Dear Parents,

Welcome (back) to another year at Christ Church Nursery School!  Congratulations to all of you for making it through this first hectic month! Despite the inherent craziness of transitioning from summer, it is so much fun to see many familiar faces in the halls and to welcome new families to our CCNS community.  

I hope you will enjoy this first issue of “Parent Connection,” the quarterly newsletter of the Parents’ Association of Christ Church Nursery School (PACCNS).  It is a great resource for keep-ing you informed about all the wonderful things happening at school as well as sharing some more personal moments from your child(ren)’s school day. Many thanks to co-editors Laurie Guinoo and Nicole Petersen whose meticu-lous efforts bring this publication to life!

As usual, the school year has begun seamlessly thanks to the unending efforts of our superb director, Barbara Pepe, and her amazing staff who work tirelessly to make CCNS such a special place for our children.  I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the new office assistant, Laura Felix, who has hit the ground running. Although Helena Moseman will be missed, I have no doubt that Mrs. Felix will soon be equally loved by all.  

I am extremely honored to be working with an amazing group of women on the PACCNS board this year.  This group works really hard to enrich and enhance the lives of our children – and hopefully the parents too! -- through our various events and projects.  A huge “thank you” to each and every one of you!

Earlier this month, our “Social Events” group led by Zeynep Allen and Maggie Franklin hosted the now annual “Welcome Party” for parents of children in the 2s program and those new to the school.  This has proven to be a great

opportunity to welcome our CCNS newcomers and mingle over wine and cheese during a lovely evening in Parish Hall.  

In addition to this newsletter, our CCNS direc-tory is another excellent resource published by PACCNS. Thanks so much to Christine Skalkotos for her painstaking attention to detail and for ensuring that this came out in a timely manner. I am sure your copy will be dog-eared as you thumb through it to plan play dates and Birthday parties throughout the year!

Thanks also to Suzanne Emrich and Candee McAloon, our Class Parent organizers for re-cruiting volunteers to help support the teachers in each classroom. The teachers really count on the Class Parents to help ensure seamless communication between themselves and all of you—so thank you if you are one of those helping as a Class Parent this year.

Looking forward, we have a very busy November planned!  At “Parents’ Night,” you can visit the classrooms, spend quality time with your child’s teacher, and support our first fundraiser of the year, our Book Fair!  Led by Elizabeth Cassano and Alison Corbin, the Book Fair will kick off at Parents’ Night on November 11 and run through the following morning, so please stop by! 

coming soon:

And while you have a babysitter booked, please consider continuing your evening at The Short Hills Club after Parents’ Night!  Zeynep Allyn and Maggie Franklin already have their second event in the works for a fun “after party” that evening. 

Next, “Ladies’ Night Out” will take place on Thursday, November 20. Crystal Skinner, Stephanie Walsh, and Tina Park have been hard at work planning a fabulous event.  Come socialize with fellow moms, get in some holiday shopping and sample great food and wine.  It’s an event not-to-be-missed and is also a great fundraiser for the school!

The rest of the Board is already working behind-the-scenes on their upcoming events and activities, which will be highlighted in upcom-ing issues. In the meantime, please take a look at this year’s board roster (on the back of this newsletter) if you’d like to get more involved with anything!

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my Executive Board, Sarah Masyra, Past President, Christine Cofer, Secretary, Beth Spiro, Treasurer and Cate Edell, Vice President.  I am looking forward to working together and appreciate each of you! 

In closing, I want to thank all the parents of the CCNS community.  I wish you and your families a happy and healthy year!  I also look forward to meeting many of you at our fabulous events in the coming months!

Warm regards, 

Emily Baldwin Donelan PACCNS President

Vol. XIX No. 58Fall 2014

Oct. 21 & 22: School Pictures

Oct. 31: Halloween Parade

PACCNS PreSideNt, emily doNelAN, with her SoN, GAviN

We breathed a sigh of relief. Our twins both got up from the dinner table and danced around the kitchen as they cleared the dinner plates (one of their regular chores). Later that night my wife said, “We haven’t seen that in a while. What a difference a year makes!”

It was true. Last year the girls felt a lot of aca-demic and social pressure. In addition, they had a couple of teachers that just did not connect with them. The result was a good deal of ten-sion in the home. That was last year; this year is a different story.

Why all this personal revelation? First, I am so glad that your family has chosen to have this foundational chapter in your child’s life take place with Christ Church Nursery School. If a child’s first experience of school is positive, then the inevitable less positive experiences become hurdles to jump rather than pits to trap.

In reflecting on last year in comparison to this year in our household, it became clear that it falls to the parents to take the long view.

From the

Dear Parents,

Welcome to another exciting school year at Christ Church Nursery School. We have no doubt that you and your children will meet good friends and create warm memories here. Our very dedicated and experienced staff is here to offer you and your child a rewarding experience. The classrooms are already bustling with laughter, singing and lots of hands-on learning. Many thanks to the staff for doing an outstanding job during the very busy first few weeks of school!

I also thank all of you for the trust that you have placed in us. For some of you this is your child’s first school experience, and I know that is a big step for them and you! I promise this will be a year full of growth for all! I would also like to thank PACCNS for their consistent help. PACCNS has already assisted us with the school directory, this newsletter and some wonderful parent get-togethers. I invite you all to get involved in the many activities that our dedicated parent group organizes throughout this school year. Their efforts truly enrich your child’s preschool experience!

RECTOR’S DESKFrom the

DIRECTOR’S DESK

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Barbara Pepe joined CCNS in 2005 with more than 25 years experience, having first owned and operated her own nursery school, The Family Schoolhouse, and later serving as the director at an Episcopal Church Nursery School in Montville Township for 13 years. Barbara has a B.A. in Education from William Paterson University and holds teaching certifications in Special Education, Elementary Education, Reading and Early Childhood Education. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and attends regular meetings of a local director’s group. Barbara lives in Montville with her husband, Dominick. Together they have two daughters, Alicia and Melissa, who are both teachers, and a dog named Biscuit.

Children do not have the life experience to do that. We need to be the “non-anxious presence” in our children’s lives, affirming their goodness, helping them learn even from mistakes or fail-ures, inspiring their dreams (without constantly telling them at age five that we can hardly wait to see them competing in the Olympics). There will be up months and years and not so up months and years in our children’s development. Both create character, and most of us know that often it is the difficult or painful experiences through which we grow the most. So if we parents assure our children of our never failing love for them, they will learn that they can get through anything that comes their way.

Finally, we live in a highly successful, highly competitive, highly goal oriented part of the country – and that can rub off on our chil-dren. There is nothing wrong with setting the bar high, but the other day I spoke with a parent whose child regularly stays up after midnight doing homework, gets up before five to continue to study and meets with tutors on

weekends. The parent was a nervous wreck and so was the child. Harvard is a wonderful school; but it is not the only wonderful place or way to learn. No doubt your child is marvelous beyond all measure. But there needs to be times of play, times of quiet, times of doing different and non-structured things. A well-rounded human adult begins with a well-rounded childhood. Help your child establish patterns now and even though there are sure to be bumps in the road, those patterns of a balanced life that includes work, play, service for the sake of others, worship and so on, will shape a human being that can dance around the table for years to come.

Joyfully yours,

Tim Mulder

Rector, Christ Church

Thanks to all for attending our class orienta-tion sessions. Communication is one of my primary goals, and to that end, I will also offer monthly updates, (which will be sent home with your child). Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. You can email the main office at christchurchns@

verizon.net. We are also available by phone at (973) 379-6549.

I look forward to seeing all of you at Parents’ Night on Tuesday, November 11. Beginning at 6:30, you can browse selections at the PACCNS Book Fair in our Gym. At 7:30, you’ll be invited to visit your children’s classrooms and meet with the teachers. I will share a few thoughts with you back in the gym at 8:00, where light

refreshments will be served. Please remember this night is for parents only, so line up those babysitters and plan to join us!

As the weeks march on, our classrooms will transform into colorful visions of fall and Halloween. Halloween celebrations are planned for all! Details will come to you directly from your classroom teachers. In the meantime, enjoy this precious time with your children. I know that we will! I sincerely thank you for sharing them with us during the school day!

Barbara Pepe,

Director

PACCNS invites you to our ANNUAl ChildreN’S BooK FAir

iN the CCNS GymNASiumTuesday, November 11, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m

Parents’ Night (adults only)

Wednesday, November 12, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Come shop with your children before or after school.

CCNS earns up to 25% on every purchase made, so please support our school and encourage the love of reading!

welcoming new faces to CCNSOn October 2nd, PACCNS’ Family Events Committee hosted a fantastic event at the Parish Hall for those new to the CCNS family. In conjunction with The Wine Library and Beyond Delicious Catering they offered a wine tasting, featuring wines and hors d’oeuvres from 4 countries for many guests. Thanks to Barbara Pepe for welcoming all and to Emily Donelan for speaking on behalf of PACCNS.

NEXT UP: Parent’s Night Out after Back to School night

You got babysitters already, so let’s get together immediately after Parent’s Night and the PACCNS Book Fair on Tuesday, November 11th at the SHORT HILLS CLUB. Cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served until approximately 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 20th 7–10pm

Exclusive holiday wreath pick-up, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes!

Invitations will be sent via Paperless Post. Proceeds benefit CCNS.

Breakfast with SantaIt’s not even Halloween and already we are thinking about Christmas! Mark your calendars for Breakfast with Santa in Parish Hall on Saturday, December 6, (two seatings at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.)  Santa’s elves, Christine Ploetner and Meredith Amico, are already preparing for this fun-filled extravaganza featur-ing a delicious spread of morning treats, holiday artwork by our little artists, crafts, and of course, a special visit from Santa! Volunteers are needed to help with the event and to photograph each child’s visit with Santa. If interested, please contact Christine at (973) 467-9562 or Meredith at (973) 379-5132.  HO! HO! HO!

CLASS PICTURES COMING SOON: Irvin Simon Photography will take this year’s class and individual pictures on Tuesday, October 21st and Wednesday, October 22nd.  Proofs will be available late November.  Parents will be able to select their child’s best pose and backdrop! Contact Candee McAloon at candeemacer@yahoo.com or Suzanne Emrich at suemeehan@yahoo.com with questions.

Classroom Involvement & Communication Visitors are always welcome in our classrooms! If you would like to share a special talent, a family custom or your occupation with the class, please contact your child’s teacher.

Healthy Snacks: we encourage parents to help us offer healthy snack options by signing up to provide fruits or vegetables for the class.

Birthday celebrations are welcomed. Parents may provide a special snack. Please be mindful of allergies, and make sure the snack is easy to serve and eat.

Class bulletins will be sent home periodically from your child’s teacher.

Parent/ Teacher Conferences are held in January. Parents are encouraged to reach out to their child’s teacher throughout the school year with any questions or concerns. Teachers will do the same. It’s best to keep the lines of communica-tion open!

S o ci a l E v e n ts

ladies Night out An evening of Shopping, Hors D’oeuvres,

Wine & Mingling

Community OutreachThanks to all who participated in the recent winter coat, blanket and costume drive serving needy children in Newark!

Upcoming outreach projects include:

November: Thanksgiving food drive for needy families in partnership with JLOSH (Junior League of Short Hills and the Oranges)

December: “Embrace-a-Family” Christmas drive, collecting new clothing, toys and household items for homeless and “at-risk” families

Ongoing: collaboration with Christ Church to support the Interfaith Food Pantry in Orange. See the food collection bin in the CCNS lobby for a list of needed items.

Looking ahead: collection of gently-used toys and baby gear in late winter. 

Feel free to contact Robin Grapkowski at robingrapkowski@gmail.com, or Stephanie Eller at stephanieeller@verizon.net with any questions or ideas.

It may be Fall, but we also have Spring on our minds...The CCNS Spring Cocktail Party committee is in its planning stages for the annual event and biggest CCNS fundraiser of the year. The cocktail party takes place in May and is open to CCNS parents and friends. This fun, social event offers a great night of cocktails and a silent auction with amazing prizes.

The committee is currently searching for a venue. If any family has a large yard and is interested in hosting, it would be greatly appreciated. PACCNS will handle all event planning, so there is no need for your involvement unless you would like to help.

For more information, please contact PACCNS Cocktail party chairs Michelle DeCillis (michelle.decillis@gmail.com) and Jill Johnston (jillhjohnston@gmail.com).

Cocktail Party

Kathy Carlo is enjoying her sixteenth year teaching the Twos Classes. She earned her B.A. from Montclair State University and has been teaching two year-olds through kindergarteners for 24 years – 22 here at CCNS. Kathy and her husband, Joe, have seven adult children, twelve grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Kimberly DeVirgilio is looking forward to her third year teaching at CCNS with the 3’s T/W/Th morning class!  Mrs. DeVirgilio graduated from Seton Hall University with a double major in Elementary Education and Psychology and went on to earn her Master’s Degree in the field of School Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.  Before her time at CCNS, she had the pleasure of teaching preschool children and ele-mentary age students in Jersey City, Bayonne and Elizabeth.  She currently resides in Short Hills with her husband and four children.  In her free time she enjoys photography and traveling the world!

Renata Handzy is excited for another year at CCNS teaching the Pre-K 4 class. Mrs. Handzy has a B.S. in Elementary Education from St.

John’s University. She has had the pleasure of teaching preschool children and elementary age students in New York, Michigan, Rutherford, and Westfield. Mrs. Handzy lives in Westfield with her husband Damian and their three children- Matthew, Stephen, and Sofia. Mrs. Handzy enjoys reading, cooking, walking and singing in her free time.

Ryane Kress is excited for her fourth year teaching at CCNS as the morning Fours teacher and, for the first time, teaming up with Tara Pickard to teach the afternoon T.E.A.M Class. Mrs. Kress graduated in 2009 with an Early Childhood and Sociology degree from The College of New Jersey. She completed her student teaching in Udine, Italy and Trenton, NJ and has been working with children for over six years. Mrs. Kress was recently married last November and lives in Clark with her husband and cat. She looks forward to an exciting new year and group of terrific kids!

Tara Pickard is excited for her sixth year in the classroom at CCNS. Mrs. Pickard has a B.S. in

Elementary Education from Ball State University. She also has an M.A. in Reading  from Northern Illinois. Mrs. Pickard will be teaching both the Preschool 3’s Morning Class and the Afternoon T.E.A.M Class with Ryanne Kress. Tara lives in town with her husband and four children. She enjoys working out and attending her children’s various sporting events. In her spare time she does the laundry. 

Gloria Parker has enjoyed teaching Pre-K classes for the past 17 years. Mrs. Parker grad-uated from William Paterson University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and taught third grade and kindergarten before caring for her own children (Robert, Laura and Kristen) with her husband, Michael. With all three now working, she spends time cooking , reading, walking and doing yoga. She is also involved with many church activities, especially singing in the choir.

Jennifer Reisman is beginning her 30th year at CCNS. Wow! Mrs. R. graduated from The College of NJ where she earned a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. She continues to enjoy ballroom socials at various venues, hanging out with her friends, flying to Fla. to visit her best friend and sharing her time with her fam-ily: Michael, Laura, and Holden of Springfield and  Daniel of Union.  

Josette Rubino is enjoying her sixth year back at CCNS.  She is teaching a full day 3’s class this year.  Mrs. Rubino has a B.A. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, with a con-centration in Fine Arts from Rider College.  She lives in Roseland with her husband Vinny and their two sons, Vinny Jr. (Age 12) and John.

Joanna Sondey has a 5-day morning class for three year olds and this is her 22nd year at CCNS. She is a graduate of Montclair State College and taught French and Spanish for six years. She has three married children and three  grandchildren. To relax, she enjoys read-ing, traveling and crafts, especially cross-stitch.

Kim Zotti gradutated from the College of New Jersey with a B.S. in Elementary Education K-8 and a minor in English K-12. She received an MA in Early Childhood Supervision from Kean University. Mrs. Zotti taught third and first grade for 10 years in the Union Public School Sytem before coming to CCNS. Mrs. Zotti taught 3’s before establishing the plus 5 class 23 years ago. Mrs. Zotti lives in New Providence with her husband, Tony, and Westie, Bonnie. She has 3 children, Peter, Marc, and Cara. Mrs. Zotti loves spending time in the Caribbean, Italy, and Cape Cod. She especially enjoys antiquing in Cape Cod. Mrs. Zotti collects salt and pepper shakers. Her collection exceeds 400 pairs!

BACK row (l to r): mrS. KAthy CArlo, mrS. ryANe KreSS, mrS. tArA PiCKArd, mrS. Kim devirGilio, mrS. JoANNA SoNdey, mrS. JoSette rUBiNo, ANd mrS. Kim Zotti; SeAted (l to r): mrS. reNAtA hANdZy, mrS. JeNNiFer reiSmAN, mrS. GloriA PArKer

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY…NEW CCNS STAFF!

Laura Felix is the Office Assistant at Christ Church Nursery School.  Laura spent the last three years involved in early childhood education, beginning in Seattle, where she assistant taught three and four-year olds, and received her EC Assistant Certificate from North Seattle Community College.  Since moving to New Jersey with her family in 2012 Laura worked as the front desk manager and teaching assistant for Gymboree in Chatham. Prior to teaching, Laura spent ten years working in retail banking, serving as an operations/customer service manager for a large Seattle branch.  She lives in Springfield with her husband Michael and their son Holden.  Laura loves working with young children, in the classroom and in the garden, and enjoys outside time with her family on the weekends. 

mrS. lAUrA FeliX (oFFiCe ASSiStANt) JoiNed the StAFF thiS FAll. we oFFer her A wArm welCome!

M E E T O U R T E A c H E R s

DEPARTMENT OF D E V E L O P M E N T

Children begin developing math skills long before they ever

see an addition problem or use a calculator. Parents and teachers can support their learning by understanding the key math skills needed for school and providing simple activities that allow children to develop their math muscles.

KEY MATH SKILLS

Number Sense – the ability to count accurately (rote counting), forward first and later, backwards

Representation – making mathematical ideas “real” by using words, pictures, symbols and objects (i.e. laying out 4 plates and 4 cups for a picnic for a family of four)

Spatial Sense – understanding shape, position, size, direction and movement (over, under, etc.)

Measurement – finding the length, height and weight of an object

Estimation – ability to make a good guess about the amount of something (since this is very abstract it is hard for young children)

Patterns – numbers, shapes, images that repeat in a logical way

Jenn McGregor, Assistant to the Director

Problem-solving – the ability to think through a problem, to recognize that there is more than one path to an answer

ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO Play with shape sorters with you child – talk the shapes, count the sides, describe the colors.

Count and sort – gather a basket of items and help your child sort by size, color or what they do.

What size is it? Notice the size of objects around you – what’s smallest? what’s biggest?

Walk it off – taking a walk gives your children many chances to compare, assess, note similari-ties and differences and categorize.

Shape up – point out the different shapes and colors you see during the day.

Pass it around – Ask your child for help in distributing items like snacks or napkins, help her give one item to each person.

Big on blocks – give your child the chance to play with blocks – helps them learn about shapes and the relationship between shapes.

Learn through touch – cut shapes out of sturdy cardboard, let your child touch the shape with eyes open and then closed.

Playground math – As your child plays, make comparisons based on height (high/low), posi-tion (over/under) or size (big/little).

Read and sing your numbers – sing songs that rhyme, repeat, or have numbers in them.

For more ideas and information, go to: http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/ear-ly-development/supporting-early-math-skills.html. Have fun!

MUSIC: Mary Louise DiStefano (“Mrs. D.”) joined CCNS in 2005. She holds a B.A. in Social Science and Political Science and a MA in Music Therapy and has a Music Teacher certification. Mrs. D offers weekly music classes to all of our preschoolers. Classes are held in the Chapel or the classroom on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and are full of songs, movement and fun!

SPANISH: Elizabeth Dooley offers Spanish lessons for the 4 and 5 year-olds on Mondays. Señora Dooley has a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Notre Dame and spent a wonderful year in Toledo, Spain while in college. She has lived and worked in several Mexican-American communities and is eager to share her love of the Spanish language with the children of CCNS. This is Señora Dooley’s second year with us.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Our physical educa-tion teacher, Margie Feinberg, offers a special gym class to all 4 and 5 year-old classes on Wednesdays. We are thrilled to welcome her back after a year hiatus! Mrs. Feinberg holds a B.A. in education and a physical education certification. She started here at CCNS in 2003 and has been teaching classes to preschoolers for more than 12 years! We are thrilled to have her back!

DROP-IN: A Unique Option

A BreAK iN the ACtioN: the dediCAted droP-iN teAm PAUSeS For A Photo dUriNG their BUSy morNiNG. (l to r): BeSSie PAredeS, JeNN mCGreGor, BArBArA PASQUAloNe, ANABel liBerAto, mAritZA CArlUCCi, PeGGy FerN ANd mAriSol Cotto

Our Drop In program is a great complement to your child’s school day. The Center, locat-ed on the lower level of the school, provides childcare for children as young as 6 months. Children keep busy with fun indoor and outdoor activities including art projects, story-time, singing and dancing!

Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Drop In Center works on a reservation basis for both permanent and “every so often” spots. Partial-day CCNS students are also welcome to bring lunch from home and to stay and play. Teachers will walk the children to and from their classrooms to accommodate each class schedule.

For reservations, call Mrs. Peggy Fern at (973) 379-6549, ext. 4 or email her at dropinregistrar@verizon.net.

“Specials” Several weekly/monthly activities enhance the CCNS core curriculum

ABOUT THE ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR

After 15 years as a teacher and administrator of nursery school and child care programs, Jenn McGregor joined CCNS in 2011 as an enrichment teacher and, in 2012, as the Assistant to the Director. Jenn has a B.A. in Psychology from Carleton College, an M.S. in Infant and Parent Development and Early Intervention from Bank Street College and a teaching certification in PreK – 6. She lives in Millburn with her hus-band, Nick, their two daughters, Margaret and Lily, and two cats, Caesar and Luna.

HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS: Our Handwriting Specialist, Barbara Pasqualone, visits our Pre-K 4’s classes on Thursdays and Fridays to help the children practice and per-fect their pencil grip and fine motor skills. She holds a B.A. in Education with Early Childhood and Elementary certifications. Barbara also works as the Program Coordinator in our Drop In Center.

LIBRARY: Teacher and CCNS parent, Jenny Birch comes in monthly to share her passion of reading with our Pre-K classes. Mrs. Birch orders new books for our school library each summer and covers and categorizes each one! She also works throughout the year to maintain the school library. We are so grateful for her assistance and her commitment. The children absolutely LOVE borrowing books to read with their families.

CHAPEL & BIBLE STORY TIME: Monthly lessons in the Chapel are directed by the Christ Church Rector, the Rev. Dr. Tim Mulder or Christ Church Curate, the Rev. Krista Dias. “Mother Krista” will also be visiting our class-rooms monthly to share a bible story with the children.

Thank you, PACCNS!This summer we received a very generous donation of $10,000 from PACCNS (Parent Association of CCNS!) This money will be put towards the purchase of the newly installed rubberized mulch

that was added to our largest playground this past spring. This generous gift is very much appreciated!

PACCNS also purchased two new iPads for the school. These additional iPads mean that we now have a total of four iPads available for use by our Preschool and Pre-K Teachers. When used in combination with our Apple TV, the iPad is a useful learning tool for the entire classroom. Of course, iPads are also ideal for use in our small group learning centers. We are so grateful to PACCNS for the continued support.

We take the responsibility of your child’s safety very seriously. To that end:

Doors are locked during school hours: All three doors are open as the school day begins. At 9:10, the doors will be locked until dismissal. Those arriving late should ring the bell at the main entrance (Door 2). For fire-safety, doors can always be opened from the inside, whether or not they are locked.

No strollers inside: Fire code prohibits strollers in the hallway as they may block exits during an emergency. We appreciate your understanding.

Safety Drills: We practice exiting the building quickly and quietly every month. Were it nec-essary to evacuate the building in a true emergency, we would bring the children to Parish Hall at Christ Church. We also practice a “lock down” drill and a full evacuation drill at least once per school year.

Healthy Snacks New state regulation requires schools that provide snacks to offer healthier options. We thank the parents of our 3, 4 and 5 year-olds for assisting us with weekly donations of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. We ask the parents in our 2s classes and Drop In Center to make occasional donations of one or more of the following: cheerios, whole wheat crackers, raisins and canned/diced fruit (in 100% juice) and apple sauce (no sugar added). Thanks in advance!

Allergy reminder: Allergy notices have been distributed to our classes as necessary. Please be mindful of any allergies that affect members of your child’s class, especially when sending in healthy/birthday snacks. Please remember our school strives to be a completely NUT-FREE environment.

• Use the center lane to move to your des-ignated door; but do not block the center lane. If there is no access to the door, please go around the block and try again.

• There is no parking on the right side of East Lane. This is a fire lane, and traffic must keep moving. It is reserved for the CAR LINE ONLY.

• ONLY parents of our 2s and Drop-In students may park, briefly on the left side of East Lane.

• Please use your colored car nametags all year long to help us match car to child quickly.

• Staff members will assist your children at the car. Please do not get out of your car, as it is dangerous and slows down the line!

• Teaching your children how to buckle/unbuckle their seatbelts will also help move things along. If you need to assist your child with the seatbelt, please drive forward a bit first.

• If you prefer to avoid the car line, the lower church parking lots are available. If you park on the street, please do not block driveways, and always hold your child’s hand.

• Above all, please be patient.

CHAPEL RENOVATIONS ALMOST COMPLETE This summer our CCNS Chapel was paint-ed and new carpeting was installed. The lighting in the Chapel was also updated. Next, we will work to clearly define the front of the Chapel by placing beautiful material (from floor to ceiling) on both sides of the Altar table. This very special space in our school is used monthly for Chapel Lessons, Bible Story Time and Library. It is also used weekly for our Music Classes. Monthly staff members are also held in this space. The renovations look fabulous and we are so grateful for the support of Christ Church in Short Hills for making this happen!

SUMMER IMPROVEMENTS

S a f e t y & S e c u r i t y

CAR LINE CONSIDERATIONS:

shapes and colors. We are looking forward to having lots of fun.

Mrs. Sondey and Mrs. Nesto’s morning class is ready for an exciting year! The children are learning to get along with one another and to follow class rules. They are making new friends, and they love to play outside. We are talking about the changes that occur in the fall, and each week we focus on a different color. The children enjoy working on their projects and are very proud of them. Be sure to come see the gigantic spider web in our room in October!

Mrs. Handzy and Mrs. Hrinuk are looking forward to a great year.  The class is quickly becoming comfortable with one another and adjusting to our daily routine.  We started off the year with our “Friendship” unit.  We learned how important it is to be kind to one another, use kind words, and how to work and help one another. In addition to the unit on Friendship, the class will also be learning about all the wonderful things the season of Fall has to offer.  The change in the weather, apples, pumpkins, and leaves are just a few of the things we will be talking about.  We will also be looking forward to our trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Halloween.

Mrs. Kress and Ms. Dowd’s 4s classes have been very busy this fall.  They learned the classroom rules and routines as they made new friends and worked together.  We are also working on our learning letters and numbers and observing the fall changes!  We are looking forward to our class trip to the pumpkin patch and all the new and exciting experiences in our fours class!  

Mrs. Kress and Mrs. Pickard’s new T.E.A.M. class started the year with exciting new learning experiences! We began by learning the rules and routines of the classroom as well as making new friends, both with our class and those children staying for the afternoon from the morning fours class.  We will be learning new songs, finger-plays, numbers and letters, as well as observing and learning about the autumn changes around us. We have a “challenge activ-ity” each week that the children really enjoy. We already made pizza and look forward to more learning fun!

In the classroom... NEWS & viewS

“TEAM PLANNING” MEETINGS

In addition to our regular monthly staff meetings, our Teachers will meet monthly (in teams by class age) to exchange ideas and share concerns. We work together to re-examine the Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards set by the New Jersey Department of Education. Together we aim to offer our students the best possible learning experiences!

Mrs. Carlo, Mrs. Khalek, and Mrs. Gorra’s Twos Classes have been busy adjusting to school. The children are enjoying playing, learn-ing songs, listening to stories, having snacks and using the playground! They are learning to work with materials such as paint, glue and playdough. During October, they will work on Halloween projects.

Mrs. DeVirgilio and Mrs. Perrotto’s class has gotten off to a great start this school year!  The children have been busy getting to know each other and learning school rules and routines.  We are enjoying our time inside the classroom and outside on the playground!  We have been busy learning the days of the week and the months of the year and have been noting the changes in the weather and the season.  We are also focusing the color “red” and the letter “A”.  We are excited that Halloween is fast-approach-ing and are excited to continue creating new projects to share with our families.  We have so much learning to do and will have so much fun along the way!     

Mrs. Pickard and Mrs. Bariso’s 3s class have been happily adjusting to our classroom. The children are learning new routines and making new friends. They have all learned new songs and fingerplays and have tried to figure out, “Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?” We began the year with an “all about me” theme and each week we will focus on a new color. October topics will include community helpers, apples, big green monsters,  and creepy crawly black spiders. We are going to have a great year together. Welcome! 

Mrs. Rubino and Mrs. Baumann’s Full Day 3s class has gotten off to a great start!  The children adjusted easily to being in school for an extend-ed day.  They love getting to eat their lunch in school, and staying for some extra learning fun!!  We have been very busy making new friends and doing many projects.  We began the year with an “All About Me” theme and we made special booklets telling about ourselves.  After this we moved on to discussions about various aspects of Autumn such as autumn weather, crops, Halloween and the colors red, orange and yellow.  We enjoyed singing songs, doing proj-ects and sorting and patterning with autumn

Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Adams’ class is quickly becoming comfortable with each other and adjusting wonderfully to the daily routine. The children are learning about one another through games, songs, and will put together a class book. Autumn will find us fine-tuning our five senses. We will get up close to trees and leaves, enjoy the taste and smells of apple treats, pick pumpkins, have fun raking and jumping in leaves, and get excited about the sights and sounds of Halloween. We will also start our jour-ney on the “Alphabet Express” and travel with it through out the year.

Mrs. Reisman and Mrs. Lewis are happy and excited to start the new school year. There will be lots of caring, sharing, learning and a high level of rhythm and spirit happening in room 7. The children will participate in the “Specials” which include: Spanish, Music, Bible Reading/Chapel,Gym, Library and Handwriting. The “Listen and Learn Bag’ will be sent home peri-odically, homework assigned and the Mystery Reader event will be part of the curriculum. The units for the Fall will include: apples, squirrels, owls, pumpkins, Halloween and change of seasons. Socialization and communication will take place throughout the day especially during snack, lunch and time in Our Cafe. Looking forward to a great year! 

Mrs. Zotti and Ms. Thornton’s 5 Plus Class started the school year learning about ap-ples, worms, and ants. We celebrated Johnny Appleseed’s birthday by baking an apple pie. We created a worm habitat and were very interested in watching the worms make tunnels. October topics include homes, families, Smokey the Bear, and of course, Halloween.

PACCNS BOARD 2014-2015

President ................................... Emily Donelan

Past President ........................... Sarah Masyra

Vice President.................................... Cate Edell

Secretary ...................................Christine Cofer

Treasurer ............................................ Beth Spiro

class ParentsSuzanne Emrich, Candee McAloon

Directory/membershipChristine Skalkotos

Ladies’s night outTina Park, Crystal Skinner, Stephanie Walsh

Book FairElizabeth Cassano, Allison Corbin

Breakfast with santaMeredith Amico, Christine Ploetner

social EventsZeynep Allyn, Maggie Franklin

gardenCaroline Collins

spring cocktail PartyMichelle DeCillis, Jill Johnston, Katie Foster

Lauren Lischer, Julia Tucker

spring PicnicKristina Bunch

Katie Roberts Freyman

outreachStephanie Eller, Robin Grapkowski

newsletterLaurie Guinoo, Nicole Petersen

YearbookJennifer Brasile, Melissa DiTosto,

Lori Gaiotti

DATES TO REMEMBER:October 21 & 22 .....................................School Pictures

October 31 ..............................................Halloween Parade (Pre-K Classes Only – CCNS Gym)

November 6 & 7 .....................................Teachers Convention – SCHOOL/DROP-IN CLOSED

November 11 ..........................................Parents’ Night and Book Fair (6:30 – 9:00pm)

November 12 ..........................................Book Fair continues (8:30am – 12:30pm)

November 20 ..........................................Thanksgiving Celebration (Preschool Classes only)

November 26-28 ....................................Thanksgiving Recess (CCNS Closes at Noon)

December 6 ............................................Breakfast with Santa

Welcome Back to School

PACCNS eXeCUtive BoArd: (l to r) ChriStiNe CoFer, Beth SPiro, emily doNelAN, ANd CAte edell (Not PiCtUred) SArAh mASyrA