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Bulldog Buddies Bulletin
Preschool Update - May 2024
Hello Bulldog Buddies Families,
It's hard to believe this is our last Bulldog Buddies Bulletin of the year! I'd like to start by thanking everyone for the most amazing year in preschool. I have really enjoyed working with all of you and the Bulldog Buddies team while watching our preschoolers learn, grow and gain confidence! As I reflect on the year, I have found it so rewarding to watch our preschoolers come to school with huge smiles on their faces, develop a love of learning, build friendships and learn so many new skills through play. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your child's preschool experience!
A few reminders about registering for next year:
- If you are a current Bulldog Buddies family and have expressed an interest in returning next year, you should have received a placement letter. Additional information will be provided over the summer to complete the annual registration process. You don't need to do anything else at this time.
- To all of our new families, you should have received a placement letter with pre-registration information included. We will be having an in-person registration for our new families on May 10th and May 13th from 8:00am - 12:00pm at the Early Learning Center at Timothy Ball Elementary (720 W. Summit Street). Please use the preschool entrance and bring the residency documents outlined in your placement letter with you at this time.
- We currently have a waitlist for Bulldog Buddies Preschool Program for next year. We will place students as they appear on the waitlist.
If you have any questions, please call our office at the Early Learning Center at (219) 663-4330 and we will do our best to assist you. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer and for those of you joining us next year, we can't wait to share the 2024-2025 school year with you. I'd also like to wish all of our preschoolers transitioning to kindergarten the best of luck next year! We will miss you but know that you are going to have a great year as a kindergarten student!
Have a great summer!
Kristy Elsey
Assistant Director of Elementary Education
Phone: 219-663-4330 ext. 22001
Email: kelsey01@cps.k12.in.us
Bulldog Buddies Preschool 2024-2025
Do You Want Your Child To Attend Bulldog Buddies Next Year?
We are starting to plan for the 2024-2025 school year. Please complete the interest form below if you are interested in your child attending the Bulldog Buddies preschool program next year (2024-2025). Completing this form does not guarantee your child a spot within the program; however, it is the first step in that process. You will receive additional information from my office as the year progresses regarding registration.
School Calendar
Study Update
We are in the middle of our Gardening Study and it will continue through the first part of May. The children have been planting, learning about parts of plants, making predictions, and observing growth. We’ve had opportunities to practice math skills like counting, sorting, and measuring. We’re learning letters, reading stories, singing songs, and growing vocabularies! We’re always working on social and self-help skills and fostering curiosity and a love of learning in our classrooms.
Plant Nursery!
Preschool friendships are the best!
Garden Sensory Table!
Planting fun!
Which plant will grow first?
Smells like springtime!
Gardening in the dramatic play area!
Greenhouse experiment in the discovery area!
Planting!
Planting, observations and predictions!
Planters for the playground!
Planting vegetables in the discover area!
Future florist!
Learning the parts of a flower!
Taking care of our plants!
Science is so fun!
ABC practice!
Watering the seeds we planted!
Our Water Study will begin on May 13 and continue through the end of the school year. Most preschoolers love playing with water and are interested in its many uses. As we study water, we will continue to learn concepts and skills in language and literacy, math, science, social studies, and art. We will be using thinking skills to investigate, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions, and test our ideas. Our investigations will focus on the following questions:
- What are the different ways we use water?
- How can water change?
- How does water help people and the environment?
At home, talk with your child about how water is used during daily routines like brushing teeth, washing hands, and cooking. Offer your child opportunities to observe and talk about water in its different states (solid, liquid, gas), such as when they see steam on the bathroom mirror or ice in the freezer. This will help develop your child's observation skills and help them make connections between what they are learning at school and things in the community and at home.
If you would like to donate items, we can use empty soap dispensers, sponges, spray bottles, liquid measuring cups (plastic), measuring spoons, and towels for this study.
Light It Up Blue
Bulldog Buddies celebrated World Autism Awareness Day by wearing blue on April 2nd! We are so thankful to be a part of a community that embraces differences and includes everyone!
Educator Appreciation Week
A Note From Our Preschool Specialist
Summer Ideas to Learn & Play
- Read books! You cannot read too much. Read favorite books at home and visit the library with your child to choose some new books together. Sign up for a summer reading program.
- Spend time outside. Explore and observe the weather, plants, flowers, birds, and more. Talk about what you see and ask your child questions about what s/he notices around you. Take books outside and read on a blanket.
- Provide materials like crayons, watercolors, or chalk for your child to create artwork. Ask your child to tell you about their artwork. Practice name writing.
- Attend free events like farmers markets, parades, concerts, or story times. Before you go, talk with your child about where you are going and what you might see or hear when you are there. Afterward, ask your child what they liked or didn’t like about the experience.
- Prepare food together. Make a fruit salad or a simple snack with your child.
- Play with water or bubbles. Have your child help wash a bike or car.
- Write together. Write a note or card to a friend or family member. Have your child help write the note or sign his or her name. Make a grocery list or a list of what you will do today. Practice naming letters.
- Use math every day. Examples: Count out four strawberries and ten blueberries to eat. If you have four goldfish and I give you one more, how many will you have? Sort laundry - by item, by size, by color. Draw shapes and practice naming them. Point out numbers when you see them on houses or mailboxes.
- Play with your child. Pretend. Be silly. Have fun!
Preschool Tuition & Fees
Thank you for your diligence in paying any outstanding preschool fees! Just as a reminder, current tuition fees are loaded on the 15th of the previous month and due by the 1st of every month. Please check your child's PowerSchool account for balances due. Payment can be made online or at the school office. Failure to pay by the 10th of the current month will result in your student not being able to attend preschool until the balance is paid in full.
Supply Fee - $65 yearly for all students in preschool
Monthly Tuition - $180/3 days per week, $300/5 days per week
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the preschool office at (219) 663-4330.
Birth to School Classes
CPCSC offers a Birth to School Program for children 0-5 years old that reside within the Crown Point Community School Corporation boundaries. We offer a Little Learners series that includes a baby class (0-12 months), toddler class (13-24 months) and little learners class (25-36 months). Imaginarium and Learn Through Play classes are for children ages 0-5. If your child is already attending Bulldog Buddies, you can also be a part of the Birth to School program. All Birth to School classes and events are free. For additional information, please check out our website at www.cps.k12.in.us/bts. If you have specific questions, please contact our Birth to School Coordinator, Jamie Kalk at jkalk@cps.k12.in.us.
Imaginarium & Learn Through Play
Imaginarium & Learn Through Play
Imaginarium & Learn Through Play
Important Dates
- May 24 - Bulldog Bash (Celebration for students transitioning to kindergarten next year)
- May 27 - Memorial Day, No Preschool Classes
- May 31 - Last day of preschool, Rain date for the Bulldog Bash (Celebration for students transitioning to kindergarten next year)
- June 3 - Teacher Work Day, No Preschool Classes
General Information
Kristy Elsey, Assistant Director of Elementary Education
Email: kelsey01@cps.k12.in.us
Christine Johnsen, Preschool Treasurer
Email: cjohnsen@cps.k12.in.us
Charissa Leestma, Preschool Specialist
Email: cleestma@cps.k12.in.us
Website: https://preschool.cps.k12.in.us/
Location: 720 Summit Street, Crown Point, IN, USA
Phone: 219-663-4330