Dear CNS Families,
My name is Kris Bloch and I am the treasurer for CNS’s Board, a role that I have held for three years. As treasurer, I am responsible for developing the school’s annual budget, in close partnership with CNS’s executive director and board. Put simply, budgets are about dollars and cents; at CNS, we aspire to align the budget with our values and allocate resources towards our priorities. These include:
Keeping tuition affordable to maintain broad access for the community;
Augmenting investments in our talented staff;
Increasing capacity and financial aid to support enrollment growth; and
Diversifying revenue sources to meet rising costs.
I am excited to share with you that the board recently voted to approve a construction contract to add two accessible classrooms to our property. This expansion represents the largest capital investment in the school since CNS’s founding 70 years ago, and it will transform our ability to meet the increased demand for our programs. In the coming months, we will be launching a capital campaign to help fund this important project.
As always, we strive to be responsible stewards of the funds that have been entrusted to our organization, using them to further our mission and priorities while working to manage costs where we can. CNS’s cooperative model, which relies on family participation, is critical to maintaining our financial sustainability. Through your positive engagement in our coop model, we are able to create an environment where all students can learn to love school.
We invite your input in our priorities or changes you’d like to see at the school, which can be sent to theboard@guilfordcns.org. All board meetings are virtual and this year we have posted the meeting links on the CNS website on the events page. All families are welcome to attend.
Kris Bloch, CNS Board Treasurer
What’s New
2025-2026 Enrollment Opens for Current Students
On January 1, 2025, enrollment for the 2025-2026 academic year will open for current students.
Some notable additions include a new Transitional Kindergarten program as well as an expanded PreK 3 program, with more flexible day combinations. Below is a list of all of the offerings for the 2025-2026 academic year. Enrollment forms and financial aid applications can be submitted to Rachel Daniels. Enrollment opens to the public on January 15. If you have any questions please reach out to Rachel. We look forward to another enriching year of playing, learning and growing together!
PreK 2s - Teacher-led songs, stories, sensory activities, process art as well as free exploration and playground time. All of our PreK 2 programming is parent/caregiver & child.
Tuesdays 9:15 - 10:15 am (for siblings of currently enrolled preschool children)
Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30 am (for children without siblings currently attending CNS)
Co-Op Playgroup - Social meet-up for families with children 18 months - 2 years old, teacher-provided activities, use of playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces. All of our PreK 2 programming is parent/caregiver & child. This class is open to children who are currently enrolled in PreK2s or Nature Explorers, or currently have a sibling attending CNS, and is not teacher-led.
Mondays 9:15 - 10:15 am
Nature Explorers - The first step into Nature School, teacher-led outdoor activities, hikes, and time in outdoor learning spaces. This program takes place in all safe weather, so proper clothing and gear is important! All of our PreK 2 programming is parent/caregiver & child.
Thursdays 9:15 - 10:15 am (for siblings of currently enrolled preschool children)
Thursdays 10:30 - 11:30 am (for children without siblings currently attending CNS)
PreK 3’s Nature School - This Nature School program is for three year olds seeking an outdoor preschool experience. Curriculum will be based on all the PreK 3 learning standards as well as providing opportunities for greater independence, appropriate risk-taking, and exploration of the natural world. Nature Schoolers spend time at basecamps, the outdoor art studio, and hike on the trails daily.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Monday/Wednesday or Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
PreK 3’s Morning Program
Tuesday/Thursday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
PreK 3’s Enrichment
Tuesday/Thursday 12:00-1:00 pm
Nature School 3’s Enrichment
Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Monday/Wednesday or Friday 12:00 -1:00 pm
PreK 4’s Morning Program - Play-based learning across all content areas. Teacher-led instruction and child-led exploration of themes that address all early learning standards. PreK 4 students spend time journaling, hiking, building, creating process art, and engaged in imaginative play. Our PreK 4’s program gives children time and opportunity to develop pre-writing skills through fine motor activities and mark-making. Children spend time indoors and outside in our outdoor learning spaces.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Transitional K - Transitional Kindergarten is a program that allows students to a final year of preschool before entering a true kindergarten the following year. This program was designed for children seeking a third year of preschool, and a longer, more challenging day. Transitional K will focus on more specific early learning standards and incorporate kindergarten standards for those children developmentally ready. Transitional K incorporates all afternoon enrichment programming; cultural, art, cooking, and music enrichment as well as a foreign language component built into the day. The children are able to use all of the indoor and outdoor spaces CNS has to offer.
Mondays-Fridays 9:00 am -2:00 pm
PreK 4 Art and Artist Enrichment - This class explores the lives of famous artists and allows children the opportunity to create pieces inspired by their work. Children learn about artists’ lives as children, and how they grew up into their craft. All different types of art is explored, including impressionism, pop-art, surrealism, and modern art. Artists range from Frida Kahlo to Banksy, from Van Gogh to Ansel Adams. Children learn to appreciate different types of art and the creative process.
Mondays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
PreK 4 Music and Musicians Enrichment - Our Music and Musicians enrichment class allows students to learn about different types of music, genres, and musicians throughout history. Children will learn about music from different cultures, with intentional curriculum tie-ins to the other afternoon enrichment classes.
Tuesdays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
PreK 4 Cultural Enrichment - This class explores cultures around the world: customs, holidays, food, music and language. Focus will be on celebrating differences and noticing commonalities between cultures. Cultural enrichment is a two-day a week offering to allow children time to dive deeper into the material and learning. Cultural enrichment also drives the other afternoon enrichment classes, as art, cooking, and music will all spend time focused on art, recipes, music, and celebrations from that culture. These classes can be taken independently, or all together for a meaningful learning experience.
Wednesdays and Fridays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
PreK 4 Cooking Science Enrichment - In cooking science children discover the science behind what happens in the kitchen. Children will learn the basics of growing their own food, the chemistry behind the cooking process, and how to make and create meals and snacks. Exposing children to the process of growing and preparing their food not only encourages them to expand their palates; it allows them to build confidence as they learn new skills. Cooking enrichment allows children to explore foods and ingredients from other countries and cultures, creating a cohesive afternoon experience.
Thursdays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
Nature School K - Part of our Nature School program, Nature K will allow for learning across all academic and social content areas in an immersive nature experience. Particular focus on fostering personal and environmental responsibility. Emphasis on play-based learning experiences and opportunities. This child-led (but teacher-facilitated) approach gives children ownership over their learning experience and deepens their understanding of subject matter that resonates with them. Nature K can be used as either a transitional K year, or a true K year depending on the age and development of the child.
Mondays-Fridays 9:00 am -2:00 pm
CNS Celebrates Winter Solstice
Students and families flocked to CNS to celebrate the winter solstice on Thursday, December 19. Students collected the beautiful lanterns they had made during the week, and everyone gathered to drink hot cider and sing a song. Mrs. Souvlis read the book The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper as the sun set. Families were invited to visit the three basecamps, each with its own craft activity, and admire the festive decorations the students had made. It was a wonderful celebration of community and nature.
Enhancing Equity in Classroom Participation
The CNS Board is truly grateful for your enthusiasm and dedication to our cooperative model. The level of parent participation this year has been extraordinary, and it speaks volumes about the commitment of our community. However, this positive engagement has highlighted a few areas we need to address to ensure the process remains equitable and supportive for all families and children.
Moving forward, there will be some small changes to the participation process to ensure that it is fair for all. Please read more about these changes here.
CNS Sugar Shack Grant Approved
The Guilford Fund for Education (GFFE) has approved our grant for our CNS Sugar Shack! We will soon be making our own maple syrup, which will allow CNS students the opportunity for a wide range of learning experiences.
Standby for maple syrup! Thank you as always to the generous GFFE!
Family Spotlight
The Blochs
Kris and Jenna Bloch are parents to Henry (7), Ruby (5), and Jack (1.5). Ruby is currently in Nature Kindergarten, and Jack is planning to start in the toddler/2s program next fall. Henry is a CNS alum who wishes to return soon as a “parent helper.” In 2022, after many years of living in Boston, the Blochs relocated to Guilford to be close to Jenna’s family. Prior to moving, Jenna worked as a seventh grade science teacher, and is now home full time taking care of the family. Kris is a senior director at Elevance Health, formerly Anthem. He also serves on the CNS board as the school’s treasurer. As a family, they love watching OKC thunder basketball games - Kris’s hometown team (and, coincidentally coached by Jenna’s cousin!). They also enjoy being active outdoors, gardening with their Papi, and taking road trips to places old and new. They are so grateful to be a part of the CNS community!
Classroom Corner
In the classrooms this week children have been learning about different winter holidays- Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Talking and leaning about different celebrations allows children to make connections between what they do in their family and what it looks like for other families. Understanding similarities and differences across cultures is an important step in developing respect and appreciation for others.
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
