Extended Day

Posted on by forstm

Sign Up for Extended Day at the North Hills Campus

(reprinted from Winchester Thurston School)

Extended Day Programming is available at the North Hills Campus for students in Pre-K – grade 5. It is designed to be a convenient and helpful service to families and to provide a warm and nurturing environment for young children. The program begins the first day of school and is in operation on all regularly scheduled school days.

Extended Day – Morning:
Operates from 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and is provided as a free service for parents who must drop off their children before the start of the regular school day.

North Hills Campus:
Pre-K – grade 5 meet in the Science Room.

Extended Day – After School:
The afternoon program operates from 3:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (PK – 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.).

North Hills Campus
Students in grades Pre-K – grade 5 sign-in and meet in the Science Lab upon dismissal.

NEW THIS YEAR! Families are strongly encouraged to register for Extended Day Care in advance each trimester. Pre-Registered pricing is as follows:

  • Dismissal at 4:30pm is $10 per day
  • Dismissal at 6:00pm is $15 per day
  • Students who register for and attend a WT After 3 Enrichment Program after school can take advantage of the Extended Day Care before or after their themed programs at no additional cost.

Parents are billed $10 for every five minutes after 6:00 p.m.

Drop-in attendance rate is $25 per day. Families will be billed monthly based on drop-in attendance. To use the drop-in service, please follow the dismissal change process by emailing your child’s teacher and  Kim Rovnan .

Extended Day will NOT be offered on:

May 9 — Spring Fling
June 5 — Moving Up Day

Extended Day—Full Day Programming

The full day programs will be held in Room 112  at the City Campus and in the Library at the North Hills Campus between 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Families MUST register in advance.

A relaxed, fun, and challenging day will be planned with ample opportunity for free play. There will also be themed, organized activities. Please have your child dressed appropriately for outside play (no uniform required). A morning and afternoon snack will be provided, but children must bring a bag lunch and a drink.

There will be no regular bus and van transportation on full day program days.

Full day enrichment programs will be offered on the following dates:

October 14 — Columbus Day (City Campus)
October 25  — Conference Day (City and North Hills Campuses)
December 2 — In Service (City Campus)
January 2 – 3 — Winter Break (City Campus)
March 7 — Conference Day (City and North Hills Campuses)
March 17 – 21 — Spring Break (City Campus)

The full day programs are open to all students in Pre-K – grade 5 and the price per day is $65. Families must register for these programs in advance. Full day enrichment programs are very similar to a “camp experience” and include special field trips, featured guests, and hands-on projects.

For questions about Extended Day Programming, please call Dionne Brelsford, Director of Programs, at 412-578-7533.

Upcoming Events

Posted on by forstm

Upcoming Events Important Reminders

(from the North News)

May 27, Memorial Day — No School

Field Day, May 28, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Contact: Steve Cooper, [email protected]

Students will participate in a variety of games and fun activities to celebrate spring and the end of another successful school year. This year’s theme is “Super Heroes.” Field Day is an Own Clothes Day and students should wear clothes that are comfortable for an active day, tennis shoes, and sunscreen. Parent volunteers are needed for setup and to help out throughout the afternoon. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Cooper.  Pre-K students are asked to stay until the carpool pick-up time at 3:15.

Moving Up Ceremony, May 30, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m., Multipurpose Room

Contact: Kim Rovnan, 412-486-8341 or [email protected]

Each year we formally celebrate the culmination of the Lower School experience with a Moving Up Ceremony. It is a wonderful time for students and faculty to reflect on the experience as students prepare to move up a grade in the fall! Children should come to school at the usual 8:15 a.m. arrival time. The ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m.  Students will be dismissed from school directly following the ceremony.  Extended Day care will not be available.

Because parking spaces are limited in our school parking lot, parents are encouraged to use the Hartwood Acres parking lot near Central Elementary School. Shuttle service from Central to WT will be provided.

Attire for this special occasion is the dress uniform for special events:

Boys:
White shirt and tie
Khaki dress pants
Black, brown, or navy dress shoes

Girls:
Dress Gordon jumper
Dress Gordon kilt
Khaki dress pants
White collared blouse
Black, brown, or navy dress shoes

Pre-Kindergarteners and kindergarteners may dress in “special occasion” attire.

WT Kennywood Day, May 30, Gates open at 10:30 a.m., Rides open at 11:00 a.m.

Contact: Stacie Schmidt, 412-578-7512 or [email protected]

Join us for our annual WT Kennywood Day! Tickets are available for purchase for $27 apiece. Please send in the ticket order form with payment and tickets will be issued to your child. If you’d prefer the tickets mailed to you, please provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Or you can simply purchase them from Kim Rovnan. Show your school pride by wearing a WT t-shirt!

WT BearCub Yearbook, Orders are due by May 31

Contact: Dionne Brelsford, 412-578-7533 or [email protected]
Don’t miss this chance to purchase the WT BearCub Lower School Yearbook that features grade level pages of day-to-day memories created in the classrooms as well as photo montages from special events. Order online: www.winchesterthurston.org/bearcub

WT Summer Camp Rocks!

Contact: Dionne Brelsford, 412-578-7533 or [email protected]
Check out the 2013 line-up of more than 150 smart, unique, and challenging camp programs for campers ages 3-18 at our City and North Hills Campuses! Programs are created by WT’s talented faculty and partners, eager to share their summer with your children. Offerings include amazing new camps with WQED/PBS media; new camp themes like Farm Camp, The Green Scene, Architects’ Studio, History Comes Alive, and more; new sports-themed camps including parkour, fencing, frisbee, and more; and a wide range of programming for Middle and Upper Schoolers. We are planning for one of our best summers yet, and hope that your family will be a part of the fun! Learn more and register now: www.winchesterthurston.org/summercamp. Camps will fill quickly!

May 17 Save the Date!

Posted on by forstm

20130314_8431Save the Date!

May 17, 2013

10:00 a.m.

The Pre-K Performance

Working Title: Children’s Literature Unbound

The Pre-K Performance this year is going native. We are putting the script writing*, prop collection, costume design, and set construction in the children’s hands.  Following many years of successful teacher created, directed, and designed plays, we began to reflect on the purpose of putting on a show.  We decided that there were certain lessons that we wanted our students to get from such a project.  Some of these included performing for a group, taking pride in a performance, problem solving as issues arise, and persistence in complicated tasks.  We also wanted them to have an opportunity to express themselves, take responsibility for their own performance, and practice editing a story.  We decided that they could get all of these opportunities by making their very own play.

The children are currently working on a recreation of the popular children’s story, “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.”    We are working on a few ideas regarding the sharing of this story with our families.  We’ll let you know the plan as soon as we have all arranged.  However, please know that you are invited to arrive at WTN  at 9:45 on May 17th to see our thespians perform at 10:00.  The show will be followed by a reception in the library.  Afterwards, your child may either go home with you or stay for the rest of the day.

*Curious about the script? We’ll be posting some of the previous drafts soon!

Boots, Mittens, Hats, Oh My!

Posted on by forstm

You might have noticed that we sent home all of the rain coats and rain boots last week.  ‘Tis the season to switch our outer wear.

Please send in an extra pair of winter boots, snow gloves, a hat, and snow pants/overalls for us to keep at school.  We will go outside in the snow, slush, and mud.  It is important that every child have proper gear for the weather.

In fact, if you have the opportunity, please check to make sure that your child’s extra clothes box is fully stocked as well.  Cold , muddy clothes can be rather uncomfortable.

Halloween Festivities

Posted on by forstm

On Wednesday, October 31st WTN will be celebrating Halloween. Our class has scheduled a room party beginning at 1:15. The Room Parents have planned many spooky activities for our little masqueraders. Following the party, parents and family members are invited to attend the annual WTN Halloween Parade.

Our all school parade begins at 2:00. The students gather in the multipurpose room and then exit through the main front door of that building. We will walk along the winding sidewalk around the front of the main building and down the playground sidewalk. When the Pre-K reaches the PK porch, we will go inside, get our backpacks and be ready to go home. Parents are welcome to stand anywhere along the parade route to take pictures and watch the costume brigade. After the parade, parents can meet us outside by the porch.

Scholastic Book Orders

Posted on by forstm

Sometimes the right book is all it takes to nurture a child’s love of reading. That’s why I’m pleased that our class will be participating in Scholastic Book Clubs this school year.

The Book Club flyers I’ll be sending home each month are full of just-right, affordable books and Storia™ eBooks for every age and reading level.

Bonus:  When you place your order online, you’ll help earn FREE Books for our class and you also get a $5 FREE Book Pick Coupon to use on your next online order!

Ordering online is fast and easy:

  •  REGISTER at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
  •  ENTER the Class Activation Code: H8DF6
  •  CHOOSE from thousands of print titles, value packs, and Storia eBooks
  •  EARN FREE Books for you and the classroom too!

Chicka Chicka Practice Practice

Posted on by forstm

Our little monkeys are working hard this week to prepare for the performance next Wednesday.  We’ve been singing, dancing, and creating decorations every minute we can spare!  The multipurpose room will be open at 1:00 pm and we plan to begin at 1:15.  Directly after the play, we’ll reconvene in the Library for a short reception (a good excuse for cookies if ever there was one!)

Update Your Calendar!

Posted on by forstm

The Pre-K Play has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 1:15pm.

You are invited to join us in the multipurpose room as we sing and dance our way through the ABCs and 123s. This is a brand new, multimedia infused play created by the Pre-K and Performing Arts team.  It is based on the book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault.  The play will be followed by a short reception in the library.