The " UnpredicatablePerrys " Hit The Road!!!!!!

     A wonderful addition to our staff, Miss Connie, will begin a wonderful discovery of The United States of America with her family (husband-Marc, twins-Marcus and Caroline and her rescue pup-Chloe the beagle) on March 1st.  We will miss her presence in the school but we are very excited to hear of all of the adventures the family will be experiencing.
     Last spring the Perry's began planning their adventure.  They bought a huge (and I mean HUGE) RV Trailer and a truck, named "Big White" to pull it.  They sold their home and have purged many of their possessions so they may experience a year of traveling in a mobile home.  Miss Connie and her family plan to visit all of the state capitals along with many treasured sites in America.  She will be back in the area in July for a visit and to teach Vacation Bible School at First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, where both of our families attend.  I am sure she will drop by to visit our summer school students!
     Miss Connie and her family will be chronicling their adventures on their blog:  unpredictableperrys.wordpress.com  .   Please check in with the blog often and be sure to subscribe!!!!!
     Please feel free to stop in the school and wish Miss Connie a wonderful discovery of our country.  We will all miss her enthusiasm, energy and creativity.  I have enjoyed working with her tremendously and I have especially enjoyed the honor of being part of her twins', Marcus and Caroline, early education here at The Preschool Experience and as a Sunday School teacher at our Parish.   I wish all of the Perry's an unforgettable adventure!!!!! ---Miss Lisa  (Lisa Merseles)

Visiting The Christmas Tree Farm - A Family Tradition

Miss Lisa and "Little Bit"

Sunset Christmas Tree Farm  has a beautiful selection of trees!

     My husband and I visited our oldest daughter, Danielle, out in Seattle for Thanksgiving this year.  We enjoyed the wonderful holiday with our family out in Washington state.  As soon as we arrived back in NJ it was time to drive to Sunset Christmas Tree Farm in Blairstown, NJ.  It has been a tradition in our family for almost 20 years.  The farm is completely sustainable and is a family run business.  Cutting your own tree is not only fun but it guarantees a fresh, beautiful tree!  The farm is located on 21 Frontage Road in Blairstown, NJ 07825.  You may phone the farm at 908.459.4048 and the website is located on the web at SunsetChristmasTreeFarm.com  .  The website has a history of the farm, operating hours, and lovely pictures.  Any tree, regardless of size, is reasonably priced at $45.  For each tree cut, a new one is planted.  Bring your children, dogs and picnic!!!  The day my husband (Mr. Don) , myself and Little Bit (my rescue
Shih Tzu) went it was almost 70 degrees!  Families were tailgating in the field, dogs were running here and there and the staff was helping everyone wrap and stack their tree.  I highly recommend this farm and this activity.  I have two grown children who live out of state (Danielle lives in Seattle, WA and Kaity lives in Boston, MA.) and they both go to farms in their new home states. Traditions are meant to be passed on.  Traditions based on nature and faith are the most important, it seems!

A Special Visitor

     During a wonderful Friday morning in November a special visitor entered the school with a current student in the Parent/Child Discovery 3 class.  My former student, Jenni Shepp delighted me with her presence.  Jenni attended the school 14 years ago, a year before I had the privilege of purchasing the center.  
Jenni and her mother, Janet visited with our class and enjoyed past memories and our current program with their neighbor, three year old Sarah.  Sarah was referred to the school by Jenni and her mom 14 years later!!!  I must admit, I felt a bit "old"!!!!!!

Art Classes at The Preschool Experience & Enrichment Academy

     Art is a wonderful subject for the young to discover.  At our Art of The Masters class on Saturday mornings the youngest art students learn about the artist and their famous works.  This piece was painted by one of our youngest art students, Eva.  She is a four year old and has such a natural way of expressing herself on the canvas.  I am amazed by her ease with the brush and joy in learning about the subject.  She is what I call "a mighty wonder".  Her talent simply over shadows her size.  I use various step stools in the art room for her to climb upon and reach the tip-top of her canvas.  This piece on canvas painted with acrylics, simply astounds me.  It is an outstanding example of why we should never question the intelligence, talent and mystery of the ability of the very young learner.  Eva has an amazing family and I know they will nourish her talent through the years!

September Is For Apple Picking!!!!!

Abby tasting a Macoun!

Caitlin getting a boost from Mr. Don!

The rows and rows of apple trees at Melick's Farm in Oldwick!

       September is for Macouns!  Yes, Macoun apples.  They are my absolute favorite apple varietal.  They have a perfect texture, a perfect flavor and they are so much fun to pick!!!  Our family has been visiting Melick's Town Farm in Oldwick, NJ  for 27 years.  Now that my children are grown, my husband (known as Mr. Don) and I take some neighbors to the farm every year for an afternoon of apple picking, a picnic, a tractor- pull hay ride and fun on all the playground equipment located on the next lot behind the town library.  The website for Melick's Town Farm is  MelicksTownFarm.com.  It is located on King Street in Oldwick, NJ.  The phone number is 908-439-3888. Melick's is a wonderful farm to visit at several times of the year for pick-your-own fruits.  It has no petting zoos, no clowns (Please ask Miss Sharon what this is all about!!) and no frills in general. That is why I love it so!   It is a working farm with a cider mill, amazing orchards and busy bee hives to watch.  The farm is over a hundred years old and is such a treasure in our great state of NJ.
     Seasonal activities are such a delight for all members of the family.  Celebrating the seasons and the natural events that occur strengthen our bond to the bounties of our planet.  Children learn to appreciate, respect and care for the earth by experiencing the wonders it can bring to all of us.  ---  Miss Lisa

A Wonderful First Day

     Today The Preschool Experience & Enrichment Academy opened our red schoolhouse door to the 2011-2012 academic school year.  It was a wonderful first day filled with laughter, discovery, grooving, sharing and creative teaching designed for the youngest learners.  I always  ponder how such a small school with such a small staff can create such a wonderful learning experience for the youngest members of the community.  The Preschool celebrates it's 34th year as a thriving business in Metuchen, NJ.  I have owned the school for 14 years and attended the school 26 years ago with my oldest daughter when the school was owned by Ms. Nancy Heim.  The sole focus of the school at that time were the parent/child classes.  As our society and economy have changed over the years, I have added many unique courses to be attended independently to our programming that I hope have enriched the lives of so many young learners.  As I opened the doors this morning and walked out to greet the many families that attend our Monday classes it was as if I was greeting my family after not seeing them for the summer!  Thank you to all of our families for your support and patronage to such a great little school that was started with such a big idea and strives to support, serve and mentor our community.---Miss Lisa  (Lisa Merseles)

Shadows and Crickets

     Chirp, chirp, chirp.  It is that time of year, late August.  The crickets are chirping until about 1 pm and the shadows created by the sun are long and beautiful.   A few orange tinted leaves are beginning to fall to the grass.  The days are getting shorter.  The evenings can have a chill.  These are all signs that summer is coming to an end and the beautiful season of fall will begin.
     We are so blessed to be living in a part of the country that has four distinct seasons.  Each season has smells, sounds and sights that make each short three month season seem so special.  When I hear crickets until the afternoon and see the long shadows I can only think of Fall and the beginning of the school year at The Preschool Experience.  Soon I will be singing "Gray Squirrel Swish Your Bushy Tail " and "The Leaves Come Falling Down" each and every day with Miss Barbara, Miss Connie, Miss Mary and Miss Sharon.  I am so thankful for this time of year !