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2014-2015 School Calendar Released

Countryside Montessori Preschool 2016-2017

8/18/16New Students Visit (4:30-5:30pm). See letter with orientation packet.
8/22/16First day of School!
8/26/165 weeks of tuition due (8/31-930)
September 2016Friendship Month at CMP
9/5/16No School - Labor Day
9/6/16Parent Orientation Night (7:00-8:30pm). Parent only please)
9/8/16All School Family Pizza Social at CMP 5:00pm (no rain date)
9/15/16Parent Advisory Board Meeting at CMP 6:30pm. ALL ARE WELCOME!
9/30/165 weeks of tuition due (10/3-11/4)
10/4/16Picture Day
10/6/16Field Trip to Pumpkin Patch in morning
10/27/16School Halloween Celebration (see notes from teachers)
10/28/16No School - Inservice
November 2016 - Date to be AnnouncedParents Night Out - Silent Auction. Great fun for parents!
11/4/164 weeks of tuition due (11/7-12/2)
11/24/16 & 11/25/16No School - Thanksgiving
12/2/165 weeks of tuition due (12/5-1/6)
12/19/16 - 12/30/16No School - Winter Break
1/2/17Return from Winter Break. Second semester begins.
1/6/174 weeks of tuition due (1/9-2/3) or semester payment due
1/16/17No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1/26/17100th Day of School! Don't forget to wear your pajamas to CMP!
February 2017Registration for Summer Camp 2017
February 2017Letters of intent for school year 2017-2018 sent home
2/3/174 weeks of tuition due (2/6-3/3)
2/14/17School Valentine's Party (see notes from teachers)
March/AprilParent Teacher Conferences (see sign up in classrooms)
3/3/174 weeks of tuition due (3/6-3/31)
3/3/17First week of 2017-2018 school year tuition due - letters of intent will be sent home.
3/3/17Moms Night Out at CMP 6:30pm
3/9/17 & 3/10/17No School - Inservice
4/10/17-4/14/17No School - Spring Break
3/31/174 weeks of tuition due (4/3-4/28)
4/17/17School Resumes
4/28/174 weeks of tuition due (5/1-5/26)
5/26/172 weeks of tuition due (5/26-6/7)
5/29/16No School - Memorial Day
6/1/17All School Picnic at CMP 5:30pm (no rain date)
6/7/17Summer Camp 2017 First Session Tuition Due
6/7/17Last day of School
6/12/17First day of Summer Camp!
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Getting ready for the first day of Preschool

  • Dig out that introduction letter you got from us (generally a month before school) with details about classroom entrances, backpack, timetable, healthy lunches, school supply list, etc. and make sure you are organized in advance, so that you are not unduly stressed on the first few days. Make sure the back pack and lunch box you choose are easy to manage and think about the best clothes for your child to wear. That doesn’t mean their Sunday best. It means clothes your child can play in, without fear of paint splashes and clothes that are easy to manage when visiting the toilet.  Closed toe, easy to put on, shoes are always a must.
  • Talk to your child about preschool but resist the temptation of hyping it up too much as the child might be totally underwhelmed with the reality. ( We suggest visiting the library for some great first day books too) Refer to the teachers – who you’ve most likely already met – by their first names and tell your child about the other children, the painting, the play dough and the kind of activities you know that will interest them. Many children have already visited the preschool in advance of term start!
  • In the week before the start day, explain to your child that you or another loved one will be dropping and collecting them from preschool and how that will work. Tell your child the two things you, or your minder, will do while they are at preschool to give the child a sense of the short time involved, like going to the bank and preparing lunch. It’s not too long and not long too short – in fact just enough time to have fun before being collected!  It is okay to sound excited for your “work time” as should they…
  • On reaching the door each morning, smile and treat teacher like a friend. Relax and don’t fuss and let your child know that you’re confident that they can manage. Remember that your child is alert to the emotional messages you send out, so don’t panic and don’t let the child see you crying.
  • If your child is fine going in on the first day, just walk away and don’t look for problems where none exist. The majority of children will sail in, no problem. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee and a little treat – this is a big day for you too!
  • If your child does cry going in, follow the lead of the teacher. Often children who come in the door crying are okay and laughing five minutes later. Rest assured that your child is in kind, nurturing, and capable hands!
  • Make sure to return for pick up on time as children can fret when they see other children leave before them.
  • Don’t expect the teacher to give you detailed feedback in the first two weeks when the whole group is really settling in.
  • After the day, ask your child about the sand, the books, the “works/lessons” and the other children. If your questions are specific, you’ll get more information.
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Asking (and Waiting) for Help

stockmedia.cc / stockarch.com / CC BY 3.0Like all good things, parenting takes practice. A lot of practice, trials and tribulations. As we all know, there is no clear cut manual. Each child and family is incredibly unique. Every parent wants a deep connection with their child and to successfully prepare them for the world. We all want to create responsible, strong, compassionate adults. These are the ultimate goals, but how do we get there?

Each day brings on so many unprepared situations. The screaming child in the grocery store, the child that hits at school, the first lie, and so many other special moments you will share with your children.To prepare for these interesting parenting moments, they can be broken down into a simple lesson similar to what we do in the classroom. The following is a  practical example with an intentional goal.

 

How to ask for help and/or wait for help:

The demand for help or recognition may be the most difficult aspect of good manners to teach a child. Their need is immediate in their eyes. In order to have friends and be appreciated your child must learn patience.

This can be done in a couple of ways. One is do not come a running for every whim your child may desire. If you are busy it is okay to say, “I will be with you as soon as I finish my soup.” This derails the need for immediate gratification, creates trust (because you will follow through) and brings the gift of patience to your child – a skill for life every person needs.

Yes, the child may cry, scream and lay on the floor the first few times. Calmly, respond, “I see you are upset. I will be with you when I finish my soup.” Savor that soup and then follow through. Acknowledge the child the first time they fully wait. Thank you for waiting, how can I help?” It is your choice – do you want to train them to scream and whine for everything they want or patiently wait through communication? Raise your awareness of what you want to put out in the world through your child.