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
