Quick Notes

School Calendar

Wednesday

March 5

12:15-12:45 p.m.

Lunch-A-Month (12:05-12:45 for Middle School) – Parents Welcome

(hot dog, potato chips, popsicle, lemonade)

 

Thursday

March 6

7:00 p.m.

Preschool & Kindergarten Information Session

For current and prospective families. Watch for more information.

 

Wednesday

March 12

12:15-12:45 p.m.

Pizza Day (12:05-12:45 for Middle School) – Parents Welcome

No pizza day for Seminar students.

 

Friday March 14   Re-enrollment Forms Distributed to Current Families

Mon.-Thurs.

March 17- March 20

 

 

Middle School Fieldtrip to Philadelphia

Wednesday

March 19

12:15-12:45 p.m.

Lunch-A-Month (12:05-12:45 for Middle School) – Parents Welcome

(taquitos, chips & salsa, brownie, lemonade)

 

Thurs.

March 20

 

C.S. Middle School Students Return from Bolivia

 

Friday – Friday

March 21-

March 28

 

School Closed for Spring Break

 

 

Wednesday April 2   Deadline for Returning Re-enrollment Forms
Wednesday April 2 12:15 - 12:45 Lunch-A-Month (12:05-12:45 for Middle School) – Parents Welcome
(pasta with marinara sauce, bread, cookie, lemonade)
Thursday-Friday April 4-5   Strawberry Festival Baking Days - (Watch for more information)
Wednesday April 9 12:15-12:45 p.m.

Pizza Day (12:05-12:45 for Middle School) – Parents Welcome

No pizza day for Seminar students.

Thursday April 10 7:00 p.m. Elementary & Middle School Information Session - for current & prospective parents.

 

Notes from the Director (Holly)

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”  - Fred Rogers  

Have you seen, heard, or read the news?  Play is important to the cognitive development and self-regulatory growth of children!  

This is not news to us at Community School. For 36 years we have understood that play is integral to the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of each child at each age level. 

Community School is one of the few schools in the Valley that values recess time. We understand the importance of outdoor play and recreation for all of our children. With seven acres of wooded and open space, our students are able to strengthen their fine and gross motor skills, experiment with varied social roles, explore our natural environment, and practice their self-management skills. 

Within our classrooms, children are given time to stretch their imaginations through drama, art, and music classes, dramatic playtime, and academic explorations.  

If you would like more information about the effect of over-scheduling and higher academic expectations at earlier ages, or more information about the importance of play in the life of a child, please feel free to contact me. I have resources that I would be happy to share with you. 

Aren’t you glad that you have chosen a school that is on the “cutting edge” of developmental research?    

 

Preschool & Kindergarten Information Session -  March 6, 7:00 p.m. - Snow date - March 13, 7:00 p.m. - Call office for child care.  Open to current parents and the general public.

Please remind your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers that our Preschool and Kindergarten Information Session is this Thursday, March 6, at 7:00 pm. If you have invited someone to attend this session, please don’t forget to complete a referral card – you will not receive the $250 credit on your fall tuition if you have not turned in the referral card. Referral cards are available in the office and can be downloaded from our website (www.communityschool.net) on the Downloadable Documents page. If you have any questions about the information session or the admissions process, please call Victoria.

 

Early Learner and Elementary Drama Performances

The dates for the early learner and elementary drama performances are March 7, 10, 11 and 12. Parents are invited to attend at their convenience. The performance schedule was attached to last week’s Quick Notes and can be found at www.communityschool.net.

 

Recent Thefts on Campus

It is with regret that we inform the community that we have recently had several thefts on campus. Items stolen include money, a digital camera, a camcorder, an LCD projector, a USB microphone, and a laptop computer. Because of this, please be reminded that you should not send anything valuable to school with your child. Also, please notify Holly or Michi if you have any information about the thefts or notice anything suspicious while you are on campus. Thank you.

 

Four C.S. Teams Participated in the destination Imagination Tournament

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Destination Imagination tournament this past weekend. Everyone did a great job! A big thank you as well to all the parents who helped to manage the C.S. teams.  

1)      3rd place winners at the middle school level: Amy R., Jonah W., Alex P., Molly D., Alex B., Swade B. and their managers Beth R. and Elizabeth W.;
2)      2nd place winners at the elementary level: Elena L., Alexandra J., Phineas C., Kimberly S., Caroline S., Nicholas P., and their manager Dave L.;
3)      At the elementary level: Michael P., Max S., Alex S., Isaac F., Jonathan F., Keira M., and their managers Sherry P., Arlita F., and Stephanie S. At the Rising Stars level: Liam H., Tory H., Trent W., MacKenzie S., Dyson M., Sofia H., Nicholas S., and their managers Steve W., and Jon S.

 

Arts Festival Preparations Underway - Student attendance is very important in the period leading up to the festival on May 23!

It’s that time again! Our classes are beginning to work on their art, drama and music pieces for the Arts Festival on Friday, May 23. It is important that students be here as much as possible from now through the festival. Please let the classroom and arts teachers know now if your child will not be here on May 23 or the week of May 23, as these absences will be crucial to the last rehearsals. We also ask that you let classroom and arts teachers know as soon as possible if your child has any planned, extended absences from now through the Arts Festival. Thank you so much for your cooperation.         Cherry, Kim, Lisa, and Julie

 

Change in Before School Location

During the week of March 17-20, the Before School Program will be held in Kim Halsey's classroom, room 102 in the new building.

 

Tuition Payment Due March 20

If you are paying on the monthly installment plan, your ninth tuition payment is due by March 20. Contact Sue (sue@communityschool.net) with questions about your account.

 

New Student Work Online

Check it out: Internet safety Power Points by Gretchen’s and Autumn’s classes and internet safety posters by the middle school students can be found on the Student Work Page..

 

Financial Aid Applications

Families interested in tuition assistance for 2008-2009 should have mailed their financial aid forms to SSS or filed the form directly online in February. If you have any questions about tuition assistance, please contact Michi. The Financial Aid Committee will notify families of tuition grants in late March. Limited funds will be available for late applicants.

 

Strawberry Festival Volunteer Sign Up

The committee members are still working on the volunteer sign-up forms for Baking Days and the Strawberry Festival. They will be in touch with each family about volunteer sign up as soon as possible. Families who have provided their email addresses to Carissa will receive the information via email. If you have not yet provided your email address, but would like to receive the volunteer information in that format, please email carissa@communityschool.net.

 

Strawberry Festival Community Chest

The Strawberry Festival Community Chest needs your talent and your donations. What is Community Chest? It was named by the students and is one of the many fundraising facets of Strawberry Festival. It’s a booth that showcases strawberry-themed goods made or donated by parents, grandparents, students and friends.

     Each year we receive wonderful sewn and crafted items. Each year is slightly different, but we do have some specific items that are perennially popular, such as our t-shirts and homemade strawberry jam (a huge seller). We rely upon your help to replenish the stock. If you would like to have the recipe for the jam, ideas for sewn items, or if you have any other ideas for the booth, please call Mary at 389-4566.

     The Community Chest makes a nice profit for the school and has a faithful following in the festival-goers! We will have a box in the office waiting to receive your goodies. Thanks for your help as we prepare for our most successful Strawberry Festival yet!

                           Sue Deegan (shdeegan@comcast.net) &

                           Mary Boston (bostonfour@verizon.net)

 

CHS Applications

Community High School is now accepting applications for the 2008-09 school year. The application deadline is April 15 with decision on admission communicated by April 30. Download applications at www.communityhigh.net. (Click on Admissions link and then the Printable Application link.) Current Seminar students are encouraged to apply.  Limited financial aid is available; please see the CHS application for instructions to apply for financial aid. If you have questions, please call the CHS office directly at 345-1688.