The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~ April 2022
A message from the Administrative Team
To our Carelot Staff Family,
Spring is in the air! Flowers are beginning to bloom, birds are singing and it is a time for a change! Growing is an important part of our Carelot environment and for that reason, we ask you to please let us know how things are going. As you well know, things cannot get fixed or improved if we don't work together by communicating with one another. Please take the time to talk with your supervisors, program coordinators, site managers, and directors to team up together to build a strong foundation to work on resolutions! You have all been doing such a great job! Utilize your wish lists to communicate toys to replace, furniture, or items you want for your classrooms! Our question of the month is a great way for us to improve what is happening at Carelot! Be sure to participate to make your work experience positive! I am so proud of our company team and it is amazing to have each and every one of you on staff!!
National Volunteer Week is April 17-23! Try to get families to volunteer time. Plant flowers, help clean up the gardens or just plan a clean-up the playground day, read, come in to help with a project, take things home to cut out, and more!
Celebrate you!
4/20- Sue- South Executive Director
4/25- Lorraine- Clubhouse programs
4/26- Courtney- Clubhouse programs
Thank you for your dedication!
Ms. Sue celebrating 23 years with Carelot on April 6th.
11 years: Tasha - Killingly
5 years: Anne- Corporate
1 year - Naomi - Clubhouse
Thank you for all of your dedication and support over the years. You are truly appreciated for everything!!!!!
Summer camp 2022
Door Decoration Winners
Hot News
"If you could choose only 1 form of communication between Carelot and yourself, what form of communication would it be?"
Submit answers by April 25th! Use the link below
MARCH WINNER: Tina from Killingly! Congratulations and thank you for participating!
Last Month- "If you could choose one topic to teach to the children what would it be?"?
Here are a few answers we received!
- Life skills week. One day talk about growing your own vegetables, one day talk about cooking and baking etc. They are never too young to learn about things that they will need later on in life.
- Teach them to take breaks. Not quitting just putting it away and coming back to it.
- Communication with parents.
- Nurturing
- Positivity
- Awesome
- Anonymous Kindness
- An overall love of and eagerness to learn!
- Getting dressed
- Languages
Most likes on a curriculum facebook post- Ms. Nishel's painting class!!!!!
Around Carelot-
Schools are going back and we have now opened and our Before and After Care programs as well. Please spread the word and let families know we are here for them.
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!
NAEYC NEWS...
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®. Get inspired by what NAEYC’s affiliate leaders and partners did in 2019 to move beyond "thanks and recognition." Also, don't forget to access the new 2021 Proclamation Toolkit (Coming Soon!), an easy-to-use resource that will help you secure a proclamation to educate the public, bring attention to our issues, and provide an effective advocacy tool for the future!
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. Check out how one center set up an exhibition last year in their student center.
- Include information about high-quality care as part of your art displays in the 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 #woyc21.
- 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. See how the The Akron Art Museum and the NAEYC's MaineAEYC engaged their communities last year.
SELL! SELL! SELL!
Don't miss it! 4/21
Let's have some fun! 4/4 to 4/8
OEC regulation: Diapering- 19a-79-10d (3)(e)
(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.
Policy reminders
Reminders:
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!
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.
Bulletin board of the week
Sink or Float?
Training Sessions on the website
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.
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