Dear GCS Families,
We are just loving this beautiful weather that has graced our playground over the past couple of weeks. It is so exciting to have children swinging, digging, climbing, and running on our playground in the warmth and sunshine. Special thanks to Board Members Jesi Clinton and Jess Barie, we have added two small, galvanized tubs to our playground… one for fairy garden play and the other for mini-construction vehicles. While some children naturally gravitate toward whole-body movements such as pumping on trikes and climbing large structures, others prefer smaller groups of playful conversations and creativity. These mini gardens provide opportunities for creativity, social interactions and language, as well as nature, simple gardening, and insect exposure. A reminder that we will have more simple projects during our Spring Spruce-Up on Saturday, May 17th, and we could use your help. No skills required, just the desire to be social and lend some muscle to help with simple outside tasks. Check out your calendar and stop by for an hour or two if you are able. A sign-up will be available in the coming weeks.
COMMUNITY ARTWORK
You will notice a beautiful collection of paintings as you enter the front door of GCS entitled: Love Like an Ocean. Every child here had the opportunity to be a part of this amazing work. Many thanks to one of our talented Teachers, Monique Meehan, for leading this wonderful community project based on the song “Peace Like a River.” She described how the colors in each painting represent each of our classrooms and the paintings themselves embrace the concept that if we have enough kindness and love within our GCS community, it can stretch beyond the walls of GCS and into the greater community. Our year-long theme, A Sense of Belonging, is certainly represented here in this work. GCS has love as deep as an ocean and welcomes all. We will have photos cards for purchase later this spring… stay tuned. This display was previously presented at The Groton Center during a Kindergarten field trip for the seniors and Groton Community to enjoy.
Speaking of community, Aqua Roon Teacher Jennie Fitzkee and former Kindergarten Teacher Jolene Zukauskas are starting a “Stronger Together” program at The Groton Center, connecting seniors and children through music, puppets, books, and more. The date is Tuesday, May 13th from 1:30-2:30 at the Center. You can sign up at the front desk.
ROOM PARENT APPRECIATION
As we draw a little closer to the end of the year, we wanted to acknowledge all of our GCS Room parents who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to make GCS a better place. From emails and playdate arrangements, to class fundraising baskets and Fun Friday events, your child’s classroom Room Parents have been busy and involved. Our Board of Directors Parent Reps, Samantha Wall and Luella Simakauskas, shared a fun “Sip and Flow” evening with wine, seltzer, chocolates, and yoga. Please join us in thanking these generous all of these parents for all they have done to make GCS a collaborative school for families, children, and staff.
PEACE PICNICS
Each spring, classrooms gather at our Peace Pole for music, dancing, a special picnic, and collaboration. What fun we had together embracing peace and being together to highlight our work with young children. This year’s focus song, You Belong, was a highlight as we all made beautiful music together and shared in our message of Peace, Kindness, and a Sense of Belonging!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to the Yeager family on the birth of their daughter (brother, Gabriel, is in the MWF PM Blue Room).
THANK YOU!
We’d like to give a special thank you to GCS Room Parents for providing two delicious luncheons for the Staff during The Week of the Young Child, and to the Tuesday/Thursday AM Blue Room families for “Fun Friday” tacos. Staff are so appreciative!
Thank you to the following “Stock-the-Staff-Room” volunteers for this April’s snacks & beverages: Samantha Buckley, Crystal Doherty, Kristen Lampros, Rhenise Lucot, Caitlin Mahoney, Katie Maroney, Melissa Sulprizio, Erica Tamlyn and Betsy Whitney.
We’d also like to thank the following families for various donations to GCS: The Kane family for Magic Tree House books, Sue Lizotte for a Longaberger basket, the Mann family for a plant, the Martinez family for spare clothing, the Moran family for candy, the Taylor family for pizza, and to the Wilson/Hernandez family for a cake all for the Staff.
Enjoy the warmth of Springtime!
Linda Kosinski, GCS Director
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Monday, May 12th, Board Meeting – 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 17th, Spring Spruce-Up, 9 AM – 3 PM
Monday, May 26th, Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL