Memo from the First Steps Board

Memo from the First Steps Board

i Sep 13th No Comments by

“Parent Representatives to the First Steps Board are needed”

The Board wants to hear your ideas and concerns. Each class room needs a parent rep to the First Steps Board – to attend the monthly evening Board meeting. Bring parent concerns to the Board and learn from the Board plans and concerns for the program of First Steps. Each Room Parent Rep serves for one school year. Parents who are interested please inform your child’s Lead Teacher, Director Alexis Bell, or (Pastor) Ralph Merante – member of the Board, for more information. 

“Parent Partners” group forming!

We are excited with the start of the new school year. Several parents have already expressed interest in a “PTA” like group here at First Steps. All parents or child guardians who wish to join together to support your child’s early education are welcome. First Steps “Parent Partners,” is an action group, to plan fun events, class-room help, work parties, fundraisers, parenting workshops, networking opportunities for First Steps families. Please let your child’s Lead Teacher, our Director Alexis Bell, or (Pastor) Ralph Merante (Board Member) know you want to be part of “Parent Partners.” 

“BROOKS Chicken BBQ” Tuesday, October 1st Beginning at 3:00 PM $18.00 for Chicken Dinner: half chicken, Baked Potato, Home Made Coleslaw (Ms.Michelle’s secret recipe!), roll, and homemade dessert. Proceeds help provide maintenance and improvements at Overlook for First steps and all our community partners. Dinners are boxed ready for Take Out. You may also choose to enjoy a picnic with your family on the West Lawn by the Garden. Reserve dinners by calling 845-679-6800, or see Ralph Merante. 

Thank you!

Ralph, First Steps Board Member. 

Ms. Heather’s Preschool News

i Sep 11th No Comments by
image of green apple with face

Happy September! A new school year is always exciting! We are delighted to welcome you into the First Steps community!

Ā 

Our first month will be spent getting to know each other and our routines. We will discuss what it means to be a friend and how we can help each other. We will begin exploring apples this month as well. We have cooking projects and creative activities lined up! 

A few reminders to help your child have a great day! 

  • Please label all personal belongings
  • Comfortable clothes that are easy to pull up or down to make bathrooming easier
  • Rest time items such as a blanket or sleep mat, pillow, favorite stuffy. We will send things home at the end of each week to be laundered.
  • Spare clothes- please make sure there are 2 changes of clothes in your child’s cubby.

We are off to a great start and look forward to an amazing school year!

Thank you for your support!
Heather, Alex and Ashley

Ms. Danielle’s Pre – K News

i Sep 11th No Comments by

Dear Families,

Welcome to our UPK class! We are so excited to start this school year with your little ones. September will be a special month as we begin our journey of learning and exploration together. This month, we will focus on four engaging themes: Apples, Family and Friends, Home, and Transportation.

Along with our themes we will focus on making our classroom a warm and welcoming environment where each child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn!Ā 

Weā€™ll start the month by getting to know one another through fun activities and routines that help everyone feel comfortable and included. Every child will have the opportunity to build friendships and become familiar with their new learning environment! 

Apples: We will explore everything related to apples, from tasting different varieties to understanding how they grow. Our activities will include apple-themed art projects, counting exercises, and even making apple prints!

image of apples whole and sliced

Family and Friends: We will talk about the importance of family and friends in our lives. The children will have the opportunity to share stories about their families, create our classroom family tree, and learn about cooperation and kindness.

Home: Weā€™ll discuss what makes a house a home and the different types of homes people live in. Weā€™ll explore stories about homes around the world, and the children will create their own model homes using various materials.

Transportation: We will look at different modes of transportation, such as cars, buses, trains, and airplanes. The children will engage in transportation-themed play, art, and stories, and learn about how people and goods move from place to place.

If possible, please send a family photo with your child by September 13th so that we can start creating our classroom family tree!Ā 

Make sure your child wears comfortable shoes, and brings a reusable water bottle daily!Ā 
We look forward to starting this exciting journey together!Ā 
If you have any questions or concerns, please donā€™t hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,Ā Ā 
Mrs. Williamson & Miss RoseĀ 

Ms. Michelle’s Pre-K News

i Sep 11th No Comments by

Hi UPK Families,

Welcome back to school! We are so excited to get the school year started and to work with you and your child this school year. We have so many wonderful activities and experiences planned for your child that will help them grow and learn throughout the school year.

During September, we spend a lot of time demonstrating rules, routines and expectations in our classroom. Our room is a safe place for all children and we make sure that each and every child feels this way walking into the room. While the first few weeks of school can be hectic, it is exciting to see how quickly they get into the routine of our school day and the friendships that are formed in the first few days. 

We also learn about transportation this month. We talk about how we each get to school and the different ways we could travel if we were going somewhere far or somewhere very close by. This is also a great time for students to discuss summer vacations before they are not too far a distant memory! We have heard some great stories in the past about airplanes, boats, and trains!Ā Ā 

image of three apples

As September turns into fall, we learn about apples. We are excited to get to taste different apples and compare how they are different and the same from one another. We also learn some great songs about apples and fill our walls with apple crafts and activities to work on fine motor skills.Ā 

We are so excited to start this pre-k year with your child and look forward to the partnership that will make this year a success. 

All our best,

Miss Michelle, Miss Brandi & Miss Helen