Rebecca Karr

It never fails that the time between Spring Break and the Watermelon Party flies by like light itself!

I see our Fours just about ready for Kindergarten, remembering them as Twos at parallel play, as Three’s figuring out friendships. They are well-prepared for the next educational step that will include more formal academics, larger classes in larger schools. They are kind, thoughtful individuals who are ready for the complexities ahead. Chelsea Day School will always be their safe place! 

I see our Two’s almost walking in a line as they travel in a group! Then sitting attentively on the rug ready to playact a story. And our Three’s in the middle making magic with the reliable cardboard box. Trains and boats and princesses travel in and out of structures built from imagination and cooperation.

It’s all as it should be….and it’s all good!

This month has many calendar dates to note:

• Wednesday, May 8th: Tovah Klein, author of How Toddlers Thrive and her new book coming soon called Raising Resilience. Please join us at 6:30pm for a delightful evening with a very wise woman who has important things to share! 
• Tuesday, May 14th: Staff Development Day, School closed to Kids. Our Staff will work with Rachel Henes on supporting Resilience in the classroom.
• Thursday, May 16th: New Parents Welcome Cocktail Party. 6pm.
• Wednesday, May 22nd, 9:30am: Admissions Directors’ Breakfast and Tour
• CHATS with Jean: Friday, May 10th, 9:20am in the Big Room, and Thursday, May 23rd, same time, same place!
• Monday, May 24th: Memorial Day. School closed.
• Auction to Benefit Tuition Assistance, Friday, May 31st, Gotham Hall, 7pm to 11pm.

Skipping ahead to June, we will close school with our Watermelon Party on Friday, June 14th in the morning. Each age-level will sing with Mr. Doug, have watermelon, thank our beloved teachers and go off for the summer. We do not graduate. That requires completion of a course of study. That’s just too grown-up for us!! (This tradition came with me from the Fifteenth Street School which endowed me with $$ to start the school. It seems quite appropriate for our preschoolers!)

Into the summer: Monica and Rebecca will open our Summer Program for 4 weeks of fun in the sun, garden and sprinklers! It is always sheer delight on the roof! 

Check with Rebecca about signing up.

Have a lovely evening,

Warmly,

Jean.

Greetings!

Happy Spring and April Fool’s Day!

Be careful of pranksters! 

I hope you are returning renewed, relaxed, and energized!

This is a renewing time of celebration for many. Within our community, our families are observing Ramadan, celebrated Nowruz on the first day of Spring, celebrated Easter, and will soon enjoy Passover. We are fortunate to be in such a diverse community. I share the joys of the season with you all.

Our April calendar is overflowing! Please note the following:

• Wednesday, April 10th: Eid. School closed.
• Book Fair in the Big Room: All day April 9th, 11th, 12th and the morning of the 15th.
• Thursday, April 11th: 6pm, Rachel Hines will talk about the “Good Enough Parent” in the Big Room. RSVP on Google doc.
• Wednesday, April 17th: All day Parent Conferences. School closed to kids. Open to Parents.
• Thursday, April 18th: What’s Next? Meeting, 6:30pm in the Big Room. (See below.)
• Tuesday, April 23rd: Passover. School closed.
• Tuesday, April 30th, 9:20am CHAT with JEAN. I have missed this morning gathering! Please join me for coffee and a chat!
• The What’s Next? Meeting is for parents of kids who will be applying to Independent Schools for the Fall of 2025. (This would include those applying to Hunter Elementary. The child must be 5 by the fall of 2025 which might include some older children in our 3’s classes who turn 4 in the fall of 2024.) We will talk about the process of applying, what to expect, what to do, what not to do. We will not talk about individual schools per say, but the guidance and partnership we will establish with you as you navigate this challenging journey. Please bring all your questions. There will be a meeting in the fall about applying to Public Schools which is its own reality and seems to change all the time! TBD. We will be sending out Information before the meeting which will hopefully be helpful. Please also follow the site set up by Rebecca with information about Spring Open Houses and events.
• Now that this year’s Ex-missions and Admissions Seasons are formally closed, I have attached the report for this year. I am very proud that our kids are well-prepared for a range of types of schools and that you have chosen schools that are a fit for your individual  child. Each will be a star!
• If you have a green thumb and would like to work in the garden on the roof, please check in with Shazia.

See you at the door!

Warmly,

Jean

Greetings!

As I glance through the March 2023 Newsletter, I am struck by the fact that at the time I was making a “plan” to solve my back problem! A year later the plan is on the other side of surgery and I see the light at the end of the tunnel! I am deeply thankful to you all for your support, patience, suggestions, and caring that went into the continued smooth operation of our school! 

I assume that you’ve noticed that Reid is no longer at the front desk several days a week. He found a fulltime job and is sorely missed! Beginning in a week or so, you will meet Sophia who will be at the desk on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays while Rebecca works from home on Tuesday and Thursday on marketing and communication.

Notes about near future for your calendar:

• March 4th: Contracts for returning families are due with deposits.
• Wednesday, March 6th, 9:15am: Laura Araman, our Mental Health and Development Specialist, will join me in a CHAT about Independence. Please RSVP to the calendar event sent out by Rebecca last week.
• Monday, March 18th returning on Tuesday, April 2nd: Spring Break. School closed. Have a wonderful break!
• April 10th, 11th and 12th: Book Fair in the Big Room.
• April 25th: Photo Day with Justine Knight. More details to follow. 

Notes about Ex-missions:

Thank you for your enduring patience as you went through what can be a daunting process if you were applying to an independent school here in NYC! The process is about finding the right fit for your child, not the most prestigious, expensive, closest to home or the F train! It is all about making a match in which your child can thrive in their own special way. Of the 23 children who applied to independent schools, they will attend 17 different schools, along with the 9 children who will attend one of the wonderful Public Schools in our neighborhood. This is a true statement of finding the match and how diverse our community is. Each child is a star who shines in their own special way!

Post-script: Challenge Grant: Auction 2023: Because of the heart-felt generosity of those who donated to the Challenge Grant of Teacher Tuition Assistance last year, we are able to send 7 teachers to Reggio Emilia on a Study Tour for a week over Spring Break! The incredible experience of being immersed in the culture and classrooms can be enlightening and transformative for even the most seasoned educator. Thank you for making this happen for some of our teachers. They will share their experience with us upon return!

Spring Parent Conferences: Wednesday, April 17th: Thoughts as we prepare for them:

When Covid changed our lives several years ago, we had to rely on technology (Zoom to be precise) to communicate with each other about everything, including the development of the childfren in our care. So for the past few years, Zoom became the platform out of necessity. We are past the danger of being together and are once again connecting in person.

A critical element of the work and play in our community is contact. Only twice a year, we have Parent/Teacher Conferences when time is spent sharing your child’s development with the teachers who are with them for so many hours a day. There was a lot missing during Covid for everyone as we tried to connect through a screen, either as a school or in a conversation about any of the important things that come up in a school year.

Therefore, please mark your calendar to be available for an in-person conference about your child with your child’s teachers on Wednesday, April 17th. School will be closed to kids and open to you! It will be so good to see you!

Have a lovely weekend!

Warmly,

Jean

Dear Community,

So, Winter is here! Thanks for bundling your bundles so they could take full advantage of the few days of snow. I do love the change of seasons!

On to another season: Ex-Missions season is winding down. Letters from independent schools will arrive next Thursday, February 8th and decisions will be finalized by the following Thursday by noon on February 15th when contracts and deposits are due. Attached is some advice to help you through this phase. Please be sure to email me the results, let me know your decisions so I can help with Wait Lists, etc.

Please see the attached bits of guidance and advice.

The Admissions season for our school continues for another month, finalizing on March 7th. Thanks for sending in your Re-enrollment forms so we know how many new families we can welcome in the fall. They are due by Thursday, February 15th.

Re-Enrollment Form: https://forms.gle/PiFw2JRN29RkQrn27

Notes for your calendars:

• Presidents’ Days: Monday and Tuesday, February 19th and 20th. School Closed.
• Meeting with Rachel Duda for 3’s and 4’s Parents: Wednesday, January 31, 6pm.
• Prospective Family Meeting with Rachel Duda: Tuesday evening, February 13th at 6pm.
• Tuition Assistance Material is due to Debbie on February 16th.
• Contracts for 2024-2025 Returning Families will be out on Friday, February 23rd, due back by Monday, March 4th.
• CHAT with Jean: Tuesday, February 6th at 9:20am in the Big Room: What’s On Your Mind?

As you know, Wednesday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day. Your teachers will let you know how the day will be handled in their respective classrooms. IMPT: If your child decides to bring in Valentines, please be sure to include all the children in the class. 

Our last Arts Alive Session of the year starts on Monday, February 12th. There are spaces in most groups. See Rebecca or sign up here! Arts Alive Sign Up: https://forms.gle/zR7y2ztyQD1LFR9j9

I am so pleased to be back at school on a more regular basis. Again, thank you all for your patience, support and lovely messages. They mean everything! I start PT in a few weeks which is hopefully the last part of my recovery.

Have a lovely day!

Warmly,

Jean

Dear Community,

Happy New Year!

I trust your breaks were rich with family, friends and an adventure or two.

I was hoping to watch a good snowstorm while recuperating, but no such luck! Perhaps we’ll get some snow this winter so our kids can experience the beauty and magic of it while playing on the roof. The roof becomes quite a science lab in the snow……

Thankfully the post-op report from my surgeon was excellent. Healing is moving along well. No concerns at all. I, on the other hand, am very impatient to return to school at full steam. It is clear, however, that it will take a bit more time to build back my energy, stamina and balance. 

Till then, I will be working from home and fully available by phone, email or Zoom. Do not hesitate to be in touch.

Before I add to your calendars, I need to acknowledge and thank our Staff for their support, wisdom, stamina, and devotion to our very special school in my absence and beyond. And to everyone who made it to the Celebration of Light to blow away the darkness. Thank you Deb, Mr. Doug and every voice that resounded loud and clear! We are an amazing community.

It was a pleasure to know that our future Director Rachel was able to attend, also.

When your calendar is ready, may I add a few more opportunities to meet Rachel as she gets to know our community?

• Wednesday, January 17th at 6pm: All School Wine and Welcome to Rachel. Please join us to say hello and hear from Rachel herself.
•  Wednesday, January 24th at 6pm: 2/3’s Classes meet with Rachel
• Wednesday, January 31st at 6pm:  3’s and 4’s Classes meet with Rachel.
• and……
• Monday, January 15th. School Closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day

As the rest of the year goes on, we will often have the pleasure of Rachel at the school as she gets to know our community and its many nuances.

Seeing you at the door cannot come soon enough for me! Save my spot and I will see you soon!

Welcome back!

Warmly,

Jean

Greetings,

Welcome to the last month of the year! It always comes on fast with so much to do, think about, and plan for! As usual we will breathe a sigh of relief on January 1st! Here goes…..

• .Winter Fair: Saturday, December 9th from 10am till 2pm: Stroll down Memory Lane at our Winter Fair  Suggested student ticket donation for the fair is $100 per student & $40 for non-student siblings ages 2+. Ticket donations for students cover the cost of entry, all activities, and multiple food & bake sale tickets. Tickets for non-students cover the cost of entry & all activities. Additional tickets for food / bake sale can be purchased on-site. Buy Tickets Here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8Z3KUKRHF6CQU 
• Winter Fair Volunteers Needed– We still need volunteers for the fair! Please come, and make a new best friend during setup. Join us for pizza, wine and beer the night before, or have fun running classroom activities or ticket sales during the fair. Slots are two hours max giving everyone time to enjoy the fair with their kids. Sign-Up here:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D44AEA62DA1F58-45672155-2023
• Outreach Committee: A very special shout-out to this committee who has been working diligently since September to make a difference in so many lives beyond our own. Their enthusiasm is attracting new members with new ideas! Thanks so much! Monday, December 4th is the last day for Room To Grow Donations. Everything will be transported after drop-off on Monday morning. Kick-off for City Harvest Canned Food Drive will be at the Winter Fair. Classroom 8 will receive a can from each family during the Fair and the school will continue after the fair to grow a tower of food for those in need.
• Workshops For Grown Ups: Found Objects and Open Ended Play: Come together for this experiential workshop where we will reflect on the magic of open ended play while we explore found objects. Wednesday, December 13 @ 9:15 am in the Big Room with Bonnie and Wendy. RSVP to the calendar invite from Rebecca. 

Ongoing School Process:  Things are wrapping up as parents and kids have had their meetings, school reports are submitted, and the uncomfortable wait to hear the results of a lot of hard work is upon us. I am available to meet, chat on the phone and/or Zoom to stay up-to-date with your thoughts. Do not hesitate to be in touch.

My absence this week will soon be over, I trust. After a week of tests and doctor’s visits, the consensus is that I am having an allergic reaction to medication I’ve been taking. Slowly but surely it is abating. Getting bored is a sure sign that the end is near! I am available so please be in touch.

A very special tradition each year is our Celebration of Light. It is held on the Friday before we leave for Winter Break, December 22nd this year. Since it is the day after the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year, it involves lighting candles for the many holidays celebrated in our community throughout the year. The children sing songs with Mr. Doug, followed by eating cookies in the classrooms and a special THANKS to our incredible teachers.
The last regular day of school will be Thursday, the 21st. The schedule for Friday and the Celebration is as follows:

• 2/3’s Classes arrive at 9am and go into their classrooms. Parents sit in the Big Room. Children will come out at 9:15am to sing on the stairs with Mr. Doug. Then we will light candles and  “Wish You A Happy Holiday,” followed by cookies and Thanks in the classroom. That concludes the day.
• 3’s will arrive at 10am, meet in their classrooms, sing with Mr. Doug in the Big Room, light candles, share cookies in the classroom, thank the teachers and Winter Break begins!
• 4’s arrive at 11am, meet in their classrooms……and follow the same plan!

Please let me know if there is a holiday that you celebrate that may not be on our list. We will add a candle.
This is a very special day…..short and sweet…..as are our children!
I join the Staff in wishing you joy, peace and light…..which is not far away. Look in our children’s eyes!

Happy Holidays from everyone at Chelsea Day School.
With warmth and appreciation.

Jean

Dear Parents,

I hope Halloween was fun with a bit of magic! Any pictures you’d like to share would be welcome!

If you would like to unload extra candy, you can bring it in and we will bring it to the local fire house. Your dentist will thank you!!

Reminder: Next Tuesday, November 7th is Election Day. Please vote and may I suggest that you bring your child with you to vote? They can put your ballot through the scanner and get lots of stickers as Future Voters. At school, our kids vote all the time: the name of the new fish, what to cook with apples, the book to read at Meeting. They learn at a very young age that everyone has a vote and the thing with the most votes wins. They get very excited that they are doing what you grown-ups do …..and you’ll be grooming a future voter!

Fall at Chelsea Day School is in full swing with many traditional activities:

• Planning for the Winter Fair which will be held on Saturday, December 9th from 10am till 2pm. Stay tuned for more details!
• Our change of season/ clean out the closets drive for Room to Grow and our canned food drive for City Harvest will be announced very soon. Our very active  Community Outreach Committee will let us know the dates soon. Stay tuned!!  Before we leave for the holidays in December, we will join the NYC Coat Drive. Watch for emails from our leader Shira Suyeyke Snyder.
• If you’re out of town from time to time, don’t hesitate to collect signs of Fall in nature: leaves of different colors, pine cones, branches, acorns, on and on!

Thank you for your support! As a former teacher said, “If everyone does something small, something big happens!” Well said!

Please mark the following on your calendars:

• Thursday, November 9th is Parent Conference Day. Please sign up for a meeting with your child’s teachers and enjoy your meetings. School is closed to kids.
• Friday, November 10th is Staff Development Day when our teachers explore their practice in a variety of ways. This day will be spent visiting other schools throughout the city, both ongoing and preschools. We will come back together in the afternoon for a report  and discussion about their experience. Again, school is closed to kids.
• Wednesday, November 15th: Chat With Jean in the Big Room, unless it rains. Please RSVP to Rebecca! 
• We will be closed for Thanksgiving Break on Wednesday, November 22, Thursday the 23, and Friday, the 24th. Enjoy your family, friends and the wonderful food of the season. We have much to be Thankful for! 

Reminders:

• Please do not prop open the door to the stairs from the alley. It leaves the school vulnerable!
• Please turn on Push Notifications on Brightwheel  so you don’t miss any important information.

A note about our school: We are a group of 8 individual classes made up of unique teachers and children. We are connected by our Mission and our knowledge of child development. However, our curriculum emerges from the people in each room. We do not have a syllabus of lessons, activities, schedules to guide life in the classroom. It is guided by the community that is being created in each room: its knowledge, desires, creativity, individual people young and older. That’s how the magic happens and we adults at the school get to know each child as a unique person. Hmmm! Maybe we can chat about this on the 15th……

On Monday we will welcome Marion to our staff as 2/3’s Floater. She worked in our Summer Program classes and is well-known to the school. We are delighted to have her support. Please welcome her when you see her!

Again, I wish you a very special Happy Thanksgiving.  We are truly blessed and have so much to be  thankful for. 

Sending much love.

Warmly,

Jean

Greetings, Dear Families and Staff,

I wish those families celebrating Yom Kippur a thoughtful day of reflection and hope for the New Year.

We have arrived at the time when staggered schedules are behind us and all classes join the 4’s in full schedules for the rest of the year. The rhythm of the beginning of school is quite predictable. I see 3 stages each year: 

• Separation from home into half classes.
• Adjusting from half to full classes
• The arrival of authentic personalities! Now we get to know the whole child because they feel safe.

Thank you for your support and patience as we take this important transition carefully.

I am again so happy to welcome everyone into the building each morning. Although Covid is not a thing of the past, we are able to be together again. Having 3 teachers and a few kids out with Covid in the first week of school reminds us to be careful by testing when you or your child show symptoms, and still have masks handy if needed. Thanks.

Within the next week, the following will be set in place: Please fill out the Parent Participation Form so we’ll know how you want to play! 

• Class Parents
• Brainstorm for the Winter Fair
• Brainstorm for the Auction
• Community Outreach Meeting

Dates to Note:

• Monday, October 9th, Indigenous People’s Day: School Closed 
• Wednesday, October 18th, Class Night. 7pm . You are invited to meet with your child’s teachers in their classrooms. It is an evening to hear about your child’s day, talk about developmental milestones and it is a platform for upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences in early November when you will speak with teachers about your child specifically.  
• Chats With Jean will be held in the Big Room at 9:30am on the following dates: Wednesday, Oct. 11th and Thursday, Oct.  26th. These chats are open to anyone who would like to join an open discussion about life with a preschooler! The Staff and I have been talking about Language with Preschoolers. We could open our first Chat with that topic.  Please RSVP to Rebecca.

 Halloween is coming up at the end of the month, as you know. While it is the ultimate dress-up day for kids, our policy at school is that your child  wear a costume to school. There is plenty of time for costumes if and when you Trick or Treat or attend parades in the parks. Each class will have a special treat that day such as carving a pumpkin, cooking something special, making masks, presenting a play.

In the past, we have welcomed overflow candy from Trick or Treating and we were able to send it to Operation Gratitude that distributed it to First Responders. That organization is no longer accepting candy. Maybe a walk to your local fire station with extra candy would be well-received! Sorry…..

Parents Applying out for Kindergarten, etc.

• Information about events atongoing schools is posted in the Big Room and on the site dedicated to you on the web. Please check this on a regular basis.
• All Confidential School Reports go out from the office under my name. They will go out in December. Please follow the individual school’s directions about reports.
• Classroom teachers are not permitted to write individual references. The teachers are pivotal in writing the Reports.
• Please keep me posted if you add or delete a school from your list. An email is fine.
• I am available to meet with you about your process, best after you’ve seen the schools. I know this is an all-consuming process and can be overwhelming. I am here to guide and support you!

Have a lovely evening! See you at the door!

Warmly,

Jean

PLEASE LABEL YOUR STROLLER and SCOOTER, if in doubt!

Dear Parents,

And so we come to the end of another year together at Chelsea Day School. It has been wonderful having you in the building, the last step for us as we returned to the new normal! 

It feels like we’re home again!

As some of you witnessed this morning, just after arrival the fire alarm went off requiring everyone to leave the building immediately. Everyone knew exactly what to do: we exited the building in a matter of minutes, waited patiently on the street for the fire chief to let us back in, walked silently back into the building and carried on with the day! I am always amazed at our kids pulling this off, while at the same time I know they will!

We returned to a very sweet celebration of Midsommer, the Scandinavian holiday on the Summer Solstice when it is daylight for 24 hours! (the opposite of the Winter Solstice celebrated at our Celebration of Light in December when it’s the darkest day of the year!) Sanah Paulsson’s (Classroom 6) parents built a Maypole and introduced all the classes two by two to the tradition, a story, singing, and dancing around the pole! Each child was given a flower crown, and received a goodie bag provided by the Lundass family, Max (Classroom 8) and Axel (Classroom 5). It was a delightful morning treat!

Another tradition is the end-of-the-year Watermelon Party held on the morning of Friday, June 16th. We do not graduate! Rather we come together to sing songs, give thanks to the generosity of everyone in our community, and eat watermelon before saying “See you later!”

Outlined below are some important details to note:

Our last full day of school is on Thursday, June 15th. All portfolios, extra clothes, rest gear and personal items need to go home.

Schedule for the morning of Friday, June 16th:

2/3’s – Arrive at 9 am and gather in the classrooms. Parents find a seat in the Big Room.

 I will welcome everyone. The Two’s/Three’s will come out to the Big Room to sing from the stairs with Richard and their teachers. Everyone will return to their classrooms for watermelon and         a special “thank you” for the teachers, delivered by the Class Parents. Everyone will leave by 9:45am so the next group can come in.

3’s – 10 am: The above is the same for the Three’s Classes and the Four’s starting at 11am.

4’s – 11 am:   All teachers are to join the 4’s in the Big Room

Please ensure that children are dropped off on time in their classroom. Due to the very tight schedule of the day, we will not be able to accommodate early arrivals. Please make your way to the Big Room once you have dropped off your child. It would be best not to bring strollers, There will be very little room in the school and we cannot leave them in the alley. Thanks for understanding.

Don’t forget your camera! This is a great photo opportunity!!

What’s Next? Thank you for signing up for a meeting with me in June or July. It’s the beginning of a year-long process as you plan for your child’s leap into Kindergarten a year from now.

Yearbook Tributes are due no later than Monday, June 5th. See Debbie.

Our last CHAT of the year will be held on Tuesday morning, June 6th at 9:15am. Bring your questions as usual, but I would like to spend some time talking about separation.

Toddler Group sign-up for the Fall is on the website.

Summer Program is full and ready to roll! 

The hardest part to report at this time of year is the change in Staffing. It is not unusual for some teachers to move on each year. but it is never easy to say “Good-Bye.” The nature of this work requires commitment and connection. While we wish each well in their new endeavor, a hole is left in our collective heart. Each has given so much to our community over many years.

• Anna returned to us for a year to cover maternity leave and stayed as a Support Person till now.. A road trip awaits her in the near future. Send postcards! (Are they made any more?!)
• Richard has brought singing into every home with his amazing repertoire and love of our kids. He is our Pied Piper. Duram, NC will be blessed to welcome him! 
• Theresa will surely spend a wonderful summer with sweet baby Imogen. 
• Andrea is embarking on a new career as an Art Specialist. She has worked at Hunter getting her Masters and is ready to take the leap!

Each of these incredibly devoted people have left an indelible mark on the school, our community and certainly me. I wish them every success and happiness!

That’s all for now. I will see you at the door…..

With appreciation and affection,

Jean

Happy Spring and Welcome back!

I hope you had perfect breaks rich with fun and renewal!

This is a renewing time of celebration for many. Within our community, our friends will be observing Ramadan, have celebrated Nowruz on the first day of Spring,

and will celebrate Passover and Easter. It gives me great pleasure to be in such a diverse community and share in the joys of the season with you all.

As you know, our school is accredited by NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools). Part of our obligation as a member of the organization is to engage in the Accreditation process of peer schools. Therefore, I will be on a team to visit Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church Day School as part of their 5 Year Review. I will spend this Tuesday and Wednesday involved in this process and not at school.

The April Calendar is busy, busy! Get ready to take notes!!

• Thursday, April 6th: Passover, School closed
• Friday, April 7th: Good Friday, School closed
• Monday, April 10th: Easter Monday, School closed
• Wednesday, April 17th, School Photo Day. Those children not usually in attendance on Wednesdays will come in first for their photo. Info to follow.
• Wednesday April 26th, Parent Conferences, School closed to kids.
• Thursday, April 27th, 6:30pm in the Big Room: What’s Next Meeting for parents of kids applying to Kindergarten for the fall of 2024. We will talk about the process of applying to independent and public schools here in NYC. We will not necessarily talk about individual schools, but the support from our school as you navigate this challenging process. Please bring all of your questions. Now that the Ex-missions and Admissions seasons are formally over, I have attached the results of this year. I am very proud that our kids will attend many different schools and they are well-prepared for all.

Now that the above is behind me, we can have Chats again. I have scheduled the following dates to meet in the Big Room at 9:20am:

Wednesday, April 12th and Tuesday, April 25th. Please join us with whatever is on your mind about living with a preschooler! I have missed these meetings!

Now that Spring is here, we welcome helpers in the roof garden. See Shazia for ways to help!

Reminder: Jason Craige Harris will be here again on Monday, May 1st at 6:30pm in the Big Room to follow up on his workshop for parents about Raising Compassionate Children. The response to his last meeting was overwhelmingly positive. Please join us as we continue to explore as a community the richness of living in a diverse world. Please RSVP to Rebecca’s calendar invite. Thanks!

Have a lovely evening! See you tomorrow!

Warmly,

Jean