BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL
MAY 2024 - NEWSLETTER
THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR!
On behalf of the Bright Beginnings Staff, we would like to thank our wonderful families for sharing your children with us this year.
We take great pride in being able to provide a safe, play-based preschool experience for all learners. Students were able to learn from our exceptional staff, in a classroom setting that is nurturing and fosters a life-long love of learning. We could not have done this without the continued support of our families. Thank you!
For those students and families moving to kindergarten next year, we hope that you
have enjoyed your time in preschool. We know you are ready for kindergarten and will have a successful school year next year. We will miss you, but look forward to seeing you as a kindergartener!
For those students and families that will be returning to Bright Beginnings preschool next year, we are eagerly awaiting your return and can’t wait to see how much you grow over the summer. We will see you soon!
Thank you!
Jane Helgestad, Early Childhood Coordinator and John McDonald, Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
May 9: Children's Mental Health Day-Wear GREEN to support Children's Mental Health
May 9: 2024-2025 Kindergarten Open House 4:30-6:30 PM
May 23: Wear LIGHT BLUE for the Character Strong Trait of CREATIVITY
May 27: No School - Memorial Day
May 31: Last Day of School
NATIONAL SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING MONTH - MAY 2024
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. This is a time to raise awareness about speech and language disorders, which are among the most common disabilities that school-aged children experience. This is also a time to help all students, no matter how they communicate, to feel included in their school community.
More than 1 million children nationwide receive treatment services for speech and language
disorders each year through the school system. Left unaddressed, speech and language disorders can affect a child’s academic and social success. Speech-language pathologists in schools work with children who have difficulties in the following areas:
Speech sounds—A child may substitute one sound for another, leave sounds out, add
sounds, or change a sound. It may be hard for others to understand them.
Spoken and written language—A student may have trouble understanding what others are
communicating to them and may have problems explaining what they are thinking or feeling.
They may also have difficulty with reading and writing.
Stuttering (fluency)—A child may get stuck on certain sounds or words. They also may
have tension or negative feelings about talking. This tension can get in the way of how they
talk to others.
Cognition—A child may have problems with long- or short-term memory, attention, problem
solving, or organization.
Social communication—A student may have difficulty understanding how others feel or
following the rules of conversation, such as knowing how to take turns.
Voice—A child may lose their voice frequently or use a hoarse or breathy voice. They may
also speak with strain or effort.
Augmentative and alternative communication—A child may need to find other ways to
communicate besides talking, such as using a picture board or a speech-generating device.
Feeding and swallowing—Problems with feeding and swallowing can make it hard for a
student to participate in the school day. Speech-language pathologists help students eat and
drink safely during the school day so that they have the energy to learn.
Whether or not your child has a speech, language, and/or swallowing disorder, it’s important for
everyone to reflect on how we can be respectful and supportive to those who do. Encourage your
child to give people time to get their message out, to focus on what a person is saying rather than
how they’re saying it, and to never bully someone for how they communicate.