Tony Toledo

Today the Steward Preschool was treated to a storytelling performance by Tony Toledo! Thank you to TESPTO for bringing this exciting opportunity to Steward School!

2013-2014 Registration Information

Registration Forms for the 2013-14 school year will be sent home to currently enrolled preschool families starting Dec 5.  Our Open House for new families will be held on Wednesday, December 12 from 1:30-2:30 pm.  If you have any friends or neighbors interested in our program, please have them call or e-mail Katie Lyons so that we can be sure to send them an invitation to our Open House! All applications will be due Dec 19. 

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Noon Dismissal for Wed, November 21

Due to the early Thanksgiving dismissal, on Wednesday, November 21 the preschool will be OPEN for our AM classes until 12pm and Morning Extended Day program.  We will not operate the Lunch Bunch/PM Extended Day during the afternoon. Miss Lisa’s class will be dismissed at 12pm and students will not be eating lunch in the classroom on that day.

The K-3 Steward Elementary students will be dismissed at 12 pm on Nov 21.  As a result, we will be changing our dismissal procedures for this day only:

If you are picking up ONLY your preschooler: Please drive through the STAFF parking lot (not the regular parking lot because you will get stuck) and line up your car parallel to the staff cars parked in the parallel parking spots.  Preschool staff will dismiss your children to your car.

If you are picking up your preschooler AND other students in grades K-3:  Please send in a note letting your child’s teacher know by Wednesday morning.  We will have your preschooler stay with the preschool staff until the noon dismissal. At noon, your preschooler will be brought to the pick up line to be picked up.  Please use the Steward School pick-up line to pick up your child. 

2 Hour Delay Policy

Today the Topsfield Public Schools will open on a 2 hour delay schedule.  Our preschool classes are closed, however, our extended day program will open at 11 am. Below is our handbook's policy regarding cancellations.

Announcements regarding the delay or closing of school due to snow or inclement weather will be made on local television stations.  Parents who sign up for the Connect-Ed parent notification system will also receive a phone call and/or e-mail with this information.  The preschool will be closed when the Topsfield Public Schools are closed. If there is a one hour delayed opening, the morning preschool program (including morning extended day) will run from 10-12 pm.  If there is a two hour delayed opening, the morning preschool sessions will be cancelled, and the extended day program will open at 11am. There will be no early morning drop off for the extended day program when there is a delayed opening.  Should school be dismissed early due to unsafe weather conditions we will also cancel the Preschool Extended Day Program.  Parents will receive a call through the Black-Board Connect/ Connect Ed phone system notifying them of any such cancellations.  

UPDATE: Drop Off Procedure Here is an update to clarify some questions:   1.  It is best if everyone stays in their car so we can move the cars through the circle when the teachers arrive.  When you get closer to the front of the building, you can certainly assist your child to get out of the car.  2.  Please still feel free to walk towards the school to get your child at dismissal.  This seems to be working well.   3.  Cars can be in the circle starting at 8:50 (this was designed to assist families with children in grades K-3 as well).  HOWEVER, teachers will not be outside to take children until 9:00. 4.  Please do not drop your child off with a staff member on duty who does not work in preschool.  They are outside until 8:45 to assist families in grades K-3.  Please be patient as we pilot this new system! Thank you for your continued support! Michelle Costa, Principal Katie Lyons, Preschool Director

New Drop Off Procedure

New Drop Off Procedure

As of Monday, October 15, the preschool drop off for ALL preschool students will occur in the front circle.   Please follow the instructions below:
1.  Pull up as far as possible so we can fit several cars in the circle.
2.  Car idling can not exceed five minutes. 
3.  Drop off as quickly as possible.
4.  Please do not arrive before 8:50 as we have drop off for all other grades preceding the preschool.  
5.  Unbuckle your child and unload as quickly as possible so cars can exit the circle.

6.  Please refrain from cell phone use during this time. 
7.  If a staff member does not come close to your car to get your child, please walk him/her from the car until your child is safely with a staff member. 

Please be patient as we pilot this new system!

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Thank you for your continued support!

Michelle Costa, Principal

Katie Lyons, Preschool Director   

Keeping Our Students Safe!

As part of our emergancy prepardeness plan, the Steward School will be conducting a lockdown drill tomorrow (Friday) morning.  Fire drills and lockdown practice drills are held periodically during the school year. The purpose of these drills is to prepare children for emergency situations. Fire and lockdown drills are conducted in conjunction with the Town of Topsfield Fire and Police Departments.

The lockdown procedure is used when an intruder or dangerous scenario impacts the safety of the students. During a lockdown teachers have students go to a designated section of the room on the floor, lock classroom doors, turn off lights,  and take attendance. Teachers and staff look to make sure all students are away from doors and windows.  Once the classroom is secure, teachers will be reading a book to the preschoolers. 

We have had a successful fire drill in our preschool this year, and are confident that the lockdown drill will be successful as well.  All of our preschoolers are learning about how the point of a lockdown drill is really just the opposite of an evacuation drill.  An evacuation drill happens when something unsafe is going on in the building and a lockdown is when there is something unsafe going on outside of the building or outside of their classrooms.  For example, if there was a fire at a neighbor’s house or there was someone that we didn’t recognize in our school it would be a reason to have a lockdown.

Steward Preschool LOVES the new playground!

Students from Miss Lisa's classes and the Extended Day programs have been enjoying our new Steward School playground!

Steward Early Release Day REMINDER

On Wednesday, Sept 26 the Steward School grades K-3 will be released from school at 1:15 pm.  The extended day program will still be open in the Steward Preschool.

Early release days pose concern as some preschoolers are released at 1:00 and the children in grades K-3 are released at 1:15.  Please note that on these days, we will ask that the preschool parents drive through the STAFF parking lot (not the regular parking lot because you will get stuck) and pick up the children at the end of the lot.  As we try out this system to allow preschool parents to surpass the line that will begin very early for those in grades K-3, we will be outside to monitor the exact area cars will go to pick up the children.  Next Wednesday, September 26^th, please drive through the parking lot to the end and wait for further instructions.

Entrance for 1pm pick up on early release days.

Please line up in the staff parking lot. Thanks!

New Pick Up Procedure

Please read below to understand the new pick up procedure for all preschool students and all dismissal times.

 New Pick Up Procedure

As of Monday, September 24th, the preschool pick up for ALL dismissals will occur in the front circle.   Please follow the instructions below:
1.  Pull up as far as possible so we can fit several cars in the circle. 
2.  Idling can not exceed five minutes.  
3.  Stay near your car, even as children exit the building.
4. Teachers will bring children to their cars.

5. Buckle your child in as quickly as possible so cars can exit the circle.  
6.  Please refrain from cell phone use during this time.  

Early Release Days for the School 
Early release days pose concern as some preschoolers are released at 1:00 and the children in grades K-3 are released at 1:15.  Please note that on these days, we will ask that the preschool parents drive through the STAFF parking lot (not the regular parking lot because you will get stuck) and pick up the children at the end of the lot.  As we try out this system to allow preschool parents to surpass the line that will begin very early for those in grades K-3, we will be outside to monitor the exact area cars will go to pick up the children.  Next Wednesday, September 26^th, please drive through the parking lot to the end and wait for further instructions. 

We appreciate your patience!  

Thank you for your continued support!
Michelle Costa, Principal
Katie Lyons, Preschool Director  

Welcome to the Steward School Preschool Blog!

We are so excited to share our fun learning adventures in this new blog.  This blog will be used to both provide parents with pictures and reports of the happenings at Steward Preschool. Announcements and reminders will also be found on the blog.  In order to receive e-mails as to when the blog is updated, please subscribe to this blog (link below).