Preschooler Spring 2016
Transcript of Preschooler Spring 2016
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spring 201
was in one of the classrooms recently when I overheard the follow-
ng conversaon:“I will never leave NCRC,” one child said.
“Yes you will,“ said their friend, “or you’re going to be too old.”
“No,” said the child. “I won’t have to leave because NCRC will bein my heart.”
t is certainly a beauful senment, but also a telling one. It tells us
hat NCRC isn’t just a preschool, it’s a feeling - a feeling that encom-passes countless memories, friendships, and rsts. While the details
of these memories will inevitably fade and some will disappear com-pletely, the feeling is always there because one thread stands out in
many of the exchanges I overhear in the classrooms – your children
are kind and caring and sensive to the needs of others. Our teachersand sta are commied to helping young children relate to each oth-
er, consider dierent perspecves, understand their own emoons
and those of others, and advocate for themselves, so when your chil-dren leave NCRC, they will connue to be those same kind and caring
children. This is what contributes to NCRC’s rich history and to itsegacy.
The noon of legacy generally implies signicance - someone or a
group of someone’s in the past created something so dynamic, so
meless, and so unique, that eorts were made to carry it on to ben-et future generaons.
When I think of legacies, I think of the movaon behind creanghem and carrying them on. I think of promong a cause and of an
unwavering commitment to work on behalf of that cause. When Ihink of legacies, I think of NCRC.
At NCRC, our cause is based on the vision of our founders, on honor-ng the past, and on dufully adhering to our mission. Our cause is to
earn all we can about each child and their development, and to puthat knowledge into acon, in a way that best supports and nurtureshe growth of each child. NCRC understands the balance between
being smart and kind, high-achieving and compassionate, happy and
successful. It's the foundaon of our existence. But our legacy isn’tonly about our cause – it is also about being part of a larger commu-
nity, a community that shares our goals, and is passionate and curi-ous to keep learning and growing.
NCRC’s lasng legacy carries on through the children, the parents,
and the teachers and sta. As some of you leave us, know that youand your children will stay in our hearts.
And when we are gone, NCRC’s legacy will remain because each of us
has le an indelible mark on the lives of children.
Dr. Valaida Wise, NCRC Head of School
I love Beginnings. I dropped my daughter Sydney o for her rstin the Bunny room this year without so much as a tear (from meleast, she was a dierent story!). I knew the fun and friendships connecons waing for her in that classroom and I was so excitefor her NCRC experience to begin.
My eyes only welled up slightly as a I waved goodbye to my Kindgartner, Jackson, and le him in his big new school. He spent thryears at NCRC and he le condent and prepared for his next steHe was excited to be in that new classroom - it was hard to dwelong on how big he was and how independent he was becoming
Endings are not my forte. About this me three years ago I wassing with tears running down my face while my son sang“Goodbye Bunnies” for the last me at his end of year celebraoeven worse, a year ago I was crying so hard on the last day of hisExplorer year I couldn’t even make it up the steps of the front poto hug and thank the teachers our family love so much. I sll rember looking at Val and mouthing “I just can’t do it” and her sayin“It’s ok, they know how much you appreciate them.” I laugh abo
now. I guess you know there’s something special about a preschwhen the thought of leaving it can make a grown woman cry.
Over the years, I’ve talked to parents about what it is that makeNCRC such a special place in our hearts. It’s no doubt the perfeccombinaon of so many things, one of which has to be the NCRCcommunity – faculty, sta, parents and children and the enthusiand connecon we share.
This year parents planned potlucks, spread mulch on Family WoDay, made playdough and read in the classrooms, hung bats andspiders for Pumpkin Party, served doughnuts and cider at WinteCelebraon, raised their paddles at the Tuion Assistance Aucotook pictures and wrote arcles, coordinated pizza for the PajamPicnic, aended breakfasts and coees, donated baby clothes a
dog toys, and pitched in whenever and however was needed.
As another school year comes to an end, I am grateful to the NCparents and to the NCRC sta and faculty for the me, talent anenergy you give to make this school a place we hold so dear. Thayou so very much for another wonderful year.
Keep a look out for ways to get involved in the Parent Associaonext year and in the meanme I’ll be bracing myself for the last“Goodbye Bunnies” song in June!
Laura Desai, PA President
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He who has a why,” Dr. Viktor Frankel once famously ob-
served, “can bear any how.”
As a parent, I nd myself coming back to these words
again and again. So many of the decisions we make for
and with our children – the schools they will aend, the
subjects they will study, even the day-to-day acvies
they will undertake – are driven by the “how.” That is, by
the desire to help them develop the skills they will need
to navigate life’s challenges, to seize its opportunies, to
“succeed.”
The “why” – the sense of purpose that comes from iden-
fying with something larger than one’s self – can unfortu-
nately get lost in these decisions, both large and small. To
some extent, this is intenonal. A sense of purpose, aer
all, is something that each child must discover as part of
his or her personal evoluon. No one, not even their par-
ents, can give it to them.
But what we can do as parents is help them understand,
from the earliest possible age, the imperave of “why.” To
give them the opportunity to experience the value of be-
ing part of teams, communies, instuons, that are big-
ger than the sum of their parts. To give them a reason to
use the skills they are developing, and the drive to im-prove them and acquire more.
That is no mean feat, especially when dealing with pre-
schoolers.
Fortunately, this is the experience that NCRC oers to our
children, and to us (their parents). For NCRC is so much
more than just a preschool. It is an instuon with a rich
history, and an excing future. For 88 years, it has stood
at the forefront of early childhood educaon – welcoming
through its doors a broad cross-secon of our community,
By Robert Davis (Addie, PM Rainbow)
from the children of Presidents-to-be to the masons, sculptors, and
others who built Naonal Cathedral.
As current NCRC families, we are the stewards of
both its legacy and of its future. We’ve beneed
immensely from the hard work done over many
years by those who have come before us, and we
have a duty to connue building on that founda-
on to make NCRC an even beer place for those
families who will follow us.
That is why we come to family work day at the
beginning of each school year.
That is why we give so freely of our me as
parent volunteers.
That is why we give to the Annual Fund and
the Tuion Assistance aucon.
That is why so many connue giving their
me and money to NCRC, even aer their
children have moved on.
Somemes I close my eyes and imagine a
day many years from now when our chil-
dren – whether sll living here or some-
where else across the country or around
the globe – are back in Cleveland Park.
Without thinking, they nd themselves
driving up Newark Street, making the
turn onto Highland Place, and rounding
the curve unl that big front porch
comes into view. Suddenly they hear the
laughter, see the smiling faces, and feel the energy,
the enthusiasm, and the love that is literally owing down that hill.
And even if they never knew it before, at that moment they will know
why, too
ART IS
CREATIVITY
IN ACTION
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y Olivia Risoleo, NCRC ‘04
For as long as I can remember, NCRC was an important part of my life. My family moved
here from New York City when I was just two months old, and NCRC became my very rst
community – rst it was vising my sister in the Sunshine class, then my brother in the Bee-hive class. My mom tells me that I would walk in the doors of NCRC and head straight into
“Miss Piggy’s” oce when my mom served on NCRC’s Board, “aending” meengs as
though they were my own. Every teacher, every parent, every sta member made me feel
like I was an important part of NCRC long before I was able to become a Sunshiner my-
self. When that day nally came, I remember being so excited because it was nally my turn
to have my own spot in this happy, special place! Even though it was so long ago, I sll re-
member how wonderful, fun and caring my teachers were and how special they all made
me feel.
And this is precisely what I think makes
NCRC so special. Everyone feels welcome
and part of the community the minute they
walk through the doors, whether they are
new to the community or are returning to
visit aer many years. Although the stu-
dents and teachers may change from year
to year, it somehow always feels like com-
ing home.
This is just one of the many reasons I ap-
plied to work at NCRC as a summer camp
counselor.
I want to be part of the sta andfaculty that help students and parents feel
as welcome and as special as I felt when I
was at NCRC. As I return for my third sum-
mer as a counselor, I am excited again to
work with the children and their parents,
and I hope I can be a small part of the rea-
son why they may someday look back on
their me at NCRC and have that over-
whelming desire to always be part of the
NCRC family
This year’s Tuion Assistance
Aucon demonstrated what
NCRC is made of – a caring,
joyful, generous community.
Together, we raised $169,000
for the Tuion Assistance Fund
exceeding our goal and raising
a record amount in Raise Your
Paddle To Fund-A-Scholar!
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the Aucon
co-chairs, parents, grandpar-
ents, parents of alumni, faculty
and sta, and Trustees for
believing in NCRC’s mission.
Your compassion and
thoughulness is laying the
foundaon for roots to grow.
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A quick guide of activities to enjoy with your children this
summer to strengthen gross motor skills and speech and
language skills—all approved and recommended by
Ms. Marian and Ms. Becky.
1Plant both hands and both feet on the
ground, and take a bear walk around the
yard for a fun dose of gross motor play
2Draw on your
child’s cheek
with ice. Can he
or she guess
what you drew?
Sit on the
ground and fac
each other, hol
hands & sway
forward and
back to strengt
en the core. Ad
a ball!
4Mindfulness me.
Lie down and
watch your belly
rise and fall as you
breathe.
5
3
Roll up and down a hill or
across the oor in a hot dog
roll to work on movementexploraon.
6Blow bubbles high an
low—pop them on
your toe!
7
9
Kiss a slice of lemon.
How does it taste? Is
it really sour? A taste
test is a great way to
build vocabulary with
adjecves.
8
Play catch with
both hands to
work both sides
Place puzzle pieces on a shelf. Grab a small step ladder and
have your child climb up and down the ladder to get a new
puzzle piece. Both ladders and puzzles strengthen special
awareness.
10Make a delicious shake
together and sip it through
a straw. This allows chil-
dren to pracce controlling
their tongue, jaw muscles
and lips.
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11Blow a whistle without
bing your teeth down
on it. The ability to blow
is essenal to sound pro-
ducon.
Allow them to stack food or
groceries on the counter. This
works balance and hand/eye
coordinaon.
13
Put pennies in a
piggy bank to
strengthen your
ngers by using a
pinching moon.
Gardening
together is a
great way to
build chil-
dren’s senses.
12
14
15Use a kickboard
in the swim-
ming pool to
work those leg
muscles and
kick!
Go around and around your lips
with your tongue to inuence
this muscle and the develop-
ment of speaking abilies.
16
Work on your
balance by stack-
ing books on
your head and
walking around.
Can you add
more than one?
1917Alternate between scking
out your tongue and mak-
ing a silly face.
18
Do a shoebox hike by
placing boxes in a path
and walking in and out
of them
Lace a
rope
along the
ground
and walk
on it for
balance
and coor-
dinaon.
20
In a small community likeours, everyone adds to themany reasons NCRC isgreat because every fami-ly, every child and everyteacher makes a dierence- so does every gi to theAnnual Fund.
We are so grateful to thosewho made NCRC their philan-thropic priority this year,allowing us to connue to sup-port the joy, kindness, andintenon of our school.Together, we completed the2016 academic year in a
record way—with 95% ParentParcipaon.
As we enter the nalmonth of the 2015-20Annual Fund campaignlet’s end with anotherrecord – 100% Parent
cipaon. We’re counon everyone. We’recounng on you.
THANK YOU!
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Cathy and I have grown up at NCRC. When I arrived a nearly 20 years ago, Cathy was a classroom teacher. Shegraciously welcomed me with her warm smile and exuberant aura. Her never-ending love of children remains tthis day. Cathy always recognizes and celebrates even the smallest of accomplishments, comments and joys ofevery child. Her enthusiasm has always been infecous for me.
Collaborang with Cathy has been one of the greatest gis. Together we have forged many trails from supporthe physical development of our students through the motor and the Engine Run programs to presenng at bolocal and naonal conferences to organizing community outreach and all-school events.
Even aer 20 years there remains so much mutual respect, honesty and joy. I can always, always count on Cathbe there to support me in the many happy mes, as well as challenges mes One can only surmise that with sa great colleague Cathy and I have developed a long-lasng friendship, one that will connue to grow as she leNCRC for another great life adventure.
Cathy Parker is an amazing educator and the best ithe eld. She taught me everything by watching heCathy, you are young at heart, innovave, funny, cing, compassionate, and really get the children.
A tribute to Cathy Parker
Cathy became my “soul sister” the moment we methad so much in common in terms of our stage of lifeshared passions, family values, and career goals. Moimportantly, we were perfectly aligned in our view ochildren. Watching her in the Motor Room or on EarDay was an absolute treat. She marveled at the childas she watched them and facilitated their work and She had unending love and respect for each and eve
one of them and was forever learning from them sping of them with great hope and promise.
Cathy created and built a program at NCRC that wascrucial to its mission. Her music and movement pro-gram, her Brain Gym training, and her experienced,
judgmental observaons made her invaluable to NCpurpose and process. She was an enduring model toteachers, both new and veteran. Her wiy sense ofhumor and her shining smile were contagious.
She leaves an indelible mark on the school and the lof the thousands of children she taught. What a gi young children she is and will connue to be! To knoCathy Parker is to love and appreciate the powerful
legacy she leaves behind. Liz Barclay, Head of School 2008-
Marian Brice, NCRC Faculty
Sheela Woo, NCRC Faculty
Cathy, you have been such a great mentor and friend over this past year! It has beenamazing working and learning from you each and everyday. I will miss your granola bars,geng toppled by motor equipment, and laughing with you! You bring such an amazingight to the Motor Program and give the kids such a fun and rewarding experience every
me. Motor will not be the same without you there everyday, but I am so thankful to bemoving forward with such an wonderful and well thought-out program. Your dedicaonto the school is uncanny and you should be very proud of all of your service to NCRC, itsstudents, family, and faculty. Love you Ms. Cathy! And THANK YOU!
Karin Steinmann, NCRC Faculty
I have known and worked with Cathy for 18+ yearshave never met anyone who has so much fun doinwhat they do. She has boundless energy, an amazi
sense of humor, a gi for teaching, an abundance olove for children, and not to menon, she never ag
Cathy welcomed me to NCRC with open arms. Themoment you meet her, you know you have a friendlife. She and I were original members of “NCRC’sCathy/Katherine/Kae/Katy/Kate club”, a very popname among NCRC employees. We shared many lichanging events together as well. Cathy and her huband celebrated with me at my wedding, her excitment and love was beyond measure when I becamMommy, and at that same me, one of Cathy’s greest journeys began, as a grandmother.
I consider Cathy a close friend and blessed to ha
her in my life. She is one of the most loving, posseless people I know. We will miss her at NCRC
but her love for teaching, exercising and days llwith laughter will never be forgoen.
For more than 28 years, Cathy
Parker has been a xture at
NCRC. She began her tenure
as a gied preschool teacher
and was the architect of the
school’s unique movementprogram. She was so inuen-
al in the development of the
program that it has come to
be called the Cathy Parker
Method (CPM). We have all
beneted from her experse,
love of children and joy.
The NCRC community will
certainly miss Cathy. We are
grateful that she has touched
our lives in so many meaning-
ful ways. I know you join me in
wishing her the very best.
most 20 years ago, when I rst became Head of NCRC, Cathy Parker told me she mightesign soon because she thought she was geng too old to do the job. Notwithstandinger feelings about this, I soon found out that she had more energy, stamina, physical exi-lity, and youthful spirit than anyone else at NCRC, including the children. What a joy toatch her working with a group of children! Whenever I was having a dicult day, Iould nd ve minutes to sneak over to the Playhouse and watch Cathy. You know therill – obstacle courses winding everywhere, parts of which were hanging from the ceiling,ughing children pulling each other around the room in boxes, all rolled up together in aat, enjoying every minute. She worked motor magic. I was grateful to her every day forhat I knew the children and families were learning from her. She was the rst person toach me “belly breathing,” which I used many mes a day during my years at NCRC. It’s
ard to imagine NCRC without Cathy. I’m glad she held out this long, I love her, and I wish
er every good thing on her next chapter.
Susan Piggo, Head of School 1998-2008
Katherine Vazquez, NCRC Fac
Val Wise, Head of School
ou have been a supporveiend, incredible inspiraon,nd role model for me for thest 19 years. Your kind soul,
reave ideas and wiy sensef humor have lit my days atCRC. Thank you for alwayseing gentle, happy, caring ,enerous and sweet. You madeotor class special for kids and
eachers! The memories will
e a source of wisdom and joyhat I will always treasure! Gra-as Cathy!! Enjoy your newart! You rock! ndrea Huerta, NCRC Faculty
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As I sit and type and ponder where three years
have gone and how my Explorer will be movingon from NCRC next year and entering kindergar-
ten, I feel profoundly grateful for the NCRC expe-
rience. There is so much I am grateful for, but in
parcular, I am grateful to NCRC for nurturing
the art of being.
There seems to be a lot of wring out there
about the dierence between doing and being.
To be sure, both have a place. Doing tends to be
described by words and phrases such as accom-
plishing, reacng, behavior-driven, driven by
success, answering. Being, on the other hand,tends to be described by words and phrases like
self -aware, insighul, value-driven, not afraid to
fail, quesoning.
This is Washington. We have the doing thing
down cold. In fact, it’s dicult to remember
occasions when I have met someone new and
they did not ask what I do. Don’t get me wrong.
Doing is important. I actually love living in a town
where people are so commied to what they do
and work hard to nd answers to tough ques-
ons. There is support and guidance all around
when it comes to doing.
So where to look when in need of inspiraon on
being? Yep. This is an easy one. Our children.
I love vising the Explorer room and watching
the joy and curiosity with which they operate. It
is infecous. Their insights rival Confucius. Their
values are strong. They are genuinely interested
in one another be-
cause of what makeseach child unique,
not in spite of their
dierences. This was
so clear to me one day when my child was re-
counng the many things he has learned about
his friends this year -- that Friend 1, a girl, “… is
totally awesome at all sports.” That Friend 2, a
boy, “… likes Legos and princesses.” That Friend
3, for whom running can be tricky, “…loves
freeze tag and keeps playing even aer everyone
else gets red.” I was inspired by how these
statements were made so maer-of
-factly and
without judgment. Our children act with joy, and
fear of failure is oen held at bay. I was stunned
the other day when my 5 year old approached
the local junior high kids who were in a heated
soccer match at the park. “Can I play?” he bold-
ly asked. These kids were more than double his
age and size, yet his love for soccer completely
outshined any fear of rejecon (at worst) or
sheer dominaon (at best). They said yes. He
had a blast.
Dr. Wise gave some great, simple advice that hasstuck with me. Encourage your children to ask
quesons. Now, instead of asking, “What did
you do at school today?” we oen ask, “Did you
ask any quesons today?” I’ll be honest here,
there are nights when I can’t help but wish my
children would STOP asking me quesons, but
the truth is, how wonderful and transformave
it is to be In a place where growing and askin
are innitely encouraged.
So again, my profound gratude goes out to
NCRC. Thank you for encouraging my children
to ask quesons. Thank you for sparking end
less conversaon about kindness as well as
about how frogs jump. There will be plenty o
me down the road for doing -- plenty of m
for doing math and doing homework. For now
I am so grateful to watch my children master
the art of being. It is a skill that will truly last
them a lifeme and help them grow into soli
wonderful people who are capable of being
anything they can dream of.
PHOTO HERE FOR THE PIECE
NCRC
IN THE
SPRING
By Lisa Koven Lee (DJ, Explorer and Anya, AM Beehive)
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THE PRESCHOOLER TE
Grace Chen, Robert Dav
& Jen Dryer
We welcome all contribuonsuggesons, big or small
Thank you!
2 0 1 6
By Sloane Menkes, NCRC Board Chair
e are wrapping up another wonderful year at NCRC, and our kids and school community have grown together. As a fellow NCRC
parent and Chair of the Board, I am honored to lead your NCRC Board of Trustees (“the Board”) in serving as a governance bodyto strategically support NCRC’s Mission and Vision. Before we break this summer I wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with
a quick update on our strategic planning process.
In 2011, the Board created a strategic plan that connues to provide guidance on how to arm our Mission and Value with seven in-tenonal goals and underlying objecves to support our eorts. This year we have been hard at work, carefully considering the strate-gic plan and are pleased to share that we’ve extended the execuon of this document for an addional two years and added some ad-
dional guidance that I’d like to share with you.
This year we've added four dynamic objecves, listed below, from which our NCRC community –parents, teachers and sta, Val, grand-
parents, trustees, parents of alumni, and alumni – can all take inspiraon from and achieve together. In addion, we remain commiedto our strategic plan which will connue making a dierence for our children who are here now and for those who will follow.
NCRC’s exisng goals include Collaboraon and Leadership, Community, Faculty and Sta Development, Diversity, Inclusion, Sustaina-
bility and Fiscal Strength. Addionally, the guidance developed by the board to support the connued implementaon of our strategic
plan includes:
Education Excellence: Become the standard for early childhood educaon
We will work every day to model our early childhood educaon program and shape local and naonal conversaons on thevalue and importance of quality preschool educaon. This may involve documenng and sharing the unique aspects of NCRC
while increasing opportunies for faculty to share this through presentaons, conversaons with policy makers and in collabo
raon with a Research Advisory Commiee.
Program Design: Meet the needs of current and future families
We will ensure our program oerings remain relevant through evaluaon, incorporaon of feedback from the community and
analysis of our physical space to make the most of our beauful school facilies both indoors and out.
Front Porch – Community: Connecon, communicaon and diversity
We will connue to culvate NCRC’s diverse and vibrant community of current and alumni parents, children, and faculty while
connecng within our community, and sharing our NCRC story. We will prepare for our 90th celebraon in 2017 by creang areunion event for our past, present and future families. In addion, we will connue to oer ways to connect and educate o ur
selves with such compelling programs such as our Fathers, Grandfathers and Fatherly Figures breakfasts, and downtownbrown bag events.
Ways and Means: Sustain Long Term nancial strength
We will connue to conduct mul-year strategic budgeng to advance our program, provide faculty and sta development
and to expand revenue generang opportunies . Our focus on the NCRC Fund and growing our endowment also allows us tosustain NCRC well into the future so this wonderful school will be here for our children’s children.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Board Chair and please know my door is always open if you have anyquesons or comments. I can be contacted at [email protected].
Have a wonderful summer!