The Ocean Courant Staff Newsletter
Carelot Children's Center ~ June 2019
A message from Holly Bevilacqua
The centers and clubhouse programs have worked hard putting together our summer calendars that will be out soon! Please be sure to check them out carefully so you are aware of what is coming into your classroom! Any additions will be added to our newsletter calendars so keep watching in order to plan your days accordingly. We have many of our seasonal staff back and some staff vacations planned so please remember to give your families advanced notice if you will be out for a vacation and someone will be covering you.
Summer vacation requests should be submitted ASAP as the weeks are filling quickly and substitutes are minimal.
Remember that having a positive attitude makes the workplace and classroom better for both you and your class. A positive learning environment is a great learning environment! If you have any issues or concerns, it is important to speak with your Site manager or Executive Director. Communication is the key to clarification, policy reminders and procedures. You won't get things fixed or clarified if you spend time speaking to those who cannot "fix" what you need.
Celebrate you!
6/7: Melissa- Corporate
6/8: Alyssa - TFS & Brenda - East Lyme
6/9: Taylor- Waterford
6/18: Crystal- East Lyme
6/19: Oscar- Clubhouse
6/21: Rhonda- Killingly
6/23: Tess- Clubhouse & Yudi- South Sub
6/24: Courtney- Killingly
6/26: Rianna - Clubhouse
6/27: Alexi- East Lyme
Thank you for your dedication!
Happy 11 year to:Tina- Killingly
Happy 9 year to: Quiana- Clubhouse
Happy 4 year to: Alyssa - Clubhouse
Happy 2 year to: Anna- Clubhouse & Verna- Chaplin &
Amanda- Brooklyn
Happy 1 year to: Angie- Waterford & Jen- Killingly
Dad's Day gift idea!
Reminders
* Make sure your bleach and cleaner bottles are labeled clearly and kept in a locked cabinet.
* Make sure your rooms are closed properly at the end of the day. Toys must be put on shelves properly, rooms vacuumed, all food and crumbs are cleaned up and your room is ready for you next day!!
* It is your responsibility to check the posted schedule and your mailboxes located in your staff areas for important information. Emails are also sent weekly with reminders etc. Please be sure we have an email address on record.
* Please help remind the families of upcoming events in the center! Utilize the daily reports or classroom newsletters for reminders.
* Garbage must be taken out to the dumpster or garbage cans—not piles in the hallway, kitchens, or outside emergency exits.
* Bedding: Don’t pile up bedding on top of each other. Please keep bedding on each child’s individual cot or crib.
* Please make sure that you are punching in and out at your schedule times.
* Please remind parents about children wearing closed toed shoes and to send in sunscreen with the non-prescription med form.
* Please update emergency book information; this includes the Emergency Book Information Sheet, the Emergency Information Page, and the Child Fact Sheet.
Hot News
What is a great recipe or activity you can share with other Carelot Staff/Families to do with your children. Let's Make a Cookbook! Share your recipes with us by sending an email or posting on our staff facebook page.
Submit answers to HR@carelot.net or on our staff facebook page by June 25th!
Last Month's entries: "If you could recommend a summer activity/day trip that your family enjoys with other families, what would it be?"
Vanessa: I would recommend taking a day trip early in the morning to Gillette Castle in East Haddam, walking the trails and exploring the castle. Later in the day I would then go to the beach for some fun in the sun and have a picnic.
Erika: If i could recommend a day trip that me and my family love it would definitely be one of these 2 places. Mystic aquarium we love watching the fish and learning about them. We love feeding the sting rays and dancing with the penguins. We also love the bird exhibit at the end. Our second favorite is Roger Williams zoo. Its not a huge zoo so its easy to get through. We pack our own lunches and bring them in to eat on the picnic tables provided. We love walking around all day seeing the animals then finishing our day with the playground and splash pad.
Patty: When my children were smaller we loved to take them to Devils Hopyard for hiking and fishing followed by lunch and then ice cream on the way home.
Holly: Devil's Hopyard, Rocky Neck, Boston Museum of Science or Aquarium, New York City Broadway show or picnic in Central Park or even a ferry over to the statue of liberty.
WINNER: We had so many entries and I am so excited! The winner is: ERIKA from our CHAPLIN center! Congratulations and thanks everyone for sharing!
NAEYC NEWS...
Congratulations to our East Lyme Center for receiving their NAEYC renewal. EL is our first center to use the new streamlined process. Killingly is next! I have reviewed classroom portfolios once already and will be reviewing again soon! Please be sure you are all putting items in the portfolios accordingly and be as detailed as possible! I will also be taking a look at Waterford, Chaplin and Brooklyn as well.
The video below is a webinar from NAEYC that explains what is required in your classroom portfolios. - Excited for less documentation! Holly
Check out this video on Incident and Accident Reports- Presented by Larry!
Continuing Education Article- Submit by June 30th. Complete the easy to complete form below.
Speaking up!
Talking with parents about reminders from the office and about their child’s day is very important. If we are trying to get items back from families, such as, fundraiser forms, RSVP’s for events/programs, paperwork (physicals or emergency forms) it is important that you assist us! Here are a few tips that will help:
1. Add a reminder to their daily reports
2. Add the reminder to your white boards each week
4. Verbally remind a parent at drop off or pick up time.
Communication is the key to success. Please be sure to let your families know what is going on in the classroom and around the center. Family and teacher relations are key in providing each child the best education! Get to know your children through your family interactions! Connect home and school!
Dates to remember- ELDS and Concepts should be clear on your lesson plans.
DON’T MISS THESE FUN DATES!
Here's a rundown of June’s festivities you might want to include in your classroom:
9th– Donald Duck Day
11th– Hug Day
18th World Jugglers Day
23rd– National Pink Day
27th—Sunglasses Day
30th– Meteor Day
Have you completed your STATE REQUIRED TRAINING?
Idea: Backpack Science Kit
Encourage outdoor exploration by placing the following objects in a child's backpack or bag: magnifying glasses, tweezers, small shovel, Ziploc bags for collections, crayons, markers, and a clipboard or notebook for observational drawings. While on an outdoor adventure, encourage your young scientists to draw an interesting sight such as a bird’s nest, rock formations or an ant hill. These drawings increase the powers of observation that are so important to science discovery. Collect rocks, leaves, sticks and place in collection bags for your science centers! Even small children can trace rocks and leaves!
Congrats to Chaplin Preschool submission of name trains from our calendar of events!
Time off Policy Reminder
Request for leaves are used to give the director all of the needed information at least TWO WEEKS in advance. This will enable the director to find a substitute well in advance of the date the staff person is unable to work. Time off request forms can be found in the staff room or the office. It is important that all staff understand that the act of handing in a Request for Leave does not in itself constitute an automatic granting of time off. The director will grant time off based on the following criteria:
· No more than one person from each classroom may be absent at the same time. When two individuals request time off at the same time, the individual with the most seniority will be granted the request.
· Requests for single days of time off will be granted on a first come first serve basis
· All staff must indicate first, second and third choices for vacations. 3-4 Weeks notice is requested for vacations that extend more than 2 days in duration so we can accomodate your requests.
· Once vacations are approved the employee will be informed.
· Check the calendar and request for leave boards!
· Blackout Dates: Last 2 weeks of June and August 15th -September 15th.
A fun "hairy" experience
Set up a camp in your classroom
Create outer space creatures
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