PEEK AT THE WEEK

This week is staff appreciation week and I would like to express a very special thank you to all of our Davison Early Learning staff. Our latchkey, GSRP preschool, Cardinal's Nest preschool, and office staff deserve special recognition for all they do to create a safe and welcoming environment for our students and parents. Latchkey staff arrive very early to our sites each morning and stay late at our Cardinal's Nest, Gates, Hill, and Hahn sites to provide care for preschool through middle school students. Preschool staff spend many hours above and beyond their hours of employment to prepare the learning environment and curriculum activities in their classrooms for our youngest learners. The office staff keeps us organized with everything from arranging transportation, ordering supplies and food, keeping our medically fragile students safe and healthy, and working on registrations. These are just a few of the duties our staff devotes their time to each day. Some may not realize the education requirements and child care licensing rules that early learning staff abide by in order to provide a high quality environment for our Little Cardinal's. Kudos to all of you! I hope you all feel appreciated by the special events planned for you this week.

It will be an exciting day on Monday at the Cardinal's Nest. The State's AdvancEd team will be visiting the District and Cardinal's Nest will be included in the visit for the first time. The schedule is attached below. All Cardinal's Nest staff should open it and look at the schedule. Classroom visiting times and teacher interview and parent interview times are noted. Lori and I have arranged for a floating sub to be available during the scheduled teacher interview time and other times throughout the day to provide coverage as needed. Let's put our best foot forward and welcome the visiting team to the Cardinal's Nest!

We will once again be offering extended latchkey care at the Cardinal's Nest, Hill, Gates, and Hahn on Wednesday, May 8th due to the District's early release day. Latchkey supervisors, please email your early release day sign up sheets to office staff by Tuesday, May 7th.

Michelle Edwards sent an email to staff regarding Early Release Day Dismissal times. They are as follows:

• GSRP Program and Cardinal's Nest Preschool Building: AM Classes attend and release at normal busing and parent transport dismissal times; No PM Classes
• Hahn Intermediate School: 12:19 p.m.
• Central Elementary: 1:28 p.m.
• Gates Elementary: 1:43 p.m.
• Hill Elementary: 1:28 p.m.
• Siple Elementary: 1:43 p.m.
• Thomson Elementary: 1:28 p.m.

Monday, May 6th- AdvancEd visits Cardinal's Nest, Pledge of Allegiance at the Board of Education Meeting- please arrive by 6:50- Early Learning staff and students

Tuesday, May 7th- County Center Director's meeting (Susan and Lori), 4:00 appt in GB (Susan)

Wednesday, May 8th- GSRP county advisory meeting a.m. (Susan), Early Release Day PD for all Cardinal's Nest and preschool staff 1:00-3:00 in room 3 @ GSRP, 3:00-4:00- GSRP staff and social committee meeting, 4:00 Davison Library Board meeting

Thursday, May 9th- General Admin. meeting 9:30 (Susan), classroom supply and summer camp ordering meeting 2:00 p.m. (Susan, Carrie, Lori, and Emily), Baby shower for Megan Romanik

Friday, May 10th- Intake appointments @ GSRP, Hahn latchkey visit to take care of refrigerated snack storage

May 6- 'H' Day- wear a HAT

May 7- 'I' Day- Ice Cream or Icee Day

May 8- 'J' Day - JUNK art creations

May 9- 'K' Day- Fly a KITE

May 16th- IEPs at GSRP- room 1 ECSE/GSRP classroom

May 22nd- IEPs at Cardinal's Nest

May 27th- Memorial Day No School for staff or students

May 28th-31st- Intersession 3.0

May 29th- GSRP intake appointments

June 12th- GSRP Family Farewell Dance and last day for GSRP students

June 13th- Home visits for GSRP begin

June 14th- Cardinal's Nest

June 20th- District end of year luncheon

Debbie Crawford subbing in a.m. at Hill latchkey May 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th-17th

Adrienne Vickerman and Jennie Lewandowski subbing May 9th, 10th, 13th-17th in p.m. @ Hill.

Kayla Hackney- and ? for early release latchkey at Hill this Wednesday, May 8th

Debbie Crawford subbing at Cardinal's Nest on Monday, May 6th to fill in where needed during AdvancEd visit.

Elaine Olson subbing at Cardinal's Nest during lunch to cover staff for AdvancEd visit.

This past week we received an awesome book collection donation from Katherine Manley. Katherine has been a paraprofessional at the middle school for many years and will be moving out of state at the end of this school year. The collection of books that she donated ranges from books that are appropriate for preschoolers to adults. I would like to invite all staff at GSRP, Cardinal's Nest, and latchkey sites to come see the book collection and take any books that you would like for your students or yourself. The books are in the GSRP office. When you have time, please stop by and check out the collection. Thank you to Katherine for this generous donation!

This week's tip from the Two Sisters Daily 5 CAFE

Mini Mind Breaks by

Carol Moehrle

We often wish we were somewhere else or doing something else. It’s not always possible to take a break and leave work or walk out of the classroom, but we can take a mini mind break to refocus.

Mini mind breaks are personal and can be taken at any time. You don’t have to physically go anywhere. Just let your mind drift to a happy place and feel the happy sense of calm this mental break brings you.

Here’s how it works:

Next time you need a break but can’t take one, start by taking a deep breath. Now imagine something that makes you happy. Imagine being at the beach or on a picnic. Imagine your favorite place to take a walk or get away. Imagine smiling and laughing with your children. When you imagine things that make you happy, your body releases endorphins, which makes you feel uplifted and will help you get through the day and the tasks at hand.

Positive thoughts do lead to a happier day. Practice mini mind breaks to stay positive and happy every day.

b-Resilient

Students in Robin Waite and Kaitlyn Crannie's classroom conducted a special experiment this past week for Experiment Day. This day was part of the ABC end of the year countdown at preschool.

GSRP staff and students didn't let the lousy weather interfere with fun on Field Day! Field Day was moved indoors and students were able to rotate between classrooms to enjoy the activities. Thanks to the staff for coming together and being flexible to what works for the best interest of our students.