Due to the next phase of construction, our main entrance hallway will be inaccessible for a period of time. Therefore, entrance into and out of the building will be as follows:
- Children in Classroom A (Mrs. Vallejo, Mrs. Crossett) may still enter through the Parish Hall entrance, continue toward the back wall and enter via the doorway by the water fountain (we're sure your children can confidently show you where to go)
- Classroom B (Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Kozy) please enter via the Westminster Street church entrance. Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Berg will be available to guide you downstairs
- Classrooms C (Mrs. Callaway and Mrs. Gianakas) please enter via the Westminster Street church entrance. Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Berg will be available to guide you downstairs
- Classroom D (Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Christman's T/H Two's) Please enter via the Westminster Street church entrance. Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Berg will be available to guide you downstairs
- Marks Room (Mrs. Christman's M/W Two's) Please enter via the Westminster Street church entrance. Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Berg will be available to guide you downstairs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call either your child's teacher or the school office at (412) 681-6311
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Kindergarten Information Night at JCC
Taking the giant step from preschool to kindergarten can be a challenging one- for children and parents alike. Come to the JCC for an evening of sharing about kindergarten choices.
Participating programs:
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Ellis School, St. Edmund's Academy, Sacred Heart, Winchester Thurston, JCC Clubhouse After-School Program, Pittsburgh New Church School, The Campus School of Carlow University, Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, Waldorf School of Pittsburgh, Shady Side Junior Academy, Carriage House Children's Center, Community Day
Participating programs:
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Ellis School, St. Edmund's Academy, Sacred Heart, Winchester Thurston, JCC Clubhouse After-School Program, Pittsburgh New Church School, The Campus School of Carlow University, Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, Waldorf School of Pittsburgh, Shady Side Junior Academy, Carriage House Children's Center, Community Day
This program is FREE and open to the public.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010
Where: Levinson Hall, JCC
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010
Where: Levinson Hall, JCC
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call Kelly Gable-LaBelle, Director, (412) 521-8011, ext. 209.
SPCNS Parents' Night
The SPCNS would like to invite you to our Annual Parents' Night to be held on Tuesday October 5 at 7:00 p.m. During this important event, you will have a chance to meet with the teachers, the Director, members of the Board of Trustees and other parents. The teachers will give you an overview of our program, our curriculum and learning goals. The Board of Trustees will provide refreshments. We hope to see you there!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
From your Board President
I know I speak for many families when I say that we think our newly renovated space is astounding. We have light, we have space, we have colors, we have kid-friendly furniture, and we are thrilled with how it all turned out.
We appreciate how hard you all have worked to get our school ready on time. Although we started a little later in the fall than previous years, we did not have to delay the first day of school. You greeted us with smiles and pride, and your work was truly miraculous. Thank you!
We have endured a difficult year and faced many inconveniences through this process. There have been frustrations due to parking, cancellations, loud noises and construction mayhem. But now I think it’s clear that it has been worth it. I’m so grateful that we were willing to face the challenges together. Let’s invite our friends, old and new, to come witness our fabulous school.
Jennifer Loh, President Board of Trustees
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tips for Separation
The first days of school are filled with a mixture of high excitement and some anxiety for young children and their parents. Transitions are important and provide valuable opportunities for learning and growth. Here are some tips for making this transition to nursery school as smooth and comfortable as possible:
Children need to trust that they are safe. It takes time to build a sense of trust in a new situation and with people who are relative strangers at first. Children take their cues from their parents/caregivers. It is important to let them know that you trust and like their teachers and that you think school is a safe place with caring adults.
Upon entering your child’s classroom in the first days of school, you may wish to stay with your child for five or ten minutes. When it is time for you to go, be sure to explain that you are going to leave but that you will be back when school is over. Always say good-bye and reassure them that you will see them when the morning is over. Do not sneak out without their knowledge. They may cry, but it will probably be of short duration and not intense. If your child is highly distressed or distressed for a long period, we will contact you.
After you say good-bye, do not go back into the room unless directed by the teacher or director. Going back in after leaving can be confusing and is usually unsettling to children (unless you told them that you would be right back.)
Acknowledge your child’s feelings and say, “You are upset because I am going. In a little while you will want to play. Until then, your teachers will stay close to you.” By validating children’s feelings you let them know it is okay to be sad, angry or homesick.
The transition to school is not only about separation, but about getting used to something new. Support your child’s ability to cope with these challenges by showing that you value and respect their ability to cope with things that are new and different.
Coming to school on time and picking them up on time also helps to alleviate any anxieties they may have.
Create a bond between your child and a teacher or assistant. Assistant teachers are great at playing with children and promoting friendships with others. They have lots of experience comforting children.
Encourage brave behaviors. Remind children how well they have done in the past when Mommy and Daddy have been away, if there were such times.
Focus on the positive. Don’t let children dwell on the negative things that might happen, but rather on the fun they will have at school.
Make a play-date with child in the class. Try to promote a friendship between your child and another child in the classroom. You may find it helpful to meet outside of class in a fun, non-stressful place with the parents present.
Separation is a process, not an event. Children who seem to have successfully separated from their parents and to be fully involved in school activities are still dealing with separation issues. Children need transitional support for a while.
Separation anxiety can recur weeks after school begins. Sometimes children have gotten past the first excitement of a new school or class and begin to really understand that they are actually coming regularly. In other cases, an important event in their lives, such as the birth of a new sibling or a move or a death in the family, can cause them to return to the feelings of anxiety at being separated from parents while they’re at school.
These tips were taken from both websites and experience. You may also check out the websites below:
http://school.familyeducation.com/back-to-school/anxiety/38786.html
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/news/archives01/separation.cfm
http://www.psych.westminster.edu/preschool/separat.htm
http://school.familyeducation.com/back-to-school/anxiety/38786.html
Children need to trust that they are safe. It takes time to build a sense of trust in a new situation and with people who are relative strangers at first. Children take their cues from their parents/caregivers. It is important to let them know that you trust and like their teachers and that you think school is a safe place with caring adults.
Upon entering your child’s classroom in the first days of school, you may wish to stay with your child for five or ten minutes. When it is time for you to go, be sure to explain that you are going to leave but that you will be back when school is over. Always say good-bye and reassure them that you will see them when the morning is over. Do not sneak out without their knowledge. They may cry, but it will probably be of short duration and not intense. If your child is highly distressed or distressed for a long period, we will contact you.
After you say good-bye, do not go back into the room unless directed by the teacher or director. Going back in after leaving can be confusing and is usually unsettling to children (unless you told them that you would be right back.)
Acknowledge your child’s feelings and say, “You are upset because I am going. In a little while you will want to play. Until then, your teachers will stay close to you.” By validating children’s feelings you let them know it is okay to be sad, angry or homesick.
The transition to school is not only about separation, but about getting used to something new. Support your child’s ability to cope with these challenges by showing that you value and respect their ability to cope with things that are new and different.
Coming to school on time and picking them up on time also helps to alleviate any anxieties they may have.
Create a bond between your child and a teacher or assistant. Assistant teachers are great at playing with children and promoting friendships with others. They have lots of experience comforting children.
Encourage brave behaviors. Remind children how well they have done in the past when Mommy and Daddy have been away, if there were such times.
Focus on the positive. Don’t let children dwell on the negative things that might happen, but rather on the fun they will have at school.
Make a play-date with child in the class. Try to promote a friendship between your child and another child in the classroom. You may find it helpful to meet outside of class in a fun, non-stressful place with the parents present.
Separation is a process, not an event. Children who seem to have successfully separated from their parents and to be fully involved in school activities are still dealing with separation issues. Children need transitional support for a while.
Separation anxiety can recur weeks after school begins. Sometimes children have gotten past the first excitement of a new school or class and begin to really understand that they are actually coming regularly. In other cases, an important event in their lives, such as the birth of a new sibling or a move or a death in the family, can cause them to return to the feelings of anxiety at being separated from parents while they’re at school.
These tips were taken from both websites and experience. You may also check out the websites below:
http://school.familyeducation.com/back-to-school/anxiety/38786.html
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/news/archives01/separation.cfm
http://www.psych.westminster.edu/preschool/separat.htm
http://school.familyeducation.com/back-to-school/anxiety/38786.html
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Links to Follow
Following is a list of links to information regarding parenting, health and child-rearing. We hope you find these websites helpful. Please continue to check our blog for updates.
The following website, Healthy Childcare Pennsylvania, is pubilised by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here you will find important information regarding health issues.
http://www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org/section.cfm?subID=66
The following is a list of publications by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/backpack, or http://www.naeyc.org/back-to-school/parents
Enjoy the reading!
The following website, Healthy Childcare Pennsylvania, is pubilised by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here you will find important information regarding health issues.
http://www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org/section.cfm?subID=66
The following is a list of publications by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/backpack, or http://www.naeyc.org/back-to-school/parents
Enjoy the reading!
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