CLASSROOM NOTES
September is a hectic month for all of us, learning your names and who goes with whom. We are ready for our new beginning. Our month will be filled with activities of getting acquainted or reacquainted. We’ll talk about new friendships and sharing. We’ll do lots of name activities so we can get to know each other and we’ll concentrate on learning new routines and rules.

SEE SAW BOOK CLUB
Every month you will get a copy of the See Saw or Firefly book order (many times both will be included) attached to your newsletter. If you wish to place an order, select your books and attach a CHECK made out to SEE SAW, FIREFLY or SCHOLASTIC (not Brush Creek). Place in the tuition mailbox before the due date. Your books will be placed in your child’s cubby about two weeks later.

Reading is important!! Hooray for books!

GOING TO SCHOOL/SEPARATION
If your child has some difficulty separating from you, don’t get disheartened!! This is very common. Bringing a small piece of home may help your child. A small stuffed animal tucked inside a backpack might help your child feel more secure. Even if they don’t play with it, they will have comfort knowing it is close by. If your child stays for lunch, a sticker, a little picture or a note written on their napkin can remind your child that you are thinking of him or her.

On the way to school, share anything about the upcoming day that will comfort your child. Discuss friends or activities that may be happening. Convey a positive attitude about your child’s school. It spills over!! Show enthusiasm for the things your child brings home and genuine interest in the stories they tell.

If you have questions or concerns, discuss them with your child’s teachers before they become problems. Please try to do this when your child is not present. We are here to help!!

WELCOME POTLUCK
We will be holding our welcome potluck on September 27th here at school. It’s a great opportunity for us to all get to know one another. The potluck will begin at 5:30. Please watch for a sign up to be posted in the front of school. Mark your calendar because you won’t want to miss this fun evening.

PHOTO DAYS
Our school photographer, John Youngblood will be taking pictures on September 25 and 26. Calendar this date. John takes beautiful shots of the children as well as a group photo of the whole class. A sample of his work will be shown on the front bulletin board next month. You will be required to sign permission for the photos to be taken. More info coming.

BILLING
Bills are included in this packet and your first tuition payment is now due. Late payments normally would be assessed on the 10th of each month, but this month we will give you until the 15th to make your payment without penalty.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For new Brush Creek families, we’d like to tell you a little about our Board of Directors. Brush Creek is a private, non-profit corporation, governed by a Board of 7-14 members. The Board makes policy decisions, oversees finances and helps our school run smoothly. We will soon be looking for some new board members: elections will be held in October.

We will be having a meeting soon to let you know more about the commitment and the positions we are trying to fill. Joining the Board can be very rewarding! Check it out.

MEET THE STAFF

• Julie MacDonald: Program Director
• Heather Miller:Teacher
• Linda Paglia: Administrative Assistant
• Nancy Libby: Teacher
• Vicki Briggs: Teacher
• Janice Carpenter: Teacher
• Noreen Taylor: Teacher
• Birte Knight: Teacher

UNITED WAY DESIGNATION
Did you know you can designate United Way dollars to Brush Creek? It’s one of those “fundraising opportunities” that don’t require spending extra money. We hope when your employer asks you to fill out your designate card, you will choose Brush Creek! Last year we received over $500 from people who gave United Way dollars to us.

OPENINGS
We have one opening in our MWF pm class (for four year olds). If you have friends who may be looking for a spot for their child, please have them call the school.

STAFFING CHANGES
Those of you continuing in our program will notice we have hired a new teacher over the summer. Teacher Brandy (Engman) delivered a 9 lb. 3 oz healthy baby boy named Clayton in August. She and her family relocated to Los Banos. Our new teacher is Noreen Taylor. Please say hi and get to know our newest BC staff member!

Also, our great (Head) teacher Heather Miller has decided to enjoy a bit more time with her two boys so she is cutting back a little to 35 hours a week. In doing so we’ve restructured our jobs a bit and we will no longer have a Head Teacher. Those tasks are being divided out among the rest of our very capable staff, including Heather.

RESPITE
Our respite contracts were huge this year as many of you found out who turned contracts in after our initial deadline. We have worked to juggle and wiggle and still people who wanted contract time did not get it. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. It’s our biggest respite year in a long time. If you ARE a contract holder, please be aware that people are waiting for days you don’t use your space or if you have a change. Keep Linda informed.

SAFEWAY RENEWAL
If you are a scrip member (Safeway) remember that you must renew every year in order for the school to benefit from your purchases. Just go on line and follow the easy directions. If you are not a member yet, you will receive information in your child’s file to show you how to join!

Every month you will be seeing a profile in the newsletter on one of our staff members. This will give you a chance to get to know the women who are caring for your children. Along with the newsletter profile, the same profile appears in the front bulletin board. When staff has their highlighted month they will receive a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant in recognition of their outstanding work.

PROFILE EMPLOYEE JANICE CARPENTER
Janice was born in Englewood, New Jersey but just one year later her family moved to Rhode Island. She attended Barrington High School in Rhode Island and during her senior year, began attending Hartwick College in New York, to pursue a degree in nursing. While attending college, Janice completed her high school education and received her diploma. At age 20 Janice changed majors and transferred to Syracuse University in NY, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design and Advertising. Janice went to work as an Art Director for Marquis Associates in Rhode Island. Two years later, Janice and a girlfriend decided to move to the West Coast. They chose San Francisco as their new home.

Over the next ten years Janice held the position of Assistant Project Director in Corporate Real Estate for American Express and then B of A where she was responsible for overseeing the construction and move in of the Fireman’s Fund Headquarters in Novato and then the B or A Technology Center in Concord. When those projects were completed, she moved on to a position in the Advertising Department.

After starting a family Janice chose not to return to the corporate world, deciding rather to stay home with her children and start an in-home daycare center. She also decided she wanted to teach, so she attended SF State University in the evenings where she earned a clear Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential with Special Preparation for Early Childhood Education. She further earned a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit.

In 1996 Janice and her family moved to Santa Rosa, where she continued to operate her daycare at home. When Janice’s youngest child was three, she began substitute teaching for both public and private schools in Santa Rosa. Janice began substituting at BCNS the summer of 2002, and was hired on as a regular staff member by August of that year.

She is now celebrating her 5 year anniversary at Brush Creek!!

Janice has excellent teaching abilities, including patience, acceptance and love for the children in her care. Since Janice started at BCNS, she is proud to have started a recycling program and created a wonderful outdoor environment for our turtles.

As for Janice’s personal interests, her family is her top priority. She is married to George and they have three children Sarah (19), Jack (17) and Lisa (13). She also has two adult stepsons. Her interests include all sports, especially swimming, skiing and dance.

She likes to draw and workout at the gym. Janice has been an Art Docent for RV School District for over 10 years. She continues to take classes at the Junior College and Sonoma State to further her knowledge in a variety of subjects.

Take a moment to congratulate Janice and thank her for her wonderful service to our school.