From the Director's Desk

(aka "little office cupboard in the storage room")

Dear RPNS Families,

Thank you for all the support you have provided to our nursery school thus far! Your cooperative spirit truly makes RPNS such a high quality program for the children and a terrific work environment for the teachers.

With this is mind, I have no reservations in knowing that I will be away from the school for several weeks beginning on Wed. Feb.22. I wish that the reason is for an extended holiday on a warm beach, but alas... it is for a scheduled surgery to deal with a nagging health issue (don't worry... not life-threatening!)

The Board of Directors and teachers have been aware of my absence for several weeks and have made action plans to ensure the smooth running of our school... certainly business will carry on as usual! Tina Zandri, Assistant Director, will continue her role as preschool teacher with extended administrative hours to complete various tasks. Dulce, Janet and Lisa are also "stepping up to the plate" to help out where needed along with our newest team member, Pui Wah. Lyn (our volunteer) will be here too... what a terrific team! I'm certain that the teachers and board members can count on your assistance too should the need arise. ;)

I will certainly miss everyone while I am away (especially the hugs and smiles from the children) but I will be checking up on things via email and phone. I'll be back March 26!

Feel free to contact Tina, Donna Bueckert or Pam MacPhee anytime.

Take care and keep an eye out (* *)

Paulette

PREREGISTRATION for 2012-2013 RPNS school year!

Yes, it is that time of year again to consider registering your child for next September. RPNS offers currently enrolled families the opportunity to formally preregister their children prior to our community Registration Night on March 21.

During the week of March 5 to March 9, you can pick up 2012-2013 Preregistration Forms at the Communication Table. Complete the forms, attach required cheques and drop it in the file folder at the front of the blue Communication Box. "First come, first served."

Registration options: Toddler (2 mornings: Tuesdays & Thursdays) aged 18 months to 2 1/2 years. Junior Preschool (3 mornings: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) aged 2 1/2 to 3 years. Senior Preschool (either the 2 morning or 3 morning options as above or 5 mornings) aged 2 3/4 to 5 years. French Introduction (same options as Senior Preschool) **child must turn 3 years of age by October 31, 2011. Note: Developmental age of the child is also considered, see the Director for approval.

Don't wait and be disappointed... preregister your child!

OPEN HOUSE WEEK ~ March 5 to 9 10:00 am to 11:00 am each day

Let all your neighbours, friends and family know that they can check out our nursery school during this week. We will give morning tours and we will answer their questions about our great program. About 80% of our clientele heard about RPNS from other families... so thank you for spreading the word!

2012-2013 RPNS REGISTRATION NIGHT ~ Wed. March 21 7:00 pm

New families to the school are encouraged to formally register their children for our next school year. Our French Introduction classes fill quickly, so spread the word!

Valentine's Day

We will be celebrating this day with heart shaped cakes (it will also be our February birthday celebration days) on Feb. 13 & 14. Families that wish to bring in Valentine cards for their child's friends may do so (no candy please). Kindly just address the cards "To my friend" (or no address at all) instead of individual students names. This helps speed up the process of hand delivering cards (a very nice social activity for the children).

New Staff!

We welcome to our nursery school, Pui Wah So, R.E.C.E. who will be teaching our 2 morning Senior Preschool class. Pui Wah believes that "the medium of art, creative expression and physical movement through play is critical to learning". Her teaching talents will certainly be an asset to our program!

Congratulations to Julia Anderson, our ECE student from Algonquin College! Julia successfully completed her Assist Practicum and is back to hitting the books. Julia is available for paid duty days so see the PARENT ZONE bulletin board for her contact information and availability. Many thanks to Tina Zandri and all the teachers that mentored Julia these past 4 weeks.

Picture Day - Feb 1st and 2nd

Picture Days will take place on Feb. 1 and 2 so bring your smiles and good hair days! Carpediem Photography also welcomes siblings and families for photo ops. See the sign up sheet posted near the Communication Box. No sitting fees and parents choose their photos from a few proofs.

Date Night: Valentine's with your Sweetie

Friday February 17th (5:30 - 8:30 pm) at RPNS
Crafts, Valentine-themed activities and a pizza supper for children of RPNS families and friends. Healthy fruit salad for dessert.
For children 2-11 years old.
$30 per child ($15 per additional sibling)

** We are in need of 3 more parent volunteers in order to run the evening. If you have enjoyed Date Night in the past, would you consider helping out this time? Many hands make light work. Contact Donna or Paulette to volunteer! (dondalegrant@yahoo or rpns@rogers.com)

Volunteers duties include helping out at meal time, helping children with crafts and to the bathroom, and tidying up or doing dishes afterwards. We will be holding a short meeting the week before to finalize crafts and activities. Volunteers are welcome to bring their children, at a cost of $5 for the first child, $15 for each additional sibling.

RPNS Fun Run & Fundraiser!

Saturday April 21, 2012

Volunteers needed to serve on the Fun Run Committee, and help out of the day of the event. Contact Donna if you can help out in any way (dondalegrant@yahoo.com)

February Fundraiser: For the Love of Dance!

An evening of cultural dance entertainment will be held on Saturday, Feb.4 (7:30- 9:30 pm) at University of Ottawa, Alumni Theatre. Donna Bueckert, President of our Board of Directors, has made arrangement for all proceeds of this event to be donated to the RPNS Building Fund! Tickets (cost $15 each) can be purchased at www.annabellydance.ca/events or email safiyadancer@gmail.com.

Upcoming Birthdays

Preschool:
Deena - Feb 2nd
Joshua - Feb 3rd
Gavin.B. - Feb 17th
Carlos - Feb 18th
Avalyne - Feb 23rd

Juniors and Toddlers:
Jacob - Feb 15th
Cameron - Feb 18th
Johnny - Feb 28th

Happy Birthday to all of you celebrating this month!

Circle Letters for February

February Note from Lisa and Janet

It's hard to believe that January is over and we are into the next month. We had fun "Dancing and prancing" like dragons to welcome in the Chinese or Lunar New Year. Both groups had an interesting time, using the chopsticks to eat their special noodle snack. We learned from Paulette's circle that Buddah called the animals to visit him, and the ones that came, got a year named after them. This year, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.

We have designated the month of February to celebrate "the Arts". We will be making pictures that represent the style of the artist, Mondrian. We are making a collage that commemorates Valentine's Day and we will be shaking sparkles on different styles of dancing shoes!

Our gross motor activity involves the practice of Groundhog Day. One child crawls into the box, and waits while we sing the following song. When we sing "coming up to look around" the child in the box pops up and looks around, while another child holds the flashlight so that we can see the shadow on the ground. When we sing "down he/she goes" the child sits back down in the box and another child has a turn.

Groundhog Song ("Little teapot" tune)

Here's a little groundhog fury and brown,
He/she's coming up to look around,
If he/she sees his/her shadow down he/she will go,
Six more weeks of winter, OH NO!

We are pleased that some of our very talented parents have offered to help us explore the "Arts" by showing us their dances and musical pursuits. We are looking forward to a wonderful February!

Note from Tina

Hello Everyone! January was a month of adjustments but I think our Preschool friends have adapted very well! Great Job!

February should be a lot of fun. We are going to be celebrating "The Arts!" this month. We are going to be appreciating different art mediums and exploring music and dance. Please check the special events calendar as we will be having many special guests share their "talents" with us.

We would never forget Valentine's Day here at Nursery School! Our song this month is dedicated to friendship and being someone's special Valentine. We will make it into a singing game (a favourite at circle time!)

Who will be my Valentine (Here we go round the Mulberry Bush)
Who will be my Valentine? Valentine, Valentine?
Who will be my Valentine, Who will be my friend?
--------------------- will be my Valentine x 3
--------------------- will be my friend.

Tina

February's Newsletter from Dulce

Hello everyone, in January we talked about what we and some animals do to be prepared for winter. We will finish with these theme in February by the children acting out the story of the mitten (the children enjoy playing out the animals!). This activity fits very well with our February's theme "the arts".

Monsieur l'ours
Monsieur l'ours reveille toi
Tu as assez dormi comme ca
Et a trois attrape moi
Un, deux, trois !

Bonhomme, Bonhomme, sais-tu jouer?
Bonhomme, Bonhomme, sais-tu jouer? (Bis)
Sais-tu jouer de ce batons-la? (Bis)
Tap-tap-tap de ce batons-la (Bis)
Bonhomme !

Sais-tu jouer de ce tambour-la? (Bis)
Boum, Boum, Boum de ce tambour-la (Bis)
Bonhomme !

Sais-tu jouer de ce castagnette-la? (Bis)
Clac- clac- clac de ce castagnette-la? (Bis)
Bonhomme !

Vocabulary:
Bottes / boots
Chapeau / hat
Des Mitaines / mittens
Pantalon de neige / snow pant
Manteau / coat
Foulard / scarf
Flocon de neige / snow flake
Neige / snow
Ours / bear