The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~ September 2019
A message from Holly Bevilacqua, COO
Happy September everyone! It is back to school time and I loved seeing all of your back to school pictures. Thank you for sharing and contributing! I love the collaboration and sharing that is going on in our Private Staff Facebook page! What amazing educators you all are!
Thank you for your extra patience this time of year. We appreciate your flexibility & understanding with new enrollments, staff changes and spruce ups! Transitions can be difficult for everyone- especially for our families. What seems routine to us and the "norm" can be a bit overwhelming to a parent dropping off or picking up their child. Please take the time to communicate with them! Say hello, offer a quick tidbit of the child's day, make them feel welcome-
Communication is key! During this time of year especially, transitions of children, families and staff may cause some uneasiness so please be open with your communication with each other and your families. Just communicating clearly will alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress….
Thank you for your dedication!
Sokie- East Lyme- 11 years!! Congratulations
Lisa- Waterford and Lynn- Clubhouse- 10 years!
Katelyn- Brooklyn, Kaite-Waterford, Lauren- Clubhouse- 3 years!
Tasha- Clubhouse, Shannon- East Lyme, Katelin-Clubhouse, Courtney-Clubhouse, Megan, Clubhouse- 2 years!
Erika-Chaplin, Victoria- East Lyme, Evan-Clubhouse, Brooke-Waterford, Oscar-Clubhouse- Happy 1 year!
Celebrate you!
9/6- Adam - Corporate Maintenance
9/7- Annie- Brooklyn
9/9- Gina- Brooklyn
9/11- Victoria-Killingly & London- TFS
9/12- Tasha- Killingly & Naomi- Clubhouse
9/16- Carissa- Brooklyn
9/19- Isla- Clubhouse
9/23- Kaci- Chaplin
9/24- Tasha- Clubhouse
A little humor for the week!
Reminders
Interaction on the playgrounds is very important. Remember the outside is an extension of your classroom. Have fun with it.
Lesson/Newsletters: make sure that you are completing the things that are on your lesson plan and that are on the programming calendar!!! Parents get this information and share the activities with their children. Also, All lesson plans should be completed with the new format- Newsletters should also be completed by all programs- These are details to the families about what Curriculum standards are being met in your classrooms. Please refer to the Creative Curriculum books and CT ELDS standards for guidance.
Clean Children: Make sure that your children are presentable when they get picked up. This means that they should have clean faces, hands, clothing/diapers if applicable. We never know what a parent has plans for when they leave the center.
Clean out the children’s mailboxes on Friday or the last scheduled day for that child. If you notice that a child’s mailbox is full….tell the parent or put the items in their lunch box , back packs or diaper bags. Verbally remind!
LABEL all cleaners and bleach bottles and keep them locked up!
Name badges, Carelot attire or aprons must be worn during work hours at ALL times! If you do not have a name badge or have lost yours, please see your site director.
If you need a new uniform or would like to order some of our Carelot Attire, please complete an order form and return it to the corporate office.
Hot News
" If you could make one wish for your classroom or center, what would it be?"
Submit answers to HR@carelot.net or on our staff facebook page by September 25th!
Last Month's Entries:
What event would you like to see Carelot Host this coming school year?
Erika- I think it would be fun to have a Carelot halloween party!
WINNER: We had some great entries and I am so excited! The winner is: Erika!
Thank you for taking the time to answer the question of the month. You will get a $20 cash bonus in your next check!
All staff can have a chance to win cash- just submit your answers via email hr@carelot.net or our staff facebook page and tag Holly!
NAEYC NEWS...
How are your classroom portfolios going? I know you are doing a great job proving to an outside visitor what an amazing educational experience the children are getting in your classroom.
Harvest festivals
Don't miss these amazing community events. Spread the word!!!!
Investigate a pumpkin
Counting with corn
Continuing Education for September
This month you have an article and also a video- You will receive 45 min for each article.
Back to school night!
Back to School Night
Parents & Children will be there 5:30-6:30pm or 6:00-7:00pm depending on your center. Staff Should plan on 1/2 before and 1/2 hour after your scheduled back to school night.- Mandatory for all Full time classroom staff
Wednesday, October 16th!
This is a night for our parents to see what their children do each day! The children are invited to attend with their parents! You should have an organized evening planned with information and a project and activities showcasing your curriculum.
This month's incentive- Win !!!
SEPTEMBER INCENTIVES:
- Share a photo of your kids participating in any theme related activity to hr@carelot.net for a change to win a $50 gift certificate to Discount school supply. Contest runs 9/1 to 10/30.
- It's back--Post or comment on our staff facebook page- each time you post or comment for the month of September you will earn a point. The person with the most points will be awarded Fabulous Fall gift basket valued at $50!
- Fall Fundraisers: Mixed bags has begun and will run through Sept.l 20th. PLEASE support this event by sharing with family and friends- talking it up to your families and other staff members. ALL proceeds from this fundraiser will be used directly for the classrooms- We want to get listening centers updated, computers in the room that are working and tablets for each classroom! Our goals is $4000! Let's get it done! Online ordering is also available! So get those out of town people too! These bags are sturdy and with the new law on plastic bags, a great item to have with you at all times for shopping. The classroom with the highest sales will win a donut party for their classroom! Spread the word and share the links!
- Butterbraids and Otis Spunkmeyer products- Runs 10/25 to 11/15- Delivery the week of 12/16 for the holidays.
East Lyme and Waterford details
Let's reach our goal! $4,000
Chaplin, Brooklyn, Killingly Details
Health Care plans and Alert Lists
Alerts for allergies and medical issues- Each center must have an updated list of children with allergies and medical issues that are determined by reviewing each child’s health forms (health assessment, child fact sheet and emergency form). All allergies and medical concerns must have a corresponding health plan that is signed by the nurse consultant and family along with each staff member responsible for that child’s care. Alert lists must be posted in each classroom on the inside of a clearly labeled cabinet for confidentiality. A copy must be kept in the front of each classrooms emergency book and in the center information book.
Health Care Plans: If there are any special concerns, health issues, allergies noted for a child, a Health Care Plan will need to be completed by the parents and nurse. Once this has been completed ALL the staff must review each health care plan and sign it. This form will then be filed in the Health Care Plan book for Children.
If you are a substitute, please be sure you are asking about any health or medical or allergy alerts you need to be aware of when you are in a classroom. It is your responsibility to also review the alert list and any health plans and sign off on them as well.
Dramatic Play idea
Add some fire safety in your cars area
Add some black water beads or bugs to your slime!
Portfolios and Assessments
Portfolios are kept for each child at Carelot. These are not only tools for your assessments, but a positive remembrance for parents of their child’s early learning years! Please be positive when recording your monthly info. Think of how you would feel reading it from a parent’s standpoint. If something negative is occurring, please utilize the behavior plan and Behavior support forms. Please be sure that you also have updated paperwork for the 1st collection of portfolios for the Fall collections.
These are key in planning lessons in your classrooms based on the children’s learning abilities!
We are going to stop the ASSESSMENT books for the 2019-2020 school year. Due to the details in your portoflios and the kidreports app that we will be using, the information is redundant and therefore not needed. YAY!!!!
Helping Children Get to Know Each Other—Try these songs, games, and strategies to help children get to know each other as a new school year begins.
Learn one another’s names
§ Sing songs that incorporate children’s names as a fun way for everyone to get to know one another. Try the chant “Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” or other songs that use children’s names. Children will join in, have a blast with the silly rhymes, and learn one another’s names all at the same time.
§ Play “Meetball,” a simple game with a funny name. As children pass a ball or beanbag to one other, the child who catches it introduces himself to the group. “Hi, I’m ______.” All of the other children respond, “Hello ______!” You can play this game at circle time, during transitions, and while outdoors.
Get to know one another’s families
§ Using family photo albums or posters, invite children to talk about their families and whatever is depicted in the photos. If some children are too shy to speak to the group, teachers can talk briefly about the child’s family while sharing the photos.
§ • Offer materials children can use to create frames for photos they bring in from home. Hang the framed photos on the walls to foster a welcoming atmosphere. Later invite children to talk about the photos of family and friends during group time.
Help children to make friends
§ • Try grouping children in different combinations during center or small group times.
§ • Invite pairs of children to complete a chore or take a special trip with you to the office or kitchen so they can get to know each other along the way.
§ • Encourage two children with similar interests to visit a center or do an activity together.
§ • Distribute a class list containing each family’s contact information (after getting their permission) so families can arrange play dates for their children outside of school.
§ • Organize a class picnic soon after the program year starts so children and families can get to know one another in a different setting.
§ • Lead games like “Ring around the Rosy” or “The Farmer in the Dell” with small groups of children on the playground.
Teaching Young Children / Preschool TYC.NAEYC.ORG 1
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