I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Director of Eliza Corwin Frost.

I come to the position with over 8 years of experience as a school leader working with Early Childhood programs in Westchester and Manhattan.

I began my career in the NYC public schools where I worked as a staff developer helping children, teachers and families adapt to a new mathematics curriculum.

My first role in school leadership was at a seedling program in Westchester. I worked very hard to grow the program into the flourishing one it is today. I moved into an executive leadership role with the same organization but missed the day to day work with the school and so moved on to a position that would allow me to get back to what I truly love – Early Childhood Program administration.

In my most recent role, I was responsible for all aspects of a program that served typically developing students, mainly from the Upper East Side, who were learning alongside peers with special needs. This unique experience allowed me to see the true benefits of the inclusion model.

Continued Pg. 2

What is Reggio Emilia?

A description and some background of the educational philosophy that drives instruction at ECFS.

2

4

Staff Corner August 2014

Inside Who’s Who

Confused about who to contact for what? We have some key information here.

Meet the New Director

2

2

Who’s Who This month’s edition features non-teaching staff. You will be receiving a detailed directory in the coming months with more information.

Kara Polinsky Director kpolinsky@elizafrostschool.org Mandy Macmillan-Bell Office Administrator admin@elizafrostschool.org School Phone 914-779-4852 School Fax 914-337-2514

Gina Donegan Finance/Billing gdonegan@ccbny.org 914-337-3544 x115 Fr. Michael A. Bird Rector mbird@ccbny.org

Katie Gojkovich Dir. of Development kgojkovich@ccbny.org

These experiences have allowed me to grow as an educator and a school administrator. I hold a BA in Elementary/Inclusion Education and a MS in Literacy which has led to NYS Teaching Certification Birth-Grade 6 and Special Education Pre-K-Grade 12. I have also completed a Professional Certification which led to licensure in School Administration and Supervision.

My philosophy is strongly rooted in the belief that an early foundation providing a love of learning is key to future success.

I look forward to developing goals and objectives with all of the program stakeholders. Based on some early discussions a few goals which will be a part of the overall plan are:

• Enhanced home-school connection through communication and community building

• Continued review and modification of curricula and instructional methodologies through increased training and ongoing staff development

I am excited to be a part of a school community that shares such great values and I look forward to working with the staff and families of ECF to make the program even better!

Kara Polinsky - Director

Con’t…. Meet the Director

3

3

Here for you, the Parents Committee works to build a sense of community at the school and raise funds to help improve our children’s classroom and learning experience. We also serve as a link to the school leadership as part of the Steering Committee. Mostly, we want to make sure that you enjoy your years at Eliza Corwin Frost as much as your kids do! We have several events to kick off the school year, including:

• New Families Wine and Cheese: Thursday, September 11, 7pm • Parent Coffees: All week during the first week of school • Fall Fun Fest and Tags for Tots: Saturday, October 4, 10am-12

Look for emails, fliers, posters and invitations with details about Parents Committee activities throughout the year. To join the Parents Committee, look for sign-up sheets at all of the events in September. Or email us -- we’d love to have your help!

Parents Committee Corner

Get Involved!

Parents Committee Chairs - Karen Kennedy, Nicole Vellucci and Lindy Devereux Contact: ecfparentscommittee@gmail.com Steering Committee Chair – Andrea Bates ecfsteering@gmail.com

Steering Committee Corner As the new Chair of the Eliza Corwin Frost Steering Committee, I would like to welcome everyone back to this wonderful place. We are starting a new chapter in the life of the school and I am very excited to welcome Kara into our school family. She brings a wealth of experience and creative ideas to our program, not the least of which is this monthly newsletter. This section will offer information and updates from the Steering Committee. For those of you who are new to the school, or even those who may not be aware, the Steering Committee of Eliza Corwin Frost is the governing body of the school and is committed to its long term health and prosperity. Comprised of current and past parents, teachers and dedicated community members, the Committee is responsible for the mission of the school, its energy, direction, purpose and educational philosophy. They have the primary responsibility for the policies, budgets and personnel of Eliza Corwin Frost. Over the span of 13 years, I have had the privilege of experiencing the school from the perspective of both a parent and an administrator and look forward to incorporating both as the Chair of the Steering Committee heading into this exciting new chapter. Best wishes for a fabulous school year, Andrea Bates

4

4

What is Reggio Emilia? !Jenifer Wana is the author of How to Choose the Best Preschool for Your Child: The Ultimate Guide to Finding, Getting Into, and Preparing for Nursery School (Sourcebooks). Philosophy

Although you may not come across many Reggio Emilia schools, there are many Reggio Emilia-inspired schools based on the approach developed in the 1940s in the town of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy. After World War II, the community, along with schoolteacher Loris Malaguzzi, came together to develop schools that would help children become better citizens. “The overall philosophy is that kids are really encouraged to explore. The teachers are there to help them explore,” Wana says.

Reggio Emilia schools are known for a project-based approach, which many preschool programs have borrowed. In a project-based curriculum, lessons are based on the interest of the students. As Wana explains, if children playing outside encounter a flower and start to ask the teacher questions about how it grows, instead of directly answering the questions, the teacher encourages the group to “find out together.” The class may then build a garden and learn all that entails, while acquiring other important premath, prereading concepts. Another example would be setting up a restaurant in the classroom based on the class’s interest in playing in the kitchen. As Wana explains, projects become “child-originated and teacher-framed.”

Reggio Emilia programs are also known for documenting what children do, taking photos, making videos, writing observations. Then children and teachers can review what they’ve done throughout the year.

Who It’s For

Parents who want their child to be a good citizen may choose a Reggio Emilia program. Children learn all about cooperation through the many projects, particularly how to solve problems and resolve conflicts.

Learn more at: http://www.reggioalliance.org/.

NEWSLETTER NAMING CONTEST! We are looking for a unique and clever name for our newsletter. Please send suggestions to kpolinsky@elizafrostschool.org. We will choose the top three names and allow families to vote in our next edition. If we use your suggested name – your family will win a prize!