Program for Young Children

Letter from the PYC Director

December 8, 2023

Dear PYC Families,

It has been a wonderful busy week in the PYC. Your daughters have experienced many new learning experiences this week.

As an entire PYC community the girls have experienced new lunch table seating assignments. This may seem recurrent, but it is a big deal for the students. They are able to socialize with kids from other PYC classes and may have the opportunity to sit with a teacher that is not their homeroom teacher. This change helps to intentionally build our PYC into one community that learns from each other.

We were also able to have “open gym” playtime as a whole PYC this week. The rainy weather offered an opportunity for all of the classes to explore PE equipment in an unstructured environment. I watched as girls from 3/4 joined 4/5 students in elaborate imaginary play as they channeled their inner kitty cat and navigated joyously around the gym. During this time new and old relationships were solidified and discovered.

Today we ended the week together as a whole PYC and enjoyed the “big girls” caroling through our hallways. This CSG tradition is always a nice way to welcome the holiday season. The Upper School Seniors shared songs from several holidays and read a Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. After the Senior caroling, we ended our day with our first all PYC classes group energizer. "One hand up, another hand up, today was a great CSG day, Yes!"

Please take a look below at some of the new learning experiences that your girls had this week in their individual classes along with photos of their learning.

Have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing you in the PYC on Monday.

Warmly,
Angie
Crane Mckee Director of the Program for Young Children

3/4 Class

Amaryllis Discovery
- observational drawing
- "Look and Sketch"
- measuring
- wondering what it is and what it could be
- exploring liquid watercolor
Hanukkah Holiday share with Charlotte’s Family

4/5 Class

Mystery Reader with Francesca’s Mom
Continued material exploration
Deeper dive in exploring trees in Cynthia’s Woods during Studio
- sketching
- identifying leaves and different leaf formation

5/6 Class

Mystery Reader with Emma’s Mom
Joined Lower School Reading Train during Library Class
West African Dance performance featuring Lilliana, Sydney, Jean, Adelaide, Calli, and Thalia. Click here to watch!

December 11-December 15

Monday, 12/11	December Birthday Celebrations! 3/4- PE 4/5- Studio (Group 3) 5/6- Studio
Tuesday, 12/12	Jingle Bell Jog! 9:30-11:00am, Kirk Campus (details below) 3/4-Music & Library 4/5-PE 5/6- PE
Wednesday, 12/13	3/4-PE 4/5-Studio (Group 4) 5/6- Music & Library
Thursday, 12/14	3/4-Studio 4/5-Music & Library 5/6-Studio
Friday, 12/15	PYC Winter Wonderland- Students are invited to dress down in their favorite winter-inspired outfit! (tennis shoes required) 3/4-Studio 4/5-PE 5/6- PE
Looking Ahead	Wednesday, 1/3: Late Start, PYC Opens at 10:00am, No Childcare Available Friday, 1/5: 4/5 Class trip to Cynthia's Woods

Jingle Bell Jog!
Last year, the bitter cold kept us inside but not this year! The PYC (families and friends are welcome to meet us at Kirk Campus!) will be celebrating the season and all of the hard work they have done this year with a jog at Kirk Campus. Students should wear weather-appropriate athletic clothes (tennis shoes) and jingle bells (optional). The bus (students only) will leave CSG at 9:30am and return around 11:15am in time for lunch.

Kirk Campus
1885 North Cassady Ave

Winter Wonderland Decorating: Volunteers Needed
We could use your help next Thursday, 12/14, after school to help turn the PYC into a Winter Wonderland! After Hours childcare with be available and free for those who are able and willing to help. Please email Julie Stevenson (jstevenson@columbusschoolforgirls.org) if interested!

Library Volunteering Opportunity
Ms. Ruefle is looking for some additional volunteer help in the Lower School and PYC Library during second semester; if parents (and grandparents!) might have an hour to contribute once or twice a month to help reshelf the hundreds of books in circulation each week, that would be most helpful. Volunteers might come right after morning drop off, or perhaps an hour before car line, or even proximate to lunch! If you have some time to volunteer, please email Ms. Ruefle (aruefle@columbusschoolforgirls.org) with your availability. Please, no 'drop in' volunteers. We'd love to have your help, but it is important to schedule the time. Thank you!

BUILD HER Confidence in Computer Science

Register here for BUILD HER confidence in CS
Kindergarten and Form I students will have an opportunity to gain an identity in computer science; specifically in coding and learning about current women who play a role in computer science. Your daughter will develop strategic thinking by working through small problem sets to build persistence and confidence. She will use her imagination to create small projects, make a storyboard, and learn the basic concepts of coding, as well as how computer science intersects with everyday living.

Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30pm
Session 1- January 9, 2024
Session 2- January 16
Session 3- January 23
Session 4- January 30

Cost $160

Instructors: Dr. Furci and Dr. Palma

Spring Break for PYC and Lower School
Columbus School for Girls is offering a Spring Break Camp for students in the PYC-Lower School. The camp will be held Monday, March 25-Thursday, March 28 from 8:00 am-4:30 p.m. This full day camp will be housed in the Lower School Innovation Lab and will include baking, playing outside, reading stories, taking neighborhood discovery walks, as well as daily field trips. Students will pack a lunch every day. The cost for the week is $400. Your account will be billed the camp fee.

Linda Resch, Lower SchooL After Hours Coordinator is the facilitator of the program. If you have any questions, please reach out to Linda at lresch@columbusschoolforgirls.org. Siblings of CSG students that are within the PYC-Lower School age range are also eligible to attend. The camp maximum is 30 students.

Registration Link

From Sage Dining Services

Hello Columbus School for Girls Community,

At SAGE, our goal is to provide exceptional dining experiences with our fresh, delicious meals prepared from scratch. We build a diverse menu that incorporates the latest culinary trends and features your favorites.

We’re getting close to Winter Break, and we’d like to hear from you! We want to know what foods you liked and disliked so this winter/spring we can adjust your menu and continue building a program you’ll love! Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey about the dining services this year.

Please complete the survey by Dec. 15, 2023. CSG Community Survey

Thank you for your feedback and support. We love serving you!

Kindly,

Vanessa

Vanessa Landrum | Food Service Director
Columbus School for Girls | SAGE Dining Services®
614 453-4510
vlandrum@sagedining.com
Visit us on Instagram: sage_at_csg

Important Parent Resource
"Now that it’s November, temperatures are dropping and fire places are starting to get used. More importantly, families are traveling and staying in unfamiliar places. I wanted to share this reminder from our own family’s experience last winter." - Elena Chiappinelli, 5/6 Parent

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2023/11/fireplace-safety-my-familys-story

PRINT: PYC Detailed-Dates List
The Everything PYC Book
LINK: Uniform Guidelines (New)

Are you interested in volunteering during Preschool and Kindergarten lunch?
Sign Up

Preschool and Kindergarten Lunch Volunteer Guidelines

Please arrive through the main entrance on Drexel Avenue

PYC Lunch is 11:30-12:15. We ask that you arrive 10 minutes before the start and stay after to help clean up.

Parents
- Serve fruit and vegetables, main dish and sides.
- Keep the serving dishes at the table.
- Be sure to wear gloves when handling food.
When the girls arrive, please serve milk, water, and additional condiments to those at your table.
- When everyone at the table has been served, they may begin eating.
- After about 10 minutes, begin serving seconds as needed. Please check with other tables before going up to get more food.
All students are encouraged to try a “tiny/little/small” portion of the food offered. (accomplishing a taste of food includes the following: placing the food to the lips, licking the food, or taking a small bite)
- Eggs and sun butter sandwiches are available for all students regardless of dietary restrictions and should be provided for any student that has tried the main protein served that day.
If a student asks to use the restroom please inform a teacher.
Students begin clearing around 12:10-12:15. Girls will clear their space independently. They can also help clear the serving dishes at your table.
- Please wait with your table until a teacher dismisses them.
- Parents, please wipe down tables, sweep the floor.
THANK YOU!!!

LATE STARTS: PYC doors open 10:00am
November 27
January 3
April 1

NO SCHOOL: (school closed)
Labor Day: September 4
Yom Kippur: September 25
Fall Break: October 9
ISACS Conference: November 2-3
Thanksgiving Break: November 22-November 26
Winter Break: December 18 - January 2
Martin Luther King Day: January 15
Professional Development: February 16
President's Day: February 19
Spring Break: March 16- April 1
Memorial Day: May 27

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS:
September 11
*August birthdays will also be celebrated on September 11
October 16
November 13
December 11
January 22
February 26
March 11
April 15
May 13
* June and July birthdays will also be celebrated on May 13

Carline Procedure

Carline Procedures: *Please remember, we all are important role models for children.*
This parking procedure will be in effect for morning arrival, 1/2 day dismissal, and end-of-day dismissal. Please notify any adult who drives your daughter of our procedure. If you are unable to follow our carline guidelines and procedures, please park and walk up to drop off or pick up your child.

General guidelines for the safety of all children:

When using the car line, children will be assisted into/from the vehicle from the curb side. Children must enter and exit the vehicle on the curb side for safety. Car seats should be on the passenger side to facilitate this.
Remain with your vehicle while you are in the car line.
Do not leave your car running unattended.
Children may not be left unsupervised in your vehicle.
In the carline, please do not pull around vehicles that are paused in the carline. This is extremely unsafe for the little children using the crosswalk.
Cell phone conversations should be concluded before entering the pickup / drop-off line.
You may use the Drop-Off/Pick-Off option in the Columbia Parking Lot at these times:
  8:00 – 8:30am, drop-off
  12:20 – 12:30pm, pick-up for half-day girls
  3:00 – 3:20pm, pick-up for full-day girls

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

You may park in a legal parking place on the street or in the parking lot at any time of day, hold your daughter’s hand, and walk to the building using the designated crosswalk.
When using the drop-off line, pull forward to the curb and a teacher will assist your daughter from the car.

PICK-UP PROCEDURES

Have your name card visible. Please let us know if you will need additional cards for other drivers.
Remain seated in your car. A teacher will bring your daughter to the passenger side of your car when you reach the curb.
A teacher will assist your child into the car (car seats must be on the passenger side).
When your child is safely buckled, proceed out of the parking lot. If you need to get out of your vehicle to buckle your child in, please park and walk up to the PYC to pick her up.

Uniform Guidelines & School Closet Uniforms

Please review the uniform guidelines and requirements on the CSG website. Uniforms can be purchased through any School Closet location. CSG also has gently worn uniforms in our attic at reduced prices. You are welcome to come to CSG and shop the supply, just let the front desk receptionist know you are here to browse.

Students should bring a backpack and water bottle to school. Please label them with
your child's name. The photo below (Pottery Barn Kids) may help in finding the appropriate size backpack for your child.

Final Forms

Allergy Reminders

With increased food allergies in our community, please remember that all snacks/treats brought into the Program for Young Children for birthday treats and class parties must be tree nut and peanut free. Additionally, lotions and lip balms brought to school need to be given to your child's teacher in a labeled baggy to ensure they do not include tree nut ingredients (e.g. shea butter). Students should not bring scented hand-sanitizer to school.

Early Drop Off & Aftercare

Coach Kelly Hoyt is the Early Drop Off (Beforecare) Coordinator. The program runs from 7:30-8:00am and begins on Wednesday, August 23. It is free of charge and there is no sign up necessary. Depending on the weather, students may be outside on the PYC Playscape or in the 4/5 Classroom. Coach Hoyt's email: khoytstandley@columbusschoolforgirls.org

Jenny Morgan and Kiki Daniels will be coordinating Aftercare. The program runs from 3:15-6:00pm and begins on Wednesday, August 23. After hours is available for working parents, and due to staff/child ratio, space is limited. Please refrain from using it for playdates. There is a $20/day charge and sign up is required. There will be a $5/minute charge for those being picked up after 6:00pm. Please email pycafterhours@columbusschoolforgirls.org to sign up.

Parent Resources

Easy step by step drawing tutorial (maybe add a picture to a message)

https://easydrawingguides.com/

Fun Hand Lettering techniques

https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-techniques/easy-hand-lettering-techniques/

How to teach your child to be inclusive:

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-teach-your-child-to-be-an-includer

A Kids Book About Series
We have all of these books available in the PYC Lending Library for students and adults. Please let me know if you need help finding a specific book.

https://akidsco.com/

PBS

This is a great resource for Early Childhood information

https://www.pbssocal.org/education

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/early-childhood-development

How to talk to Kids about Race (podcast)

https://ohiostateuniversityinspire.podbean.com/e/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-race/

Fall Family Activity Ideas

https://whatshouldwedotodaycolumbus.com/9-things-to-do-with-your-kids-this-fall-in-columbus/

All School Details

(Divisional details are linked at the bottom of this page)

Safety and Security:
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff takes many forms here at CSG, and we are prepared to act quickly and decisively to keep our community safe on all three of our campuses: Main Campus, Kirk Campus, and Cynthia’s Woods. We plan, practice, and prepare for unforeseen events on an ongoing basis, and we are prepared to mobilize quickly to respond to any emergency situation that could affect our students, faculty, or staff.

House Bill 99:
This June, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 99 allowing local boards of education to authorize school employees and teachers to carry firearms in schools. CSG will remain a weapon-free campus. Our approach to safety and security relies on regular threat assessments, training, and close partnerships with local first responders—namely, the Bexley Police Department. Teachers are well trained to keep our students safe during any threat and will continue to take a defensive approach to ensuring the safety of our students. You can help us in this effort by speaking with your daughter and reinforcing the need to maintain a secure building by not propping doors or opening them for strangers, and by letting the school know of any threatening behavior.

Our Partners:
In addition to close partnerships with first responders in central Ohio, we maintain a contract with Armada, a leading provider of preparedness solutions worldwide, to continually evaluate and elevate safety procedures throughout our three campuses. Armada also supported the development of our emergency operations action plan, which we regularly audit and revise to most effectively handle any situation.

Training & Emergency Operations:
We work with our faculty, staff, and students to ensure everyone is prepared in the event of an emergency. We partner with Armada and CSG’s Operations and Facilities Director, Brian Botzman, to provide training for our faculty, staff, and Emergency Operations Team. Trained to proactively plan for, respond to, and communicate about crises, our Emergency Operations Team (EOT) is charged with carrying out our action plan in the event of an emergency on any of our campuses. Emergency operations plans are available to all faculty and staff through our emergency notification app. Students regularly participate in tornado, fire, lockdown, and auxiliary drills throughout the year. Division Directors will also share safety-related, age-appropriate best practices with your daughter as we start the year. Some of the best ways to ensure campus security are to never prop open doors and never open doors for strangers. Students who have a concern should immediately report all information to their teachers, division director, or any trusted adult on campus. Your help reinforcing these best practices during conversation with your daughter is greatly appreciated.

Communication:
In the event of an emergency, we will use our emergency communication system to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information related to the situation. Once the situation is resolved, you will receive an all-clear message through the same system and, if available, additional information about the situation through email. The emergency notification system uses your preferences set in MyBackpack to notify you via phone, email, or text. If you want to update your preferences at any time, please login to your MyBackpack account to make the change(s).

2023-2024 Major Dates:
Please click here for this year’s major dates calendar.

You should have received an email, call, or text from our emergency notification system at 12:00pm on August 11, 2022. This system is used to notify you of any time-sensitive information related to emergencies or school closures. If you need to update your contact information, please log in to MyBackpack to make changes. If you did not receive the test or are having trouble logging in to MyBackpack, please email communications@columbusschoolforgirls.org.

FinalForms: Required school forms for the 2023-2024 school year
FinalForms is our system for completing required school forms related to health, transportation, school policies, and other related topics. Please log into: https://columbusschoolforgirls-oh.finalforms.com/ to access your account. If you have not logged into Final Forms before, please follow the online prompts to establish your profile. If you have forgotten your password, please follow the online prompts to reset your password. Students in Middle and Upper School will also receive a confirmation email once parents and guardians have registered and completed the forms. Students will also be required to digitally sign forms such as the Student Handbook and the Acceptable Use Policy.

Transportation:
Please click here for current information related to school transportation including pickup and dropoff times. Should you have any questions related to transportation, please contact Brian Botzman, Director of Operations & Facilities. Registration for bus transportation is located within FinalForms.

Important Contact Information:
Our Division Directors and program leaders are eager to hear from you with any questions you may have. You can reach them at anytime using the details below: