Head Start Newsletter

11/1: Professional Day (no school)

11/11: Veteran's Day (no school)

11/18: Family Fun Night @ 5:30 pm

11/25-29: Thanksgiving Break (no school)

Many of us have fond memories that involve music. What special music do you associate with important celebrations? What kind of beat can you not help but tap your feet to when it comes on the radio? Have you noticed your child tapping along with you? What songs from your childhood do you and your child enjoy singing together? Music has a wonderful way of translating across many generations, cultures, languages, and communication styles. We are excited to begin a study of music making in our class that will engage and build on children’s curiosity around music, sound, and performance.

What You Can Do at Home? Listen for music throughout the day with your child. We often don’t even notice the music that plays in the background of our everyday lives. Discuss the music that you and your child hear. How does it make each of you feel? Does it sound like any other music you have heard? Talk about favorite music styles and songs with your child and share why you enjoy them. Create a list together of your family’s favorite songs. Thank you for playing an important role in our learning!

Exciting Visitor Alert! K9 Mako joined our Pre-K students for their pet study. The students loved meeting Mako and learning about the important work he does. A huge thank you to Mako and his handler for sharing their time and teaching us all about K9 teamwork and pet care!

Students then got to step into the role themselves.

They looked at X-rays, identified objects that didn’t belong, played a Pet Operation game, and helped “remove” items from our furry friend’s stomach to make him feel better! Through this hands-on activity, they learned how sometimes pets can eat things they shouldn’t, and how important it is to visit the vet to keep them safe and healthy.

We are thankful for you!

As we prepare to take time off from school for the Thanksgiving break, we are grateful for everyone who has helped to restore a routine for showing up to school.

Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security for students and adults.

Please take steps to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are truly sick. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.

We thank:

· Our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy.

· Our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.

· Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we are healthy and safe, feel a sense of community and experience the excitement of an engaging learning environment.

· Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

May these days off be restful and healing.

Your child's well-being and safety are extremely important to you. Particularly when they are under your care—at home, in the car or elsewhere—make sure that you've taken every step possible to ensure that they are safe and secure.

Here are some tips for keeping children safe around vehicles and as pedestrians:

• Pedestrian safety: Teach children to follow these rules:
• Walk on sidewalks: When possible, walk on sidewalks or paths.
• Cross at intersections: Cross the street at crosswalks or intersections, and look left, right, and left again before crossing.
• Be aware of traffic: Look for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
• Be visible: Wear light- or brightly-colored clothing and reflective gear, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Put down devices: Put phones, headphones, and devices down when crossing the street.
• Don't run: Never run into the street or dart out into the street.
• Make eye contact: Make eye contact with drivers of stopped vehicles.
• Cross with an adult: Children under 10 need to cross the street with an adult.
• Vehicle safety: Teach children not to play in or around cars.
• Keep vehicles locked: Keep vehicles locked when not in use to prevent child entrapment.
• Check the back of the vehicle: Always look in the back of the vehicle before locking the doors and walking away.
• Be aware of backovers: Teach children to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in it or if the car is started.
• Be aware of heat: The inside of a vehicle can reach life-threatening temperatures very quickly, even in mild outside temperatures.

Additional Resources:

On The Go - HealthyChildren.org

Back to School: Keeping Children Safe | NHTSA

Pedestrian Safety Tips | Safe Kids Worldwide

NUTRITION

Healthy eating is important at every stage of life, including celebrations and gatherings. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Start with these tips:

Serve up variety

At your next event, create a colorful buffet table that includes a variety of foods from all the food groups.

Cheers to good health

Serve water or unsweetened iced tea with fresh mint leaves. Offer seltzer water with a splash of 100% fruit juice or a wedge of lemon or lime.

Make activity part of the fun

Laugh, mingle, dance, and play games. Have fun walking and talking with family and friends after a special meal.

Rethink dessert

Offer a combination of fresh and dried fruit. Put out fixings for guests to make their own trail mix with a combination of peanuts, dark chocolate chips, and dried fruits.

Reduce food waste

Manage leftovers by packing them for guests to take home, adding them to soups or salads, and including extra veggies in omelets, sandwiches, or stews.

Try a twist on a dish

Substitute unsweetened applesauce for butter when baking, or use low-fat milk when a recipe calls for cream. Experiment with low-salt herbs and spices.

The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite.

Celebrations and Gatherings (azureedge.us)

Nurturing Gratitude and Mindfulness in Young Children

November is a wonderful time to focus on gratitude and mindfulness, helping children appreciate the little moments and learn to express thankfulness. These practices can enhance emotional well-being and build positive habits for life. Here are some simple ways to encourage gratitude and mindfulness this month:

1. Start a Daily Gratitude Practice

Take a few minutes each day to ask your child what they are thankful for. It could be something they enjoyed that day, a person they care about, or even their favorite toy. This simple practice can help children develop a positive mindset and learn to appreciate the good in their lives.

2. Create a 'Thankful Jar'

Place a jar or box in a common area of your home, and encourage your child to add a note each day with something they are grateful for. At the end of the month, take time to read them together as a family. This activity can be a fun way to reflect and bond together.

3. Practice Mindful Breathing

Teach your child to take deep, calming breaths when they feel overwhelmed or frustrated. Try "balloon breathing" by asking them to imagine they are blowing up a big balloon—taking a deep breath in through the nose, and then slowly blowing out through the mouth. Mindful breathing can help children learn to manage their emotions.

4. Use Kind Words

Encourage your child to notice when others do something kind and to use kind words themselves. You can make this fun by practicing phrases like, "Thank you for helping me!" or "I’m happy when you share with me." Recognizing kindness promotes empathy and positive social interactions.

These small practices can make a big difference in building a child's emotional well-being. If you have any questions or need more ideas, our Family Advocates are here to help!