April News & Updates
March came in like a lion and continued to roar all month—and now we’re excited to welcome April! This month brings sunshine, growth, and plenty of opportunities for fun and learning.
📚 Curriculum Highlights
Even with Spring Break making it a shorter month for some, we have lots of engaging activities planned:
Number: 9
Letters: U, V, W, & X (progress may vary by classroom)
Color: Purple
Shape: Rhombus
Students will continue participating in both independent and group learning experiences. We’ll focus on building friendships, strengthening critical thinking skills, and exploring new concepts. In celebration of Earth Day, children will also learn about natural resources and ways to care for our planet.
🌸 Monthly Themes
This month’s learning will center around:
Community Helper: Farmer – Understanding the important role farmers play in our lives
Spring – Exploring the season through planting seeds, creating flower crafts, and enjoying the outdoors
Life Cycles – Learning about the butterfly life cycle
Earth Day – Discovering how to protect and appreciate our environment
❄️ Spring Break & Picture day
Easter Sunday: April 5
Spring Break (Barnegat School District): April 6–10 (Green Thumb remains open)
Please note that preschool classes will not be held during Spring Break.
📸 Picture Day: Scheduled between April 20 – May 1
You will receive notification with your child’s specific date.
📅 Summer & Fall Program Updates
Summer Program: Currently full. Please contact the office to join the waitlist. Summer calendars will be available by mid-May.
Fall Enrollment: Several classrooms are closed for enrollment.
⚽ Soccer Shots
Our Soccer Shots spring season is underway! Students are having a great time staying active, building skills, and enjoying the program.
📌 Upcoming Closure
Monday, May 25: Closed in observance of Memorial Day
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the office.
Wishing everyone a bright and sunny April! 🌸
Happy February!
The month of love is here, and we’re excited to celebrate with our families. February will be filled with fun, learning, and lots of love as we focus on the following:
❤️ Valentine’s Day
Some of our classrooms will celebrate Valentine’s Day with special activities. Please keep an eye out for messages from your child’s teacher with more details.
📚 Curriculum Highlights
February may be a short month, but it’s packed with learning! This month we’ll be focusing on:
Number: 6
Letters: O, P, Q, R, & S
Color: Pink
Shape: Heart
Students will continue participating in both independent and group learning through center exploration, critical thinking activities, and self-help skill development. We’re excited to see their continued growth!
February is also National Children’s Dental Health Month, which helps raise awareness about the importance of good oral health and encourages healthy habits at an early age.
🎨 Monthly Themes
Our February themes include:
Healthy Hearts – Celebrating Valentine’s Day while learning about taking care of our bodies
Community Helper: Postal Worker – Learning about the important role postal workers play in our community
Transportation – Exploring different ways we get from place to place
Valentine’s Day – Focusing on love, kindness, and friendship
Presidents’ Day – Learning about our country’s leaders
❄️ Winter Reminders
Winter weather is here! Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately each day, including jackets and closed-toed shoes. Weather permitting, classrooms go outside daily.
Please also check your child’s spare clothing to ensure it is seasonally appropriate, especially with the possibility of late-season snow.
For weather-related school closures, be sure to check ProCare, Facebook, and local radio stations for updates.
📅 Summer/Fall Program Reminder
If you haven’t already, please return your Summer/Fall commitment form as soon as possible to secure your child’s spot.
No additional registration fee is required
Enrollment is first come, first served-Forms not returned could result in being waitlisted for summer/fall
Current students receive priority but classrooms fill fast.
Summer and Fall programs require separate enrollment
Availability is limited, and several classrooms are already full for both Summer & Fall. Once a program is full, students will be placed on a waitlist.
⚽ Soccer Shots – Spring Season
Our Soccer Shots spring season kicks off in March. More details coming soon!
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions or need assistance.
Wishing you a wonderful and love-filled February! 💕
🌸 May Highlights – Welcome, Spring! 🌸
Hello Green Thumb families,
Welcome to May! After April’s unpredictable weather—sunny one day and chilly the next—we’re finally enjoying all that spring has to offer: sunshine, green trees, and yes… plenty of pollen!
📚 Curriculum Highlights
We’ve made it to the end of the alphabet! Over the past nine months, your children have blossomed in so many ways. Here’s what we’re focusing on this month:
Numbers: 10 (plus a review of 1–10)
Letters: X, Y & Z (Note: Different classrooms may move at slightly different paces.)
Color: Color Review
Shape: Shape Review
Students will continue participating in both independent and group learning activities as we wrap up an incredible preschool year. Be on the lookout for messages from teachers about fun activities and end-of-year celebrations!
To those moving on after this school year: we’ll miss you dearly. Best of luck wherever September takes you! For those staying with us this summer—get ready for a season packed with fun!
📅 Upcoming Closures
Please note the following closure dates:
- Monday, May 26, 2025 – Memorial Day
- Friday, July 4, 2025 – Independance day
- Friday, August 29, 2025 – Staff Prep Day
- Monday, September 1, 2025 – Labor Day
⚽ Soccer Shots – Spring Season Update
Our Soccer Shots program is going strong! The final session will be on Wednesday, May 21, with an extra week reserved in case of a weather cancellation.
🗓️ End of Year & Summer Transition
The Fall/Spring program ends Friday, June 6, 2025.
Some students will remain with us until Friday, June 20—please inform the office of your child’s last day for billing purposes.
Our Summer Program officially kicks off on Monday, June 23, 2025, and runs through Thursday, August 25 for year-round students.
The last day for students not returning in the fall will be Friday, August 22, 2025. Be sure to mark your calendars and make necessary arrangements.
📢 Summer & Fall Program Reminders
Summer Program is currently full. If you missed enrollment, please contact the office to be added to the waitlist. Calendars will be shared this month!
Many of our Fall classrooms have closed enrollment. If you haven’t secured a spot, contact us as soon as possible.
If your child will need busing in the fall, don’t forget to complete the Barnegat Bus Request Form, available in the office.
As always, if you have any questions or need help, please feel free to contact our office.
We wish you a fun-filled and sunny May!
Warmly,
The Green Thumb Team 🌱
Hello Green Thumb Families!
Happy soon-to-be SPRING! Although this winter surprised us a few times with threats of a big “Kaboom,” we’ve had only a few days of measurable snow. I think we’re all ready for warmer, sunnier days, green trees, and blooming flowers. Once the weather warms up, our students will be spending much more time outside playing and exploring. Please remember to send your children in weather-appropriate clothing, including jackets, closed-toed shoes, and if your child wears skirts or dresses, make sure they have shorts or tights underneath. Our friends love to flip and flop all over the playground!
Can you believe how quickly this year has flown by? Your children have been working hard and growing so much these past months. As we near the end of our journey through the alphabet, the learning won’t stop there. The next three months will be filled with reviews of letters, numbers, and colors, along with critical thinking, fitness, fun, and lots of memories. For our Pre-K 4 students, we’ll dive into learning sight words, continue number place values, and simple addition.
Here’s what’s coming up in March:
- St. Patrick’s Day fun and the first day of Spring will bring exciting activities that are sure to make your little ones feel lucky and ready for warmer weather! 🍀🌷
Important Dates to Remember:
- Picture Day is on Monday, March 24 & Tuesday, March 25! Be ready for those adorable smiles. Picture forms with your child’s scheduled day will be sent home soon, —we’ll be taking Cap & Gown pictures for our soon-to-be Pre-K graduates! 🎓✨
- Parent/Teacher Conferences will be happening in May for our Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, and Ranchers Satellite programs. Once the date is set, we’ll send out the details!
- End of the Fall/Spring Program is officially June 6, 2025, though some students will stay with us until June 13. Make sure to let the office know your child’s last day for billing purposes!
Summer Camp: In January, we sent home summer camp enrollment forms. Our summer camp is now full, but if you haven’t returned your form yet, please reach out to the office.
Fall Program Registration:We are actively registering for our Fall Program and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome your little ones back for another amazing year! While we understand that our local districts offer a free Pre-K, we want to emphasize that Green Thumb is more than just a daycare. Our Montessori-based preschool for children ages 3-5 offers structure and academics that prepare them for a strong start in kindergarten. While competing with free is difficult, academically we stand apart from other programs offered. 🧠🌱
Montessori Method: At Green Thumb, we are committed to providing a learning environment where children develop at their own pace through hands-on, self-directed activities. Our classrooms emphasize critical thinking, independent exploration, and collaborative play. This approach helps students reach their full potential, while fostering self-sufficiency, personal independence, and an internal sense of motivation. Unlike traditional classrooms where all students follow the same lessons, our Montessori method lets children challenge themselves as they are ready, which builds confidence and a love for learning. 💪
We can’t wait to see what the rest of this year brings! Thank you for being such an important part of our Green Thumb community. Here’s to a fun-filled spring of learning, growth, and lots of memories!
Warm regards,
The Green Thumb Team
February News & Updates
Happy February! The month of love is here, and we are excited to celebrate with our families. This month will be filled with fun, learning, and lots of love as we focus on the following:
❤️ Valentine’s Day Card Exchange
Our classrooms will host Valentine’s Day card exchanges and various fun activities. Please keep an eye out for messages from your child’s teacher, as well as the classroom name list. We can’t wait to see all the festive cheer!
📚 Curriculum Highlights
February is a short month, but it’s packed with learning! Here’s what we’ll be focusing on:
Number: 6
Letters: O, P, Q, R, & S
Color: Pink
Shape: Heart
Our students will continue to engage in independent and group learning, exploring centers, enhancing critical thinking skills, and practicing self-help skills. We’re excited to see their growth! February is also National Children’s Dental Health Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of oral health in children and to encourage healthy habits at an early age!
Monthly Theme: February
This month, we’re focusing on the following themes to enrich our students’ learning:
Healthy Hearts – A great way to celebrate both Valentine’s Day and the importance of taking care of our hearts.
Community Helper: Postal Worker – Learning about the important role postal workers play in our community.
Transportation – Exploring different types of transportation and how they help us get where we need to go.
Valentine’s Day – Celebrating love, kindness, and friendship!
Presidents Day – Learning about Presidents Day and the leaders of our country.
❄️ Winter Reminders
Winter has definitely arrived! Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, including jackets and closed-toed shoes. Our classrooms go outside every day, weather permitting. Don’t forget to check your child’s spare clothing to ensure it’s weather-appropriate, especially with the potential for a late-season snowstorm!
For school closures due to weather, remember to check ProCare, Facebook, and our local radio for updates.
📅 Summer/Fall Program Reminder
If you haven’t already, please return your Summer/Fall commitment letter or bus form ASAP to ensure your child’s spot. We have limited availability for our summer program, and several classrooms are already full for Fall enrollment. Our summer program is different that our Fall session and it requires a notification of enrollment. It is on a first come/first serve basis. Once full you will be placed on a waitlist.
📸 Picture Day Coming Soon!
Spring pictures will be here before you know it! Picture Day with Teddy Bear Portraits will be held on March 24th and 25th. Be sure to mark your calendars and bring those big smiles!
⚽ Soccer Shots Spring Season
Our Soccer Shots program kicks off this March for the spring season. Stay tuned for more details!
As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Wishing you all a wonderful and love-filled February! 💕
Welcome to 2025!
Wow, can you believe how fast 2024 flew by? We’re so excited for the second half of our school year to begin. This is when you’ll start to see many changes in your children as they continue to learn and grow. The first part of the year is always busy with classroom adjustments, holidays, and school closures, but in January, we hit the ground running with lots of learning ahead.
December brought some significant changes. Two of our teachers took maternity leave, and our Pre-K teacher, Miss Amy, retired early. Having a teacher leave our family for any reason affects everyone. We wish Miss Amy all the best in her retirement and hope for a resolution to her health issues. Miss Mackenzie welcomed a baby girl on December 13, and Miss Tessa also welcomed a baby girl on December 20. Congratulations to both families on their new arrivals!
January is a full month with lots of learning and classroom fun. We will have a dental hygienist visit from Ocean Pediatric Dental on January 16, 2025, for our Preschool classrooms. We will learn about Polar Animals, Martin Luther King Jr. and some of our classrooms will celebrate Chinese New Year with exciting activities.
Winter is in full swing, and although we do have some warmer days, the cold is here to stay. Our students go outside every day, so please be sure to dress them warmly: jackets, hats, gloves, pants or warm tights, and closed-toe shoes. Also, remember to update the extra clothes in their backpacks to reflect the colder temperatures.
Last year, we were fortunate to avoid significant snow accumulation, but that may not be the case this year. For snow days, we will use ProCare and NJ Storm Closings for updates. We also post announcements on Facebook. You can check school closures by searching for Ocean County school closings or visiting local radio station websites. We aim to make closing decisions by 5:00 am and will post them across the mentioned platforms. A rule of thumb: If it’s actively snowing at 5:00 am with accumulation, we’ll likely close or have a delay to ensure our parking lot is safe for staff and families.
We’d like to remind everyone to please read all messages sent through ProCare, as they contain important updates regarding billing, school closures, early dismissals, and our holiday schedule.
We understand that some of the messages may seem repetitive, but ProCare is our main way of communicating important information. Unfortunately, we’ve had several families miss updates about our holiday schedule due to not checking their messages. To avoid any confusion, please make sure to read all ProCare messages to stay informed.
Keep an eye out for Summer/Fall commitment letters, which will be sent in February/March. We are actively registering for those sessions, and several of our classrooms are already full for Summer and Fall 2025. We’ve been busy giving tours and welcoming new friends to join us!
Due to our current enrollment of children from ages 6 weeks to 5 years, we will have limited space in our Summer camp for school-aged students. Priority will be given to siblings of current students. If you have questions, please speak to someone in the office.
Tax statements are available in your ProCare app, and you can print the necessary documents for tax purposes. If you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
We look forward to an exciting and productive second half of the school year with your children!
Dear Green Thumb Families,
Wow! December is already here, and I can’t believe how quickly the year is flying by! Before we know it, the holidays and 2025 will be upon us. We are so excited to celebrate and what January will bring!
Our teachers have lots of activities planned for the next few weeks, it’s important to check your child’s folder and ProCare regularly to stay informed. We don’t want you to miss out on anything!
As many of you know, Miss Mackenzie and Miss Tessa will be on maternity leave for the next few months. We will certainly miss them while they are away, but we are excited to see how our Green Thumb family continues to grow!
Santa will be visiting Green Thumb on December 18th & 19th. He’ll be making a special stop in each classroom on both days to ensure every child has a chance to see him!
Holiday Closures:
Green Thumb will be closed on the following days:
Tuesday, December 24th
Wednesday, December 25th
Thursday, December 26th
Tuesday, December 31st (closing at 3:00 pm) – Please plan accordingly.
Wednesday, January 1st
Barnegat Schools will be closed for an extended break this year (December 23 – January 3). Since many of our students will be absent, we will not be conducting preschool classes (Pre-K 3 & 4, Ranchers Miss Amy) during that time, but we will accommodate students who need daycare. If you do not plan to send your child during this period, please notify our office for proper billing and scheduling.
We’ll be back to our usual classroom fun on Monday, January 6, 2025!
And don’t forget, we absolutely LOVE classroom visitors in our Pre-K classes! Whether you want to read a story, do a fun craft, or share your awesome talent or career with us, just reach out to your child’s teacher to pick the perfect day. We can’t wait to see you!
We want to wish you all a wonderful holiday season!
Dear Green Thumb Families
Can you believe it! Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. November is a month of thanks and we are so grateful for all of you.
The Lions Club finally completed the vision screenings for our students. Notifications only went home for those children who had possible issues.
We will be attempting in house school photos next week. Please be patient, this will be a first for us. Our hope is to save our parents some money, eliminate the stress and chaos a professional company causes, and the fear that it creates some our our littles.
The best benefit of in house pictures is that ensures EVERYONE’S picture will be taken, so if you are on vacation, or your child is sick, we can always set up the backdrop and take them.
Seedlings, Tiny Tots & Little Sprouts Monday & Tuesday
PS-1, PK-3 & PK-4 Wednesday & Thursday
Harvester 1 & 2, Rancher’s Sat Friday
If your child does not attend school on the day scheduled for their classroom, you can choose a day for them to have pictures done, just let their teachers know so we can make sure they are completed.
Some of our classrooms will have Thanksgiving celebrations. Please keep an eye open for messages from your teachers.
There was a typo on our previous newsletter concerning our closure for Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
We will be closed Thursday, November 28th, & Friday, November 28th. Please plan accordingly.
We wish our families a happy and safe Holiday!
Dear Green Thumb Families,
Fall has finally arrived and we are starting to feel the cooler temperatures. With that said, please remember to send your child in with appropriate clothing, jackets and closed toed shoes as all of our classrooms go out every day.
By now everyone should be settled and into a routine!
We are waiting for a rescheduled date for our Lions Vision Screening that was cancelled. The permission slips are still valid. If you haven’t sent one in, ask the office for another copy. If your child is not scheduled to attend Green Thumb that day, you are more than welcome to bring them in during the screening. We will let you know the time.
Our teachers are busy planning fun fall activities for our students. October is already half over and November goes by so quick. Before you know it, December will be upon us.
We love classroom visits! If you would like to read a story, lead a craft, or just visit one of our pre-K/preschool classes, contact your child’s teacher through ProCare for available days.
Some of our classrooms will have Halloween, Harvest or Thanksgiving parties so keep an eye out for messages from our teachers.
Unfortunately, due to our parking lot size and building capacity, we do not have a Halloween Parade. In the past it has proven difficult as most of our children became quite upset they were not leaving with their parents at the end of the parade. LOTS of pictures and videos of the parties will take place.
ProCare sends invoices automatically. If you child will be out for vacation, preschool closure, or Holiday, it will need to be manually adjusted. That may be in the form of a credit. Make sure you notify our office of upcoming vacations. The adjustment may take place after the invoice has been sent. Please be patient if a credit is missed, just contact the office as we will adjust accordingly.
Green Thumb Fall Picture Day
Picture day will be a bit different this year. Usually, we hire a professional photographer to take our Fall portraits. This typically interrupts our classrooms right after our students finally become acclimated and settled. We opted to have more a relaxed photo shoot with your child and instead of high-priced photo packages. As an alternative, you will be given proofs of your child’s photo sitting and can reproduce the desired number of pictures needed for a much cheaper price at your convenience. We will notify you once the dates are finalized.
Our traditional Spring and Cap & Gown photos will take place as usual in March/April by Teddy Bear Portraits.
Here are a few important reminders;
- Please be watchful of your children while you are in our parking lot. It can become very busy during the day.
- The days are growing shorter which means our outside play time will end earlier. Remember to call ahead so we can have your child ready for pick up!
- Flu vaccinations need to be updated every year for children 6 months – 59 months and are required to be completed by December 31st. This is a N.J. State requirement. If you have any questions, please contact someone in the office. Remember to update our records every time your child receives a new vaccine.
- Universal Health Records also need to be updated yearly. Physicals are usually conducted in their birth month. Forms are available in the office.
November is the month of giving thanks and we are so grateful for all of our families! Thank you for being a part of Green Thumb!
We will have Parent/Teacher conferences for our Pre-School & Pre-K classes in early December. Information will go home with your child as soon as we establish a date.
Barnegat School district will be closed November 4th-8th for NJEA, please notify the office if your child will be out that week. We are open regular time, but we do not conduct Preschool classes during this time and revert to a daycare schedule.
We will be closed November 28th & 29th for Thanksgiving. We wish all of our families a Healthy November and a Happy Thanksgiving.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office or your child’s teacher.
Below is a PDF document of Green Thumb’s closures for the 2024-2025 year.