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The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
September 2023- Back to School Issue
A message from Holly Bevilacqua, COO
Happy September everyone! It is back-to-school time and I can't wait to see all of your back-to-school pictures of your classrooms. Thank you for sharing and contributing! I love the collaboration and sharing that is happening on our Private Staff Facebook page! What amazing educators you all are! Don't forget this is also a page to ask questions, get ideas for curriculum, ask for guidance, or share ideas and feedback.
Thank you for your extra patience this time of year. The key to making Carelot successful is working together and open communication! We appreciate your flexibility & understanding with new enrollments, staff changes, and spruce-ups! Transitions can be difficult for everyone- especially for our families. What seems routine to us and the "norm" can be a bit overwhelming to a parent dropping off or picking up their child. Please take the time to communicate with them! Say hello, offer a quick tidbit of the child's day, and make them feel welcome. Welcome the new families in with open arms and assure them they made the right choice in choosing Carelot!
Communication is key! During this time of year especially, transitions of children, families, and staff may cause some uneasiness so please be open with your communication with each other and your families. Just communicating clearly will alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress….Remember to utilize The Procare Connect APP! This is the main platform that you are to use for texting, emailing, and communicating with families.
Thank you for your dedication!
Sokie- East Lyme- 15 years!! Congratulations
Lynn- Clubhouse- 14 years!
Courtney-Clubhouse 6 years!
Victoria- East Lyme- 5 years
Mia- Clubhouse- 1 year
Celebrate you!
9/3- Tiffany- Waterford
9/6- Adam - Corporate Maintenance
9/11- Stephanie- Corp Administration
9/12- Tasha- Killingly & Naomi- Clubhouse
9/15- Maralex- Killingly/Brooklyn & Katherine- Waterford
9/26- Marina- East Lyme
A little humor for the week!
Reminders
Interaction on the playgrounds is very important. Remember the outside is an extension of your classroom. Have fun with it. SUPERVISION IS MANDATORY> It is not a time to socialize or use it as a break. Plan interactive gross motor activities like the parachute, ball games, bubbles, etc. Staff are to interact and not be sitting and watching the children. This is a learning environment as well as the classroom.
Lesson/Newsletters: When you complete your lesson plans, it is important that you execute what you have planned and what is on the programming calendar. Parents get this information and share the activities with their children. Also, All lesson plans should be completed with the new format- Newsletters should also be completed by all programs- These are details to the families about what Curriculum standards are being met in your classrooms. Please refer to the Creative Curriculum books and CT ELDS standards for guidance. ALL blocks on the lesson plans are to be completed in their entirety. These are not only required per Carelot policies on Curriculum but also by NAEYC and TVCCA. Lesson plans are to be posted on your classroom family boards. They will be observed when visits are made by Administrators, NAEYC accreditation visits, OEC, and TVCCA visits.
Clean Children: Children are to be presentable when they get picked up. Check that they have clean faces, hands, clothing/diapers if applicable. We never know what a parent has plans for when they leave the center.
Clean out the children’s mailboxes on Friday or the last scheduled day for that child. If you notice that a child’s mailbox is full….tell the parent or put the items in their lunch box, backpacks, or diaper bags. Verbally remind!
LABEL all cleaners and bleach bottles. Cleaners need to be kept locked up! This includes Lysol, and disinfecting wipes too.
Name badges, Carelot attire, or aprons must be worn during work hours at ALL times! If you do not have a name badge or have lost yours, please see your site director.
If you need a new uniform or would like to order some of our Carelot Attire, please complete an order form and return it to the corporate office.
Quiet space idea
Comfy space for children
Science fall theme idea
Uniforms- Now accepting orders through 10/1/2023
Hot News
" What would you like to see added to the playground at your program?"
Submit answers by clicking the link below by September 25th!
AUGUST WINNER:- The winner is: Ms. Patty A. from our East Lyme Preschool program!
Thank you for taking the time to answer the question of the month. You will get a $20 cash bonus on your next check!
All staff can have a chance to win cash! Just submit an answer!
NAEYC NEWS...
How are your classroom portfolios going? I know you are doing a great job proving to an outside visitor what an amazing educational experience the children are getting in your classroom.
NOTE: CPR/1st Aid class will be held in BROOKLYN
Bulletin Board Winners- $50 to spend on your classroom- Give your list to your executive directors
Waterford- Preschool
Brooklyn- Frogs
Killingly- Preschool
TFS- Ms. Heather
Health Care plans and Alert Lists
Alerts for allergies and medical issues- Each center must have an updated list of children with allergies and medical issues that are determined by reviewing each child’s health forms (health assessment, child fact sheet and emergency form). All allergies and medical concerns must have a corresponding health plan that is signed by the nurse consultant and family along with each staff member responsible for that child’s care. Alert lists must be posted in each classroom on the inside of a clearly labeled cabinet for confidentiality. A copy must be kept in the front of each classrooms emergency book and in the center information book.
Health Care Plans: If there are any special concerns, health issues, allergies noted for a child, a Health Care Plan will need to be completed by the parents and nurse. Once this has been completed ALL the staff must review each health care plan and sign it. This form will then be filed in the Health Care Plan book for Children.
If you are a substitute, please be sure you are asking about any health or medical or allergy alerts you need to be aware of when you are in a classroom. It is your responsibility to also review the alert list and any health plans and sign off on them as well.
Classroom Appearance and Environment
Objectives
- Distinguish between spaces for group activities, privacy, storage, and display.
- Learn ways to make environments feel homelike and create provocations.
- Describe how to organize materials for independence, easy use, and learning.
- Design engaging and well-organized indoor environments for preschoolers.
Dramatic Play idea
Add some fire safety in your cars area
Add some black water beads or bugs to your slime!
Portfolios and Assessments
Portfolios are kept for each child at Carelot. These are not only tools for your assessments, but a positive remembrance for parents of their child’s early learning years! Please be positive when recording your monthly info. Think of how you would feel reading it from a parent’s standpoint. If something negative is occurring, please utilize the behavior plan and Behavior support forms. Please be sure that you also have updated paperwork for the 1st collection of portfolios for the Fall collections.
These are key in planning lessons in your classrooms based on the children’s learning abilities!
Helping Children Get to Know Each Other—Try these songs, games, and strategies to help children get to know each other as a new school year begins.
Learn one another’s names
§ Sing songs that incorporate children’s names as a fun way for everyone to get to know one another. Try the chant “Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” or other songs that use children’s names. Children will join in, have a blast with the silly rhymes, and learn one another’s names all at the same time.
§ Play “Meetball,” a simple game with a funny name. As children pass a ball or beanbag to one other, the child who catches it introduces himself to the group. “Hi, I’m ______.” All of the other children respond, “Hello ______!” You can play this game at circle time, during transitions, and while outdoors.
Get to know one another’s families
§ Using family photo albums or posters, invite children to talk about their families and whatever is depicted in the photos. If some children are too shy to speak to the group, teachers can talk briefly about the child’s family while sharing the photos.
§ • Offer materials children can use to create frames for photos they bring in from home. Hang the framed photos on the walls to foster a welcoming atmosphere. Later invite children to talk about the photos of family and friends during group time.
Help children to make friends
§ • Try grouping children in different combinations during center or small group times.
§ • Invite pairs of children to complete a chore or take a special trip with you to the office or kitchen so they can get to know each other along the way.
§ • Encourage two children with similar interests to visit a center or do an activity together.
§ • Distribute a class list containing each family’s contact information (after getting their permission) so families can arrange play dates for their children outside of school.
§ • Organize a class picnic soon after the program year starts so children and families can get to know one another in a different setting.
§ • Lead games like “Ring around the Rosy” or “The Farmer in the Dell” with small groups of children on the playground.
Teaching Young Children / Preschool TYC.NAEYC.ORG 1
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