Vote for your favorites in more than 200 categories! CARELOT HAS BEEN NOMIATED FOR BEST CHILDCARE AND BEST PRESCHOOL!

This year, we invite you to vote for your favorites among the top 5 nominations in each category. You can vote once per day, per category, so get started!

After voting closes, we will announce the top 3 finalists in each category. We will celebrate the winners at an invitation-only event in July and in a special edition of Fall on the Shoreline published in your local paper and online.

Contest voting is open from April 7-April 28, 2024 (at 11:59 p.m.)
Winners will be announced during the first weekend of August in Fall on the Shoreline magazine

How to cast your vote:

1. Choose a category (i.e.: Food & Dining)
2. Select a subcategory (i.e.: Bakery)
3. Click "vote" next to the entrant you wish to vote for

To our Carelot Team,

Spring has sprung, and with it comes a sense of renewal and growth! As the flowers bloom and the birds serenade us with their melodies, it's the perfect time for a change.

At Carelot, we believe that growth is essential, not just for the beautiful plants around us, but for our community too. That's why we're reaching out to you, our valued team members, to hear your thoughts and ideas. After all, communication is the cornerstone of progress.

Please take a moment to connect with your supervisors, program coordinators, site managers, and directors. Together, let's build a strong foundation for collaboration and problem-solving. Your input is invaluable in helping us make Carelot an even better place for everyone.

Don't forget to utilize your wish lists to communicate any needs or ideas for your classrooms. Whether it's new toys, furniture, or classroom supplies, your feedback matters!

Our question of the month is another opportunity for you to contribute to the positive evolution of Carelot. Your participation is key to shaping your work experience in a meaningful way.

On another note, mark your calendars for National Volunteer Week, April 21-27! We encourage you to engage families in volunteering activities such as planting flowers, garden clean-ups, or playground maintenance. Together, we can make a difference not only within our Carelot community but also in the wider world.

I want to take a moment to express my pride in our incredible team. Each and every one of you plays a vital role in making Carelot the nurturing environment it is. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!

Here's to a season of growth, collaboration, and positive change!

Question of the Month:

"What is your favoite way to receive communication- walking notes, emails, facebook staff page, staff website, programming calendar, other?"

Submit answers by April 25th! Use the link below

MARCH WINNER: Lorraine from Clubhouse! Congratulations and thank you for participating!

March was such an exciting month and so many creative Art masterpieces were created. We can't wait for the Art show to display your children's works of art for families and friends. We will also have an ice cream social as well to celebrate our families!

Our summer camp program is also being planned with some very exciting themes for the children. Incoming programming and activities are in the works for a summer filled with fun!

Dear Team,

As we gear up for some sunny outdoor adventures with the children, it's time to bring out the creativity and revitalize our playgrounds! We want to transform our outdoor spaces into vibrant hubs of learning and fun for our little ones.

We encourage each and every one of you to bring your innovative ideas to the table. Let's make outdoor learning an exhilarating experience for the children. Whether it's adding new play structures, creating themed areas, or incorporating educational elements into our playgrounds, your ideas are what will bring magic to our outdoor spaces.

To get the creative juices flowing, we suggest taking a peek at Pinterest. There's a treasure trove of inspiring ideas waiting to be discovered. From DIY projects to sensory play setups, the possibilities are endless!

Please take some time to explore Pinterest and gather ideas that resonate with you. Once you've found something that sparks your imagination, don't hesitate to share it with the team. We'll compile all the suggestions and work together to bring these ideas to life.

Let's make this a collaborative effort where everyone's input is valued. Your creativity and passion are what will make our playgrounds shine brighter than ever before.

Please submit your ideas by [insert deadline] so we can start planning and making these exciting changes happen.

Thank you for your dedication to creating enriching experiences for the children in our care. Together, we'll make our outdoor spaces truly special places for learning, laughter, and endless adventures.

The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, and families.

Music Monday

Music Monday is more than singing and dancing, it’s a way to encourage children to be active while developing their early literacy skills and having fun with friends and family!

Step It Up Activity

Make sure your state and local elected officials are all singing from the same songbook! Join the chorus for change and work with your states’ Affiliates to help policymakers sign proclamations that honor and advance the early childhood education profession as part of the WOYC®. Also, don't forget to access the 2024 Proclamation Toolkit

Tasty Tuesday

Tasty Tuesday isn’t just about eating your favorite snacks together. It’s also about cooking together and connecting math with literacy skills and science while introducing ways to incorporate healthy habits into children’s lifestyles. Use the tips, resources, and recipes below to get started.

Step It Up Activity

Explore the culture specific foods that the young children in your classroom may enjoy at home. Connect with families by engaging them in the history and tradition of meals from their countries of origin. Consider having families share a story or recipe about their favorite dish and the history behind it. Introduce your class to new ingredients and discuss where they are grown. Create a recipe book using images the children draw and share the book with the community. The creative opportunities are as endless as the meals themselves

Work Together Wednesday

When children build together they experience teamwork and develop their social and early literacy skills. Grab some materials and create!

Step It Up Activity

The young children in your classroom aren’t the only ones who succeed when they work together. Take a moment to join NAEYC in advancing our profession by signing up for Power to the Profession; supporting your peers through the discussions on HELLO; reaching out to elected officials about the importance of investing in ECE; or inviting someone new to become a member. Working together makes us stronger together, and that means the impact we make can be monumental!

Artsy Thursday

Children develop creativity, social skills, and fine muscles with open-ended art projects that let them make choices, use their imaginations, and create with their hands.

Step It Up Activity

Find ways to display your classroom’s art projects for the community to see, and while you have their attention, educate them about the importance of high-quality early childhood education. Here are some suggestions to get started:

• Set up a gallery at a local business or public library to share your classroom art creations.
• Include information about high-quality care as part of your art displays in community. Need brochures? Visit our online store: NAEYC.org/shop.
• Create a digital gallery on social media or on your program’s website. Share using the hashtag #WOYC24.
• Create a print book to share with the community. Tip: Sell the book for fundraising your trip to an NAEYC conference!

Family Friday

Parents and families are children’s first teachers. Family Friday focuses on engaging families to support our youngest learners.

Step It Up Activity

Extend your NAEYC family! The early childhood education community doesn’t end outside the doors of your classroom. Connect with your local affiliate, encourage families to join our Family level membership, learn how to engage with your local policymakers, and more! There are endless opportunities to keep your entire community in-the-know about early childhood education.

Diapering and toileting:

(1) The diapering area shall be an elevated sturdy table or counter equipped with a safety rail.

(2) Infants and toddlers shall be diapered at a diapering area used only for this purpose and located in the program area.

(3) Each diapering area shall have a non-porous surface and be kept in good repair.

(4) Diapering areas shall be washed and disinfected after each use.

(5) Disposable paper sheets shall be used and discarded immediately after each diapering.

(6) A covered washable lined waste receptacle shall be available and located in a convenient place for soiled waste material. These materials shall be removed to an exterior waste storage area at least daily.

(7) The hands of the staff and the children shall be washed before and after each diaper change.

(8) Diapering and [handwashing] hand washing policies and procedures shall be posted in each diapering area.

(9) Disposable diapers shall be discarded in a covered receptacle immediately after diapering.

(10) When cloth diapers or training pants are used, a plan for their use and care shall be submitted to and approved by the [Department] department prior to implementation of the plan.

This plan shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, these procedures:

(A) placing soiled clothing and diapers in a sealed air tight container,

(B) removing soiled clothing and diapers from the child day care center or group day care home daily, and

(C) cleaning and sanitizing the container daily.

Labeling: Be sure that ALL children’s bottles, sippy cups, and lunch items are CLEARLY labeled with the child’s name! It is imperative in case someone else covers in your room for breaks or an emergency that everything is clearly labeled to prevent any accidents! Have extra permanent markers on hand for your families to label items at drop off.

Gloves: when wearing gloves remember to be aware of what you are touching with the gloves to prevent the spread of disease and germs. For Example, If you wear a glove to wipe a nose and then touch the doorknob, you have now contaminated that doorknob. The same goes for diaper changing etc.

TOY Swap Reminder: Check with other centers or classrooms within your centers to trade/swap toys/materials to add some variety to your classrooms! This also helps as the children's development changes over time you can challenge their development with more complex items in your room. Our Facebook page is a great place to search for items that you can trade within the programs.

Orientation Sessions- Training for basic Carelot Policies are located on the website and all staff are required to complete these. Check with your site manager if you are unsure of what you may need.

Health and Safety- One-time class: ALL staff will be required to take a mandated health and safety course. I have provided the link below. The state is tracking this so it is not a Carelot requirement. It will be recorded on CCAC for OEC. Everyone must have this class completed within 90 days of hire. The class is 5 hours of online training if you hold a CPR/1st Aid and Medication Certifications. If you do not hold all of these certifications, you will be required to take an 18-hour online class. This class MUST BE COMPLETED to work in our program as per the CT OEC.

"Building Strong Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning"

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