Nuts and Shellfish in Shared Food

ICNS has students with severe nut and shellfish allergies. When bringing shared food to school (e.g. food for potlucks, birthday celebration, special treats, etc.), please refrain from bringing food that contains nuts or shellfish of any kind.

Thank you!

Stephanie Palomo Schmidt
ICNS Board President

Recommendations for the ICNS Transition

Dear ICNS Parents,

I just received a letter from Vice Chancellors Relyea and Rue regarding their acceptance of the recommendations made by the ICNS Transition Workgroup.

Many of you have expressed particular concern over whether or not UCSD's new part-time program will accommodate Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedules. I am pleased to learn that the two-day and three-day options will be offered in this new program.

You should receive an invitation letter shortly. In the meantime, I will forward a copy of the letter to you via email.

Best regards,

Stephanie Palomo Schmidt
ICNS Board President

**

September 2008 Newsletter

A Message From the ICNS President

On behalf of the International Cooperative Nursery School Board and staff, I’d like to welcome you and your family to the 2007/2008 school year. We have many wonderful activities, themed learning experiences and get-togethers planned for the coming months. We are so thrilled to have you as part of our ICNS family.

By now you have received a letter about ICNS closing the doors at its current location in March 2009. Should you have any questions or concerns about this transition, please feel free to contact me by email at palomoschmidt@gmail.com. If you are interested in helping us find a new home for ICNS, please contact Christine Dunn (codunn@gmail.com) or Sophie Piconi (sophiepiconi@gmail.com).

Best Regards,

Stephanie Palomo Schmidt

ICNS Board President

CURRICULUM

During September our focus with the children and families begins with the various stages and feelings of separations, new routines and schedules. We move the focus to Self, Families, and Friends as the children become comfortable with the school and the teachers. In October we will learn about Community Helpers fall and the harvest.

For those of you are who are wondering about the “letters and numbers of school”, please be assured that the children work on these skills daily. When the children count their toys, friends, crackers or shovels, they are developing an understanding of each number concept and not just mastering the rote skill of counting. They will need number concepts for future math skills. When the children use play dough or build with Legos or string beads, they are exercising and developing their hand muscles- the very muscles they will need to write words. They are also strengthening their eye-hand coordination, which is also necessary for future writing. Likewise when the children paint or draw they are learning to manipulate and control various writing utensils. Reading to children is the number one motivator for children to read. Reading singing and just talking to children helps them to develop language skills and vocabulary. Both of which plays a large role in reading and reading comprehension. The next time you observe your child at play, look for the many things your child is also learning.

Finally, we will be making a letters and numbers book at school and need lots and lots of cut pictures from magazines and news papers. Thank you in advance for cutting lots of pictures and sending them to school.

TRANSITION UPDATE

Heads up—Very soon you will be receiving an invitation letter to UCSD’s new part time, multi-age program. ICNS families, including community members, will have first right of refusal to join this new program.

Parking Reminder

Please remember that ICNS parking is not permitted in the International Center lot. Please use the ten-minute loading zone when dropping off or picking up your child. If you expect to be at school longer than ten minutes, there are metered parking spots on Myers Drive, in the Gilman lot (located at Gilman and Villa La Jolla), or in the Grove parking lot (located one block South on Gilman).

ESCRIP
If you have not signed up for escrip, please do so today, before you finish reading this newsletter. Help ICNS raise money without having to spending extra money. Register your grocery cards, debit or bank cards today. Its fast, easy and best of all, it is free for you. Each time you use your registered grocery cards, credit cards or debit cards, at participating merchants, ICNS receives cash donations from those merchants.

To sign up for escrip (Von's, Albertson's, debit or credit card etc):

log onto www.escrip.com

1- at the top blue line click on welcome-

2- on the top blue line, click on sign up

3- enter group ID = 139985679

4-click on International Cooperative Nursery School

5- enter the programs you wish to support, ICNS should already be listed

6. You can contribute to up to 3 organizations –please make ICNS one of them.

To register your Ralph's grocery card:

log onto www.Ralphs.com

1.-left side, click on Community Contributions

2. middle of page-Participants-sign up

3. agree/disagree

4. enter NPO number =81733.

5. complete remainder of forms etc .

Thank you ijn advance for your participation

VISIT THE ICNS Blog!

In an effort to improve communication with our families, we have set up an ICNS blog. We hope to update the blog often with up-to-the-minute news, updates, pictures and funny antidotes about the children. Please bookmark http://icnsblog.blogspot.com/ and visit often.

WELCOME POTLUCK

Our Parent Coordinator, Eri Kato is planning at welcome back potluck for Friday, September 19^th from 12:00-2:00. For more details, see the evite that was sent to you by email.

Reminders

• Please be sure to sign your child in when you pick them up and drop them off.
• Remember to clean out your child’s cubby and file folder each day.
• Don’t forget to sign up for your coop days, weekend clean up. The sign up sheet is locate in the sign in binder located by the door.
• If you haven’t signed up for a committee by the middle of the month, a committee will be assigned to you.
  
  

DATES TO REMEMBER

September 19^th – Welcome Back Potluck

October 22^nd and 23^rd – School Photos

November 7^th- Fall Festival

November 26th – Stone Soup

November 27^th & 28^th – Thanksgiving Break

December 19th - Winter Celebration

December 22^nd to January 2^nd – Winter Break