Our February Parent Discussion Group will be held on Wednesday, February 8th. The topic this month will be Preschool Reading and Writing Skills and will be facilitated by our CPNS teachers; Rosellyn Cassidy and Kelly O'Keefe. Some of the questions that they will be discussing include the following:

1. At what age should I expect my child to begin to read and write? Or When will I know my child is ready to read/write?
2. What are the early predictors of later success in reading and writing?
3. What can I do at home to encourage emergent literacy skills?
4. What activities and lessons at school promote literacy skills?
5. What type of games and activities promote emergent literacy skills?
6. What types of story/reading books encourage reading skills?

If you ever wanted more information on this topic please join us on Wednesday, February 8th in the "Power of Play" room from 9:15 - 11:15. If you can't come for the whole 2 hours please come for whatever time you are able to. Also don't worry about child care your children will have the opportunity to play in this classroom, while you are meeting. There will also be a special treat for all that attend.

Please don't pass up this wonderful opportunity. We look forward to seeing you there. Let me know if you have any questions.

Some of our 4/5-year-old classes ended last week, and some will begin this week with a trip to a local dentist office. Dr. Alexander welcomes our children and opens his dental office up to let our classes visit with him. He also donates toothpaste and toothbrushes to all the children of CPNS. We really appreciate the generosity of our local community. A big thanks to Dr. Alexander and his dental practice.

On Wednesday, February 8 from 9:15 - 11:15 we will be holding our monthly parent discussion group. This month the discussion will be on reading and writing skills for preschoolers and our teachers Rosellyn Cassidy and Kelly O'Keefe will be the facilitators. There will also be a special treat for those that attend. Please remember that we meet in our Power of Play room and children are always welcome. If you can't join us for the whole time, please come when you are able. We look forward to seeing you there.

Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 6. Our CPNS teachers will be reading at the Barnes & Noble store in Hamilton. More details to follow.

As you begin to research your options for a preschool for your child, please consider CPNS. Please call Janice Parker at 609 655-8663 or email her at CPNSchool@comcast.net for more information. Don't forget to tell your friends and neighbors about our developmentally appropriate academic Christian preschool. We don't want anyone to miss the opportunity to give their children the best and strongest foundation for their child's academic success.

Parking Lot/Playground Safety Plan
We need your help to provide a safe playground for all of our children. We are asking that if you need to park in the church parking lot between the hours of 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. on school days that you use the last few spots closest to the South Lawn. You could also use the overflow parking lot or the spaces in the rear of the parking lot next to the cemetery.

We hope this will eliminate traffic in the playground while children are outside playing.

Please call Janice at 655-8663 with any concerns or questions. We want to thank you in advance for making sure we keep all children safe.

The Cranbury Presbyterian Nursery School (CPNS) has completed its 27th year of providing a Christian preschool environment to preschoolers and their families. Our year was once again filled with a variety of milestones, activities and new opportunities. These are summarized in the 2011 Annual Reports available below.

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. In September 2006, the Association revised program standards and criteria to introduce a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children. The new standards today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible. For more information, please visit www.NAEYC.org. Our NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that we are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and we will help give all children the best foundation for their academic success that we possibly can. To learn more about how we achieved NAEYC accreditation, click here.

CPNS is a non-profit Christian preschool founded in 1984 by the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury. Our history is outlined here. Our Nursery School is administered by a nine member Board comprised of Church Members and other individuals from the surrounding area with backgrounds in personnel, finance, education and administration. While we are not a cooperative school and do not require parents to contribute hours of service, we do offer many opportunities for parents to participate in their child's nursery school experience. Our parents are encouraged to share their experiences, ideas and feelings. To find more information about our school philosophy and curriculum, click here.

CPNS is state licensed by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services and holds professional membership in the New Jersey Education Association and the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Our 3 and 4 year old program teachers hold degrees in Early Childhood Education and/or Elementary Education and are college certified. A Teacher and an Assistant Teacher oversee each class. Our student/teacher ratio is 12 to 2 in our 2 1/2 year old program, 14 to 2 in our 3-year-old program and 16 to 2 in our 4 year old program. The CPNS staff is encouraged to witness their faith in Jesus Christ through the love shown for the children, their dedication to each child's development, and their daily interactions. To meet our faculty, click here.