Rebecca Karr

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

Greetings!

I am writing literally from “the home office!” I am struggling with a painful back issue while waiting for test results to make a plan. So my office is now at my kitchen table!! I very much miss being at the door, getting the latest news from your kids!

My notes do not reflect a short month of March!

First, let’s welcome Theresa back from maternity leave. We have all missed her, especially her kids in Classroom 2. We’re glad you’re back, Theresa! 

And we’re glad that Anna will stay with us as a support person for the rest of the year. A win/win situation!

For those families returning, Contracts will be sent tomorrow as per ISAAGNY dates. They will be followed up with an invoice from Doug for the deposit.

Mark your calendars for our annual Auction: Urban Spring Soiree’! It will be held, as it was last year, at Eataly’s roof restaurant on Friday, May 12, 2023. Arrange for the sitter and enjoy an evening with friends to benefit our Tuition Assistance Fund. Rumor has it that our Auction is the most fun in town! We will not disappoint! A brilliant committee is in full swing planning and organizing. Don’t hesitate to join the effort. All are welcome! More to follow……

• Our Summer Program will be held this summer from Monday, June 26th through Friday, July 21st. Sign-up information will be available before Spring Break.
• The sign-up for the final session of Arts Alive will be ready this week. Stay tuned. Thanks.
• Spring Break is on the horizon. School will be closed from Monday, March 20th reopening again on Monday, April 3rd.
• Photo Day will be held on Wednesday, April 19th. Children who don’t attend on that day will come in just for the shoot.

My sincere thanks for your donations to the people of Ukraine. It’s hard to believe a year has passed and the suffering continues. As it does in Syria and Turkey.

I have resent the list of reliable organizations that are supporting the recovery from the earthquake. I hope this helps you navigate that crisis. And Thanks again and again.

A note about Ex-missions: Thank you all for your enduring patience as you went through what can be a grueling process. The process is about finding a good fit for your child, not the most popular, prestigious, expensive, least expensive, closest to the 6 train! The criterion can go on depending on one’s perspective. It’s all about finding the match where you and your child will thrive for the next many years. I am very proud to say that once again, our kids will attend schools far and wide, of all stripes. As of today, 11 will attend Public Schools and 23 will attend one of the 18 independent schools waiting for them! We are a diverse community in so many ways, and this is a clear statement of that reality.

Thank you for your wisdom, patience, hard work, good humor, restraint when the news arrived, and some more good humor! It was a pleasure to take this journey with you! Congratulations! Every one of our kids is a star and well-prepared for this next step.

Have a wonderful break. 

Warmly,

Jean

Dear Community,

Well, it certainly feels like winter, but where is the snow?

Somehow, snow and preschoolers are a perfect match for me: It’s all magic: falling snow, melting, freezing, pouring snow, building with something as fragile as a snowflake, what comes to your mind? There’s so much room for experiment and wonder! Hopefully we’ll have a few flakes soon.

The Ex-missions season is winding down. Letters from independent schools will arrive this Thursday and decisions will be finalized by the following Thursday, February 16^th at noon. Attached is some advice to help you as you manage the end of this process.

The Admissions season continues for Debbie and me for another month. We will continue visiting with prospective families and enrollment will hopefully be finalized by March 9^th.  Thanks for sending in your

Re-enrollment Forms so we know how many more lovely families we can welcome in the fall.

The Auction Committee is at work planning for our annual event to Benefit Tuition Assistance to be held in May. (The site is being negotiated.) All are welcome to the planning meeting being held in the Big Room on Friday, February 24^th after drop-off.  There’s plenty to do and another new best friend may be waiting for you!

Reminder: Our ;support of families in Ukraine continues. Please check the posters and recent email for things needed. Hold off bringing in strollers till the last few days of the drive. We don’t have room to store them but realize how important they are to families on the move. Thank you for your generosity.

IMPORTANT:   Arrival and Pick-up: Please note that school for the children is on the following

Schedule:  9:00am till 12pm, 3:00pm, or 4:30pm

Because school is in session until those times, we ask that you arrive for drop-off from 8:40am at the earliest. You may go upstairs at 8:50am and leave by 9:10am at the latest.

Please arrive for pick-up for the afternoon times at 11:50am, 2:50pm or 4:20pm and go to the classrooms at dismissal time 10 minutes later. Please stay in the Big Room until then.

School is still in session until dismissal and the classes need the elevators and clear hallways to use safely.  PLEASE DO NOT PROP OPEN THE STAIR DOOR FROM THE ALLEY!

Thanks for your cooperation. Kindly pass this information onto your caregivers and anyone dropping off/picking up.

As you know and love, Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday, February 14^th. If your child decides to bring in Valentines, please include all children in the class. Your teachers will describe how the day will be handled in their respective classes. Thanks!

We will be closed for Presidents’ Days on Monday and Tuesday, February 20^th and 21^st.

Thanks for joining us to hear the wisdom of Jason Craige Harris. He will be back on May 1^st. Stay tuned!

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

With love,

 JEAN