Welcome to Mrs. Alexander's Website

 


​Welcome to St. Charles Preschool!  I look forward to getting to know each of you and your children.  This year will be filled with new experiences, new friends, new things to learn, and fun, fun, fun!  The following is some important information that will answer many of your questions.  Don’t hesitate to ask as more questions arise or if something is unclear.

 

Drop Off – Pick Up
Parking is available in the lot in front of St. Charles School.   Preschoolers must be escorted to and from the classroom by a caretaker, parent or sibling.  Children will not be released to the front of school with the rest of the school children, nor are they to be dropped off at the front of school.  Please walk your child to and from the classroom.  Our classroom is room 101.


Clothing 
The Preschool is not bound by the St. Charles dress code, but it is very important to dress your child appropriately for the weather.  Hats, coats, and mittens are a necessity when the weather turns cold.  Play clothes are the best choice for school wear.  We use washable paints and markers, but I can’t guarantee that a stain will never occur. Flip-flops, clogs and backless shoes are not allowed. Tennis/sneakers must be worn on Wednesday gym days (4/5 yr. old's only).  Please select a backpack that can easily hold 8 x 10 papers. A satchel style with handles works much better than traditional zipper backpacks, but it is your choice.  Make sure backpacks and lunch boxes are clearly marked on the outside with your child’s name.  It is not necessary to keep a change of clothes in your child’s back pack.


PARENT PARTICIPATION
Parents are not required to participate in class, but you are always welcome to come for a visit.  If you have a talent you would like to share, a craft to teach or a place of business that would make a good field trip please let me know.  Many parents join us for parties.


COMMUNICATION  
A weekly email newsletter listing upcoming dates and recapping activities of the week will be sent every Friday. A schedule of daily activities is posted over the cubbies each day before class. I update my webpage every quarter with a calendar of upcoming events.  I will send notes about field trips 7 – 10 days ahead of the trip and the information and permission slip will be posted on the bulletin board in the hall. Important information from the school office will be sent home with the children so check back packs daily. The color gold always indicates a response is needed. We will have formal parent-teacher conferences in October, but I am always happy to discuss your child with you.  I can be reached at home at 812- 334-8135 or at school at 812- 336-5853 ext. 101.  


SUPPLIES
You do not have to send any supplies other than a school bag. I will post a sign-up for Clorox wipes, Wet-Ones, paper towels, and Kleenex as needed.  We use a lot of craft items.  If you have any leftovers that need a home, we will gladly take them. 


SHOW AND TELL
Show and tell will be held on the last day of the week of your child’s class, Thursday for TTH AM and Friday for MWF & M-F Please do not send any weapons or war toys.  Toys that are brought from home are to be kept in cubbies unless your child is willing to share with everyone.  Since this is hard to do, I strongly suggest leaving toys at home except on show and tell days.


Snacks 
Due to storage constraints, we will stagger the classes when asking for snacks.  We will start the year with the M-F PM class, so please send in your snacks on the first day of school. I will send a note when it is the next class’ turn.  Appropriate snacks are: popcorn, crackers, gold fish, pretzels, raisins, fruit, cheese, teddy grahams, dry cereal etc.  Please try to choose snacks that are not made with peanuts or peanut oil.  It is clearly stated on food labels.  Food allergies have increased so much that we have to be very vigilant about nut products.  Occasionally if you make something homemade or want to bring a special snack, that is fine. We will serve cold water with snacks.  On party days, we allow cookies and treats (not cupcakes), but also serve fruit and cheese.  If a child in your child's class has a severe allergy, special snack rules may be put in place for a particular class.


Birthdays
You may send cookies, fruit and cheese, popsicles, ice cream, fruit roll-ups or treat bags.  Please, no cupcakes or cakes.  Our carpet really suffers.  We are trying to place an emphasis on healthy snack choices.  Summer birthday children may celebrate their half birthday on or near the appropriate date. 


LUNCH BUNCH
Lunch Bunch is an option you may use to extend your child’s day by one hour.  There is a lunch bunch sign up on a clipboard on top of the cubbies.  At 11:30 I will walk the children from our room to the cafeteria where they will eat lunch with the kindergarten, first and second graders.  At 11:55 they will go out on the big playground.  At 12:30 they will be brought back to our room by the assistant teachers where they will either be picked up or start their afternoon class.  Lunch must be brought from home.  There is no hot lunch served at school. Milk may be purchased for .45.  The fee for Lunch Bunch is $2.00 per day.  It is okay to pay after the fact.  I recommend keeping a lunch bunch calendar at home and marking off the days when your child participates. Paying at the end of the month is convenient for both you and the office.  Lunch fees may be placed in the office box on top of the cubbies. There is no Lunch Bunch fee for children attending all day.  Lunch Bunch is not available for the TTH morning class.   

FIELD TRIPS
A variety of field trips are planned throughout the year primarily for the four and five year olds. Suggestions for field trips are always welcome.  Please take your turn at driving.  Even if you work, hopefully you can plan ahead and take the morning or afternoon off. Children love for their parents to come along.  Permission slips will always be posted on the bulletin board and a gold sheet sent home in advance of the trip. Please return all permission slips promptly.   All parents are responsible for providing a booster seat on field trip days.

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Hi, my name is Theresa Alexander.  This is my twenty-ninth year at St. Charles Preschool.  I have been a St. Charles parishioner for over thirty-five years.  My husband, Rick, is recently retired from the planning department for the city of Bloomington. We have three children, Mrs. Erin Leake, a third grade teacher at St. Charles, Brian Alexander, a city of Bloomington public works employee and Mrs. Robin Henry, my AM preschool teaching assistant.  All three kids as well as Rick and I are I.U. graduates.  Guess who our favorite team is?  Sierra Leake, fourteen years old, Mason Leake, twelve years old, the Henry twins, Nash and Lyle, nine years old, Vera Theresa Henry, five years old, Leo Alexander, five years old, and Marlena Alexander, three years old, and Julian Alexander, sixteen months old, as well as our sons-in-law, Travis Leake and Dan Henry, and our daughter-in-law, Brianna Alexander fill our world with joy and laughter.  This is a small snapshot of me and my family.  I am blessed with a wonderful husband, terrific children, grandchildren, and sons and daughter-in-law, and a job I love.  God has been good to me.  I always look forward to a new school year.  I promise a lot of fun for all. Join us for a great 2018/2019 school year!

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Class Schedules

T/TH AM Class
Tuesday                                    Thursday


8:30  Free Play                                   8:30   Free Play
         
9:30   Circle Time                              9:30   Circle Time

10:00  Table Work                            10:00  Table Work

10:20   Snack                                     10:15  Show and Tell

10:40   Outside Play                         10: 30  Snack

11:10    Music                                    10:45   Religion Circle

                                                             11:00  Outside Play

 
MWF AM Class
Monday                                              Wednesday                                     Friday


8:30   Free Play                           8:30   Free Play                           8:30  Free Play

9:30    Library                              9:15   Reading Buddies             9:30  Circle Time

10:00   Circle Time                     9:50  ABC Phonics Circle            9:45  Table Work

10:20   Table Work                     10:15    Gym                                10:00 Show & Tell  

10:40    Snack                             10:45    Snack                               10:15  Snack 

10:50    Religion                         11:00    ABC  Table Work            10:30  Outside   

11:10    Outside                          11:05   Outside                           11:00    Music


M-F PM Class
Monday                                  Tuesday                                 Wednesday            

12:30  Stories/Yoga          12:30  Stories/Yoga         12:30  Stories/Yoga/Circle Time

1:00    Free Play                 1:00     Library                  1:10     Gym

1:40    Circle  Time             1:30    Snack                     1:40    Snack

2:00    Table Work              1:45    Free Play               1:50     Free Play

2:15    Snack                        2:15     Circle Time           2:20     ABC Table Work

2:30    Religion                     2:30    Outside                 2:30     Reading Buddies                                    

2:40   Outside                                                                               or Outside

Thursday                                 Friday

12:30  Stories/Yoga           12:30  Stories/Yoga

1:00    Free Play                  1:00   Free Play

1:40   Circle Time               1:40    Circle Time

2:00   Snack                         1:50    Table Work

2:10   Outside                      2:10    Show and Tell

2:30   Music                         2:30    Snack

                                              2:40   Outside