From the Principal’s Office
Dear Parents:
We have had a great start to our Summer Camp so far. Our friends have been busy swimming, playing soccer, dancing, doing gymnastics and enjoying Kona Ice on Friday. We have seen a lot of science experiments happening in classrooms, especially this week as many of us have been busy making snow as we explored the “Arctic chill”. All of these extra things have been running alongside our very own Links To Learning Curriculum. It has been a busy time. I hope that you are all enjoying the pictures that you receive from your teachers and that you see posted around our school. Make sure to check out our artist’s gallery that our school age campers made after their field trip to Classy Canvas.
This is an exciting and busy time for us as our floors are having a makeover. It is going to look great when it is all finished. Our teachers are working hard to make sure that classrooms are ready for the floor installers on the weekends. We do appreciate your patience on Fridays and Mondays as we are putting classrooms back together.
We are always looking to grow our Chesterbrook family, and if you refer someone to us, we have a great benefit program for you to participate in. Please stop by and see us to get more information about that.
I would like to remind you that we will be closed on Friday July 3rd in celebration of Independence day. I hope everyone has fun plans with family and friends that weekend. Please make sure that you all keep yourselves safe and enjoy this special Holiday.
On a final note, I would like to say how proud I am to work for his company and in particular for this school. The tragic events that occurred in Charleston, our very own State, greatly impacted our sister school. Ms Melissa and I spent two days in the Charleston school, providing classroom coverage so that the teachers there who personally knew victims could attend funerals. On top of that, Ms Cathy and Ms Melody, along with their children in Room 2, sold lemonade in order to raise money to send to the ‘Mother Emanuel Hope Fund”. A huge part of our job is to create good citizens. I am thankful to work in an environment where people care and pull together in times of need.
Thank you as always for supporting our Chesterbrook family.
Regards,
Helen Parks, Principal.
Events
1 – 4th of July Parade @ 10:00am – Wear Red, White & Blue!!
1 – 4th of July Cookout!!
1 – Kona Ice @ 3:00pm
3 – School Closed – Independence Day!
4 – Happy 4th of July!!
Genova Karate and the Columbia Fire & Police Departments
(Includes a movie, pizza and karate!)
Tuesday, July 7th…Rooms 6, 11, 12
Columbia Police Department
Thursday, July 9th…Room 12
Long Creek Equestrian Center
Tuesday, July 14th…Room 12
Wednesday, July 15th…Room 6
Thursday, July 16th…Room 11
Sesqui Park
Tuesday, July 21st…Room 12
Wednesday, July 22nd…Room 6
Thursday, July 23rd…Room 11
Royal Z Bowling
Tuesday, July 28th…Room 12
Wednesday, July 29th…Room 6
Thursday, July 30th…Room 11
Summer Camp 2015 Field Trips: Please be reminded that students must wear the Chesterbrook logo Summer Camp t-shirts on all field trips. The t-shirts were handed out during the first week of Summer Camp. If you do not receive a t-shirt for your child or need to exchange a size, please see Helen, Lisa, or Andrea.
Tuition Increase Effective June 29, 2015
The new rates will be as follows:
Full Days
Full Days
Full Days
Half Days
Half Days
Half Days
Program
5
3
2
5
3
2
Toddler
$218
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Beginner
$209
$161
$130
$146
$114
$91
Intermediate
$202
$155
$124
$138
$107
$70
Pre-K
$201
$154
$123
$137
$105
$68
Please drive slowly on school property!
Be courteous and patient with other
drivers and watch out for our children!!!
Resources
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!! We invite you to “like” our page at www.facebook.com/ChesterbrookAcademy where we’ll be providing our fans with regular educational tips for children from preschool to 8th grade and the opportunity to network with fellow parents. We would love to have your participation in this forum and encourage you to continue to check our school website for local updates specific to our own school. We look forward to having you as part of our Facebook community!
Open House: Invite a family member or friend to come to our Open House on Saturday, August 1, 2015 between the hours of 10am-1pm. This is a great opportunity to meet the staff, tour the facility and see first hand how Chesterbrook Academy makes a difference in the lives of children!!
Parent Referral Promo: Refer a new family to start by 9/8/15 and earn $500 OFF tuition!! See Helen, Lisa or Andrea for details.
Tuition Promo (For New Families): Enroll by 7/3/15 to start by 9/8/15 and earn $500 OFF tuition. Contact our Admissions Coordinator, Megan Coleman, at 1-877-959-4181 for more details.
Reminders
Entry & Exit Doors: ** DO NOT USE THE BACK DOOR FOR ENTRY TO THE SCHOOL!!!** As you all know there is a code required for entry to the school. Please be sure to limit the code to family members and/or friends that are picking up your child(ren) on a regular basis. Do not give the code to your child(ren). In addition, everyone should use the front entrance for drop off and pick up. We advise strongly not to let individuals in the side entry door, as this person may or may not be a Chesterbrook parent or other family member. The side door is to only be used as an exit. This guarantees the safety of Chesterbrook Academy students and staff. Thanks in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
Chesterbrook Academy & Queensboro Apparel Company: If you are interested in ordering Chesterbrook Logo apparel for your child(ren), please view our online store. You may notice all the wonderful colors available, but please keep in mind that Chesterbrook Academy uniform colors are Navy, White and Forest/Dark Green.
Chesterbrook Academy & Mabel’s Labels: As a way to target the problem of lost belongings and a large lost and found closet, Chesterbrook Academy is fundraising with Mabel’s Labels, a company with all types of labels that are colorful, indestructible, easy-to-use and fun! Iron-Ons, Stickies, Bag Tags, Allergy Alert labels & more! Personalize your labels with names, nicknames, initials – whatever you choose. Cool icons help even little ones identify their own belongings. Dishwasher, microwave, laundry & kid tested! Dispatched within 24 hours!
Visit www.chesterbrookacademy.mabelslabels.com to place your order.
For Parents
Tuition: Parents, please understand the importance of paying your tuition & paying it on time! Payments are due every Friday for the coming week. Late fees will be applied at 12 noon on Monday following the due date. Unpaid tuition, more than a week past due, will result in immediate dis-enrollment. If you have any questions, please see Helen, Lisa or Andrea in the front office. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Automatic Payment Program: Parents this is a very easy way for you to not worry about writing those checks every week and avoiding late fees. APP can be used to pay tuition only invoices or all invoices (tuition, registration & activity fees). Please see Helen, Lisa or Andrea in the front office for details and information on getting signed up or you can print the form from the link on the school website. In addition, you can also set up online bill-pay through your bank.
Contact Information: Please be sure that all home, work, cell and pager numbers and any other contact information is up to date in your child’s file. This helps the staff at Chesterbrook have every available option to contact the parent(s) in the event of an emergency.
E-Mail Addresses: Please update your email addresses with the front office in order to receive important information about upcoming and/or emergency events from the school. We can send email notifications to more than one email address.
School Operating Hours: This is a friendly reminder that Chesterbrook’s hours of operation are 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. Half day hours of operation are 8:30 am – 11:30 am. The late pick up fee is $15 per child for the first 15 minutes and an additional $15 per child for each quarter hour after the regularly scheduled pick up time. Also parents, if you are running late and its close to closing time, please be sure to give the school a courtesy call.
Parent Ambassador Program: Spread the word about our school and save on your child’s tuition! Refer a new family to our school and you could earn a free week of tuition. For more information on our Ambassador Program, see your school’s principal. The current referring Chesterbrook family will receive a discount after the referred child has attended full time for 3 months. Discount applies to the tuition of the oldest child in the referring family.
For Parents & Teachers
NUT FREE SCHOOL: We have several children enrolled at Chesterbrook Academy with severe nut allergies. Please do not send your child to school with food containing any type of nut products.
Prescription Policy for Chronic or Allergic Conditions:
** WE CANNOT ADMINISTER OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS TO YOUR CHILD**
Medication may be brought in for chronic or life threatening medical conditions. All medications must be in their original container with the prescription label attached to include the proper administering time(s) and dosage to be given. For the use of a nebulizer, a letter or note will be required from your child’s doctor’s office stating time(s) to be administered and the tubule dosage to be given. In addition, an “Authorization to Administer Medication Form” must be completed and turned in by the parent. Please see Susan, Lisa or Andrea in the front office if you have any questions or concerns.
Weather Policy: In the event of severe weather, we will make every effort to open on schedule and to remain open during the course of our regular hours of operation. In the event that severe weather requires us to close our school, delay our school or close early, parents will be notified initially by e-notify. Please make sure we have your most current email address and that you have added us to your address book so our message does not go to spam. In the event that your employer will not allow you to receive email at work, please provide us with an alternate email address for you. Parents may also call the school’s voicemail at 803-699-9988 and listen to the prerecorded message by 5:30 a.m. for information regarding the operating hours. Information will also be posted to the school’s website which is http://Wildewood.ChesterbrookAcademy.com. You can also tune into WIS channel 10 and/or WLTX channel 19 for closing and/or delay information.
**Chesterbrook Academy DOES NOT follow the schedule of Richland School District 2 during weather delays or closings**
Sign In & Out Books: We wanted to take this time to remind you all about an important security here at Chesterbrook. Please remember to sign your child in and out every day on the class Sign In/Out sheets located outside or inside of your child’s classroom everyday. If someone on your child’s authorized pick-up list is picking up, please remind him or her to do so as well. Although we have never had any problem nor do we expect to in the future, this is an important security measure that keeps all of the children safe. Thank you for your continued compliance with our security policies.
Parking Policy
Traffic should enter the school parking lot at the first driveway and exit through the carport out the last driveway.
Cars should be parked in designated parking spaces or on the road above the school.
Please do not park under the carport, behind the bus, or in front of the dumpster.
Please do not block the mailbox.
All preschoolers must be escorted into the school by an adult.
Elementary students may be dropped off at the front door. Cars should stop in the right lane only and students should exit their cars through the passenger side door.
Please do not allow your child to run through the parking lot unattended or play on the hill.
Please drive slowly on school property. Be courteous and patient with other drivers and watch out for our children.
Illness Policy
A parent of a child that is determined to be ill shall be notified immediately. The child must be picked up within an hour of notification. No child shall be allowed to remain at school with the following conditions:
Elevated Temperature (100 degrees or higher)
Vomiting and/or Diarrhea
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Head Lice
Other Communicable Diseases (ie. chicken pox, strep throat, etc.)
Student Pick-Up
Student Pick-Up: Parents, please be sure to inform the teachers and/or front office if another family member or friend will pick up your child. This applies to names that are on your list as well as names that are not. If it will be the first time the family member or friend picks up your child, please remind them to bring in their drivers licensewhen they come in. This is very important to insure the safety of your child(ren).
School Spotlight
“Toddler Sensory Garden”
Our Toddler classroom has been busy this month!!
They’ve planted herbs, bell peppers and jalapenos!
Every morning they fill their water cans and go out
to water the beautiful garden.
July Birthdays
Students
2 – Kamryn Wood
3 – Myles Kelly
8 – Karinne Alleyne
8 – Nysha Lad
9 – Cassi English
9 – Myles Hayes
12 – Mattalyn Shirey
15 – Stephanie Balaban
21 – Morgana Chau
22 – Brooklyn Gause
22 – Nicholas Iszard
22 – Bryson McGuire
23 – Cash Starling
23 – Da’Mia Watkins
24 – Kollin Bright
25 – Ryan Glover, Jr.
27 – Advaith Gopu
27 – Myles Williams
Staff
1 – Lisa Ford
10 – Evelyn Jones
19 – Bronwyn Roberts
20 – Kayla Lanier
25 – Teresha McGriff
From the Education Department
Fun Ways to Keep Your Child
Engaged in Learning this Summer
Summer offers unique opportunities for children to learn through fun, multi-sensory experiences. Our teachers continue to use our Links to Learning curriculum to help children develop new skills throughout the summer.
Here are some examples of types of activities we will be doing this summer, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS
In the classroom: Our teachers provide numerous opportunities for multi-sensory exploration. Infants spend tummy time in the grass, splash their hands at the water table and feel and taste summer fruits.
At home: Fill a small bowl with water and place it in front of your child. Allow him to splash his hands in the water. Practice hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill development by adding toys and encouraging your child to retrieve them.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: In the toddler years, children begin to play together with their peers. They practice sharing toys and cooperating in learning centers. Research shows that by nurturing connections with others, toddlers learn how to form friendships, communicate their emotions and deal with challenges.
At home: Encourage sharing skills by taking turns blowing bubbles with your child, doing the Hokey Pokey, or drawing pictures using sidewalk chalk.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Our Beginner students use math and science while participating in fun outdoor activities. For instance, they predict and test the buoyancy of toys at the water table, and count how many will float and how many will sink.
At home: During bath time or in a baby pool, continue the exploration of what sinks and what floats. Bring a small assortment of toys and ask your child to guess which items will sink or float.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Intermediates take advantage of the warm summer weather by strengthening their gross motor skills. They practice pedaling on a tricycle, throwing and catching balls, playing hopscotch and walking on balance boards.
At home: Play follow the leader around your neighborhood or at a nearby park. Have your child try skipping, galloping, hopping, marching and jogging.
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers make reading and writing more engaging and fun by moving learning outdoors. For example, our older preschoolers go on a nature walk, write about their experience in their journals, and share their journal entries with the class.
At home: Increase your child’s interest in writing by bringing various writing materials outside, such as crayons and paper or colored sidewalk chalk. Ask your child to draw and label what he sees.
During the summer months, we provide many opportunities for students to explore their interests, learn to their full potential, and express themselves creatively. These hands-on experiences lead to growth in all areas of development as children transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
Coming in August
12 – Last Day of Summer Camp
13 & 14 – School Closed for Staff Professional Development Days
14 – Meet & Greet Hot Dog Social (5pm – 7pm)
17 – First Day of School for the 2015-16 School Year