A preschool where play matters

	April 2024
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1 School resumes School resumes April 1, 2024 See more details Street Sweeping Street Sweeping April 1, 2024 See more details Week 32 Week 32 April 1, 2024 See more details • • •	2 Street Sweeping Street Sweeping April 2, 2024 See more details •	3	4 Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (1/6) Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (1/6) April 4, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA Somos Creadores! We are creators! In our spring enrichment class, children will explore a variety of creative media in a dual language studio setting. The class will be led by two teachers, one fluent in English and one fluent in Spanish. In each class, children will be introduced to key vocabulary in both languages, such as the names of colors. Children will also be exposed to both languages in the context of the creative project work. Each week children will be invited to explore a new medium such as paint, clay, and collage. Child-friendly course description to share with your child: “In the Somos Creadores class you will create art and invent projects using all kinds of different materials. You will also have a chance to learn some new words in both English and Spanish.” Somos Creadores is open to current and alumni students as well as children who do not attend FTCNS. The class is for children in preschool and kindergarten, ages 4-6. Class meets Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School on April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2 and 9, 2024. The fee is $180 per session ($30 per class). No refunds will be issued for missed classes. For families with a 2022 Adjusted Gross Income of less than $45,000, a 50% financial aid waiver is available. Complete the Somos Creadores online application by March 15, 2024. If interest is greater than spots available, a blind lottery will be conducted. Once a spot in Somos Creadores is confirmed, payment in full will be due by March 22, 2024. For more information, contact Kate Brenner at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School at businessmanager@ftcns.org. See more details •	5 Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 3/8 Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 3/8 April 5, 2024 - See more details Auction Item Pick-Up Auction Item Pick-Up April 5, 2024 - Families Together Office See more details Dinner & A Show Dinner & A Show April 5, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA FTCNS students and their older siblings (up to age 7) are invited to school for a drop-off evening of play, pizza and a show hosted by FTCNS teachers Jill, Molly & Kirsten. $25 per child covers teacher fee, rent and dinner. Submit payment via Chase QuickPay/Zelle to businessmanager@ftcns.org. Shows are TBA but are likely episodes of PBS shows like: Molly of Denali, WildKratts, Daniel Tiger & Alma's Way. PAYMENT DUE MARCH 15, 2024 to hold your spot. Look for the link to the sign-up sheet in the Weekly Word. See more details • • •	6 Auction Item Pick-Up Auction Item Pick-Up April 6, 2024 - Families Together Office See more details •	7
8 Week 33 Week 33 April 8, 2024 See more details •	9	10	11 Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (2/6) Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (2/6) April 11, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA Somos Creadores! We are creators! In our spring enrichment class, children will explore a variety of creative media in a dual language studio setting. The class will be led by two teachers, one fluent in English and one fluent in Spanish. In each class, children will be introduced to key vocabulary in both languages, such as the names of colors. Children will also be exposed to both languages in the context of the creative project work. Each week children will be invited to explore a new medium such as paint, clay, and collage. Child-friendly course description to share with your child: “In the Somos Creadores class you will create art and invent projects using all kinds of different materials. You will also have a chance to learn some new words in both English and Spanish.” Somos Creadores is open to current and alumni students as well as children who do not attend FTCNS. The class is for children in preschool and kindergarten, ages 4-6. Class meets Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School on April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2 and 9, 2024. The fee is $180 per session ($30 per class). No refunds will be issued for missed classes. For families with a 2022 Adjusted Gross Income of less than $45,000, a 50% financial aid waiver is available. Complete the Somos Creadores online application by March 15, 2024. If interest is greater than spots available, a blind lottery will be conducted. Once a spot in Somos Creadores is confirmed, payment in full will be due by March 22, 2024. For more information, contact Kate Brenner at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School at businessmanager@ftcns.org. See more details •	12 Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 4/8 Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 4/8 April 12, 2024 - See more details Dinner & A Show Dinner & A Show April 12, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA FTCNS students and their older siblings (up to age 7) are invited to school for a drop-off evening of play, pizza and a show hosted by FTCNS teachers Jill, Molly & Kirsten. $25 per child covers teacher fee, rent and dinner. Submit payment via Chase QuickPay/Zelle to businessmanager@ftcns.org. Shows are TBA but are likely episodes of PBS shows like: Molly of Denali, WildKratts, Daniel Tiger & Alma's Way. PAYMENT DUE MARCH 15, 2024 to hold your spot. Look for the link to the sign-up sheet in the Weekly Word. See more details • •	13 Block Party (Indoor Block Play) Event Block Party (Indoor Block Play) Event April 13, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA Block play builds spatial reasoning skills, mathematical thinking, motor skills, and more. When children build together they learn to collaborate and communicate. Not to mention the creativity and self-expression that happens when children are invited to imagine and build their own original structures. Block play is a core, daily activity at FTCNS. At our “block party” event we’ll play with a variety of block sets and other construction materials. Ann Gadzikowski, FTCNS director and author of the book “Young Architects at Play,” will share information with parents about the benefits of block play, especially during the pre-kindergarten years. Bring your young architect (age 2 to 4) for a fun play session and learn more about our programs at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School. Children will be invited to build houses, towers, roads, and other structures using a variety of materials. RSVP at admissions@ftcns.org See more details •	14
15 Week 34 Week 34 April 15, 2024 See more details April Board Meeting April Board Meeting April 15, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA Everyone welcome. See more details • •	16	17	18 Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (3/6) Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (3/6) April 18, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA Somos Creadores! We are creators! In our spring enrichment class, children will explore a variety of creative media in a dual language studio setting. The class will be led by two teachers, one fluent in English and one fluent in Spanish. In each class, children will be introduced to key vocabulary in both languages, such as the names of colors. Children will also be exposed to both languages in the context of the creative project work. Each week children will be invited to explore a new medium such as paint, clay, and collage. Child-friendly course description to share with your child: “In the Somos Creadores class you will create art and invent projects using all kinds of different materials. You will also have a chance to learn some new words in both English and Spanish.” Somos Creadores is open to current and alumni students as well as children who do not attend FTCNS. The class is for children in preschool and kindergarten, ages 4-6. Class meets Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School on April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2 and 9, 2024. The fee is $180 per session ($30 per class). No refunds will be issued for missed classes. For families with a 2022 Adjusted Gross Income of less than $45,000, a 50% financial aid waiver is available. Complete the Somos Creadores online application by March 15, 2024. If interest is greater than spots available, a blind lottery will be conducted. Once a spot in Somos Creadores is confirmed, payment in full will be due by March 22, 2024. For more information, contact Kate Brenner at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School at businessmanager@ftcns.org. See more details •	19 Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 5/8 Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 5/8 April 19, 2024 - See more details •	20	21
22 Week 35 Week 35 April 22, 2024 See more details •	23	24	25 Street Sweeping Street Sweeping April 25, 2024 See more details Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (4/6) Somos Creadores Enrichment Class starts (4/6) April 25, 2024 - Families Together Cooperative Nursery School, 1500 W Elmdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, USA Somos Creadores! We are creators! In our spring enrichment class, children will explore a variety of creative media in a dual language studio setting. The class will be led by two teachers, one fluent in English and one fluent in Spanish. In each class, children will be introduced to key vocabulary in both languages, such as the names of colors. Children will also be exposed to both languages in the context of the creative project work. Each week children will be invited to explore a new medium such as paint, clay, and collage. Child-friendly course description to share with your child: “In the Somos Creadores class you will create art and invent projects using all kinds of different materials. You will also have a chance to learn some new words in both English and Spanish.” Somos Creadores is open to current and alumni students as well as children who do not attend FTCNS. The class is for children in preschool and kindergarten, ages 4-6. Class meets Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School on April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2 and 9, 2024. The fee is $180 per session ($30 per class). No refunds will be issued for missed classes. For families with a 2022 Adjusted Gross Income of less than $45,000, a 50% financial aid waiver is available. Complete the Somos Creadores online application by March 15, 2024. If interest is greater than spots available, a blind lottery will be conducted. Once a spot in Somos Creadores is confirmed, payment in full will be due by March 22, 2024. For more information, contact Kate Brenner at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School at businessmanager@ftcns.org. See more details • •	26 Street Sweeping Street Sweeping April 26, 2024 See more details Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 6/8 Clovers Caregiver & Child Class 6/8 April 26, 2024 - See more details "Yes Chef!" Cooking Party with Lunch Bunch Teachers Andrea, Carey and Molly "Yes Chef!" Cooking Party with Lunch Bunch Teachers Andrea, Carey and Molly April 26, 2024 - Auction Item - Click HERE to bid! This item is for FTCNS families only. Your child will be saying "yes, Chef!" as Lunch Bunch teachers Andrea, Carey and Molly teach 12 lucky kids to make a healthy lunch dish and a dessert. Each child will be able to showcase their own creative food ideas while learning basic culinary skills. We will do some measuring, pouring, and mixing to create our delicious meal. At the end we will eat the food we prepared while listening to some music! Chefs hats and aprons provided and will be sent home! This cooking party for 2023-2024 FTCNS students with space for 12 children promises to please anyone who enjoys cooking! Drop-off and pick-up will be the responsibility of each parent/caregiver. Purchasing families will receive more detailed information at the end of the auction. See more details Half Pints, Full Hearts 2024: A Benefit for Families Together Cooperative Nursery School Half Pints, Full Hearts 2024: A Benefit for Families Together Cooperative Nursery School April 26, 2024 - Half Acre Beer Company, 2050 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 Join us for a good cause at Half Acre Brewing Company! Families Together current and alumni parents plus their friends and family will gather to raise a glass to FTCNS and to raise funds for the preschool. This is an adult event, babes in arms welcome. Friday, April 26, 2024, 6 to 10 p.m. @ Half Acre Brewery, 2050 W. Balmoral in Chicago Your ticket includes entry, appetizers, desserts, and 4 hours of fun! Cash bar featuring Half Acre's craft beers, a cider, and assorted Sunset Sodas. Half Acre is cash free/card only. Tickets: Current FTCNS Parent: $40 FTCNS Alumni Parent/Friend/Family Ticket: $50 4-Ticket Donor $275 - includes all of the above PLUS a designated table, a goodie basket, and a thank you for sponsoring in our promotional materials. 8-Ticket Donor $500 - includes all of the above PLUS a designated table, a goodie basket, and a thank you for sponsoring in our promotional materials. Tickets: Click HERE See more details • • • •	27	28
29 Street Sweeping Street Sweeping April 29, 2024 See more details Week 36 Week 36 April 29, 2024 See more details • •	30 Street Sweeping Street Sweeping April 30, 2024 See more details •

It was in this little classroom that my child got to experience “school” for the first time, in the most beautiful sense of the word. This little classroom where everything is, quite honestly, just right. Just the way it should be. Full of passion and creativity; song and movement; exploration and encouragement. This is what preschool should be. And I’m the lucky mom who made the choice to set my kids up for success and joy by giving them the absolute best start to school that any kid could get.

We all see what’s here, the amazing teachers and staff who are treated fairly and with respect. The incredible classrooms and the wonderful hours we all spend here. The community that supports each other ways I’ve never seen before. But Families Together has done so much more than that for us. it has been an honor and a privilege to have been part of it for so long.

At Families Together our son is gently and joyfully challenged to explore new ideas. The "emergent curriculum" takes into consideration the students' interests and honors their natural sense of curiosity. Our son is also learning how to work with others, advocate for himself and peacefully work through peer-conflicts. But, best of all, he wakes up every day excited to go to school!

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April 2024

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Open House
Saturday, May 18, 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Bring the whole family to play in the classrooms, have a snack,
get to know our families and teachers, and get a “feel” for the school!

RSVP at admissions@ftcns.org