Register by May 15 and receive a 10% discount off Lingüa’s Spanish Immersion Summer Camp, which will run for 2 weeks in June in Pooler.

SPACE IS LIMITED! Reserve your spot by May 15th and save!

Lingüa offers everything you need for your bilingual familia.
Have you always wanted your children to be bilingual, but didn’t know where to start? Do you want to make sure your children can speak your language? Do you need some extra help from an expert? Try Lingüa’s Raising Little Lingüists™ Program.

Want to experience learning together? Try LingüaBaby™, LittleLingüists™, and LingüaVersity™ classes in Spanish and Arabic.

Want to learn for yourself? Lingüa offers adult classes in Spanish and Arabic for beginners and advanced students. Some classes are conveniently online!

Need some extra help? Try Lingüa’s tutoring service.

Are you looking for other moms and dads who want to raise a bilingual familia? Try Lingüa’s storytimes and playgroups.

Contact Lingüa today to give your family más. Email bilingualfamilia@gmail.com

Like Lingüa on Facebook by clicking here.
Lingüa is also on Twitter @  twitter.com/linguaU &  Pinterest @ pinterest.com/linguaU
Lingüa, www.bilingualfamilia.com, email bilingualfamilia@gmail.com, Lingüa is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

School is about to end, but learning doesn’t have to end when class is dismissed.  Enroll your child in May at Kumon Math & Reading Center in Savannah to receive free registration.

Kumon Math & Reading Center of Savannah offers FREE registration during May 2013. Call 912.920.8899 or click here for more info.

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Savannah, www.kumon.com/savannah , open on Mondays and Thursdays from 3-7 PM,  in Piccadilly Square @ 10010   Abercorn Ave. Suite 5A, Savannah, 31406. For more info or to schedule a complimentary placement test, call owner and instructor, Janese Cooper at (912) 920-8899. Kumon of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Give your ho-hum life the heave-ho.

Find your way back to a stress-free existence and turn your struggles into triumphs with tips and guidance from Peace By Piece Life Strategies Coaching in Savannah.

Mother’s Day May Discount
Give yourself the gifts of purpose and passion! Peace By Piece Life Strategies Coaching in Savannah offers transformational coaching. Mention you read about Peace by Piece Life Strategies Coaching on SouthernMamas.com to receive a 40% discount during the entire month of May.

You can meet certified Life Strategies Coach Shelly Harlander in her Savannah office in the Zeno Moore Building at 409 E. Montgomery Crossroads or schedule a phone session. Call 912-341-3684.

Life Strategies Coaching is for healthy individuals who wish to increase balance, efficiency, productivity and satisfation in targeted areas of their life, as well as achieve higher levels of self-realization and personal well-being.

Peace by Piece Life Strategies Coaching, tel: 912-341-3684, www.peacebypiecenow.com/  Peace by Piece Life Strategies Coaching is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Congratulations Savannah Arts Academy, which was ranked 4th best high school in Georgia in U.S. News and World Report Education 2013 Best High Schools. See it here.

Top Ranked GA Schools       

To be eligible for a state ranking, a school must be awarded a national gold or silver medal.

Congratulations St. Andrew’s School on Wilmington Island for recently receiving recognition as one of the most challenging high schools in the nation.

This marks the second year in a row for the Savannah private school to receive the honor. The Washington Post’s Jay Mathews has been ranking the most challenging schools in the country for 15 years.

“I’m thrilled that St. Andrew’s is again being recognized for one of our distinguishing characteristics–that we provide a challenging curriculum to all of our students while giving them the individual attention and supportive environment they need to help them meet that challenge,” said Sara Rubinstein, Upper School Head. “Through making our International Baccalaureate program accessible to all students, not just the top 2% of any class, we fulfill our promise to give each St. Andrew’s student the high quality learning environment our families expect and deserve.”

St. Andrew’s is the only private school in Georgia to be recognized on the most challenging list.

View the Post’s challenging high schools list by clicking here.

St. Andrew’s is an independent International Baccalaureate World School committed to being a leader in 21st Century teaching and learning, which includes a curricular focus on creativity, communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and character. For more information on the Pre-K 3 through Grade Twelve school, visit www.saintschool.com  or call 912.897.4941.

St. Andrew’s School, 601 Penn Waller Road, Savannah, 31410, www.saintschool.com St. Andrew’s School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Barnett Educational Supplies in Savannah is having a  “Sunny Patch Melissa and Doug” sale during April! It is buy 2 get 1 free!

This sale runs until the end of April! Umbrellas, beach chairs, water toys, buckets and beach bags!

Please like Barnett on Facebook here to stay updated on their sales & products.

Store hours: Mon – Fri: 9 AM-7 PM; Sat: 10 AM-5 PM; Sun: 1- 5 PM.

Barnett Educational Supplies, 38 W De Renne Ave., Savannah, 31405-6742, tel: 912-356-1878, email barneduc@bellsouth.net www.barnetteducationalsupplies.com , Barnett Educational Supplies is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Did the pre-K lottery not go as you’d hoped? Is your precious toddler ready to expand his/her world and begin developing preschool social skills?

Check out the new JEA Preschool Savannah . It’s a program focused on providing a strong preschool experience in a nurturing environment with low teacher to student ratio. The preschool is now accepting applications. Meet & Greet on April 25th at 5:30pm at the JEA. Free babysitting available; reservations required. For more information go to www.savannahjea.org  or call 912-355-8111 .

About JEA Preschool Savannah JEA Preschool Savannah, located in the Jewish Educational Alliance community center at 5111 Abercorn Street, will open its doors in August 2013. The school, which will serve the needs of children ages 16 months through 4 years, focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting. The core curriculum, led by qualified and experienced teachers, is available Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended hours are available daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on JEA Preschool Savannah, please call 912-355-8111 (ext. 228), email preschool@savj.org  or visit www.savannahjea.org .

JEA Preschool Savannah, 5111 Abercorn St., Savannah, www.savannahjea.org, 912-355-8111 (ext. 228), email preschool@savj.org  JEA Preschool is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Pre-K Lottery Update:

We heard from several moms recently who were surprised by changes to the pre-K wait list this year for Savannah-Chatham public schools. Basically,  if your child was accepted to one of your school choices, then he/she was not put on the waiting list for your other choices. In the past, students who were not accepted to their choices were automatically put on the waiting list. You can read parents’ concerns on the SouthernMamas.com Facebook page.

This change negatively affects those parents whose neighborhood school is not a good school, but they were required to make it one of their choices. Now they’ve been accepted to their neighborhood school & were not even put on the waiting list for their school of choice.

District 1 Savannah-Chatham County School Board Member Julie Wade looked into parents’ complaints & below are the answers she received.

Below are responses to Julie Wade’s questions about this year’s changes in the pre-K waiting list process. The repsonses are from David Feliciano, Chief Data and Accountability Officer for Savannah-Chatham Public School System:

There are two places we provided information on choice scenarios for parents to review and be aware of. One was above the choice selection list on the online application. The other reference was on our public website FAQ for Lottery. Since the lottery has completed, the FAQs have been replaced with FAQ for Registration. Below is a copy of the information that was posted:

——
Pre-K school choice scenarios:
1. The family lives in a school attendance zone that has a Pre-K Program.

• If the family only wants to attend the Pre-K program in their school attendance zone, select the school as the first choice selection and leave the other two blank.

• If the family wants to attend a Pre-K program that is not in their school attendance zone, select the school as the first choice selection and select the attendance zone school as the second choice. The third choice can be left blank.

• If the family wants to maximize their opportunity for entry into a Pre-K program, enter three choices with one of them being the attendance zone school.
2. The family lives in a school attendance zone that does not have a Pre-K program.

• If the family only wants to attend a specific Pre-K program, select the school as the first choice selection and leave the other two blank.

• If the family wants to maximize their opportunity for entry into a Pre-K program, enter three choices.

Note: If a family is selected for a Pre-K slot, they will no longer be on any wait list.

——

When the lottery was designed, it was designed to support community schools. Two specific rules impacted parent choices in the lottery:

• Priority is to be given to families that live within the Pre-K Center attendance zone.

• Families are required to list their attendance zone Pre-K Center as one of three choices.

Once a Pre-K slot is provided within the county, families are taken off of any other wait list. This was done to prevent families from holding wait list positions when they are already attending a Pre-K program within SCCPSS.

Q: For those that were not placed anywhere and are on two or three wait lists, can they withdraw from some of the wait lists?

A: Parents can remove their child from any wait list and still remain on others. Only when they accept a slot into a Pre-K program they are removed from others. The family that is on Shuman’s list can call the school and have their child pulled from the wait list. The child will still be listed on the other Pre-K program wait list. We will post this information on the website and provide it to the schools as this particular scenario was not covered.

Options for consideration:

The second rule listed above can be removed from the system. In doing so, families can pick and choose any Pre-K center of their choice, have the option of only entering one, two, or up to three Pre-K center, and don’t have to list their attendance zone school.

The above are responses to District 1 Savannah-Chatham County School Board Member Julie Wade’s questions about this year’s changes in the Pre-K waiting list process. The responses are from David Feliciano, Chief Data and Accountability Officer Savannah-Chatham Public School System.

Worried about where your child is going to attend preschool next year or trying to find a FREE, quality state-funded pre-K program in Savannah?

If so, you’ll be thrilled to learn about Maggie’s Morning School, a NAEYC accredited private, non-profit pre-school. This popular, beloved well-established Savannah school offers hands-on learning and a child-centered approach that encourages exploration and independence through a well prepared environment.

Mission
Maggie’s Morning School provides a developmentally appropriate, quality learning experience for a diverse student body in a safe, creative, and nurturing environment. The focus is on the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth of each and every child through hands on activities and support by working together with families, well-trained teachers, and community resources.

Description
Maggie’s Morning School has been serving Savannah since 1982. The school has 2, 3, and 5 half day and full day programs for children 18 months (by Sept. 1) through age four, and the Bright From the Start, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Pre-Kindergarten program.
Maggie’s provides an exceptional and unique learning environment in order to facilitate social, emotional, physical and intellectual development in each child.

Please come visit the school at 6610 Abercorn St., Savannah, 31405 and see why Maggie’s Morning School is  “The Creative Alternative!”

Upcoming events at Maggie’s Morning School which are open to the public include: 

1) Gently-Used Sale Saturday April 20, 8 a.m. – Noon. School parking lot. Indoors if there is inclement weather.

2) Open House Week – Monday April 22 – Friday April 26. 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a..m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Come see what makes Maggie’s “The Creative Alternative” for Pre-school and learn about Maggie’s summer program “Earthworks”.

For the school year, Maggie’s serves children ages 18 months (by Sept 1) through 3 classes of State-Funded (FREE) Pre-K.

For the summer program, Maggie’s serves children 18 months (by Sept 1) through children entering 2nd grade.

Call (912) 352-8404 or (912) 352-8065 for more info or click here.  Tell them SouthernMamas.com sent you!

Stay connected by “liking” Maggie’s Morning School on Facebook here.

Maggie’s Morning School, 6610 Abercorn St., Savannah, 31405, www.maggiesmorningschool.org,  On Facebook here. (912) 352-8404, (912) 352-8065 Maggie’s Morning School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Imagine communicating with your baby before he or she can even speak. Baby sign language reduces frustration, accelerates verbal development and strengthens cognitive skills. It also enhances child-parent bonding through time spent teaching signs to your baby.

Research shows that pre-verbal infants can communicate through the use of sign language long before they can verbalize their needs. For example, an NIH funded study compared two groups of 11 month old babies. One group was taught baby sign language. The second group was given verbal training. Overall it proved to be the signing babies who were more advanced talkers. A follow up when the babies were 2 years old found that the signers continued to be more verbal. The signing children tested approximately 3 months ahead of the non-signers at 2 years old.*

The authors of the NIH study, followed up with the children at 8 years old. Surprisingly, there was still a difference. Signers showed IQ’s 12 points higher than the non-signers, even though they had long since stopped signing. This put the signers in the top-25% of eight year olds, compared to the non-signers who were close to average.**

My Smart Hands is an international, award winning, 100% ASL program designed to teach sign language to pre-verbal infants and young children. My Smart Hands not only recognizes the value of giving children the gift of self-expression, they also know that baby signing is FUN!

The My Smart Hands program is designed to engage both the minds and the giggles of their students.

My Smart Hands is now available in Savannah! My Smart Hands offers 4 to 8 week classes as well as weekend workshops. The cost ranges from $75 to $130 and includes all handbooks and materials. Evening classes are available and dates, times and locations are determined by consultation with, and consideration for the needs of students.

Want to join My Smart Hands? See the Savannah My Smart Hands website  by clicking here for detailed information on the courses themselves, to contact My Smart Hands with any questions or to sign up. So go ahead, take a peek! Sign up for a few giggles for you and your little one. My Smart Hands can’t wait to meet you!

Please “like” My Smart Hands in Savannah on Facebook by clicking here to stay connected.

My Smart Hands, www.mysmarthandswithsundi.com, On Facebook here, My Smart Hands is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

* Susan W. Goodwyn, Linda P. Acredolo and Catherine A. Brown. Impact of Symbolic Gesturing on Early Language Development, Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 24, 81-103 (2000).

** Linda P. Acredolo, and Susan W. Goodwyn, The Longterm Impact of Symbolic Gesturing During Infancy on IQ at Age 8, International Conference on Infant Studies (July 18, 2000: Brighton, UK)

Not sure where to send your child to preschool for the upcoming school year 2013-14? Check out the new JEA Preschool Savannah , which will host a Meet and Greet for prospective parents and caregivers at 5:30 PM Thurs. April 25 2013.

This dynamic new preschool, located at the Jewish Educational Alliance at 5111 Abercorn Street, will open its doors to children ages 16 months to 4 years in August, 2013. Enrollment is now open for all classes.

During the Meet and Greet, attendees will have an opportunity to meet preschool director Jodi Sadler and the teaching staff, view model classroom furnishings and learn about the enriched preschool JEA Camp Savannah program for 3 and 4 year olds. The evening will include a light snacks; free childcare will be available. Reservations are required. Please call 912-355-8111 (ext. 228) or email preschool@savj.org  to reserve a spot.

JEA Preschool Savannah has been in the planning stages for the past two years. The school was created to provide for the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting. The age-appropriate curriculum, led by qualified and experienced teachers, will focus on literacy, writing, math, science, music, art and movement all within the special facilities of the JEA.

“I am truly excited about the creation of our program of excellence, JEA Preschool Savannah,” said Sadler, a longtime educator and former assistant principal at Chatham Academy. “When parents and children walk into the school, I want them to see and feel two things: love and security. I know that the quality of the program, excellence of the facilities, and perfect location will make this one of the most attractive and dynamic programs in the area.”

The dynamic preschool will include spacious classrooms and an innovative outdoor space where children can explore, interact with and connect to the environment. The preschool’s core curriculum will be available Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Children have the option of attending three or five days per week. Extended hours are available daily as early as 7 a.m. and until 6 p.m. to serve the needs of working families.

JEA Preschool Savannah is open to both JEA members and non members.

About JEA Preschool Savannah
JEA Preschool Savannah, located in the Jewish Educational Alliance community center at 5111 Abercorn Street, will open its doors in August 2013. The school, which will serve the needs of children ages 16 months through 4 years, focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting. The core curriculum, led by qualified and experienced teachers, is available Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended hours are available daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on JEA Preschool Savannah, please call 912-355-8111 (ext. 228), email preschool@savj.org  or visit www.savannahjea.org .

JEA Preschool Savannah, 5111 Abercorn St., Savannah, www.savannahjea.org, 912-355-8111 (ext. 228), email preschool@savj.org  JEA Preschool is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Andrew Adams

Congratulations  St. Andrew’s School  Junior Andrew Adams for being selected to participate in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) this summer in the field of Chemistry!

Nearly 3000 students from across the state were interviewed and auditioned over three weekends in January and February, and from those nominees 690 finalists were chosen to participate. GHP is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. 2013 marks the 50th year for GHP.

St. Andrew’s School – a Pre-K 3 through 12th grade independent private school on Wilmington Island, Savannah – is now accepting applications. Learn more here.

ST. ANDREW’S SCHOOL, An Independent School, 601 Penn Waller Road, Savannah, 31410, WWW.SAINTSCHOOL.COM St. Andrew’s School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Standardized tests aren’t going away from schools yet.

Fortunately, Barnett Educational Supplies in Savannah  has Common Core Aligned Test Prep books that will help their children
pass the CRCT tests. They have prep books for grades 1-8.

Please like Barnett on Facebook here to stay updated on their sales & products.

Store hours: Mon – Fri: 9 AM-7 PM; Sat: 10 AM-5 PM; Sun: 1- 5 PM.

Barnett Educational Supplies, 38 W De Renne Ave., Savannah, 31405-6742, tel: 912-356-1878, email barneduc@bellsouth.net www.barnetteducationalsupplies.com , Barnett Educational Supplies is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Don’t miss the FREE spring family stargazing & astronomy day @ Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens (formerly called The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens ) on Sat. April 20 in Savannah

The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in conjunction with the Oglethorpe Astronomical Association invite you to see a scale model of our solar system, watch our conference center become a portable planetarium, find out how much you would weigh on Mars and how old you would be on Jupiter. Daytime gazing and children’s activities. End the day by watching the 1950’s Sci-Fi flick, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” followed by stargazing on the great lawn.

Free! April 20th from 2pm – 10pm

During the stargazing in the garden, telescopes will be set up for observation. Free & open to the public.

This is a great family event!

Here’s a list of children’s books on astronomy:

“Night Sky Atlas” by Robin Seagell
“Astronomy” by Kristen Lippincott
“Black Holes & Other Space Oddities” by Alex Barnett
“Space” by Simon Holland
“The Solar System: An A-Z Guide” by Christina Wilsdon
“Cosmic Light Shows” by Bobbie Kalman & April Fast
“Find the Constellations” by H.A. Rey
“The Stars: A New Way to See Them” by H.A. Rey

This event is free & open to the public.

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens (Formerly The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens), 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, GA. 31419. Please enter the gate on US Hwy. 17. Please call 912-921-5460 for information, http://bamboo.caes.uga.edu/, On Facebook here

Baby Sign & Read Classes in Savannah for parents with infant and toddlers from the ages of 0-3 yrs old are now being offered by Giving in Love, Inc.

Sign & Read classes focus on parent-child interactions, communication, and reading.

Parents learn how they can nurture their child’s language, cognitive and social-emotional development through three key areas of communication: talking, reading and signing. There are 6 classes in the first session for $85.

Class options are 10:00am or 10:35am on Tuesdays, Wednesday, or Thursdays beginning April 9 through May 14. The classes are 30 minutes long and will be held at 1900 Abercorn St.

For more information, please call (912) 388-1658 or visit us at www.givinginlove.org. “Like” Giving in Love on Facebook here.

Giving in Love, Inc is a non-profit & a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

You are invited on a FREE guided tour of an archaeological dig in Savannah. Visit the site where plantations from the 1790s through the 1860s operated and where Civil War activity took place. Watch archaeologists uncover the past. Learn about the exciting history of Savannah.

Free tours are 90 minutes each, Tuesday through Saturday from March 19 through May 11, 2013. Tour times are 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Reservations for parties of 10 or less are not required. For group reservations of 11 or more, and/or for cutomized group tours (schools etc.), please contact Rita Elliott at relliott@newsouthassoc.com . Archaeology is being conducted by New South Associates

*Tours March 19-23 2013 will include the fun & interactive Archaeobus, Courtesy of The Society for Georgia Archaeology.  Abby the Archaeobus is a creation of the Society for Georgia Archaeology, a group of professional and amateur archaeologists as well as interested citizens. The Archaeobus is a former bookmobile retrofitted with archaeology hands-on activities. Abby travels throughout the state, visiting school groups, giving presentations & even touring the State Fair!

The Habersham School plans to bring life back to the beautiful tudor-style Gould Cottage next to Hull Park in Savannah. The Habersham School, a private K-12 parochial school that opened last fall on Wilmington Island, has the Ardsley Park landmark under contract for purchase. Learn more about the school & the final push to secure the site as their future home at a public info session Thursday, March 7, 4:30-6:40 PM @ the Gould Cottage, across Atlantic Avenue from Hull Park.

email info@thehabershamschool.org
www.thehabershamschool.org

Read more about The Habersham’s Plans to relocate to the historic Gould Cottage in Ardsley Park here.

Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School Open House
6 PM Tuesday, March 5 2013. The application window closes on March 8 and the school’s lottery is March 18.

Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School is a popular, well-loved Montessori Learning Community serving children three years old through 5th grade that is now accepting online applications for the Pre-K3 through 5th grade for the 2013-14 school year.

If you would like more information on enrolling your child please contact the school office at 912-238-1973 or visit the school website at www.cemco.org .

The internationally-recognized Montessori method of teaching helps children reach their full potential in all areas of life by teaching them to take responsibility for their own learning. Montessori learning activities promote the development of critical-thinking skills, emotional growth, and physical coordination. The Montessori method of education has long been seen as an approach that successfully meets children’s individual needs while teaching them to become contributing citizens to our society.

An Organized Environment

The entire school is set up to support the child’s self-directed learning. Together, the teacher and student form a relationship based on trust and respect that fosters self-confidence and a willingness to try and explore new things.
Highly-Trained Teachers

The Montessori teacher functions as a facilitator, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper, and meticulous observer of each child’s behavior and growth. At Coastal Empire, all teachers are Montessori-trained and Georgia elementary teacher-certified.
Proven Teaching Methodology

At Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School, children are provided a basis for critical and abstract thinking through activity-based education. Montessori educational practices are characterized by:
• Child-centered rather than teacher-directed
• Hands-on and activity oriented as opposed to textbook curriculum
• Based on continuous progress
• Self-directed with a control-of-error system
• Based on recognition of progress as opposed to numerical grades
• Dynamic in that children are encouraged to move around and make choices of activities
• Set on a three-year age span of children within the classroom; older children teach younger children, building self-esteem and a sense of community
• Materials are introduced through individualized instruction; Montessori teachers help children to take responsibility for their own learning
• Emphasis is on concrete learning that leads to the abstraction of concepts and skills
• Children working for the joy of working and the sense of discovery
• An environment that provides a natural sense of discipline.

Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School, supported by the Montessori philosophy and method, educates the Whole Child. By nurturing the total development of the child and fostering respect for self, peers, community, and nature, the child will be prepared to take their place in society and work toward a peaceful world.

For more information on Montessori Education please visit the following websites:
www.montessori-ami.org (Association Montessori International)
www.amshq.org (American Montessori Society)

Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School, 301 Buckhalter Rd., Savannah, 31405, (912)238-1973, www.cemco.org  Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

JEA Preschool Savannah will host a Meet & Greet for prospective parents and caregivers on Wednesday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m.

The new preschool, located at the Jewish Educational Alliance community center at 5111 Abercorn Street, will open to children ages 16 months to 4 years in August 2013. Enrollment is now open.

During the Meet & Greet, attendees will have an opportunity to meet the director Jodi Sadler and teachers, learn about a typical preschool day, and view architectural renderings of new classrooms and an outdoor learning space, which are currently under development.

Free childcare will be available during the presentation. Healthy snacks will be served. Reservations are required; please call 912-355-8111 (ext. 228) or email preschool@savj.org  to reserve a spot.

JEA Preschool Savannah has been in the planning stages for the past two years. The school was created to provide for the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting. The age-appropriate curriculum, led by qualified and experienced teachers, will focus on literacy, writing, math, science, music, art and movement all within the special facilities of the JEA.

“I am truly excited about the creation of our program of excellence, JEA Preschool Savannah,” said Sadler, a longtime educator and former assistant principal at Chatham Academy. “When parents and children walk into the school, I want them to see and feel two things: love and security. I know that the quality of the program, excellence of the facilities, and perfect location will make this one of the most attractive and dynamic programs in the area.”

The dynamic preschool will include spacious classrooms and an innovative outdoor space where children can explore, interact with and connect to the environment. The preschool’s core curriculum will be available Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Children have the option of attending three or five days per week. Extended hours are available daily as early as 7 a.m. and until 6 p.m. to serve the needs of working families.

JEA Preschool Savannah is open to both JEA members and non members.

About JEA Preschool Savannah
JEA Preschool Savannah, located in the Jewish Educational Alliance community center at 5111 Abercorn Street, will open its doors in August 2013. The school, which will serve the needs of children ages 16 months through 4 years, focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting. The core curriculum, led by qualified and experienced teachers, is available Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended hours are available daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Enrollment is now open. For more information on JEA Preschool Savannah, please call 912-355-8111 (ext. 228), email preschool@savj.org  or visit www.savannahjea.org .

The Archaeobus is coming to Savannah March 18 2013 to get kids excited about exploring our past!

Abby the Archaeobus is a creation of the Society for Georgia Archaeology, a group of professional and amateur archaeologists as well as interested citizens. The Archaeobus is a former bookmobile retrofitted with archaeology hands-on activities. Abby travels throughout the state, visiting school groups, giving presentations & even touring the State Fair!

The Archaeobus will visit the Armstrong Atlantic State University campus March 18 from 10 am-4:30 pm. She will be parked at the end of University Drive, next to University Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

The University Anthropology club will also be volunteering. It will be fun and educational for the kids and adults!

Questions? Contact the anthropology club on campus at anthropologyclubarmstrong@yahoo.com  or their facebook “Armstrong Anthropology Club.”

For more information about the bus, visit  http://diggingsavannah.wordpress.com/archaeobus/ For the professor overseeing the club activities contact Professor Barbara Bruno 912.344.2970 or barbara.bruno@armstrong.edu .

We’re thrilled to tell you about a new Savannah preschool opening this year in a centrally-located area.

The JEA Preschool Savannah, located in the Jewish Educational Alliance community center at 5111 Abercorn Street, will open its doors in August 2013!

Enrollment is now open. The registration forms are available for download on the JEA Preschool Savannah website. Visit it by clicking here.

The new preschool will include renovated and spacious classrooms and outdoor learning space where children will participate in hands-on learning.

The school will serve the needs of children ages 16 months through 4 years.

The curriculum focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting led by qualified and experienced teachers.

The core program is available Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended hours are available daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

JEA Preschool Savannah is open to both JEA members and non members.

For more information on JEA Preschool Savannah, please call the Director Jodi Sadler at 912-355-8111 (ext. 228), email preschool@savj.org  or visit www.savannahjea.org .

JEA Preschool Savannah, 5111 Abercorn St., Savannah, www.savannahjea.org, 912-355-8111 (ext. 228), email preschool@savj.org  JEA Preschool is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Georgia’s FREE Pre-K Program is not only available at public schools.

Many private child-care centers in Savannah also offer Georgia’s FREE Pre-K Program including Maggies’ Morning School, Savannah Youth University, Candler’s The Children’s House, and YMCA Childcare Plus: but many have a different application process than that @ Savannah-Chatham public schools. If you’re interested in a private child care that has it, call the school to find out when their applications are due. Many are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Below are a list of Savannah-area child-care centers that offer the FREE Georgia Pre-K Program (A big thank you to SouthernMamas reader Lynn Adams for compiling this list).

To participate in the Pre-K Program, children must be four years of age* on or before September 1, 2013, and must be a resident of Chatham County.

Click here for more info on Georgia’s FREE Pre-K program.

Locating a Georgia’s Pre-K Program
To locate a Georgia’s Pre-K Program, use the online Provider Search (instructions provided on the search page), contact the Georgia’s Source for Finding Quality Child Care toll-free at 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS (877-255-4254) to speak with a child care resource and referral consultant, or call Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning at 404-656-5957 (toll-free at 1-888-4GA-PREK) and ask for the Pre-K consultant of the day.

Savannah-area child care centers that offer Georgia’s FREE Pre-K Program

“In His Arms” Educational Center 7816 Hwy 80 East Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 897-6826

ABC Child Care Center #1 1106 E. 48th Street Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 355-1442

A. J. Ward Montessori Preschool, Inc. 7501 Waters Avenue Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 355-1900

Another Adventure Day Care 8805 White Bluff Rd. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 927-4313

Bright Horizons Little One Center 1300 East 66th Street Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 303-0668

Childcare Network #20 12441 White Bluff Rd. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 925-7338

Childcare Network #21 7360 Hodgson Memorial Dr. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 355-2299

Childcare Network #22 350 Johnny Mercer Boulevard Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 897-0085

Children’s House 600 E. 7lst St. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 819-7200

El Shaddai Academy 5650 Skidaway Rd. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 351-0064

EOA Head Start and Early Administration Building 1120 May Street Savannah GA Head Start (912) 238-2865

First Steps Preschool of Pooler 205 N. Skinner Avenue Pooler Child Care Learning Center (912) 341-8012

Hunter Army Airfield Child Development Services 1284 Middleground Rd. Savannah Department of Defense (912) 315-9034

Kicklighter Academy 7219 Seawright Dr. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 355-7633

Little Country Day Care Preschool #1 7951 Hwy. 21 Port Wentworth Child Care Learning Center (912) 844-0042

Little Miracles Learning Center 4 Chestnut St. Bloomingdale Child Care Learning Center (912) 748-3686

Lady Bamford Early Childhood Education Center 1410 Richards Street Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 944-1671

Dutchtown Childrens Center 911 Dutchtown Rd. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 925-4566

Savannah Youth University 204 Tibet Ave. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 927-9537

Maggie’s Morning School 6610 Abercorn St. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 352-8404
Terry’s Childcare and Learning Center 1728 Staley Ave. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 233-5868

West Broad Street YMCA Early Learning Center 1110 May St. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 233-1951

West Chatham YMCA Child Learning Center 165 Isaac G Laroche Drive Pooler Child Care Learning Center (912) 748-1408

Windsor Forest High School 12419 Largo Dr. Savannah Local School System (912) 395-3400

Windy’s Preschool 425 Tattnall St. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 234-0575

Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School 151 Coach Joe Turner Drive Savannah Local School System (912) 395-6750

Wright’s Child Care 1121 E. 35th St. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 233-4306

YMCA Childcare Plus 6400 Habersham St. Savannah Child Care Learning Center (912) 354-6223

Georgia’s FREE Pre-K Program @ Savannah-Chatham Public Schools

Pre-K Lottery Applications for the 2013-2014 school year at Savannah-Chatham public schools will be available at Savannah-Chatham school sites and online on February 25, 2013. The deadline to submit the application is March 22, 2013.

The FREE Georgia pre-k program is a full-day program available at some public and private schools.

To participate in the Pre-K Program, children must be four years of age* on or before September 1, 2013, and must be a resident of Chatham County.

In order to apply for the lottery, parents must provide the following documentation to the school prior to the March 22, 2013 deadline:

Proof of Residence (current gas, water, electric bill, or lease)
Certified Birth Certificate
*Five-year-old children who have not previously attended the Pre-K program and who have developmental delays that impact their readiness for school may also enroll at the request of their parents.

Registration for FREE Pre-K @ Savannah-Chatham Public Schools

After your child is selected in the lottery, you will have until 5/3/2013 to register your child. After that date, schools begin calling children from the Wait List.

If your child is on the Wait List and you are contacted about an open space, you will have 48 hours to register your child. After that time, schools call the next child on the Wait List.

Parents must provide the following documentation at registration:

Proof of Residence (current gas, water, electric bill, or lease)
Certified Birth Certificate
GA Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231)
GA Ear, Eye and Dental Certificate (EED)
Social Security Card
IF APPLICABLE, proof of the following: (food stamps, SSI, Medicaid, TANF, Peachcare for Kids)

For a list of pre-K sites @ Savannah-Chatham public schools, click here.

Pre-K classes @ Savannah-Chatham public schools

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has 59 Georgia Lottery funded Pre-K classes with additional classes at Coastal Empire Montessori. The Pre-Kindergarten program provides services to age eligible four year olds (must be four years of age on or before September 1 of the school year) residing in Chatham County. Our program provides a full day (6.5 hours) of appropriate instructional services to students for the regular school calendar year. The purpose of the Pre-K Program is school readiness and transition to Kindergarten for success in later school years.

With the exception of our two Montessori schools, all of our classes use the High Scope Curriculum. All teachers are certified with at least a four-year degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education. Teachers provide instructional activities and learning experiences in the areas of language/literacy, math, art, science, social studies and creative expressions. There is a minimum of 5.0 hours of instruction per day. The remaining hours (1.5) of the instructional day includes rest/nap, meals and outside play. Field trips are an integral part of the Pre-K experience.

A maximum of twenty-two (22) students receive services in each class. More information about the Georgia Lottery funded Pre-kindergarten Program can be obtained by going to www.decal.ga.gov .

For more info contact:
Mrs. LaWanda Ransom
Project Director, Pre-Kindergarten
208 Bull Street, Room 210
Savannah, Georgia 31401
Phone: (912) 395-1154
Fax: (912) 201-4166
Email: lawanda.ransom@sccpss.com

Kindermusik Savannah/Bluffton Spring classes begin the first week of February!

Kindermusik has classes for various age groups, in several locations.

Monday mornings: classes Kindermusik’s new location in Bluffton, SC. Meet at Play!, (53 Persimmons St.), for classes for newborns (0-20 months) & toddlers (18 months to 4 years).

Tuesdays: Richmond Hill classes from 0-6 years old.

Wednesday and Thursday mornings: classes in Savannah, for newborns and toddlers.

Kindermusik offers sibling discounts & referral bonus credits, for bringing in new families into the Kindermusik program, so tell your family members, neighbors and moms’ groups!

All enrollment is done online and payment is done on a monthly automatic debit/credit system. Need to drop out? No problem! Just send Kindermusik a written notice (email is fine!) before the 1st of the next month and they won’t bill your card the following month. Want to stay enrolled? Just as easy! Enrollment is ongoing, so once you enroll, you stay enrolled until you let Kindermusik know otherwise – simple!

Any questions?

For more info about Kindermusik Savannah/Bluffton, call 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com , or visit www.88keysga.com  today.

Kindermusik…Offering Music & Motion Classes for ages newborn to 7….where A Good Beginning Never Ends

More info on all of the above by clicking here.

Marina Lindblom, 88 KEYS PIANO/Kindermusik, 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com, www.88keysga.com . Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.