Dear CNS Families,
Classroom participation is off to a fantastic start! We’ve had 44 classroom helpers so far and we are only at the end of October! It is such a positive experience for our little ones to share their school day with us, introduce their friends and routine, and show off their caregiver. This also helps out our teachers, an extra set of hands and eyes goes a long way! You can sign up for up to 4 days between now and January (you only need 2 to fill your quota) and there will be opportunities for 2-4 more days available in the spring. Also, a reminder that the new check in is very easy with the QR code option!
Sign up for additional days here!
Daniella Hernandez, Parent Participation Coordinator
What’s New
CNS Welcomes Literary Consultant
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jen Scoggin as a literacy consultant this year. It is really exciting to have someone of her caliber working with the school, as most preschools do not have this level of support. Dr. Scoggin will be coming in to observe teachers, give feedback, and run parent workshops. Please stay tuned for more details!
Workshop 1 (date TBD): As parents, often one of our greatest joys is sharing books with our children. Children’s positive experiences with text from a young age have the power to set the stage for future confident literacy success. In this first workshop, we will explore the connections between emotions and reading, the importance of staying child-centered and what it means to start to build an identity as a reader. In addition, tips for feedback, addressing mistakes and setting up literacy opportunities in your home will be shared.
Raise Craze is Coming!
Raise Craze is our largest fundraiser of the year, dedicated to promoting kindness and supporting our mission. One of the best things about CNS is we feel very strongly that teachers should not need to buy supplies out of pocket. Our goal for Raise Craze 2024 is to raise $9,000 as a community—enough to cover all school supplies and educational materials for the school year!
Raise Craze is not just about fundraising; it's also about fostering kindness. Families are encouraged to not only make a donation but also to pay forward an act of kindness. In addition, students will participate in activities that promote kindness both in the classroom and the wider community.
Mark your calendars! Raise Craze will take place from November 4-17. Stay tuned for more information.
November Grounds Clean-up
CNS’s fall grounds clean-up will be happening in November, and we need your help! CNS is a licensed facility, and in order to keep our license we must maintain a certain standard of cleanliness on our school grounds. Three times a year, families organize to rake or blow leaves, remove vines from the fence, and otherwise tidy up the grounds. This saves us thousands a year in landscaping fees.
All families must send one parent to one school clean up per year, equal to four hours of work. If you are unable to make a clean up, there are tasks that can be done on alternate days.
More information will be sent as we get closer to the clean-up date.
CNS on the Guilford Green
CNS helped Guilford get in the Halloween spirit! We contributed a witch to the Scarecrows on the Green contest, with a recipe for "CNS Children." Don't worry; she's a good witch, so she's making them, not cooking them. 😉
Across the street, CNS painted an enchanting window display showcasing the witch from "Room on the Broom," a children's book that teaches friendship and generosity.
Huge thanks to our town event coordinator Melissa Reiner, Dan Reiner, Lindsay Hendrix, and Lindsay’s daughter for putting it all together. They look fantastic!
Parking Lot Reminder
We have so many wonderful families at our preschool co-op that the parking lot can get a bit busy during pick up and drop off time. You can help everyone stay safe and organized with the following reminders:
Park close to other cars. Until the new parking lines are painted in August, please pretend they are there and park a reasonable distance from other cars. This will help everyone fit into the space we have.
Keep parking lot conversations to a minimum. We love chatting and connecting with other families! Please hold conversations on the grass or on the front playground if it's available. This will free up space for cars to enter and leave.
Be considerate when leaving cars. Many of us add extra layers to our kids in the parking lot. Please take those layers out of your car, close your car door, and dress your child in the space in front or behind your own car, leaving space to the sides of each car to allow other families to park and leave.
Thank you for your help in making our parking lot a safe and organized place for everyone! We appreciate your consideration during this busy time.
Family Spotlight
The Marrs
Bonnie and Nick Marr are parents to Lucy (4.5 yrs) and Scott (2.5 yrs). Lucy is in the 4’s and the Nature School program, both with Mrs. Cruz and Mrs. Bober. Lucy started at CNS in the toddler program when she was 18 months old. Scott is currently enjoying the 2’s and Nature Explorers programming with Ms. Sullivan.
Bonnie is originally from Upstate NY, and Nick is from New Fairfield, CT. They met at Quinnipiac University during undergrad which is what prompted them to now reside in Branford. They moved there in 2019 after living in the Boston area for several years and have been enjoying the Shoreline ever since.
Nick is the Pharmaceutical Sector Lead for Aggreko, a global provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services. Bonnie is a former Sr. Marketing Manager and is now home full time caring for the family.
Lucy enjoys creating art and crafting while Scott enjoys riding his bike and all things engines. As a family they love enjoying what the current season has to offer. Most of all, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter and hiking, boating and swimming in the summer!
Classroom Corner
Did you know a play-based curriculum is incredibly intentional? It IS! During free explore the space is set up for opportunities across all content areas. This is how we meet all of our learning goals through play!
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
