Email: bright@443mail.org
Website: https://usd443.org/542378_3
Location: 200 West Comanche Street, Dodge City, KS, USA
Phone: 620-371-1220
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrightBeginningsEarlyChildhoodCenterDodgeCity

Apr. 1 - No School - Easter Break

Apr. 2 - Bright Beginnings Spring Pictures

Apr. 2 - Parent Connection Friend's Time 11:15, 11:45, 3:15PM

Apr. 4 - Policy Council Meeting

Apr. 4 - Librarian Appreciation Day!

Apr. 5 - School Paraprofessional Appreciation Day!

Apr. 8-12 - IPT Testing

Apr. 9 - EHS Socialization 10am & 3:30pm

Apr. 9 - Parent Meeting at Dodge City Public Library 5-6PM

Apr. 16 - Parent Connection Friend's Time 11:15, 11:45, 3:15PM

Apr. 18 - No PM Session / P/T Conferences 3:30-6:00PM

Apr. 19 - No School / P/T Conferences 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM

Hello Bright Beginnings Families!

Happy Spring! With two short months until the end of the school year, we have a lot of learning left to do. We have seen so much growth in our students and we plan to continue to soak in all the learning possible.

There are a lot of activities planned for the month of April. Kindergarten visits happened last month and many parents visited the schools to tour the Kindergarten programs. In April, we will have an opportunity for parents to learn about how you can help prepare your child for Kindergarten at our monthly parent meeting.

We will have visitors in the building during the month of April with our federal review. We are looking forward to celebrating everything we do in our program to help students reach their full potential.

We are excited to celebrate the Week of the Young Child April 6th through the 12th as well. We will have lots of fun activities planned for our students during this week. Make sure to ask your child what they did at school.

Children learn best when they follow a regular routine. Please ensure your child is present every day they are healthy!

Bianca Alvarez

Principal/Director

Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Center

Come check out a book to take home and read with your child.

New take-home learning activities every Friday.

THE LIBRARY WILL BE OPEN TO PARENTS:

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

7:50 am

11:50 am

3:15pm

Our Policy Council meeting took place on March 7, 2024. We discussed and voted on the following:

• Head Start Application Narrative 2025
• Organizational Chart 2024-2025
• Monthly Fiscal Report

The next meeting will be April 4, 2024 at 11:30 am. in the Policy Council room (basement of building A). If you are interested in participating in Policy Council, please contact your teacher, advocate, or Brenda Carmona for more information. Please click here to read more about Policy Council. We are so excited to share our program information with parents and have our parents guide our program decisions.

On March 26, we collaborated with ESOL Migrant program and had 26 different community agencies participate in the fair to bring valuable information and resources to our families. In addition, we invited the school district families to come and learn about these community agencies and what they have to offer in our own community. We also had 2 bike raffles for the families that came and sweet bread (Pan Dulce).

Greetings!

Wow! Your children are working and learning so much in their school families on making choices, making new friends, and learning how to play with one another. As these friendships become close, natural conflicts occur as they learn how to problem solve with big emotions.

As children hear the stories of Shubert and Sophie, they will work through the process of learning that include "oops" or mistake moments. These are opportunities to teach! We will focus on the Power of Intention. We want to remember to look upon our children and students with positive intent; to see the best in others. We will work with children to learn if they are attempting to be hurtful or helpful in their intent of choices. For example, "You have a choice. You can choose to play with your friends and stay at the table, or you can choose to hit your friend and again and play by your yourself." Child hits again. "I can see by your actions that you have chosen to play by yourself so our classroom can be safe." These key phrases can help children become aware of their power of choices. "You have a choice. You can choose to _________ (desired action) and ______________ (positive consequence) OR you can choose to _______ (hurtful action) and ______ (negative consequence). I can see by your actions that you have chosen to _______ (positive or negative consequence).

Practice these phrases adding wants and words/actions to in the blanks. Adding these phrases consistently allows children to adapt to the feelings that occur in conflict. I Love You Connection moments include eye contact, touch, and playfulness. Enjoy these precious times with your children throughout the day.

I look forward to seeing you at Friends Time Family Groups for a story and take home activity.

Thank you for being a part of our Bright Beginnings Family. You got this family!

Wishing you Well this April!~Miss Melyssa

Stop by anytime in April at Melyssa's office to take the Make-it Take-it activity home if you missed the parent meeting.

Some notes from our Nurse:

If your child is RETURNING to Bright Beginnings or NEW to Bright Beginnings – Make sure to update or provide the following for next school year at enrollment:

• Physical Exam
• Update Immunizations
• Lead Blood
• Hemoglobin
• Dental Exam

Students GOING to Kindergarten – Make sure to update and provide the following for next school year at enrollment:

• Physical Exam
• Updated Immunization Record (kindergarten vaccines)

It is important to have these Health Requirements BEFORE school starts.

Kendra Tieben BSN, RN

Health/Nutrition Facilitator~School Nurse

Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Center

BB 620-371-1227 T/Wam/R

EHS 620-371-1260 M/Wpm/F

Child Care is a full and exciting place for the kids. We are enjoying learning in the classroom with centers and music and movement, then also enjoying Spring days on the playground.

Our socialization will be held on April 9th at 10:00 - 11:00 AM and 3:30 - 4:30 PM at 1900 First Ave. Come join us to decorate a planter and repot flowers!

We are looking for Full-Time Para Educators and Teachers.

• Would you like to work with young children in a preschool setting?
• Do you want a flexible schedule that follows the school district calendar?

Please share this out with anyone you know that you think would be great fit for Bright Beginnings!