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The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~ December 2023
A message from Holly Bevilacqua, COO
I would like to extend warm wishes for a Happy Holiday Season to you all! I am so proud of our amazing team here at Carelot and appreciate all that you do for the children and families. Your dedication and commitment to ECE is top notch!!! Bravo to each and everyone of you!
It is so impressive to see our Facebooks posts of our little ones in action! I hope you take the opportunity to keep sharing and learning from one another! Share! Share! Share! The Facebook posts only prove what amazing learning is happening throughout our programs! We all look forward to what everyone has to share and new ideas each day!
Because the holiday week is usually low in enrollment, plan on getting caught up on lessons, cleaning, and organizing your rooms and it is also a great time to put together those wish list items. What you add to your wish list is a wish for your classroom no matter how big or small!
ENROLLMENT! This is a great time to so spread the word that we have openings. Let’s fill our classrooms and reach our enrollment goals! Killingly and Brooklyn - All ages- Waterford and East Lyme- PreK only-
Thank you for your dedication!
5 years: Anne Marie- East Lyme & Shai- East Lyme
4 Years: Noah- Waterford
2 Years: Ciara- East Lyme & Marina- EL/Clubhouse/Wtfd
1 Year: Lashondra- Killingly/Brooklyn & Maralex- Killingly/Brooklyn
Celebrate you!
Jayda- Wtfd- 12/13
Heidi- Ed. Consultant- 12/17
Kyah- Wtfd- 12/19
Lashondra- Wtfd- 12/24
Heather–Clubhouse– 12/26
Kendra- EL- 12/28
Kelsey- Brook- 12/30
Holly– Corp– 12/31
A little humor for the week!
Hot News
"WHAT SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT DO YOU HAVE FOR CARELOT IN 2024 ?
Submit answers by simply clicking the link below by December 25th!
Last Month's Entries:
The winner is Hailey in East Lyme !!! She has won $20! Thanks for participating!
All staff can have a chance to win cash!
Here are the answers to November's question:
I am thankful this time of year for being able to be part of the staff at Carelot Learning Center. I continue to see the sincere care and concern everyone has for one another. There exists a high level of kindness and respect for each other. The staff is willing to help you when need be and share curriculum ideas for the children. The above carries down to the parents, caregivers and children. We are a successful learning center, in large part to the overall happy environment displayed here at Carelot. I am one grateful teacher!
Flexibility! Especially as someone who will be a new mom soon, it’s comforting to know our bosses are so understanding and accommodating!
NAEYC NEWS...
The classrooms are looking great! Remember to have all necessary items in your classroom to meet curriculum requirements. Below is a link to a list of items that we look for when we visit classrooms- Also, please utilize the wish list for toys that need replacement or that you are missing to meet curriculum standards in your classrooms.
Continuing Education for this month!
Accuracy is Key! Communication is Key!
Accurate information. Remember when talking with Parents, they believe you know all the policies and procedures of the company. Please be sure you are relaying accurate information and when in doubt refer to your handbooks!
Remember to treat families with courtesy and respect. Arguing will get you nowhere! When in doubt, refer families to your center administrator or the site manager for clarification. It is your job as educators and caregivers to work together with your families. Talk to them about how their child is doing at home, find out if there are any concerns they may have or ideas? Also, be sure you are communicating to them about their childs portfolios and how they can review them anytime to see how their child is doing!
Our Annual NAEYC surveys have gone out to the families. Many coming in are saying No or Don't Know about basic policies. Communication is the key. I will share survey results when they are completed in a couple of weeks. Talk to your families. Get to know them and make them feel as if their feedback and family life/values are important to the education of their child.
Reminders:
- Reminders to Families: It is important that you all encourage our families to take part in all of the center and PTO events and activities! Verbal Communication is the KEY to generating participation! We are getting back to incorporating some family fun in the programs! Encourage your families to particate - a great way to meet other families.
- Please be sure that you are following the Calendar of Events! There are many events during the month of December to enhance your curriculum and meet your NAEYC standards! Communicate with each other and share ideas!
- Days off: Any request for time off must be completed by filling out a REQUEST FOR LEAVE form two (2) weeks prior to the day you are requesting. It is suggested that you put a 1st and 2nd choice of dates so that if there is a conflict or if 2 staff want the same date, we are able to grant days accordingly. Checking with our substitutes and writing in who is able to cover you on your requested day off is also helpful in scheduling your day off once approved. Forms can be found on the Carelot Website.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences are just around the corner~ Please be sure that you have completed all of your required paperwork for your children’s portfolios so you are properly prepared to complete Conference paperwork
- Take the children outside! It’s still nice out and not to cold. Children should be outside running around and enjoying the fresh air. Remind the parents to bring in hats and mittens. GO OUTSIDE!!!!
- NAEYC classroom portfolios– Waterford is awaiting a visit by an accessor. Please ensure your portfolios are complete.
Join us!
Incentives
Holiday Parties
This month is the best time to plan activities and special events in your classroom! There are so many ways to include your families in the holiday season. Have them cut out items at home for you, ask them to share a favorite family recipe and then re-create it in your classroom, have them share their favorite holiday story, let them help with a holiday project, go caroling around the center, help with putting on a play to perform for others and much more! Get creative! Your site managers/executive directors take the time to plan special events but don’t stop there…add more fun and excitement to your classroom curriculum! Idea: Hold a Play or fun music concert!
Baking with Children—(Math, Science, and Social Studies)
The holidays are a wonderful time for traditions! Whether you are making new ones or handing them down to the next generation , traditions make families closer. Every culture has something to share and food ties it all together.
Cook with your children through the holiday season, not only will they learn wonderful math (measurement) and science skills (cooking experiments), but they will also learn who they are and where their family is from (social studies).
If you do not have any family traditions but would like to begin one or two, start with something you like to do or have alwa ys wanted to do and just have fun doing it!
Looking ahead into January
Diversity activities teach young children to respect and celebrate the differences in all people. Learning about different cultural aspects offers new experiences for children.
It also helps them realize that we’re all humans, despite differences in how we look or dress, or what we eat or celebrate. Games and activities offer a fun way for young children to learn about differences and similarities among people and to introduce the concept of diversity. All types of differences such as race, religion, language, traditions, and gender can be introduced this way.
When do children notice differences between people? At about age 2 years, children begin to notice gender and racial differences. At 2 ½ or so, children learn gender labels (boy/girl) and the name of colors – which they begin to apply to skin color. Around 3 years of age, children notice physical disabilities. At about 4-5 years, they start to display gender-appropriate behavior and become fearful of differences.
Infant Sleep Position Policy 3.C.03
3.C.03 - Staff are to ensure that the rails on the crib are up and locked and secured (if the sides go down)
3.C.03- Teachers, assistant teachers, or floaters/substitutes are aware of, and positioned so they can hear and see, any sleeping children for whom they are responsible, especially when they are actively engaged with children who are awake.
Infants, unless otherwise ordered by a physician, are placed on their backs to sleep on a firm surface manufactured for sale as infant sleeping equipment that meets the standards of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. (This indicator is required of all programs with infants.) Infants are defined here as 12 months of age or younger.
Pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft items are not allowed in cribs or rest equipment for infants younger than eight months. A sleep sack may be used in replacement of a blanket.
For Infants under 12 months of age: When infants can easily turn over from the supine (back position) to the prone position (stomach), they shall be put down to sleep on their back, but allowed to adapt whatever position they prefer for sleep.
DPH: Unless the child has written documentation from a physician, physician’s assistant, or advanced nurse practiced registered nurse specifying a medical reason for alternative sleep positioning, infants under 12 months shall be placed in the supine (back) position for sleeping to lower the risk of SIDS.
DPH: Unless the doctor specifies the need for a positioning device that restricts movement within the child’s crib, such devices shall not be used.
To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): 5.A.12
In-service Resources
How many continuing education hours do you have???? Please check in with your Center
Administrators to make sure you meet the Office of Early Childhood Licensing Requirements– 1% of your total annual hours! For example, if you work 40 hours per week 52 weeks a year, you annual hours are 2,080, therefore you would need to have a minimum of 21 hours of in-service training hours per year.
All staff need to be First Aid/CPR certified. Please arrange to attend a training held at Carelot or your Local Red Cross or American Heart Association. STAFF ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE LEFT ALONE WITH A GROUP OF CHILDREN IF THEY DO NOT HAVE CPR/1ST AID TRAINING AT ANY TIME!
Earn hours right from home! Free Video Series on Supporting Dramatic Play– Office of Early Childhood Education—OEC– CT The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood is pleased to present a series of videos supporting dramatic play in preschool and toddler settings. The videos are available for free online. In The Importance of Pretend Play, an early childhood expert stresses the influence dramatic play has on children’s learning and development across different domains. Four additional videos, listed below, demonstrate how teachers use their understanding of early childhood development to provide learning opportunities for children across multiple domains through various dramatic play centers. These videos feature preschool and toddler teachers across Connecticut.
· The Bakery – Supporting Children to Succeed in the Dramatic Play Center
· The Train Station – A Child-Created, Teacher-Facilitated Dramatic Play Center
· The Garden Center – A Child-Created, Teacher Modeled Dramatic Play Center
· We Can Clean, Too! – Supporting Pretend Play in the Toddler Room
All five videos can be accessed through this link: http://www.easternct.edu/cece/supporting-childrens-learning-in-dramatic-play-centers/ Please note that closed captioning is available in English and Spanish. While watching the videos, click on “settings” for the option to turn on subtitles in English or Spanish. These videos were developed by the Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut State University, and support the implementation of the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards.
Inservices 2024
Curriculum ideas
Colorful Holiday Lights -(Science)
This is the time of year when we use bright, colorful lights to decorate our homes for holidays and that makes it a great time to talk to children about color and light.
Playing with Shadows: Turn off the lights, and turn on your flashlight. Have your child stand in front of a wall and hold up their hands. Shine the flashlight on their hands and point out their hands' shadows on the wall. Show your child how to position their hands to make shadow animals and other designs. Make a Colorful "Lava" Lamp: This is a cool experiment to do with young children. Ask your child to measure and add the ingredients.
Make Colored Lights: You will need a flashlight, red, blue, and yellow cellophane, scissors, tape, white paper or a wall.
Directions: Cut the cellophane so it will overlap the top of the flashlight a little and ask your child to tape it into place. Turn the flashlight on and shine it on white paper or a wall. The light should be the same color as the cellophane. What happens when you put two colors together? Ask your child to find out! When red and blue are mixed the light will be purple, yellow and blue make green, and yellow and red make orange.
Note: The cellophane may need to be doubled to really see the color.
Tips: A white light works best for this experiment and it's fun to do this in a dark room. No cellophane? No problem! You can print out red, blue, and yellow transparencies from your computer.
Snowflakes -(Science)
Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? This safe and simple experiment will start your child on the road to learning about crystals and you'll have a unique snowflake to display in your window when you are finished!
Grow Amaryllis-(Science)
Grow Amaryllis - It's a popular bulb plant that grows to a height of about 3 feet and blooms into a lily -looking flower in just 4 weeks at this time of year. Purchase a bulb and plant it in a pot. It will begin to grow almost as soon as you start to water it.
Note From Fran: My mom used to plant amaryllis with my daughter every year around Thanksgiving, and by Christmas it would be in full bloom. T he most fun part for my daughter was that my mom put the bulb in a clear container with water, and started it hydroponically! They would leave the bulb in a dark area and water it when needed. It was great fun to watch all the roots grow out of the bulb! Then they planted it in soil. Th ey also grew another flower, "Paper Whites," the same way.
Family Traditions and Festivals- (Social Sciences)
Discuss your family history with your children. Tell them about their ethnic origin and cultural heritage. Discuss family tra ditions and how they got started. Point out on a globe where their great-grandmother is from. All of these discussions help kids understand their place in the family, the extended family, the neighborhood, the community, their country, and the world. At the holiday dinner table ask the following questions of older relatives that will lead to a discussion of history:
· Did you have television or video games when you were young? If not, what did you do when you were bored?
· Did you have a favorite doll or toy?
· What was your favorite story when you were little?
· What kind of games did you play?
Their answers can lead to a wealth of knowledge and deeper appreciation for historical events. Use the video camera to record these memo-ries and preserve them for generations to come. They also make wonderful gifts for other family members.
Make A Family Tree with these simple instructions.
Do you celebrate any of these holidays? Denmark's St. Nicholas Day
Jewish Festival of Hanukkah
Sweden's Saint Lucia Day
Mexico's La Posada -- here are some Scholastic lesson plans
The African-American festival of Kwanza -- get lesson plans from Scholastic. The Winter Solstice
Scotland's Hogmanay
The arrival of Italy's Old Befana -- watch a short animated clip of La Befana. It's part of an introduction to an Italian website about La Befana. Get La Befana poems, printables, and coloring activities here.
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