A Welcome Break

Merry Christmas from the Preschool Class!

This info went home last week. Enjoy your break!

Reminder that AWB is closed for Christmas Break. Reopen Jan. 18Reminder that AWB is closed for Christmas Break. Reopen Jan. 18

According to the US Nat'l Weather Service, we shouldn't start getting snow until around lunch time Wed. We will be operating normal hours. The heaviest snow is supposed to happen late afternoon into the rush hour. Plan your afternoon pickup according to how comfortable you are driving in heavy wet snow conditions.

Reminder: AWB is closed this week.Reminder: AWB is closed this week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

AWB will be open for preschool and drop-in on Monday, October, 26.AWB will be open for preschool and drop-in on Monday, October, 26.

***AWB will be CLOSED on Wed. Oct. 21 and Fri. Oct. 23*** We have a child who was on-site Monday at AWB with a fever and now a pending Covid test. Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to close AWB until we know the result. If the result is negative, we will open and resume on Monday, Oct. 26. If the test result is positive, we will remain closed through next week and open on Monday, Nov. 2nd. We will be in touch as soon as we have information for you. Thank you for your understanding and patience - safety and health of our clients and staff are always the top priority for us.

Reminder that AWB is closed today.

Preschool took a walk through the community to see where all our helpers work. They stopped at Bellevue Volunteer Fire Dept. where Firefighter Jacob let them look at the truck and showed them how he wears his gear. We have talked about fire safety at school and explained that their one and only job in a fire is to Get Out! Figure out a meeting place outside your home in case of a fire emergency where your child can safely wait for you (instead of trying to find you inside the house.) It could be a special tree, a trusted neighbor’s porch, or any special spot away from the house and out of the way of the firefighters and trucks. Thanks to Jacob Burns and Bellevue Volunteer Fire Company for protecting our community!

Reminder: AWB students go outside EVERYDAY! Please remember to send your child with a jacket/sweatshirt each day. You may send one in to be kept at school if that is easier (please let us know.) You may also want to send a hat and gloves (from Dollar Tree is fine) to keep at school as it gets chillier.

Week 2 for 4s preschool is complete! Thanks to all AWB families for their patience as we get used to new procedures. The children have been transitioning well and we’re off to a great start! *REMINDER: We are peanut/tree-nut free now. Please remember this when packing lunches.* See you all on Monday!

Families in the Northgate District! Northgate has gotten a grant that provides every child under 18 with free lunches. Go to the school website to order your child’s meals for the week. Pickup is every Wednesday. *Click on Reopening Plans and scroll down to Meal Distribution. ***************************** Meal Distribution Update!... We have gotten approval to run the Summer Seamless Option (SSO) which was extended due to COVID. This means all children under the age of 18 years old are eligible for free meals. Children do not have to be enrolled in the district to be eligible. Families can start signing up for SSO meals this Thursday, Sept. 17th on our website for Wednesday, Sept. 23rd distribution. Information about meal ordering and pick-up can be found on our website (www.northgatesd.net).

This is important reading for parents of young children. https://magicalchildhood.wordpress.com//what-should-a-4-y/

Great article with lots of super parenting tips!

I’m not sure how much of this might apply to preschool, but I know many of our clients have school age children and might benefit. These are free zoom sessions.

ATTENTION: If you did not come on Wed or tonight (Thur) for your information folder, and you still intend to send your child to AWB (drop in or preschool,) you MUST contact us this week! We will not be calling. Please message, email, or text to let us know if you still want your child to attend or not.

Reminders and Updates... 1. This Wednesday, Drop-In clients should come to pick up their information folders. We will be outside from 6pm to 8pm to answer any questions. The building is currently closed for cleaning due to positive COVID cases in some church members so no one will be allowed inside the building. 2. This Thursday, Preschool clients should come to pick up their information folders and ask questions from 7pm to 8pm. I will be recording my usual Preschool Or...ientation talk and will email the link to families as soon as it is ready since we cannot be in the building. 3. Due to low enrollment, the 3 year old class is cancelled. We will reassess the situation in December for a possible start in January. 3s are invited to use Drop-In. 4. We are recommending that all children ages 2-5 wear masks at AWB. Please plan to keep a couple extras in their cubby or backpack in case they get wet or dirty. 5. AWB will now be Peanut and Tree Nut Free for snacks and lunch. If you send anything that looks like it has nuts/nutbutter, we will send it home unopened. If you send Sunbutter, please label it. As always, contact Mrs. Sibic with questions or concerns.

I FINALLY got the class photos in the mail and was able to deliver them and also artwork and folders to those who didn’t make it to the June celebration. I have one more bag and two more photos to deliver. Thank you for your patience! It was a pleasure teaching your children. Good luck in whatever you are doing this fall!

Look at the differences between a typical younger child’s hand (left) and a typical older child's hand (right). I have parents asking regularly why their presch...ool aged child isn’t able to write yet. This is why! Their hands (and brains) are still developing and are not fully formed. So what should they be doing to support this? PLAY!! Playdough, colouring, cutting, gluing, playing outside, digging in dirt, sensory play, dress up play, science experiments, beading, puzzles, throwing balls, etc. All of these things help their hands develop. When they are physically ready to write, they will! No need to rush them, they will show you when they are ready! See more