Preschool News
October 7, 2023
School Days
10/29/23
Hello Rodman Preschool Families,
We had a great week of learning! Students enjoyed some fun fall projects and got their hands dirty investigating pumpkins. We also had some classrooms go on a fall walking field trip! Thank you to all the volunteers that came to help! (some snapshots below)
Have a wonderful week!
Kind regards,
Shelley Needle, MS, BCBA, LABA
Interim Early Childhood Coordinator
781-821-5060 X 1505
Upcoming Dates
Nov 7th - Professional Development - No School
Nov 10th - Veteran's Day - No School
Nov 13-17th - Book Fair
Nov 16th - Parent Conferences (evening)
Nov 17th - Early Release - Parent Conferences
Nov 23rd-24th - Thanksgiving Break - No School
Parking Lot Rules
Our parking lot for families is a busy place and we need your help to make sure it is safe for our preschool friends. Following these rules will help make that happen:
1. Hold your child's hand at ALL times. If your child cannot tolerate hand holding, hold the back pack attached to them, their shirt-anything.
2. Please walk on sidewalks only.
3. Cross at crosswalks only. You will see our staff out there assisting you in these areas.
4. Please park in designated parking spots. We know the lots are very full, but parking in spots that are not designated can become a safety issue.
Please feel free to park along the sidewalk adjacent to the high school. This is a good, safer space to use. I will be out there as much as possible to help, so please flag me down if you need me.
Our school resource officer will also be helping with the parking lot occasionally.
Tragic Events - Near and Far
Some tips on how to navigate violent news events with young children:
Keep young children away from news media-It is important to be mindful of children overhearing news reports. Young children might be listening even when you think they are not interested or are otherwise distracted, and they may not have the language to ask questions about the scary things that they could hear. They also can be sensitive to watching adults' own emotional reactions as they process the news.
Keep conversations developmentally appropriate- Generally, preschool age children should not be informed about violent events unless it is directly impacting their lives. Young children are too young to process this information and may become very scared. Only talk about violent news events if the child starts the conversation. If that happens, listen and validate their feelings, but keep explanations short, focus on the “helpers”, and emphasize that they are safe (e.g. “A mean person hurt some people very far away. The helpers there helping them feel safe. You are safe here. Do you know some of the helpers in our community?”).
Talk to your children about the helpers- It is always beneficial, including outside of these violent events, to have ongoing, age-appropriate conversations about the different helpers in their community. Keep explanations basic, such as police officers help keep people safe, direct traffic, help you when you are lost, etc. You can also begin conversations about how to find these helpers when needed.
If you would like any more information please contact Anna Russo at russoa@cantonma.org. Additionally, please reach out if your family has been affected by recent tragic events. We are here to help.
Preschool Screenings - Note From Teachers
Rodman Preschool Families,
At the Rodman Preschool, we do a number of assessments to help monitor student progress and help better identify student needs for program decision making, instruction, and curriculum. We will start our developmental screeners soon on all community peers. These take a quick look at cognitive, language, and motor development. Screenings will happen after our regular dismissal time (1pm). Teachers will reach out directly to you for scheduling. We will share results with you during parent conferences. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Rodman Teachers
Social Emotional Screener Update
All parent/guardian social emotional screening forms have been sent out via email. If you haven't received one, please reach out to Anna at russoa@cantonma.org
As of Friday, we have received back 39% of parent/guardian surveys. This information is essential to planning social emotional support in our classrooms, so please fill out the survey for your child.
Thank you!
--
Anna Russo, Ed.S.
She/Her/Hers
School Psychologist-Rodman Early Childhood Program
Canton Public Schools
781-821-5060 x1513
CAPT NEWS
CAPT NEWS
Our Next Meeting will be November 8th. We’re looking for dedicated parents to help support CAPT’s mission by helping plan and work events, attend monthly meetings, as well as supporting the Rodman staff and students. We need your help to make sure keep CAPT going and provide enrichment and fun for families throughout the year and in the upcoming years.
Be on the lookout for details about a Pajama Storytime during the week of the bookfair!!
CAPT is still looking for classroom Volunteers!!!
CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS
Interested in getting more involved at the Rodman? CAPT invites you to sign up as a Classroom Volunteer! These are examples of ways classroom volunteers can help:
o Being a guest story reader in your child’s classroom
o Assisting with arts and crafts in your child’s classroom
o Helping on the playground
o Helping at lunchtime
o Organizing books and other classroom materials
Classroom volunteers must have a CORI form on file. Please email rodman.prek.capt@gmail.com to sign up, or for more information!
Final Classroom Volunteer Flyer.pdf
Spirit Wear is here!!!! Last day to order is November 3rd!!!!Take a look and order soon!!! We will be selling hoodies and fleeces this fall as a fundraiser. See attached flier to learn more.
Please look through your closets!! CAPT is holding a coat drive for COAT’s for Kids Program. Bring in gently used children’s and adults winter jackets. There will be a box located at the entrance to the school and feel free to send in with your child. Every little bit helps. We are looking for a volunteer to periodically drop coats off at Anton's cleaners, contact rodman.prek.capt@gmail.com.
Thank you
Rodman Pre-K CAPT
Facebook: @RodmanCAPT
Rodman Preschool Lending Library
Our lending library is stocked FULL of great reads for your little one. Feel free to look through and find you and your child's perfect read for home. To keep our books available to all, please be sure to write in your name and the book title on the designated clipboard near by. Thanks and happy reading!!!
CORI and Fingerprinting
Reminder:
A CORI check IS required for all volunteers.
Fingerprinting IS required if you are interested in volunteering with direct and unmonitored interactions with students. This included chaperoning field trips.
Fingerprinting is NOT required if you are volunteering under supervision of a school staff member. This included room parents, guest speakers and volunteers at field day events.
*They can take awhile to process so please fill them out early so they have enough time to be returned prior to a field trip or volunteer opportunity
Please provide a copy of your fingerprinting receipt to Susan Crespi crespis@cantonma.org to let us know you completed fingerprinting.
Bag Donations
We are looking for plastic bag donations (grocery size) for our classrooms/bathrooms. They are often used for disposal of items, dirty clothes, etc. If you have any extra plastic bags, we will gladly take the donation. Thanks in advance!
Rodman Preschool Staff
Snapshots of the Week 😄
Bilingual/Multilingual Parent's Night
Canton Public Schools will be hosting a Bilingual/Multilingual Parents Night on November 1, 2023 from 6:00-7:00 in the Canton High School Library. During this event, there will be time to meet other multilingual families, learn how to use technology platforms, and hear more about our English Learner Parent Advisory Council. We are looking forward to seeing you at our first Bilingual/Multilingual Parent Night.
Additional information and a translated invitation can be found here. Thank you.
Melanie Omar
Multilingual Learner Coordinator
Call for Substitutes
Cantonstock 2023
MUSICCOUNTS! and the Canton Performing Arts Department proudly present Cantonstock 2023 on November 4th 12-4pm.
- Cantonstock is the annual music extravaganza that showcases hundreds of student musicians representing all performing ensembles in the Canton schools, and is the primary fundraiser for MusicCounts, the volunteer, non-profit group dedicated to supporting all music programs in all the Canton Public Schools!
- The mission is to raise funds for music programming for all students! Visit our website at: www.MusicCountsinCanton.org
Here are several ways you can help:
Sponsor a Student for Cantonstock (https://donorbox.org/musiccounts-sponsorstudentcantonstock-2-2-2)
T-shirt orders must be received by October 16th! Each student who receives $50 in sponsors will receive this year’s version of the popular Cantonstock T-Shirt! Shirts are 100% Cotton and the colors change each year so students enjoy collecting them as they progress through the schools! (Additional students in the same household only need to raise $15 each to qualify for a shirt too!)
Be an Individual Sponsor (https://donorbox.org/musiccounts-individual-sponsors-2021-2-2)
This option gives you different donation levels to select from and isn't tied to a specific student or deadline. We'll be happy to recognize your contribution on our website, social media, and other channels too!
Be a Business or Organizational Sponsor (https://donorbox.org/musiccounts-business-sponsors-2021-2-2)
We’re so grateful to the businesses and organizations for their past support, and hope they continue again this year. We’d really love to add new business and organizational sponsors too! Please view our current and previous list of sponsors and be sure to support them!
• Learn More & Get Involved (https://www.musiccountsincanton.org/contactus.html)
Visit our website to learn more about MusicCounts and all the great things we’ve funded the past few years. Contact Us to Donate an Item for Raffle and Silent Auction, become a volunteer and more!
MusicCounts in Canton! • P.O. Box 182 • Canton, MA 02021 • CantonMusicCounts@gmail.com
Around Town Events
Canton Public Schools has a Community Resources and Information Page on its website titled Around Town. This page lists resources and events taking place in our community. To access the information on this webpage, use this link: About/Around Town.
This webpage will be updated periodically.