December Newsletter
Dear Families,
What a fabulous community we have! I want to thank all those who donated non-perishable foods for the “Your Grandmother’s Cupboard” organization. I also want to thank all of you who participated in our “Miss Chocolate” fundraiser. We have raised enough money to fully fund our Spring Chick Hatching, and the remaining funds will go toward new playground materials that will also need to be purchased, due to constant wear.
I also want to thank our families for providing lunch to the staff each month!! Our parent group has organized this and we are so grateful for you and for your kindness!!
We are also enjoying the parent participation in our classrooms - also organized through our Parent Group and our Classroom Parents. We love our community of families!
Thank you, thank you!!!
During the month of December we will be focusing on the spirit of giving, and, clearly the children have great examples of this in our wonderful families.
We’ve got an exciting month in December, including a Holiday Shop (by catalog) for the children, and, we have Pajama Days to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each classroom will celebrate the holiday season throughout the month, participating in the holiday shop, making wrapping paper, learning holiday songs, making crafts, gifts for family, and reading seasonal stories.
We wish all our families a happy holiday season!
The Fun Bus is returning for a Winter Session – Optional Activity on Wednesday Afternoons at 2:00 p.m. starting on 12/4/24
The Fun Bus provided a FREE Demo for all children on Wednesday morning, 11/27/24, and is now accepting signups for the winter session. The Fun Bus is a great way for children to get exercise, learn new skills and have fun! The bus, which is loaded with gym equipment, parks (does not move) while the children enjoy the activities. Sign up forms are being sent home.
Peppermint Tree Secret Holiday Gift Shop, December 17-20, 2024 (Tues-Fri)
During Dec 17-20, if you’d like your child to participate, please be sure he/she comes to school with their shopping list (paper form was sent home) and the appropriate spending money ($1.50 per person on their list) to participate in our “Peppermint Tree Secret Holiday Workshop”. The shop will be open (by catalog) 12/17-12/20 to allow the children to pick out inexpensive gifts for their immediate family and pets. The notice and shopping list was sent home in your child’s backpack. (We do not allow children to buy gifts for themselves, only gifts for immediate family and pets.)
This is an opportunity for your child to participate in giving gifts this holiday season – not just receiving.
For the holiday shop, we purchase a quantity of small, inexpensive gifts suitable for immediate family members, grandparents and dog and/or cat pets. The items will be $1.50 each. If you wish your child to participate, send in $1.50 per person on their list in a sealed envelope with the completed shopping list form. On your child’s regularly scheduled day, he/she will “shop” in their classroom by using a catalog we have created for them. This will be an exercise in decision making and money handling. We will also be discussing the concept of thinking about others. All gifts will come home wrapped and tagged. Wrapping paper will be made by the children.
Each child should bring in a reusable grocery shopping bag in which to bring home the gifts.
Pajama Days for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS): Thursday, December 19th & Friday December 20th
Children wear their pajamas to school on 12/19 & 12/20 in honor of children who are too sick to get out of their pajamas. The children will learn about helping children who are sick. We ask our families to make a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for this event. Donation checks can be made out to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and can be sent in to your child’s teacher. We will also forward any cash donations, as well. We have also emailed a link to our LLS fundraising page, if you prefer to give directly to LLS that way.
Annual Flu Shots – Please send in updated immunization record by 12/31/24. The Health Department requires the annual Flu shot for all children in Preschool, under the age of 5.
As per the State of New Jersey requirements, all children who attend Peppermint Tree who are under 5 years of age, must get an annual Flu shot, before December 31. Please send in proof of this vaccination for your child’s file. As an alternative to visiting your child’s pediatrician for the Flu vaccine, you can visit the website for the Ocean County Health Department to find out when they are giving flu shots. There is a lot of good health related information on their website as well. www.OCHD.org Please note, the Ocean County Health Department audits our student records for immunizations.
Calendar Notes for the Holiday Break
We will be CLOSED on Tuesday and Wednesday, 12/24/24, & 12/25/24 as well as Tuesday and Wednesday 12/31/24 and 1/1/25 for the holidays.
We will be open for childcare only during the rest of the winter break: Monday 12/23/24, Thursday 12/26,24, Friday 12/27/24 and Monday 12/30/24. If your child follows our Peppermint Tree calendar, the childcare days are included in your monthly tuition. If your child follows the Toms River Schools calendar, and you need childcare during the break week, please let the office know so we may save a space for your child, and adjust your bill for the additional day(s).
As a reminder, your tuition is annual, and divided into 10 equal monthly payments, so tuition payment amounts do not change during months where there is a break. It also does not go up when there is a five-week month. It is all averaged out through the year.
Looking ahead to January: We will be offering Speech and Language Screening through Monmouth University
Please be on the lookout for permission slips for the optional speech screening being offered to all children at no charge through our partnership with Monmouth University. A speech and language screening consists of a short assessment of your child’s speech (how he/she pronounces sounds) and language (following directions, answering questions, processing information, naming vocabulary etc.), as well as observing play and social interactions. An individual report will be provided to the parents which would include recommendations for full evaluation if indicated.
Parent Group: Next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 14th, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom.
We are taking December off due to all the holiday activities!
Also from our parent group, and coming up in January: Parent Workshop: Promoting Early Literacy Skills, Thursday January 23 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. This workshop is provided by Peppermint Tree parent and Early Childhood Educator and Parenting Coach, Jessica Dunne. Mark your calendar now - Details to follow!
Inclement Weather
In case of snowy or icy conditions, please look out for a text from us through the ProCare app or your email inbox for updates about school opening on these days. We also provide this information to WOBM radio “Storm Watch”, and change our outgoing phone message. We make every effort to be open, however the safety of our staff and families is our first concern. As a guideline, if The Toms River Public Schools have a delayed opening or are closed (or go to remote instruction) due to inclement weather, the earliest we will open is 8:30 a.m. This will give us time to get our driveway and walkways plowed, salted and sanded and determine if we will delay further or have to close for the day. There are no refunds or credits for inclement weather closings. We will be able to make up for up to three snow day at the end of the year, if we have them.
For safety on the playground: Please no scarves or hats with long scarves attached.
We do not allow scarves at all on the playground, as they are hazardous on playground equipment. (Can get caught in the swings, or wrapped around a child’s neck.) Thanks for your understanding. Note: We also prefer mittens over gloves, as it takes more time to get all the children into gloves! Thank you!
Parent Reminders:
Label Everything. If an item is not labeled, we may label it for you. This includes lunch bags, jackets, sweaters, mittens, hats!
Please – Mittens ONLY/ no gloves, no scarves.
No strings on jackets or hoodies.
Dress your child in layers. We go outside every day that it is 32 degrees or higher, and not precipitating.
Please change out your child’s extra clothes in their backpack with “winter clothes”
All children must go outside with their group. If a child is too sick to play outside, then they should stay home from school to rest.
Please drive SLOWLY in our driveway. Thanks!
Please do not park your car at the end of our driveway, as it is too narrow to accommodate parked cars and two-way traffic. Park further back in our driveway.
Please do not leave your car idling in our driveway. This is a safety concern.
Please remember to download the “BoxTops for Education” App on your phone, sign up to raise funds for Peppermint Tree, and scan in your grocery receipts. This is a helpful and important fundraiser for us.
