ARE YOU READY FOR SCHOOL?

We are! Many thanks to the individuals and local businesses who worked to make it happen. In no particular order they are: Rich Osman, Ed Dailly, Mike Moran, County Building Services, Greg Kern, Arborvine Landscaping, Mike Ganter, and Christian Cleaning. The teachers and staff worked over “the break” too! Some employment anniversaries that may have been missed last year - so this is year number six for Elaine Osman, Shannon Kern, Christy Pollack, and Jackie Berchtold. Celebrating year number five - Ashley Nagowski, Lindsey Mulvena, Gina Zarrilli, and Donna Moran. Sandy Pierce has been making music here for 37 school years!! A big St. David’s Day School welcome to our newest staff members. Allyson Jacobs joins us as an Assistant Teacher in room 3. Allyson is a local mom of 2, and brings over ten years experience to our school. Personal changes prevented Yolanda Hall from joining the room 2 children - we welcome as their Assistant Teacher Arielle Wooden. Arielle is also local; her most recent early childhood experience being with infants and young toddlers! Some statistics to start the school year: Seven sets of siblings One set of twins Thirty one children had older siblings

attend Children and staff live in zip codes

19810, 19803, 19703, 19720, 19060, 19709, and 19711.

Thank you for being our best advertisers! Thanks for telling your neighbors, friends, and co-workers about our school. Many of our brand new families this year heard about St. David’s from a friend or pool buddy or neighbor. If someone asks, the waiting list for the 2022 –2023 school

year is now open. They can call the office or send an email to go on the list. There is never any obligation to enroll nor any charge to go onto the list. No money is ever due until a space is offered. The registration for the 2022 - 2021 school year will begin in mid-January. Traditionally, we would be planning an Ice Cream Social for later in September or early October. But because of the uncertainty of the predominance of the COVID-19 virus in our area, we may not have that event. I’ll keep you posted. But, we will be doing some fundraising this year, so watch your email inbox and your child’s cubby for more information soon about a renewed PTPA - that stands for Parent-Teacher-Parish Association. Please remember that if you ever have a concern, comment, critique, or compliment, my phone is always on, you can always email or even stop by the office. On behalf of Father Brad, our volunteer Board of Directors (Dave Strauss, Jenn Anderson, Doug Lawrence, Chip Snowden, and Carl Schrass), the parishioners, and the ENTIRE staff, thank you for being a part of my 20th year here and the 66th school year! Have a great year!! Fondly,

Janet Leishman

Inside this issue:

Security & Safety Info 2

Chapel 3

Co-Curriculum

Coordinators’ Column

3

From The Kitchen

Moving with Mrs. Mako

4

4

September Menus 5-7

September Calendar 8

Who is Here?

Looking Ahead

9

10

Welcome & Welcome Back!

ST . D A V I D ' S E PI SC O P A L D A Y SC H O O L

Day School News September 2021

Volume 66, Issue 2

You have entrusted your child to our care. A duty that we do not take lightly. The following steps are ways we are trying even harder to minimize risks to your child. Masks As of August 16, 2021 and for at least the next 120 days, persons (vaccinated and unvaccinated) 5 years of age and over, in schools, day care centers, and family day care homes must wear a mask. Masks are strongly recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 4. Children under two should never wear a mask. Masks are not worn during meals, snacks, during outside play, or when napping. Thank you for your cooperation in this very important matter. Arrival Adults who drop off and pick up children will do so at the designated entrance. Please maintain an appropriate distance between family groups. *If no one is in the area to open the door, please ring the doorbell at the main door and someone will be there soon! Cubbies for non-napping 3’s (rooms 3 & 4) are located in this area. All exterior doors are locked. Adults dropping off children will sign them in on the Procare® app, which can be accessed on a SmartPhone. You may use a numeric pin or you may scan a QR code.There 2 health screening questions that must be answered, and the screen must be signed before the child is “signed in.” A staff member will see that your child gets safely to his/her classroom. Dismissal-End of the Day This will take place at the same location as arrival. Use the Procare® app for ease of pickup—be sure to SIGN your screen to complete the process.

Hand-washing All staff and all children must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and running water when they arrive at school and frequently throughout the day. It is also recommended that you and your child wash your hands when you arrive home! Alcohol-based sanitizing stations are located in the entrance-way and throughout the building for ADULT use. Child-friendly hand sanitizer (the children know it as “magic soap”) is located throughout the building. Cleaning/Disinfecting/Sanitizing All hard surfaces are wiped down with an EPA approved solution before, during, and after the classroom is in use. Toys will be sanitized regularly—daily if necessary. The building is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily. Additional Information

• Our policy (and the policy of schools in Delaware) is that a child must be fever-free for 24 hours without the benefit of medication before returning to school. Please help us keep EVERYONE healthy!

• Be sure to be aware of your speed as you enter and exit the parking lot! Young children often do not watch for cars—and may bolt away from their parents/grandparents!

• Delaware law requires children to be in a car seat appropriate to their age and weight!

• St. David’s Episcopal Day School is peanut and tree nut free in the meals and snacks that it serves.

• St. David’s Episcopal Day School is latex-free.

• Be sure that your child has seasonal clothes available!

• Sneakers are best for school—both inside and on our playgrounds!

• Be sure that your emergency contact list is both current and local, whenever possible.

Safety & Security Information

Page 2

Day School News

Chapel - An Engaging Worship Experience

We have an incredible opportunity and responsibility where a child’s spiritual life is concerned. Our position may be second only to a child’s home environment in our ability to provide the fundamental spiritual framework and religious worldview. Our hope is that our Christian-based chapel services will be instructive, enjoyable, understandable, and memorable. We include stories, music, and movement during chapel as a way of engaging a fuller range of senses. This has the effect of keeping the children invested and helps them retain the experience. The vast majority of our chapel services take their inspiration directly from Biblical texts. In the course of the year we will cover stories both from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Greek Scriptures (New Testament) and will include stories about many individuals, like Noah, Jonah, Mary and Elizabeth, Joseph, the Wise Men, and Jesus. There will also be stories which have as their central theme positive values - friendship, courage, respect, faith, hope, and love. Your entire family is encouraged to attend the chapel services. We begin shortly after drop-off on alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays (usually). We believe that you will gain something from joining in the fun and fellowship. You may also “tune in” as we will continue to stream chapel on FACEBOOK LIVE - a practice we began last year.

https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Davids-

Wilmington-Brandywine-Hundred-

100481461610442/

The Rector, the Reverend Brad Hinton is available after chapel should you need more information about the parish, Christianity, or desire counsel.

Our two year old classes will not attend chapel, but Father Brad will visit them. They will hear our Children’s Creed, ask God’s blessing before snacks and lunch, and learn about God’s love for them in their first experiences at St. David’s Episcopal Day School!

Children’s Creed

I believe in God above.

I believe in Jesus’ love.

I believe His Spirit, too,

Comes to show me what to do.

I believe that I can be,

Kind and gentle,

Lord, like You.

This creed is a part of every chapel service. We also say the creed using modified American Sign Language.

Welcome to the new school year! I am very excited to be able to get to know and teach every child here. I aim to provide a fun and engaging way to help your children learn new ways to be active, while incorporating many other areas of development. I hope to teach them that active bodies are healthy bodies, and that exercise is FUN! Please help me give the children the ability to safely participate in all of the fun activities that will be offered, inside and outside, by sending your child to school in properly fitted, comfortable SNEAKERS EVERY DAY! Thank you in advance for your cooperation. I look forward to having lots of fun “in the gym” this coming school year. Wendi Mako Developmental Movement Teacher

Motor skills that are not discussed much include bilateral coordination skills and visual motor skills.

• Wheelbarrow walking, crab walking, and swimming are bilateral coordination skills;

• Completing hidden picture searches are great for visual motor/visual perception.

These are just some suggestions - I am sure you can think of more based on your child’s likes and interests. Practicing these skills will boost your child’s confidence when completing them in the classroom or on the playground. But have fun with them! Remember to reach out to us with any questions, comments, or concerns. Have a great school year!

Gina Zarrilli &

Lindsey Mulvena Co-Curriculum Coordinators zarrilli.gina@gmail.com mrsmulvena@gmail.com

Motor Skills

The school year is here! And we are glad that you are here too! Gross and fine motor skills are very important—used in all areas of the classroom and throughout our lives. But practice makes perfect, so here are some things you can do at home with your preschooler.

• Hand clapping games, rolling dough with a rolling pin, or tearing lettuce for the salad are great fine motor skills.

• Playing a board game with small pieces is a way to develop finger dexterity.

• Practice grip strength by squeezing a spray bottle to water plants or clean windows.

• Practice pinch strength by peeling stickers off a surface.

Co-Curriculum Coordinators’ Column

On the Move with Mrs. Mako

Page 4

Volume 66, Issue 2

From the Kitchen

Welcome and welcome back for another

delicious and nutritious school year here at

St. David’s! I am Chef Dana Grasty and I am

very excited to begin my second year in the

kitchen!

I am looking forward to introducing your

children to new and exciting foods. I take

pride in creating each month’s menus for

your child’s nutritional needs. As you look at

the menus you will notice lots of fresh fruits

and seasonal vegetables, as well as some

yummy sounding items! I also hope that they

enjoy their snacks and lunches - sometimes

even having fun with their food!

I am also very conscious of food allergies

among the children and the staff - my goal is

to keep them safe! If you have any concerns

or questions, please feel free to stop by the

kitchen or leave me a note in my mailbox in

the school office.

Bon appetit!

Chef Dana

Page 5

Day School News

September 2021 Morning Snack

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Menu is

Subject to

Change

Without

Notice

Snacks &

Meals are

Peanut &

Tree Nut

Free

Water is

Always

Available

1% Milk

Served

1

100%

Fruit

Juice

Served

2

School

Closed

3

School

Closed

4

5

6

Labor Day

Holiday

7

Staff

Day

8

Visitation

Morning

3’s & 4’s

9

Yogurt &

Honey

Fruit Cups

10

Fresh

Apples

With

Sun

Butter

11

12 13

Cereal

Bars

With

Fresh

Fruit

14

Ants on

A Log

15

Fresh Fruit

&

Cheese

Charcuterie

Board

16

Graham

Cracker

Bar

17

Mediterranean

Snack Tray

18

19 20

English

Muffins

w/Fruity

Cream

Cheese

21

Homemade

Banana

Bread

Bites

22

Caramel

Apple-Crumb

Muffins

Milk

23

Swimming

Fish

On A

Raft

24

Orange

Smoothie

w/

Animal

Crackers

25

26 27

Breakfast

Parfaits

28

Homemade

Back to

School

Trail Mix

29

Mini

Bagels

30

DIY

“Animal

Toast”

1

Lemon Hummus Veggies Pita Chips

Day School News

Page 6

September 2021 Lunch

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Menu is

Subject to

Change

Without

Snacks &

Meals are

Peanut &

Tree Nut

Water is

Always

Available

1% Milk

Served

1

100%

Fruit

Juice

Served

2 3 4

5

6

Labor Day

Holiday

7

Staff

Day

8

Visitation

Morning

3’s & 4’s

9 Chicken

Nuggets

Smiley Fries

Green Beans

Peaches

Jello

10 Pasta

Marinara Sauce

Meatballs

Broccoli

Garlic Monkey

Bread

Fruit

11

12 13

Mac &

Cheese

Peas

Pears

Cookies

14 Hot Dog

Bites

Oven Fries

Glazed Carrots

Fresh Fruit

Cupcakes

15 French

Toast Stix

Syrup

Sausage

Juice

Oranges

16

Veggie Stir Fry

Rice

Grilled Chicken

Nuggets

Parfaits

17

Pizza Party

Fr. Garden

Salad

Fresh Fruit

Frozen Treat

18

19 20 Chef Dana’s

Summer Salad

Garlic Straws

Fresh Berries

Cinnamon

Whipped Cream

21 Soft Taco

Beef/Salsa/

Cheese/Corn/

Chips

Peaches

Mini

Churros

22

Turkey

Burger

Sliders, Cheese

Sweet Potato

Fries

Fresh Fruit

23 Cheese

Ravioli

Red Sauce

Green Beans

Mixed Fruit

Brownie

Bites

24

Mini Grilled

Cheese Sand.

Cucumbers/

Dip

Fresh Fruit

25

26 27 BREAKFAST

Eggs, Bacon

Applesauce

Hash Browns

Mandarin

Oranges

28 3 Cheese

Quesadillas

Yellow Rice

Sweet Peas

Pineapple

Cake

29

Chicken

Fried Rice

Fresh Cuke

Salad

Fresh Fruit

30

Fish Sticks

Tater Tots

Carrots/Dip

Mini Apple

Tart Parfait

1

Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes, Roll Veggie Fresh Fruit

Day School News Page 7

September 2021 Afternoon Snack Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Menu is

Subject

to

Change

Without

Notice

Snacks &

Meals are

Peanut &

Tree Nut

Free

Water is

Always

Available

1% Milk

Served

1

100%

Fruit

Juice

Served

2

CLOSED

3

CLOSED

4

5

6

Labor Day

Holiday

7

Staff

Day

8

Visitation

Morning

3’s & 4’s

9

Ranch-Baked

Pretzels

10

Cheez-It

Snack Mix

11

12 13

Bacon-

Pimento

Cheese Dip

Triscuits

14

Animal

Crackers

Chocolate

15

Fresh

Veggies w/

Cheese Tray

16

Corn

Tortilla Chips

w/

Santa Fe

Salsa

17

Frozen

Treat

18

19 20

Ritz

Cheese

Sticks

21

St. David’s

DIY

“Lunchable

Snack”

22

Apple Straws

w/

Caramel

Dip

23

Teddy

Grahams

Vanilla

Pudding

24

Goldfish

Snack

Mix

25

26 27

Banana

Pudding

Cups

28

“All Sports”

Snacks

29

SunChips

Dip

30

Frozen Treat

1

Chef’s

Choice

September 2021

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

5

National

Cheese Pizza

Day

6 LABOR DAY

HOLIDAY

Rosh Hashanah

Begins at

Sundown

7

STAFF

DAY

8 3’S & 4’S

VISITATION

MORNING

7 PM PARENT ORIENTATION

ALL AGES

9

3’S & 4’S

BEGIN

CPR/First Aid Class

6 pm

10

2’S VISITATION

MORNING

11

Patriot Day

12

National

Grandparents

Day

13 2’S BEGIN GYM STARTS STAY & PLAY STARTS 3’S, 4’S

14 15

Yom Kippur

Begins at

Sundown

16 17 18 4pm Family Worship Outdoors Blessing of the Animals Food Truck Face Painting!

19

National Talk

Like A Pirate

Day

20 21 22

CHAPEL, 9:15

ROOMS 3,5

23

CHAPEL, 9:15

ROOMS 4,6

24

Soccer Shots

3’s & 4’s only

25

26

Johnny

Appleseed Day

27 28

ALL SCHOOL

SING, 9:15

29

CHAPEL, 9:15

ROOMS 3,4,5,6

30

MUSIC

SCHOOL OF

DE

VISITS

1

MUSIC

SCHOOL OF

DE

VISITS

Soccer Shots

2

BUILDING CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE

CHAPEL ORIENTATION 3’S & 4’S

Day School News

Who Will My Child Meet This Year?

Rector, Chaplain, Board President

Father Brad Hinton

In the Office

Janet Leishman, M.Ed. Director Kourtney Word, Administrative Assistant

Donna Moran, Bookkeeper

Specialists

Sandy Pierce Music Specialist

Lindsey Mulvena & Gina Zarrilli Co-Curriculum Coordinators

Wendi Mako Developmental Movement Teacher

Dana Grasty Chef

Extended Care Staff (You will also see many of these professionals in a classroom!!)

Allison Temme Harrison MacEwen, Michelle Iacono

Rebecca Henretty, Caroline Koval Kat Henretty, Danielle Temme

Hali Hoernemann

Substitute Staff Marcie Jorgensen

Pam Nagle

Classrooms by Age & Room Number*

Room 1 Two’s

Tara Chetty, Teacher Elaine Osman & Tina McLaren

Assistant Teachers

Room 2 Two’s Kris Richey, Teacher

Arielle Wooden, Assistant Teacher

Room 3 Three’s Shannon Kern, Teacher

Allyson Jacobs, Assistant Teacher

Room 4 Three’s Jackie Berchtold, Teacher

Debbie Tansey, Assistant Teacher

Room 5 Four’s Lindsey Mulvena, Teacher

Christy Pollack & Meetu Mohnot Assistant Teachers

Room 6 Four’s Gina Zarrilli, Teacher

Ivy Cherian & Ashley Nagowski Assistant Teachers

*Many of the classroom staff listed here also work in extended care!

St. David’s Episcopal Day School exists to provide a nurturing, Christian community where children can learn and grow. We do this through:

Leading each child into caring relationships with peers and adults;

Offering each child a stimulating learning experience;

Valuing each child’s unique growth; and,

Encouraging each child’s awareness of God in the world.

Ours is a safe environment where children ages two through five are encouraged to grow spiritually, emotionally, cognitively, socially, and physically so their greatest potential may be realized.

Start Here, Go Anywhere! www.stdavidsdayschoolde.org

St. David's Episcopal Day School

Phone: 302-475-3747

Fax: 302-529-1135

Email: stdavidskidsde@outlook.com

Website:

www.stdavidsdayschoolde.org

2320 Grubb Rd.

Wilmington, DE 19810

On the website, you will find calendars,

snack, and lunch menus. There are

articles by Bev Igo, former Curriculum

Coordinator, about a variety of child

development topics (early writing, why

play with blocks, math activities, so on).

The 2021-2022 Family Handbook will

be posted there.

Photos of school activities are posted

there, but you will need a password to

access that part of the site.

We Are On The Web!

On the October 2021 Calendar . . .

October 1 Music School of DE—Rooms 1,2,4,5 Soccer Shots 6 CPR/First Aid Class, 6pm 7 Chapel, 9:15 8 Soccer Shots 12 Room 6 Field Trip to Ramsey’s Farm

13 Chapel, 9:15 Extended Care Closes 5:30, Staff Meeting 15 Room 5 Field Trip to Ramsey’s Farm Soccer Shots 18 School Board Meeting, 7pm 21 Chapel, 9:15 22 Soccer Shots 27 Chapel, 9:15

27-31 Clothing Drive 28 Halloween Program Rooms 1,2,3,6 29 Halloween Program Rooms 1,2,4,5 Final Soccer Shots

31 Happy Halloween

Looking Ahead . . .