Dear Families,
Our school year is off to a fabulous start: the children are making new friends, learning their new routines, and enjoying the lessons and classroom activities. We just can’t wait for some drier weather so we can explore the playground a bit more, too!
Please read this newsletter to stay “in the loop” about our upcoming activities, announcements and reminders. Let’s have a great School Year together.
Valerie Frost-Lewis, MS Ed. (“Miss Val”)
Owner/Director
The FUN BUS is coming – starting on Thursday, September 15th, offering an optional extra activity for all children on Thursday afternoons. Sign up now!! They will take the children who sign up from each class separately, in twenty minute classes. (Children will be with their own class.)
The Fun Bus, which parks in our driveway and does not move while the children are on it, offers a fun fitness opportunity for children to play and learn new skills. It’s a brand new mobile gym that allows for climbing, swinging, rolling, and all kinds of play. They play music and have fun lights, which rounds it out as an awesome sensory experience! The registration form is available at the school and is being emailed to families. Turn the form in to your child’s teacher.
Mr. Scott the Music Man will be visiting each classroom on Monday September 19th!
Mr. Scott shares music and movement fun with the children each month – and he comes on different days of the week-so if your child will miss him this month, they will see him on an upcoming visit. We love it when Mr. Scott visits!
School Portraits are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, September 21st & 22nd
The photos will be taken outdoors. If the weather is not good, we will have a make up day. If your child does not attend on a Wednesday or a Thursday, and you would like to have their picture taken, please call the office to set this up. The photo sitting is free and there is no obligation to purchase photos. The proofs will be available within a few weeks of the photo shoot, and you will be provided information to place your order online if you would like to purchase any photos. We will take sibling groupings and classroom group photos in addition to individual portraits.
Please join us for Our First Parent Group Meeting: Thursday, September 22nd at 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
We invite all parents/guardians to attend our Parent Group Meeting via Zoom. (Zoom link to be sent later.) This is your opportunity to meet with Miss Val every month, and to meet other parents to work together to create the community we want for our children and families. We plan activities, parent workshops, and provide valuable feedback to the school director to assure we are meeting your needs.
Please join us for Back to School Nights for each classroom – on our playground! (Parents, students and siblings are welcome) We will split the playground in half and host two classrooms at a time. If needed, we will hold rain dates, and will advise. We will bring small groups at a time into the classroom for a visit.
- Miss Alyssa’s Early Learners Class – Tuesday, October 4th, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Miss Liz’s Preschool Class – Monday, October 3rd, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Miss Debbie’s PreK Class (Room D) – Monday, October 3rd, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Mrs. Hamilton’s PreK Class (Room A) – Tuesday, October 4th, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Toms River Schools are Closed on Monday, September 26th for Rosh Hashanah: There is no school at Peppermint Tree for those following the Toms River Schools calendar.
On the days Toms River Schools are closed, for those of you who are registered for our Peppermint Tree calendar, we are open and we will be expecting your child to attend. We will be combining children from the two PreK classes with any school age children who attend, into one group on these days. We may also combine Early Learners and Preschool, depending on how many children attend.
If you follow the Toms River calendar we will not be expecting your child on these days. But, if you need child care on this day, please call the office and we can arrange to care for your child, on a space available basis. You will be billed for the care on a per day basis.
Sign Up to Bring in Lunch Time Milk for your Child’s Class
As you may know, we serve water all day, and milk with lunch. We ask the parents to take turns sending in the lunch time milk for their child’s classroom. We ask for a gallon of 1% organic milk to be sent in when it is your turn. We have an online sign up form, and send the link out to families via email. Please sign up, if you haven’t yet done so! If your child does not drink cow’s milk, we don’t expect you to participate in sending in milk, but please do send in an alternate type of milk for your child each week or two, that we can keep for your child in the refrigerator. Please label it with your child’s name.
Flu Shots
Every child attending preschool, who is 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.
Accident Report Procedure
Please note that if your child gets a bump, bruise, or scrape, etc., we will note it on an accident report, and ask the parent to sign it at the end of the day. Parents only should sign this report, unless the parent has provided alternate permission. If there is any bump to the head or face we will call or text you at the time of the accident, as well.
Reminders:
- Please do NOT park in front of our building where the curb is painted YELLOW. This is an active bus stop – we have school busses that come and go all day!
- Please return all paperwork, including medical forms, etc.
- Please check your child’s backpack each day and remove papers and art work sent home from school.
- Please send your child to school wearing sneakers on their feet…these are the safest on the playground.
- Please drive SLOWLY in our driveway and parking lot.
- Label everything: backpacks (on the OUTSIDE – in LARGE PRINT), lunch bags (on the OUTSIDE), jackets, sweaters, all clothes, etc.
- Send in an extra set of clothes, including socks.
