SCS Birthday Bus Hits the Portsmouth Holiday Parade!:  Mr. Troy and Company made the yearly appearance in the Holiday Parade memorable as the SCS Bus replete with birthday balloons, streamers, and smiling faculty made it's way through town.  After handing out over 200 birthday hats, party noisemakers and stickers, hundreds of kids and parents cheered as we were introduced at the reviewing stand as celebrating our 50th! 

  Spirit Week starts on Monday:  Being in the spirit of the season means dressing up for fun every day during Spirit Week at SCS and it starts next Monday 12/18 and runs right through Pajama Day on Friday!  Prizes will be awarded for highest percentage of participants per class.  PEAK Sites will be participating too!  Help your little ones show their spirit by following the schedule below: 

Monday: Holiday Colors Day

Tuesday: Classroom Choice Day

Wednesday: Crazy Socks Day

Thursday: Holiday Hats Day

Friday: Pajama Day

 $50,000 Annual Fund Well on the Way: Crazy but true - we have raised over $14,000 for the SCS Annual Fund so far and we are well on the way to our tremendous Anniversary Goal of $50K!  With 100% Board participation we kicked off the campaign in fine style.  Did you know that you may not be able to itemize your charitable contributions after January 1st in the new tax bill?  PLEASE GIVE NOW in 2017 to itemize your gift and to help a good school be even better!!  Click here: http://seacoastcommunityschool.org/support-us


 New SchoolCareWorks Computer System to launch January 8th.  SCS will move into the Digital Age next semester as we launch the first phase of the new administration software system.  In seven of the preschool and toddler classes parents will need to enter a PIN to pick up and drop off their kids, and we will be taking a huge step toward making life easier for everyone.  Other classes and PEAK sites will follow shortly after.  Look for the parent emails that will explain it all in the coming weeks.

Are you looking for a night out with friends?  Is your inner DIY itching for a fun new project without having to buy all your own supplies and make a mess at your house?  Then BOOK A CLASS at Board & Brush Creative Studio in Portsmouth.  On January 14th, 2018 at 3pm, Board and Brush is donating 20% of proceeds to Seacoast Community School!  Grab a friend and spend a great afternoon creating something new!  Sarah Fleck will be there with treats and prizes.  Sign up today so you don't miss out!
https://boardandbrush.com/portsmouth/6308
 
Pounding the Door Openers - Not Very Neighborly: Yes, it is so much fun to operate the main doors to the Community Campus Building by pressing the auto-openers but please do not let kids pound on them!  Just like behaving in the hallways by not running, please respect our handicapped neighbors.  The switches have been replaced twice in the last year so let's try to keep that from happening again.

November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving Celebrated at SCS:  Of course a day dedicated to family would provide a central theme at our school, and the recent Campus Thanksgiving Assembly did just that.  Singing, dancing, and a virtual Thanksgiving Feast provided by each of the ECE classes was added to a group reading of "Bear Says Thanks".  Kids and parents enjoyed the gathering and left with everyone wishing each other a happy holiday ahead.  Happy Holiday Everyone!


  50th Birthday Bash lives up to the billing:  After a year of researching, planning, creating, and publicizing the great SCS/CCCC Birthday Event happened on schedule and was a great success!  We simply could not have chosen a better day as a chilly November morning turned into a sun-warmed day of celebration.  Hundreds of kids, parents, grandparents friends, faculty, and former faculty enjoyed the myriad events all day long.  (I can just say from working the popcorn machine, we were really busy!)  Kids enjoyed everything from outdoor games, to petting animals, to facepainting and everyone found something to be happy about!  Perhaps the most impressive presentations came from the cool puppet shows, and live wild animal exhibits - but there was something for everyone all day.  Special thanks goes out to the Birthday Committee who worked all year, at multiple events, to make it all happen!  On to our next 50!!

 $50,000 Annual Fund Launches with Fanfare: The other great thing that happened at the Birthday Party was the launching of our 2017-18 Annual Fund and this year we set a super goal for ourselves: $50,000 for our 50th Year!  After raising a record $25,000 last year the Development Committee got very inspired by the challenge of doubling that number for our 50th Anniversary - WE CAN DO IT!  Look for opportunities to "double your gift" as we reach out for this great goal together.  The Annual Fund supports every aspect of school life from classroom budgets, to scholarships, to computer programs so please help! 

  "Giving Tuesday" is Just Around the Corner: On a day that has become synonymous with helping non-profits like ours, next Tuesday will be a big push for us to fulfill our dream of meeting our Annual Fund Goal - so please answer the call!  Look forward to our upcoming emails reminding you to give at our website, send a check, or just drop off a gift that morning.  Please remember that there are NO charges for online giving to the donor and as a non-profit we pay very little for the service ourselves. Here's the link: http://seacoastcommunityschool.org/support-us

  New Infant Room Opens Amid Smiles: Our newest class in the Early Childhood Program at the SCS Campus site is our addition of 8 new infants in the "Seahorse" Room.  Reaching max capacity almost immediately, we staggered the entries just to ease everyone into the new classroom.  With lots of help from our Shrimps faculty as well as Minnows, Rainbows, and Guppies who shifted rooms, the new Seahorses have settled in nicely, and a warm, loving atmosphere has developed already.

Holiday Events on the Horizon: Be a part of our school celebrations for the holidays as all classes and PEAK sites will be having fun events this season!  On December 2nd join us for the Birthday Bus as we participate once again in the Portsmouth Holiday Parade!  We need volunteers to walk with the SCS Bus in the parade and hand out party hats and noisemakers.  Contact Kelly Lee at KLee@Seacoastcommunityschool.org to participate. 

• Portsmouth Holiday Parade - December 2nd (Volunteer to walk!)
• Adopt a Family Week - December 11-15
• "Holiday Spirit Week" - December 18-22
• All School Holiday Assembly - December 22nd
• SCS Winter Break Week - December 25-29

October 24, 2017

  Road Race Runs Great:  Thanks to everyone who attended the Memorial Bridge Road Race on October 8th.  Almost 400 runners weathered the rain in support of SCS and Prescott Park Arts Festival.  It was another great year as the race earned just under $9000 for the school - all of which we will be dedicating to scholarships, enrichment, and professional development.  Thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer and/or run the 5K miles!  Registration for next year starts in January so look for the email linking to the website - see you there!

  Campus Grandparents/Special Friends Day a Hit:  Wow!  Over 120 Grandparents and Special Friends showed up at the Community Campus to spend some real quality time with the children last Friday - it was super! The day started with our legendary slide show of kids and then saw the visitors come to classes to have lots of fun.  Classes had special events set up where kids and their visitors could play together.  A nice lunch was enjoyed by all, and then the grandparents and special friends went on their way as kids hit the mats for well earned naps.  Overall, it was a super success!

PEAK Grandparents/Special Friends Day Happens This Week:  The date is October 27th and the time at all PEAK sites will be 4:00-5:30pm.  Be sure to RSVP here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scs-grandparentsspecial-friends-days-tickets-38157918361 

50th Birthday Bash Just Around the Corner!  November 4th 10-2pm will be one of the great celebrations in the history of our organization!  Be sure to bring the ENTIRE family to this wonderful event - don't miss out.  Here are just some of the great events happening on campus that day:

• Wildlife Adventures: Wild animal shows
• Lindsey and her Puppets: Puppet Shows
• Balloons by Beth: Balloon Artist
• Fun Photo Booth
• School-age games and adventures for kids 5-10
• Touch-a-Truck
• Traveling Barnyard: Petting Zoo
• Face Painting
• Free lunch, birthday cake, party favors
• Pin the Bowtie on Peter Game!
• Bubble artistry
• Launch of our Annual Appeal Campaign
• Free 50th Anniversary merchandise!
• Memory Board meeting of Alumni and Former Faculty

A Letter from Peter Gilmore and Seacoast Community School

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends,

The recent events involving devastation wrought by multiple hurricanes in the Caribbean and Florida have been all over the news, and left many of us speechless in the process.  As we watch from the comfort of our own Northern homes, it is too easy to feel these events are far away, but just as easy to think about the Northeasters, snowstorms, and ice storms that we have encountered over the years.  Many of us have connections in Houston, Miami, or even the various smaller islands affected by the recent storms and have heard first hand accounts of the struggles now confronting these people.

Thinking about the "Empathy" part of our Seacoast Community C.A.R.E.S. commitment, the administrators here at school came up with two great options for donations; one, a larger organization that is specifically targeted toward helping child care operations in the US, and a second smaller organization in The US Virgin Islands using a YouCaring crowdfunding source.  Everyone knows how important it is to parents, guardians, and grandparents to have effective operating child care available - and it is more so in this situation.  It frees parents up to do the tremendous work of cleaning and rebuilding, which in turn helps children stay free from various hazards and diseases.

We hope you will find a way to support those in need during this widespread crisis.  Below are the website links you can click on.  Helping these organizations will only be a small step, but certainly an important one in caring for those in need.

ChildCareAware:

http://usa.childcareaware.org/advocacy-public-policy/crisis-and-disaster-resources/hurricane-relief-donations/

Virgin Islands Montessori:

 https://www.youcaring.com/virginislandsmontessorischool-946428


All the best,

Peter Gilmore
Executive Director

SCS Events on the horizon:

• Memorial Bridge RoadRace: October 8th - We need volunteers!
• Grandparents/Special Friends Day: October 20th - RSVP now!
• PEAK Grandparents/Special Friends Day: October 27th - RSVP now!
• 50th Birthday Bash at Campus Drive: November 4th - Mark your calendars!

September 25, 2017

New School Year Starts Off Right:  Thanks to everyone who attended the Pot Luck last week - it was a huge success as families brought their own favorite eats and shared them with everyone else!  I always look forward to the home cooking on these nights and I was not disappointed.  It was nice to see so many people, enjoy returning siblings, and welcome new families too.  The United Way Day of Caring also took place last week and as you can see from the picture below these volunteers put together 10 baby cribs for the new Infant Room.  Spirit Week was a great success as well: the Guppies Class earned the honors of "Most Spirited" but there were winners all around ... and the Pep Rally was a sight to see of course!  Overall a super way to start the school year.

SCS Commercial Filming Happening at Campus and PEAK:  Marketing and Development Coordinator Sarah Fleck has arranged for the video filming of our new marketing piece at both Community Campus and at PEAK sites starting on Tuesday 9/26.  We are certainly cognizant of your child's privacy, so please know that we will only use images of children who have been approved on the permission forms used at enrollment.  If you would like to change your directives, (or you don't recall them and want to be reminded) please just contact Amie Cole at the front desk 603-422-8223.  

Volunteers Needed for the Annual Memorial Bridge 5K Road Race: October 8th!  Help SCS in your own way by assisting us as a volunteer at the race - call 603-422-8223 to sign up.  Give us an hour or two and we will pay you back with a great day for a great cause.  Volunteers are needed in all areas but mostly as safety volunteers directing runners down the race route - it is easy and fun to do.  We can use help from teens too, so get them up on Sunday morning to help SCS!  Our sponsors this year include: Kennebunk Savings, Peoples United Bank, Tidal Media Group, Beswick Engineering, Salem Five, Heinemann Publishing, and Open Heart Racing.  Click here to run in the race: http://www.memorialbridgeroadrace.com

PEAK Grandparents/Special Friends Day Important Updates:  Two important updates to the Grandparents/Special Friends Day at PEAK Sites:  The date will be October 27th (not November 3rd as published earlier) and the time at all sites will be 4:00-5:30pm.  Be sure to RSVP here for either or both days:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scs-grandparentsspecial-friends-days-tickets-38157918361

50th Birthday Block Party Bash November 4th!  Don't forget we are having a wonderful 50th Birthday Celebration on Saturday, November 4th!  Mark your calendars now as the whole family is invited to a fun field day full of great events, food, and celebrations for the entire family!  Events will happen from 10:00-2:00pm and everything (including birthday cake) is FREE!

Foul Weather Information:  Though we are enjoying this beautiful fall season, we are also beginning to prepare for our next season, winter.  Winter brings with it the occasional need for us to cancel school, start late, or end the school day early.  This could happen during times of inclement weather and/or times when there may be issues such as power outages etc.  It is our intention to remain open whenever possible.  When faced with concerns of heavy snow, ice or other emergency scenarios, we take many factors into consideration before deciding to alter our regular schedule.  We post our late openings and closings on WMUR Channel 9 Portsmouth, WCSH Channel 6 in Maine, and WOKQ 97.5 online.  If your child is in one of the elementary schools at PEAK, you'll want to be aware of not only what the schools are doing, but what PEAK is doing as well.  Also, many families have found it helpful to sign up through WMUR 97.5 online to get SCS school alerts sent to their phones.  The service is free.  Complete steps regarding foul weather closings etc. will be distributed to families by class memo later in the fall.

September 7th, 2017

Welcome New Families!  Fall is such a great time of year - and always filled with the feelings of starting something new.  It also means school beginnings, new friends, and the launch of the new academic year calendar.  All this is underscored at SCS this September by the large number of new families now in attendance.  The school year has brought lots of new changes to SCS already not the least of which are expansion of the PEAK programs within the Portsmouth Public Schools at Dondero and Little Harbor, as well as the expansion by one infant classroom at the Community Campus.  Serving "All Children" of the seacoast means being open to literally everyone; including all socioeconomic groups, races, classes, religions, and orientations of people in our catch basin.  Fortunately we are not only expanding our school but living our mission as many of our new families are a diverse reflection of the area.  Welcome everyone!

SCS Parents Committee Needs You!  The first meeting of the 2017-18 SCS Parents Committee will be Friday 9/8 at 3:00-4:00 at Community Campus - WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Be involved in making SCS the best it can be by joining a great group of folks who want to have fun doing it.  Contact Sarah Fleck at SFleck@Seacoastcommunityschool.org now, or just show up at 3:00 Friday!

Save the Date!  The SCS Family Back to School Pot Luck Picnic Gathering will be on September 19th 4:30-6:30.  Be sure to mark your calendars for this wonderful event sponsored by the Parent Committee and featuring food from many of our families.  From 4:30-5:30 will be a parents gathering in the Indoor Playspace at Community Campus, 100 Campus Drive in Portsmouth.  More information will be on the way, and remember ALL siblings are welcome!

United Way Support of SCS Continues:  Each year we solicit the United Way for operational fund support and we are happy to say that SCS has once again been chosen as a beneficiary of this wonderful organization.  Helping families in need has long been part of the United Way mission and we make that happen every year through service to many of our families.  If your company runs a United Way campaign please give generously!

Seacoast Community School C.A.R.E.S.:  It's time to put the recent faculty efforts defining our school values to work!  Each year we will be choosing one of the 5 values to celebrate (Cooperation, Acceptance, Respect, Empathy, Self-Confidence) in a school-wide theme. The theme for this year is COOPERATION so look for ways that the classes, administration, and PEAK sites will be celebrating that virtue with everyone in the SCS community.  What does it really mean to cooperate?  How can cooperation be celebrated amongst each age group?  How can children express their desire to cooperate?  These questions and more will be asked as we celebrate this universal theme!

The Annual Memorial Bridge 5K Road Race: October 8th!  Sponsoring this great event in cooperation with Prescott Park Arts Festival has become a yearly happening that many folks look forward to.  Running through the streets of Portsmouth on a brisk fall Sunday morning is just heaven to many locals - so why not join them?  Our sponsors this year include: Kennebunk Savings, Peoples United Bank, Tidal Media Group, Beswick Engineering, Salem Five, Heinemann Publishing, and Open Heart Racing.  Click here to sign up now: http://www.memorialbridgeroadrace.com 

50th Birthday Bash November 4th!  Don't forget we are having a wonderful 50th Birthday Celebration on Saturday, November 4th!  Mark your calendars now as the whole family is invited to a fun field day full of great events, food, and celebrations for the entire family!! 

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August 10, 2017

          With the warm days of August upon us and the new academic year on the horizon, I thought it would be helpful to update the community on a few important items we have been working on in preparation for September.  This time of year brings lots of changes as we switch over from Summer Mode to School Year Mode here at SCS, and lots of transitions happen now for students, staff, and the school itself.

  Seacoast Community School C.A.R.E.S.:  After some good, long, and fruitful sessions with faculty and administrators we have settled on five “Values” that best reflect the SCS experience, and ones that we want every child to know, understand, and apply as they go forward from our school.  We will be working as a faculty at the Professional Development Day in August to brainstorm how we can apply these values in the daily life of the school year ahead.  One way we know for sure will be to celebrate one value each year as a theme, and we will start with "Cooperation".

The values are: 
Cooperation - Working with others
Acceptance - Understanding others
Respect - Valuing others
Empathy - Feeling for others
Self-Confidence - Holding oneself with certainty amongst others

  New Classroom Coming:  Recent changes in the Portsmouth Public School schedule will affect SCS after-school Kindergarten as kids will no longer be bused to Community Campus in the afternoon.  Fortunately we will be able to staff and run afterschool kindergarten classes in the public elementary schools, so you can be sure that the good SCS programs and people you know and love will be there for the kids.  The change will also open up one full classroom at our main facility for expansion.  Although plans are not definite at this time, that class will potentially be infants if we can adjust classroom spaces to accommodate them.  We have long wanted to add an infant room and now just might be the time.  More information will follow.

  DayCare Works:  The new registrar system will be up and running in September and should greatly improve the flow of information to and from home and school.  We expect improvements in enrollment, information tracking, forms, permissions, billing, and a wide variety of other areas.  Please look for more information in the days ahead.

  Behavior on Campus:  As we are guests of the Foundation here at Community Campus it is important that we keep in mind respectful behavior at all times.  Please do not allow your children/charges to run down the hallways, and be especially mindful to use “walking feet” on the tiles in the main entrance.  All teachers and classes practice this during the day so please support them.  Also, we ask that do not allow children to slam the automatic door openers as they are more delicate than they may seem.  Please use them with care.

  New PEAK Program Offerings:  As school will now open and dismiss earlier at Little Harbour and Dondero Schools, we have adjusted our offerings to reflect family needs.  Traditional PEAK will run from dismissal to the new 4:30pm bus, while the “PEAK Plus” program will run from dismissal to 6:00pm.  Kindergarteners will no longer be bused to the Community Campus location after dismissal, and they will have their own “K-PEAK” space and programming at Little Harbour and Dondero.  Options and rates for the programs will be posted on our website in the coming weeks.