Session 1, to see how they like it?   Check out the video I made explaining our summer camp program at:https://www.pepperminttree.com/videos/ It’s the fourth video down on the page.    There is also a full description of the program at:  https://www.pepperminttree.com/our-summer-program/   Join Us!!!

Parent Notes

• We need donations of extra clothes to have on hand: socks, T-shirts, boys and girls underwear, and sweats or stretch pants.  All sizes 2T – 8.  Thanks!
• Punch in and out: If you come in to drop off or pick up your child, and you have a time card, PLEASE punch your child in and out each day.  The state requires our accurate records for attendance and drop off and pick up timing, and this is also for your child’s protection that we have an accurate system knowing when they are dropped off and picked up.  Please do not have your child punch the card.  The adult should do this.  THANK YOU!  (This does not apply to parents who drop off and pick up on “the line”).  The only days you do not have to punch out are when the children are outside.  The sign out sheet is offered on “outdoor days” as an alternate convenience so you do not have to go inside to punch out.
• For parents using our car “line” to drop off and pick up:  Please place your child (in their car seat) on the passenger side of the back seat, so our staff can easily get them in and out of your vehicle.   Please stay in your vehicle and wait for a staff member to get your child from your car.  If you intend to leave your car, please do not park in the “line”.  Instead, use a parking space in the back or park on the street (away from the yellow curb) and walk your child in.
• Send in your “Boxtops for Education”!!! Thanks to parent volunteer Joanne Engo for managing this program for Peppermint Tree.