May 2013 Newsletter (pdf)

NEW PLAYGROUND!!!
We now have a fantastic new playground! During the weekend of April 6 &7, we had a community build to install our new playground. We were overwhelmed by the number of volunteers that turned out to work and donate food to support the workers. The energy was amazing! We had AEL families, community volunteers, town personnel and with the direction from our installation crew, we all worked together to make this build a success! Many local businesses and restaurants, as well as families, donated HUGE amounts of food to keep our workers well fed and full of energy. We were truly touched by the outpouring of support. The children and staff LOVE their new playground.  Thank you!

NEIGHBORHOOD COURTESY
AEL is fortunate to be located on a quiet, residential street. Having 4 drop off/pick up times daily leads to quite a bit of disruption for our neighbors. We want to be good neighbors and so we ask that at these busy times, please be sensitive to our neighbors. Please do not park in any driveways and rather than turn your car around in their driveways, take the extra moment to drive around the block, if necessary.

As an added safety note, please be sure to turn off any unoccupied vehicles.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Our last day for children at AEL will be Thursday, June 13. The last day for Wrap Childcare will be Friday, June 14.

Dates to Remember
MAY 1: Coffee Hour
8:30-9:30 AM

MAY 27: Memorial Day
NO SCHOOL, NO WRAP-CARE

FREE CLOTHING ROOM
The free clothing room is now open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays anytime. Recycle those clothes your child has outgrown (no tears or stains, please!) and find new items to take home.  Please stop by and check it out!

TUITION
As the end of the year approaches, we are looking to make sure that people are caught up on their tuition payments. If you have fallen behind on tuition, please contact Lori (772-1390) to work out a payment schedule that will insure that your balance will be paid by June 1. We want to arrange plans that will work for everyone and not create stress for people at the end of the year! We appreciate your cooperation.

WRAP CARE FOR NEXT YEAR
If you have not already completed a wrap care questionnaire please complete and return by next Thursday, May 2. This questionnaire helps us anticipate your childcare needs and plan accordingly.                                                                                                      

GIFT FUND
Ever wonder where all those “extras” in the classroom come from? How about those emergency snacks that cover those crazy mornings when snack doesn’t get packed? Who covers the costs for field trips for those who cannot pay? Teachers often assume many of these out of pocket expenses. Our gift fund ensures that money is available to cover these important expenses and that no one is left out due to inability to pay. Your donations to this fund allow us to continue providing these “extras” that we consider so critical to the quality of our program. Donations may be made to “North Parish Gift Fund.”

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PARENTING SERIES
(in Spanish)

6-WEEK PROGRAM
FREE AND DINNER PROVIDED
Mondays: May  6, 13, 20,  2013,  June  3, 10, 17,  2013
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Presenter: Sarah Patton

Place: Academy of Early Learning, 2nd Floor, 1 Place Terrace, Greenfield
To Register: Call Suzie at 413.772.1302 or email: suzhal1@gpsk12.org

Program by: Center on the Social & Emotional Foundations for Early Learning

Funded by Department of Early Education’s
Coordinated Family and Community Engagment
grant and the Greenfield Public Schools.

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GREENFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
STORY HOUR

For 4 year olds
(and other children who come with them)

With Books for Children
~FREE~
Weekly, in 6 Locations

Mondays:
9:00 a.m. - Newton Elem. School
10:15 a.m. -Four Corners Elem. School

Tuesdays:
9:30 a.m. - Leyden Woods Comm. Ctr
11:00 a.m. - Greenfield Gardens Comm. Center

Thursdays:
9:30 a.m. - Oak Cts Learning Ctr.
11:00 a.m. - Federal Street Elem. School
1:30 p.m. - Leyden Woods Comm. Center

Every family takes home a free book every week!

For more information, Call Lisa at 413.772.1318 or any elementary school principal.

The Greenfield Schools are pleased to provide this program, funded by a Department of Education Grant—the Coordinated Family and Community Education Grant (CFCE). We are pleased to be partnering with housing complexes in Greenfield: Leyden Woods, Greenfield Gardens, and Oak Courts.

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SAVE THE DATES
Spring Parenting Workshops
Thursdays in May  6-7:30
May 9th:  Child Dev. & Early Reading Strategies
May 16th:  Free, Fun Things To Do Outdoors
May 23rd: Importance of Oral Health (free screenings)
May 30th:  Saving Your Pennies, The Importance of
Financial Literacy
~More info to come~

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Academy Staff

Full-Day Classrooms
• Jennie Horton (teacher), Diana Lemay & Melissa Miller (paras)
• Janice Fuller (teacher), Maria Greene & Cathy Marcum (paras)
• Julie Letendre (teacher), Ryan Pearson &  Julia Scheier (paras)

Half-Day Classrooms (morning & afternoon)
• Claire Glabach (teacher), Leigh Ann Cwikowski, Sheila McLane, Heidi Merritt, (paras)
• Caissie Putnam (teacher), Kristen Cheny & Randi Humphrey, (paras)

Intensive Special Needs Classroom
• Liz Bednarski-Mahon (SPED Coordinator & teacher) with paras Amy Anderson, Beth Antes, Mary Halloway, Nicole LaRoche, Tarah Perna & Whitney Sanders

All-School Staff
• Nancy Garlock, Program Coordinator, SPED case manager, social worker
• Suzie Hale, CFCE
• Lynne Heath, custodian
• Pam Owen, school nurse
• Lori Provencal, receptionist & coordinator of tuition
• Renee’ Southwick & Donna Gaylord, Speech & Language Pathologists
• Tarah Perna, wrap-around care

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For more information about the importance of children interacting and learning in enriching environments, visit Brain Building in Progress, a public-private partnership, led by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and United Way.

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Academy of Early Learning PTO Meeting Minutes

November 15, 2012

PTO News: November-December, 2012

October 12, 2012

September 12, 2012

August 1, 2012