The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~ March 2019
A message from Holly Bevilacqua
Believe it or not....Teacher appreciation is just around the corner! The PTO is planning some great events! For those staff new to Carelot we have enjoyed in the past, breakfast, lunch, dinner, little goodies, and much more! We could not run Carelot without you! Thank you for making our centers what they are and molding the minds of the future! This year's events are going to be great! I am confident you will love the funwe are planning! Please support the PTO and assist with fundraising and events. The PTO funds great events like this, our current fundraiser is Little Caesar’s
I heard that some of you missed our Uniform orders so please click the link below to order! Orders will be accepted thorugh Friday, March 15th.
As professionals, we all know that each age brings different stages of development. It is human nature, that we become “creatures of habit” and that is super for schedules and consistency!!! However, remember that your children grow daily and this means you need to grow with them. Remember to make accommodations for various stages of development in your classrooms. Take the time to review your program books and appropriate stages of growth of the children in your classroom. Your days will be much smoother and calmer if your children are having a developmentally appropriate day. For example, children with behaviors that are frustrating you, may be non-verbal ways of expressing that they are bored and need a challenge. Take the time to assess your activities and schedules. Use the guidelines in your program books and resource areas to see if: your room set up is creating some issues, if your schedule is working, if your children are having “quality interactions”, if they are challenged too much or not enough etc. Utilize your peers to observe your room for you and get some feedback from a different perspective!
As always, I am always available for feedback! Text me, Email me, Facebook me..... I love to hear from you! Holly
Celebrate you!
3/11: Tina - Killingly Center
3/12: Anne our north Administrative Assistant
3/18: Asa- Waterford and East Lyme Centers
3/19: Sam- Clubhouse programs
3/27: Jessica- Killingly Center
3/29: Natalie- Waterford Center
Thank you for your dedication!
Adam-Maint./Lawns- 5 yrs
Vanessa-Brooklyn Center-4 yrsDonna-East Lyme Center- 2 yrs
Hailey-East Lyme Center- 2 yrs
Allison-Brooklyn Center- 1 yr
Nicole-Clubhouse- 1 yr
Annie-Brooklyn Center- 1 yr
Dylan-North Sub- 1 yr
Sunni-North Sub- 1 yr
A little humor for the week!
Hot News
What do you feel makes Carelot "Stand out" from other programs?"
Submit answers to HR@carelot.net by March 25th!
Winner of the February incentive was: Congratulations to Verna from Chaplin. Thank you for your submission!
Look what staff are saying:
I think as a whole you guys are doing great! I am very happy at my Center! It is great to know I am appreciated for all I do! I don’t have to walk on egg shells anymore! I love all the company incentives and encouragement to work as a team! I love the encouragement from higher up to do our very best and all the support!
Great job Carelot!
How are we doing? Family and work life is well balanced and I feel that it is very easy to talk to my supervisors. I am pleased that our concerns were heard regarding direct deposit and we are heading in that direction. I think it was a great improvement when the zoom meetings were put into place, which enabled many of us to attend meetings while cooking dinner, or doing laundry. Some improvements I can think of is to allow a floater in the center to give bathroom breaks, often the classrooms are all in ratio and we have to wait which can be anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes at times. It would be nice to have the upstairs adult bathroom repaired for use instead of shut off for a utility closet which is locked.
I would say my biggest challenge is finding the time to do lesson plans, NAEYC entries and individual portfolios, I do these at home after hours. Also, I do find it difficult at times in my class in particular when toddlers are mixed in with infants due to ratio overage, it can be difficult to stimulate and engage very active toddlers at same time of meeting the individual needs of the infants. With all that being said, I love my job and the families that I care for.
Communication and morale has improved! It is great to come to work and feel like a family and everyone is working as a team!
NAEYC NEWS...
Social Studies- 2.L
Children are to be provided with a variety of learning opportunities that foster self identity and an emerging sense of self and others. The curriculum is to reflect ways to allow the children to be a part of the classroom community so that each child feels accepted and gains a sense of belonging. The children through varied activities and lessons will learn about diversity in culture, family structure, ability, language, age and gender in non-stereotypical ways. The children will learn about the community, physical characteristics of their local community (intro. to geography) and explore social roles in the family and the workplace.
Holidays: Families and program staff ask themselves why children should learn about this holiday. Is it developmentally appropriate for those in the group? Why is it important for specific children and families?
· Activities are connected to specific children and families in the group. This linking helps children understand holiday activities in the context of people’s daily lives. Children should have the chance to explore the meaning and significance of each holiday.
· Both children and staff honor every group represented in the classroom. This respect does not require that every holiday of every group must be celebrated; otherwise, classrooms would be celebrating all the time! It does require, however, that once families and programs have decided on what holidays to celebrate, none should be treated as though they were “unusual.” Children should recognize that everyone’s holidays are culturally significant and meaningful.
· Activities demonstrate the fact that not everyone in the same ethnic group celebrates holidays in the same way. Families may provide examples of their own unique traditions.
· Families and program staff work together to plan strategies for children whose families’ beliefs do not permit participation in holiday celebrations. Families should take part in creating satisfactory alternatives for the child within the classroom.
Focus is on meaningful ways to celebrate holidays without spending money. Families may find certain holidays stressful because of the amount of commercialization and media pressure to buy gifts. Teachers can help by showing children that homemade costumes and gifts are very special and that celebrating can be joyful without gifts.
Policy of the week
CHECK THIS OUT
If you need to hand something on a wall- Please only use removable Command Strips- No stapling or taping to the painted walls- Thanks so much for your help
Reminders:
* Please remember to always call two hours before your shift starts, and don’t forget to always talk to a staff member. Do Not Leave a Text Message!!
- Do not forget, bleach bottles need to go to the kitchen at the end of the day so they can be refilled in the morning. Be sure you are wiping down the inside and outside of your garbage cans when they get dirty and at the end of the day.
As per policy- request for leaves must be submitted two weeks in advance. - we do our best to accommodate however, once the biweekly schedule is complete please know that you will not be granted leave and you will need to work your schedule. Staffing is done this far out to ensure consistency in the programs. Please note- time off without pay is frowned upon.
This month's incentive
WIN! WIN! WIN! Incentive: The most creative door decoration related to any of the literacy themes this month- Winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Discount School Supply for their classroom– submit photos to HR@carelot.net by 3/28
Bulletin board of the week
Cute idea
Check this out
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