The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~ August 2020
A message from Holly Bevilacqua, COO
Wow! Can you believe we are getting ready for the new school year already? We have had a great summer here at Carelot being safe while having a great time with the kiddos. I have loved seeing all the great theme-related curriculum activities. Thank you for sharing the great photos! The children are clearly having a blast this summer and it is thanks to our wonderful, dedicated team of educators! You are the core of our programs and help make them so successful!
This time of year begins our enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year. This year brings some unique programming due to Covid-19 with our school age children. In an effort to keep our children, families and you, our staff safe until we are out of a this state of emergency, we are not taking in children into the centers who are also attending public schools. This year we are bringing back our full day private kindergarten program which has been designed to follow the CT core standards. Our curriculum will allow the children to learn in all subject areas while maintaining a stable environment at our center.
Our school age based programs for children in grades 1-5 can choose our full time distance learning program. This program will allow the children to stay in the same/small group all day each day while following the distance learning curriculum for theiir district. It is our hope to lessen the transition from various groups to keep our children and staff safe.
You may also see us purchasing new items for your classrooms and slowly removing carpeting in our centers in an effort to stay safe and clean with ease. Remind the children as well as families our social distancing practices, wearing masks and cleaning throughout the day in order to maintain an environment that will allow us to continue to remain open.
I know I am ready to just get back to "normal" as many of you are, but know we must all do our part to fight this pandemic.
Thank you for your dedication!
Adam L and Tess- Clubhouse- 5 years!
Connor - Clubhouse - 4 years!
Courtney- Chaplin- 3 years!
Mikaela - Killingly- 1 year
Garrett- Clubhouse- 1 year
Sheila- Clubhouse- 1 year
Ava- Clubhouse-1 year
Zoe- Clubhouse- 1 year
Celebrate you!
8/9- Lisa- Waterford and Jamie- East Lyme
8/12- Crissy- Clubhouse
8/14- Krista- Killingly
8/15- Larry- CEO
8/16- Clifford- Maintenance
8/20-Leila- Brooklyn
8/21- Danielle- Executive Director
8/30- Morgan Brooklyn
Employee website
Wish Lists
Our fundraising events are a great way to add extra funds to purchase such items. Help out and make sure you are aware of when they are happening and encourage your families to get involved and why!
Details- Wish list items are best when the most detail is given- size, color, description or even a photo helps out a lot! Please be descriptive!
CHECK- please check the supply and art closets before asking for items- it may just be tucked away or someone may know where to find something we already have!
Reminders
- Please do your best to keep the playground clean and tidy. Toys should always be put away in their proper places, garbage should be picked up, water jugs should be taken inside at the end of every night, and wood chips and rocks should be swept and cleaned up to provide a safe environment for the children.
- We know that it is very hot outside during these last summer months, so please be sure that you and your class are staying hydrated. Bring a spray bottle with water outside to cool off and don’t forget to be using the hose and sprinkler to engage in some fun water play. It is recommended that you bring a pitcher with cold water and some cups outside so that both you and the children are staying hydrated while running around in the heat.
Many children will be transitioning at the end of this month. Please be sure you are passing everything to the next classroom (portfolio, assessments, extra clothing, etc.) and be sure you are prepared for new children by having cubbies, mailboxes, and diaper areas labeled.
Cleaning and sanitizing is of the utmost importance. Follow all center cleaning policies including Covid-19 policies.
Hot News
"What is your favorite summer place or activity to do??"
Submit answers by clicking the link below by August 25th!
Last Month's Entries: NONE
NAEYC NEWS...
Current Classroom Portfolios- How are your binders coming along? Killingly is next for a NAEYC visit this fall! They will be at your center between Sept. and March. Be sure your classrooms are NAEYC ready.
Many of your posts on our Facebook page can go right into your classroom portfolios- they all meet one or more criteria!
The Accreditation process has streamline information in order to make visit easier and less redundant. https://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/early-learning/tools
Back to school ideas!
Friendship mural
Grandfriends day ideas
Some fun dates for the month of August
The month of August has many days and dates to celebrate. Here's a rundown of August festivities you might want to include in your classroom:
August 3– Watermelon Day
August 11– Play in the Sand Day
August 22- Blue Day- WEAR BLUE TODAY!
August 24– Strange Music Day
August 30– National Toasted Marshmallow Day
August 31- National Eat Outside Day- Have a picnic on the playground today
This month's incentive- Win !!!
Most creative Art show winner is Brooklyn for their great participation and they even raised over $200! They are working on picking out something they want for their center!!!
Staff Facebook Incentive: The most posts of your kiddos doing a theme-related activity using #July2020 in the description wins a prize! NO ONE SUBMITTED ANYTHING! You must use the hashtag in order to participate. Check the programming calendar for information.
AUGUST INCENTIVES:
- Staff Facebook Incentive: The most posts and comments on the staff page using #summerfun2020 will win a summer fun pack! Don't forget your hashtags!!!!!
- Executive Directors are having a best-themed bulletin board- Get ready to change them out and pick a theme from August.
- Corporate Incentive- Pick any activity, craft, idea from the staff Facebook page, and incorporate it into your lessons in August and you could win a gas card. NO limit to submissions... email to holly@carelot.net, text to Holly 860-460-8465 or Tag Holly on your Facebook post!
Watch for random fun and games on our staff's Facebook page!
Have you completed your STATE REQUIRED TRAINING? ONE TIME TRAINING!
Policy Reminder:
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Social networking is growing rapidly in today’s society. It is expected that all Carelot employees will behave professionally and exercise responsibility whenever they use social media and electronic communications. Social networking and electronic communications include, but are not limited to: email, text messaging, instant messaging, online forums, media sharing sites, and social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, WikiSpaces, SnapChat etc. All employees will receive a detailed guideline on Social Networking and Electronic Communications upon hire.
Dramatic Play idea
Find animals on a safari
Scavenger hunt idea
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