An Appeal from Community Nursery School

Dear Families and Friends of Community Nursery School,

We have kept our red door open these past two years during the worst fears of families unsure how to proceed safely for their children. Our incredible staff – truly heroes on the front line for early childhood – held it all together as we devised ways to keep CNS as vibrant as ever despite the restrictions needed to proceed safely for families and staff alike.

Hit with low enrollment, cancellation of classes, teacher pay cuts and lay-offs, we made it through 20-21 with PPP grants and heavy withdrawals from our savings account. This current 21-22 year we are hanging in with enrollment lower than usual to maintain the requirements necessary for a safe environment for these young children and their teachers.

Yet childhood in its purest form endures. Community Nursery School continues to resonate with the many childhoods spent on this hill above the Hudson River. Childhood lives fulltime in rooms full of music, tall tales, playdough, and paint-splattered walls. Children and families still feel the tugs of that first separation, the push and pull joy of new friendships, and the reassuring comfort on the lap of a child’s first teacher.

Despite protocols put in place you still hear children taking their turn at CNS, painting at the easels, playing house, building towers of blocks, erupting volcanoes, singing the Wheels on the Bus, each following in the ways of all children and families who value the experiences of a quality pre-school community. On the playground where we have spent the majority of our days, you can catch sight of the Mary Joan, a speedy boat heading to Africa and beyond, the old maple tree house with children’s whoops down the slide, the blacktop bicycles with small, sturdy legs peddling faster and faster, the sandbox dug down far enough to reach China, and the tenth generation bunny, UP, fed leafy greens picked by little hands from the bunny gardens or saved from last night’s salad.

We are hoping to raise $10,000 this year through this letter appeal, foregoing our usual fundraising event. The money raised will go towards replenishing staff salaries and funds used for pandemic costs and equipment. If you are able to help it would be greatly appreciated and enjoyed by the many children still to come through our red door. Checks may be payable to South Presbyterian Church with CNS in memo or through Zelle to our email address cnsdobbsferry@aol.com.

With many thanks and memories of you all,

Linda Jo Platt
Director
Community Nursery School
343 Broadway
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
(914) 693-9072