Now Enrolling Our Fall Parent-Child Program

We are now enrolling the Fall Session of our Parent-Child program.  The program is a wonderful way to learn more about the Waldorf approach to early childhood education, experience our classrooms with your child and meet other families in our community.

Classes begin  the week of September 16th and continue through the second week of December.

To enroll please contact Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org, complete the registration form and return it to the school with your tuition check.

• 6-9 months of age (non mobile):  Mondays from 9:15-10:15 AM  9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2 & 12/9.  Tuition $511
• 10-16 months of age (mobile):  Mondays from 10:45-11:45 AM  9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2 & 12/9.  Tuition $511
• 17-24 months of age:  Fridays from 11 AM-12:30 PM  9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8, 11/22, 12/6 & 12/13.  Tuition $670
• 19-25 months of age:  Wednesdays from 9-10:30 AM  9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/20, 12/4 & 12/11.  Tuition $737
• 22-28 months of age:  Fridays from 9-10:30 AM  9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8, 11/22, 12/6 & 12/13.  Tuition $670
• 26-36 months of age:  Wednesdays from 11 AM-12:30 PM  9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/20, 12/4 & 12/11.  Tuition $737
• 36 months of age and older:  TBD

Back to School Picnic

Saturday, September 7th from 11:30 AM to 1 PM

El Jardin del Paraiso Community Garden (Enter on E. 4th St. btwn Aves. C & D)

 

Please join the entire community for our annual Back to School Picnic.
Pack a lunch and join us for a celebration of the new school year.

Spread out your picnic blanket and enjoy your lunch with new friends and old.
Share stories of summer and joyous play in our wonderful community garden!

***If it is too rainy for us to meet we will let you know by email at or before 10:15 AM on Saturday.

Register Now for our 2013-14 Aftercare Program

Our Aftercare program addresses the needs of working parents and parents who want their children to receive quality afternoon care consistent with the principles of Waldorf education. The program meets daily from 12:30 to 3:30 PM (please note the program has been extended by 30 minutes) and is a time for the children to rest after their busy mornings.

For more information please read our 2013-14 Introduction to Aftercare.  To register or if you have questions about the program please contact Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org. 

Registration forms can be returned at the Preschool Parent Orientation on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Forms We Must Have on File for Children to Begin Bridge, Nursery or Kindergarten Classes

Greetings all!

As we prepare for the start of the new school year I wanted to remind you about the forms that need to be on file at school in order for your child to attend our pre-school programs. 

• Annual Medical Form to be completed by your child's pediatrician and returned to the school.
• Day Care Cumulative Health Record to be completed by you and returned to the school.  If you have your 2012-13 DCCHR on file you can review it, add new information, initial and date for the 2013-14 school year.
• Pick-Up Authorization Form to be completed by you listing all persons authorized to pick-up your child from school.  Should be updated throughout the year as needed.
• Volunteer Sign-Up Form to be completed annually by you.
• Parent/Caregiver Agreement to be signed and returned after reviewing the 2013-14 Parent Handbook.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Warmly,

Karen

Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org
917-715-3554

Bridge, Nursery & Kindergarten Welcome Packets

Greetings and a very happy Summer to you all!

Families enrolled in our 2013-14 Bridge, Nursery & Kindergarten programs will be receiving their 2013-14 Welcome Packets next week by mail.  If you are away and would like me to send you a digital copy as well please let me know. 

The packets include the 2013-14 School Calendar and our newly updated Parent Handbook.  We ask that you review the handbook and then sign and return the agreement sheet on the last page.  Our community thrives when we share a common vision of our work together and it is our hope that the handbook will bring clarity to this vision.

Also included is the Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet.  As a developing school your involvement is essential to our success.  Please take a moment to share your interests, skills and availability.  The sheets should be completed and returned to the school in August.  Our committee leaders will reach out to you at the start of the year to speak with you about ways you can contribute to the school.

Aftercare Information and Registration Forms will be in the packets of families enrolled in our Morning Nursery and Kindergarten Programs.  Registration Forms are also available on our website.

Cumulative Health Record Forms must be completed by a parent and mailed to the school on or before August 19th.

Selected articles are also included and we hope you find them informative and inspiring.

Please contact me if you have any questions or if you don't receive your packet by July 19th.

Warmly,

Karen Talluto

Karen.talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org

Pre-School Medical Forms are Due Today, 7/15/2013

The Annual Medical form must be completed by your child's physician and is due at school today, Monday, July 15th.  If your form will be late please contact Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org. 

The form must be on file for your child to attend our drop off programs this fall.

Letter from Miss Elea

Summer at New Amsterdam

As the weather grows increasingly warm and the grasses grows tall, we find ourselves drawn continuously further out, falling slowly into a dream-like relationship with the world of nature.  Our sense of time becomes temporarily suspended and we pause to reflect, finding a moment of quiet in between breaths, until it is time once again to realize that the wheel of life is still circling and the season turning again towards fall.

The children experience this mood of summer deeply.  Rhythms of school and home begin to shift.  Days lengthen and the sun seems to linger a bit each evening in the sky to enjoy just a few more moments before bedtime.  The element of water comes into play with jubilant splashing in fountains, pools, ponds, and ocean mist.  Magnificent castles are built in the sand and then slide away again with the incoming tide.  And who can forget that summer brings such delights as flavored Ice cream and the most wonderful variety of fresh fruits and berries?

The children who have joined us at New Amsterdam this summer have been enjoying picnics at the garden, and plenty of time for romping amidst leafy trees and bushes, chasing bubbles and imaginary dragons, and giving one another horsey rides with our play reigns.  On many days we walk to the far side of the garden for a visit to the baby chicks who only a few weeks ago were so small and fuzzy, but who now are growing tall and showing off colorful new adult feathers.  On our first day in the summer garden, we laid out our blanket in the shade of the mulberry tree and quickly discovered that the ripe, red berries were raining right down onto our plates!  On another occasion, one of the children looked up into the tree and excitedly pointed to a nearby woodpecker, displaying his jaunty red, white and black feathers and tapping here and there at the bark for something good to eat.

Over by the pond, turtles laze about in the sun and on days when the hose is on, bringing fresh water down to the pond along a rocky creek bed, the children make leaf boats and float them downstream, laughing as the tiny vessels wind their way around the rocks.

While our school community is dispersed in these summer months, traveling and spending time with friends and family, we stay connected in our thoughts and hearts.  In not too long we will reunite joyfully with friends and teachers and admire all the growth and change that has taken place during the bright days of summer.

Happy thoughts and safe travels, until we meet again!