184 Summer Street
Somerville, MA 02143

Fridays: 5-8pm
Saturdays: 9am-6pm
Sundays: 10am-4pm

Agassiz Preschool is holding its annual tree and wreath sale starting December 3rd. Parents and teachers volunteer their time to participate in the sale, and will be on hand to help you pick out the perfect tree or wreath for your home.

It’s a great fundraiser for our school and we’d love your support!

Come visit our fabulous new home, meet our experienced teachers, learn about our educational philosophy & what a co-op is all about.

January 28th, 2012
9:30 – noon

184 Summer Street
(corner of Spring & Summer)
Somerville, MA 02143

Can’t make the open house or want to visit before then? Call to arrange a personal tour for you and your family. We look forward to your visit!

(617) 627-9355

General update: Nonprofit Finance Fund is paid off!! Auction was beyond successful, thanks to the amazing efforts of the capital campaign committee.  The financial audit, which was required to close the mortgage, is wrapping up and looks fine.  We will close on the mortgage with Winter Hill Bank later this week or next.  We are about to send out admission letters for next year and also have a long waiting list.

Budget:  Next year’s budget represents approximately a 15% increase.  This is due to the costs of paying our mortgage and the associated costs of owning our own place (utilities, snow removal, etc); replacement of reserves; bringing on third assistant teacher; and repayment of yard loans.  Both the costs and revenue of the afterschool program are projected to go down because participation has been lower than anticipated, and therefore we only need one teacher to stay after school.  If participation rises next year, this will obviously change, but it is difficult to predict in advance.  We project that our total fundraising will go down somewhat because the tree sale/yard sale will have to be held at the new building, which will mean less foot traffic than at the Mass Ave location.  The board discussed the possibility of combining the first weekend of the tree sale with a party/open house for alumni, to hopefully increase sales.

The board discussed bringing on a 3^rd assistant teacher, Paul.  We are legally not required to have this position, since the teacher/student ratio is permissible without it.  However, the third assistant would allow us to expand enrollment to 45 (from 43), and possibly pay less for substitutes.  These factors offset the additional cost to the school.  Also, the day runs much more smoothly when there is a third assistant.  Next year’s budget represents 6-7% increase in tuition.  However, our goal is to have no/minimal tuition increases for the next year or two, since our costs will go down as we pay off the family loans we took on in order to construct the yard. Once the yard loans are paid off, we will start to build up reserves again.

The board voted in favor of this budget.

Yard:  The teachers would like next phase of yard development to be putting in a bike path.  We also want to build a deck off the sliding door so that we can access the yard from the main room, and we would like to lay down sod. We also plan to build a sandbox. Several play structures will be brought over from the old Agassiz, probably during the April workday. We have about $6000 to spend on the yard, so need to prioritize and spend this money as wisely as possible.  The board agreed to consult with an alumni architect as well as our contractor as to whether it is necessary to retain a professional designer to assist with the yard.  The contractor can also assist us with determining the costs associated with the various projects, and advise us as to the proper timing for laying sod.  The board agreed that in general, it will be important to preserve adequate running space, and also that the teachers should drive the design of the yard.

Group updates:  Youngest group is still doing their child of the week unit.  They will be planning a group meeting soon, as well as some kind of spring outing.

Middle group just had a meeting with Richard.  Generally people are happy with how the year is going.

Oldest group is working on building a huge ship.  The kids are all getting along very well with each other and the group has really gelled this year.

• Monday April 18th, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
  Fire Group 3, Lt. Matthews and Gallegher will be in charge of Engine 4 and Tower 1.

Please reserve your spaces by Wednesday April 13th, as the fire station wants to bring down to the station little plastic helmets and coloring books for the kids. There is a limit of 20 people total per date.

What’s it like?

A tour usually consists of the children coming into the station to see the fire trucks and fire fighters.  A lot of times the children and adults like to sit in the driver’s seat etc, which is fine as long as they’re being watched by a firefighter or responsible adult.  They don’t want kids, or adults, falling off of the trucks.

Sometimes the firefighters put on the gear to show the kids what a firefighter looks like when he has his mask, helmet, gloves and jacket on.  Sometimes they’ll let the teachers try on the gear to see and feel the weight of the gear.  All in all it’s usually an enjoyable time for the fire fighters and the visitors.  Feel free to asked them questions about what it’s like to be a firefighter.  (Driving a fire truck, living at a fire station, going into a burning building, saving someone, etc.  It’s the fun side of being a firefighter, and I’m sure they’d loved to talk about it.)

Remember…

…it’s an active fire station, so they may have to go on a call while the kids are there. It’s important that the adults know where the children are, and where to stand if the alarm sounds. The Lieutenants will give us all instruction when we get there,

Teachers are living in slightly unfinished space.  Hoping to be able to help the teachers by doing a workday soon after the auction.  We are hoping to work on yard and install the tile wall this spring, as well.

Admission

Successful open house.  Many applicants.  Acceptance letters going out in mid-March.  Diversity committee will be formed after the auction.  Outreach to neighborhood (in the form of “tea” at Tracey’s office) is underway.

Enrollment

Currently we have 42 enrolled.  Another child just joined Midddle Group.  Say hi to parents of Alma Barak (Ravit & Boaz).  We are considering issues of class size and placement for next year.

Finances

We have used auction proceeds and tree sale proceeds to pay off the NFF Bridge Loan.  Our mortgage with Winter Hill Bank is scheduled to close on March 17^th.

Staffing

Great news!  We have found a way to hire Paul for the semester and we hope to be able to find room in the budget to make a permanent offer next year!

Group Updates

All the children in all the groups are doing great.  Stop getting sick!  Pediatricians confirm it has been a terrible year across all schools.

Glorious day eh? Makes me think of Spring, which is just around the corner. The Youngest Group will be planting in the coming weeks. We need a large bag of soil and some plastic pots and trays. If you think you can get them for us- please see come talk to me.

Thanks so much.

Ann- YG teacher