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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-11-04, Page 22Page 4A—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1987 Nursery school - qualify time for kids and parents By Shelley McPhee Haist MONDAY - 8:30 Alt - Joey is excited. He's waiting at the door, hat in hand, waiting rather impatiently for his Mom. It's Monday and Monday is school day. 8:45 A.M. - Joey and his Mom drive to Nursery School. It's a short drive from their Clinton home, across town to the Wesley -Willis United Church. Joey can't wait to see his friends at school. The school that Joey and more than 48 other children attend is the Clinton Co- operative Nursery School. Youngsters bet- ween the ages of two -and -a -half and four years old attend the morning or afternoon sessions that are offered here. 9:00 AM - Joey's Mom has helped hang up coats and mittens. She and another Morn brought snacks for the day. Joey tells his friends about his Mom's great peanut butter cookies. The teacher, Mrs. Sally McNichol, asks everyone to sit in a circle. Today she is go- ing to talk about the upcoming visit to the apple orchard. She talks about fall, the leaves changing colors and about cold weather coming. She shows two different kinds of apples. One is red, the other is green. "Apples have lots of vitamins," Gareth tells his classmates. "My Mom made apple pie for Thanksgiving," another pupil says. Mrs. Sally cuts the apple in half and shows the star shaped pattern of the apple core. The children are going to make pic- tures with the apples. Rebecca says that she has done this craft before, but she used potato halves the other time. She's anxious to make an apple picture. Apron on, paint and paper ready to go, she creates an artistic masterpiece that only a mother could love. Rebecca is pleas- ed with her finished product. Hands washed, apron passed on to another classmate, Rebecca moves to the next craft table where everyone is making fall pictures. Jon -Michael is putting the finishing touches on his picture. He has taken tiny pieces of colored paper and glued them on- to a bigger piece of paper. His picture represents leaves falling from a tree. No doubt his picture will be displayed on the refrigerator at home. Craft time at the Nursery School ap- pears as well organized chaos. Children understand and abide by the rules and the routines. They are careful not to muss their clothes with paint. They share. They enjoy. Mrs. Sally is assisted by two parents who have volunteered to help at this morning session. Parent involvement is the essence of this nursery school. As a co-operative school, it means parent participation in their child's education. Parents work at the school about once per month. They are encouraged to attend monthly general meetings and they serve on committees. For parents, the nursery school provides quality time, learning time, a being together time with their children and, a social time. Mothers, fathers, parents who work out- side of the home and those at home are ex- pected to take part in the co-operative aspects of the school. Non -duty parents, those who cannot work at the school during the day, help serve on committees. Non - duty parents are encouraged to send in a substitute volunteer to assist during school hours. Sometimes it's a friend. an aunt, a grandmother. Mrs. Sally is also helped by Karen Whit- more, a paid assisi.ant who works three times a week. Three ('HSS students, Sherry Bezzo. Lori Sinnamon "and Vicki Peck also work at the nursery under the high school co-op program. 9:45 - 10:00 A.M. - The two mothers who are teaching assistants this morning tidy the craft area while the children have washroom time. The children are anxious for the next activity of the morning. 10:00 - 10:30 A.M - Snack and circle time is a favorite part of the day at Nursery School. Today the snack includes the cookies that Joey's Mom made and fresh apple cider. On Friday all the school pupils will visit the apple orchard. Mrs. Sally talks about this special event. She reminds everyone to dress warmly and to wear rubber boots. Circle time is spend learning about fall. Circle time is designed as an educational session, when children learn about the world around them, the weather, holidays and other timely themes. The children have most recently studied Thanksgiving. In November they will be learning about safety, their town, shapes and colors and space travel. For Space Week, they will make space paintings and spare masks. They will study the color black. And they will eat snacks like banana rockets and moon crackers and cream cheese. In the more than 13 years that Mrs. Sally has been leading classes at the Clinton Co- operative Nursery School, she has yet to run out of ideas. Parent participation in theme plans, craft ideas and activities is encouraged. Parents are advised of the theme lists in the monthly newsletter that is sent to each home. Some parents share their special talents, like playing the piano or putting on a pup- pet show. Others help create crafts and snacks geared towards the theme. Nursery school involves caring, sharing, play and learning NURSERY /S CAR/NG O'" **05,MatlAW041migwo Friendships are made and strengthened at the Clinton Co-operative Nursery School. Danielle Wubbs and Aaron Welsh share a teeter totter and a hug. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo NURSERY /S FUN 10:30 - 11:10 AM - After smack - and circle time, the children are recharg- ed and refreshed - ready to tackle the toys and play equipment in the active room. Joey and another boy head to the Play Doh Area. They are baking flay Doh cookies today. Other children put on plastic aprons to play at the water centre. Another boy and a parent supervisor work at the carpenter's bench. There's a wonderful piece of climbing equipment. There are puzzles, music toys, wooden toys, a kiddie car, chalk board. mats to roll on and a teeter totter. Active play time allows the children the opportunity to exercise, to socialize. to just have fun. Parents and children alike take delight in the learning and social School. The Wednesday morning class of boys eagerly posed for the experiences to be discovered at the Clinton Co-operative Nursery camera. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo) NURSERY /S NAY Constructive play is a proven method of learning. It's also fun, as shown here by Adam Hill and Mark Colson. (Shelley McPhee Ilaist photo) 11:10 - 11:25 A.M. - In spite of all the fun, and all the noise, Mrs. Sally has little trouble in bringing play time to an end. With a flick of a light switch, the children's attentions are redirected. They pick up the toys, put away the crayons and they gather around their teacher for a sing song. The morning's activities are drawing to a close. Mothers and fathers will be arriv- • ing shortly to pick up their children. The day's program ends with story tirne. To- day Chad has brought a special book from home and he has asked Mrs. Sally to read it to everyone. 11:30 A.M. - Joey's :Mom has finished her grocery shopping. She's been to the post office too. She has now returned to Nursery School to meet her young son. Joey tells his Mom that the kids liked her cookies. He shows her the apple picture he made and tells her all about the plans to visit the apple orchard. Joey has enjoyed his morning at Nursery School. He can hardly ++nit until he can come again. Coop is special The Clinton Co-operative Nursery School aims to be educational and fun. It provide-, a social time for children. It teaches them about sharing and caring, about learning through play. The program begins each ear III September and runs until mid -.lune There are morning and afternon classes, four days a week. A majority of the children come to classes twice a week. Some come once a week, others more often. Special classes are set up for older children and those who interested in more challenging proirarn.s. The Nursery School also operates an in- tegrated program for children with special needs or developmental problems and is licensed as an Approved Integrated ('entre through the Association of Parent Par- ticipating Schools for London and District (APPSLD) . The Clinton Co-operative Nursery School is an active member of APPSI.D. an association that represents some 33 schools and over 1,200 families The Clinton school is run as a non-profit corporation. An eight member board of directors oversees the operation of the school. Parents take part in some .seven dif- ferent committees that make up the behind -the -scenes organization of the school. The six member fund raising committee works to raise money to buy new equip- ment and special supplies. fund raising endeavors are carried out with the ap- proval of the general membership. The publicity and communication com- mittee's six members advertise the fund raising events, school registration, meetings, open house and special activities. Six parents make up the social and welcoming committee whose function it is to organize social events within the school, such as this week's Hallowe'en party. The housekeeping committee and its 12 members maintain and repair toys and equipment as needed. They are in charge of cleaning the school area. They also ac- quire costumes, dress -up play clothes, paints and aprons for the children. The curriculum and class trip commit- tee of six members set up the theme cen- tres, such as a the apple orchard excur- sion. Other trips in the school year may in- clude a visit to a store, the fire hall, the beauty salon, the doctor's office. The com- mittee also prepares special crafts and co- ordinate activities around the themes. There is a purchasing committee and a library committee as well. It takes many hands and many volunteer helpers to make the Clinton Co-operative Nursery School a success. It takes a corn - mon goal and purpose to maintain the aims of this pre-school learning centre. This unique school is not a babysitting service. It does not profess to offer ex- clusive educational training opportunities for pre-schoolers. What the Clinton Co- opertive Nursery School excells in is pro- viding learning, constructive play and social opportunities for children and adults alike.