Quality, Affordable Early Education Child Care Since 1903

News Archives

About Our News Archives

Our news archives page holds news, in the form of newsletters, press releases and articles about the Jenkintown Day Nursery, that were issued prior to the current calendar year. For current years news visit our news page.

JDN News Archives
 

November 3, 2011 — JDN Preschoolers learn safety tips on approaching and petting dogs at Purina's National Dog Show preview at the Please Touch Museum!

Read the complete article and see photo gallery

 

October 23, 2011 — JDN Harvest Bowlers reap fun, food and prizes. Special thanks to our Harvest Bowl Bowlers, Sponsors and Contributors!

Jenkintown Day Nursery supporters and families spent an evening happily knocking down tenpins at Thunderbird Lanes as they raised funds to help keep our preschool programs strong and affordable.

When participants weren’t busy rolling bowling balls down the lanes, they entered their bids on an array of raffle baskets that promised prizes ranging from cascades of toys to restaurant gift cards to a diamond bracelet.

 
Susquehanna Bank was grand sponsor of the event, held Saturday Oct. 22 at the bowling alley on Old York Road in Willow Grove.

There were about 170 participants, and they ran the gamut from toddlers to seniors. Three generations of some families gathered together to enjoy the evening. One bowler who attended with her grown daughters was light on her feet and sharp in her aim as she exercised long-idled skills she had honed as a member of her college bowling team.

The festivities included refreshments donated or discounted by local businesses and scrumptious homemade cookies made JDN’s own board members and top pastry chefs, Carol Henderson and Elizabeth Kelly.

Participation and contributions by a wide array of individuals and businesses help make it possible for JDN to provide quality preschool and child care for hardworking families who pay affordable tuition along a sliding scale based on income.

A big thank-you to the many sponsors, donors and participants who are contributing to giving JDN children a strong start as they enter their school years.

Special thanks are due to Grand Sponsor, Susquehanna Bank and Gold Sponsor, John O'Donnell and Sons. Heartfelt thanks also are due to our many event sponsors and donors.

Silver level sponsors include: Perry N. Blackman, CPA, Nancy & Dave Deibert, Millie Ellerson, Justine Gerety & Richard Perelman, Barbara and David Junkin, and U.S. Senator Robert Casey.

Circle sponsors include: Abington Health, Glenn & Barbara Becker, Alexa Berret and Art Alexion, Mary Ann Farrell & Diane Douglas, Ellen & Jim Foulke, Jean & John Hassler, Anthony & Kim Jones, Kremp Florist, Bonnie & Bob Lloyd, Quinn & Wilson Realtors, John & Theresa Rollins, David Rosnov Jeweler, Audrey Scott, James & Jill Still, Thunderbird Lanes, and Willow Grove Foundation.

A big THANK YOU to our contributors: Alexa Berret, Carl & Ellen Berlinger, Melanie Boone, Café Loren, Chili’s of Jenkintown, Irene Cosmatos, Dave & Nancy Deibert, Mary Ann Farrell & Diane Douglas, Giant Foods, Carol Henderson, Jenkintown Building Services, Jewelry Studio, Barbara and David Junkin, E.B. Kelly, Donna Kimmel, Kitchen Bar, Lee’s Hoagies House of Southampton, Gail Madison, Meadowbrook Farm, Lori & John O’Donnell, Rosnov Jewelers, Marianne Tyson, U.S. Senator Robert Casey Jr., Velvet Sky Bakery, West Avenue Grille and Whole Foods Market, Jenkintown.

 

June 2, 2011 — Special Thanks to our Golfers & Sponsors!

On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, Jenkintown Day Nursery's Board of Directors held the 10th Annual Charity Golf Classic at the Huntingdon Valley Country Club, 2295 Country Club Drive, Huntingdon Valley, PA. This event was postponed from Tuesday, May 17, 2011 due to inclement weather.

Participants enjoyed an all day event, including lunch, a great round of golf, cocktails, dinner and awards ceremony. Special thanks to our golfers and the following sponsors for their support and making our 10th Annual Charity Golf Classic such a successful event: Abington Bank, Woodcock Washburn, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Thomas J. Paul Inc. and Bryner Chevrolet.

October 23, 2010 — Trick or Treat Bowling event rolls on, conjuring up sweet treats and magical feats

A grown-up witch conjured up sweet and savory treats, and a pair of tiny superheroes drew on their magical powers to muscle bowling balls down the lanes as Jenkintown Day Nursery hosted its Trick or Treat Bowling fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Thunderbird Lanes in Willow Grove.

Some 200 supporters joined in the efforts to make the event a hair-raising success.

There were bowlers aplenty, lots of food and festivities, and eager anticipation as raffle prizes were awarded, including a few raffle baskets full of games and toys that particularly appealed to the younger members of the crowd.

Special thanks are due to Grand Sponsor Abington Bank, whose support this year and in previous years has done much to help JDN provide quality education and care for hundreds of children. Heartfelt thanks also are due to our many event sponsors and donors.

Silver level sponsors include:

• Abington Health
• Amy & Paul Baker
• Perry N. Blackman, CPA
• The Laborers’ District Council
• The Perelman Family
• Willow Grove Foundation

Circle sponsors include:
Asplundh Foundation, Glenn & Barbara Becker, Alexa Berret & Art Alexion, Janice Bers, Rose and Bill Cochran, Nancy and Dave Deibert, Millie Ellerson, Mary Ann Farrell and Diane Douglas, Howard and Ellen Goldstein, Heits Building Services, Duff and Warren Higgins, Kim Jones, Barbara and David Junkin, Kremp Florist, Larmon Photo, Bonnie and Bob Lloyd, John O’Donnell & Son, PCA Industrial & Paper Supplies Inc., Quinn & Wilson Realtors, the Reist Family, John and Theresa Rollins, David Rosnov Jeweler, Fred H. Straub Jewelers, Stuart Tollen, Jenkintown Chiropractic, and Elaine & Norman Brumberg, Thunderbird Lanes.

Thank you also to the many other contributors who helped make our event a success. They are too numerous to mention all of them here, but we’d like to acknowledge contributions from Lee’s Hoagie House of Southampton and Chili’s Restaurant, Whole Foods Market and Salon L’Etoile, all of Jenkintown. Our thanks to U.S. Senator Robert Casey, state Sen. LeAnna Washington, Agnes Mulroney and Audrey Scott for their contributions, and to Mary Harrar of Thunderbird Lanes for all of her help.
 

September 27, 2010 — Whole Foods Jenkintown + JDN = HEALTHY Cooperation

A healthy partnership is growing up between Jenkintown Day Nursery and Whole Foods Market, Jenkintown. The result is an effort to ensure that JDN children get the freshest, most nutritious meals possible.

A three-member team from Whole Foods has been meeting with JDN menu planners to figure out where healthy, fresh foods might be added into menus within a reasonable budget. For example, fresh fruits might be substituted for canned ones, fresh vegetables added to a meal, or a simple chicken dish served instead of chicken nuggets.

Dana Sommers, the market’s marketing specialist and community liaison, together with team leaders Matt Shefcik and Anthony Redley, are drawing upon their experience as parents to help find recipes that JDN’s children might like. They’re working with JDN’s food service coordinator Kathy Tausendfreundt, executive director Kim Jones and administrative assistant Elizabeth Farrant to make some menu changes that fit into the food budget and also are practical for the kitchen staff to prepare.

“All three of us have kids that are the same age as kids at JDN. We’re testing recipes on our own kids at home,” Sommers said.

Recently, Whole Foods donated 120 pounds of whole wheat penne, and the whole grain pasta was put on children’s plates instead of egg noodles.

“The kids devoured it,” Tausendfreundt said.

“The meat of the program is looking at the menus,” Sommers said. “We’re looking at the budget. We’re putting together a book of recipes that are really easy and use the food JDN already has available. The next step is to have a tasting with the kids. We’re going to prepare between four and six recipes” and see how the children react to them.

“We’re trying to really get a hold of what’s possible,” she said.

In addition, there are plans to have a workshop for parents, and to send recipes home with them. Another idea is to get blenders, so that fruit smoothies can be made in the classrooms.

The efforts fit in with a company-wide program Whole Foods started last year, in which each store pledged to work with a local school to help encourage kids to eat healthier. A lot of the stores started working with elementary schools, high schools and even colleges.

“We thought if we started with a school where kids are even younger, it would help them make the transition to healthier foods and would help them stick with it longer,” Sommers said. JDN was “right up the street, a perfect fit, and a non-profit.”

“The help they’ve given us is unbelievable,” Tausendfreundt said, mentioning the donations of pasta and also of fruit and drinks for the summer family picnic at Alverthorpe Park. She said she appreciates their practical approach to the menus.

Sommers said she hopes that the experiences working with JDN will enable her group to also bring helpful, workable ideas to other schools and preschools as time goes on.

Another Whole Foods initiative is a fund drive for installing salad bars in local school cafeterias. The Jenkintown store is involved in that effort as well.
 

May 3, 2010 — Annual Golf Tournament Held May 3, 2010
On May 3, 2010, Jenkintown Day Nursery's Board of Directors held the 9th Annual Charity Golf Classic at Commonwealth National Golf Club. "Commonwealth National" features 7,045 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 74.8 and it has a slope rating of 150 on Bent grass. Designed by Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay, ASGCA, the Commonwealth National golf course opened in 1990. Matrix Golf & Hospitality manages this facility with Terry Tumolo as the General Manager.

Participants enjoyed an all day event, including lunch, a great round of golf, cocktails, dinner and awards ceremony.
 

March 30, 2010 — Shopping for our cause...support JDN through online purchases via OneCause.com

Now you can help to support the Jenkintown Day Nursery by shopping online through Onecause.com. When you log in to shop via ONE CAUSE, online merchants such as Expedia, LLBean and Barnes and Noble will give a percentage of your purchase as a contribution to JDN. Supporters can earn up to 20% in contributions for JDN when they shop at over 600 participating merchants. Sign up to be a JDN supporter at Onecause.com now. View frequently asked questions about using ONE CAUSE.
 

March 19, 2010 — Hopping for a cause!

Children at Jenkintown Day Nursery are going to hop, hop and hop some more on April 12 – while learning about disabilities and raising money for a good cause.

The children will participate in a Hop-a-thon program created by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and carried out in their own classrooms at JDN. They’ll see how many hops they can fit into five minutes; with each hop, they’ll be raising money for research into cures for muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and related neuromuscular diseases.

Students will concentrate on their hopping during the five-minute stints, while teachers and staff members monitor the count. Afterward, sponsors who have been recruited by the children will make good on pledged contributions ranging upward from a few cents per hop.

The Hop-a-thon is part of a weeklong program in which the children will learn about disabilities through hands-on activities, books and a video.

Most of the money raised will be contributed to MDA; a portion will support programs at JDN. Anyone who wishes to participate by sponsoring a child’s fundraising effort may call JDN at (215) 884-1992 and offer a pledge.
 

March 16, 2010 — Chili's Jenkintown and Diners Support JDN

Thanks so much to all of our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers who enjoyed a great meal at Chili's Restaurant in Jenkintown to help support our children at JDN! Thanks to Chili's for great food, wonderful service and this terrific support of JDN! Jenkintown Day Nursery supportors who dined and presented vouchers at Chili's at 817 Old York Road, on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 enabled JDN to receive a "Give Back Night" contribution from Chilis.
 

February 22, 2010 — Impact Thrift Stores Partners with JDN to Provide Financial Support
Impact Thrift Stores, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, has committed to partner financially with 17 area nonprofits. Jenkintown Day Nursery is now one of the nonprofits benefitting from Impact’s philanthropic efforts.

When you purchase from or donate to any of Impact's 3 area Thrift Stores, located in Hatboro, Montgomeryville and Norristown, you are also providing supplemental support to the programming and services provided for students at Jenkintown Day Nursery. Learn more about Impact Thrift Stores or contact them by telephone at (215) 957 - 6131.
 

February 17, 2010 — Former JDN Student Returns a Decade Later and Makes a Difference
The JDN kitchen is sparkling, and a continuing outdoor problem – a curbside area frequently washed out by rain – has been given a solid fix as a result of efforts by 17-year-old volunteer Jeremy Cosmatos and several fellow Boy Scouts.

Jeremy has a special tie to Jenkintown Day Nursery. He spent his own preschool and kindergarten years at JDN – so did his sister – and the whole family has a trove of happy memories from those times. So recently, as Jeremy worked toward his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout with Troop 72 in Abington, he realized he had a perfect opportunity to give back. What could he do to help the children at JDN now?

After a call to Executive Director Kim Jones and discussions with board member Ellen Goldstein, Jeremy devised his Eagle Scout Project: recruit some additional volunteers to help him design and implement a fix for the washout area, restore a worn pathway, clean the sandboxes and freshen up the kitchen.

The curbside area had been a nagging problem. It had been filled repeatedly, but eventually rains would wash away the fill material. With the help of a one boy’s father, who had knowledge about landscaping, Jeremy and several other troop members dug deeply and added a layer of gravel below the surface so that more rainwater will sink down instead of eroding the surface soil and grass.

Because of its location alongside the area where parents drop off their children, it was particularly important to find a solution here that would last.

Jeremy and his cohorts spent 13 hours over three Saturdays working hard at their chosen tasks: digging and filling both by the curb and along the pathway to the playground, where they installed stepping stones. They removed debris from two sandboxes and disinfected them. Inside, they gave a good scrubbing to the kitchen walls, cabinets, surfaces and equipment.

In a ceremony later this spring, Jeremy hopes to be inducted as an Eagle Scout. We at JDN are proud of his accomplishments.
See PHOTOS of the boy scouts in action.
 

December, 2009 — JDN Experiences a “Season of Giving”!
Our December activities included: The Kiwanis Pizza Party and visit from Santa (the children enjoyed the company of the Kiwanis, but were especially excited by Santa’s arrival); Grace Presbyterian’s Toy Donation (the children’s parents were so thankful to have additional packages to put under the tree); Operation Warmth Winter Coat Donation (some of the children needed a new coat to keep them warm for the winter); The Rotary Club Toy Donations (this also helped to make the children’s holiday more festive); and The Secret Shop (the children got to pick out presents for their family members, provided by the Board and friends of JDN)
 

November 15, 2009 — Rock 'n Roll Bowling Fundraiser a Huge Success
Nearly 200 people had great fun bowling, sharing refreshments and socializing at the Rock ‘n Roll Bowling fundraiser, held Nov. 7 at Thunderbird Lanes in Willow Grove to benefit Jenkintown Day Nursery.
Read a complete wrapup of this event. See PHOTOS of the event.

 

The Jenkintown Journal Archives

“The Jenkintown Journal” is our school's monthly newsletter, published to keep families aware of school activities that their children will be participating in. Theme of the month, parent events, field trips and special events are highlighted in each issue.

November 2011 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
October 2011 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
September 2011 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
February 2011 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
December 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
September 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
August 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
June 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
April 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
March 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
Febuary 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
January 2010 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
December 2009 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
November 2009 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
October 2009 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
October 2008 — The Jenkintown Journal ( View .pdf )
 

JDN in the News Archives

The great work of Jenkintown Day Nursery's staff, board, donors and children is often featured in the news. Please click the links below to see this news coverage.

12/07/2009 — Philly.com, Briefly... CITY/REGION
Nursery gets $20,000 gift ( View online )

Fall 2009 — Abington Township Newsletter Volume 13, Issue 3
Abington Township Receives First Ever ADL Award ( View .pdf )

12/14/2008 — Philadelphia Sunday Sun
Jenkintown Day Nursery appoints new assistant director ( View .pdf )

11/03/2008 — Philadelphia Daily News
Laborer's Group Donates 20G ( View .pdf )

10/26/2008 — The Intelligencer
What's New ( View .pdf )
 

Press Release Archives

4/09/2010 — Jenkintown Day Nursery To Hold 9th Annual Charity Golf Classic ( View .pdf )

4/01/2010 — Jenkintown Day Nursery Students Hop for a Cause - April 12 ( View .pdf )

4/01/2010 — JDN Changes to Meet the Needs of Local Children ( View .pdf )

3/01/2010 — Former Jenkintown Day Nursery Student Returns to Make a Difference ( View .pdf )

2/01/2010 — February is a Month Filled with Love and Learning at Jenkintown Day Nursery ( View .pdf )

12/02/2009 — Laborers' District Council Charity Fund Donates $20,000 to the Jenkintown Day Nursery at Thanksgiving Celebration ( View .pdf )

11/12/2009 — Laborers' District Council Charity Fund to Donate $20,000 to the Jenkintown Day Nursery at Thanksgiving Celebration ( View .pdf )

10/15/2009 — Fall Fun for the Children of Jenkintown Day Nursery ( View .pdf )

09/16/2009 — Jenkintown Day Nursery to hold Bowling Fundraiser ( View .pdf )

08/24/2009 — Laborers' Donate Luxury Suite at Flyers Game for Jenkintown Day Nursery Raffle ( View .pdf )

02/15/2009 — Jenkintown Day Nursery observes National Nutrition Month ( View .pdf )

02/15/2009 — Jenkintown Day Nursery announces 8th Annual Charity Golf Classic ( View .pdf )

02/02/2009 — This Valentine's Day, Jenkintown Day Nursery asks the community to give a loving gift that rises above the standard red roses ( View .pdf )

01/17/2009 — Jenkintown Day Nursery Furthers Dr. King's Dream ( View .pdf )

12/19/2008 — Santa Arrives Early at Jenkintown Day Nursery ( View .pdf )

12/01/2008 — Jenkintown Day Nursery Appoints New Assistant Director ( View .pdf )

12/06/2008 — Jenkintown Day Nursery to Hold Kiwanis Holiday Party ( View .pdf )

10/29/2008 — Laborers’ District Council Charity Fund to Donate $20000 at Jenkintown Day Nursery Appreciation Day ( View .pdf )

10/21/2008 — Jenkintown Day Nursery to hold Rags and Riches Fundraiser
Bob White, President/CEO of Abington Bank to be Honored ( View .pdf )

10/27/2007 — Laborers’ District Council Charity Fund Donates $20000 to Jenkintown Day Nursery ( View .pdf )