Greetings PK Families,

Thank you for making time to meet with your child's teacher for conferences this week and last. On behalf of the staff at SELC, thank you does not begin to express our appreciation for your partnership in your child's education.

A FEW REMINDERS for NOVEMBER:

• Early release NOVEMBER 23rd

Head Start full day: dismissal at 12:30

Head Start part day: dismissal at 11:30

Integrated Pre-K: AM classes only, no PM classes

PK STEAM Academy: dismissal at 12:30

• NO SCHOOL NOVEMBER 24TH AND 25TH

• Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping SELC healthy by monitoring your child for illness and communicating with Nurse Jen!

Hi Stowe Families!

KITE (Key Initiatives to Early Education) is working to update Enfield’s Early Childhood Community Plan. This plan will help form the strategies and initiatives that will benefit families with young children here in town. And we need your input!

This is a VERY short survey to learn your perspectives about what resources will best serve families as well as what you feel the current challenges are. If you would like to participate in a later focus group to share more of your thoughts, you can leave your contact information on the form and we will be in touch. You are your children’s first teacher and advocate, and we want to support families in these formative years.

For completing the survey, you’ll be entered into our raffle drawing to win a $25 gift card with a choice of: Visa, Amazon, Target, or Grocery Store!

November is Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month. In honor of this observance, the USDA encourages taking time to reflect on how Indigenous food, culture, and traditions brighten and contribute to the overall culture of America.

MyPlate Kitchen features over 1,000 “MyPlate-inspired” recipes and resources to support building healthy and budget-friendly meals. This month highlights three recipes in honor of Native American Heritage Month:

• Cranberry Wojapi
• Savory and Spicy Ground Beef & Succotash
• Three Sisters Stew

(Linked Below)

Description:

Why do children choose roles?

Children choose roles to encourage mature play. Children invent and create props to fit their roles (ex: if the role was a fireman: make a fire hose, fire hat, fire truck). Mature play promotes learning new vocabulary words. These words are posted in the centers for all to see. Teachers model how to use vocabulary in mature play scenarios. Children wear a picture of the role they are in to help them remember what it is they are supposed to be doing. Action cards with the roles and actions pertaining to those roles are posted in each of the centers.

To have mature play children do the following

• Children use conflict resolution

• Can invent new props

• Children use language to plan play and during play

• Children play roles that have specific characteristics or rules for action.

• Interact with one another

• Use their imagination

• Play episodes develop into longer sustained play over time.

Here are some examples of play scenarios:

• Museum (art gallery, construction zone, café)

• School (library, cafeteria, nurse, office)

• Beach (refreshment stand, boat excursions, beach)

• Caring for pets (groomer, vet, pet store)

Joining a new school community can sometimes feel like learning a new language as you acclimate to the procedures, environment, people, and lingo. See below to begin learning about all things Stowe:

• SELC=Stowe Early Learning Center
• SELC=our mascot (the eaglet featured above)
• FEO=Family Educator Organization
• ECDC=Enfield Child Development Center
• EPS=Enfield Public Schools
• FRC=Family Resource Center
• IPS=Integrated Pre-K
• HS=Head Start
• KITE=Key Initiatives to Early Education
• PKS=PK STEAM Academy
• Eaglets=all children taking part in any program at SELC

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

• Main Office=860-253-4741
• Head Start Family Support=860-253-4717
• Nurse=860-763-8858
• FRC=860-253-6580
• KITE=860-253-6502

Our building is quite unique in that we house 4 PK programs, a Family Resource Center, and KITE.