Thank you all for your flexibility and understanding following our unexpected power outage last night. Thankfully, Con Ed was able to restore power to the building. We look forward to seeing you all on Monday!
Dressing for Outdoor Play
Please remember that the children play outside most days. Children should dress appropriately - including hats, mittens, snow pants and boots during the winter months. You can leave extra warm clothing at school. Label everything and put it in their lockers. Remember, there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!
Re-enrollment
Re-enrollment letters and agreements for next year will be emailed to our current families by early February. We look forward to another wonderful year together.
New Office Hours with Kate
We have added additional office hours with our psychological consultant Kate Wechsler. Kate has worked with Plymouth for over 25 years and has helped many families tackle the conundrums of parenting. Plymouth hosts monthly open office hours with Kate, which allows you to meet with her individually to discuss issues and concerns you might have and get support.
The upcoming dates are 3/13, 4/10 and 5/8. Half-hour appointments will be available between 9:30 am and noon. Please email Silvia atpcsadmin@plymouthchurch.org to book an appointment.
MLK Service Day Collection
We are partnering again with Plymouth Church on MLK Service Day projects. This year, we are collecting toiletries for individuals in need. We will be accepting donations for travel-sized toiletries in a bin in the lobby all next week. Your generosity will provide much needed support to the community. The last day to bring in donations is January 16th. For a list of accepted donation items please click here.
Another way to help is by coming to Plymouth on Monday, January 19th to assemble toiletry kits. There are additional service opportunities that day for all ages. Sign up on Realm.
Materials Center
We welcome your donations to our Materials Center! You can drop off donations in the box located in the main lobby next to Adrienne’s office. Currently, we are in need of glass jars.
Important Dates to Remember
January
19 - School Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Our first family chapel will be the Holiday Sing, which will take place next Friday, December 19th at 9:00am in the Church Sanctuary (entrance on Orange Street).
All Plymouth families (both AM and PM classes) are invited.
BGR children will be dropped off in their classroom at 8:55am as per usual, because they will be playing music during the Sing. BGR grownups will join everyone in the Sanctuary.
After the Holiday Sing, we will gather for class holiday cookie parties! Cookie parties will take place in children’s classrooms, except for the LGR AM and PM parties, which will take place in the reception room and Pineapple AM and PM and Blue AM and PM parties which will take place in the gym. Dismissal for the Winter Holidays will follow the cookie parties.
Plymouth’s Annual Toy Drive for Colony Houses South Brooklyn
Plymouth families have always been so generous in their support of Plymouth’s Toy Drive to support Colony Houses. If you would still like to contribute, please do so by thisMonday, December 15th. You can learn more about the toy drive here and shop from the Amazon Wish List!
Influenza Vaccine Requirement
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 welcome your donations to our Materials Center! You can drop off donations in the box located in the main lobby next to Adrienne’s office. Currently, we need pinecones of all shapes and sizes.
Important Dates to Remember
December
19 - Holiday Sing
20-Jan 4 - School Closed for Winter Holidays
January
5 - Classes Resume
19 - School closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Holiday Book Suggestions from our librarian, Sarah!
Each week, our librarian Sarah brings a selection of books into the classrooms based on conversations with the children and their teachers. These books reflect the children’s interests, classroom learning and project work - helping to nurture a love of books and exploration.
Books also make for a wonderful holiday gift. Below is a selection of books that your children have been enjoying at school. Gifting a copy of one of these classroom favorites at home would make for an exciting holiday surprise. Sarah has also shared a list of new titles to spark curiosity and help continue to foster their love of reading.
Please take a look and share if any become a new family favorite.
Happy Holidays!
Existing Plymouth Favorites
Twos and Threes
All by Myself by Aliki
I’m Not Small by Nina Crews
Leaf Man by Lois Elhert
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
More by I. C. Springman
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
Time to Pee by Mo Willems
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Sleepy, Snoozy, Cozy, Coozy by Judy Young
Lots of Feelings by Shelly Rotner
Blueberries Grow on a Bush by Mari Shuh
Fours and Fives
Julius The Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban
A Big Bed by Grace Lin
Thank You, Omu! By Oge Mora
If You Find a Leaf by Aimee Sicuro
If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen
There is a Bird on Your Head! By Mo Willems
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
I Spy series
New Board Book Suggestions
Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer
You Are Light by Aaron Becker
Look, Baby, Look! At Home Illustrated by Louise Lockart
Your Forest by Jon Klassen
Leo Takes a Bath by Corlette Douglas
A World to Meet by Katie Harnett
New Picture Book Suggestions
Lena the Chicken (but Really a Dinosaur) by Linda Bailey
If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall
Don’t Eat Eustace by Lian Cho
Broken by X. Fang
The Snowball Fight by Beth Ferry
Buzz! Boom! Bang!: The Book of Sounds – wordless by Benjamin Gottwald
Cat Nap by Brian Lies
Mayhem at the Museum: A Book in Pictures by illustrator Luciano Lozano
The Tree of Life by Nalini Nadkarni
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
Pip and Posy The Snowy Day by Axel Scheffler
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. Seating is not assigned, so feel free to sit where you would like.
BGR children will be dropped off in their classroom at 8:55am as per usual, because they will be playing music during the Sing. BGR grownups will join everyone in the Sanctuary.
After the Holiday Sing, we will gather for class holiday cookie parties! Dismissal for the Winter Holidays will follow the cookie parties.
Plymouth’s Annual Toy Drive for Colony Houses South Brooklyn
Colony has offered humanitarian services to the disadvantaged people of Brooklyn since 1904, runs over 25 daycare centers and is in great need. Their work has become more necessary than ever, as has the need for joy.
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.
Kara, our visual arts specialist, wanted to share that this Saturday, December 6th MoMA will be hosting a family day event that draws inspiration from the exhibition Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective. Families are invited to explore Asawa’s art and process through art making, movement, readings, and more. For more information, please visit their website.
Important Dates to Remember
December
19 - Holiday Sing
20-Jan 4 - School Closed for Winter Holidays
January
5 - Classes Resume
19 - School closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
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.
