March Newsletter

PREREGISTRATION  for 2016-2017 RPNS school  year!

Yes, it is that time of year again to consider registering your child for next September.  RPNS offers currently enrolled families the opportunity to formally preregister their children prior to our community Open House on March 24.
During the week of Feb.29 to March 4, let Paulette know which class you wish for your child.  Check our website on March 10 to download a registration package.  www.rpnsottawa.com      Hand your completed registration package along with payment  to Paulette asap.

Registration options: 
Toddler (2 mornings: Tuesdays & Thursdays) aged 18 months to 2 ½ years.  Junior Preschool (3 mornings: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) aged 2 ½ to 3 years.   
Senior Preschool (either the 2 morning or 3 morning options as above or 5 mornings) aged 2 ¾  to 5 years. 
French Introduction (same options as Senior Preschool) **child must turn 3 years of age by October 31, 2016.  Note: Developmental age of the child is also considered, see the Director for approval.
Don’t wait and be disappointed.....preregister your child!


March Break
Reminder that the nursery school is closed for the March Break of March 14 to 18.  Enjoy your week!
Easter Holiday Closures
We are closed Good Friday, March 25 and Easter Monday, March 28.
March Weather
Snow? Sunshine? Rain?  Whatever the weather, we plan on spending as much time outside as possible this month!  Our very cold/rainy January and February months keep us indoors too long.  Please ensure that you child is dressed appropriately for the weather conditions each day!
 
Special Events in March
*March Birthday Celebration Days ~ March 8 & 9
*March 10 & 11 ~ Wear green!
*Easter Egg Dyeing~  Easter is early this year, so we will dye our eggs March 23 & 24
*Group Circles~ March 31 and April 1 (which is April Fool’s Day…so watch out!)
 
Changes to the Parent Cooperative Style of Nursery School

Riverside Park Nursery School is a licensed child care program through the Ministry of Education. As of August 31, 2015, the new Child Care and Early Years Act came into effect. A new requirement in this act states that all duty day parents (or family members, caregivers replacing the duty day parent) are trained in Standard First Aid and Level C CPR. This new policy is required to be fully implemented by September 2016.
On top of this we learned from the Ministry of Education of Ontario that there have been inconsistencies on the ministry's part in regards to the correct number of duty day parents required to maintain parent cooperative nursery school ratios.  Many of us have been using the 12 preschoolers/1 RECE/1 duty day parent for years (RPNS for the past 40 years!).  Apparently nursery schools in the eastern region of Ontario were misinformed years ago by our program advisors in allowing these ratios.  The ratio in other parts of Ontario has been 12 preschoolers/1 RECE/2 duty day parents.  The ministry wants consistency in the province and thus has enforced these new ratios.  So this basically means more duty days for parents to do each month.

At a recent Nursery School Network of Ottawa meeting, we were saddened to hear about the high number of parent cooperative programs planning to change their formats to non-cooperative for the 2016-2017 school year.  These programs cited the increased number of duty days and First Aid training requirements as reasons to why parents no longer want to participate in their child’s classroom. 
Our Board of Directors recognizes that the family structure in 1971 (when RPNS started) is different from today.  This past December, you were asked to participate in a survey regarding First Aid Certification.  Although 73% of current RPNS parents surveyed were willing to ensure that they are first aid trained, we realize that the survey does not reflect on future families.  The survey also indicated that 68% of parents were interested in a Duty Day Opt Out (paying a higher monthly tuition fee and having no duty day responsibilities).
We certainly don’t want to lose our parent cooperative style, but we recognize that providing families with participation options will ensure the viability of RPNS.
Thus, the Duty Day Opt Out will now be included in our registration package along with the requirement of First Aid & CPR Certification (like Criminal Reference Checks requirement).
 
From Dulce
March’s Newsletter
 
Bonjour, the children had fun this month with the story of “The Mitten”, they even presented it at group circle for the whole school. Here are some of the songs that we are going to be learning.
 
Les grenouilles sautent dans l’étang
Les grenouilles sautent dans l’étang ah, ah, (2x)
Les grenouilles sautent dans l’étang; elle saut pas haut mais elles sautent souvant ah, ah, ah
 
Petit Lapin (Frère Jacques)
Petit lapin (x2)
Viens ici (x2)
Je veux de bon bons (x2)
Yum, yum, yum (x2)
 
Si tu aimes le soleil !
Si tu aimes le soleil tappe tes mains (2x)
Si tu aimes le soleil le printemps qui se réveille
Si tu aimes le soleil tappe tes mains
Si tu aimes le soleil,
-tappe tes pieds
-crie hourra
-fait les trois
 
Easter / Pâques       frog / grenouille     canard / duck
Egg / oeuf     rabbit / lapin                       baby chick / poussin
To jump / sauter    
 
From Tina
March Newsletter 2016
 
Winter is flying by and we have wasted no time at all! The children have been progressing very nicely in the Preschool program. They have been working hard at spelling their names orally and some are moving towards writing them as well. We are awesome!
March is an odd month and very short. We will be focusing on Easter and some animal facts. We will continue to work on counting and letter recognition. I will introduce the story “The Mitten” to the children as our group activity and they can act out the animal roles.
It will be over before you know it! Here is our Easter song:
 
5 Easter Rabbits (finger play)
Five Easter rabbits standing by the door,
One hopped away, and then there were four.
Four Easter rabbits standing near a tree,
One hopped away, and then there were three.
Three Easter rabbits looking at you,
One hopped away, and then there were two.
Two Easter rabbits enjoying the sun,
One hopped away, and then there was one.
One Easter rabbit sitting all alone,
He hopped away, and then there were none.
 
Enjoy! Tina