wesbrook newsletter november 2014
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NOVEMBER 2014 Newsletter
1
From the Teachers
Dear Wesbrook Families,
What a beautiful beginning of Fall! Leaves are blanketing the park in
their beautiful orange, red and brown colours. We have enjoyed the
weather while at the playground and the afternoon class had fun
taking walks in the neighborhood and collecting nature treasures for
our science table.
This month has inspired many great discussions at circle time thanks
to themes like Thanksgiving, Harvest, Apples and of course
Halloween! We made soup, pizza, corn bread and the afternoon
class made pasta from scratch, thanks to Aliz (Ailsa’s mom).
Children brought vegetables from home to make soup, and when we
asked James what he brought he said: “I got smashed potato!”
The Pumpkin Patch field trip was lots of fun and the light drizzle
lasted just a few minutes while we were at the farm. We again had a
most successful Pumpkin Carving Day. It has been a favorite for
many Wesbrook children over the years and we hope that you were
happily carving pumpkins while children had fun showing off their
costumes.
Important Dates
Thursday, Nov. 6
Monthly General Meeting 6:45 pm
Monday, Nov. 10 & Tuesday, Nov. 11
Remembrance Day - School Closed
2nd
week of November
Deadline for Fundraising Donations
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Pajama Day
Thursday, Nov. 20
Pre-registration forms due for 2015-16
Saturday, Nov. 22
Open House - 10:00am – 12:00pm
3rd & 4
th weeks of November
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Birthdays this Month
Morning Class
Happy Birthday Luella! – Nov.17th
In this Issue
Message from the Teachers 1
Important Dates 1
Message from the Presidents 3
Fundraising Update 4
Enrollment Update 5
Fall Fun 6
Emergency Contact Info
School Phone: 604-224-3112
3’s Class Safe House – The Copeland’s
Cathy (Will’s mom): 3943 W. Broadway
4’s Class Safe House – The Giesen’s
Anette (Pippa’s mom): 4383 W. 3rd Ave
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2’s Class: Children in our 2’s class are having fun getting to know each other and finding out all
the things to do at preschool. It is great to see some friendships forming and real quality time
happening with parents and their children.
Pajama Day: Wednesday the 19th of November we will be having a pajama day,
so children and Parent Teachers can come to school in their pajamas and bring
along their favorite story and stuffies.
Cold Weather Attire: November is upon us and that means colder days are here again. Please
make sure that you send your child in weather appropriate attire. Mittens and toques often get
forgotten while we are getting ready to go outside. To make sure that does not happen please put
the toques in the hood of your child’s jacket or in the sleeve. Mittens can be tied to a long string
and put through each sleeve.
Parent Teacher Conferences: Please note that there is a signup sheet on the notice board for
the November Parent Teacher Conferences. The dates in November are 17th-20th and 24
th-27
th
This is for parents only and we ask that you “team up” with another parent (if child care is an
issue) who would take care of your child while we have an uninterrupted chat.
In November we will continue with fall theme and we will talk about cold and rainy days,
hibernation, nocturnal animals, etc.
It has been such a pleasure to spend time observing and getting to know each child at Wesbrook.
With the support from all of you, being parent-teachers, we are able to take time to find out what
they like, whom they are and meet their individual needs. They are all so unique and with
consistent, gentle guidance and patience we hope they will grow to be kind, independent and full
of all life has to offer.
Thank you again for letting us care for your children.
Ann and Jasmina
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From the Presidents
We hope you and your family have enjoyed the many fall activities that have kept Wesbrook a
busy and fun-filled preschool this past month. Our field trip to Richmond Country Farms was a
delight. The rain held off just long enough to allow for some perfect pumpkin-picking. Children
and parents enjoyed tractor rides, sing-along songs, farm animals, frolicking in bales of hay, and
dancing to the band music. Thank-you to teachers Jasmina and Ann for organizing the trip, and
for making the Pumpkin Carving/Special Persons Day at the school so much fun! We would also
like to thank organizer Genese Castonguay and to all those who came, brought things to share,
and helped clean up.
As you will read from our fundraisers, November is an important month to involve yourself in the
largest fundraiser of Wesbrook’s year. Please remember to sign up and contact at least five
businesses to solicit donations for our live and silent auction items. Thank-you to fundraisers,
Sarah Rowley and Jessica Walsh, who have been very busy planning the event. It promises to be
a fantastic night! Perhaps the biggest note of appreciation should be extended to all of our
parents for participating in every way that you do to make Wesbrook Preschool the very best for
our children.
Valerie and Anette
Co-Presidents
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Fundraising Update, 2014-2015 school year
Hello Wesbrook Fundraisers!
To all of you who have started acquiring donations for our Friday, December 5th Festive – a huge thank-you! We've already received some Fundraising party and Silent Auction
fantastic donations and we appreciate your support.
The 2014 Wesbrook fundraiser is a ticketed event and a good excuse for everyone to get together to eat, drink and be merry. Each family is required to buy at least 2 tickets ($15 ea tbc). Extended family and friends included and especially welcome, if they would help our fundraising cause! :)
During the evening a Silent Auction will take place and raffle drawn. The week of October 27th, 25
raffle tickets will be put in each cubby of 3's and 4's parents. They will be $10 each (totally worth it, the prizes are great and the winning chances high) – and each family is required to sell all 25 to friends, family, colleagues, random strangers.
In addition to selling raffle tickets, each family (3's and 4's) is responsible for soliciting five businesses for silent auction donations. Please make sure to put your name next to the businesses you would like to target in the fundraising binder at the entrance to the classroom by October 29
th at the latest. Help yourself to donation sheets and letters to merchants, which can be
found in envelopes on the wall behind binder. This list is not exhaustive, so please feel free to add other business names you wish to contact at the bottom of the list and email Sarah or Jessica (co-fundraisers) to let us know, to prevent overlap.
Nothing is too small or too big - but aim high - focus is on quality over quantity! And, it would be very appreciated if, when getting gift certificates, we could also get something tangible (no matter how small) that the business carries, for presentation purposes. (E.g. a spa certificate + beauty product; a restaurant voucher + a package of tea they sell; etc.)
Also, if you have any personal items (gift certificates, ski passes, event tickets etc.) that you are in a position to donate, they would be very gratefully received AND you can get a tax receipt. Do you or someone you know have a skill or service that you could donate? A weekend at a vacation home?
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We are still looking to confirm alcohol sponsorship (wine/beer/liquor) so if you have any contacts on this front, we would be grateful. A case of wine (even a bottle), a flat of beer or a 26er of vodka...all very welcome :)
Deadline for donations is the week of November 10th
, with a completed pledge sheet. Please let us know if this won't be possible.
Two tickets for the Festive fundraiser will be in your child's pocket soon. You can leave your payment of cash or cheque in Luella Rowley's or Oscar Walsh's pocket (3's class). Please invite your friends and families and another reminder to all the 2's parents – we would really love it if you would join too! Please let Sarah or Jessica know as soon as possible if you would like more tickets. The more the merrier!
As a gentle reminder (since we know how busy everyone's lives are, especially at this time of year), fundraising is a crucial activity at Wesbrook Preschool and part of everyone's “Parent Participation” expectations. We are required to meet certain fundraising goals in order to qualify for our government grant and pay for things such as field trips, new equipment, gymnastics and music. With your support we can easily meet – or even surpass – that amount. With only a month left to go before the event, it's go time!
We look forward to sharing some festive cheer with you all and hopefully, reaching our fundraising goals! Thank-you in advance for everyone's assistance, we appreciate it hugely.
Thank-you,
Sarah Rowley, co-fundraiser (Luella Rowley’s mother, a.m. class) [email protected]
Jessica Walsh, co-fundraiser (Oscar Walsh’s mother, a.m. class) [email protected]
Enrollment Update
Hi Everyone!
Our first Open House is coming up this month on Saturday, November 22nd, from 10am-noon.
Current Wesbrook families are given priority over the general public in registering their children
for the following year. I will soon be placing pre-registration forms in the pockets of all children in
the 2- and 3-year-old classes. If these forms are returned by , current Thursday, November 20th
families are guaranteed a space for their child / children for 2015-16. General registration will
open to the public at the Open House, after which point we cannot guarantee a space if forms
have not been returned.
We would greatly appreciate a few families coming out to the Open House on the 22nd
to field
questions and share their enthusiasm for Wesbrook with prospective families. It’s a great
opportunity for your kids to play, do crafts and meet with friends. I’ll be asking for volunteers at
the November GM.
Many thanks in advance,
Janine (James’ mom), Enrollment Coordinator
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Fall Fun
In case you need even more motivation to head outside on these beautiful fall days, try this fun
Autumn Scavenger Hunt below: