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CNS May 2025 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
As we quickly approach the end of the school year, we pause to reflect on the immense growth of our children over these past several months. They have gained independence, formed friendships, and learned to be open and curious about the world around them.
The transition from school to summer is a big change filled with excitement and new experiences. Routines begin to shift, and preschoolers often feel the change in energy. As summer begins, the relationships and rhythms built during the school year still matter. Rereading books, sharing memories, and staying in touch with friends can help children feel secure. Summer offers a balance of freedom and familiarity, giving our children the space to grow, rest, and get ready for the next big step in their learning journey.
We hope you also look back on this school year and see growth in your community; the connections made at CNS will strengthen our children throughout the years to come. We’re so grateful for your commitment to the CNS co-op experience. Together, we have built more than a school - we have created an extraordinary, nurturing village. Thank you.
What’s New
A Successful Great Give
Thank you to everyone who donated to CNS during The Great Give. During the 36-hour giving event, CNS raised $8,360! The Great Give was the start of our first Capital Campaign, which will raise funds for our new classroom. The new classroom will allow us to teach 15 additional students per day, as well as provide a handicap-accessible learning environment.
CNS’s 2024-2025 Annual Report
We’ve had a wonderful year! Please take a moment to read our 2024-2025 Annual Report.
Dr. Jen Scoggin’s Final Parent Literacy Workshop
This year CNS was lucky to work with Dr. Jen Scoggin, a literacy consultant and author, to develop our literacy curriculum. Dr. Scoggin’s final workshop focused on four key areas that guide a child’s literary development: print concepts, phonological awareness, alphabetic knowledge, and phonics.
Reading aloud is by far the most powerful way to help your child grow in all four of these areas. Additionally, the best ways to support learning print concepts include pointing out your child’s name in print, occasionally pointing to words you are reading aloud, and pointing out common signs. Phonological awareness involves identifying sounds and counting syllables, and games that prompt children to clap out syllables or rhyme help to develop this. Alphabet books or puzzles are great tools to strengthen alphabetic knowledge, which is knowing letter names, shapes, and sounds. The most advanced area of knowledge is phonics, which begins to be a focus in kindergarten. Benchmarks to look for include making primary sounds for consonants, knowing long/short vowel sounds, and reading high frequency words.
Dr. Scoggin recommends numerous books to support our children as they grow in each area of early literacy, shown below. If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Scoggin’s work, please visit https://trustingreaders.com.
Volunteering at the Little Folks Fair
Get ready for Little Folks Fair! Held on Saturday, June 7, it's our only annual event where everyone works together to create a fun day for the community. Here's what you need to know:
Arrival: Please make sure you’ve heard from your team captain! They will let you know what time to arrive on the green. (If you have not received an email from your team captain, please email Amy Johnson at amyjohnsoncns@gmail.com.)
Sign In/Out: Check in and out at HQ with the LFF chairs or assistants. This helps track volunteer hours.
Schedule: Expect to stay until the Green is cleared, usually around 4:30-5 pm. (Except Set Up/Clean Up Crew.)
Food & Drinks: Bring water and snacks! Food trucks might have long lines.
What else to bring? LFF shirt, sunscreen, phone charger, and a portable power bank.
Making it a Success:
We need everyone to show up on time, stay for the duration, and work hard! This ensures we can continue with the one-adult-per-family requirement in the future, instead of the two-adult-per-family requirement from previous years.
Why it Matters:
While dedicating a Saturday can be challenging, it's rewarding. It's a chance to work with other parents, bring joy to children, and support a great cause.
A Big Thank You!
Huge thanks to our LFF Chairs Amy Johnson and Chrissy Toner, and all the booth chairs and others who helped to make LFF possible!
Questions?
Please email Amy Johnson at amyjohnsoncns@gmail.com.
Spring Painting Clean Up Rescheduled for June 21
The rain continues to foil our painting plans! The spring cleaning and painting party will now be held June 21st (rain date June 28/29th). Unfortunately, anyone who previously signed up will have to do so again using the link below. There will be plenty of other things to do in addition to painting, so please consider joining us! As a reminder, all families must send one parent to one school clean up per year, equal to four hours of work.
Family Spotlight
The DeLucias
We’re Catie and Derek DeLucia, parents to Josie (4), who is in the afternoon class with Ms. Sullivan, and Ani (2).
We moved from Hamden to Guilford in 2017, because we love the sense of community here! Our time as CNS has been such a positive experience for similar reasons. Our co-op participation role has been the "Rides" booth chair for the Little Folks Fair. Derek, or "Coach D," is the PE teacher at A.W. Cox, but was previously at Jones. He also coached soccer in town for many years. Catie is a School Psychologist at Lakes Elementary. Our family hobbies include spending countless hours outside and at the beach. We love building forts and trying new restaurants, and we’re excited for our upcoming family trip to Ogunquit!
Classroom Corner
The year is almost over, and our toddlers have grown so much! There are three toddler offerings at CNS; PreK2, Nature Explorers, and Co-op playgroup. These programs give children the opportunity to become familiar with school alongside their parent or caregiver. In September these little friends look so young, but by May they are so grown and capable!
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
CNS April 2025 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
Since 1956, Community Nursery School has transformed the green into an imaginative play space for children and families. We will showcase many interactive booths that feature games, activities, animal encounters, rides, process art, and much more! Every year we work hard to evolve and engage our children! New this year will be CNS gear printed on demand and an “Adopt a Pet” (a.k.a. stuffy) booth! The most incredible part of the Little Folks Fair is that it is planned and put on completely by parent volunteers (you!). This is just another amazing way that CNS brings our school and community together. This year is so special as we are celebrating Community Nursery School's 70th year!
All proceeds benefit Community Nursery School. The event is the school's primary fundraiser and fully supports our financial aid program as well as many special programs throughout the school year. If you haven’t yet signed up, please do so using the link below. We couldn’t do it without you!
Amy Johnson & Chrissy Toner, 2025 Little Folks Fair Directors
What’s New
Spread the Word - The Great Give is May 7-8
The Great Give is just around the corner! Held May 7 and May 8, this 36-hour online giving event supports many local nonprofits, including CNS. Please mark your calendars and share the event with your family, friends, businesses, and employers!
This year, The Great Give is extremely important to CNS because it will be kicking off our Capital Campaign to raise funds for our new classroom. This will be the first Capital Campaign for CNS, making it even more special and important, and we are asking for 100% community involvement.
Teachers will be providing gifts to families who raise the most funds, and board members have already been busy taking advantage of matching opportunities that their employers offer.
You can help us have a successful Great Give by doing the following:
Share the event! The CNS Great Give fundraising page, where you can donate and find more information about the campaign, is linked below. Each time you share, you can place your child's name in a box (located at the top of the stairs) to enter a raffle. Email the event to family, friends, coworkers, and/or take a flyer to hang at your favorite coffee shop or put in your neighbors' mailbox.
Look into matching opportunities that your employer may have
Frequently visit The CNS facebook page on days leading up to The Great Give to see reminders and ways your community is getting involved.
Stop by our coffee station on May 7 after drop off to donate and attend the raffle drawing!
CNS’s New Building Update
As many of you may have seen, we had some big excavators on our property recently! As part of the planning for our new building, we were required to designate a secondary location for a backup septic system. The sanitarium has approved our plans, and we’re now awaiting final approval from the town, which we expect in the coming weeks.
Next step: breaking ground! We’re so excited to see this vision coming to life and are incredibly grateful for your continued support—none of this would be possible without you!
Taryn Doran-Kelly, CNS Board President
Spring Painting Clean Up May 17
Despite the rainy weekend, we had a very successful work party in early April. Thank you so much for everyone's efforts and hard work! We worked hard to do some general spring cleaning such as making sure flower beds are cleared of leaves and weeds. Additionally we patched the art studio's leaky roof, prepped surfaces for painting, and moved the sugar shack to give the kids some more playground space.
Unfortunately, we were not able to paint the surfaces that we prepped, so we are having another spring cleaning and painting party on May 17th (rain date May 18th). There will be plenty of other things to do in addition to painting, so come join us for the fun! As a reminder, all families must send one parent to one school clean up per year, equal to four hours of work. You can sign up for the spring painting clean-up at the link below
Mark Your Calendars for the CNS Spring Picnic
Please join us for the CNS Spring Picnic! This is a great chance to enjoy the warmer weather and our awesome CNS community, plus it serves as our annual meeting. Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be served. If you haven’t yet RSVPed, please do so using the link below. If you have any questions, you can email Christina Daly at christinabullard@gmail.com.
CNS Spring Picnic
When: Saturday, May 3rd @ 12PM-2PM
Where: Bittner Park
It’s Tick Season - Tips for Tick Bite Prevention
With warmer weather comes ticks, and we suggest that checking your child should be part of your every day routine. Tick bite prevention starts with sending your child to school prepared:
Wear light colored clothes.
Tuck pants into socks.
Use insect repellent.
Tick checks after school are recommended:
Examine clothing and gear for ticks
Put clothes in dryer on high for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
Do a full body check for ticks, paying attention to in and around hair, under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, the backs of the knees, between the legs, and around the waist.
Order Your CNS T-shirts for the Little Folks Fair
If you do not already have one, please remember to order your CNS T-shirts for the Little Folks Fair! Everyone volunteering at the fair is required to wear a CNS shirt, and the deadline to order is May 7th. Please reach out to Agata at agatarzucidlo@gmail.com with any questions.
Family Spotlight
The Caviolas
Hello from the Caviola Family!
We’re Jon and Caitlin, proud parents to our two sons, Remy (3) and Jules (9 months). Remy is currently enrolled in PreK 2’s and Outdoor Explorers with Ms. Sullivan, and we’re so excited for him to move up to PreK 3’s in September!
Jon and I moved to Guilford from our hometown of Greenwich, CT in 2016, and we love living on the Shoreline. Together we run our own small business, Eastwoods Organics, where we grow and sell rare and ornamental trees, fresh eggs, maple syrup, and other seasonal homemade products. As a family, we love spending time in our vegetable garden, tending our flock of thirty chickens, and hiking local trails. Our happy place (besides our backyard) is St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick, where we visit every summer.
We’re so grateful to be part of this lovely community and look forward to many happy years at CNS!”
Classroom Corner
These last few months of school are so wonderful because we have watched children grow into such great friends. Building and maintaining friendships is such an important part of the learning that takes place at CNS. This past month we have spent a lot of time talking about ways to enter play, how to speak with one another about play choices, and even how to decline an invitation to play. Talk to your children about how they ask friends to play at school, if they sometimes like to play alone, or how they navigate play choices.
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
CNS March 2025 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
As we look ahead to the 2025-2026 school year, the CNS Board is proposing amendments and additions to the Bylaws, which fall into three broad categories; (1) corporate compliance and governance; (2) more clearly defining the roles, duties, and obligations of the Board of Directors; and (3) establishing compensation guidelines for staff and faculty.
As members of our CNS co-op, you will be able to vote on the acceptance of these bylaws at the Annual Meeting & Spring Picnic, which will be held May 3 at Bittner Park from 12-2pm. A summary of the proposed changes is below, and the full bylaw changes can be reviewed here.
Corporate Compliance and Governance. Additions include language codifying the prohibition on engaging in any and all political activities and an expansive Non-Discrimination Policy.
Fiduciary Obligations of Board Members. The amendments and additions in this category address more clearly setting forth the general fiduciary duties owed by members of the board, including sections addressing conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and the codifying the authority of board members to bind the school and what is required for them to do so.
Staff and Faculty Compensation Guidelines. This section more clearly sets forth the Board's role in establishing staff compensation, as well as providing safeguards against the arbitrary reduction in staff compensation and a guaranteed annual cost of living adjustment.
If you have any concerns or questions about the proposed Bylaw changes, please feel free to reach out to any board member, or email theboard@guilfordcns.org.
Johnny Fendt, CNS Board Vice President
What’s New
Dr. Jen Scoggin’s Second Parent Literacy Workshop
This year CNS is working with Dr. Jen Scoggin, a literacy consultant and author, to develop our literacy curriculum. Dr. Scoggin’s second of three workshops focused on nuturing young readers through the practice of reading aloud.
Reading aloud has numerous academic and social emotional benefits, such as increasing empathy, developing attention span, improving problem solving skills, building vocabulary, and reducing stress. Dr. Scoggin also spoke about ways to support reading comprehension while reading together with our children. Asking open-ended questions, talking about the characters’ feelings, asking your child to make predictions, and reading expressively are all excellent ways to strengthen the reading experience.
If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Scoggin’s work, please visit https://trustingreaders.com, and be sure to join us for Dr. Scoggin’s last workshop on May 6!
Sign Up Now For The Little Folks Fair
The Little Folks Fair is approaching - it will be on Saturday, June 7! Since 1956 CNS has hosted the fair on the Guilford Green. The fair transforms the Green into a playground for children and families, creating memories that will last a lifetime. The Little Folks fair is not only a wonderful event, but one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, which helps to fund our financial aid.
This fair could not happen without the support and commitment of our amazing CNS families, and now is the time to sign up for your volunteer position. Below is a link to the sign-up sheet, where you can choose which booth you would like to be a part of on fair day. If you have any challenges signing up, please email one of the Little Folks Fair Directors - Amy Johnson at amyjohnsoncns@gmail.com or Chrissy Toner at chrissy.milanese@gmail.com.
We’re so looking forward to the 2025 Little Folks Fair; seeing parents working together to support our school, our community and our children is priceless!
Thank You to the Guilford Fund for Education
This past fall we received grant funding from the Guilford Fund for Education (GFFE) to build a sugar shack and send home tree tapping supplies with families. This month our sugar shack was built and children tapped trees at school and at home, boiled sap, and made their own maple syrup! We are so grateful for the support from the GFFE and our school community; this will be an amazing memory for the children at CNS.
Mark Your Calendars for these Spring Events
Nature 3s Parent Coffee Chat
Who: Nature 3s Parents
When: Wednesday, April 2 @ 9:15AM
Where: The Red Barn at CNS (front playground closed)
Contact: Irene Baker: ireneo@gmail.com
Toddler Meet-up
Who: Toddler Families
When: Sunday, April 6 @ 9:30-10:30AM
Where: CNS back playground
Contact: Paige Keefe: pkeefe16@gmail.com
CNS Parent Night Mixer
Who: All CNS Families
When: Wednesday, April 23 @ 7:00PM
Where: Stony Creek Brewery
Contact: Connie & Michael Bakutes: conniemottola@aol.com
Take a night off from bedtime routines and join us for a fun and relaxed evening out with your fellow co-op participants. It’s the perfect chance to unwind, mingle, and maybe even win a prize or two! There will be raffles and lots of laughs! If only one partner can make it—divide and conquer—come solo and enjoy a well-deserved night out. Want to donate a raffle basket? We’d love your support! If you’d like to contribute a basket for the raffle, please email me at conniemottola@aol.com. Come connect, relax, and enjoy a fun evening with your amazing co-op community—we can’t wait to see you there!
4s Meet-up
Who: 4s Families
When: Saturday, April 26th @ 10AM
Where: CNS back playground
Contact: Lily Prioreschi: LilianPrioreschi@gmail.com
CNS Spring Picnic
Who: All CNS Families
When: Saturday, May 3rd @ 12PM-2PM
Where: Bittner Park
Contact: Christina Daly: christinabullard@gmail.com
Reminder to Join the CNS Spring Grounds Clean-Up
CNS’s spring grounds clean-up is right around the corner. If you’re able, please join other CNS families on April 5 to tidy up the grounds. All families must send one parent to one school clean up per year, equal to four hours of work. You can sign up for the spring clean-up at the link below!
Family Spotlight
The Lefkins
We are the Lefkins - Dave, Brooke, Chase and Harper! Chase is 2 and is in PreK2s with Ms Sullivan, and Harper is only 3 months old. You may hear from Brooke as she coordinates grounds clean up this spring! We moved to Guilford in 2020 from Brooklyn, NY, but Dave went to high school here too. Brooke is lucky enough to work from home as a Senior Program Manager at Noom, and Dave is a full time Musician. He plays locally all the time in case anyone loves to dance! We spend most of our time playing outside with our dog Aria, going on walks or hikes, playing music and building magnetiles. Our favorite place is Block Island, where we spend most of our time in the summer!
Classroom Corner
This month we celebrated Holi in the PreK4s class. Learning about different cultural celebrations is an important and special part of our curriculum. Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates colors, love, and spring. After reading books and learning about the holiday, the children celebrated outside. It was a very colorful morning!
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
CNS February 2025 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
As some of you may know, this coming year is Community Nursery School’s 70th Birthday! It is incredible to look back at our deep history of providing quality education to children, and it is such a privilege to be a part of its future.
The Board is excited to announce that the vision of a new school house is finally coming to fruition - we have partnered with Porticoni Industries and will break ground next month!
This new school house will allow CNS to expand our nature school programming, welcome more families into our community, and continue the legacy of our founders. Our administration has already secured over $100,000 in donations and grants to jumpstart this exciting project. In addition, we are launching a Capital Campaign to raise funds from the broader Shoreline Community.
In light of these exciting activities, we are looking to form three new committees to support work related to our 70th anniversary, Capital Campaign, and New School Building. If you would like to be involved in any of these committees please fill out this form. Current families, alumni, and community members are welcome to join any committee.
I am personally so grateful that you have chosen to be part of CNS and for everything you bring to our school community. I’m looking forward to celebrating this milestone year with all of you and showing just how much we “Love School!”
Taryn Doran-Kelly, CNS Board President
What’s New
Be a Part of the CNS Spring Grounds Clean-Up
CNS’s spring grounds clean-up will be happening April 5, and we need your help! Three times a year, families organize to rake or blow leaves, remove vines from the fence, and otherwise tidy up the grounds. As a licensed facility, CNS must maintain a certain standard of cleanliness on our school grounds, and your participation saves us thousands a year in landscaping fees.
All families must send one parent to one school clean up per year, equal to four hours of work. If you are unable to make a clean up, there are tasks that can be done on alternate days. You can sign up for the spring clean-up at the link below!
Maple Sugaring at CNS!
Thanks to a generous grant from the Guilford Fund for Education, CNS will be tapping trees, collecting sap, and making maple syrup this year!
The Nature Kindergarten class has been hard at work learning more about maple trees and how maple syrup is made. An expert on maple sugaring from the Yale School of the Environment spent a morning with the class, answering questions about tapping and maple syrup production, and helping the class tap four trees around the CNS campus. The class will begin to check the buckets daily and collect and store the sap until they’re ready to boil it down into maple syrup.
In addition to tapping CNS trees, we’re excited to offer the chance for CNS families to tap trees at home. The school has enough supplies to lend 1 bucket, cover, and spile to any CNS family that is interested in sharing in this experience at home. If you’d like to participate, please fill out this form and supplies will be sent home with your CNS student. Tapping supplies will be loaned out for 1-2 weeks (depending on the weather). The sap that you collect each day should be stored in your refrigerator and then brought to CNS at the end of the week to add to our weekly sugaring boil.
We’re looking forward to the next steps in this maple syrup adventure!
Enroll Now for Summer Sessions
It’s time to enroll your child in summer sessions at CNS! There are still openings, especially in the full-week sessions, but spots are filling up fast. Fill out the applicable summer enrollment form below to get started. Full-week sessions are open to any child up to 8 years old who has completed a year of PreK3s, and there are also sessions for nature programming, art & artist exploration, and a theater program.
Last year, CNS summer program students were able to apply for financial aid courtesy of a $2,000 grant awarded by the Youth Advisory Grant committee (advised by The Guilford Foundation). We encourage families who need support to apply.
Upcoming Parent Literacy Workshop with Dr. Jen Scoggin
This year CNS is working with Dr. Jen Scoggin, a literacy consultant and author, to develop our literacy curriculum. The second of three workshops with Dr. Scoggin will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 pm (Google Meet link to come).
In this session, we will explore various routines and purposes for reading aloud with your child, highlighting what you can do to prepare your reader for future success with understanding stories and informational text. In addition, we will talk about the vital connection between reading and writing and some tips for supporting early engagement with writing.
Family Spotlight
The Fritch-Stalsburgs
Chuck Fritch and Brittany Stalsburg are parents to Della (4s, Mrs. Cruz) and Dylan (toddlers), as well as a CNS alum, Dean (age 6, in Kindergarten at Cox). Brittany and Chuck met in New York where they lived until Dean was 6 months old, at which time they moved back to Connecticut to be closer to family and have more space. They found the CNS community in 2019, when Dean began the toddlers classes. Enamored by CNS's welcoming, friendly, and inclusive vibe, Brittany and Chuck have been active parent volunteers as all 3 kids have gone through the program. Brittany served on the Board and also directed the Little Folks Fair in 2023. Outside of CNS, Brittany runs a market research consultancy and Chuck manages an AirBNB property. They are also involved in local non-profits including the Community Dining Room and Lasagna Love. As a family, they love traveling (Chuck is from California!) spending time at their beach house in East Haven, and taking advantage of all the fun activities and events on the CT Shoreline.
Classroom Corner
This month the three year old classes put on their Winter Art Show. This special exhibit of winter related art has been an event at CNS for years! The children created process art and filled the barn with their creations. Children engaging in process art learn to explore different materials and express themselves without conforming to a specific outcome or product. This is a great way to build confidence in children as they see the value that lies in creating. Thank you to our teachers for facilitating this wonderful event and our families for supporting our little artists!
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
CNS January 2025 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
It’s been cold this winter! Staying warm outside in cold weather can feel daunting, but with the proper dress, winter is one of the most beautiful times to enjoy nature. One of the best way to stay warm in the cold weather is to layer. Dressing in a base layer, mid-layer and outer layer will help you stay comfortable and adjust to changing temperatures.
Base layers are where it all begins and should fit snuggly to the body. A base layer’s primary purpose is to manage moisture so that you stay dry and comfortable. Base layers made of wool or fleece can add an extra layer of warmth in addition to transporting moisture away from your skin. Mid layers provide insulation; fleece is a great option here. This layer will trap the heat and should fit comfortably over your base layer and under your top layer. The outer layer provides protection from the elements (rain, snow, wind). Parka, jacket, shell, snow pants, rain pants are all examples of outer layers. After you have considered all the layers for your body, don’t forget to think about your hands, heads, and feet. You can layer here too! A liner glove offers the same warmth generating benefit that a base layer offers the body. Neck warmers and balaclavas add another layer of protection from the elements and can be layered under hats or hoods.
The right gear will truly make a huge difference. As Alfred Wainwright said, “There is no such thing as bad weather. Only unsuitable clothing.”
Julia Souvlis & Donna King, CNS teachers
What’s New
Summer Enrollment is Open
Enrollment for summer at CNS is open! Full-week sessions are open to any child up to 8 years old who has completed a year of PreK3s. There are also sessions for nature programming, art & artist exploration, and a theater program.
Last year, CNS summer program students were able to apply for financial aid courtesy of a $2,000 grant awarded by the Youth Advisory Grant committee (advised by The Guilford Foundation). We encourage families who need support to apply.
Spring Parent Participation Sign-Ups Open
The joy of seeing your children's faces light up when you join them in the classroom has been one of the highlights for the staff for our fall semester. As we prepare for spring, we're excited to offer new opportunities for these precious moments of connection and discovery.
We're now opening participation sign-ups for February through May. As a reminder, below are the updated participation guidelines:
Each family should select two participation days for spring (February-June)
Please choose days in different months to spread out the joy
One participation day per family per month ensures everyone has opportunities to participate
To sign up, access Sign-Up Genius using the button below. Find your child's classroom tab at the top of the page and select your preferred dates and times. If you need any assistance with scheduling or have questions about participation guidelines, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help ensure every family can enjoy these special moments with their children.
These classroom moments create lasting memories not just for your child, but for our entire community. Whether you're reading a story, helping with art projects, or discovering nature's treasures together, your presence makes our cooperative truly special.
Dr. Jen Scoggin Holds 1st Parent Literacy Workshop
This year CNS is working with Dr. Jen Scoggin, a literacy consultant and author, to develop our literacy curriculum. We offered the first of three workshops with Dr. Scoggin earlier this month, and it was an incredible opportunity to learn about the connections between emotions and reading, and how to help our children begin to build identities as readers.
Dr. Scoggin spoke about learning to read as a set of emotional competencies, far more complex than simply recognizing and comprehending words. Self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills are all key factors when learning to read.
Children’s positive experiences with text from a young age have the power to set the stage for future confident literacy success. Some key take-aways for helping to build a strong reading identity were to normalize mistake making, be a reading mentor, incorporate reading and writing into play, and create calm, positive, varied, and frequent routines around reading.
As parents, often one of our greatest joys is sharing books with our children. This workshop was a powerful reminder of all of the ways early literacy can be fostered. If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Scoggin’s work, please visit https://trustingreaders.com.
We are so fortunate to be working with Dr. Scoggin, and we’re already looking forward to her next workshop on March 4!
Totally Turtles at Meigs Point
CNS families and alum visited Meigs Point Nature Center Saturday, January 18, to learn about turtles native to our area. There were lots of turtles to see up close and some turtles races at the end! The crowd favorite was definitely the snapping turtle. Thank you so much to everyone who attended - our donations contributed a large sum to the nature center and all of the wonderful programs there.
We love seeing this community come together for fun experiences! Please watch the Facebook page for new upcoming events.
Purchase Your CNS Swag!
All of the students have their CNS t-shirts, so now it’s time to stock up on some cold weather gear for both kids and adults!
CNS sweatshirts (and a cozy winter hat) are available to purchase online and can be easily picked up at school.
Family Spotlight
The Lieponis
Sarah and Jonas Lieponis are parents to Tory (2), who is in a once a week 2’s playgroup with Ms. Sullivan. Jonas grew up in Guilford and is a CNS graduate! He had been living down south for work and returned to CT for a job opportunity when he met Sarah. Sarah had been living in New Haven when she met Jonas and they moved to Guilford in 2019. Jonas does market development for a spine company, and Sarah works in commercial marketing for a sports medicine company. She also helps with marketing for the CNS capital campaign. Tory absolutely adores water-related activities during the warmer months, and their family is passionate about music. Jonas plays guitar, and Sarah loves to sing. Tory is thrilled with her new karaoke machine and loves a good dance party. The Lieponis family is curious to know which other families share their musical enthusiasm. CNS sing-along, anyone? They already have Chase's dad, Dave, and Mira's dad, Jeff, on the list. Who else wants to join in the fun?
Classroom Corner
Our nature school classes use an emergent curriculum. This means that when the children show interest or curiosity in something, the teachers encourage that line of inquiry and build the curriculum around it. The newest line of inquiry is ICE! With very cold temperatures, the children were fascinated with water freezing and the shapes they could make with ice. Here are a few photos of the ice museum they created!
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
CNS December 2024 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
My name is Kris Bloch and I am the treasurer for CNS’s Board, a role that I have held for three years. As treasurer, I am responsible for developing the school’s annual budget, in close partnership with CNS’s executive director and board. Put simply, budgets are about dollars and cents; at CNS, we aspire to align the budget with our values and allocate resources towards our priorities. These include:
Keeping tuition affordable to maintain broad access for the community;
Augmenting investments in our talented staff;
Increasing capacity and financial aid to support enrollment growth; and
Diversifying revenue sources to meet rising costs.
I am excited to share with you that the board recently voted to approve a construction contract to add two accessible classrooms to our property. This expansion represents the largest capital investment in the school since CNS’s founding 70 years ago, and it will transform our ability to meet the increased demand for our programs. In the coming months, we will be launching a capital campaign to help fund this important project.
As always, we strive to be responsible stewards of the funds that have been entrusted to our organization, using them to further our mission and priorities while working to manage costs where we can. CNS’s cooperative model, which relies on family participation, is critical to maintaining our financial sustainability. Through your positive engagement in our coop model, we are able to create an environment where all students can learn to love school.
We invite your input in our priorities or changes you’d like to see at the school, which can be sent to theboard@guilfordcns.org. All board meetings are virtual and this year we have posted the meeting links on the CNS website on the events page. All families are welcome to attend.
Kris Bloch, CNS Board Treasurer
What’s New
2025-2026 Enrollment Opens for Current Students
On January 1, 2025, enrollment for the 2025-2026 academic year will open for current students.
Some notable additions include a new Transitional Kindergarten program as well as an expanded PreK 3 program, with more flexible day combinations. Below is a list of all of the offerings for the 2025-2026 academic year. Enrollment forms and financial aid applications can be submitted to Rachel Daniels. Enrollment opens to the public on January 15. If you have any questions please reach out to Rachel. We look forward to another enriching year of playing, learning and growing together!
PreK 2s - Teacher-led songs, stories, sensory activities, process art as well as free exploration and playground time. All of our PreK 2 programming is parent/caregiver & child.
Tuesdays 9:15 - 10:15 am (for siblings of currently enrolled preschool children)
Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30 am (for children without siblings currently attending CNS)
Co-Op Playgroup - Social meet-up for families with children 18 months - 2 years old, teacher-provided activities, use of playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces. All of our PreK 2 programming is parent/caregiver & child. This class is open to children who are currently enrolled in PreK2s or Nature Explorers, or currently have a sibling attending CNS, and is not teacher-led.
Mondays 9:15 - 10:15 am
Nature Explorers - The first step into Nature School, teacher-led outdoor activities, hikes, and time in outdoor learning spaces. This program takes place in all safe weather, so proper clothing and gear is important! All of our PreK 2 programming is parent/caregiver & child.
Thursdays 9:15 - 10:15 am (for siblings of currently enrolled preschool children)
Thursdays 10:30 - 11:30 am (for children without siblings currently attending CNS)
PreK 3’s Nature School - This Nature School program is for three year olds seeking an outdoor preschool experience. Curriculum will be based on all the PreK 3 learning standards as well as providing opportunities for greater independence, appropriate risk-taking, and exploration of the natural world. Nature Schoolers spend time at basecamps, the outdoor art studio, and hike on the trails daily.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Monday/Wednesday or Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
PreK 3’s Morning Program
Tuesday/Thursday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
PreK 3’s Enrichment
Tuesday/Thursday 12:00-1:00 pm
Nature School 3’s Enrichment
Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Monday/Wednesday or Friday 12:00 -1:00 pm
PreK 4’s Morning Program - Play-based learning across all content areas. Teacher-led instruction and child-led exploration of themes that address all early learning standards. PreK 4 students spend time journaling, hiking, building, creating process art, and engaged in imaginative play. Our PreK 4’s program gives children time and opportunity to develop pre-writing skills through fine motor activities and mark-making. Children spend time indoors and outside in our outdoor learning spaces.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Transitional K - Transitional Kindergarten is a program that allows students to a final year of preschool before entering a true kindergarten the following year. This program was designed for children seeking a third year of preschool, and a longer, more challenging day. Transitional K will focus on more specific early learning standards and incorporate kindergarten standards for those children developmentally ready. Transitional K incorporates all afternoon enrichment programming; cultural, art, cooking, and music enrichment as well as a foreign language component built into the day. The children are able to use all of the indoor and outdoor spaces CNS has to offer.
Mondays-Fridays 9:00 am -2:00 pm
PreK 4 Art and Artist Enrichment - This class explores the lives of famous artists and allows children the opportunity to create pieces inspired by their work. Children learn about artists’ lives as children, and how they grew up into their craft. All different types of art is explored, including impressionism, pop-art, surrealism, and modern art. Artists range from Frida Kahlo to Banksy, from Van Gogh to Ansel Adams. Children learn to appreciate different types of art and the creative process.
Mondays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
PreK 4 Music and Musicians Enrichment - Our Music and Musicians enrichment class allows students to learn about different types of music, genres, and musicians throughout history. Children will learn about music from different cultures, with intentional curriculum tie-ins to the other afternoon enrichment classes.
Tuesdays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
PreK 4 Cultural Enrichment - This class explores cultures around the world: customs, holidays, food, music and language. Focus will be on celebrating differences and noticing commonalities between cultures. Cultural enrichment is a two-day a week offering to allow children time to dive deeper into the material and learning. Cultural enrichment also drives the other afternoon enrichment classes, as art, cooking, and music will all spend time focused on art, recipes, music, and celebrations from that culture. These classes can be taken independently, or all together for a meaningful learning experience.
Wednesdays and Fridays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
PreK 4 Cooking Science Enrichment - In cooking science children discover the science behind what happens in the kitchen. Children will learn the basics of growing their own food, the chemistry behind the cooking process, and how to make and create meals and snacks. Exposing children to the process of growing and preparing their food not only encourages them to expand their palates; it allows them to build confidence as they learn new skills. Cooking enrichment allows children to explore foods and ingredients from other countries and cultures, creating a cohesive afternoon experience.
Thursdays 12:00 - 2:00 pm
Nature School K - Part of our Nature School program, Nature K will allow for learning across all academic and social content areas in an immersive nature experience. Particular focus on fostering personal and environmental responsibility. Emphasis on play-based learning experiences and opportunities. This child-led (but teacher-facilitated) approach gives children ownership over their learning experience and deepens their understanding of subject matter that resonates with them. Nature K can be used as either a transitional K year, or a true K year depending on the age and development of the child.
Mondays-Fridays 9:00 am -2:00 pm
CNS Celebrates Winter Solstice
Students and families flocked to CNS to celebrate the winter solstice on Thursday, December 19. Students collected the beautiful lanterns they had made during the week, and everyone gathered to drink hot cider and sing a song. Mrs. Souvlis read the book The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper as the sun set. Families were invited to visit the three basecamps, each with its own craft activity, and admire the festive decorations the students had made. It was a wonderful celebration of community and nature.
Enhancing Equity in Classroom Participation
The CNS Board is truly grateful for your enthusiasm and dedication to our cooperative model. The level of parent participation this year has been extraordinary, and it speaks volumes about the commitment of our community. However, this positive engagement has highlighted a few areas we need to address to ensure the process remains equitable and supportive for all families and children.
Moving forward, there will be some small changes to the participation process to ensure that it is fair for all. Please read more about these changes here.
CNS Sugar Shack Grant Approved
The Guilford Fund for Education (GFFE) has approved our grant for our CNS Sugar Shack! We will soon be making our own maple syrup, which will allow CNS students the opportunity for a wide range of learning experiences.
Standby for maple syrup! Thank you as always to the generous GFFE!
Family Spotlight
The Blochs
Kris and Jenna Bloch are parents to Henry (7), Ruby (5), and Jack (1.5). Ruby is currently in Nature Kindergarten, and Jack is planning to start in the toddler/2s program next fall. Henry is a CNS alum who wishes to return soon as a “parent helper.” In 2022, after many years of living in Boston, the Blochs relocated to Guilford to be close to Jenna’s family. Prior to moving, Jenna worked as a seventh grade science teacher, and is now home full time taking care of the family. Kris is a senior director at Elevance Health, formerly Anthem. He also serves on the CNS board as the school’s treasurer. As a family, they love watching OKC thunder basketball games - Kris’s hometown team (and, coincidentally coached by Jenna’s cousin!). They also enjoy being active outdoors, gardening with their Papi, and taking road trips to places old and new. They are so grateful to be a part of the CNS community!
Classroom Corner
In the classrooms this week children have been learning about different winter holidays- Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Talking and leaning about different celebrations allows children to make connections between what they do in their family and what it looks like for other families. Understanding similarities and differences across cultures is an important step in developing respect and appreciation for others.
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
Enhancing Equity in Classroom Participation
Dear CNS Families,
I hope this email finds you well. We are truly grateful for your enthusiasm and dedication to our cooperative model. The level of parent participation this year has been extraordinary, and it speaks volumes about the commitment of our community. However, this positive engagement has highlighted a few areas we need to address to ensure the process remains equitable and supportive for all families and children.
Participation Equity
As outlined in our Co-Op Member Requirements, each family is asked to participate in the classroom twice from October to January and twice from February to June. Some families have already signed up for more than the required two days this fall, which has created a few unexpected challenges:
Equity Among Families: Extra sign-ups can limit availability for other families to select dates, potentially causing frustration or missed opportunities.
Equity for Children: Seeing some parents more frequently in the classroom may lead to questions or concerns from children whose parents participate less often.
Developmental Impact: Increased participation by a single parent can sometimes lead to separation challenges, limiting a child's opportunity to develop independence.
Legal Considerations: Volunteers who exceed 12 visits in a school year could be subject to regulatory requirements that treat them as staff members, leading to additional administrative processes.
Updated Guidelines for Participation
To ensure fairness and address the concerns mentioned, we are implementing slight adjustments to the participation process moving forward:
Initial Sign-Ups: Each family may sign up for a maximum of two classroom days from October to January and two days from February to June, meeting the required four total days for the school year.
Additional Opportunities: Once all families have fulfilled their initial two-day requirement for each period, additional slots will open for those wishing to participate more. At that time, families may sign up for up to two additional classroom days from October to January and two additional classroom days from February to June. This would total four days per period and a maximum of eight participation days for the entire school year.
Monthly Limit: To ensure balanced opportunities, family participation is limited to one day per month (per child), regardless of the number of classes or programs your child is enrolled in or the number or family members participating.
We will continue to monitor the participation list to ensure availability is equitable and aligned with the Co-Op Member Requirements.
Evolving Model
This is our second school year using our new participation model. We appreciate your feedback and cooperation as we strive to improve this process moving forward. Being a cooperative is an integral part of our mission, and our goal is to execute this model fairly, equitably, and in the best interests of the children.
Next Steps
If you have already signed up for more than the required two days for this period, we kindly ask you to review the schedule and adjust your sign-ups to align with the updated guidelines. For any questions or assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to racheldanielscns@gmail.com.
Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to make CNS such a special place. Your participation not only enriches your own child’s experience but also strengthens our entire community.
Warm regards,
CNS Board
2025-2026 Enrollment Forms
Dear families,
We're excited to share our CNS programming updates for the 2025-2026 school year, reflecting our commitment to meeting our community's evolving educational needs.
This year we're introducing a Transitional Kindergarten program, designed to bridge the gap between preschool and traditional kindergarten, in response to Connecticut's recent kindergarten age cut-off changes. This program provides a tailored learning experience for children at this critical developmental stage.
Based on your valuable feedback from our recent programming survey, we've expanded PreK 3 program options, offering more flexible day-of-week combinations to better support your family's scheduling needs.
To sustain our mission of providing high-quality, equitable early childhood education, we've implemented a modest tuition adjustment. This increase ensures we can continue fairly compensating our dedicated teachers and supporting our financial aid initiatives, ultimately enhancing the educational experience for all children.
Enrollment for current students opens January 1, 2025. Enrollment forms and financial aid applications can be submitted to Rachel Daniels. Rachel is available to assist you with any questions or support you may need during this process
We look forward to another enriching year of playing, learning and growing together.
Sincerely,
The CNS Board
CNS November 2024 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
Earlier this month, our awesome parents came together for an incredible cleanup at the school, showcasing the spirit of teamwork and commitment to our children's environment. Thanks to all who participated, we successfully removed a mountain of fall leaves, replaced the kitchen sink faucet, and fixed a leaky hose. The lower playground's playscape was power washed in preparation for painting, while our picnic tables received a fresh stain, enhancing their appeal. We even deconstructed the play car, setting the stage for future fun!
But the hard work didn’t stop there! Over the following weekends, our volunteers continued to make significant strides. We proudly installed a new fence behind the yoga platform, ensuring a safe and inviting space. The playhouse received a much-needed makeover with a new roof and siding, and it was pressure washed, ready for a fresh coat of paint. Excitingly, we also began the reconstruction of the play car, promising more adventures for our little ones.
As we look ahead, a group of enthusiastic volunteers will gather over Thanksgiving weekend to wrap up all outstanding projects. Together, we are creating a vibrant and nurturing environment for our preschoolers to thrive! Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and effort!
Matthew Hendrix, House and Grounds Board Member
What’s New
Raise Craze was a Huge Success
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised $10,576 during Raise Craze, surpassing our $9,000 goal to fund all school supplies for a year at CNS! With the additional money, we’ll be able to invest in beautiful, high-quality, and reusable materials for our school celebrations, including our Solstice event, art shows, and cultural celebrations. These materials will not only enhance the experience for our students and families, but they’ll also be a lasting investment that will help CNS events shine for years to come!
Raise Craze is our largest fundraiser of the year, dedicated to promoting kindness and supporting our mission. One of the best things about CNS is we feel very strongly that teachers should not need to buy supplies out of pocket. Families were encouraged to not only make a donation but also to pay forward an act of kindness. In addition, students participated in activities that promoted kindness both in the classroom and the wider community.
Holiday Pop-up Shop at CNS
This year CNS is creating a Holiday Pop Up Shop at school, so your children can “shop” for items (free of charge) for their special people for the holidays. Teacher Amy Johnson is spearheading the effort to collect donated items to stock the shop with.
“I am hoping I can encourage you to gather things from around your house you are no longer in need of…pot holders, wooden spoons, key chains, your wedding toasting flutes…(come on you’re not using those…) to donate to our shop!”
There will be a plastic storage bin outside of the barn for the next couple of weeks to receive any donated items. We would be so grateful for anything you can part with, and we know the students will be tickled at the chance to pick out unique gifts for the holidays!
CNS at the Guilford Tree Lighting Ceremony
As in past years, the CNS children have been invited to participate in the Guilford Tree Lighting, on Friday, Dec 6th from 5:45pm to 6:30pm. Stage(s) will be set up near the town Christmas tree in front of Town Hall. There are a variety of acts, with CNS forming the Nursery School Choir.
The CNS children will perform in the second half of the tree lighting ceremony, singing “Jingle Bells” and then “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” as they greet Santa. Everyone will then sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
If you’re interested in having your child participate, please email Ali Beauvais at abbeauvais11@gmail.com. The children will gather no later than 5:30, and we will be given a meeting spot as it gets closer. We will also need a few parent volunteers to be on stage with the children. Registration is not required - last-minute participants are welcome!
Community Survey Reminder
Please take a moment to fill out the CNS Community Survey, if you haven’t done so already. Your feedback will help our school community thrive!
Save the Date - Co-op Holiday Art Pop-up
In the spirit of the season and because we're hoping to bring you more community events, we'd love for you to join us for our first Co-op Holiday Art Pop-up!
Come do art with us and your kiddos! The event will be Saturday, December 14 at 10:00 am, and the cost is $20 per family. This is a parent/child event with limited spaces. Please RSVP through Brightwheel.
Family Spotlight
The Palladinos
Lauren and Nick Palladino are parents to Tessa (4), William (3), and Annie (1 month). Tessa and William are both in Ms. Sullivan’s afternoon class.
Nick is an ER doctor at Bridgeport and Milford Hospitals, and Lauren is a pediatric ER doctor at Yale.
We’re new to Guilford! We just moved here this summer from outside Philadelphia.
We’ve been spending lots of time getting to know our new town, and have especially loved exploring the hiking trails, beaches, playgrounds, and pizza!
Our CNS co-op role is the Little Folks Fair Booth Chair - Publicity.
Classroom Corner
Our Cultural Enrichment class has been studying India. This week they learned about the holiday Diwali and its traditions. They made their own diyas out of paper plates and air dry clay and painted them using the back of a paintbrush. They are beautiful! They also learned about the history of henna and made their own henna designs and got amazing henna tattoos.
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
Cultural Celebration Bags Go Home to Families
Our first Cultural Celebration bags went home to families this week with materials about Día de Los Muertos! Materials were funded by the Guilford Fund for Education (GFFE) through their grant awards.
Inside, families will find a packet with educational resources for parents, a recipe for sugar skulls, and a reusable sugar skull mold. Children can also participate in skull decorating and coloring activities. The kit includes three books about Día de Los Muertos that help children learn about the celebration through narrative and visual storytelling.
“We want our school to be a place where a wide range of cultures are represented,” said CNS Director, Rachel Daniels. “We see value in children exploring and understanding the many ways people live and appreciating the differences in experiences across cultures. This allows children to feel included if their culture falls out of the mainstream, and also gives children who might be part of a more mainstream culture a chance to discover what other families celebrate.”
These take-home resources build on the in-classroom curriculum with the CNS Cultural Enrichment program, which was also funded through a GFFE grant award. “Young children love holidays and celebrations,” said Daniels. “Learning about as many as possible at an early age prepares them to be kind, accepting citizens of the world.”
We are so grateful to GFFE for funding this initiative and are excited to see the impact of this program on our community.
CNS October 2024 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
Classroom participation is off to a fantastic start! We’ve had 44 classroom helpers so far and we are only at the end of October! It is such a positive experience for our little ones to share their school day with us, introduce their friends and routine, and show off their caregiver. This also helps out our teachers, an extra set of hands and eyes goes a long way! You can sign up for up to 4 days between now and January (you only need 2 to fill your quota) and there will be opportunities for 2-4 more days available in the spring. Also, a reminder that the new check in is very easy with the QR code option!
Sign up for additional days here!
Daniella Hernandez, Parent Participation Coordinator
What’s New
CNS Welcomes Literary Consultant
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jen Scoggin as a literacy consultant this year. It is really exciting to have someone of her caliber working with the school, as most preschools do not have this level of support. Dr. Scoggin will be coming in to observe teachers, give feedback, and run parent workshops. Please stay tuned for more details!
Workshop 1 (date TBD): As parents, often one of our greatest joys is sharing books with our children. Children’s positive experiences with text from a young age have the power to set the stage for future confident literacy success. In this first workshop, we will explore the connections between emotions and reading, the importance of staying child-centered and what it means to start to build an identity as a reader. In addition, tips for feedback, addressing mistakes and setting up literacy opportunities in your home will be shared.
Raise Craze is Coming!
Raise Craze is our largest fundraiser of the year, dedicated to promoting kindness and supporting our mission. One of the best things about CNS is we feel very strongly that teachers should not need to buy supplies out of pocket. Our goal for Raise Craze 2024 is to raise $9,000 as a community—enough to cover all school supplies and educational materials for the school year!
Raise Craze is not just about fundraising; it's also about fostering kindness. Families are encouraged to not only make a donation but also to pay forward an act of kindness. In addition, students will participate in activities that promote kindness both in the classroom and the wider community.
Mark your calendars! Raise Craze will take place from November 4-17. Stay tuned for more information.
November Grounds Clean-up
CNS’s fall grounds clean-up will be happening in November, and we need your help! CNS is a licensed facility, and in order to keep our license we must maintain a certain standard of cleanliness on our school grounds. Three times a year, families organize to rake or blow leaves, remove vines from the fence, and otherwise tidy up the grounds. This saves us thousands a year in landscaping fees.
All families must send one parent to one school clean up per year, equal to four hours of work. If you are unable to make a clean up, there are tasks that can be done on alternate days.
More information will be sent as we get closer to the clean-up date.
CNS on the Guilford Green
CNS helped Guilford get in the Halloween spirit! We contributed a witch to the Scarecrows on the Green contest, with a recipe for "CNS Children." Don't worry; she's a good witch, so she's making them, not cooking them. 😉
Across the street, CNS painted an enchanting window display showcasing the witch from "Room on the Broom," a children's book that teaches friendship and generosity.
Huge thanks to our town event coordinator Melissa Reiner, Dan Reiner, Lindsay Hendrix, and Lindsay’s daughter for putting it all together. They look fantastic!
Parking Lot Reminder
We have so many wonderful families at our preschool co-op that the parking lot can get a bit busy during pick up and drop off time. You can help everyone stay safe and organized with the following reminders:
Park close to other cars. Until the new parking lines are painted in August, please pretend they are there and park a reasonable distance from other cars. This will help everyone fit into the space we have.
Keep parking lot conversations to a minimum. We love chatting and connecting with other families! Please hold conversations on the grass or on the front playground if it's available. This will free up space for cars to enter and leave.
Be considerate when leaving cars. Many of us add extra layers to our kids in the parking lot. Please take those layers out of your car, close your car door, and dress your child in the space in front or behind your own car, leaving space to the sides of each car to allow other families to park and leave.
Thank you for your help in making our parking lot a safe and organized place for everyone! We appreciate your consideration during this busy time.
Family Spotlight
The Marrs
Bonnie and Nick Marr are parents to Lucy (4.5 yrs) and Scott (2.5 yrs). Lucy is in the 4’s and the Nature School program, both with Mrs. Cruz and Mrs. Bober. Lucy started at CNS in the toddler program when she was 18 months old. Scott is currently enjoying the 2’s and Nature Explorers programming with Ms. Sullivan.
Bonnie is originally from Upstate NY, and Nick is from New Fairfield, CT. They met at Quinnipiac University during undergrad which is what prompted them to now reside in Branford. They moved there in 2019 after living in the Boston area for several years and have been enjoying the Shoreline ever since.
Nick is the Pharmaceutical Sector Lead for Aggreko, a global provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services. Bonnie is a former Sr. Marketing Manager and is now home full time caring for the family.
Lucy enjoys creating art and crafting while Scott enjoys riding his bike and all things engines. As a family they love enjoying what the current season has to offer. Most of all, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter and hiking, boating and swimming in the summer!
Classroom Corner
Did you know a play-based curriculum is incredibly intentional? It IS! During free explore the space is set up for opportunities across all content areas. This is how we meet all of our learning goals through play!
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
CNS September 2024 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
This October, CNS will be participating in 3 Halloween town events - Scarecrow on the Green, Halloween window painting, and the Halloween Spooktacular. The first event, the Scarecrow on the Green, will be Friday, Oct. 4th. After the scarecrows have been set up, the town will put pictures online for people to vote for. The kids love seeing the green covered in these creative scarecrows! They are truly a sight to see; definitely come take the kids for a walk-through.
The next day, Oct. 5th, begins the Halloween window painting. We are assigned a window space from one of the participating businesses and paint our approved sketch. The town will also take photos to put online to vote for your favorite one. Last year, I believe we received 2nd place for our Halloween Bluey painting. The paintings are always so fun and bring so much color to the center of town.
Lastly will be the Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 27th from 2 to 4 pm on the green. A carnival-style game will be created for the kids to enjoy before they take their treat. Last year we did a feed-the-monster game, and the kids absolutely loved it. We hope to see everyone there for it!
If anyone would like to assist with any of these fun fall events, please email me at vesper721990@gmail.com.
Melissa Reiner, Town Event Coordinator
What’s New
Family Classroom Participation Sign-Ups
Sign-ups are now open for family participation in the classroom. Family participation is an amazing opportunity and an essential part of the cooperative model at CNS.
The sign-up page, linked below, shows available date and time slots for the first half of the year, through the end of January. On this page, you'll find tabs at the top representing each teacher and classroom. Scheduling is on a first-come, first-served basis - once a date is chosen by someone, it becomes unavailable to others.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Daniella Hernandez, the Parent Participation Coordinator, at dwilliams4812@gmail.com.
Reminder: Choose your Co-op Administration Role
The Administration Role coordinator will begin checking that each family has selected a role soon! If you have not yet done so, please choose your role as soon as possible to ensure you are meeting the co-op requirements. High needs roles include: Fundraising Committee Chair, Fall Clean Up Organizer, Little Folks Fair Assistant Director, and Treasury Assistant.
CNS T-shirts
All new CNS students receive a free t-shirt from the school. Adults should order their t-shirts online (they are needed for community events such as Little Folks Fair). You can also order shirts for younger children or those who have outgrown their shirts below.
CNS in the Guilford Parade
CNS had a great time at the Guilford Parade. Forty parents, students and teachers marched one mile around the town green. It was a thrill to see new and returning CNS families marching together, and to hear alumni families cheering from among the spectators. CNS is indeed a place where community flourishes and endures.
Best in Show
Community Nursery School’s process art submission earned Best in Show at the Guilford Fair! Look at the amazing work done by our little hands <3
Family Spotlight
The Nanis
Roger and Leah Nani are parents to Luke (4) and Elise (15 months). Luke was in Mrs. Krischtschun’s class last year and this year is in Mrs. Cruz’s class.
Roger is a Principal Scientist at Detect in Guilford, and Leah is a personal assistant to real estate agent Emily White in Guilford. They moved to Madison in 2017 from Frederick, MD, where Roger was completing his Postdoc at the National Cancer Institute, and before that they lived in Pasadena, CA. The Shoreline really feels like home to the Nanis - they bought their first house in Madison in 2021.
Roger, Leah, and their kids love to go to the Surf Club in the summer, as well as Roger’s parents’ boat in City Island, NY. Luke loves roller coasters, so they’ve been to Rye Playland and Disney World. Luke enjoys cooking and baking with us and his grandma, and Elise helps to eat it all!
Classroom Corner
Welcome to the start of school! We are so proud of all of our students for getting used to being part of a classroom community. For the first several weeks of school we spend a lot of time talking and learning about feelings and emotions. We do this intentionally so that children know that their feelings are valued, and also to help give them the language they need to express themselves. One of our favorite books is The Color Monster, this book explores the many feelings out there - and also how you can have more than one feeling at once! Voicing your own feelings is one of the first steps in understanding others. We are feeling proud of all our children this month as we transition into our school year!
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
CNS August 2024 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
I’m not sure about everyone else, but it feels like summer flew by - I cannot believe the first day of school is almost here! If your family is anything like mine, you’re probably trying to reestablish reasonable bedtimes, limit ice pops to special occasions, and cut back on those 8 p.m. trips for Bishops Ice Cream because “it’s summer!” While the school year brings much-needed structure and routine, many of us are also embarking on an exciting (albeit daunting) new chapter in our children’s lives.
Fortunately, one of the best aspects of Community Nursery School is its community. I encourage everyone to participate in as many events as possible, sign up for co-op roles, and seek support from veteran parents. The Cooperative is only as strong as our collective commitment!
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or just to say hi—my figurative door is always open.
Here’s to new friends, cherished memories, and a fantastic school year!
Taryn Kelly-Doran, CNS Board President
What’s New
Back to School Reminders
The start of the school year is a busy time. Be sure to double check that all of your required CNS forms have been submitted, and you are set up in Brightwheel. The CNS Handbook is a great resource, as is the CNS Co-Op Field Guide - all of this information will help ensure a smooth transition into the new school year.
Save the Date
August 28, 7:30pm: CNS Nature School Orientation Meeting (virtual)
September 3 & 4: Meet and Greets
September 5 & 6: First Day of School
Top Tip - A Goodbye Routine
Before school starts is a great time to start practicing your goodbye routine. For many children entering preschool this is the first time they are saying goodbye and separating from their grown-up. Coming up with a short, sweet, and predictable goodbye routine is a great way to give your child clear expectations about what this will look like on the first (and second, and third!) day of school. It's fun to come up with this special goodbye together. Some children like a hug and a fist bump, others like a special saying, others a secret handshake. It doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it's predictable. Saying goodbye to your child confidently communicates that you feel positive and safe with leaving them at school. Reassure them that you will see them after their day of learning and playing. ♥️
Rachel Daniels, CNS Director
The Guilford Foundation Award for Finical Aid
Over the summer, The Guilford Foundation (TGF) awarded CNS $5,000 for financial aid. This award represents part of our ongoing efforts for equity in our programming with a goal of making our play-based, nature inspired program more accessible for the community.
Family Spotlight
The Bartkuses
Andrew and Lauren Bartkus are parents to twins Graham (4) and Rhys (4), both in the Nature Kindergarten class, and their older brother Caelan (7). After many years in Seattle, WA, they moved to Guilford in July. All three boys enjoyed outdoor preschools on the west coast, and Graham and Rhys are excited to continue here.
Andrew is a software engineer for Redfin, a real estate brokerage. Lauren is a graphic designer and is looking forward to working again after caring for the kids full-time. They moved to CT to be closer to Lauren’s friends and family. Together, they’ll be crafting the CNS newsletters all year long!
As a family, they enjoy board games, watching football, and visiting the pool or the beach. The boys spent the summer immersing themselves in the Olympics and the world of Harry Potter - they can spend a whole day at their imaginary Hogwarts!
Classroom Corner
Olympic Spirit!
As summer sessions came to a close, students enjoyed participating in the CNS Nature School Olympics.
Upcoming Events
Past News & Announcements
Welcome 2024-2025 Families!
Hello Cooperative Families,
I hope you are all having an amazing summer! We are so excited to start a new school year with you and your child.
Over the summer there are several important things that need to be done before your child can begin school in September.
Submit your child’s medical forms, including flu shot records. Allergy and asthma documentation must also be provided, if applicable.
Complete your background check and fingerprinting.
Set up your Brightwheel billing and fill in all information in the Personal Info and Address section of your child’s page.
Sign and return the Parent Permission Form (on the website)
Sign and return the Family Handbook, photo release form, discipline policy, and Co-Op Participation Agreement, once they are made available
Ready your child’s school supplies!
Ready your CHILD! 😊
Medical Forms
Before the start of school I will need an updated medical form for every child. Your child's pediatrician has the form, but for reference, here is the form
The first page is for parents/guardians to fill out, sign and date. The remaining pages are for the physician to fill out and the immunization record must be attached.
If your child has asthma/allergies I will also need additional forms,please let me know so I can make sure you have the correct paperwork.
A few additional details about immunizations.
Flu shots are required for children in preschool. Your child will need a flu shot by 12/31/24 to return to school in the new year. A reminder that there is no longer a religious exemption for vaccines, only approved medical exemptions. If your child has been vaccinated for COVID (not required) please be sure that is indicated on the immunization record.
Background Checks/Fingerprinting
The state requires all family members participating in a preschool classroom to be background checked and fingerprinted. If you completed this already at CNS, please check the site to make sure you are still current. Background checks are good for several years, but please make sure you are listed as current.
https://bcis.oec.ct.gov/auth/login
There will be a communication coming asking for your full name, DOB, zip code, and preferred email address. After you provide that information, we can check to see if you are in the system. If you are, GREAT! If you are not, we will use that email address to invite you to begin the background check process. The co-op field guide sent by the board has a great step by step explanation of the process.
School Calendar, Parent Permission Form & Portal
All forms are located on the website, all must be completed before the start of school.
School calendar is located on the website!
There is a Family Portal on the CNS website with all the forms and links, and the password is loveschool.
Billing & Brightwheel
At this point everyone should have received an invitation to join Brightwheel, our online platform for communication, billing, etc. If you have not, please respond to this email with the best email address to send the invite.
Once you are in Brightwheel, please fill out your child's personal information and address section. When you set up billing, please check to make sure that registration fee and Sept. tuition was paid. If you paid a security deposit you should see that reflected in September’s tuition.
If you are setting up payment plans and do not have a preference between credit card and ACH transfer, please consider using ACH transfer as it saves our school a significant amount of money in absorbed fees. Thank you!
School Communication
Please like and follow our school Instagram and Facebook page. We also have Private Facebook Group for current families. Families should use and interact with the private group as much as possible! This is a great way to coordinate and get to know one another.
Nearly all of the communication from the school will be done over Brightwheel, this is one of the few emails you will receive from me this year!
However, the majority of school activities are organized by parents and families. They will mostly use email to communicate with our school community. Please add theboard@guilfordcns.org and community@guilfordcns.org to your contacts to avoid emails going to spam.
School Supplies
For the first day of school, please make sure your child has the following (all labeled with the child’s name):
Indoor shoes
Nut-free snack
A water bottle
Appropriate outerwear, including outdoor shoes, and play clothing
An extra set of clothes in a labeled bag
Lunch, if staying for enrichment or a lunch program
A cubby bag will be provided at meet and greet.
If you need labels, please purchase them via Mabel’s Labels as a portion of the proceeds goes to CNS.
Clothes
Clothes should be school clothes. By which I mean play clothes. Play clothes need to be items that will get paint, dirt, water, and food all over them. Every day. Children are meant to explore and investigate the world around them, and clothes need to make that possible, not be a barrier to that experience. Many of the art supplies we use are washable. Some are not. Some claim to be washable, but are not (I am looking at you, blue liquid watercolor). Please send your child to school in clothes that will allow them to have messy, sensory, and independent experiences. And that might mean you send them in high-end couture. That's fine! Just as long as you are comfortable with it coming home covered in mud, paint, shaving cream, and every messy item under the sun.
Shoes
The children will be wearing indoor shoes inside the building. These are soft soled shoes/slippers that they can put on themselves. This keeps our school cleaner, quieter, and helps foster independence and responsibility. Outdoor shoes need to be safe for climbing and playing outside. Rain and snow boots should be worn when the weather calls for it, as we do go outside in nearly all weather.
A few links for indoor shoes:
Accessories
Please limit the number of accessories worn to school. They can be distracting, lost, and sometimes hazardous.
Toys from Home
The best place to keep toys from home is at home. Please do not send your child to school with toys or other items that can be lost or distracting. If you think that there is a special item (small stuffed animal, family photo) that might help your child with separation challenges please discuss this with your child’s teacher; this is something we can easily and happily accommodate.
Outerwear
Children spend time outside EVERYDAY. Unless the weather is dangerous, they will be outside. Time outdoors in nature is core to our mission, and children thrive in all weather. Please send your child with clothes appropriate for the temperature and predicted precipitation. Please label all outerwear!
Bathrooms
Children must be comfortable using the bathroom at school. If your child is resistant to using the bathroom outside of the home, please make sure that you spend some time this summer getting them used to using the bathroom at other places. Try the library or a restaurant to get them used to the idea. We are very understanding of children’s potty training journeys; the ups and downs and regressions; but children must be willing to try and use the bathroom at school.
Snack
All children eat snack at school, and snack is not provided by the school. A couple of pieces of advice:
Snack should be small! One or two items only. A granola bar. Strawberries and a string cheese. Fifteen course snacks are more than children can eat at that time.
We are fostering independence in our children. Snacks that they can open themselves are best. Many parents "start" the snack for their children (example: tearing the corner of the granola bar wrapper so a child can open it themselves).
Please send your child to school with a labeled water bottle that they can open and close on their own.
Please pack snack separate from lunch.
Our school is nut-free.
Lunch
If your child will be eating lunch at school, much of the same advice applies. Containers or packing that the child can open themselves (although teachers will always help!) Lunches are not refrigerated so cold packs work well if necessary.
Cubby Bags
At CNS we use cubby bags. This is a tote that will be given to your child so that they can carry everything that they need to and from school; their snack, lunchbox, water bottle, and artwork and projects home. Cubby bags foster independence as your child can pack, carry, and unpack them by themselves. Your child will receive their bag at the meet and greet.
Talk to your child about the preschool year ahead!
Preschool is exciting! And with exciting often comes a lot of big emotions. Speak positively about the start of school. We encourage all families to come up with a goodbye routine for drop off. This can be a special hug, fist bump – whatever feels right to you and your child! But practice it over the summer so they know what the goodbye will look like at school. When you leave your child confidently they know you feel safe doing so – and that is important to communicate.
PLEASE take some time to read over all the information coming your way!! It is a lot but it is all SO helpful. Please read the communications from the board, and familiarize yourself with the field guide, it was created by our previous board president and it is pure gold! Everything you need to know about participating at CNS! More forms, handbooks, and communications to come, including meet and greet invites with teacher assignments. Remember that I am always available if there is anything you want to discuss ahead of the school year. I want to hear your questions or concerns, so please do not hesitate to reach out.
Enjoy the rest of your summer with your children! Remember to play!
Rachel
Important Dates:
Teacher Meet and Greets – 9/3 and 9/4. Invites coming soon!
First Day of School – 9/5 and 9/6
CNS July 2024 Message from the Board
Hi CNS Families,
I’d like to start off with a HUGE welcome to all our new and returning families! I’m Taryn Kelly-Doran, and I’m honored to be your board president for the 2024-2025 school year.
We joined the CNS community last year, and this year we will have our son, Beckett, in Nature Kindergarten, and our daughter, Louisa, in the 3s program. There is so much to love about CNS, but one of the school’s greatest strengths is its community! Our cooperative model empowers all of us to participate in shaping the educational experience we want for our children during these crucial formative years.
Through our collective efforts, we can ensure the continued growth and success of CNS. There are plenty of opportunities to join committees, volunteer, or participate in school activities. Your involvement is key to our community's success.
As we approach the fall, we would love to have you join our end-of-summer events, such as CNS Kickball, or create one of your own! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or even just to say hi!
Additionally, be sure to check out our school website and newsletters for updates and resources available to you.
Taryn Kelly-Doran, Board President
Choose Your Co-Op Participation Role
All families are required to choose one co-operative role from the spreadsheet.
To sign up for a role, place your name in Column G and your email or phone number in Column H.
Some of the roles are high priority as indicated in column D and those roles must be filled for the start of school; we will make every effort to keep families in the roles that they select.
These roles are crucial to the school's functioning and improve the experience for all of us here at CNS. The best part is that these tasks can be easily scheduled around your availability, allowing us to make connections with other families as we work together to administer the school.
What's New
As we gear up for fall, we're excited to share the 2024-2025 academic calendar, available on the CNS Family Portal (password loveschool). The Family Handbook is still going through its annual revisions and will be released in August. Please be on the lookout for emails from Rachel Daniels, CNS Director, regarding required paperwork for the start of school.
Save The Dates
Sept. 3 & 4: Meet & Greets
Sept. 5 & 6: First Day of School
Sept. 21: Guilford Fair Parade
Board Meeting Minutes
Board meeting minutes are on the Family Portal.
Newsletter Idea or Suggestion?
Email theboard@guilfordcns.org
Upcoming Events
***Reminder*** Please email your events to webmaster and parent Jeff so that they can be added to the website and published in the newsletter!
Purchase CNS T-Shirts
All new CNS 3 & 4 students will receive a free t-shirt from the school. Adults should order their t-shirts online (they are needed for community events such as Little Folks Fair.
Past News & Announcements
CNS May 2024 Newsletter
Hi Families,
Get ready for Little Folks Fair! It's our only annual event where everyone works together to create a fun day for the community, and it’s on the first Saturday in June each year.
Here's what you need to know:
Arrival: Aim to be at the Green by 9:30 am, unless your Booth Chair tells you to arrive earlier.
Sign In/Out: Check in and out at HQ with the LFF chairs or assistants. This helps track volunteer hours.
Schedule: Expect to stay until the Green is cleared, usually around 4:30-5 pm. (Except set Up/Clean Up Crew.)
Food & Drinks: Bring water and snacks! Food trucks might have long lines.
What else to bring? LFF shirt, sunscreen, phone charger, and a portable power bank.
Making it a Success:
We need everyone to show up on time, stay for the duration, and work hard! This ensures we can continue with the one-adult-per-family requirement in the future, instead of the two-adult-per-family requirement from previous years.
Why it Matters:
While dedicating a Saturday can be challenging, it's rewarding. It's a chance to work with other parents, bring joy to children, and support a great cause.
A Big Thank You!
Huge thanks to Liam Doherty-Nicholson, Amy Johnson (LFF Chairs), and all the booth chairs and others who helped to make LFF possible!
Questions?
Email Amy Johnson at amyjohnsoncns@gmail.com.
See you there!
Caitlin Garzi
Swing Set Update
Remember how we all rallied during Raise Craze to raise funds for a new swing set for the front playground? Thanks to your incredible generosity, we fully funded the project!
Here's a quick update: To make sure the swing set has its perfect spot, we're waiting to finalize the location of our new classroom before we purchase and install it. This way, we can be certain it won't need to be moved later.
We'll keep you posted on the progress, and we can't wait to see the swings in action soon!
What's New
Save The Dates
June 1st: Little Folks Fair
June 8th: Work Party (clean up school grounds to prepare for summer program)
Family Spotlight: The Fox Family
Paige and James are parents to Fia (5), Lenora (2), and are getting ready to welcome a new baby to their family this summer. Fia is just finishing up a year of 4s and nature school with Mrs Cruz. She will be starting nature kindergarten in the fall. Lenora was in the toddler class on Tuesdays this year and will be starting 3s in the fall.
James is the vice president of business development at Starfish Medical. Paige is a nurse in the Yale pediatric emergency department. They moved to Guilford from Salem MA in the beginning of 2022.
As a family they love traveling, spending time with family and friends, and being outside as much as possible-especially riding bikes, exploring at Chaffinch Island Park and hiking in Westwoods.
Classroom Corner
Our Art Enrichment enrichment students are finishing up their year of learning about the lives and works of famous artists. This year they learned about Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol, and Vincent Van Gogh to name a few! Most recently they studied Ansel Adams and Keith Haring; and their inspired artwork is amazing!
Upcoming Events
CNS Co-op Participation Survey
We want to know how the participation model is working for you! Let us know by taking this survey.
Purchase CNS T-Shirts
All new CNS 3 & 4 students will receive a free t-shirt from the school. Adults should order their t-shirts online (they are needed for community events such as Little Folks Fair.
Questions or need financial support? Email Agata Rzucidlo.
Past News & Announcements
CNS Kindergarteners Named Honorary Stewards of GLCT Long Cove Property
Our Nature School Kindergarteners are being recognized for their conservation efforts! They have been named honorary stewards of the Guilford Land Conservation Trust’s Long Cove Property.
Each day, our Nature School Kindergarteners hike the trails of the Long Cove Marsh. They identify plants, animals, and types of scat. They pick up trash to keep the plant and animal habitats safe and clean. They even assisted in repairing a bridge along the trail that was impassable. Whether they know it or not, our young learners are participating in a healing process for the marshland nearly three centuries in the making.
Nature School Kindergarteners and 3-year-olds visit the marsh in January.
For just under 300 years, the quality of the marshland was in decline. In recent years, the Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT) has been working to restore the Long Cove Marsh to its former glory: a healthy marshland home to a wide variety of animal and plant life. As our kindergarteners continue to maintain and beautify this land, they have become an important part of this process.
For this reason, the Nature School Kindergarteners have been named honorary stewards of the Long Cove property. We are so proud of our students, whose efforts are being recognized on a larger scale, and who are helping to make our world a better place!
CNS April 2024 Newsletter
Dear CNS Families,
Our Spring Picnic, coming up on April 27 (rain date April 28), is more than just a picnic. It’s also our CNS annual meeting. The annual meeting is a CNS tradition and part of our By Laws. At the annual meeting, the whole community votes on changes to the By Laws proposed by the board and new members of the board whose terms start July 1.
On April 27, the following community members are on the slate for board representation.
Taryn Doran - President
Johnny Fendt - Vice President
Elizabeth Chilton - Secretary
Caitlin Garzi (me) - Publicity
Ashley Schildwater - Community
Changes to the bylaws up for a vote are visible here.
The board president is also responsible for sharing an annual report with the school during the annual meeting. This is typically in the form of a speech made at the event, but this year I’ve created a written report that you can read in advance of our meeting. Inside you will find our top accomplishments for the year. I am so proud of the work we have done, and grateful for all our CNS community members who contributed.
Sincerely,
Caitlin Garzi
CNS Board President
What's New
Save The Dates
April 27th from 10:30-12:30: CNS Spring Picnic at Jacob’s Beach (rain date April 28th)
April 30th at 9:00: School-wide recycled art show at the art studio (to the left of the building beyond the fence)
May 5th 9:30: Toddlers/all welcome to Spring Parent Coffee
June 1st: Little Folks Fair
The Great Give
Get ready to give! On May 1-2, visit thegreatgive.org and make a donation to CNS as part of the Greater New Haven Great Give. All giving will end at 8:00PM on May 2, so make sure to get your gift in on time. Our goal of $3,000 would furnish our new classroom with cubbies!
Star Awards
The Guilford Fund For Education (GFFE) is sponsoring the STAR Awards for Teacher Appreciation Week. STAR Awards are the perfect gift for our amazing CNS teachers!
Certificates feature a personalized message from your student and are delivered directly to any Guilford school, or other applicable Guilford location. To ensure delivery, all Star Award orders for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10) are due by May 4. Funds raised through STAR Awards will contribute to future GFFE grants for our students and schools.
Little Folks Fair Sign Up is Open
The annual Little Folks Fair is Saturday, June 1 this year from 11am-4pm.
All families, including preK 2 families, must send one parent to the fair to volunteer. If you have a known conflict such as a wedding or travel, there are other opportunities for you to meet this commitment. Please email Amy Johnson if so.
Co-op members must be there early to help set up and may leave when the green is fully tidy, with the exclusion of Set Up Clean Up Crew which works different hours.
Those who signed up for LFF booth chair co-op participation roles, the role description indicates that you must send two parents to LFF. The LFF chairs will assess how necessary that is as we get closer to the event.
Some folks signed up for LFF additional support as part of their co-op participation role and will send two parents to the fair as part of that role.
Family Spotlight: The Blochs
Jenna and Kris are parents to Henry, Ruby, and Jack. Henry (age 6) attended CNS last year. He had 4s with Mrs. Cruz, and Nature school with Mrs. Cruz and Mrs. Souvlis. Ruby (age 4) is in her second year at CNS - this year she is in Nature school with Mrs. Cruz and 4s with Mrs. Krischtschun. Jack turns 1 in May!
Kris is a senior director of Medicare Strategy at Elevance Health, formerly Anthem, and serves on the CNS board as treasurer. Jenna is a former middle school science teacher and is now home full time caring for their kids. Jenna grew up in Guilford and Kris grew up in Oklahoma. They met in college in Boston and lived there for 17 years. They moved back to Guilford in 2022!
Ruby loves to use her CNS cooking skills to help in the kitchen. Henry and Ruby stay busy during the week participating in several different activities and sports. As a family they love traveling, watching OKC Thunder basketball games, and getting outside to play, hike, bike, swim, and help our Papi in his garden.
Classroom Corner
Teaching Beyond the Square
The month of April was all about loose parts at CNS! We had a special visit from Teaching Beyond the Square. They brought their loose parts trailer from NYC and the children and teachers "shopped" for parts, and then spent time creating and exploring the materials. We were able to collect so many fun loose parts to keep at school!
Loose Parts Playground
Out back we now have a Loose Parts Playground! This area allows children to build with large open-ended materials. This is a great opportunity for gross motor development, collaboration with peers, problem solving, and of course fun. Many of those loose parts are recycled and reused materials, a perfect way to celebrate Earth Day every day.
Upcoming Events
CNS Co-op Participation Survey
We want to know how the participation model is working for you! Let us know by taking this survey.
Purchase CNS T-Shirts
All new CNS 3 & 4 students will receive a free t-shirt from the school. Adults should order their t-shirts online (they are needed for community events such as Little Folks Fair.
Questions or need financial support? Email Agata Rzucidlo.
Past News & Announcements
Guilford Fund for Education Grant Expands Cultural Enrichment at CNS
CNS is happy to announce that we have recently received a grant from the Guilford Fund for Education! Our Cultural Enrichment Program, grown through GFFE funding, will expand into a Cultural Celebrations curriculum across all of our programming. We can’t wait to see this learning in action!
CNS is happy to announce that we have recently received a grant from the Guilford Fund for Education!
The Guilford Fund for Education (GFFE) was created nearly a decade ago to provide educators with funds for creative and innovative learning experiences.
Previous funding from the GFFE allowed CNS to launch its Cultural Enrichment class, which currently meets twice a week and allows students to study a variety of cultural traditions and celebrations. This is currently one of our most popular enrichment classes, and our students and families have been enthusiastic about celebrating various holidays they may not otherwise have encountered.
Students celebrate Holi, a significant Hindu Spring festival.
We are very excited that this program, grown through GFFE funding, will continue to expand thanks to this latest grant. We now have the opportunity to extend the themes of our Cultural Enrichment class across all of our programming through a new Cultural Celebrations curriculum. All of our students will develop their global citizenship in the classroom, learning about six different cultural celebrations through books, songs, activities, and foods.
Additionally, this curriculum will include an at-home component. Classroom learning can be shared at home through Cultural Celebrations bags. These will be filled with authentic celebration materials, books read in class, and related activities. We are so excited to develop and strengthen our community bonds through these shared learning experiences!
We are thrilled to offer our students learning opportunities through celebration thanks to continued funding through GFFE. We can’t wait to see this curriculum in action!
Spring Clean Up Sign Up Information
The second School Clean-Up is scheduled for Sunday, April 21st @ 10:00am-2:00pm. There are 25 family slots available for this clean-up. If this date/time works for your family please sign up (one slot/family) using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848ABAE2DA1FBC25-48721720-cnsspring
Each family is required to send one parent to one school clean-up this year, unless your co-op job requires extra clean-up attendance. There will be other clean-up opportunities. This event is child-friendly, it can be a great opportunity for us to model for our children a community at work. Please keep in mind if you do decide to bring your children that you are responsible for keeping an eye on your child and ensuring their safety during the clean-up!
As we get closer to the date I will send out a Google Doc sign up to the 25 families that have signed up for this clean up. This Google Doc will list the tasks that we plan to complete during the clean up, as well as the tools/equipment we will need you to bring for each task. If you sign-up for this clean up, please look out for that email prior to the cleanup date.
Thank you!
Carly Wysoczanski (Luke's Mom)
P.S. This email address is a shared account to send all-school emails. If you would like to reply to me, email Carly.wysoczanski@gmail.com