Thank you all for your very generous donations to the Thanksgiving Food Drive. You made Thanksgiving possible for so many families, and we are so grateful for your support.
Family Holiday Sing
Our first family chapel will be the Holiday Sing, which will take place on Friday, December 19th at 9:00am in the Church Sanctuary (entrance on Orange Street).
All Plymouth families (both AM and PM classes) are invited. We look forward to seeing you then! More details will follow soon.
Staying Healthy
As we enter cold and flu season, we wanted to include a reminder of some of the protocols from our family handbook that help keep us safe.
Hand Washing
Upon arrival each day, please take your child to the bathroom to use the toilet and wash their hands. All children must wash their hands before entering their classrooms as required by the NYC DOHMH.
Illness
It is important for the health of everyone in our community that you keep your child home when they are not feeling well. Illness spreads very quickly in preschool classrooms when children are sent to school while sick.
Influenza Vaccine Requirement
The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year. The NYC Department of Health (DOH) mandates that all children receive one dose of the influenza vaccine (flu shot) by December 31, 2025. We must have a record of your child's vaccine by that time; otherwise, we will be out of compliance with the DOH and subject to fines. Due to this,children will not be permitted to attend school when we return from the Winter Holidays on January 5, 2026, without proof of their influenza immunization.
Plymouth Church and Plymouth Church School are partnering together to host a blood drive, in conjunction with New York Blood Center, on January 16.
Donating blood only takes about one hour, and each donation can save up to three lives. Your donation can help cancer patients, accident victims, people undergoing surgery, women during childbirth, people with sickle cell disease and more.
Please sign up using this link if you are interested in donating blood on January 16. To make sure our event will be successful, we need at least 40-50 adults to sign up ahead of time. Once we have enough sign-ups, we will be able to confirm the date and time of the blood drive and send you a link to schedule your appointment. Thank you for your support.
Our Youngest Children in the Orange Room Exploring the Ribbon and Vine Chandelier by our Oldest Children in the Big Green Room
Admissions – Priority Deadline Tomorrow
The priority application deadline is tomorrow, Saturday, November 15! Please complete our online application for any siblingapplicant by going to the admissions page on our website. All applications for priority applicants, including siblings, should be completed by this date. If you have any questions, reach out to Andrea. Re-enrollment for current students will take place in the new year. Sign up for Time for Twos will also happen in the new year.
Family Holiday Sing
So that you can plan in advance, our Family Holiday Sing will take place on Friday, December 19th from approximately 9:00am to 10:30am in the Church Sanctuary.
All Plymouth families (both AM and PM classes) are invited. We look forward to seeing you then!
Lanyards on Campus
Many grownups are forgetting to wear their red Plymouth lanyards to arrival and dismissal. As a reminder, all adults must always wear their lanyard while they are on the Plymouth campus, and it must be visible. This is an essential step to keeping our community safe. Please remind your caregivers of this policy.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Once again, Plymouth Church School is supporting Rising Ground’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Rising Ground is a human services organization that helps individuals and families in New York City and lower Westchester County by providing homeless and runaway youth services, home visiting early childhood programs, foster care and adoption. See their website for additional programs: https://www.risingground.org/.
See the wish list below and drop off your donations in the marked box in our lobby. Donations will be accepted until Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Blood Drive
Plymouth Church and Plymouth Church School are partnering together to host a blood drive, in conjunction with New York Blood Center, on January 16.
Donating blood only takes about one hour, and each donation can save up to three lives. Your donation can help cancer patients, accident victims, people undergoing surgery, women during childbirth, people with sickle cell disease and more.
Please sign up using this link if you are interested in donating blood on January 16. To make sure our event will be successful, we need at least 40-50 adults to sign up ahead of time. Once we have enough sign-ups, we will be able to confirm the date and time of the blood drive and send you a link to schedule your appointment. Thank you for your support.
Office Hours with Kate
Our wonderful psychological consultant Kate Wechsler has worked with Plymouth for over 25 years and has helped many families tackle the conundrums of parenting. Plymouth hosts monthly office hours with Kate which provide an opportunity for you to meet individually with her to talk about issues and concerns and receive support. These meetings take place on Zoom.
Upcoming dates are December 12 and January 9. There are half-hour appointments available between 9:30am and noon. Please email pcsadmin@plymouthchurch.org to book an appointment.
Flu Reminder
The NYC Department of Health (DOH) mandates that all children receive one dose of the influenza vaccine (flu shot) by December 31, 2025. We must have a record of your child's vaccine by that time; otherwise, we will be out of compliance with the DOH and subject to fines.
Due to this,children will not be permitted to attend school when we return from the Winter Holidays on January 5, 2026, without proof of their influenza immunization.
We look forward to seeing you at Yankee Fair tomorrow from 10:00am to 3:00pm! There will be lots of activities for everyone in the family including a pumpkin patch, rides, games, and a bouncy castle. Everyone is welcome and it is a wonderful way to connect with other Plymouth families! We are still looking for a few final volunteers, so if you are able, please sign up using this link.
This year, Plymouth families can pre-purchase tickets for Yankee Fair. Children under 2 are free. To purchase tickets, follow this link or scan the QR code below:
Lanyards on Campus
Many grownups are forgetting to wear their red Plymouth lanyards to arrival and dismissal. As a reminder, all adults must always wear their lanyard while they are on the Plymouth campus, and it must be visible. This is an essential step to keeping our community safe. Please remind your caregivers of this policy. If you do not have a lanyard, you must sign in at the security desk and wear a name tag while on campus.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Evening parent teacher conferences are on November 11th. School will be open with a regular schedule. There is no childcare for evening conferences.
Admissions
The priority application deadline is next Saturday, November 15th! Please complete our online application for any siblingapplicantby going to the admissions page on our website. All applications for priority applicants, including siblings, should be completed by this date. If you have any questions, reach out to Andrea. Re-enrollment for current students will take place in the new year. Sign up for Time for Twos will also happen in the new year.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Once again, Plymouth Church School is supporting Rising Ground’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Rising Ground is a human services organization that helps individuals and families in New York City and lower Westchester County by providing homeless and runaway youth services, home visiting early childhood programs, foster care and adoption. See their website for additional programs: https://www.risingground.org/.
See the wish list below and drop off your donations in the marked box in our lobby. Donations will be accepted until Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Blood Drive
Plymouth Church and Plymouth Church School are partnering together to host a blood drive, in conjunction with New York Blood Center, on January 16.
Donating blood only takes about one hour, and each donation can save up to three lives. Your donation can help cancer patients, accident victims, people undergoing surgery, women during childbirth, people with sickle cell disease and more.
Please sign up using this link if you are interested in donating blood on January 16. To make sure our event will be successful, we need at least 40-50 adults to sign up ahead of time. Once we have enough sign-ups, we will be able to confirm the date and time of the blood drive and send you a link to schedule your appointment. Thank you for your support!
Office Hours with Kate
Our wonderful psychological consultant Kate Wechsler has worked with Plymouth for over 25 years and has helped many families tackle the conundrums of parenting. Plymouth hosts monthly office hours with Kate which provide an opportunity for you to meet individually with her to talk about issues and concerns and receive support. These meetings take place on Zoom.
Upcoming dates are December 12 and January 9. There are half-hour appointments available between 9:30am and noon. Please email pcsadmin@plymouthchurch.org to book an appointment.
Flu Reminder
The NYC Department of Health (DOH) mandates that all children receive one dose of the influenza vaccine (flu shot) by December 31, 2025. We must have a record of your child's vaccine by that time; otherwise, we will be out of compliance with the DOH and subject to fines.
Due to this,children will not be permitted to attend school when we return from the Winter Holidays on January 5, 2026, without proof of their influenza immunization.
November 8 - Yankee Fair 11 - School Open – Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences 15 - Priority Application Deadline 26-28 - School Closed for Thanksgiving
Parent Teacher conferences are coming up on November 4th (all day) and November 11th (evening). You have received an email from your child’s teachers to sign up for a conference. School will be closed for conferences on Tuesday, November 4th, with no children in attendance.
During your conference time, childcare will be available in the gym between 8:30am and 3:00pm. School is open November 11th with a regular schedule. There is no childcare for evening conferences.
Admissions
Admissions season is underway, and applications are open for the 26-27 school year! Please remember to complete our online application for any siblingapplicantby going to the admissions page on our website. All applications for priority applicants, including siblings, should be completed by November 15th. If you have any questions, reach out to Andrea. Re-enrollment for current students will take place in the new year.
ISAAGNY
Plymouth Church School is now a member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY). ISAAGNY is a consortium of independent schools in and around New York City that coordinate admissions procedures to ensure an inclusive admissions process. We look forward to contributing to ISAAGNY’s mission.
Yankee Fair
Yankee Fair is coming up on November 8th from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Yankee Fair is a fun family festival hosted by Plymouth Church and Plymouth Church School. There will be lots of activities for everyone in the family including a pumpkin patch, rides, games, and a bouncy castle. Everyone is welcome and it is a wonderful way to connect with other Plymouth families! We hope to see you there. To volunteer, please sign up using this link.
This year, Plymouth families can pre-purchase tickets for Yankee Fair. Children under 2 are free. To purchase tickets, follow this link or scan the QR code below.
Yankee Fair Clothing Jumble
The Yankee Fair is holding a clothing jumble sale for clothes in good condition from newborn to size 5T. All unstained clothing and jackets will be accepted (no shoes/socks/underwear/swimsuits please). At the end of the clothing jumble sale, whatever is not sold will be donated to migrant families.
We welcome you to continue bringing donations to school through next Wednesday (11/5). There is a bin in the front hall to place donations during drop off. Ideally your donations would be separated by sizes: 0-12 months, 12-24 months, 2T-3T, 4T-5T in separate bags to help with the organization of the event. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Chloe DeComo.
Materials Center
We welcome your donations to our Materials Center! You can drop them off in the box located in the main lobby next to Adrienne’s office. Currently, we need the following natural materials:
Leaves
Sticks
Pinecones
Acorns
Vines
Wood
Rocks and stones
Bark
Seedpods
Dried flowers
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Once again, Plymouth Church School is supporting Rising Ground’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Rising Ground is a human services organization that helps individuals and families in New York City and lower Westchester County by providing homeless and runaway youth services, home visiting early childhood programs, foster care and adoption. See their website for additional programs: https://www.risingground.org/
See the wish list below and drop off your donations in the marked box in our lobby. Donations are accepted from Monday, November 3, through Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Flu Reminder
The NYC Department of Health (DOH) mandates that all children receive one dose of the influenza vaccine (flu shot) by December 31, 2025. We must have a record of your child's vaccine by that time; otherwise, we will be out of compliance with the DOH and subject to fines.
Due to this,children will not be permitted to attend school when we return from the Winter Holidays on January 5, 2026, without proof of their influenza immunization.
November 4 - School Closed for Parent/Teacher Conferences 8 - Yankee Fair 11 - School Open – Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences 15 - Priority Application Deadline 26-28 - School Closed for Thanksgiving
Halloween is next Friday, and each class is celebrating in their own age-appropriate way. We ask that families save costumes for after school as they can scare the younger children who are just learning to distinguish fantasy from reality. We don’t want children to feel overwhelmed at school. We also ask that candy be kept for an afterschool treat.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher conferences are coming up on November 4th (all day) and November 11th (evening). Most of you have received an email from your child’s teachers to sign up for a conference. School will be closed for conferences on Tuesday, November 4th, with no children in attendance.
During your conference time, childcare will be available in the gym between 8:30am and 3:00pm. School is open November 11th with a regular schedule. There is no childcare for evening conferences.
Conferences are a wonderful opportunity to gain insights into your child’s life at school and help formulate goals for the school year with your child’s teaching team. At the end of the newsletter, we have included an article published by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) outlining how parents can prepare for conferences with their child’s teachers. I hope you find it helpful.
Open House for Prospective Families
We are hosting an Open House for prospective families tomorrowSaturday, October 25th from 10:00am - 12:00pm. Please spread the word to your friends in the community! Children are welcome and there is no RSVP necessary.
Admissions
Admissions season is underway, and applications are open for the ‘26 – ‘27 school year! Please remember to complete our online application for any siblingapplicantby going to the admissions page on our website. All applications for priority applicants, including siblings, should be completed by November 15th. If you have any questions, reach out to Andrea. Re-enrollment for current students will take place in the new year.
Yankee Fair
Mark your calendars for the Yankee Fair on November 8th from 10:00am to 3:00pm, a fun family festival hosted by Plymouth Church and Plymouth Church School. There will be lots of activities for everyone in the family including a pumpkin patch, rides, games, and a bouncy castle. Everyone is welcome and it is a wonderful way to connect with other Plymouth families! We hope to see you there. To volunteer, please sign up using this link.
Yankee Fair Clothing Jumble
The Yankee Fair is holding a clothing jumble sale for clothes in good condition from newborn to size 5T. All unstained clothing and jackets will be accepted (no shoes/socks/underwear/swimsuits please). At the end of the clothing jumble sale, whatever is not sold will be donated to migrant families.
Please bring donations to school next week (10/27-10/31). There will be a bin in the front hall to place donations during drop off. Ideally your donations would be separated by sizes: 0-12 months, 12-24 months, 2T-3T, 4T-5T in separate bags to help with the organization of the event.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Chloe DeComo.
Label All Clothing
Now that the weather has gotten cooler, your children are wearing more layers to school. Please label all clothing, shoes, bags, scooters and helmets with your child’s name. This greatly increases the likelihood that a missing item will be returned to you and helps teachers keep all those articles of clothing organized.
Flu Reminder
The NYC Department of Health (DOH) mandates that all children receive one dose of the influenza vaccine (flu shot) by December 31, 2025. We must have a record of your child's vaccine by that time; otherwise, we will be out of compliance with the DOH and subject to fines.
Due to this,children will not be permitted to attend school when we return from the Winter Holidays on January 5, 2026, without proof of their influenza immunization.
November 4 - School Closed for Parent/Teacher Conferences 8 - Yankee Fair 11 - School Open – Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences 15 - Priority Application Deadline 26-28 - School Closed for Thanksgiving
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher relationships are most effective when participants have frequent and open communication with each other and demonstrate mutual respect for each other’s role in a child’s life. When families are positively involved in their child’s education, the child will flourish. Teachers prepare for conferences by thinking about each child’s interests and progress. Here are some ways parents can prepare so they too can be active participants in parent-teacher conferences.
Be willing and ready to share information about your child and family. Families are the most important influence in a child’s life. You know your child better than anyone else and have valuable insights to share with the teacher. Advocate for your child. Share things about your child’s life at home—personality traits, challenges, habits, friends, hobbies, and talents. Focus on the things you believe the teacher needs to know. What kinds of things do you enjoy doing with your child? How do siblings relate to their brother/sister and vice versa? What kind of discipline do you use? What are your dreams for your child? What are your concerns?
Stay focused on your child. In our childhood, some of us might have been shy students who avoided the teacher’s gaze. Others were very active and seemed to always need the teacher’s help to stay on task. It is natural for our ideas about teachers and their role to be shaped by our own school experiences. Think about and then put aside your past experiences as a student. Stay focused on your child and his or her unique temperament, individual needs, and special interests.
Attend every parent-teacher conference. If your work schedule makes it difficult to meet during regular hours, make this clear to the teacher and try to set up a meeting time that is good for both of you. If you can’t visit in person, schedule a telephone call to discuss your child’s progress. Whether in person or by phone use the conference as a time to exchange information with the teacher and discuss ways to work together to enhance your child’s education.
Arrive on time. Teachers usually have a tight schedule for conferences—typically 20 minutes per child and family. If you would like additional time to talk, ask for it ahead of time so you and the teacher will have plenty of time to discuss your ideas, concerns, and suggestions. Be considerate of other parents whose conferences will take place after yours. Remember that the teacher needs a few minutes between conferences to record the information shared and to prepare for the next parent.
Listen with an open mind. Try to concentrate on what the teacher is saying instead of what you are going to say next. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Speak up if you disagree with a strategy or don’t understand how it will support your child’s development and learning. Explain the reasons for your views and voice your concerns but be open to suggestions. Stay on the subject: your child’s progress.
Be prepared. You might think about or write down one or two questions to ask the teacher. It’s a good idea to ask the most important question first, in case time runs out. Remember, while teachers have specialized education, they don’t have answers for everything. Teaching just isn’t that simple.
Keep the conversation focused on what can be done for your child. When there are problems, both teachers and parents need to stay calm and work together for the best interest of the child.
Stay involved. Try to visit the school frequently, not just for conferences and Back to School Night. Ask the teacher to suggest activities you can do at home to reinforce your child’s learning. Look for opportunities to engage yourself in your child’s education.
