October 2018

From the Director’s Desk:   aka- her NEW little cupboard in the smaller closet-   Paulette Young, RECE
 The school year is off to a good start with just a couple of spaces available, so kindly spread the word! If you would like your child to attend 5 mornings a week, speak to me for arrangements.

What’s new for October:
Our Board of Directors have had a busy month orientating themselves to the ins & outs of our nursery school program.  I wish to thank them for attending multiple meetings in September!  At the first board meeting, it was identified that the educators could use support with toileting/diapering the children as many of the children are not yet ‘toilet learned’.  With our washrooms being located down the hall to the classrooms, it means that educators and groups of children are spending lots of time in the washroom.  Upon review of the RPNS fiscal budget, the board decided to create a “Program Assistant” position to help the educators.  We are pleased to have Lyn Bussey as our newest staff member!

Just a few friendly reminders from the Director:

• Not getting any emails from us?  Check your Spam box as emails from some RPNS are sent through our child care management system (noreply@varitechsystems.com).  Please do not reply to this email.   Replies to this email will NOT be responded to or read. If you have any questions or comments, contact us at rpns@rogers.com
• Reminder that your tuition fees (plus any outstanding balances on your parent ledgers) are withdrawn from your bank account at the beginning of the month.  Telecom Options from Winnipeg will be the company name that appears on your bank statements.
• Having problems with your child’s Seesaw app?  The teachers are here to help.  Parents are welcome to use the ‘comment’ section on the Seesaw app.  However,  questions/notices for me (Paulette, the Director) need to be sent to rpns@rogers.com and not to the Seesaw address.
• Kindly notify the Director should your child be absent from school either by email or a phone message.
• Emergency contact information:  Should RPNS close for any reason (weather, like tornados!), an email will be sent to you via our child care management system (noreply@varitechsystems.com); notices will be posted on Facebook and Twitter; and you will receive a phone call from our emergency caller parent or myself.  We do not communicate emergency situations through the Seesaw app.  It is imperative for parents to ensure that their contact information (especially phone numbers) are up-to-date.
• Should your child be staying in After Care after 12:00 pm, kindly provide a nut-free snack for them.
• Check your child’s folder in the Communication Box located in the hallway on a daily basis.  Take home all art work and papers.

Fall Clean Up takes place on Saturday, October 20 starting at 9:00 am.  Bring your rakes!  Many thanks to Geoff for mowing the grass throughout the summer and September; to Caren for cutting back vines; and to Dennis for cutting back the brushes! 

Community Fall Festival at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre on Saturday, Sept. 8 was terrific fun!  Staff and volunteers were there face painting children of all ages!  It was so nice to see some of our current families and alumni families enjoying the event. Many thanks to Chelsea, Denise, Bailey and Trang for doing the face painting.

Givng Thanks: Ottawa Food Bank Fall Food Drive
Kindly bring in non-perishable food items to the nursery school before October 5.  Boxes will be in the hallway for your generous donations.
A reminder that the nursery school will be closed on Monday, October 8 for Thanksgiving Day.

Pumpkin Carving  The children will get their hands gooey by scooping out the seeds from pumpkins on Oct. 29.  Thanks in advance to the parents volunteering on these days and pumpkin donations are welcome!

Pumpkin Parties  We will be celebrating this fun time of year with parties on Tuesday, Oct.30 and Wednesday, Oct.31.  Family members are welcome to attend a morning of games, fun sensory activities and yummy snacks (See the food sign up poster in the hallway)!  

We will be starting the festivities with a Fall Forest Story Walk so please ensure that children and family members are dressed for the weather.  After the Story Walk, we will go inside for indoor fun, a Group Circle Sing-a-long and snack time.   Costumes are optional….children may prefer just to wear orange & black.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR APPRECIATION DAY!    
Give our teachers on “big hug” on Tuesday, Oct.16 to let them know how much they are appreciated!  

ECE Students at RPNS:   As part of our professional practice, the educators at RPNS mentor students from local colleges completing practicums.  We wish Sylvia all the best in her future as she completed a field placement with Dulce during the month of September and is now an ECE graduate.  Starting October 1, two students (Brianna and Nafisa) from the Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development program at Algonquin College will be at our nursery school on Mondays under the mentorship of our educators.

RPNS Book of the Month Club with Scholastic:  This month’s feature books are:  

1. Going on A Leaf Hunt
2. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Day.  

Just $2 per book!  Sign up and pay at the Communication Box table in the hallway.

October catalogue order forms will be placed in your child’s file folders next week and payments (cheques written out to Scholastic Canada) are due Oct. 17.    See the “More” tab on our homepage for guidelines on how to order and pay for your Scholastic books online.

RPNS Forest School for October!        
All children attending RPNS participate in the Forest School pedagogy at some point during the nursery school year!

Dulce and her 2Day French Introduction class along with  Paulette and Sarah (parent volunteer) are exploring the woods of Otterson Park on Thursdays for 4 week session blocks starting on Oct.4.  The Forest and Nature School (FNS) pedagogy focuses on children learning through play in a natural, outdoor setting.  Parents of children in this class will receive a Forest School Parent Handbook via email.

Forest School ties in perfectly with Ontario’s pedagogy “How Does Learning Happen?” and its four foundations:

1. Well-being-  studies show that children who spend lots of time outdoors (year round) are healthier
2. Belonging – being outdoors in a natural environment, connects us back to our natural roots.  FNS lets children appreciate nature and form empathic relationships with all things in the forest.
3. Expression- children are free to express themselves freely in an area where the boundaries are larger than a typical classroom and the ceiling is endless!  The outdoor environment leads to questioning, running, and lots of sensory explorations.
4. Engagement- all the ‘loose parts’ (sticks, rocks, pinecones, leaves) that a forest provides, allows children to engage in all types of play ~ from manipulating objects to building structures to using natural materials in dramatic play (where the stick becomes a magic wand!).

Kindermusik
Dulce’s Kindermusik program starts Oct. 9 and it takes place here at the nursery school right at 11:30 am for two groups (Tuesdays or Wednesdays).  Check with Dulce to see if there are any spaces left.
Kindermusik also ties in perfectly with Ontario’s pedagogy “How Does Learning Happen?” and its four foundations:

1. Well-being-  music and movement are proven to have health benefits for people of all ages.
2. Belonging – within a small group of eight children, they share the joy of music and song.  The children get to know each other better during interactions of the 12 week sessions.
3. Expression- children are free to express themselves freely through actions, dance, instruments and various props. Their bodies respond to the music by clapping their hands to the beat or pretending that they are wild animals in the jungle! 
4. Engagement- children become instantly engaged when they hear music!  Following Dulce’s lead, they participate in all aspects of the Kindermusik program.  Amazing to see the children totally focused for 45 minutes!