Winter Break

This is a reminder that GPPSS will be closed December 24th-January 8th. Preschool and Child Development Programs will re-open on Monday January 9th. We want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!

Enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year will open on Monday January 9th and continue through Friday February 3rd. Please visit our website for more information and for an online application. If you have questions about enrollment, please call the preschool office.

Thanksgiving

Child Development and Preschool Programs will be closed Wednesday November 23-Friday November 25. We want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. This year, our staff at Barnes took a moment to reflect on what they were most grateful for. Staff members wrote notes of gratitude on a feather for our Thankful Turkey. Our teachers were grateful for opportunities to work with young children and build relationships with families and co-workers... and of course coffee and pumpkin pie! We hope you enjoy this holiday season.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the GPPSS Child Development and Preschool Program. Our students have been busy decorating pumpkins, trick or treating through the school, and participating in the Costume Parade. Each year we look forward to the Halloween celebrations and this year was one to remember.

Half Day Preschool

 Half Day Programming is new for the 2016-2017 school year! Our half day programs will give early learners an opportunity to gain confidence in an Elementary setting while learning at an appropriate level and pace. Teachers will create play based activities that support each learning domain. Some favorite activities in the half day programs this year have been dramatic play and the sensory table. Classes have also had opportunities to attend school assemblies. Children must be fully potty trained to enroll in half day programming. Children will return to their neighborhood elementary school for K-5. For more information, please visit our website. 

Play With Purpose

This week our program was featured in the Grosse Pointe News. The article called 'Play with Purpose' by staff writer Mary Anne Brush detailed the history of our program and our philosophy on play based learning. We believe that play provides a natural opportunity for teaching, learning and exploring. The article can viewed online: click here

We thank the Grosse Pointe News for their time and interest in our program.

Photo by Renee Landuyt

First Week

We had a wonderful first week at Barnes, Ferry, Maire, Monteith, Richard and Trombly! It was great getting to meet new students and their families. We also have many new staff members who have joined our programs across the district. Head Teacher biographies are posted on our website. We truly feel all of our head teachers, lead teachers and caregivers are an exceptional group of early childhood educators.

First Day of School

The first day of school will be Tuesday September 6, 2016. Full Day programs will open at 7:15am, and Half Day programs will begin at 8:30am.

If you have not received a welcome email from your child's teacher, please call the preschool office. 

As a reminder, updated enrollment forms are due by the first day of attendance. Forms can be found online, under First Day. 

The Preschool Office will be closed Monday August 29- Monday Sept 5. 

Tot Tree

The Tot Tree has been installed in our infant and toddler play yard! Thank you so much for all of your support and fundraising efforts! We could not have provided this climber and grass cover without the generosity of our school families and the support of the district.

The playground is an extension of our learning environment. We know that important skills develop outside while climbing, running, jumping and exploring which makes us even more excited for the Tot Tree. Toddlers will have new opportunities to strengthen motor skills and social interactions. This will be a great addition for our upcoming school year. 

Back to School Preparations

Back to school preparations are beginning for the GPPSS Child Development and Preschool Program! We will be sad to see the summer go, but we are looking forward to all of our new programs that will begin with the 2016-2017 school year!

New early childhood classrooms at Ferry, Maire, Monteith and Richard are in the process of transforming in to beautiful and safe spaces for our young learners. These new classrooms will be a wonderful additional to our programs at Barnes and Trombly. 

Your child will need updated enrollment forms prior to the new school year. These forms can be found on our website. If your child attends a program at one of our Elementary sites, forms may be turned in at the Open House. If your child attends Barnes, forms may be dropped to the Preschool Office any time. 

As a reminder, Child Development and Preschool summer programs will end on Thursday, August 25th. The first day of school is Tuesday, September 6th. 

We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer. 

Drumming

Our Zumba teacher, Ms. Michelle, is bringing drumming to the Barnes Early Childhood Center this summer. Drumming is a switch from our regular Zumba class but still incorporates music, movement and physical activity in a fun way! Using a bucket, a large exercise ball and drum sticks- children have the opportunity to follow a rhythmic routine, create a beat, and interact with music. We are excited to continue drumming throughout the summer.

Summer Session

It is hard to believe that another wonderful school year is coming is close. We have enjoyed spending this year with the families in our program and watching the children grow. Summer session will begin on June 20th and run through August 25th. Please refer to the school calendar for specific summer closings.

Each class will have a schedule for water days this summer. Children will be able to spend extended time outside running through sprinklers and splashing in water tables. We will also have a few visitors throughout the summer including Wally's Custard, The Merry Music Maker and Rosco the Clown.

We are looking forward to a fun summer!

Memorial Day

Just a reminder... Programs at Barnes and Trombly will be closed Monday May 30th for Memorial Day! Enjoy the warm weather and sunshine!

Teacher Appreciation

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week!! 

We've been celebrating our teachers with breakfast treats, lunch items and shout outs of thanks but nothing can truly show them how much their tireless efforts mean to the families in our program. Their kindness, compassion, creativity and dedication is remarkable.

Early childhood educators wear many hats as teachers, caregivers, adventurers, artists and kind friends. They delight with children in their wonder, share in their joy, and comfort them in their sadness.

Thank you so much to all of our amazing staff in the GPPSS Child Development and Preschool Program!

"The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters everyday." -Todd Whitaker

Yoga Night

Thanks to all who supported our Family Yoga Night and Art Auction! Thank you to Trader Joe's for snack donations, and Ms. T.J for leading our yoga class. We had a great time and appreciate all of your support! More detailed information regarding fundraising totals and our next steps will be sent out this week.

Art Auction and Yoga Night Fundraiser

 

Our Art Auction is on display in the main hallway and open for bidding! Each classroom worked together to create their masterpiece. Along with the canvas, you will see documentation of the children in action, as well as the ideas and conversations they had. This Art Auction goes along with our Family Yoga Night on Friday April 22, 2016.

As previously mentioned, our school has been celebrating the National Month of the Young Child with an emphasis on physical activity and healthy eating. Family Yoga Night is a great addition to this celebration.

All donations from Yoga Night and the Art Auction will be going directly to our playground fundraiser. We are in the beginning phases of fundraising for an infant and toddler play structure. This structure meets safety requirements for children 6 months- 24 months of age, and is compliant with our licensing regulations.

We can't wait to join together with our school family tomorrow night for yoga, art and healthy living!

We owe a big thank you to our yoga teacher Ms. T.J for leading our yoga class, and also to Trader Joe's for donating healthy snacks!

Hope to see you there!!

Miss St. Clair Shores

Miss St. Clair Shores 2015, Shelby Gardiner, visited the GPPSS Child Development and Preschool Program at Barnes today! She visited each classroom to share a few stories and songs! We loved reading 'The Cow that Laid an Egg' and 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus'!

Thank you, Shelby, for giving your time to the children! We wish you well in the upcoming Miss Michigan Pageant!

Garden Fresh!

Our National Month of the Young Child celebration continues! Here are some pictures highlighting our first week: Gardening. We can't wait to observe our seeds and transplant them in to our school garden as the outdoor temperature warms up! This week we are taste testing healthy foods and cooking healthy recipes together!

National Month of the Young Child

April is the National Month of the Young Child! This year our month long celebration is focused around healthy living! Each week will have a different emphasis. Topics include the importance of healthy eating, physical activity and hand washing. Classes will have opportunities to plant seeds for our school garden, taste test different foods and participate in active games and outdoor play! 

A few healthy ideas to try at home include:

• Taking a family walk. Enjoy the spring weather and walk, run, or skip around the community.
• Limiting screen time. Kick a ball in the back yard, or have a dance party instead!
• Getting children involved in cooking healthy recipes. Let your child help you pack their lunch or prepare dinner. 

We are excited to celebrate the National Month of the Young Child and learn about healthy living. We hope you are excited to celebrate with us!

Sensory Tables

What is happening in our sensory tables this week?

We are enjoying a wide variety of materials and explorations from Infants through Pre-K. Whether it is sifting sand, filling cups of water, or scooping snow- the children's senses are engaged and brain connections are growing stronger and stronger!

Lou's Pet Shop

We love when Lou's Pet Shop comes to visit! Last Tuesday, children gathered in the gym for the opportunity to meet a variety of animals. They were able to talk to a parrot and pet a snake! Mr. Donnie shared interesting facts about what each creature ate, and their habitat. The children asked curious questions and were delighted to learn about each animal.

Thank you Lou's Pet Shop!

Lottery Drawing

This morning was the Lottery Drawing for the 2016-2017 school year! All names have been pulled and we are starting to contact families for placement. Please remember you have 48 hours to accept or refuse placement. At the time of placement acceptance, your non-refundable registration fee will be due. (Fees vary based on program.)

We want to send a big thank you to Chief Jensen for pulling the lottery names this year! 

Kindness Week

Our school is participating in The Great Kindness Challenge this week! Here are a few ideas of ways you and your child can spread kindness:

• Leave flowers on someone's doorstep
• Make a Thank You card for someone
• Donate to a food bank
• Paint a picture and give it to someone
• Smile at someone
• Recycle your trash

Click here for more information on the The Great Kindness Challenge. 

Winter Play

Winter is here! Children at the Barnes Early Childhood Center will continue to play outside as long as the weather is 20 degrees or above, including the wind chill. Please send in boots, snow pants, hats and gloves labeled with your child's name. Outdoor play provides benefits for children year round! In the winter months, germs and bacteria can grow in the stale indoor air. Getting outside provides a refreshing break for our bodies and our immune systems. The winter also provides for outdoor play activities which are not available in the summer.

Physical activity and having fun is always in season!!

Happy New Year

We are excited to be back in session and starting a brand new year! 

Preparations have begun for the 2016-2017 school year. Please visit the GPPSS Child Development and Preschool Program website for detailed information about our expanded program offerings. Applications are being accepted now through Feb. 4th, 2016. 

Representatives from our program will be at the GP Library Preschool Fair on Wednesday Feb. 3, 2016 from 6:00pm-8:00pm to answer questions. We hope to see you there!