It's really unbelievable that the school year has gone by so fast. For many of us parents (me included!), it seems like only yesterday when we dropped our little ones off for their very first day of school. They've grown so much, and they've learned so much new information during the past school year. It's hard to believe it's really time for preschool graduation. 

Why Do We Have Preschool Graduation? 

Preschool graduation is a really fun event for kids, and it's exciting for parents as well. Back when many of us were in school, we didn't have a little graduation ceremony to celebrate our movement from preschool into  kindergarten. We had to wait until the big "to-do" happened our senior year of high school. So, why do we do it?

I think one of the reasons we have preschool graduation is to give the kids a sense of accomplishment. It really is a sense of accomplishment for them to enter school in September with a severe paste-eating problem, only to emerge in the spring with the ability to count to 100. Preschool graduations also give our teachers the chance to stand in the spotlight for a few minutes because they're the reason those little tykes are where they are now, and they really should be commended for a job well done. 

Join Us!

If a preschooler you love is involved in our preschool graduation this spring, we'd like to invite you to join us for some great food, and a graduation ceremony this Friday, May 30th, at 5:00 at the Grace Church of the Nazarene in Horseheads, NY. We're excited to celebrate our preschoolers, and we hope you'll come!

If you would like more information about Foundations Christian School, we would love to talk with you! Please contact us today!

*Image courtesy of t0zz, www.freedigitalphotos.net* 

Doesn't it seem like only yesterday when we brought our kids to school for the first time, hopeful for a great school year to come? It seems crazy that the year is almost over. However, it will soon be time for us parents to find some fun things for our kids to do during the day that will keep them busy during the summer. Have you given any thought to what your family's summer plans are? Here are a few ideas.

Summer Reading 

One of the mistakes many families make during the summer is to neglect to keep their children reading while they're not in school. Reading is important, and it keeps their minds active in preparation for the coming school year. Why not take your kids to the library and have them get a library card, or visit some local book shops and have them pick out a few books? Second Editions Book Store in Elmira is a great source of used books, and they have lots of choices for kids. 

Enjoying the Backyard

Your kids might be eager to kick back and relax in front of the TV during their days off this summer. However, too much television or video games is certainly not good for them, even during the summer months. Try to limit their screen time, and require a certain amount of outdoor play every day. You can purchase a complete set of backyard games that includes things like badminton sets, a ring toss game, and lots of other games. 

Summer Cohesion

Each year, Chemung County offers a summer cohesion program that's pretty inexpensive. Sign ups start on June 1, and the kids will enjoy days filled with fun, games and even field trips to area attractions and pools. Many summer cohesion sites even offer breakfast and lunch, free of charge. 

Take a Mini-Vacation

Maybe your family isn't planning on a taking a big vacation this summer, but mini-vacations can be just as fun. They can also break up the monotony of the summer. Why not take a day trip to Park Station? The kids can swim and build sand castles for hours. These little day trips can help you make some great memories for your kids because they love spending time with you over the summer. 

Of course, all good things must come to an end, and it won't be long before we'll be welcoming families back to Foundations Christian School once again. If you haven't turned in your enrollment forms for next year, or if you'd like more information about Foundations Christian School, please contact us today! 

*Image courtesy of foto76, www.freedigitalphotos.net*

It probably seems like only yesterday when you were bringing your newborn baby home from the hospital. You enjoyed those first few months with your little one, and you couldn't fathom the thought that he or she would ever be going off to school. It seemed like you had all the time in the world until that fateful day would come. 

However, as it always does, time marches on. Now, you're realizing that you need to start making some decisions about your child's preschool. You might be feeling nervous, and unsure about where you should begin to look for a good preschool. We'd like to offer you a few tips that can help you make the right decision. 

Look for Personalized Attention

When kids are young, they need to have a little more personalized attention. It's important to find a preschool that will be able to meet your child's needs. Will the teacher be able to offer a little bit of extra help if it's needed? Will your child feel encouraged to ask for help? These are important questions you should ask. 

Look for Consistent Rules

If there's one thing that three and four-year-olds need, it's consistency. When you're interviewing preschools, be sure to ask the teacher's views on consistency in the classroom, especially when it comes to rules. You should expect the same amount of consistency as you provide at home. Kids need to know what the rules are, and they need to be expected to follow them. 

Look for a Level of Comfort

This goes for both you and your child. A good preschool will allow you and your child to pay a visit to the school before you enroll your child. How does he or she respond to the other children? Does your child seem to enjoy the environment? Do you feel comfortable with the setup, and with the thought of leaving your child there for a few hours each day? If you and your child are both comfortable, you'll both have a great experience. 

Here at Foundations Christian School, we know how important it is to choose a great preschool. That's why we strive to make ours the best one in Horseheads! When your preschooler attends our preschool, your strong family values will be reinforced, as well as your reliance upon God and building a relationship with Him. 

If you would like more information about Foundations Christian School, we'd love to talk with you. Please contact us today! 

It's amazing to think that it's already May, and the school year is going to be ending before we know it. Doesn't it seem like the year just started? 

During these last few weeks, it's never been more important to ensure that your kids do well on their exams. Whether they're starting to prepare for those all-important final exams, or they want to be sure their regular unit test scores are excellent, you want to do what you can to help them get good grades. Here are a few tips you can use to help your kids reach their full potential and do well on those upcoming exams. 

Tip #1: Healthy Meals and Snacks

If your child had his or her way, junk food would be pretty high up on the list of priorities when it came to deciding what to eat. However, over-processed foods don't give your kids the brainpower they need to be able to focus well and retain information in school. Instead, choose well-balanced meals that will provide them with all the vitamins and minerals they need. Fruits and veggies are great for snacks, and it won't be long before your kids realize that their new pattern of healthy food makes them feel better and think better. (Pssst...healthy food tastes better too!)

Tip #2: Encourage Good Study Habits

Good study habits are the key to retaining the information your children need to do well on their exams. If your kids are used to doing their homework in front of the television, or even when music is playing, they're not giving their brains the chance to learn as much. Help your child set up a quiet area, perhaps in their bedroom or other quiet area of your home, where they can focus on what they're doing. It's probably also helpful to set aside a certain amount of time each day for studying, particularly on those school subjects your kids struggle with the most. 

Tip #3: Teach Them how to Use Pneumonic Devices

If memory problems plague your child, it can be very discouraging to try and memorize facts and figures for exams. Pneumonic devices are a great way to help them understand how fun learning can be, and they help them remember these important principles in a way that make them easy to recall later on. For example, help your child make a game out of learning certain dates for their social studies exams. If your child has to learn word definitions, use colors and silly words to help them recall their definitions. Make it as fun as possible, and before long, your kids will be laughing and remembering the information. 

Here at Foundations Christian School, it's our goal to help your child succeed! If you would like more information about enrolling your kids in a solid, Biblically-based Christian school right here in Horseheads, NY for the upcoming school year, we would love to talk with you. Please contact us today! 

*Image courtesy of artur84, www.freedigitalphotos.net*