Welcome to a new and exciting school year! The classroom is prepared and I am anxiously waiting for the arrival of its students. Mrs. Brennan and I are truly looking forward to meeting all of you and your children as we get together in the up-coming events. I know that most of the children are very anxious to see their friends again, as well as, make new friends with our new students.
For those of you who do not know me yet let me tell you a little bit of background and how I came to be a teacher at Valley Forge Kinder House. I became very interested in Montessori when my younger brother Christopher joined the school for summer camp and I volunteered to help out for a while. After that I became hooked and haven’t really left since. I was a camp counselor for the school for a little over twenty five years and loved every minutes of it. After completing my Bachelor Degree of Science in Early Childhood Education at West Chester University, I continued on to complete my AMI Training for Primary Teachers at the Washington Montessori Institute in 1987. And then I proudly became a long time teacher for Valley Forge Kinder House in which I have taught at three different locations for the school these past twenty-four years. I totally have enjoyed working for a school where your children are totally cared for in a very loving and welcoming environment. In the beginning of each school year all of the staff members at our school completely understand that there might be some separation anxiety occurring when you drop off your child at the gate. We truly encourage you to take some time with your child and talk about his/her feelings and how exciting school can be. We also understand that the first few days of school can be just as hard on the parents. To help you along with this beginning process of each year we encourage all of you to say your good-byes at the gate and then leave the school parking lot as quickly as possible. This will reassure your child that you feel confident enough to leave your child in our care and that everything will be just fine. If a child is upset and having a difficult time at arrival, either one of the two adults will walk him/her to class, or an older student may be asked to escort your child to his/her classroom.
Currently our class has one room mother who would like to help out with our classroom holiday activities. If this sounds like something you might be interested in please let me know and I can answer any questions you might have pertaining to this special job.
Should you have any questions about your child’s classroom routines or the about the school in general please feel free to look at our website or email me at our school and I will get back to you as quickly as I can. I hope this information will help assist you as you plan for the school year.
Ms. Phelen
