Announcements: Week of September 7, 2012

CANCELLED  Back to School Picnic

Saturday, September 8th from 11:30 AM to 1 PM
El Jardin del Paraiso Community Garden (E. 4th St. btwn Aves. C & D)

Due to a high likelihood of thunderstorms between 10 AM and 2 PM we are sorry to announce that today's Back to School Picnic has been cancelled.

We look forward to seeing you all next week!

Welcome!

Dear New Amsterdam Community,

Welcome!  As the summer months come to a close, fall is upon us. This transition of the earth and ourselves brings excitement, renewed life forces, rhythm and the last fruits for harvest.

This transition can be no small task as we start to experience the change: earlier to bed and to rise, new activities coming, and what can become a full schedule overnight.

It is our intention at New Amsterdam to create a haven for your family that can continue to support and replenish our life forces and bring with light, to the children, our joy and wonder for each other and the world.  It is with this in mind that I welcome you back to a new year at New Amsterdam and share with you a few beginnings and farewells of our faculty into the 6^th year of our journey.

It is with appreciation that we welcome Anne Elliott, our new administrator to New Amsterdam. Anne brings her experience as a lower school handwork teacher from the Rudolf Steiner School uptown as well as her experience serving on the board, college of teachers, and finance committee at RSS.  Anne is the mother of two, both graduates from The Rudolf Steiner School. I am happy to be passing the reigns of such an important  part of our school to Anne as someone who has experience and enthusiasm for our growing community.

Meaghan Witri joins us as a kindergarten assistant teacher, a graduate of the Green Meadow Waldorf School,  working in drama and the arts and who has been working with young children for many years.  We are very excited Meaghan has joined us and feel she is a great asset to our community!

Chris Huson, our founder and board chair, has stepped down and will be starting to teach his first year, high school geometry at a public school in the Bronx this fall. We will be thanking Chris for many years to come for all his efforts and vision in founding New Amsterdam! We send you all our love on your journey ahead.

Suchi Swift will be welcoming a new addition to her family in October and is now at home with Oden preparing.  We wish them many blessings and will see them as parent ‘s in our parent child class.

Clarisse Appleman has stepped back from our assistant teacher position but is staying very involved on our craft and first grade committee, and Oliver of course!

Leyla Modirzaden will be moving on and continue her work in the independent film industry and arts.

Sea – Anna Vasilas will be teaching this fall at The Eurythmy School,  Spring Valley.  Sea – Anna recommended Averi Schloss who will be joining us this fall.  Averi graduated last year from The Eurythmy School,  Spring Valley, and is a graduate of the Chicago Waldorf School.

We look very forward to seeing you soon.

With Love,

Lisa Bono

Faculty Chair

Announcements: Week of August 31, 2012

Pre-School Parent Orientation

Wednesday, September 5th from 7-8:30 PM

The Parent Orientation is an opportunity for all new and returning parents with children enrolled in our Bridge, Nursery and Kindergarten programs to meet with their teacher and the other parents from their class. 

We will be honoring the beginning of the school year and sharing important information about your child’s first few weeks of school.

The evening will begin with time for our full pre-school community to come together and then continue with gatherings of parents from each class with their class teachers.
This event is for parents only and we request that each family be represented by at least one parent or guardian.

Back to School Picnic

Saturday, September 8th from 11:30 AM to 1 PM

El Jardin del Paraiso Community Garden (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 by 10:30 AM on Saturday.

Necessary Forms to Begin the Year

If your child is enrolled in the Bridge, Nursery or Kindergarten program the following forms must be complete and on file before the first day of school in order for your child to attend:

• Medical Form to be completed by your child’s pediatrician.
• Parent’s requesting a religious or medical exemption to the New York State immunization requirements must submit a letter to the school.  If you submitted a letter in a previous year you need not submit a new letter.
• Day Care Cumulative Health Record, if you have completed this form for the 2011-12 school year you can update it at the front desk.
• Pick-up Authorization Form
• Parent Volunteer Sheet (while this form is not mandatory we encourage you to complete it.)

If you have any questions please contact Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org.

Aftercare Enrollment

Our Aftercare program meets Monday through Friday from 12:30-3 PM and is available to children enrolled in our Nursery and Kindergarten classes.  The program addresses the needs of working parents who want their children to participate in an afternoon care that is consistent with the principles of Waldorf education. 

To enroll in the program contact Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org, complete a registration form and return it to the school with a tuition check made out to “Friends of the New Amsterdam School”.  Click here for more program information.

Fall Parent-Child Classes

This fall we are offering classes for children between 3 months and 4 years of age.

The Parent-Child program is a wonderful way to experience our unique approach to early childhood education. 

Please share program information with friends and post to local parenting web boards. 

2012 Schedule

3-6 months of age meet Mondays 9:30-10:30 AM

7-10 months of age meet Fridays 9:30-10:30 AM

9-12 months of age (non-mobile) meet Mondays from 2-3:30 PM

12-16 months of age (mobile) meet Fridays from 2-3:30 PM

15-22 months of age meet Wednesdays from 1:30-3 PM

21-28 months of age meet Wednesdays from 3:30-5 PM

29-35 months of age meet Saturdays 9-10:30 AM

3-4 years of age, class to be scheduled based on interest

Classes Meet on the Following Dates:

Monday 9/24, 10/1, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/19, 11/26, 12/3, 12/10

Wednesday 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12
Friday 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/30, 12/7
Saturday 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8Information and registration forms are available at http://www.newamsterdamchildhood.org/Parent-child.  To enroll please contact Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org, complete an application and return it to the school with a check for tuition made out to “Friends of the New Amsterdam School”.