PEDP Newsletter September 2015

The sun is setting on another summer! I hope that you all had an terrific one spent with family and friends. I was able to get out to Utah to be with some of my family for a bit and also enjoyed a short trip to the Cape. Mostly, it was just nice to be on my own schedule for a time and not have to set an alarm! Now I am anxious to get back into the swing of things. I love seeing all the kids after the summer when they’ve grown so much and are so excited about the new school year.

Our newsletters are one of the most important ways of communicating with you. Read them regularly to keep abreast of our activities. Blurbs from each of the three Coordinators will be included in the main newsletter each month. Please note that if you gave us multiple e-mail addresses and would prefer not to get multiple copies of the newsletter and other notices, let me know which address to delete from our mailing list. We welcome your feedback at any time. Send an e-mail, drop a note in the basket or my inbox, or stop in to see us!

First and foremost, let me introduce our incredible staff!

You may notice that Jeryn Warren’s name is not listed above. I just found out (yesterday, actually) that Jeryn will not be returning to PEDP. We will definitely miss her energy, enthusiasm, and free spirit but we wish her well. I am happy to report that Paul Kmiec will return to sub for Jeryn in the Sharks for several weeks while we conduct a search for her replacement. We really value the experience our returning staff provide but also welcome the fresh perspective we gain from our new team members! Please introduce yourselves to any staff members you don’t know and welcome back those you do! We are all working hard to learn names. Please excuse us if we ask you for a reminder! When picking up, you should plan to have a photo ID with you in case you are asked by the staff.

All of our staff are trained in First Aid as well as CPR. In addition, eight staff members (Joanne, Kim, both Rachels, Chris, Nancy, Lenni, and Heather) have special training in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. This summer, Joanne and I also were certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. All staff attend several hours of other professional development throughout the year.

Gail Shaheen is the Program’s bookkeeper. She works offsite but you’ll see her name on a lot of paperwork!

We have 145 children currently enrolled in the program and we have space for several more so if you know someone who might be interested, tell them to give me a call ASAP!

The Program’s Board of Directors for 2015-16 is listed below:

Manjiri Bhawalkar, Vice President

Maria Conroy, Secretary

Doug Cornelius, Co-President

Betsy Gomperz, Member

Carrie Lubitz, Member

Mike Minella, Treasurer

Ronné Turner, Co-President

David Walsh, Member

Regina Wing-Joyce, Member

All parents are welcome to attend Board meetings held monthly in the evening.

CURRICULUM

After some brainstorming and lively discussion at a meeting this summer, the staff chose several themes which will be the focus of many activities throughout the year. These planned activities help to make the Program interesting, educational, and fun. During September, our theme will be “SPACE AND OTHER WORLDS”.

Scheduled activities will end at 5:15 PM. Children enjoy doing the activities so the best time for pick-up is 5:15 – 5:45 PM when activities are over. We also have a staff member dedicated to buzzing in pick-up people from 5:15 – 5:45 PM but do not prior to that time. Certainly children can be picked up at any time, though.

FIELD TRIPS

We are planning two trips for the Early Minnows program this year. The Late Stay Minnows, Barracudas, and Sharks will go on several trips on the Wednesday and Thursday Early Release days. The Explorers Program (a separate enrollment option) has 10 trips planned for the year. Payment for trips may be made by cash or check—BEFORE the trip, please. Chaperones are welcome on all of our trips so please let us know if you’d like to accompany the group at any time.

CLASSES

I am very excited to tell you that we will be expanding our Kids Cooking Green offering this year due to the very positive feedback we received last year when we first ran the Program. In addition to the 5-week program for Sharks, we will be doing a 3-week program for Minnows and a 5-week program for Barracudas. Registration is open right now for the SHARKS. We are also currently looking into classes in Yoga and Woodworking. Our Ski & Snowboard program at Nashoba Valley will be on Tuesdays beginning in January. Information for that will go out in early October.

UPCOMING FAMILY EVENT!  

You will not want to miss the Friday Family Flick! Mark September 25^th on your calendars. PEDP invites your family to come to Peirce at 6:00 pm for a pizza dinner outside on the field followed by a movie on a huge outdoor screen at 7:00 pm. More details to come but save the date!

MINNOWS MESSAGE from Kim Ryan, Minnows Coordinator

Welcome to the Minnows K and 1st grade families!!

Early Minnows:  The Early Minnows are the kindergartners that are at PEDP MW or THF from 12:30-3:00.  On MW (Group B) or on THF (Group A) will be picked up at their classroom at 12:30 and then we will go to our assigned space and have lunch.  After lunch there will be a free play time followed by meeting, project and then outside.  If your child gets picked up 3:00, they will be escorted to the steps at the front of the school where your pick-up person should be.  You MUST sign your child out and note the time on the clipboard provided.  Our Early Minnows teachers are Miss Heather (MWF), Mr. Derek (M), Mr. Sean (THF) and me, Miss Kim (WTH).  Please introduce yourselves!  We are all looking forward to a great year!

Late Minnows:  The Late Minnows are the K/1’s that attend PEDP MWTHF from 3:00 on and TU from 12:30 on.  These Minnows will have their home base in the Clubhouse, which is one of the cafes located at the bottom of the stairs.  All the groups rotate spaces and we will update you when we move to a new space.  The Late Minnows teachers are Miss Heather, Mr. Derek, Miss Laurie F, and me. Please introduce yourself! We are very excited to get the year started!!    There is ample time for the Minnows to do their homework while at PEDP. If you would like your child to do their homework, let one of us know and we will add them to our homework list. We expect to learn, grow and most of all have FUN!  Feel free to email me at kim@peirceedp.com  with any questions or concerns.

BARRACUDA BUZZ from Joanne Malouf, Barracudas Coordinator

Welcome, Second and Third Grade families, to the Barracudas Program!  The staff remains much the same with Laurie Pedzewick and Chris Aparo continuing on with me.  We are excited to have Rachel Legault join us this year. Rachel grew up in Newton and attended Zervas Elementary.  The Barracudas will begin where we left off, in the Treehouse! We move to the Greenhouse in January and will finish the school year in the Clubhouse.  Time for homework will be available everyday and the Barracuda staff will do their best to help the children with their work.  If you need to adjust your child’s homework contract at any time, just let me know. We look forward to a great year of activities, field trips and fun.  Please feel free to email me at joanne@peirceedp.com with any questions or concerns you have about your child or the Barracudas Program.

SHARK TALES from Rachel Bastarache, Sharks Coordinator

Welcome to the Sharks, 4th and 5th graders! You will find the Sharks starting this year in the Greenhouse, In January, we will be swimming into the Clubhouse, and then ending our year in the Greenhouse. Our shark staff is a great mix: returning to the Sharks is Mr. Sean and me, and our new member of the Shark team is Miss Lennie! Mr. Paul will also be with us for a spell while we are looking to replace Miss Jeryn.

We all know what comes with being in the 4th and the 5th grade… HOMEWORK and a lot of it! Parents, have no fear! All the Sharks have homework time from 3:30 to 4:10.

I’m super excited to get this year started with all our activities, field trips, special events and more planned for this coming year.  Let the fun begin! Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions or concerns at rachel@peirceedp.com.

REQUESTS AND REMINDERS FOR  ALL PARENTS…

* All emergency forms and tuition payments are now overdue! If yours are not in yet, please see me immediately. Note that we charge a $25 late fee for all tuition payments that are over one week late.

* Please enter and exit the Program from our door (#4) on the side of the school. We have the same security system installed as they do at the front door. All people picking up will be required to be buzzed into the building by one of our staff members. Due to the custodian’s cleaning schedule and also for security reasons, we will not be allowing children and parents to return to classrooms after 5:00. If homework or other items are forgotten, they will have to be retrieved the following morning. We will do our best to ask children if they have everything they need when they arrive. It wouldn’t hurt to post a reminder checklist in your child’s locker.

* Remember to check your mail file daily. It is another way of communicating with you.

* Please do not drive up the driveway (no, not even part way) that leads to our entrance. Children and staff are crossing this pavement constantly and their safety is at stake. I realize it is not as convenient, but you need to park either on the north side of Temple Street or in the back parking lot when dropping off or picking up.

* The Early Birds program ($9 per day) and extra hours ($11 per hour) are available to all families when needed. Just ask!

* Please remember that you must notify PEDP whenever your child will not be attending for the day. You may do this in person, by phone (617-332-5881), in writing, or via e-mail: kids@peirceedp.com There is a calling fee of $25 if the staff need to make phone calls to find out where your child is at attendance time.

* Please Collect the Following for us: Labels for Education found on Campbell’s, Pepperidge Farm and several other brands AND empty ink/toner cartridges. Both of these add up to extra cash for our Program!

* When shopping Amazon.com, please go through “Amazon Smile” and choose Peirce Extended Day Program as your chosen organization. BOOKMARK IT! Then every time you make a purchase, Amazon donates a percentage of it to us! It’s so easy!

* NO SCHOOL OR PEDP ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH AND WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD!

I know that this is a lot of information for you to absorb. Trust me, your children are getting even more! I promise that my newsletters going forward will not be quite so LONG! If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask. Again, welcome. I look forward to meeting and talking with each of you and getting to know your children.

Feel the sand beneath your feet,

Kathy