Open Door Nursery School will once again be working with the Early Ventures daycare program located at Longfellow Elementary.  A limited number of openings have been set aside specifically for ODNS children for the 2009-2010 school year.  The staff at ODNS will transport your child (if needed) to allow your child to attend daycare while still being enrolled at ODNS.  This arrangement is available until the end of May.

For information regarding the reserved ODNS spaces at the Early Ventures program, please call 507-664-3750.  For questions about Open Door Nursery School please contact the school’s director Barb Howe, at 645-5786.

Please note due to weather there will be no afternoon preschool.  All public schools will close two hours early and there will be no afternoon kindergarten.

ODNS will begin accepting registration for the 2009-10 school year January 1st. Parents may call ODNS at 645-8532 or the registrars, Sue Anderson 952-652-2937 or Barb Howe 507-645-5786.

An information/registration night will be held on Tuesday, January 13th at 6:30pm. A visual presentation of a “typical” day will be presented. Board members and staff will be available to answer questions. Childcare will be available.

Parent and Kid Night is fun! Here’s an opportunity foryour children to share with you what they like to do at ODNS. The event will be on October 21 for the three day classes and October 23 for the two-day classes. Open Door’s door will be open at 6 p.m. You are welcome to come at any time during the scheduled “fun” time. At 6:45 clean-up will begin, and the doors will close at 7 p.m. Sorry, siblings are not invited; this is for ODNS children and their parents only. This has been a popular night at ODNS. We hope you can attend!

Our St Olaf program began this week with our first visit from St Olaf student Becky Kleive. She had the children touch and smell a variety of trees outside.Then the children chose leaves and made a rubbing. We are pleased to have this opportunity to work with St Olaf and their Biology students. Remember, later this month we will be visiting the St Olaf Prairie. Drop off and pick-up will take place at Skogland Athletic Center. We are looking for chaperons. Please let us know if you are available.

At our beginning of the year picnic Joey Malecha’s (3 day pm class) older brother taught me this wonderful song. We have been singing it to the delight of the children as we call everyone over to group.

(To the tune of Shortening Bread)

Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody have a seat, a seat on the floor.
Not on the ceiling, not on the door.
Everybody have a seat, a seat on the floor.

After we sing it the children always call out “Sing it again!”

It’s a hit!

Despite the unfortunate circumstances at the beginning of the year making Grace Buck’s absence a necessity, the children have started off in a very positive way. Many thanks to Deonne Gray and Cathy Malecha for helping out in the 3 day classes. We are very lucky to have such wonderful parents supporting our school and welcome back Mrs. Buck, we missed you!

We also want to welcome Bonnie Stowe back to ODNS. Her previous experience as assistant teacher with Mrs. Andersen makes this a smooth transition.  Mary Madison continues as our 2 day afternoon assistant, while Bonnie comes back as the 2 day morning assistant. Mary and family are pleased to announce the arrival of their newest family member Anna Louise.

We had beautiful weather at our beginning of the year picnics, and the turn-out was great.  Thanks to those who volunteered to clean-up before and after the picnic. 

Barb

Open Door Nursery School is pleased to announce that they have secured five spaces with EarlyVentures Learning Center, which is located at Longfellow School. These spaces will be offered on a first come, first served basis, to parents of children enrolled at Open Door.  Children may be enrolled at Open Door in either the two-day or three-day per week programs. The nursery school sessions will be 2 ½ hours long, and staff members will accompany the children to the EarlyVentures location before, or after their nursery school experience.

For further information, please contact Open Door’s director, Barb Howe, at 507-645-5786.

ODNS will open it’s door to all prospective families this Saturday, February 23rd from 11am to 1pm.  Please come visit with the teachers, play, and register for the coming year.  Further information and forms can be accessed here or by contacting registrar, Barb Howe, at 645-8532. Hope you’ll join us! 

Open Door Nursery School will host an open house for prospective families on Tuesday, January 29th at 7pm.  A short presentation will be followed by an opportunity to speak with teachers and register for the coming school year.  Childcare will be available. Registration for the 2008-2009 school year is currently open to all families.  Further information and forms can be accessed here or by contacting registrar, Barb Howe, at 645-8532. 

If you know any families looking for a preschool in the coming year, please send them our way!