The Sandcastle Times - Oct. 2024
"Building Strong Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning"
A message from Holly Bevilacqua, COO
WOW!!! Where did September go? It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming the start of the school year, and now the centers and clubhouse programs are back in full swing! The children are growing, exploring, and learning so much! Fall is such an exciting time of year. It's a season of transformation, and just as the leaves change from Summer to Fall, we’ve made some adjustments to our programs to better serve you and your children
Our leadership team were able to attend the CT associaton for the education of young children Leadership Conference last week. The event was a full day of trainings let by renowned early childhood educators. Valuable resources were gained from programs such as birth to three, the ct office of early childhood education, learn, early childhood consultation partnership, and more.
We are thrilled to host some fantastic family and community events over the next couple of months. Be sure to check them out—we can’t wait to see you and your family there!
I also wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of our referral program. Spread the word about our centers and programs, and you could earn a tuition credit! It’s a great way to help us grow our community and thank you for your support.
Have a wonderful October!
Warm regards,
Holly
Leadership day
Always learning
EL NAEYC Accreditation renewal recognition
Fall is in the air!!!
What a great time of the year to spend with your family. Take everyone to an orchard and enjoy some apple or pumpkin picking. A hayride is also a nice treat or rake up some leaves and have fun jumping in them! Enjoy some quality time with your family just having fun! Hectic schedules cause us to forget about enjoying some of those special moments together! So… sit back, relax, and enjoy being with each other.
Join us :
Trunk or Treat at The East Lyme Center on October 25th from 6:30 -7:30pm!
Spook-tacular Harvest Festival at the Killingly Center on October 12th from 10am-12pm
Back-to-school night is here again!!!! Please join us for a fun night with your child's teachers and meet other families!
You are Invited to Back to School Night 2024
Reminders:
As we move into the Fall season, here are a few important reminders to help keep our center running smoothly and safely:
Flu Shots:
It’s time to schedule your child’s flu shot! Please remember that Connecticut State Law requires all children attending child care, ages 6 to 59 months, to receive a seasonal flu vaccine by December 31st, 2024. Be sure to get this taken care of for your child’s safety and well-being!
Front Gates and Doors:
For your child’s safety, please remember to close the gate and doors behind you as you enter the building. If you have any issues, please ring the door bell for assistance.
Check-in and Out:
Please use the computer to check your child in and out daily. If someone else is picking up your child, ensure they have the code to do the same.
Callouts:
If your child will be out, please call or arrive by 9 AM. This helps our teachers plan their day and activities accordingly.
Scheduled Hours:
Please adhere to your scheduled drop-off time. While you’re welcome to come in early to help settle your child, they should not be left in the teacher's care until the scheduled time. Teachers have important opening tasks and must maintain appropriate child-to-teacher ratios. If you need to adjust your child’s schedule, please provide a two-week notice. Forms are available on our website.
Fall weather is here---DRESS in layers- warm bedding!
Fall is in the air and the weather is becoming colder. Please make sure your child(ren) has the following items at the center:
1. An extra change of clothing appropriate for the change in weather. ALL children must keep a complete change of clothing at the center at all times! This includes an extra outfit, underwear, and socks. An extra pair of old shoes is also a good thing to include with your child’s extra clothes. REMEMBER TO LABEL!
2. Heavier blankets at nap time help keep little toes nice and warm. Please send in a blanket, sheet, and pillow for your child even if he/she does not nap. All of the children do have a rest time and need these items!
3. We do go outside to play every day as part of our curriculum. Please make sure your child has dressed appropriately. This time of year is great for layering --- afternoons tend to be warmer than the early morning hours. A light jacket or sweatshirt works well!
Stay Connected with the Procare Family APP!
- Receive daily reports via push/email/text
- Activity alerts
- Easily communicate with your center
- View Daily Activities
View Historical Activities
- Share and Download Photos and Videos
Please understand that our teachers number one priority is the children and we ask for your patience when sending messages through the APP. Naptime will be the best time for our staff to make updates and respond to messages, If you have an urgent need to speak to your child's teachers, please call the center and someone will be happy to assist you.
Private Preschool 2024/2025
We’re excited to announce that our Preschool program kicked off its school year curriculum on September 2nd! We still have a couple of openings available, so if you have friends or family looking for a high-quality program, now is the perfect time to join us!
We offer flexible options, including morning, full-day, 2, 3, or 5-day programs to fit your family's needs. Our curriculum is based on the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CTELDS) and NAEYC criteria, ensuring a rich and well-rounded learning experience.
Our program focuses on key areas of development:
- Social/Emotional Development
- Physical Development and Health
- Language and Literacy
- Creative Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Cognition
- Social Studies
Please share our program with your family and friends—we’d love to welcome new faces to our preschool community!
Question of the month "What is your family's favorite fall activity to do with children"
Don't forget to submit your answers! It's easy to win by submitting an answer! $25 tuition credit to the winner!!
September's winner: The Rinaldi Family of East Lyme!
Thanks for helping us make our programs better and sharing your ideas and feedback! Without everyone’s input, we are not able to effectively assess how our programs are doing! We appreciate you taking the time to help us assess our policies, procedures, curriculum, and more!
PTO news....
Upcoming events:
One-Stop Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair: NOVEMBER 3rd AT EAST LYME HIGH SCHOOL- 10am- 2pm- Shop from several local vendors, crafters and food trucks. We look forward to seeing you there.
Door prize table with an array of items you could win! All supporting The Ronald Vlaun Scholarship program and continuing education for our educators.
Thanks for all of your continued support! We are always looking for new ideas for fundraisers if you have an idea drop by the office and share it with us. Helping out with committees is easy, there are many ways to help!
All around Carelot
Our clubhouse programs are in full swing. Time for new friendships, new memories, and new experiences. What a great way to end the school day! Programs held in Waterford (Great Neck, Quaker Hill, Oswegatchie and The Friendship School)
CENTER NEWS:The weather’s getting cooler, leaves are starting to turn, and we can practically smell the pumpkins! Fall is officially creeping in, and we’re loving every minute of it!
So far, this school year has been a blast. The kiddos are making new friends, learning about each other’s families, and settling into all the fun and learning Carelot has to offer. But buckle up—October is about to kick things into high gear!
This month, we’re diving headfirst into Fabulous Fall! Your little ones will be exploring everything from fall harvests and fire safety to apples, pumpkins, and scarecrows. And just when you think it can’t get any better, we’ll end the month brewing up some seriously spooktacular fun. Keep your eyes peeled for details on a Bootiful celebration that’ll have everyone howling with excitement!
Get ready for a month full of fall fun, laughter, and a little bit of magic!
Music on the playground
The music man!
Ms. Heather brought Piper to visit preschool in EL
Carelot Children's Center, Inc.
"Building Strong Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning"
Providing education to Children ages 3 months to 12 years!
Email: adminassist@carelot.net
Website: www.carelot.net
Location: 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT, United States
Phone: 860-739-1993
Facebook: facebook.com/carelotctr