Amalgamated Nursery School: September 2008

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The 2008-2009 School Year is underway!

The 2008-2009 school year is underway!! Over the past two weeks, the children, teachers and families have been getting to know each other. For some children and families this was their first time in school. For our returning students, it was their first time back after summer vacation, in a new classroom with new teachers. These are all new experiences for everyone. In these few short weeks, friendships have been developing, routines are being established and children are beginning to feel more secure and comfortable in a school community.
Today, Sunday, September 21 we held our annual Pancake Welcome Brunch. The event is planned by the parent board as an opportunity for families to get to know each other over a delicious breakfast. It was great to see families connecting with one another validating and extending the sense of community we try to build in our school program. To all who brought food or who helped with the cooking, it is much appreciated! We hope this is the first of several “get-togethers” throughout the year.
Next week we welcome our youngest students in our program. The Little Hands classes will begin their adjustment schedule on Thursday, September 25.
I am looking forward to continuing to getting to know and work with each family in our school.
Lisa

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

School Calendar, September - December 2008

Tuesday September 9 - Executive board Meeting, 7:00 PM
Monday September 15 - All classes on regular schedule (except Little Hands)
Thursday September 18 - Littla Hands Class Meeting, 7:30 PM
Sunday September 21 - Welcome Brunch
Thursday September 25 - Little Hands II begins
Friday September 26 - Class Meetings for AM and PM classes (during class hours)
Friday September 26 - Little Hands III begins
Tuesday September 30 - School Closed (Rosh Hashanah)

Wednesday October 1 - School Closed (Rosh Hashanah)
Monday October 6 - Lunch Program begins
Tuesday October 7 - Executive Board Meeting, 7:00 PM
Thursday October 9 - School Closed (Yom Kippur)
Monday October 13 - School Closed (Columbus Day)
Thursday October 16 - After School Music and Movement begins
Sunday October 26 - Halloween Party

Tuesday November 4 - School Closed (Election Day)
Tuesday November 11 - School Closed (Veteran's Day)
Wednesday November 19 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 6:30 PM
Thursday November 20 - Parent Teacher Conferences / School open only for Full Day and Part-Time Thursday children and Little Hands class
Thursday November 27 - School Closed (Thanksgiving Recess)
Friday November 28 - School Closed (Thanksgiving Recess)

Tuesday December 2 - Executive Board Meeting, 7:00 PM
Tuesday December 9 - General Parent Meeting (Options for Kindergarten), 7:30 PM
Wednesday December 24 - School closed (Winter Vacation through January 4)

Friday, September 5, 2008

The 2008-2009 School Year is about to begin!

School starts on a staggered schedule on Monday, September 8th.

About Amalgamated Nursery School

The Amalgamated Nursery School is a nonsectarian, parent cooperative nursery school which was established in 1933 to serve the immediate community and the surrounding area. Our school holds a charter from the New York State Department of Education Board of Regents and a license from the New York City Department of Health. We also are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Every classroom is headed by a certified Early Childhood teacher. Assistants are also experienced in working on an Early Childhood level. Specialists in music and movement are used to enrich the program as well.

As a cooperative nursery school, we are governed by elected members of our parent body.

Philosophy

The Amalgamated Nursery School is a child's laboratory for developmentally appropriate learning. It is a place where children can "learn to learn" - where they are encouraged to develop their curiosity, explore their interests and realize their creativity. Our curriculum is based on early childhood educators' knowledge of how children learn:

> Through activity.
> Through first-hand sensory perception of feeling, listening, smelling, tasting and observing Through experimentation, manipulation and exploration as a result of encounters with a variety of media, problems, ideas and people.
> As active members of a congenial social group.
> Through the process of identification with adults in their lives.
> Most efficiently when the activity is related to their own purposes and interests.

Curriculum

At The Amalgamated Nursery School, your child will be exposed to a varied curriculum which is designed to meet the needs of each individual child. The approach to learning is through "activity centers" that are spaced in different areas of the classroom. The children learn from each other as well as from adults. They are free to move about the room and select the learning experiences that interest them the most. Teachers assist and guide the children in their pursuits. Group experiences of age appropriate duration are used for story telling, music, creative dramatics, and as an opportunity for children to share their ideas with the class group.

Daily activities include:

Social Studies: The children learn about family life, the neighborhood, respect for the environment, community helpers, holidays and the world around them. The curriculum fosters an appreciation for individual, cultural and racial diversity. The children take trips to such places as the library, neighborhood gardens and the firehouse. In turn, the children are visited by community helpers.

Science: Children learn by doing, not by being told. The curriculum encourages learning through discovery, handling materials, exploring environments both inside and outside the classroom. The children gain firsthand experience with nature through the care and observation of plants and pets.

Mathematics: Opportunities for mathematical learning exist throughout the curriculum. We provide functional experiences for counting, sorting, measuring, patterning, and graphing. Children also learn about shape and size relationships. As they keep track of birthdays and holidays, children begin to learn about temporal concepts.

Language Development and Literacy: The goal here is to develop reading and writing readiness by helping children learn to express themselves verbally and to develop listening skills. Toward this end they participate in such activities as dramatic play, puppetry and felt board stories. Books and poetry provide an introduction to children's literature. Children are provided with many opportunities to see how reading and writing are useful: dictating stories, seeing classroom charts and making their own class books.

Musical Experiences: Singing, movement and the use of rhythm instruments make up the music program. Opportunities to hear new sounds, create with voice or instruments, and to experience rhythmically with the body are provided for the children.

Art: Through the use of collage, paint, clay and other art materials, children are given opportunities for the expression of individuality and creativity.

Cooking and Woodworking: Real tools, such as hammers and cooking utensils, are used in the nursery to produce real products. The children frequently prepare their own snacks. Cooking activities are provided at least once a week and often relate to a season, holiday or theme.

Active Physical Play: Outdoor activity is planned daily so children can develop large muscle skills, learn about outdoor environments, and express themselves freely and loudly. Children have daily opportunities to use large muscles, including running, jumping and balancing. During inclement weather the children utilize our "big room" for these activities.

Blockbuilding: This is an activity that develops spatial awareness and eye hand coordination while encompassing social studies, number relationships and language arts. Children engaged in building a highway out of blocks are learning geography as they figure out how the highway might bypass other roads or bodies of water; they are learning language arts skills as they communicate to each other and explain to others about their building; they are learning social studies as they take turns sharing the materials; and they are learning about number and size relationships as they stack blocks and put blocks away in appropriately marked spaces allotted for each block shape.

The Amalgamated Nursery School is often the first step away from family and home. Through the nursery experience your child will gain independence, establish new relationships with other children and learn to work and play in a group situation. The goal of The Amalgamated Nursery School is to help your child develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. We help to enhance children's self-esteem and confidence so that they will successfully meet future challenges in school and in life.

Sponsored by The Joint Community Activities of the Amalgamated and Park Reservoir Cooperatives.

Amalgamated Nursery School