A Word from Our Director
Community Goal
Throughout the year we will be asking the entire membership to focus on particular aspects of the curriculum. Our ultimate goal, or our key goal, is to concisely communicate the school’s philosophy to each family. Let’s start with something fun: Special Time!
One of the most wonderful and unique parts of belonging to a co-op is the opportunity our families have for parent education. In fact, parent education is at the heart of everything we do. Think of your experience here at Laurel Hill as an opportunity to build a toolbox full of tools that will be useful from early childhood through adulthood. You are learning from the children, each other, the staff and our wide variety of parent ed workshops.
While a parent at Laurel Hill, I was tremendously grateful to find the support of Hand in Hand Parenting. Implementing their tools has forever changed my approach to parenting. Hand in Hand has helped me to set limits with affection, rather than judgment, and to know when my own emotions are getting in the way of good parenting. One idea that is very important to not overlook is remembering how important it is to play and laugh with children.
Special Time
Giving your child the gift of your undivided, joyful attention builds connection and confidence for your child and your parenting. The process is easy – set aside some time to spend with one child, avoid distractions (no phone calls, texts or interruptions) and let your child lead the way.
How to Special Time – ahaparenting.com
Special Time heals the upsets and disconnections of daily modern life. We live in a stressful culture that disconnects us from each other, from our feelings, and from our own inner wisdom. Special Time is the antidote for parents and children, because it:
- Reconnects us with our child after the separations and struggles of everyday life, so she's happier and more cooperative.
- Gives the child the essential–but unfortunately so often elusive–experience of the parent's full, attentive, loving presence.
- Gives the child a safe place to play out the everyday issues that all kids need to work through, such as feeling powerless, by reversing the roles and letting the child lead.
- Gives the child a regular opportunity to express scary feelings and ideas to a compassionate, trusted adult who will listen and help her work them through using her own natural language: Play.
- Deepens our empathy for our child so we can stay more compassionate and see things from his point of view, which strengthens the connection and our parenting.
- Builds a foundation of trust and partnership between parent and child which is a precondition for him to trust us with his big feelings when he's upset (as opposed to him lashing out).
- Convinces the child on a primal level that she is central to the parent, that she really matters, that she is important. (You know she is, but often she doesn't.)
You can find a tremendous amount of information and support to get this time rolling with your family in the Parent Club.
Don’t Kick Yourself Later! Join the Parent Club – while it is free!
So often families come to us for support in parenting at home. Being helpful people, we offer articles, advice, and books. Starting this week we are going to ask you some questions before offering help. What have you tried? Have you joined the Parent Club? Have you done any research? While it would be easier to just give answers, it's much more powerful to help you to use the tools we have already shared. The co-op is here to support you and to help you take the initiative to find what works for your family.
- Maria Chew, Director
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Committee & Staff Announcements & Notes
Personnel
Wishlist
What better way to support our teachers and make things exciting for our kids every day than by giving our teachers the gift of things they want for their classrooms! Most of the wishlist items for the teachers are on this Amazon wishlist. Please check it out and send some goodies in to school!
If you order from Amazon through the wishlist, the items will ship to school and you don't need to do anything more. You're also welcome to purchase things elsewhere or donate them if you have them at home already – just let me know and I’ll update the list on Amazon. You can leave the items between the filing cabinet and the bathroom door in the office or take them directly to the teacher who asked for them if you know who that is.
This list is updated regularly so if you don't see something that inspires you today, keep checking back! If you have any questions, email personnel@laurelhill.org.
Tender Loving Care – Laurel Hill Style
Are you in need of some Laurel Hill TLC? Please reach out if you or another LH family would benefit from a meal or two from the community: personnel@laurelhill.org
2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? LAUREL HILL!
Calling all Laurel Hill families! Is there someone who has brightened your day, made things easier for you, or shown a great example? Well, tell them about it! The appreciation box is in the hallway on the bookshelf along with slips of paper and a pen – everything you need to tell someone else what an impact they’ve had!
- Sarah Egdal, Personnel Chair (Danielle/AM)
Community Fundraising
LH Pancake Breakfast – THANK YOU!
Thanks everyone for supporting our school at the annual pancake breakfast! We had almost 400 people at the event and ate many, many pancakes and many pounds of sausages. It was so wonderful seeing everyone there and having a good time. Many thanks to all the community members behind the scenes that made everything run so well!
Special thanks to the following businesses who generously donated food and drink!
And thank you to Action Rentals for discounting our griddle and chair rental fee!
Give these businesses a thank you the next time you’re there!
Giorgio’s Pizza Night
Thank you everyone who came out for the Giorgio’s Pizza night  last Monday! It was great to see LH families there chomping on pizza and having a grand old noisy time.
MORE FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES!
There are a number of simple ways that you can raise money for Laurel Hill right now with little to no extra work! See a few of these opportunities below.
Eat Well, Do Good: Good Eggs Fundraiser – Coming in October and November!
This fall, 5% of every grocery order you place on Good Eggs will go back to Laurel Hill Nursery School!
 The first 5 new families to join the fundraiser from our school this week will receive a free flower bouquet!
Good Eggs is an online grocery market in the Bay Area delivering absurdly fresh groceries. Shop today for same-day delivery straight to your doorstep––no subscription required. Delivery is free on all orders over $60.
How to join the fundraiser:
- Visit schools.goodeggs.com
- Enter the code ILOVELAURELHILL – click "Shop Now"
- Add your groceries to your Good Eggs basket and check out
New customers get $15 off with this code and if 20 new customers join the fundraiser, LH gets a $500 fundraising bonus. How cool!
eScrip
 Register your participating grocery and/or credit cards and earn money for Laurel Hill Nursery School. Visit www.escrip.com to create an account, select Laurel Hill Nursery School as the beneficiary (ID: 139232063) and browse through the catalog of participating merchants. Once you have registered your card(s) you can shop online* or shop locally and automatically earn money for the school.
*In order for Laurel Hill to receive credit from eScrip, your shopping experience must start by going directly through the eScrip website.
Amazon Smile
 When you shop using AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Laurel Hill Nursery School. AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.
- Jason Kuo, Community Fundraising Chair (Hannah/AM)
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Business Meeting Minutes
You can view the most recent business meeting (9/18/18) minutes online here. They are also posted on the bulletin board just outside the office in the hallway at Laurel Hill.
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Calendar
Parent Ed: SF Co-op Kindergarten Night at Lakeshore Elementary
Monday, October 1, 6:45 – 9pm
Diversity and Inclusion Coffee
Tuesday, October 2, 9:15am
Diversity and Inclusion Coffee
Thursday, October 4, 1:15pm
Work Party: Equipment
Thursday, October 4, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Extended Care ONLY
Monday, October 8
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Upcoming Meeting Host Schedule
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View the Meeting Host Duties Checklist to see all responsibilities for the main host and other meeting hosts. Please be aware that the new doors lock from the outside. To lock up after a meeting, be sure to close the outside doors and pull them shut from the inside of the rooms.
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