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October Executive Director Updates Natalie Feagin, M.Ed. Executive Director www.thecliftonschool.org The Clifton School at Clifton 1700 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30329 404-636-4073 The Clifton School at Clairmont 1900 Starvine Way Atlanta, GA 30322 404-315-6340 To Like us on Facebook Click Here
The Clifton School will be open on Wednesday September 13, 2017 for regular business hours.
Exhibit Night at The Clifton School Are you interested in learning more about what your child is learning in the classroom? Would you like to experience how the teachers use your child’s interests to plan their lessons? Are you intrigued by the “Emergent Curriculum” and wonder where it emerges from? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please come to Exhibit Night at The Clifton School. Exhibit at Clairmont: Infant and Toddler I, Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 4:30-6:00 PM Toddler II and Preschool, Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 4:30 -6:00 PM Exhibit at Clifton: Infant and Toddler I, Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 4:30-6:00 PM Toddler II, Tuesday, August 29 at 4:30-6:00 PM Preschool, Wednesday, August 30 at 4:40-6:00 PM What is Emergent Curriculum? The Clifton School utilizes the Emergent curriculum approach. Emergent curriculum describes the kind of curriculum that develops when exploring what is “socially relevant, intellectually engaging, and personally meaningful to children.” The basic idea is that organic, whole learning evolves from the interaction of the classroom participants, both children and adults. “As caring adults, we make choices for children that reflect our values; at the same time we need to keep our plans open-ended and responsive to children” (Jones and Nimmo, 1994, p. 3). In emergent curriculum, both adults and children have initiative and make decisions. This power to impact curriculum decisions and directions means that sometimes curriculum is also negotiated between what interests children and what adults know is necessary for children’s education and development. Ideas for curriculum emerge from responding to the interests, questions, and concerns generated within a particular environment, by a particular group of people, at a particular time (Cassady, 1993). Emergent curriculum is never built on children’s interests alone; teachers and parents also have interests worth bringing into the curriculum. The values and concerns of all the adults involved help the classroom culture evolve. The curriculum is called emergent because it evolves, diverging along new paths as choices and connections are made, and it is always open to new possibilities that were not thought of during the initial planning process (Jones and Reynolds, 1992). Extracurricular Activities The Children at The Clifton School have been engaged in a variety of activities this summer. Our goal is to expose children to new and varying experiences as they are developing ideas about who they are and what type of things they enjoy doing. These activities have included: soccer, music, tumble bus, magic shows, bubbles, sensory, science activities and Chattahoochee Nature Center. All groups including infants will participate in music this fall. If you have any suggestions or ideas for extracurricular activities please let us know. Solar Eclipse Party for Preschool As you all know, on Monday, August 21st, there is going to be a total eclipse of the sun (for the Atlanta area it will be a partial eclipse!) This rare occasion is causing a lot of interest, questions and concerns. The fullest part of the eclipse will occur for us between 2:35 – 2:38 PM. The eclipse is not safe to view with the naked eye, and it is too risky to assume that children this age will keep viewing glasses on for the event. In an effort to share this experience with the children we are planning a Solar Eclipse Party! During our Solar Eclipse Party we will have an art station, games, and solar snacks. We will live stream the eclipse from NASA onto a screen in the piazza. The children will rest from 1 to 2 PM and then begin the party and live streaming. The Solar Eclipse viewing will begin at 2:00 PM. The Clifton School will provide glasses for viewing the eclipse outside. Parents are invited to the viewing party and for safety purposes must be present if children go outside to view the eclipse. Please note: We have a limited number of glasses for viewing the eclipse. If you plan to come to the party and view the eclipse with your child (preschool children only) please sign the sheet in your child’s classroom. You may also bring your own glasses for viewing. Fernbank Museum will be giving away glasses for free on Monday beginning at 11:00 AM. They will give away one per person. Families may also pick their child up early from school for viewing purposes. If you plan to pick you children up we ask that you do so before 11 AM. For safety purposes we ask that no children are picked up between 11AM and 4 PM. There will be no charge for students not enrolled in GA Pre-K aftercare on that day provided they are picked up by 4PM Teacher/ Child Ratios at The Clifton School In an effort to maintain quality, The Clifton School utilizes nationally (NAEYC) suggested ratios in the classroom. There are however a few times during the day that we utilize ratios at or below what is required by the state. Those times are: during morning drop-off and afternoon pick- up for about 1 hour and during the teacher’s lunch break period which typically takes place during nap-time. We are committed to best practices and utilizing nationally (NAEYC) suggested ratios during of the instructional periods of the day. Please feel free to contact me directly should you have any questions regarding ratios. PTA Events Welcome Back event at Leapin’ Lizards: Sunday, August 27, 2017, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Following last year’s wildly popular event, the PTA is excited to host another free, family-friendly afternoon at Leapin’ Lizards located at 2050 Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur. We have reserved the entire facility and invite everyone to come out to meet fellow Clifton School parents while our kiddos bounce off the weekend! First PTA Meeting of the Year: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 This is your opportunity to hear PTA and school updates, and ask questions. Save the date and we’ll keep you posted on meeting logistics—we’re assessing WebEx as an option so more parents can participate during the work day. Additional meetings dates are tentatively scheduled for November 15, 2017, January 17, 2018 and April 11, 2018. Important Dates August 21, 2017 Solar Eclipse Party August 23, 24, 2017 Clairmont Exhibit Nights August 23, 29, 30, 2017 Clifton Road Exhibit Nights August 27, 2017 Leapin’ Lizards Event September 1, 2017 First Friday Coffee September 4, 2017 School Closed for Labor Day September 6, 2017 PTA Meeting October 09, 2017 School Closed for Professional Development October 28, 2017 Harvest Festival Thank you for trusting us each day with your children. It is a privilege we do not take for granted. Click here to like us on Facebook Best Regards, Natalie Feagin, M.Ed. Executive Director www.thecliftonschool.org
Dear Families and Staff, We are thankful that the I-85 interstate fire and collapse resulted in no injuries or loss of life. We realize that this is the route many of our families and staff travel each day and understand how fortunate we are that everyone was able to arrive to their destinations safely. The Clifton School will open and operate within normal business hours tomorrow. Please use the link below to check MARTA transportation routes to assist with alternative transportation plans. http://www.itsmarta.com/ We will be sure to keep you informed if there is a need to adjust our plans. Thank you. Best Regards, Natalie Feagin, M.Ed. Executive Director www.thecliftonschool.org
2017 STEM Camp Brochure
Please Join us for our open house at both the Clifton Road and Clairmont Campus on Monday February 20, 2017 from 5:00 -7:00 pm
The Clifton School will resume normal business hours (7AM to 6:30 PM) tomorrow Monday, January 9, 2017. Stay warm and Travel safely. Natalie Feagin, M.Ed. Executive Director www.thecliftonshool.org
Dear Families, Due to the winter weather advisory and potential for hazardous road conditions, The Clifton School will close early today January 6, 2017 at 1:30 PM. Please arrange to pick your children up prior to 1:30 PM and travel safely. Best Regards, Natalie Feagin, M.Ed. Executive Director www.thecliftonshool.org
DISCOVERY CAMP 2016 Junior Camp (ages 4 –5) Clifton Junior Camp Clairmont Junior Camps 1700 Clifton Road 1900 Starvine Way Junior Camp Brochure Senior Camp (ages 6—9) Emory’s Asbury House Peavine Way Senior Camp Brochure SPACES ARE FILLING QUICKLY!
Summer Camp 2016! We have been busily preparing for summer camp! This year the children will enjoy swimming, water play and exciting fieldtrips on and off site. This year’s theme is: Discovery. Summer camp registration begins January 25th for in-house/actively enrolled families and on February 4th for all other eligible families. Your child is eligible for summer camp if they are: age 4 through age 9. If they are transitioning to kindergarten (age 5 by September 1, 2016) or leaving The Clifton School to attend an outside Pre-K program in the Fall (age 4 by September 1, 2016) they must register for summer camp to make room for incoming students. Any age-eligible child whose parent works for Emory, CDC or CHOA or is a full-time Emory student is also able to enroll in summer camp, regardless of whether the family has ever had a child enrolled at either Clifton School location. More information regarding summer camp schedules and fieldtrips will be sent out prior to registration. Enrollment Intent Forms will be distributed to families this week. These forms provide families with an opportunity to make requests for the coming school year’s classroom placements and inform us of any upcoming changes in their children’s enrollment. We ask that families return the completed forms by February 1st . The intent form is to be completed by all families, infant-preschool. Subsidy: If you are receiving a subsidy, documents for renewal are due by April 15th. For more information on subsidy renewal and eligibility please contact: Andrea Bourne (abourne@thecliftonschool.org ) at the Clifton site or Daneill Gunn (dgunn@thecliftonschool.org) at the Clairmont site. 2016 School Closings Monday, January 18th Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Monday, February 15th Staff Professional Development Day Monday, May 30th – Friday, June 3rd Move Up Week Monday, July 4th Independence Day Monday, September 5th Labor Day Thursday, November 24- Friday November 25th Thanksgiving Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26th Winter Holiday Friday, December 30th New Year’s Eve Inclement Weather Policy During times of inclement weather, both schools will be open. We will be staffed by as many employees as possible, depending on the number of employees who can safely travel. However, in the event that BOTH Emory University and the CDC close or announce a later opening time or an early closing time, we will do so also. In the event that the weather should turn icy during the day, we request that families pick up their children as soon as possible so that everyone is able to travel home safely. This information will be relayed through our calling post, email list-serve, posted on our website, and when possible, broadcast on Channel 2 news. Thank you. Natalie Feagin Executive Director www.thecliftonschool.org
The PTA would like to thank everyone for making this year’s Teacher’s Appreciation Campaign a HUGE Success! This year, we had 80% of our families contribute and we were able to raise just over $34,300 for our teachers and staff. We had 15 classrooms hit 100% Participation this year: Clifton Campus: Primrose, Lily, Holly, Dogwood, Redbud, Silverbell, Maple, Sweetgum Clairmont Campus: Fern, Dogwood, Redbud, Laurel, Maple The Winners for our PTA-sponsored Party are the Clifton Maple Classroom and the Clairmont Laurel Classroom! The PTA will be contacting those room reps about scheduling their party. THANK YOU again to our wonderful parents for remembering our teachers during the holidays!
3 options for your convenience! » Main meeting: Clairmont site, conference room » 2nd location (via teleconference): Clifton site, conference room » Call in: 1-712-832-8300, access code 1476792
Holiday Camp (ages 5- 9 ) Clairmont & Clifton Road Site Thanksgiving Break: 11/21, 11/22 & 11/223 (Circle) Registration Deadline 11/15/16 $53/day; $143 ((10% discount) for all 3 days Winter Holiday: 12/19, 12/20, 12/21, 12/22 (Circle) Registration Deadline 12/13/16 $53/day; $143 ((10% discount) for all 3 days Winter Holiday:12/27, 12/28, 12/29, 12/31 (Circle) Registration Deadline 12/13/16 $53/day; $191 (10% discount) all 4 days Spring Break: 4/3, 4/4, 4/5, 4/6, 4/7 (Circle) Registration Deadline 3/23/17 $53/day; $238 (10% discount) all 5 days *Payment: cash, check or money order 2016-2017 Holiday Camp
The Clifton Schools at Clifton and Clairmont are open tomorrow Monday, July 27 for regular business hours. We will adhere to the water advisory and have purchased water for cooking and consuming. We will only utilize tap water for handwashing. Please do not allow your children to drink from the water fountains during arrival or pick-up. All water play is cancelled. Please see the attached water advisory guidelines for more information, as these are the guidelines we will adhere to. 2015_07_26_boil_water_advisory
Learn how to recognize and treat breathing and cardiac emergencies common to infant and children. Learn how to clear airway obstructions on a chocking baby or a child and learn when to perform CPR. Register to participate in our infant/child CPR class Clifton site : July 22, 4-6pm (404-636-4073 to register) Clairmont site: July 29, 4-6pm (404-315-6340 to register) The cost of the class is $20.00 ( to cover cost of instructor and CPR card) SPACE IS LIMITED!
Summer camp registration is open for the Clifton & Emory Community All summer camp space is on a first come first serve basis. please see the summer camp page for additional information. 2015 Senior Camp Brochure (ages 6-9) 2015 Junior Camp Brochure (ages 4-5)
Please Join us on Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 from 4:00 -6:00 p.m at both the Clairmont Campus and Clifton Road Campus Explore and learn about “SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT” in early childhood.
Farm to Preschool Grant
Dear Fellow Parent, Please join us at Burger Fi at Emory Point this Thursday, the 7th anytime from 4:30 pm – 8 pm for this school year’s first Spirit Night! A portion of all proceeds will come back to the PTA for school improvements, so please take advantage of this opportunity to help improve your child’s school while eating yummy food! It’s a win-win! Hope to see you there! – www.burgerfi.com
