Dear GCS Families,
Happy December – the time of year that can be fun and exhausting, all at the same time! We kicked off this festive season with an adult wreath-making workshop here at GCS. Current and past families/friends, and board members gathered for an afternoon of crafting, mingling, and enjoying homemade treats with warm mulled cider. Thank you to Beth Christoforo and Brie Weider (GCS Board Members) for sharing their time and talent to offer this wonderful event.
Of course, where there are children, there is fun!! Classrooms are in full swing of December learning, celebrations, and merriment. There is festive gift making, creative art projects, sharing of lights and traditions, and of course music and singing up and down the halls. Despite the craziness, we love the feeling and hope you are all able to find some moments to share in the magic and excitement with your children.
Curriculum Day
We recognize these days can be difficult to navigate for families, and we are grateful to all of you for supporting and recognizing the value of this professional development time together as a staff. Today’s trainings included referral guidance from Boutwell’s Early Childhood’s Director, Maggie Ross Richarson, as well as sharing from the staff who attended the NAEYC National Conference last month. Topics included Documentation, Literacy, Behavior Management, Sensory, and Music and Movement. There was also time for team work on our Accreditation Process, of which we will need to be ready for late winter into the spring.
Health & Wellness
As we all know, along with the colder weather that comes with this time of year in New England, also comes more illnesses. Some families are affected far greater than others in terms of vulnerability. We appreciate the extra effort that families are making to be diligent and cautious if your children show signs of illness or aren’t quite them-selves. Please refer to our wellness page on our website for more information and clarifications . We are all working hard here to clean and sanitize often, being aware in classrooms, staying in touch with the local health authorities, and communicating with you often. A couple of classrooms have been affected by COVID-19, and while we know it is an inconvenience, the holidays are approaching, and we are hoping to keep you and our teaching staff all safe and well. We are also concerned about the greater community and those at risk and more susceptible to illness, thus our precautions are helping in this way as well. As always, we continually re-evaluate our policies and consult with proper authorities to help us in our decision making.
Registration 2024-25
While it seems like the school year is just getting underway, it will be registration time for the 2024-25 school year in just a few short weeks. We are beginning the process of preparing information which will be sent out to families in mid-January, so please be on the lookout for your packet of detailed information in the weeks ahead.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the Akers-Reis family on the birth of their daughter, Josephine (brother, Teddy, is in the FD Pre-K classroom.
Thank You!
The Staff have been enjoying monthly “Fun Friday” snacks! Thank you to Room Parents and their classroom families for taking turns to provide delicious snacks and treats! We enjoyed AM Pre-K “Thankful for you” goodies in November & and the TTh PM Blue Room Hot Chocolate Bar and cookies in December! These days are definitely a much-appreciated treat for staff and offer such a wonderful pick-me-up in the midst of a long day. We look forward to future “Fun Fridays” in coming months ahead!
Thank you to “Stock-the-Fridge” volunteers for their snack donations for November: Megan Dube, Neal Hagermoser, Princess Hernandez-Wilson, Molly Laurano, Amanda Maillet, Maggie Miller, Kaitie Noe, and Susan Stella; and for donations for December: Jaime Doucette, Kara Dumont, Vijaya Jyoti, Kelly MacIsaac, Katherine Maroney, Kaitie Noe, Bethany Reis, Erin Tito, Liz Welch and Catherine West. You are appreciated each and every month!
We’d also like to thank the Anthony Family for a Sit-n-Spin, the Davis family for their donation of toys & books, Leo Laurano for donating a favorite book, and to the Wilson family for children’s masks.
Wishing you all some time for fun, rest, celebration, and the sharing of wonderful traditions in the days ahead. Enjoy and cherish the many moments that are coming your way!
Happy Holidays,
Linda Kosinski, GCS Director
Dates to Remember:
December 25th – 29th
Holiday Break
No School
Monday, January 1st
New Year’s Day
No School
Monday, January 8th
Board of Directors Meeting 7:30 PM
Monday, January 15th
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
No School
