It is hard to believe summer is coming to an end and the new school year will soon be upon us. August is often bittersweet for many as summertime is such a cherished season, especially in the Northeast. I hope every family was able to enjoy all of the wonders of the season- long hours at the beach, time with friends at the pool, enjoying the lack of schedules that the school year often brings, backyard barbecues and endless cones of ice cream.

We still have over a month of summer to enjoy, but with the winding down of August we start to look forward to the exciting next step as the school year begins. It seems to me that children grow so wildly over the summer. I find our family measuring our children's ages not by their birthday, but by the milestones associated with the starting of a new school year and grade levels. At GCNS all of our children are just starting their journey through the education experience. It may be easier for Pre-K parents to look back at their children and compare them now to when they first started in Playgroup. How fast they have grown! Maybe some can appreciate this sentiment now, but I promise everyone will understand in due time.

Everyone at GCNS is excited for the kickoff of the new school year. New and old friends will reunite, meet new teachers and begin a wonderful year of new experiences. This applies to kids and parents alike. We look forward to the normalcy of social events at Pot Luck in the fall, the first ever Holiday Bazaar this holiday season, Cabin Fever over the winter, the Children's Event and the Spring Cocktail. We invite all of our families to jump right into everything GCNS has to offer and give back to the place that will no doubt give your family so much in return. There is a small window in the grand scheme of time to make the most of your time at GCNS- seize the opportunity!

This is my sixth and final start of GCNS and I couldn't be more thankful for this wonderful place. Over the last 5 years, my children have grown up in the loving, safe environment of GCNS and this has prepared them for the next steps in ways I only dreamed.

I wish you lots of happiness and sunshine as the days of summer come to an end and look forward to seeing all of you in September!

President: Amy McGlynn

VPs Fundraising: Lindsy Hannan and Emily Kasel

VP Membership: Ginny Porto

VPs Maintenance: Matt Reilly and Mike Davila

Treasurer (Payables): Katie Roland

Treasurer (Receivables): Hana Noble

Treasurer (Billing): Marlyn Onofrio

Communications: Allison Vickery

Secretary: Courtney Velasco Huber

Contact us! With the new school year brings new GCNS.org email addresses for the executive board and staff. Click on the names above for the new email addresses, and reach out to Director Francie Cohn and Business Manager Karey Kumpel here.

Monday Aug. 29: New Parent Orientation, 7:30pm at school

Friday, Sept, 9: Parent-Teacher Conferences (you will be contacted by your teacher)

Saturday, Sept. 10: Maintenance Session, 7-9:30am

Monday, Sept. 12: Classes begin – Short sessions for Playgroups & Pre-K classes

Tuesday, Sept. 13: Classes begin – Short sessions for Nursery & Pre-K classes

Wednesday, Sept. 14: Short sessions for Nursery classes

Thursday, Sept. 15: Short sessions for Playgroups & Pre-K classes

Friday, Sept. 16: Short sessions for Nursery & Pre-K classes

Monday, Sept. 19: Regular class schedules begin

Monday, Sept. 26: School closed (Rosh Hashanah)

Tuesday, Sept. 27: School closed (Rosh Hashanah)

Wednesday, Sept. 28-Friday, Oct. 21: Miss Chocolate Gift wrap, Cookie Dough & Frozen Pie Fundraiser

Friday, Oct. 21: Potluck Supper

Winter 2023: Cabin Fever Event

Spring 2023: Children's Event

June 2023: Spring Cocktail Party

TBA: Back to School Nights

** Please see the very end of this newsletter for detailed information on the first days of school for each class, including divided groups.

Friday, September 9th

A strong home/school connection is essential when building a good environment for young children. We will begin the school year with a “Get to Know Your Child” conference. Only by sharing information can we build a bridge strong enough to support our children.

Your teacher will contact you by email to set up a conference time which may be in person or by phone. Teachers have found that an early conference in which parents can share information about their child, their expectations for the school year and so forth, is especially useful.

Please complete the attached Interview Form (if you have not already done so) and Special Education Services form (if applicable) before the conference, as well as all other required forms (see below).

Tuition is due for the fall semester. Please contact our treasurer, Marlyn Onofrio, with any questions.

Tuition for the fall semester was due over the summer. Spring semester tuition will be billed in January. The fall semester runs Sept-Jan; spring runs from Feb-June.

As a reminder, each family is required to participate in one maintenance session per semester (for a total of two between Sept-June). You can opt out of maintenance for a $150 fee per semester.

Each family serves on one committee. Please submit your preference form if you haven’t already done so. Please follow the link to access the Committee Preference Form for next year's committees. Review the selections carefully and submit your top 3 choices by completing the google doc.

Our class parents will reach out with information about online scheduling your participation days with Sign Up Genius. One parent/family member/caregiver can participate per class. The participating adult is expected to arrive on time and stay about 10 minutes after dismissal. Much of our day takes place outside so dress for the weather!

In Playgroup and Nursery classes, the participating adult brings snack for the class that is new, unopened, nut-free and candy-free (nothing homemade). Fruit is always a good option. In Pre-K, the children bring their lunch and drink (see below). The Pre-K students take their time with lunch so there is no need (or time) for snack.

All children must bring a Ziploc bag, marked with their full name, containing an extra set of seasonal clothes to be left at school: shirt, pants, socks, underwear or diaper with wipes. Please label all items and bring the clothing bag to your parent-teacher conference.

Outdoor clothing for all children should be clearly marked with your last name.

For safety outside, rubber soled shoes or sneakers WITH SOCKS every day; no flip flops, crocs, slides or clogs. Also for safety climbing, dresses may only be worn on birthdays.

Please remember to dress the children appropriately for the weather of the day—raincoats, rainboots, snowpants and boots, etc. Send dry sneakers in your child's backpack to wear in class.

Masks are optional for all children over the age of 2 and all adults. Mask wearing is a personal health choice. We will support each family’s decision about wearing a mask at school. If applicable, please send your child to school with an extra mask in a Ziploc bag labeled with the child’s name.

GCNS is licensed with the Office of Children’s and Family Services which oversees our health policies and allows us to keep the Pre-K children for more than 3 hours/day. OCFS has not yet updated their Covid policy; we will distribute the guidelines separately when we receive them, closer to the opening of school.

We need your help with this year’s auction and raffle drive! Every contribution is valued and appreciated! No donation is too small because it may be put together with other donations as a gift package. The committee is looking for sporting tickets, hotel overnights, restaurants, theater tickets, vacation homes, professional services, etc.

If you know anyone who may be willing to donate, or who could give us a lead to a potential donation, please contact Kelly Mattice. Donors will receive a tax-exempt form to keep for their records.

Our fundraising efforts are two-fold: to provide the needed revenue for the operation of our school and to give back to the community. This past year, we took part in a Food Drive for Island Harvest and a Book Drive for Parent Child Plus. By participating in these projects, our children experienced the importance of giving to others in an age-appropriate and hands-on way.

Our community has supported us through the years; it’s time for us to give back. Please remember this focus when supporting our events.

Help GCNS with your Amazon purchases!

AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support GCNS every time you shop on Amazon, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases directly to GCNS. Since we have begun participating in the program, your everyday purchases helped to generate donations of nearly $2000 to our school.

By simply adding GCNS as your designated charity to your AmazonSmile account, you can help us grow the donations to our school when you shop. Simply go to "My Account" > Amazon Smile and either select or change your charity to GCNS (see below).

The 171 inscribed bricks and 2 benches have been installed with new landscaping around the front tree! The area will be an inviting spot to play and relax for children and their families.

Thank you to all who participated in this fundraiser for our 70th anniversary.

This summer, the classrooms were repainted. We do this project every 5 years. Our founding Director Coppie Short chose the primary colors which we call “Coppie’s colors.” We will also be purchasing new couches for the classroom reading areas. Outside, the garden area across from our front door has new railroad ties.

Capital improvements are funded by our very successful fundraising efforts. Thank you all for helping us reinvest in our amazing building and grounds.

By New York State Law, no child may be admitted to nursery school without an up-to-date immunization record, giving month, day and year of vaccinations and a physical examination.

Dental exams are required by NYS for Nursery and Pre-K children. The form may be signed by the parent.

Medical Form

Dental Form

Please complete the Emergency Contact Form which will be kept on file in the school and given to each teacher. It requires your pediatrician’s telephone number, parents’ cell numbers, and the name of a relative, friend or neighbor with contact information for that person.

Our school participates with “One Call Now” to send out personalized messages to all parents and staff for school closings or emergencies. You will be asked to provide the school with three numbers where someone can receive a message, text or email regarding the present status of our school.

It is the policy of the Garden City Nursery School to provide for the safe arrival and departure of all children. You will sign a “Child Release” form to be kept on file at school which designates who may pick up the child. If your child is to be released to a different person, a note (or email) must be sent to the school, Francie and the child’s teacher. We will be asking that person for photo identification before releasing the child.

Please bring the Interview Form and Special Education Services Form (if applicable) to the parent/teacher conference.

Sick children do not belong in school. Children must be symptom-free without fever-reducing medicine or other medication for 48 hours before returning to school. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, coughing, runny nose. Children with seasonal allergies with a persistent cough or runny nose need a doctor’s note explaining the condition in order to attend school. Please see the Parent Handbook for more information.

The most common food allergies in infants and children are eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. Other common allergies include insect bites, dogs, cats, medications and latex. Children with allergies may develop symptoms, such as hives and shortness of breath. We take all allergic symptoms seriously because both mild and severe symptoms can lead to a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis (symptoms and more information are listed in the Parent Handbook).

The Office of Children and Family Services requires detailed plans for avoiding accidental exposure to allergens for children with identified allergies as well as recognizing and treating allergic reactions and anaphylaxis in all children.

We will reach out to parents of children with listed allergies, both mild and those requiring an EpiPen and Benadryl to be kept at school with forms that are required from the parents and the child’s health care provider before the first day of school.

**Please Remember**We are a NUT FREE and CANDY FREE school in order to avoid exposure to the most severe allergens. Peanut butter or Nutella (which is made with hazelnuts) or any candy are not allowed into the building. We will reach out to classes with food allergies with more information and safe snack options. General snack suggestions are listed in the Parent Handbook.

We offer several Enrichment classes for our four-year-olds throughout the year. These classes offer our children a wonderful opportunity to explore new topics and include: STEM, Lunch & Literacy, Yoga, Spanish & Movement, Music Workshop. These classes begin in October and February and run for the semester.

More information can be found on our website. Sign ups are limited and on a first come basis and can be done by logging into your Jovial account.

It is normal to be nervous as you send your little one out into the world. But remember, you are giving your child a gift by teaching independence. Starting school is an exciting time but can be overwhelming. Please do not tell your child, “I’ll miss you” or “school is only for children.” Be calm and thoughtful in both conversation and your demeanor. We have short sessions with divided groups for all children during the first week of school because of excitement and fatigue.

An adult should plan to stay with their child until the teacher and director feel that he or she is ready for separation. Even eager four year olds have qualms in a new situation. It is our experience that children make a more solid and lasting adjustment when parents and caregivers serve as a bridge between home and school for the first few days. To remind children that they will soon be staying alone is not necessary and only builds up anxiety which can slow their adjustment. We recommend that other siblings remain at home during the first week of school to ease your child’s adjustment.

Parents and caregivers of continuing children should be prepared to stay for a short time if the child experiences some anxiety about staying on his or her own. Remember the shortened daily schedule for the first week!

Keep in mind that nursery school is about learning through play. Even with the pandemic no child is behind. They naturally explore, build, make connections, and hopefully have unhurried quality time and conversations wherever they are.

Many times, parents want to focus on getting children to read. Doing puzzles, recognizing shapes, scribbling and tracing are all progressive steps on the ladder to reading and later school success. If any of these important steps are missed, you child will fall off the ladder. We don’t expect a baby to walk before he or she learns to sit up, and then to crawl. Therefore, we shouldn’t push children to read before their eyes, ears, fine motor skills and minds are ready. Learning through exploration, discovery and play will allow your child to blossom in an organic way.

During the school year, please remember a few courtesies:

• Feed your child before coming to school (breakfast in morning or a snack before Pre-K)

• Adhere to the Health policy about symptoms and illness. We all want to keep our children, families and staff healthy and safe.

• Read the Parent Handbook (which will be sent by email in September)

• Read school emails and newsletter which will contain important information. You will receive emails from your class parent, GCNS and the director.

• Finally, please trust us. We have your child’s best interests in mind when we plan each day. Reach out to your child’s teacher, class parent, our Business Manager Karey Kumpel or our Director Francie Cohn with questions or concerns.

Playgroup: Lentini, Corrigan, Hafsteinsson, George, Mukherji, Van Buren, Mingoia, Pilc

Nursery: Somma, Canale, McBrien, Jones, Ali, Reitmayr, Flecker, Fontana, Miller

Pre-K: Parachalil, Villanella, Ahmad, Brown

Returning Families: Bou, Lum, Houston, Caputi, Damanis

Alumni Parents: Southard, Tittler, Tucci/Romito, McGoldrick, Sticco, Barberan

Every year brings changes. It is bittersweet to announce the departure of Carol Knoch. Carol has been an assistant in all age groups and enrichment classes for 20 years. We send her off to new adventures.

This summer also has brought some changes due to Universal Pre-K (UPK) now being offered in additional school districts, including Garden City. Kerri Macri, the Pre-K West teacher has accepted a UPK position in Floral Park Bellerose. She has been teaching Pre-K West at GCNS for 7 years. We wish her well at her new school and will miss her.

We welcome alumni parent Dr. Yasmine Iliya as an assistant teacher in Playgroup. Her children, Charlie and Oliver, are recent graduates of GCNS. Yasmine is a Board Certified Music Therapist and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist. She has a Ph.D. from Lesley University in Expressive Arts Therapies; a MA in Music Therapy from New York University and a BS from Tufts University. Dr. Iliya sings with the Manhattan Choral Ensemble. She loves all the arts, nature, mindfulness, hiking and biking and especially working with children while they learn through play.

Melanie Hussey is joining Pre-K West as an assistant teacher. She is a certified art teacher who has been leading art classes at her in-home studio to children ages 4-12. Melanie is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an MA in Art Education from Adelphi University.

A few of our current staff are playing musical chairs: Louise Hess will be assisting in Nursery West, Gail Feldman and Jen Gisolfi with each assist in Pre-K West two days a week and Josephine Scheel will assist enrichment classes on Wednesdays.

In order for our children to adjust easily, Playgroups will have shortened sessions for slow separation. Each Nursery class will be divided for short sessions the first week. Pre-K classes will have shortened sessions for the first week.

Each child may be accompanied by one adult. East classes enter and dismiss through the East gate (in the front parking lot). West classes enter and dismiss through the main entrance to the school. Children will wash hands upon entry. Dismissal will take place at the same location as drop off.

Playgroup East: Monday & Thursday; Regular hours: 9:00 – 10:45am

Teacher: Christine O’Neill

Assistant Teachers: Yasmine Iliya and Dolores McDonnell

Playgroup West: Monday & Thursday; Regular hours: 9:00 – 10:45am

Teacher: Emily Merle

Assistant Teachers: Rebecca Kelly and Vanessa Licari

For the first 2 weeks of school, playgroup children will have shortened sessions lasting until approximately 10am. During the following weeks, we will extend the time of each session as the children acclimate. Please be prepared to stay with your child (or have a family member or caregiver stay) until your child is comfortable with the staff. We will be guiding you through the process.

Nursery East: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday; Regular hours: 8:45 – 11:15am

Teacher: Megan Sorrentino

Assistant Teachers: Emily Merle and Amy Gibbons

For the first week of school, the children will attend during the below times for Tuesday and Wednesday. On Friday 9/16 both groups will attend together from 8:45 – 10:45am. The regular schedule will begin on Tuesday, 9/20.

Tuesday 9/13 & Wednesday 9/14

Group 1: 8:45 – 9:55am

Grace Adams, Viviana Canale, Massimo Caputi, Leonzo Cuiman, William Damanis, Alice McKeever, Isla Somma, Emma Vitez

Group 2: 10:05 – 11:15am

Colton Miller, Kai Noble, Scarlett O’Brien, Ellis Onofrio, Amelya Ovejas, Madelyn Romito, Jack Salata, Rocco Sticco

Friday 9/17: Groups 1 & 2: 8:45 – 10:45am

Nursery West: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday; Regular hours: 8:45 – 11:15am

Teacher: Christine O’Neill

Assistant Teachers: Louise Hess and Rebecca Kelly

For the first week of school, the children will attend during the below times for Tuesday and Wednesday. On Friday 9/16 both groups will attend from 8:45 – 10:45am. The regular schedule will begin on Tuesday, 9/20.

Tuesday 9/13 & Wednesday 9/14:

Group 1: 8:45 – 9:55am

Rayaan Ali, Brett Boysen, Daniel Cohn, Ellie Curran, Olivia Finneran, Dylan Flecker, Viana Fontana, Robert Jones, Thomas Kunz

Group 2: 10:05 – 11:15am

Rylie Campbell, Bobby Kasel, Quinn Reilly, Lucas Reitmayr, Angelica Russo, Riley Seidman, James Vickery, Noah Yehia

Friday 9/17: Groups 1 & 2: 8:45 – 10:45am

Pre-K East & West: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; Regular Hours: 11:45 – 3:15pm

Pre-K East Teachers

Teacher: Jackie Colon

Assistant Teachers: Emily Merle and Cathi Lear

Pre-K West Teachers

Teacher: TBD

Assistant Teachers: Melanie Hussey, Gail Feldman and Jen Gisolfi

For the first week of school Pre-K East and West will attend:

Monday 9/12: 11:45 – 1:30pm

Tuesday 9/13: 11:45 – 1:30pm

Thursday 9/15: 11:45 – 2:30pm (please bring lunch)

Friday 9/16: 11:45 – 2:30pm (please bring lunch)

Monday 9/19: 11:45 – 3:15pm (regular schedule with lunch)

Pre-K children bring lunch starting Thursday, Sept. 15th

** We are a NUT FREE and CANDY FREE school **

The Pre-K classes (and participating adult) will bring their lunch and drink starting on Thursday Sept. 15th. Specific details will be sent by class parents.

Lunch should be in a lunchbox and thermos labeled with your child’s name. Please send simple, healthy food that your child enjoys. Three items such as a bagel/small sandwich/pasta or yogurt/string cheese, fruit or veggies, a few crackers are more than enough. Have children practice opening their lunch box and containers at home. Pack utensils and napkins. Remember NO Peanut Butter sandwiches or candy of any kind. Sunflower butter is a good alternative.

We look forward to seeing everyone in September. Please do not hesitate to contact us by email if you have any questions before the start of school. The office is closed in August.