Our preschool year of 2014-15 is in full swing, after a minor week set back.
As the years have progressed, the weather elements of New Hampshire have deteriorated the outside of our unique school building. The Andover Congregational Church had made the decision to have it repainted this summer, which we did during the week that we were closed for the summer/school year switch-over. There were some questions about the procedures, and although everyone was certified, we wanted to be sure that we had all of the information needed from the New Hampshire Child Care Licensing Bureau, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the New Hampshire Childhood Lead Prevention Program to keep the children in our building safe and not exposed to any harmful elements, such as lead. Thank you to our families for being so understanding, and to Marj Roy, Howard Proctor, and our staff for assisting in getting us back to the school year quickly!
The start of the preschool year brought new and returning friends, new and returning teachers, and a new environment; both inside and on our playground. We have been sharing our memories of the summer, during which many have gone hiking and to the lake. The sharing of our memories has offered us the experiences of talking in both small and large group settings about something familiar, comparing our experiences, and bringing the memories into our play scenarios.
Out on our playground, we have been able to watch and observe spiders, grasshoppers, ants, and toads in their natural environment. As the conversations have continued, we have made the choice to make an indoor habitat in which grasshoppers can live and have collected one to begin observing.
There have also been many discussions around the harvesting of our garden and the Early Sprouts curriculum. We have picked all of the green beans and pea pods to cook with and eat raw, and we have gathered new seeds to dry for gardening next year. There has been a harvest of tomatoes which were eaten raw with a dipping sauce and will be cooked into a pasta and pizza sauce. We are hopeful that the carrots will be ready for picking soon!
East Andover Village Preschool would like to welcome a new teacher to our teaching staff: Linda McGrail. She will be joining us in the afternoons. Linda has assisted our program in the past, and her role in Sunday School has ignited her passion to be with children on a more daily basis. When Linda is not with us at the preschool, you can find her on a mountain enjoying nature’s beauty.
Space is still available, although limited. If you are interested in joining East Andover Village Preschool for the 2014-15 school year, contact Elizabeth at 735-5105 or EAVP@nulltds.net.