East Early Childhood Center

We are excited to announce that we will have EC Classroom Parties for Winter on Thursday, December 19th! However, we will need to limit attendance. We are asking that up to 2 family members can be present per child. No siblings please, this will allow us to keep our numbers lower and focus on our EC students and make sure we have appropriate space in the classroom.

AM parties will be at 10:15

PM parties will be at 2:30

You may take your child home after this event if you wish, please make sure you let your child's teacher know this. Sign in sheets will be located outside on the benches before you enter, and the doors will open right at 10:15 and 2:30! Thank you for assisting with these requests. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

In addition to classroom parties we have a couple other fun days before the break! These include the following days...

Santa is scheduled to make a stop to see our students in the AM and in the PM in Early Childhood on Thursday, December 19th! Your child's teacher will be taking their class for a brief visit during their class time. This will also be our Pajama day in Early Childhood. Feel free to wear those jammies to school on this day!

If you would like to join our staff your child can wear an ugly sweater along with our staff and many of our teachers in our district on Friday, December 20th!

What a fun filled month! Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions about these fun activities!

Thank you for the Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets! These will be heading to our Hope for Christmas event.

Thank you to everyone that sold candy bars for our candy bar fundraiser! We should know shortly what our profit will be! We still have 5 boxes out, we'd love to wrap up this sale shortly and we could still use your help. Prizes for these boxes won't be delivered or your child couldn't participate until we have the boxes paid for. THANK YOU for your help!

The King and Queen of Chocolate are...

Harrison Brown and Kooper Smith

Leela Caldwell and Blakelynn Manche

We will celebrate this coming week on Tuesday with our Kings and Queens with a special breakfast!

All the students that sold 3 boxes (or more) will also participate in a bubble and cookie party which is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday!

And the winners of the drawing are... !

Stay tuned... This drawing will be held soon for three different winners for Marcus Movie Tickets, a Visa Gift Card, and will get 4 Cardinal's tickets for the Spring!

Thank you all for supporting Early Childhood!

• Please walk your child ALL the way to the door in the AM and PM. We have buses and other vehicles that are in and our of our parking lot and bus lanes and want to make sure that all of our littles are super safe!
• Payments for Little Indians and Extended Day are due by the 10th of each month on EZ Child Track. Late fees will be assessed after the 10th. If payments are not made this will interfere with your child's ability to participate in some of our Early Childhood programming options.
• If you have any boys or girls size 5-6 size pants we could use some more of these in our department. We are running short of these sizes. Thank you!

We will head outside to recess as much as possible during the winter months. Children tend to warm up fast on the playground and then shed all of their gear. Please label all of your child's clothing items, like hats, gloves, coats, etc. If you would like to stop by and check out our lost and found, please call to schedule an appointment (573) 243-5347. Once again, DON'T FORGET TO PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS!

During the holidays, you may notice that your children have some REALLY BIG feelings!

Why? The lights–The parties–The candy—The presents–The change in routine

How can we manage the BIG feelings that come around the holidays?

Notice the needs of your child(ren)

*Prepare them in advance for parties and expectations at the party…”At grandma’s house, you opened presents, but at Aunt Sally’s house, we won’t open presents but will have a delicious meal!” “Remember, we talk quietly when we eat at the restaurant.”

*Increase exercise as a family (bundle up and walk a trail or pick up sticks/leaves, deliver cookies to neighbors)

*Small candy canes taste just as good as the big ones (at least that is what I try to tell myself)!

*Remind your child to take some deep breaths when their feelings are big

*Choose kid friendly events, when possible

Maintain routines…the best that you can

*Prioritize daily routines–read a book before bed

*Eat together as a family, when possible

*Keep bedtime as close to typical as possible

*Make time for quiet activities

Enjoy THEM…

“Childhood is a short season.” -Helen Hays

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season! I feel truly blessed to work with such wonderful students and families!

Ms. Jill Hadler, School Counselor

Thank you so much for sending your family pictures for our ‘We Are A Family’ board in the foyer. We still have room for more family pictures, so email me your family picture soon: jhadler@jr2mail.org

December is here! Thank you to all who have kept their children home when they have been sick. That is the best way to prevent the spread of illness and we truly appreciate it! FYI- the Stomach bug has made its appearance at East Early Childhood, so please continue to monitor your child for sickness!

Here are some helpful tips to avoid getting sick this winter:

1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.
4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

If your child is sick, follow the school’s Attendance Policy for when to stay home and when it is okay to return. If your child has a 100.1 fever or higher, keep them home. They need to be fever free for at least 24 hours without medication. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea they need to be at home for at least 24 hours after the last episode.

Coming to an EC near you... At our last meeting we voted to approve several purchases for our department...

1) An adapted swing for our playground

2) A trio ensemble of musical instruments for our playground

3) Mallets for our musical equipment on our small playground

4) Two additional rugs for classrooms that have this need

5) Sponsoring a special day for our staff in December

6) Adding some pampering supplies to the staff restroom

Fundraisers for 24-25: During this school year, we ask parents to participate in three fundraisers. We only have one remaining:

• Mark your calendars for BINGO (parents night out) and Online Auction
• March 13, 2025

PTO Meeting: Our next PTO Meeting is Tuesday, January 14th @ 5:30-6:30! We look forward to seeing you all there! And once again THANK YOU BIG for making such awesome things happen for our department!

In case you missed the information about technology from our Parents As Teachers on conference night we have a flyer for you to view below!

We work hard on learning appropriate behaviors for all areas of our program. We thought you might want to see some of the ways we are working on our PBIS skills throughout our building and in the classroom. We work with our students to understand what it looks like to be Safe, Responsible and Respectful at school (our matrix is pictured below). Our students also work hard to earn celebrations in their class by focusing on a skill each month. We also celebrate each month with a short dance party in the pond with all of our classes in the AM and in the PM!

Power Packs is a program provided to many families each week that include food items that help give students and their family nutritious and kid-friendly foods to help get them through the weekend. Some food items include cereal, canned soups, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, and other similar items. By clicking this link, filling out the information requested, and submitting the form - your child can begin receiving these packs each Friday. For further questions, contact Morgan Hoffman, school social worker at 573-243-5271.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4PpsBDs1bjBtBUKR3V1SYpQWbfSfWnh5lroSTOF-9ooA0jQ/viewform

Every year around this time we are asked about staff information. Here is a list of information that our staff has shared with us! Enjoy!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ofunt0aUxT2TXANQLwCPz_yJ9nhj4HtvqMzOVdkVMuo/edit#gid=925599589

December 19- Winter Parties, PJ Day, Santa Visit in Early Childhood

December 20- Ugly Sweater Day

December 23-Jan 3 Winter Break – NO SCHOOL

January 6- School Resumes

Email: buchtman@jr2mail.org
Location: 455 North Lacey Street, Jackson, MO, USA
Phone: 573-243-5347
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069484596673