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The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~February 2023
A message from Holly Bevilacqua
This month marks Carelot's 25th Birthday Celebration. I would first and foremost like to thank all of you for bringing us to 25 years! Your commitment and dedication are appreciated more than I can express. It is still hard to believe that my dream of opening an early learning center started with 6 children in my home! Look at how much we have grown and all the children's live that have been touched! Thank you - it couldn't have happened without amazing educators and team here at Carelot!
This year we will hold a Birthday Celebration on Thursday, February 23rd from 4:30pm-6pm! Get creative- plan a game, a song, etc. CELEBRATE! Carelot will be providing Pizza, Cupcakes/Cookies for everyone! Can't wait to see your pictures of how your classroom celebrated. Post them on our Facebook page or text them to me at 860-460-8465 if you don't have Facebook!
ANNUAL survey and review of the program: Please take a few moments to complete the employee survey- This is a great way for our administrative team to evaluate our program and get feedback directly from you! It benefits all of us+!!!!
Programming Calendar: I will put out the programming calendar through June within the next couple of weeks. Please be sure you have received a copy. It can also be found on our website as well for your convenience. If you look at the theme list on the employee website, you will notice that it includes the Early learning standard that matches up with a concept in our curriculum. You can include this right on your lesson plans. You will also notice that our themes, even though are broken down into weeks, are really monthly themes. I want to give you the opportunity to be able to spread out learning concepts throughout the month so the children can master them. If you have any questions in regard to the curriculum, please don't hesitate to call, email, or text me.
Facebook Private staff page: Thank you for all of the great input, resources, and photos of what is happening in your classrooms. Don't have Facebook? No worries- Have your site manager post or a coworker for you. We want to hear from all of you and love the sharing that is done on this page. And you never know when that wheel will spin again!
Removing Items from your Classrooms
We are seeing items put in places that add clutter and should be in rooms or thrown away rather than stored. Please think about why you want to remove something from your classroom and ask your Executive Director for guidance or assistance. We cannot replace broken items or required items if we don't know about them. If you want to swap toys from room to room, that is encouraged, but remember to look at requirements for your age groups and curriculum before doing so and double-check with your Executive Director!
Celebrate you!
2/5 Jen L- Brooklyn
2/12 Katie- Clubhouse
2/19- Hailey- East Lyme
2/23 Danyelie- East Lyme
Thank you for your dedication!
Heather - Our Clubhouse Executive Director
Holly- Our Chief Operating Officer
Larry- Our Chief Executive Officer
5 years- Gina- Brooklyn Center
3 years- Nishel- East Lyme
Happy Birthday Carelot!
TOURS AND ENROLLMENT
- Bulletin Boards are neat and display the children's creative art experiences.
- Room is clean and organized? Papers are filed neatly in an orderly, and counters, sinks, chairs, garbage cans, tables, and toys are free from dirt and grime.
- Toys are in good repair and labeled with neat labels
- Books are free from rips or tears and displayed for the children
- Sensory tables are changed out weekly and include age-appropriate materials
- Parent/Family board in your classroom includes: Lesson plans, daily schedules, teacher schedules, current calendar/flyers
- Children's portfolios are up to date and neat/organized
- Assessment binders are up to date
- DAILY FAMILY COMMUNICATION with the families using the procare parent app.
- Positive greetings and goodbyes to the children and their families at pick-up and drop-off times.
- When a TOUR comes in to visit, are you inviting the child in to participate in what your class is doing? Are you greeting the family that is touring with a smile and hello? FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE A BIG PART OF ENROLLMENT FROM TOURS!
Looking for staff to work this night in Killingly or East Lyme
Reminders
Meal and Snack Times: Classroom teachers are to sit at the table with the children to foster communication skills, proper manners, use of utensils, etc. If possible, serve snack family style. Teach the children serving sizes and proper nutrition. Snack time is part of your curriculum, Make it a teaching experience too!
Paint and Glue Storage made easy:
Use Ketchup bottles– the kind with the squirt top. This works with paint or glue and makes it very easy to refill the children’s glue containers without a mess. You then can keep a small supply in your classroom to save you from running to the art closet when you need a “fill up”
Lessons and Theme Boxes: It is important to have your theme boxes ready for your lesson plans. This allows for less wait time for the children if you are prepared. It also allows others that work in your classroom to be prepared as well. This is very important on those days that we have staff out sick — a sub should be able to jump right into your shoes! Leave lots of details in the folders! Instructions and Supplies are needed as well to ensure that you are prepared and not leaving the children waiting.
Time Clock-it is important that you clock in when you arrive at work and clock out for lunch and back in from lunch and clock out when your shift is over. Your time cards are legal documents that document your hours worked as well as show your attendance in the building and classrooms for State licensing regulations/ratios. Thank you for your cooperation.
Modeling in the Classroom: Every hear the term "monkey see monkey do?" It is important to be good role models in your classrooms. If you are yelling, sitting on furniture, or walking around eating, the children will think these practices are ok. Show them what you want them to do and teach them from right and wrong by modeling good daily habits and interactions.
Now hiring/enrolling in all centers! Classroom Teachers & Assistants, Floaters & Substitutes- FULL and PT enrollments!
Outdoor Play and Gross Motor Activities
Our curriculum includes so many ways the children can grow and learn. One being Gross Motor Activities. Winter sometimes can be difficult when it is too cold, however please encourage your families to bring outdoor clothing in so the children can get out and get some fresh air!
OUTDOOR PLAY AND WINTER WEATHER POLICY
It is the policy of Carelot Children’s Center, Inc. that all children who are well enough to be in attendance are well enough to participate in outdoor activities. Daily outdoor activities are planned for all children when weather permits. We will plan outdoor activities from 20 degrees Fahrenheit (including the wind chill) and above. Children will not be taken outdoors in severe and threatening weather. The CT Office of Early Childhood requires a daily amount of outdoor time for all children with the exception of infants. If children are dressed appropriately, weather conditions should not pose an illness threat. While children are in attendance at Carelot, it is expected that they participate in all aspects of the activities planned which includes outdoor play. During the winter months, time outside could be for up to 45 minutes at a time depending on the temperatures. It is a great way for the children to run off energy and get some fresh air even for 15 minutes each day. Families can help make the outdoor experience enjoyable and satisfying for their child and are expected to provide the following:
· Warm coat, hat, mittens, snow pants, shoes, and boots.
· An extra pair of mittens, socks, pants, and shirts should be kept in their backpack to be used in case of wet or soiled clothing.
Training Sessions
IDEA TO ENHANCE YOUR CLASSROOM!
A great way to bring community into your classrooms is by saving everyday items like milk cartons, butter containers, etc and bringing them into your dramatic play areas. This is a great way to teach economics, reading, brands, etc.
Donations: Supermarkets/stores often put up decorations for holidays. Ask local stores to donate the decorations after taking them down! Instead of putting your old salad dressing bottles, tide containers, coffee containers etc. in the recycle bin, wash them out and add them to your dramatic play areas. This brings outside daily living into your classrooms!
Boxes are great for the classroom- contact your local stores for empty refrigerator boxes/stove boxes etc for some great creativity in your classroom.
Employee Website
- Forms
- Curriculum help
- Inservice and training dates and sign up forms
- Calendar of events information
- Newsletters
- Staff Meeting Information
- Memos
- General Information on policies and procedures
- Leave Feedback
- Orientation Sessions
Incentive Winners!!!! Sad to announce a lack of participation
January Facebook Interaction: Most Likes on a post! Congratulations to Barbara in East Lyme for posting your snowball art activity. Great process art activity and so creative! You received the most likes for this post for January! Watch for your gift valued at $20 to arrive soon!!!
January Question of the month: "What do you feel is the most important aspect of a childcare program?"- WINNER: Stephanie C- accounting- $20 WINNER......Don't miss out on your chance to win free money!!!!!
February Question of the month: "If you could describe Carelot in one word what would that word be?
Carelot Children's Center
Email: hr@carelot.net
Website: www.carelot.net
Location: 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT, United States
Phone: 860-739-1993
Facebook: facebook.com/carelotctr