The RPNS PARENTS COMMITTEE is made up of all interested nursery school parents as well as two RPNS board members. The goals of the committee are twofold; to conceptualize, organize, and run social functions for the nursery school parents and children and to raise money to supplement the nursery school's scholarship fund, the Eric Wesley Flood Memorial Scholarship Fund. Our first and only organizational meeting takes place on the last Wednesday in September, (Sept. 27) at 9 AM and at 12:15 PM, after drop off. If you are unable to attend, please be assured that there will be plenty of opportunity to participate!
The E.W.F.M.S.F. is our main means of supporting families with partial scholarships, thus enabling them to attend preschool. Our funds have grown due to the generosity of nursery parents, friends, and the community. The Rye Presbyterian Women’s Association organizes and runs the RPC Thrift Shop and has presented the school with generous grants in the past to supplement our financial aid to parents, as have the Rye Presbyterian Church Deacons. As expenses and tuitions continue to increase over the years, it is imperative that alternative funding be available for parents and the Parent Committee has been instrumental in maintaining this effort. These past several years we have been able to award more than $ 60,000.00 to more than 30 deserving children. Applications for scholarships may be obtained from Mrs. Flood or Mary Canneto and are totally confidential.
The RPNS Parent Committee holds several functions each year
• Holiday Caroling Party- This event will be held on December 8th from 3:30 to 6:00 PM at the nursery school. Refreshments, a bake sale, hayrides, a petting zoo, a holiday raffle, Music with Delores Jigi, a craft activity and a visit and picture with Santa will be enjoyed by all.
• Pancake Breakfast- Scheduled for March 10th from 8-12 AM will include a wonderful breakfast cooked by our parents, a book fair, a children’s art show, and raffles for 2007/2008 Tuition
• New Rochelle Children’s Center for Learning “Caring and Sharing” Program: Our relationship with this preschool, which serves the homeless children of White Plains and Westchester, has grown to great proportions with the support of parents and staff. Co-Chairs and volunteers organize and transport food, holiday gifts and ongoing contributions of children’s clothing, toys and books that are so thoughtfully donated by our parents and collected in our downstairs hallway. Birthdays are a difficult time for the children and their parents, for often parents are unable to recognize this special day. This committee organizes a “Birthday Pals” program where our parents can sign up to buy a small gift for one of the 80 children at NRCCL, which is packaged with party goods from RPNS and delivered to NRCCL for a special school celebration for each child.
The Communications Committee is a newly devised committee of parents who have expertise and would be interested in creating power point presentations, video documentaries and DVDs, write articles and columns, as well as take photos for local publications. This committee could communicate news about RPNS and our “Reggio” inspired curriculum, ongoing teacher training, and RPNS involvement with the community.
• Playground Supervision after school is provided by parent volunteers each weekday, weather permitting, from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. This is required by the Church for insurance purposes, in order to allow the use of the nursery school playground. A parent volunteer organizes this schedule.
• The RPNS Sunshine Committeeis made up of a small group of parents who have again made a difference in the lives of others. This committee organizes support for the families of students and staff who are experiencing illness, death, or other adversity.
• The Adult Education Committee is made up of a small group of parents who develop and support the school’s parent education programs throughout the year with advertisements, refreshments and organization. This year, our programs will include Parent Coffees on relevant topics with the Director and our psychologist, Dr. Paul Donahue, parent experiences in clay and paper making and presentations describing the ongoing project work being done by the children.
•Teacher Appreciation Luncheonis scheduled for May 1st from 1:15 to 3:00 PM. It is presented by parent volunteers and greatly appreciated by the staff.
•RPNS Capital Campaign was created in the fall of 2003 in order to raise funds to be used for the renovation of the RPNS Education Wing. The Rye Presbyterian Church spent more than $700,000.00 to complete renovations that have been enjoyed by all. As of the fall of 2006, this ongoing campaign has raised $260,000 from parent support.
•Children's Entertainment in local theaters is organized and offered to parents and their children at different times throughout the year. A portion of the ticket cost may be put towards our RPNS scholarship fund.
•Kid's Art is a yearly fund raiser. Nursery school children, siblings and parents may design their own stationary, which is then reproduced into attractive packets of 50 cards. These may be given as gifts, or used personally.
•The RPNS Cookbook is a collection of favorite receipes from RPNS parents and teachers, was produced in 2006 and is still available for parents to purchase for $10. It contains delicious, nutritious recipies that children are guaranteed to love!