Greetings from the Director’s Corner
Dear Acorn Community,
It is now the month of November but as many past or present Mighty Oaks will tell you I prefer to call it “Yes”vember. Acorn School has been a busy place this fall – our outdoor animal friends have enjoyed every pumpkin on our property and we all continue to grow and learn with one another as we travel to all the outdoor learning spaces.
The Staff participated in several workshops this past month. On our In-Service Day, the staff was fortunate enough to work with Sheila Hatch from the Browne Center at UNH on community building and also with Joanne Hanson from Miracle Farm on speech and language development. During our monthly staff meeting, we all tuned into a workshop on enriching our learning opportunities by offering the children loose parts not only out at TimberNook but also in our outdoor learning spaces. We are looking for sturdy milk crates, gutters, big spool tables, wooden planks and rakes. It was suggested to cut the handles down on adult rakes – more opportunity for “big” work and quicker results. You might want to try it out at home when you are doing yard work this fall!
Thanksgiving will be upon us in no time and I hope this year you are able to gather with family and friends and share stories and create some lasting memories. This month is a time to give thanks and I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for your support, interest and love for Acorn. Thank you to all that participated in our Pumpkin Fun Run – it was FUN and a HUGE success!
Sue Bendroth
Acorn School Director
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This year, in lieu of Acorn's traditional Fall fundraiser and live auction, we held Acorn's second annual Fun Run. 2021's Acorn Pumpkin Fun Run was remarkably successful thanks to the entire Acorn Community!
During October we celebrated, fundraised, and enjoyed so many fun festivities along the way. The children were greeted by a welcome bubble party as they arrived through car pool line, the teachers wore the best outfits for "wacky teacher dress up day", the classrooms participated in a monster mash dance party, we enjoyed delicious popsicles on a warm October day, and each child decorated their own mini pumpkin. To say we had fun is an understatement! The Acorn community never disappoints!
The festivities concluded with Acorn's Pumpkin Fun Run held on 10/28 and 10/29, where students, caregivers, and teachers ran together and celebrated with Halloween fun. Check out our Facebook (@acornschool) and Instagram page (@acorn.schoolnh) for more pictures! It was an amazing day!
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The Chipmunks crossing finish line. Great work! |
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There was even a real life unicorn at the Pumpkin Fun Run at Coppal House Farm! So magical! |
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The cutest duo! "It's not about the race, keep the pace!" It is much more fun to do things with friends. |
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We want to express our sincerest gratitude to all of our local business sponsors. We invite you to scroll down and view our incredible sponsors, visit their websites, and show them some community love. Together we can do great things!
As a community, including Acorn sponsorships & Acorn family Fun Run outreach, we raised $20,699 - all which will help fill the gap that tuition doesn't cover. What an incredible success and great start to the year for Acorn. The response and support is heartwarming and a true testament of what a special place Acorn is to the entire community.
We can't thank you all enough for your support of Acorn School and this Fun Run - we truly did this together. We hope the families had a great time at the Pumpkin Fun Run last week!
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Blessed Day Photography
Acorn Photo Fall Family Portraits
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Acorn School was so very lucky to partner with Megan Edmonds at Blessed Day Photography to support the Audrey Myers Scholarship Fund!
We hosted this event in October to honor infancy and pregnancy loss.
Did you know Megan also did the fabulous Acorn School class and individual portraits?!? She is so talented! One of the best gifts of gratitude is to share about her great work, follow and "like" Blessed Day Photography on social media. See social media accounts below.
To read more about the Audrey Myers Scholarship click here
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Check Out the Amazing work of Blessed Day Photography Below:
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Winter is coming! Make sure your kiddo stays warm while exploring and learning in the outdoors by layering! Don't forget to label everything!
First Layer: Base Layer Long Underwear (wool, silk or polypropylene)- No cotton
Mid-Layer: Long sleeve wool or fleece sweater; fleece pants; wool mittens
Outer Layer: Winter Waterproof Coat with Hood; Insulated Waterproof Snow Pants; Wool Socks; Waterproof Mittens
- Slippers for inside
- An extra pair of gloves in backpack
- Two masks in their backpack in case their first one gets wet
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Classrooms Without Walls
October Highlights
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"Time, space, and outdoor play are essential to children's health. In fact, they need this more than ever before."
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No such thing as bad weather at Acorn School. We enjoyed a rainy morning nature discovery and hike. Listen as the rain makes new sounds and creates beautiful music on our walk. |
Ms. Jendiss modeled a butterfly pumping its wings after emerging from chrysalis!
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In the 4's classes, learned about the letter "L" |
What a beauty! The Mighty Oaks loved learning about the life cycle of a butterfly and together released the butterfly into it's environment. |
Making Pumpkin Soup during TimberNook "Pumpkin Lab" at Acorn School! |
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Acorn School celebrated Harvest Day this October. The children had so much fun participating in Acorn favorites such as pumpkin bowling, scarecrow making, shucking corn for the birds and turkeys and much more! |
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"Zero the Hero"
An All Time Favorite in the Mighty Oak Classroom
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Just when you thought Acorn School didn't get any magical.... Zero the Hero arrives!
Zero the Hero has made her entrance! She comes by on school days ending in... you guessed it! "0" She has shared lots of great math skills and sings her favorite song with us! We can't wait to see Zero the Hero again soon!
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Tell Me How Much Fun We Had
with the Pumpkin Fun Run!
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Teachers Dressed up for
"Wacky Teacher Dress Up Day"
...yes, there is a teacher in that dinosaur costume!
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Bubble Welcome at Drop Off! The kids loved the magical experience of being dropped off in a sea of bubbles. |
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Stay Tuned!
Acorn School Light Display at
Seacoast Mom's Santa at the Farm Event
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Acorn School is honored to be participating in a light display this year at Seacoast Moms' Santa at the Farm Event! Stay tuned for details.
Come enjoy the event and check out Acorn School's light display. We hope to see you there!
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Check Out Acorn School in the Community
Our Newest Banner is at Seacoast United in Hampton
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What to do With All the Leftover Halloween Candy? Play "The Gift of Gratitude" |
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Have you heard of the Gratitude Game? It is a wonderful game to play around the table with the little ones. It supports conversation and reflection on all that we are thankful for.
What You Need:
- A fun size bag of skittles or m&ms (great way to use up that Halloween candy!)
- Color Chart (see attached below)
How to Play:
- Each person takes a turn pulling out a piece of candy. They use the the color chart to answer the question that corresponds.
HAVE FUN!!
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When You Use Amazon, You Can Give Back to Acorn School at NO Cost |
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A great way to support our school is by selecting Acorn School (Stratham, NH) as your selected charity when shop on Amazon. Did you know it even works when you use the Amazon App on your smartphone? Prices for your items stay the same. The only difference is when you shop a portion of the money Amazon donates to Acorn School!
How to Setup: (two options)
(1) Select Acorn School in the upper left corner where it says “supporting”
OR
(2) You can also type "Amazon Smile" into the Amazon search box.
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We are continuing to build our outdoor learning centers and are looking for:
sturdy milk crates
gutters
big spool tables
wooden planks
adult size rakes
old tires
If you have any of these items to donate, please bring to school or email Sue!
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No School
(AM/PM Chipmunks- Parent Conferences)
Thursday, November 4th
No School
(Woolly Bears, Chickadees, Tadpoles, and Mighty Oaks- Parent Conferences)
Friday, November 5th
Scholastic Orders Due (activation code: NKD9B)
Monday, November 10th
No School (Veterans Day)
Thursday, November 11th
No School (Thanksgiving Break)
Wednesday, November 24th-Friday, November 26th
School Resumes
Monday, November 29th
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Thank You To Acorn's Pumpkin Fun Run Sponsors! We have a few new new sponsors, please scroll down to learn more! |
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Dunkin' locations in the area have been locally owned and operated by the Salema family for over 40 years. We are thrilled to be part of the Acorn family and have the Acorn School Run on Dunkin'! |
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East Coast HVAC is a family-owned and operated company specializing in the sales, service and installation of residential and commercial heating and air conditioning systems. Don’t pay more than necessary for your heating and cooling needs, call East Coast and Pay Fairly! |
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Exeter Land Contractors has provided landscape design and construction services in the Northeast since 1980. We are a family owned and operated business. As experienced landscape contractors we provide the experience and expertise to ensure the integrity of your design while providing the quality of work our clients expect. Exeter Land Contractors, Inc. is a full service landscape construction company that handles both residential and commercial properties. Let our skilled landscape design team pave the way to a beautiful environment for you, your family and friends to enjoy. Contact (603) 778-0005 for all of your landscaping needs!
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Seacoast United is YOUR home for soccer this winter. We will be offering a number of indoor youth programs this year at our Epping, Hampton, York, Concord and Kingston facilities. Our popular Grassroots, Skills & Scrimmage and Youth Leagues are the perfect options for those looking to learn and play soccer. We provide a wide range of options for players of all ages and abilities to ensure that your child stays active throughout the winter months. For more information on these programs including registration, please visit www.seacoastunited.com.
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DARCI Creative is a full service marketing agency located in downtown Portsmouth. Our marketing solutions increase bottom lines, while we have fun and contribute to our community. Learn more by visiting our website! |
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H.O.P.E. is a clinic-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) company in Dover, NH that provides services designed to positively change social and cognitive skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We are committed to improving the quality of life of each child and their families. |
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Portsmouth Ford has been a true One-Price Dealer for over 30 years. We strive to provide the highest level of service to our customers, employees, and community. We are proud to sponsor the Acorn School! |
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Wondering what’s in your water? Water Guy specializes in on-site water testing; water treatment system installations; drinking water systems; maintenance & sanitation for water treatment; well-tank installations; maintenance & replacements; and water-pressure booster installations. Water Guy serves residential and commercial properties across New England, and is proud to sponsor Acorn School! |
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Junior Gym is a children’s play gym that inspires and motivates children to move their bodies. Our classes are based on structured lesson plans that build children’s motor skills through equipment, play and musical activities. Visit our website for more information on how to sign up. |
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Miracle Farm Speech Therapy is a private pediatric speech therapy practice, specializing in treating infants, toddlers, and school-aged children. Services are based on a child-centered and play based approach. Our talented therapists use their expertise and creativity to make every therapy session fun, while addressing the individual goals for each child. Visit our website to learn more! |
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We Fill Good is a low waste refill store and lifestyle boutique in Kittery, ME. We are here to help the community live more sustainably by reducing your plastic waste. No need to keep buying those plastic bottles that end up in the land fill for hundreds of years, just come in and fill up on non toxic affordably priced cleaning products for your home and body. In addition to refilling you hand soap, laundry liquid, shampoo, dishwasher pods, cleaning scrub, face cream etc we have " Easy Swaps" to reduce the plastic in your home. Some of our customer favorites are bamboo toothbrushes, compostable toothpaste, washable sponges that will last for years, to go gear, silicone bags, plastic free make up and so much more. |
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Well Told is a personalized gifts company. We enable people to express the stories that define their unique life experiences on the canvas of their everyday products. Our mission is to meaningfully enhance the value of the products you use, not only through their style and functionality, but in their ability to turn an everyday moment into an inspired one by conveying a story of personal significance. Our product offering includes glassware, barware, insulated drinkware, mugs, blankets and we are expanding our collection every year. |
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At Ambra Dental Care, we treat you like family. |
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Coppal House Farm is located in Lee, NH and has a family tradition for every season! Come check our their sunflowers at the end of July, get lost in their corn maze during the fall and get a horse drawn sleigh ride during the winter! Coppal House Farm has a year-round farm stand where you can get lamb, pork, sunflower oil, and eggs! |
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Seacoast Kids Calendar is a family and locally owned business of 12+ years that has helped keep boredom at bay by sharing a comprehensive calendar of daily family friendly events. SKC is a trusted Parents' Help Desk resource for finding all things fun happening around the Seacoast + beyond. Your next kid approved adventure awaits! So you always know where to go and what to do, be sure to Bookmark the Calendar, Follow Seacoast Kids Calendar on Facebook & Instagram, and sign up for the weekly newsletter! Do you have an upcoming event or offering you'd like to share with the SKC community of local families? Post an event or contact us today!
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Seacoast Science Center, located in beautiful Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, is a must-see for anyone wishing to explore the natural treasures of the coastal region. The Center features live animals of the Gulf of Maine, live coral reef habitat tanks, indoor touch tanks, and hands-on exhibits about life in and around the ocean. Programs, offered in-person and virtually, are offered year-round. |
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Community Partners:
The Dolce Family
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136 Winnicutt Rd.
Stratham, NH 03885
Office: 603-778-8285
Fax: 603-658-8338
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