December Newsletter
Dear Families,
What a fabulous community we have! I want to thank all those who donated non-perishable foods for the “Your Grandmother’s Cupboard” organization. We have an abundant donation!! I also want to thank all of you who participated in our “Miss Chocolate” fundraiser. We have raised enough money to fully fund our Spring Chick Hatching, and the remaining funds will go toward new playground materials that will also need to be purchased, due to constant wear. Thank you, thank you!!!
During the month of December we will be focusing on the spirit of giving, and, clearly the children have great examples of this in our wonderful families.
We’ve got an exciting month in December, including a Holiday Shop (by catalog) for the children, and, we have Pajama Days to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each classroom will celebrate the holiday season throughout the month, participating in the holiday shop, making wrapping paper, learning holiday songs, making crafts, gifts for family, and reading seasonal stories.
We wish all our families a happy holiday season!
The Fun Bus is returning for a Winter Session – Optional Activity on Tuesday Afternoons at 2:00 p.m. starting on 12/2/25
The Fun Bus provided a FREE Demo for children on Tuesday afternoon, 11/25/25, and is now accepting signups for the winter session. The Fun Bus is a great way for children to get exercise, learn new skills and have fun! The bus, which is loaded with gym equipment, parks (does not move) while the children enjoy the activities. Sign up forms are being sent home, and were emailed.
Pajama Days for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS): Thursday, December 4th & Friday December 5th
Children wear their pajamas to school on 12/4 & 12/5 in honor of children who are too sick to get out of their pajamas. The children will learn about helping children who are sick. We ask our families to make a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for this event. Donation checks can be made out to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and can be sent in to your child’s teacher. We will also forward any cash donations, as well. We have also emailed a link to our LLS fundraising page, if you prefer to give directly to LLS that way.
Peppermint Tree Secret Holiday Gift Shop, December 8-12, 2025 (Tues-Fri) - This is so exciting!! :)
During Dec 8-12, we will be opening our “Peppermint Tree Secret Holiday Workshop” to allow the children to pick out inexpensive gifts for their immediate family and pets. The notice and shopping list are being sent home in your child’s backpack. (We do not allow children to buy gifts for themselves, only gifts for immediate family and pets.)
This is an opportunity for your child to participate in giving gifts this holiday season – not just receiving.
For the holiday shop, we purchase a quantity of small, inexpensive gifts suitable for immediate family members, grandparents and dog and/or cat pets. The items will be $2.00 each. If you wish your child to participate, send in $2.00 per person on their list in a sealed envelope with the completed shopping list form. On your child’s regularly scheduled day, he/she will “shop” in their classroom by using a catalog we have created for them. This will be an exercise in decision making. 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 the children.
Each child should bring in a reusable grocery shopping bag in which to bring home the gifts.
Annual Flu Shots – Please send in updated immunization record by 12/31/25. The Health Department requires the annual Flu shot for all children in Preschool, under the age of 5.
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. As an alternative to visiting your child’s pediatrician for the Flu vaccine, you can visit the website for the Ocean County Health Department to find out when they are giving flu shots. There is a lot of good health related information on their website as well. www.OCHD.org Please note, the Ocean County Health Department audits our student records for immunizations.
The Pyramid Model Approach - a note for families on our work with the children to build their social and emotional capacities and skills.
As you may know, we are the only childcare center to have been selected by the State of NJ to work with a coach from Montclair University to implement The Pyramid Model in our classrooms, providing our staff individual guidance and extra trainings on their work with the children. We feel this partnership with Montclair State University has elevated our practice over the 5+ years we have been working with them. This guides our “way of being” with the children (to stay calm, to validate their feelings, and to make a connection with each child-before trying to correct them when needed), as well as provides strategies to help the children learn about their emotions, learn how to calm themselves, how to be a “super friend”, and how to solve problems.
Each month we send home a “BackPack Connection” especially meant for families - to help you use the Pyramid Model strategies at home. We hope you find these helpful to you, while it also creates a consistency between school and home with will help your child. This month we are sending one home on Sharing - which is an important social skill.
Calendar Notes for the December Holiday Break
We will be CLOSED on Wednesday and Thursday, 12/24/25 & 12/25/25 as well as Wednesday and Thursday 12/31/25 and 1/1/26 for the holidays.
We will be open for childcare only during the rest of the winter break: Friday 12/26/25, Monday 12/29/25, and Tuesday 12/30/25.
We reopen for regular classes on Friday January 2, 2026.
If your child follows our Peppermint Tree calendar, the childcare days are included in your monthly tuition. If your child follows the Toms River Schools calendar, and you need childcare during the break week, please let the office know so we may save a space for your child, and adjust your bill for the additional day(s).
As a reminder, your tuition is annual, and divided into 10 equal monthly payments, so tuition payment amounts do not change during months where there is a break. It also does not go up when there is a five-week month. It is all averaged out through the year.
Inclement Weather
In case of snowy or icy conditions, please look out for a message from us through the ProCare app or your email inbox for updates about school opening on these days. We also provide this information to WOBM radio “Storm Watch”, and change our outgoing phone message. We make every effort to be open, however the safety of our staff and families is our first concern. As a guideline, if The Toms River Public Schools have a delayed opening or are closed (or go to remote instruction) 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 inclement weather closings. We will be able to make up for up to three snow day at the end of the year, if we have them.
For safety on the playground: Please no scarves or hats with long scarves attached.
We do not allow scarves at all on the playground, as they are hazardous on playground equipment. (Can get caught in the swings, or wrapped around a child’s neck.) Thanks for your understanding. Note: We also prefer mittens over gloves, as it takes more time to get all the children into gloves! Thank you!
Parent Reminders:
Label Everything. If an item is not labeled, we may label it for you. This includes lunch bags, jackets, sweaters, mittens, hats!
Please – 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.
Please change out your child’s extra clothes in their backpack with “winter clothes”
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.
Please drive SLOWLY in our driveway. Thanks!
Please do not park your car at the end of our driveway, as it is too narrow to accommodate parked cars and two-way traffic. Park further back in our driveway.
Please do not leave your car idling in our driveway. This is a safety concern.
