Thank you for another wonderful year of working with your children.  I am excited to share that we have just celebrated our 7th year of educating children at Christ Church School.

When I look back over the past 7 years, I think of how blessed we've been as a school.  The commitment of our families, our teachers, and our affiliation with Christ Church of the Ascension has helped us grow and become the wonderful school we call CCS.  It is because of the love, loyalty, and desire to keep their children at Christ Church School expressed to me by parents that we are now embarking on a new venture--an expansion to include First through Fourth Grade.  We will be growing a grade each year with First Grade beginning in 2010-2011.

This growth means positive change for our campus.  Beginning in the Fall we will have advanced curriculum, a computer lab, new programs to promote early literacy and a new artist-in-residence Fine Arts Program. As always, we will continue to keep our class sizes small and our teacher: student ratios low.

I can't help but be humbled by the blessings and the new work God has put before us.  I hope that you will share the good news of our expansion with your friends and family in the community and encourage them to consider CCS for their children's educational needs.  I'd also like to extend a personal invitation to those interested to call me at the school office for a tour and/or an introduction to our new First Grade teacher, Mrs. Lynne Shearer.

I hope this summer break will be a time of renewal for you and your families.  I will look forward to seeing you all in the Fall.

Betsy Delaney

Surrounded by daily reminders of the approaching Christmas season, it is easy to get caught up in the exciting, yet stressful, chaos of gift giving, Santa Claus and family reunions.  It is easy for us to forget that this is to be a time of peace and joy.  What all of us don't need is more things to put on our "To Do" List but try to focus some time and attention to activities that bring your family together for a few minutes of peace and love during the bustle of the weeks ahead, moments in which we can remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Since your calendar is often full, it is a challenge for your child to patiently wait for Christmas to come.  Sesame Street has published a book on this subject entitled, "I Can't Wait."  Make a special calendar with your young child thinking of something nice they can do or help with each day.  As each task is completed, have your child add a sticker to their calendar.  We are all preparing for a very special day and this visual reminder can help your child see the calendar progress toward December 25th.

Gift giving can always be stressful.  Often children are overwhelmed by too many gifts, things which may break quickly or were purchased only because a child saw it on TV and had to have it.  And many parents feel the need to overextend on their budget during this time of the year.  This year, look for gifts that will keep on giving.  Why not buy some gently-used clothes at a thrift store for your child to use as dress-up clothes?  A pair of Dad's old shoes and a toy cell phone makes every boy look just like his Dad on his way to work.  Use your imagination and put together a box of craft materials including crayons, markers, stickers, maybe even some glitter glue. Now you are all set to make a Valentine's Day card for Grandma.  When my girls were little, they loved to play "school."  No surprise since their mother was a teacher.  I gave them a set of old books, some paper, a small American flag and some red pens.  From that day forward all of our stuffed animals had to sit quietly in a row and listen to the "teacher."

If you have moments of utter chaos in your home (and there are many moments like this prior to Christmas) take time out to do something special with your child.  Try one of these ideas each day to help you make it through the last hectic days leading up to Christmas with a little peace and joy:

1. Play Christmas music and dance around.
2. Read a favorite Christmas book together.
3. Make an ornament for your tree.
4. Clean out your closet (more room for new toys) and bring gently-used items to school to share with the Sudanese children.
5. Visit a mall with great decorations for "window shopping."
6. Invite neighbors over for hot chocolate and show off your tree.
7. Take an evening walk or drive and look at the lights.
8. Put food out for the birds.
9. Make Christmas cookies and share them with a neighbor.
10. Make a Christmas card for a special friend.
11. Watch a Christmas DVD.
12. Make reindeer food (oatmeal with glitter) to sprinkle on your lawn on Christmas Eve.
13. Read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20.
14. Make a birthday cake for the birth of the baby Jesus.
15. Have a very Merry Christmas!

 You probably have noticed that our classrooms have a lot of noisy bustle. Children are moving, talking, playing, and exploring. Research and experience tell us that to be effective with young children, teaching practices need to be “developmentally appropriate.” What this means is simply that educators need to think first about what young children are like and then create an environment and experiences that are in tune with children’s characteristics.

Children ages 2-6 learn best through direct interactive experiences. They learn extraordinary amounts through play and exploration. The younger children are, the greater the need to place emphasis on items that are relevant and interesting to them at the moment, not in the context of some future learning. A developmentally appropriate program involves active learning. It takes advantage of a child’s natural desire to move and touch. Young children love to manipulate items and explore new ideas. They enjoy the opportunity to see how things work and to test their own theories.

We have organized our classroom environments to promote active learning, and we do lots of things to encourage children to think and talk about their discoveries and creations. We thank you for sharing your precious children with us, and we welcome you to a community that will take advantage of your child’s natural motivations, abilities and interests to promote active learning that is developmentally appropriate.

As the surge in class size continues, many parents feel the education system is failing their children. One of the most commonly named culprits in the decline of the American education system is class size. Too many students for too few teachers, it is claimed, creates an environment that can better be called “day-care” than education. It seems logical that smaller class sizes would allow for greater individual attention by the teacher. Smaller classes lead to deeper, more meaningful learning experiences and higher student achievement.

What do the experts say? The US Department of Education strongly advocates small class size. “A growing body of research demonstrates that students attending small classes in the early grades make more rapid educational progress than students in larger classes, and that these achievement gains persist well after students move on to larger classes in later grades.” Statements from the National Education Association echo this position. “Teachers with small classes spend more time and energy helping each child find success. Smaller classes enhance safety, discipline, and order in the classroom.”

The Star Project revealed that the positive effect from small classes in K-3 remained significant two full years after students returned to regular-size classes.

Christ Church School offers a strong alternative. Our low student-teacher ratios help to create a community in each classroom that nurtures individual students while helping them to succeed and develop a strong sense of self. It is our goal to help each child grow and develop in a small caring environment where the emphasis is on both social and academic learning. Class size does make a difference and Christ Church School is committed to low student-teacher ratios that assist in providing a positive and meaningful educational experience for our students.

Although the true story behind the sharing of valentine cards remains a mystery, it is no secret how children all over the world enjoy the ritual of sharing special cards with their friends on February 14^th.

Whether exchanging valentine cards, always having a cake on your birthday or even having the same ritual each night at bedtime, family rituals can enhance a preschooler’s identify, provide consistency and connect generations in an enduring bond. According to Dr. Martin Cohen, director of the Marital and Family Therapy Clinic at New York Medical Center, “Children find a certain security and solace in something that gives a sense of belonging and comfort. Kids find rituals fascinating--artistically, spiritually and emotionally.”

Rituals and traditions give birth to our family histories. As parents, we are role models. Our children imitate our actions, beliefs and thoughts. When we recall happy times with our families or re-create an experience we shared with our parents, it teaches our children to appreciate life’s simple times and look for those special moments in their own lives. Repetition is an important way of learning for young children. Rituals re-create an action or message in the mind of your child over and over again. Children love repetition; it creates a sense of security in their lives. To feel secure, a child needs to feel that his or her world is predictable. Rituals help our children feel safe, giving them a greater sense of self-confidence.

What special family rituals does your family enjoy? You can start by making some heart-shaped valentine cards together. Even with our hectic schedules, I encourage you share some special rituals with your children while building happy memories that will last a long time.