
The Sandcastle Times February 2025
"Building Strong Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning"
Empowering Growth: The Importance of Continuing Education for Educators
Our dedicated team of educators participated in a comprehensive training session on January 13th. This training covered a range of valuable topics to enhance our teaching skills and create an even more enriching environment for the children. All of our teams came together at the Holiday Inn in Norwich. It was a day of collaboration, learning, and laughs. Our staff were treated to breakfast, lunch and everyone received some goodies to take home. All of our staff were also recognized for their dedication to Carelot and the Children they teach!
Here's a glimpse of what the training included:
Interpersonal Dynamics with David Vasquenza from Wins For Life! Great Motivational session!
Active Supervision with Positive Interactions to Extend Children's Learning for the Infant and Toddler Teams presented by Leanna Niesyn and Preschool and School age Teams presented by Carrie Gray
Communicating with Confidence and Clarity for the Leadership Team presented by Scott Noyes from Empowering Programs
Supporting Positive Social Emotional Development of young Children presented by Scott Noyes
Hip Hop, Hippety Hop presented by Austin Dailey- Team building and motivational end to the day!
We believe that continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth, and we are committed to providing our educators with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in their roles.
A huge shout out to Heidi Pafias, Carelot's Education Consultant for putting together such a dynamic day of team building and learning!
At Carelot Children's Center, our administrative team is dedicated to providing exceptional care and educational experiences for every child. Their leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment ensure that our programs operate smoothly and effectively.
Our administrative team’s passion for early childhood education and family engagement drives our mission forward. Together, they create an environment where children thrive, families feel supported, and staff are empowered to succeed. They truly embody the Carelot spirit — a mix of professionalism, care, and a little bit of fun.
Meet our Executive Directors
Heather Hunter-Cable- Clubhouse Programs
Susan Purcell- East Lyme and Waterford Programs
- With 26 years of service, Susan’s strategic vision and dedication have been pivotal in guiding Carelot's growth and success. When she’s not leading with wisdom, you’ll find her strategizing the perfect team-building activity!
Danielle Daignault- Killingly and Brooklyn Programs
With 16 years of service, Danielle brings innovative ideas and a solution-focused approach to her role, enhancing our programs and services. She's the person who makes it all happen — and does so with a smile.
Meet our Directors/Site Managers
Lorraine Lee- Clubhouse
Sokie Soriano- East Lyme Center
With 16 years of service, Sokie’s exceptional organizational skills and positive attitude ensure that each site operates seamlessly, providing a nurturing environment for children. She’s the go-to person when you need something done right, and right now.
Kelly Dahl- Waterford Center
With 18 years of service, Kelly's attention to detail and commitment to efficiency contribute significantly to the quality of our programs. With 18 years of service, Kelly’s attention to detail and commitment to efficiency help maintain the high standards we’re known for. She’s the one who ensures everything is in order and runs like clockwork — and that’s no small feat!
Tasha Doyon- Killingly
Jen Lepine- Brooklyn Center
With 5 years of experience at Carelot, Jen's commitment to perfection is unmatched. She’s the one who makes sure every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed — no detail is too small for her. If something needs to be perfect, Jen is your go-to person!
Meet our Administrative Assistants: The "voices" of Carelot when you call!
Anne Mintzer-Alvarado
As an Administrative Assistant and our Enrollment Coordinator with 7 years of service, Anne is often the first friendly face families encounter. Her organizational skills and dedication to helping families transition smoothly into our programs are unmatched — and she’ll always greet you with a smile.
Patricia McDonald
A message from Holly Bevilacqua, COO
Dear Carelot Families,
What an exciting month it is! This marks a monumental milestone for Carelot as we celebrate our 27th anniversary! We are filled with gratitude for the journey we’ve shared with all of you — our families, children, and dedicated staff. Thank you for making Carelot the wonderful place it is, where connections are made, friendships bloom, and our little ones thrive.
It’s truly special to see families who’ve been with us since the beginning in 1998. Some of those children have returned to Carelot as staff members, or have now enrolled their own children, which speaks to the lasting trust and relationships we’ve built over the years.
As we look ahead to 2024, we are thrilled to share exciting events and new memories with you. Stay tuned for some fantastic celebrations, programs, community events, and more in the months to come.
Parent-Teacher Conferences:
A heartfelt thank you to all the families and staff who have worked so hard to prepare for our upcoming parent-teacher conferences. Whether it’s by phone, Zoom, or in person, we greatly appreciate your participation. Please make sure you’ve had your conference with your child’s teacher and completed any necessary paperwork. These conferences are an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and work together to support their education and development.
Important Reminder: This is the first of two times this year we will be providing formal written reports, so your involvement is crucial in shaping your child’s educational journey.
Open Communication:
We believe that open communication between home and school is the foundation of great education and the best care for your children. Our goal is to align your expectations and home practices with ours to create the most supportive environment possible. We encourage you to review your child’s developmental portfolio, which can be found in the black binders with your child’s name in the classroom. We think you’ll be amazed at their growth!
Teacher’s Dedication:
Our incredible teachers have been working hard to assess and guide the children in our care. While it may seem like playtime in the classroom, every activity is designed to help children develop socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically. Our teachers craft thoughtful, academically sound lesson plans while nurturing each child’s growth. Please continue to engage with our teachers daily — your feedback is vital to supporting your child’s development.
Some Friendly Reminders
As we strive to provide the best possible care and education for your children, we would like to bring your attention to some important reminders regarding our scheduling policies.
1. Schedule Changes: Our staff is scheduled based on the hours you have contracted with Carelot. If there are any changes needed to your contracted hours, we kindly ask that you reach out to your site manager or Executive Director at the earliest convenience or complete the change form on our webstie. This ensures proper staffing and allows us to maintain the high standards of care we are committed to providing.
2. Drop-off Time: For the consistency and optimal early education experience for your child, we encourage you to adhere to your scheduled drop-off times. In the event that your child will be arriving late, please make sure to notify the center by 9 am. This allows us to adjust staffing accordingly and ensures the smooth functioning of our programs.
3. Pick-up Time: Many of our dedicated staff members have families or other commitments after their shifts end or the center closes. We kindly request that you adhere to your contracted hours for pick-up and be respectful of the center's closing hours. This ensures a smooth transition for our staff and helps maintain a positive environment for all families.
Your cooperation in following these guidelines is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your site manager or Executive Director.
Extra clothes and outdoor attire:
Please check your child’s extra clothes bin for warm clothes and updated sizes. We also remind you to please send your child with hats, mittens, snow boots, snow pants, gloves and warm jackets as we do go outside daily for some fresh air!
Our Calendar is full of excitement
We will be closed!
Question of the month: What is one thing that makes Carrelot special to your family, and how do you feel supported by our community?
Don't forget to submit your answers! You can win a $25 tuition credit!
It's easy to win by clicking below and submitting your answer!
Thanks for helping us make our programs better! Without everyone’s input, we are not able to effectively assess how our programs are doing! We appreciate you taking the time to help us assess our policies, procedures, curriculum, and more!
January Winner: Congrats to Narciss Green from our Waterford Center who won the January question. Thanks for submitting your feedback!
What do you feel is the most important aspect of a childcare program?
The most important aspect is open communication and willingness to work with parents, especially when it comes to potty training. We’ve had an amazing potty training transition with Carelot with our son and are so happy his teachers are open to working with us on a schedule to ensure success!
Teaching children to take care of themselves such as putting on their own clothing, pouring water, etc.
I feel that the most important part of a childcare program is creating a safe, caring, and engaging space where kids can grow physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally. It should give children a strong, positive foundation, making them feel appreciated, understood, and encouraged to explore and reach their potential.
The most important part of a childcare program is fostering a safe environment for the children where children and parents alike feel comfortable coming to staff with questions, concerns, or ideas for innovation.
Communication. I feel that in everything from childcare to marriage to friendships to jobs communication is key. Good communication fosters good everything else.
Having actual Connections with families, the children and co-worker. Having face time develops relationships that help us collaborate and create atmospheres that are nurturing and inviting. THis makes difficult conversations with families a bit more easy, a better understanding of the mechanics of your room when you know the children's temperaments and create a bigger support system with peers.
Consistency. Between the routines, communication, and learnings. Which you guys are doing a great job at! It’s why we love Carelot (Killingly) haha
Thank you for your feedback!
Fun and Learning through January!
PTO news....
2025 kicked off in full swing with our co-sponsorship of the Carelot Children's Center Annual In-service day for the staff!!! Staff from all of our programs participated in a day of professional development and curriculum planning made possible in part by the generosity of our PTO and Carelot!! The experience and information gained at in-service day come directly back to our children and their families through our teachers! We are proud to have been able to support such a wonderful day for the staff!!!!
A glimpse of Inservice Day!
Congratulations
Lynne received her Head Teacher Certification for our Clubhouse programs!
All around Carelot……….
As we celebrate the month of love, Carelot Children’s Center is sending a heart full of warm wishes for a Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️ We can’t wait to share the love with our little ones — don't forget to sign up for the classroom celebrations, where there will be plenty of fun, friendship, and, of course, treats!
A huge thank you to all the families who joined us for Family Conferences in January! We hope you enjoyed the one-on-one time with your child's teachers and found it as insightful as a sweet Valentine’s card. Your partnership helps us create a nurturing and supportive environment for each child’s early learning journey, and for that, we are forever grateful.
Our classrooms have been buzzing with excitement as we focus on early learning standards and developmental milestones. We encourage you to peek into your child’s portfolio and be amazed at the incredible progress they’re making. It’s like finding little gems of growth and development!
In February, we’re turning up the love and kindness! Our theme of the month will guide us through lessons on compassion, while our Preschoolers explore a new letter of the alphabet each week. Get ready for a month filled with heartwarming activities and learning experiences! Be sure to check our calendar of events so you don’t miss a thing!
Save the date for Valentine’s parties in each classroom on February 14th. Your little ones can look forward to special snacks, exciting activities, and of course, sharing the love with their friends. It’s going to be a day full of smiles and giggles!
Looking ahead, we’re already planning an exciting summer at Carelot! We’ll be offering both our Preschool Camp and a Camp for School-Age children in grades K-5. Spots are limited, so don’t wait too long to register! Keep an eye out for sign-up details later this month — you won’t want to miss out on all the summer fun!
Carelot Children's Center, Inc.
"Building Strong Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning"
Providing education to Children ages 3 months to 12 years!
Email: adminassist@carelot.net
Website: www.carelot.net
Location: 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT, United States
Phone: 860-739-1993
Facebook: facebook.com/carelotctr