I hope all of you have had a chance to relax and spend some special time with your family during the Christmas break! I truly recharged my batteries, mostly by slowing down and hibernating with my husband and two children. Even though life stood still for many weeks, the year seems to have flown by. 2020 was an unprecedented year that we will all remember for so many different reasons. We still have ways to go before our lives regain a sense of “normal” but at least there is “light at the end of the tunnel”!
LOOKING BACK
I am just so very grateful that we were able to start classes in September and did not have to rely on technology to provide a learning environment for children.
We were a bit anxious as to how our little ones would adjust to all the safety measurements and regulations that we have had to follow to keep everyone safe. Children truly are more resilient than we think. Even masks didn't stop them from having fun and making new friends. Besides a few “adjustment bumps” at the beginning of the school year, it now feels as if preschool has become the second home for most children. Our buckets are overflowing with joy when our students greet us with a big smile every day.
LEARNING & RECONNECTING THROUGH EXPLORATION
Outdoor space has turned into our extended classroom! Playing in the park and exploring the wonders of nature have provided so many creative and stimulating teaching opportunities. We spent many hours, running up and down the big hill, using our imagination by turning trees and bushes into bear caves and shelter places for lady bugs and dinosaurs.
We used items in nature as math counters and sticks served as pencils. Who would have thought that dirt and pinecones are a perfect (and fun) tool to help print letters and numbers? Trust me, no flash card or any worksheet can compete with that!
The biggest gift for me was, to see the calming effect that nature play has on children. With all the uncertainty, rapid changes and anxiety causing effects that a pandemic can trigger, seeing children PLAY and making friends felt like a natural “remedy”, not only for the children but also for us as teachers.
FUNDRAISING
Mom’s Pantry Fundraiser
Thank you to the families and friends that participated in the Mom’s Pantry Fundraiser. Combined with monetary donations we raised $ 618.05 for our preschool. We truly appreciate your efforts to support Hansel & Gretel Preschool during a financially challenging year! Thank you to Brianne Semenchuk for organizing this Fundraiser!
Scholastic Book Orders
Thank you to all parents who are ordering books from Scholastic. Every order helps our preschool to purchase educational material for the classroom! Thank you to Miranda Lettrari for taking care of Scholastic book orders each month!
THANK YOU’s
I would like to say a special Thank You to all the people that help us run this program smoothly!
Thank you to our board of directors for volunteering your time and supporting us with your input and advice!
Thank you to Wendy Schneider who has volunteered her time in the T-Th class over the last 3 months! It helped us so much with the transitioning into a new school year!
Thank you to the staff of PCDC day care for making the daily transition of your children so smooth.
Thank you to Larissa Lorenz for being the loving, caring and passionate teacher that you are! Thanks for the countless extra hours that you spend in the classroom with me cleaning and sanitizing to ensure that everyone is safe!
REGISTRATION FOR 2021/22 SCHOOL YEAR
PRE – REGISTRATION: Jan 4th – Jan 14th
Currently enrolled students will have the opportunity to pre-register before registration will be open to the public. Please let me know if your child will be returning for a second year of preschool. We will hand out registration packages on January 4th and Jan 5th. Please return your package, latest by January 14th!
ONLINE REGISTRATION for 20221-22 SCHOOL YEAR
On January 19th online registration for the 2021-22 school year will open to the public.
Please spread the word to your friends and families who have children that are eligible for preschool! Classes may fill up quickly!!!
Instead of an Open House we created a beautiful virtual tour/slideshow that has beautiful pictures that show what we are all about! Feel free to visit our website/blogspot page or Facebook page and share the virtual tour video with friends (https://youtu.be/YF7JmSs0U28).
OPENINGS in CURRENT T-TH CLASS
Due to several of our families that have moved away, we now have 6 openings in our current T-Th class and are asking parents to pass on this information to families that have children that are currently 3 to 4 years old and are interested in joining our program in January.
Thank you again for all the support that we have received from you this year! I promise you that we will do whatever it takes to ensure that our preschool continues to be a safe and fun place for all children!
School will resume after the Christmas Break on January 4th!
We can’t wait to see our little ones again and are looking forward to a New Year of FUN and LEARNING!
We wish all our families a HAPPY and SAFE 2021! FROHES NEUES JAHR!
Kind Regards,
Uli Hecker and Larissa Lorenz
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