- Introductions: it was nice for our families to get to know the other members of our growing community. Along with many families, our staff (including Samantha, or "Sam," our classroom assistant), also present were our co-owners, Dennis and Faye Sullivan, who enjoyed seeing their behind-the-scenes hard work translated into a thriving parent body.
- Our Mission, Vision, and Commitment: We want to know if we are meeting these goals in your eyes. Please fill out your survey and return to us. We would like to discuss our success and any ideas you have for us at your next parent conference. If you did not receive a survey, they are available in the office.
- Carpool: when dropping off you children in the morning, please pass to the right of the well as you pull in the parking lot and wait until you are in front of the sidewalk to release your child from your car. We will make an effort to greet you at your car so you don't even have to get out! If you would like to walk your child to the gate on the porch, please pull around and park at the top of the parking lot in the mulch area. We will also use this method for pickup at 3:00. If you pick your child up at 11:45, we will be on the playground and you will need to park (again in the mulched area at the top of the parking lot) and walk to the gate to pick up your child. This should ensure a safe and efficient way to get your children in and out of school!
- Tuition: there is a tuition box in the office. Please remit your tuition in the box provided to ensure that your checks are accounted for, rather than handing it to Laura or Sam or sending in a backpack. If you are paying cash, please give that directly to me so that I can get you a receipt. Late charges will apply for payments not received by the 5th of the month. Also, the rate for "hourly" childcare when you are running late or need to extend your child's stay has changed to $10/hour. Otherwise, there was no increase in tuition this year.
- Changes in Enrollment: if you need to increase or decrease your child's enrollment status, there is a request form available in the office. When space is limited, preferences for increases in attendance will be given to our current students. We ask for a thirty day notice for any decreases so we can plan staffing accordingly.
- Lending Library/Parent Information: There are resources available in the office for your use. We have a lending library of books on Montessori, parenting, and education. Also available are school calendars, the latest newsletters, student directories, parent handbooks, etc. Feel free to come in any time.
- Volunteer Opportunities:
- We welcome you as parents to come to our class and share anything special you would like with our class. You could tell us about or demonstrate a hobby or occupation, read a story to the class, or educate us about your cultural background. We always welcome additions to our class in the geography/culture area as well as contributions to our nature shelf.
- We will soon post a Wish List of items big and small that we would love to receive. We can always use things you wish to donate, from plants to art supplies to tissues.
- Please help us with our grocery shopping! We will provide you with a list of a few items for snack and classroom use on Friday afternoons and you will bring those items in on Monday morning for our use during the week. Thanks to all of those who have volunteered for this job. There are still dates available to be our class shopper:
- October 15, November 26, December 10, and December 17
- Piano Lessons: Lissette Sanabia is offering piano lessons to be given at Hopewell after school for children ages 4 and older. There is information available in the office.
- We have a new blog! If you are reading this, you have already discovered this! We will post our bi-monthly newsletter here as well as other pertinent information. Feel free to share the link with friends and family who are interested in what is going on at Hopewell. Please give me your current email address so I can email you when information is available. If you prefer paper to the computer screen, any information here will be available in the office.
We also did a fun activity. Laura asked each parent to list 3 words they would like to be able to use to describe their child in 20 years. We discussed some ways to make sure that those adjectives would apply to your children in the future. Some of the words were:
- independent
- cultural
- responsible
- creative
- eager
- inquisitive
- intelligent
- courageous
- authentic
- energetic
- enthusiastic
- compassionate
- caring
- a gentleman
- happy
- generous
- cheerful
- loving
- faithful
- reliable
- healthy
