The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~ April 2020
A message from Holly Bevilacqua
Spring is in the air! Flowers are beginning to bloom, birds are singing and it is a time for 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 executive 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 you 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 everyone of you on staff!!
Art Closet update: I have ordered art supplies for each centers Art Closet- Please be sure you are planning projects that utilize what you have in stock- Art supplies will not be ordered again for a few months.
Wish Lists: A wish list is a list of desired items for your classroom that you may not otherwise get on a regular basis. Add items that are goal purchases- toys you wish you could have in your classroom!
Monthly checklists: Please be sure you are completing these and handing in to your site manager before the last day of the month. List any maintenance items in your classroom, Supplies needed or Toys that may need to be replaced due to breakage or over use or a curriculum requirement. This is your time to communicate your needs.
National Volunteer Week is April 19th-25th! Try to get families to volunteer time in your classrooms. Plant flowers, 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!
4/14- Matt- Corporate
4/16- Darlene- Clubhouse programs
4/19- Megan- Clubhouse programs
4/20- Sue- South Executive Director
4/25- Lorraine- Clubhouse programs
4/26- Jordan- Clubhouse and W/EL centers
4/26- Courtney- Clubhouse programs
Thank you for your dedication!
8 years: Tasha - Killingly
5 years: Ashlie- Brooklyn
4 years: Emiajlen- Killingly
3 years: Sam- Clubhouse
2 years: London- Waterford
2 years: Anne- Corporate
1 year: Carissa- Brooklyn
Thank you for all of your dedication and support over the years. You are truly appreciated for everything!!!!!
A little humor for the week!
Hot News
"If you could choose one topic to teach the children what would it be?"
Submit answers by clicking the link below!
MARCH WINNER: LORRAINE! Congratulations and thank you for participating!
NAEYC NEWS...
Music Monday! April 8TH
Sing, dance, celebrate, and learn
Through music, children develop math, language, and literacy skills - All while having fun and being active! Make up and record your own unique version of a song or write your own, and share it on NAEYC's Facebook page or post to Twitter using the hashtag #woyc18.
TRY THIS: Find the beat to connect music, movement, and math. Practice clapping, drumming, or stomping to the beat of the music while counting.
Tasty Tuesday April 9TH
Healthy eating and fitness at home and school
This fun, food-themed day is about more than just cheese and crackers. Cooking together connects math with literacy skills, science, and more. With the rise in childhood obesity, you can encourage healthy nutrition and fitness habits at home and in the classroom. Create your own healthy snacks and share the recipes and photos of your creations on NAEYC's Facebook page or post to Twitter using the hashtag #woyc18.
TRY THIS: Measure your ingredients while making your snacks! Ask children if they’d like the same or different amounts of each ingredient.
Work Together Wednesday April 10TH
Work together, build together, learn together
When children build together they explore math and science concepts and develop their social and early literacy skills. Children can use any building material—from a fort of branches on the playground to a block city in the classroom, or a hideaway made from couch pillows at home. Build and share pictures of children’s creations on NAEYC's Facebook page or Twitter using the #woyc18 hashtag.
TRY THIS: Practice organizing blocks by size! Try building a block tower with large blocks on the bottom and little blocks on top!
Artsy Thursday April 11TH
Think, problem solve, create
Children develop creativity, social skills and fine motor skills with open-ended art projects where they can make choices, use their imaginations, and create with their hands. On Artsy Thursday celebrate the joy and learning children experience when engaged in creative art making. Use any materials—from crayons to paint, clay to crafts! Create and share a photos of your children’s creations on NAEYC's Facebook page or Twitter using the #woyc18 hashtag.
TRY THIS: Bring art outdoors! Offer dark and light paper, chalk and pastels, and suggest children create their own versions of the day and night sky!
Family Friday April 12TH
Sharing family stories
Engaging and celebrating families is at the heart of supporting our youngest learners. NAEYC applauds family members’ role as young children’s first and most important teachers. Share pictures and stories about your family on NAEYC's Facebook page or post to Twitter using the hashtag #woyc18 as we celebrate the unique role families play in their children's learning and development.
TRY THIS: Invite parents for a Family Friday breakfast, where children can prepare and share breakfast treats with their families!
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 incase 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 door knob, you have now contaminated that door knob. 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.
Facebook post results- April will be the program with the most contributions on facebook!
Bulletin board of the week
Sink or Float?
Mandated training by CT Office of Early Childhood Education- ALL licensed centers
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