Misbehavior OR Missing Skill?

Hello CCP Families,

We had our picture days this week and the sweetest smiles are on David Gellatly’s website. Most everyone enjoyed having their picture taken. We had a few who were just not ready to say cheese, but it’s okay because they will get another whack at it again in the spring when we’ll do it again! I have sent you all the link (and password) to David’s site to view and purchase your photos. Please let me know if you did not receive it.

And don’t forget, you are also invited to have a family photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 25. The photos will be outside in the church yard. Click here to sign up for a convenient time slot.

Ladybug pumpkin art

The following week has so many great opportunities for you! Hope you can join us for:

  • TRUNK OR TREAT - Sunday, Oct. 26 at 4:00 (correction from the 25th in last week’s blog, silly me! 😊) in the church office parking lot. Come in costume for games, candy, and fun!

  • HALLOWEEN - Just for fun, our Duck and Whale classes will parade in costume on the Market St sidewalks on Oct. 30. Parents are invited to walk with us if you’re able. Teachers will give you details.

    Our Ladybugs and Frogs will parade in costume indoors around Ascension Hall on Oct. 29 and Oct 30. Parents are invited to stay a few minutes after drop-off to watch if you’re able. Teachers will give you details.

  • FIRE TRUCK - The Chapel Hill Fire Dept. will bring their truck for a visit on Monday, November 3rd! (If you are in a T/Th class, please feel free to join us at 9:30 in Ascension Hall.) Usually the fire fighters show us how they look & sound when wearing all their gear. Then they take us, class by class, to look at the truck!

  • MomCo gathers on the 27th of October. Come, be seen and heard!

Please remember we currently have room for another 2year old (M/W) at CCP! Please send your friends our way.

CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE MOMENT: “Missing or emerging executive skills are at the root of what we call ‘discipline problems.’ Historically, children have been punished for not having these skills at certain ages. When there is conflict, we can choose to see a misbehaving child OR we can choose to see a child who needs help to learn a skill.”

At CCP, we try to see a child who needs to learn a skill. For example, if a child grabs the red crayon from another child. We use the phrase, “YOU WANTED____” Here’s how it may sound….You wanted the red crayon. You may not grab. Hold out your hand and say, “May I use the red crayon when you’re finished?” Or for a younger child….You wanted the red crayon. You may not grab. Hold out your hand and say, “Red crayon, please.”


Cheers to all the skills we are ALL still learning!

Peace,

Shelly

Noticing vs. Judging

Dear CCP Families,

Oh, how I wish you could peek into the classrooms during the day! The children are engaged in so many forms of play (and learning so many things!) Be sure to click into the website and view the pictures from your class, they tell such a wonderful story of your child’s time at school. I am continually grateful for our creative, energetic, and loving teachers who plan all these exciting activities for your little ones.

Thank you for meeting with your child’s teacher this week. It’s so helpful to merge our two worlds to bring out the best in your child. We had great subs this week while the teachers were meeting with you. Yes, you might have seen Ms. Debbie in the Ladybug room and Ms. Melissa in with the Ducks!

PRESCHOOL CLOSED TOMORROW, FRIDAY 10/17 - Teachers will be attending a professional development event with teachers from other Chapel Hill preschools.

PHOTOS - Just a reminder that we will take individual photos of each child during the school day on Oct. 21 (Whales, TTH Frogs, TTH Ladybugs) and Oct. 22 (Ducks, MW Frogs, MWF Ladybugs) You are also invited to have a family photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 25. The photos will be outside in the church yard. Click here to sign up for a convenient time slot.

PAC, we have a meeting in Ascension Hall at 9:15am on Monday, Oct. 20. NOTE: This is a morning meeting. Your presence is important since we will be presenting the proposed budget for 2026-27.

Looking ahead….TRUNK OR TREAT will take place at the church office parking lot on Sunday, Oct 25th beginning at 4:00. Bring your little ones by to enjoy a treat!

HALLOWEEN - Just for fun, our Duck and Whale classes will parade in costume on the Market St sidewalks on Oct. 30. Parents are invited to walk with us if you’re able. Teachers will give you details.

Our Ladybugs and Frogs will parade in costume indoors around Ascension Hall on Oct. 29 and Oct 30. Parents are invited to stay a few minutes after drop-off to watch if you’re able. Teachers will give you details.

FIRE TRUCK - The Chapel Hill Fire Dept will bring their truck for a visit on Monday , November 3rd! (If you are in a T/Th class, please feel free to join us at 9:30 in Ascension Hall.) Usually the fire fighters show us how they look & sound when wearing all their gear. Then they take us, class by class, to look at the truck!

MomCo gathers on the 27th of October. Come, be seen and heard!

CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE MOMENT - Let's look at the difference between noticing and judging.  "Noticing continually activates children's prefrontal lobes and strengthens their executive skills of sustained attention, empathy, and problem-solving.  However, it requires adults to consciously change our habits and rewire our brains to notice instead of judge." (Conscious Discipline, p. 128)

       Judging actions as “satisfactory” creates children who are always looking for approval from the outside.  Noticing creates self-awareness and healthy attention, an important executive skill.  Noticing is descriptive and directs and sustains the child's attention like shining a flashlight on something.  Adults essentially "hold their flashlights" on the desired goals until children can hold and aim them on their own.  The difference is subtle at first.  However words are powerful and "noticing language" is more specific and gives the child more information to help to focus the child's attention on the positive.  Especially today, when the media tends to focus its attention on violence, aggression, sex, and appearances, our noticing supports children's attention by helping them aim their flashlights on the desired positive goals.

       Here are some examples....Instead of saying, "Miley, I like the way you raised your hand," try saying, "Miley you raised your hand like this (demonstrate) so I knew you needed help."  Instead of saying, "Good job Emma!" try "Emma, you worked hard on question 2 until you figured it out. That took persistence!"  Instead of "Tom, you are a good helper," try "Tom you got paper towels and cleaned the water off the floor so everyone would be safe from slipping."  Instead of "Thank you for pushing in your chair," try "Frank, you pushed in your chair so our dining room is safe."  And a final example, instead of "Good job with the napkin," try "You folded the napkin and set it next to your plate.  Now you're ready for snack!" It takes a little more effort, but if you consistently notice, it will create self awareness, which is an important executive skill.

       I wish you well as you try aiming your adult flashlight on the positive by using noticing language with your child! 

Peace,

Shelly

Bonus Tidbits:

Find the things that make your eyes light up. Do more of those. (kids have mastered this one 😁)

CCP Reminders & A NEW Question!

Hello CCP Family!

        October is full of preschool fun! The month is going by so quickly. Thanks for taking time to talk with your child’s teacher at conferences this week and read her communications. A home-preschool partnership is the best way to support your child’s education.

We had a timed fire drill on Tuesday. All children and teachers were safely out of the building about 2 minutes. Everyone was well-prepared (thanks safekeepers) and no one was upset by our practice. We will practice again soon in hopes of reducing our time to 1 minute.

Everybody loved Pastor Kristen during chapel time when she sang “Who Built the Ark?” along with the book of the same name. And, as always, Dr. Dan the Music Man provided the melody for “This Little Light of Mine”. We have the best pastors here!

Thank you Pastor Kristen!

COATS & CLOTHES - As the weather changes, remember to update your child’s change of clothes for the fall/winter. Also, we DO go outside everyday, so as jacket-weather approaches, please put your child’s name in the jacket and hat. Thank you!

On Tuesday & Wednesday, Oct. 14 & 15, the Ladybug, Whale, and Duck teachers will hold conferences. (Frogs will get written communication now and have conferences later in the year.) On conference days, your children will be cared for in the classroom by the assistant teacher and a substitute. At your conference time, you will find Ms Lisa in the Disciple room off of Ascension Hall. (Your key fobs may not work during the day, so just ring the bell to the far right of the front or back door.) Whales and Ducks parents will park in the church office parking lot and enter through the church office door. (Building 105). You will find Ms Sue in the conference room. Hang a quick right and there she’ll be. You will find Ms Missy in room 1 . Follow the Blue Whales and you’ll find her space. We will have signs up to help you. 🪧➡️⬅️

PRESCHOOL CLOSED FRIDAY 10/17 - Teachers will be attending a professional development event with teachers from other Chapel Hill preschools.

PHOTOS - Just a reminder that we will take individual photos of each child during the school day on Oct. 21 (Whales, TTH Frogs, TTH Ladybugs) and Oct. 22 (Ducks, MW Frogs, MWF Ladybugs) You are also invited to have a family photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 25. The photos will be outside in the church yard. Click here to sign up for a convenient time slot.

HALLOWEEN - Just for fun, our Duck and Whale classes will parade in costume on the Market St sidewalks on Oct. 30. Parents are invited to walk with us if you’re able. Teachers will give you details.

Our Ladybugs and Frogs will parade in costume indoors around Ascension Hall on Oct. 29 and Oct 30. Parents are invited to stay a few minutes after drop-off to watch if you’re able. Teachers will give you details.

         A NEW IMPORTANT QUESTION - Finally, I want to suggest that we ASK A NEW QUESTION!  Dr. Becky Bailey tells us that when we ask the questions, "How can I get this child to _____?" or "How can I make this child ______?" then our brains begin to come up with every feared, forced, coercive, or manipulative strategy we have ever learned.  If we ask a new question, we will get new answers.  By asking ourselves, "How can I help this child more successfully _______?" then we ask our brains to come up with a different set of answers.  These new answers will be more creative, will ask us to reflect on the child's needs, and will result in developmentally-appropriate discipline strategies. (p. 200, Conscious Discipline) Give this new question a try!

Peace,

Shelly

 Bonus Tidbits:

Time doesn’t heal anything when it comes to relationships. Don’t’ delay difficult conversations. (The children work hard on this concept all year)

Welcome Fall!

Dear CCP Families,

Happy October! We continue to work with our students to form a caring, connected school family. We take deep breaths when we are upset. If a friend gets hurt or becomes upset, we are learning that it really helps for us to breathe slowly and deeply for our friend! When a friend is upset, sometimes he can’t breathe deeply. We breathe for him and wish well, sending our love and positivity to our friend while giving him space. This gesture shows care AND it gives all of us a purpose instead of just worrying about our classmate.

Spirit wear is here! Our faithful fundraising chairperson, Carolyn Ziemer (thank you 😇), sorted them all out for us and they are now in your child’s cubbie if you ordered one. We will plan a spirit day soon and we will all wear them proudly! Thank you again to all who purchased one and/or donated to this fundraiser. The wheels of this bus won’t turn without our fundraising.

Pastor Brad and Baby Yoda

We only had one Chapel time this week and Pastor Brad joined us. He talked about the importance of love and hugs and sharing them with others. He brought along his favorite “stuffy”, Baby Yoda for everyone to hug. He also showed us his special cross from his daughter that had Joseph, Mary, Jesus, and the star of Bethlehem on it. Before each Chapel time is over, our candle is blown out and the “light” is caught and shared with others in our world.

I know some of you have lots of kiddos in your tribe for drop-off and pick-up. I also know how hard it is to unpack all of them and enter the building with your hands so full. One idea to make this time easier for you might be to team up with another parent in the parking lot and take turns bringing your children to or from class. I have some other clever ideas to help you out if you’d like them, just ask, I’m a boat load of wisdom that has come from mostly mistakes 😉!

Next week we will practice our first fire drill. It will be very low key and non-threatening. The teachers have read a little book that we wrote about fire drills at CCP. Then, early next week I ring a little bell in the hallway for our first practice (actually it’s a triangle instrument that has been demonstrated to each class). Typically, it’s not a big deal. We clap and praise the children’s efforts at knowing how to be safe.

On Tuesday & Wednesday, Oct. 14 & 15, the Ladybug, Whale, and Duck teachers will hold conferences. (Frogs will get written communication now and have conferences later in the year.) On conference days, your children will be cared for in the classroom by the assistant teacher and a substitute. At your conference time, you will find Ms Lisa in the Disciple room off of Ascension Hall. (Your key fobs may not work during the day, so just ring the bell to the far right of the front or back door.) Whales and Ducks parents will park in the church office parking lot and enter through the church office door. (Building 105). You will find Ms Sue in the conference room. Hang a quick right and there she’ll be. You will find Ms Missy in room 1 . Follow the Blue Whales and you’ll find her space. We will have signs up to help you. 🪧➡️⬅️

Individual photo days are coming up on Oct. 21 & 22. Remember that our photographer, David Gellatly, will be here on Saturday, Oct. 25th to take family photos. There is no sitting fee and these family portraits would make great Christmas gifts 🎄 (too soon?). The photos will be outside in the church yard. Click here to sign up for a convenient time slot.

On Friday, Oct. 17th CCP will be closed for Professional Development for our safekeepers. We will have speakers and share time with all the local half-day preschool programs in Chapel Hill. Thanks for your support as we take time to learn and grow together.

“If a child signals sadness, anger or embarrassment, an attuned adult can pick up on this communication and coach the child through her discomfort to an integrated state. The child will learn emotions are a bridge between problem and solution, reducing the likelihood of a reactive or impulsive response.” (Managing Emotional Mayhem p.41) You may want to try, “You seem sad. Would you like to tell me about it?”

Enjoy our Fall Break (today & tomorrow). I hope you all have plans to do all the things or none of them, there is no wrong answer! Whatever you do, I pray for blessings on you as you do them together.

Peace,

Shelly


Bonus Tidbits:

Do one good deed every single day, but never tell anyone about it.

Here Comes October!

Hello CCP Family,

      We are settling into our preschool routines!  The children are becoming comfortable and confident with their friends and teachers.  Everyone appears to know they are safe and loved here at CCP.  We are surely on the way to becoming a school family, a process that can take about 4 to 6 weeks.

Thanks for joining us for coffee & cider yesterday and today. It’s fun to see you all visiting and getting to know each other.

Please remember to link your Harris Teeter VIC card to our school number 3558. You can do this on the website or at the store (you have to do it every year). It only takes a brief minute, and it supports the preschool without affecting your wallet.

Please remember your October tuition is due on Oct. 1. Please send or bring your payment early next week.

Safekeepers (teachers) - We have a staff meeting on Tuesday, September 30th at 12:30.

CCP Closed - 10/2 & 10/3 for Fall Break

Conferences - 10/14 & 10/15 Please watch for more details from your teachers.

Fall photos are scheduled with photographer David Gellatly outside under the bell tower. Please mark your calendar now. Here’s the schedule:

  • Tues, Oct. 21 - Whales, TTH Ladybugs, TTH Frogs

  • Wed, Oct. 22 - Ducks, MWF Ladybugs, MW Frogs

  • Sat, Oct. 25 - Optional Family Photos. Click here to sign up.


A Conscious Discipline moment - TWO POSITIVE CHOICES - “Giving two positive choice allows your child to comply with your wishes while also giving him the “last word.” (Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline, p. 101) Think what you want your child TO DO and then give 2 choices that can get that result. For example, you want your child to eat a green vegetable at dinner. You could say, “You may choose broccoli or green beans. Which sounds better to you?” Your child gets a vegetable AND feels empowered at the same time!

Enjoy this somewhat rainy weekend. Go out and stomp in some puddles and sing in the rain!

Peace,

Shelly

 

 Bonus Tidbits:

Never raise your voice, except for at a ballgame. 🙂⚾️



 

 

 

     

Building Preschool Relationships

 Hello CCP Families,

"Discipline is like the 'slow-slow, quick-quick' of a country western two-step.  The 'slow-slow' is building the relationship.  It does not happen overnight but slowly over time.  The 'quick-quick' is the specific skill set we need to handle the upset and conflicts that arise within the relationship."  ~from Dr. Becky Bailey’s Baby Doll Circle Time, p. 32

We have been in preschool almost 3 weeks now building our relationships (the slow-slow part of the two-step.) Each class is continuing to become a school family that truly cares for one another. It is a joy to observe your children at play with their preschool friends! And when a friend is absent, the children so earnestly “put the friend in the heart” and send them love and well wishes. It’s a beautiful, caring gesture of connection. We are thankful that you have chosen CCP to be your preschool home. So glad you’re part of the family!

SPIRIT WEAR

Our Spirit Wear fundraiser is closed. Thank you kindly for your generosity, you all rocked it! Also this fall, after everyone’s shirts have arrived, we will have a Spirit Day at preschool. 😁

YOU WILL PROBABLY WANT TO GRAB YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT ITEMS…..

You are invited to a Preschool Family Coffee on Wed or Thurs, Sept 24 & 25 right after drop-off. Parents, grandparents, nannies….Just come to Ascension Hall and have a cup of coffee or cider and chat with other families and me. You can ask questions and get to know some new friends!

Looking ahead…. We will have individual photos taken on October 21 & 22. The photos will be outdoors under the bell tower. We handle it all at school - you don’t have to be present. You will be sent a link to view the photos and to purchase them (optional.) The photographer, David Gellatly, will also offer family photos on Saturday, October 25. I sent an email with more details & a link for you to sign up for family photos, but you can also see the sign up here

Pastor Lee led Chapel this week (Wed & Thurs) for the Ladybugs, Duck and Whales. (Frogs will join Chapel in January.) Pastor Lee talked about how listening to Jesus made Paul a happier person. We prayed together, sang, and had fun. Dr Dan played “This Little Light of Mine” while we sang too!

Pastor Lee says, “catch the light and take it back to your classrooms!”.

Ms. Vicki led us in our first Music and Movement classes this week (also Wed & Thurs.) She took out a cooperative stretchy band that everyone got to hold on to and some scarves that could be moved to music. The children danced and sang and played musical instruments. There were lots of smiles!

Duck and Whale friends will enjoy their first lunch bunch next week on Monday and Wednesday, 9/22 & 9/24. We will use the same guidelines for lunch that we do for snack. (Please remember we are a NUT-FREE & SESAME-FREE school.) We will either eat outside, in the classroom, or in the fellowship hall. Ms Sue and Ms Missy will send you details. Lunch day pick-up is 1:00 Be aware that your child may be super tired on the longer lunch days!

CCP Closed - 10/2 & 10/3 for Fall Break

Are you a mom of young children who has been wishing for some more mom friends / a community of other supportive moms? A MomCo (Mom Community) meet-up is coming to CUMC! Please consider joining this group on most 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month, beginning October 27th, from 9:30 - 11 am in Building 105 (CUMC’s office building) to get to know other local moms, discuss relevant parenting topics, and support one another as you journey together through motherhood. Childcare is provided. Please RSVP here so that we can ensure we have appropriate childcare help and space: http://bit.ly/4lYTBSK

Contact Abby Kennedy for additional information (abbymay93@gmail.com 919-360-9436).

Please know that my door is always open! Come in when you need questions answered, encouragement, a smile, or prayer. I’m never too busy for you.

Peace,

Shelly

Bonus Tibets:

Don’t fear sadness, as it tends to sit right next to love. ❤️

CCP - Spirit wear and news

Hello CCP Families,

I am so proud of the children and how they have adapted to preschool! A few have tears at drop off, but usually they disappear quickly. Remember, the first 4-6 weeks of preschool is our time to build a safe learning community that we call our “school family.”

While we’re on the topic of safety, I’d like to remind you to discourage your little ones from running down the hill out near the back door. We are really trying hard during our school day to “train” them to hold the railing and take the steps when we go down to the playground and if you reinforce this, it helps us tremendously.

WE ARE ALMOST THERE!

Please remember to order your spirit wear using the information you were given at Orientation. There are also some sheets above the cubbies with the QR code. As soon as the shirts are delivered, we will have some Spirit Days where everyone can wear their new school shirts! You may not realize, but all schools have to fund-raise. Our method is a tax-deductible donation. You may make a donation on the shirt website using your credit/debit card. This donation IS our fundraiser for this year. Many families say they prefer this to selling or collecting. Thank you kindly for your generosity.

Thank you for your patience with the key fob system this year. We are working with the administrator on that system and hopefully, it will be working smoothly soon.

Please mark your calendar for our Fall Getting to Know You Parent Coffee. Pop by the fellowship hall on Wed or Thurs, Sept 24/25 right after drop-off. We will have some coffee, hot cider, and a little treat for you. You can visit with other parents, grandparents, nannies that bring CCP students to school. You may stay the whole hour or grab some treats and go! We just want to honor our families.

Near the end of the month, we will practice our first fire drill. It will be very low key and non-threatening. First the teachers will read a little book that we wrote about fire drills at CCP. Then, I ring a little bell in the hallway for our first practice. Typically, it’s not a big deal. We clap and praise the children’s efforts at knowing how to be safe.

Next week the Ladybugs, Whales, and Ducks will have their first Chapel times with Pastor Lee. He will keep this experience short, positive, and age-appropriate. Usually in Chapel we hear a Bible story, say a prayer, and sing some songs.

Next week we will also have our first music & movement classes with Ms. Vicki. All ages can participate in music from the very beginning. Ms. Vicki will invite children to sing, dance, and play musical instruments.

The Preschool Advisory Committee “PAC” will meet on Sept. 22 at 9:15am in Ascension Hall.

CCP has an Instagram account! Check it out, it’s ccpchapelhillnc. It will post general pictures and information about CCP to protect our tiniest people 😁.

Finally, I’ll share a Conscious Discipline moment - “Empathy asks us to be willing to give up our thoughts and feelings temporarily in order to more accurately understand those of others. It asks us to quiet our own minds so we can listen from our hearts instead of our heads.” ~ Dr. Becky Baily in Creating the School Family p. 305

Enjoy the weekend!

Peace,

Shelly

Bonus Tidbits:

Each week if you make it to the bottom of the blog, you will see one of “40 Things I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago”

Treat your body like a house you have to live in for another 70 years. (Truer words have never been spoken)

And...We're Off!

Hello CCP Families,

Welcome to Christ Church Preschool! We are so glad you have chosen to join our little family. I will send you information about preschool events and reminders in my blog post. Every Thursday at 7:00pm you will receive an email notice that I’ve posted new info for you. Please take a few minutes to read it and mark your calendars.

From the emailed notification, you can click into the website using the password you received at parent orientation. Be sure to take this extra step because you will be able to see photos of classroom activities. Please remember, if you pull a photo from the website, please do NOT post it on any social media or any public space. These are only for families, so you can enjoy seeing your child at preschool.

In my blog, I will also share tidbits from Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline. We use Conscious Discipline strategies and techniques to help our students learn self-regulation. I shared some of this at Orientation and will continue to share more each week.

All classes have now experienced their first days of preschool for 2025-26!  There were a few tears, but I anticipate these won’t last long.  Adults, you handled the "good-byes" very well - positive, short, and sweet!  Thank you for the trust you place in us! You have precious children and we feel very fortunate to have you as part of our school family.  Each day will get easier!

The teachers know their students already, which is wonderful! Please give me a little grace to learn everyone’s names! I have 6 classes of students to learn and it may take me a while. Thanks!

Anyone else feel me on this one?

      We are missing a few forms.  (We are required to collect new forms each year.) We will be in touch if you’re missing one of the following: health form, emergency contact form, or a photo permission form.  Also, please make sure you have a weather-appropriate change of clothes at preschool.  And thanks for bringing a water bottle and nut-free and sesame-free snack each day! Just be sure your child’s name is on everything you send to preschool.

FOBS

We have had some issues with fobs this week, but we think the problem is remedied (thank you for your patience and grace!). Remember if you ever forget your fob, just ring the bell to the right of the door and one of us will let you in. Here’s the fob schedule:

Classes begin at 9:00 you may arrive between 8:50-9:10

Dismissal is at noon (key fobs will work from 11:50 - 12:10)

Lunch days dismissal is at 1:00 (key fobs will work from 12:50-1:10)

I’d like to leave you with this quote, “A teacher plants the seeds of knowledge, sprinkles them with love, and patiently nurtures their growth.” – Unknown

Here’s to a year of watching this take place!


Peace,

Ms. Shelly