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STEM at CNS!

Preschool isn’t just about crafts!  At CNS, we love to incorporate STEM lessons into our curriculum.  Earlier this month, our 4’s classes enjoyed an engineering STEM activity! Toothpicks, gumdrops, and marshmallows yielded lots of creative designs and our students also benefited from wonderful fine motor skill practice.

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~ Mrs. Scott-Kem

Photo Credit: Brandy Belmas

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Nature + Art

Preschoolers love to paint.  Without fail, each time I mention that we will be needing our smocks because it is a painting day, the children’s eyes light up with excitement.  Not only do they get to create, but let’s face it, it’s also fun to get just a little messy. 🙂

During the winter months I like to read The Penguin and the Pinecone, a wonderful story about friendship.  Not only do we then create our own pinecone friends, but we also explore a new way of painting:  pine needle paint brushes!

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Before we painted we compared the pine needles to traditional paintbrushes.  Then, to make it a bit easier, we taped them to popsicle sticks.  This was an open-ended project, so we weren’t painting anything specific.  Instead we had a wonderful time observing what new colors we could create by mixing the ones I’d provided.   I absolutely love the finished projects, and how unique they each are!

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~ Mrs. Cartee

 

 

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Our New Home

The week of January 12 was a big week for Crofton Nursery School.  It marked the first full week of classes in our new facility at St. Stephen’s Church- the culmination of a year-long  journey.  Our school has truly come full circle, having started at St. Stephen’s Church many years ago.  We were fortunate to enjoy almost two decades at First Baptist Church, but needed to relocate due to the growth of their congregation and need for more space; and, so, after almost 20 years we’re happy to have a home again at St. Stephen’s.

When we started out on this journey it was hard to image all the challenges ahead.  Inspections.  Permits. Licenses.  Renovations…lots and lots of renovations and remodeling.  We had a vision- and together with the amazing Vestry at St. Stephen’s- and we made it happen.  The cooperative spirit rose to the occasion. (…the weekend after Christmas, no less!)  Our school is so fortunate to have so many amazing families!  They make CNS the special community that it is!

 

Our facility at St. Stephen’s- BEFORE:
 

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The story of every move…not realizing how much “stuff” we had accumulated:
 

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Brand new keys:
 

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Our facility at St. Stephen’s- AFTER:
 

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A HUGE thank you to everyone who made this move possible!!!
 

 

~Mrs. Cartee

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