In House Newsletter
September 2018
Education Specialist
Discovering Nature: The Benefits of Teaching Outside of the Classroom https://www.southernearlychildhood.org/upload/pdf/Dimensions_Vol41_3_Jacobi_Vessels.pdf
Rainbow Representative
Crisp Air, Pretty Leaves, Sweaters & Boots, Football, Pumpkins, and Cider! September marks the start of FALL!
Staff Connection Ideas: Fall officially begins on September 22nd! In your staff lounge, create a board with "Our Fall Favorite Things." Allow your staff members to write their favorite things about fall on the board! Once the 22nd arrives, pick one of the most common things, and bring it in for your teachers! For example; apple cider, pumpkin pies, or a jeans and sweatshirts day.
Family Connection Ideas: What better way to show families you appreciate them, than to provide them with a tasty treat! Tuesday, September 18th is Rice Krispie Treat Day! Make or purchase enough Rice Krispie Treats for the children and parents in your center! Write a little "Thank you for being part of the Rainbow family" note to go with the treats!
Each month we will continue to provide ideas as well as general tips for connecting with staff and families. We would also love to hear your ideas and see your hard work! Please send ideas and pictures of completed activities to education@rainbowccc.com.
Health, Safety, and Licensing Coordinator
Child Care Emergency Preparedness
Being child care providers, one of our most important daily tasks is to ensure the children in our care are safe. Every year in the United States, nearly 70 million attend school and other child care facilities. Families entrust these facilities with their most precious treasures daily, therefore it is our mission to be prepared for all occasions. This requires coordinated prevention, protection, response and recovery activities that span the readiness spectrum. You may question how or whether you have enough training to be fully prepared? No matter how much we plan, drill, or watch the weather forecasts, it is nearly impossible to be 100% prepared for crucial times. We can, however, make strides towards perfecting our readiness. Listed below are ways on how to effectively accomplish just that.
Have your I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) Supply List
These supplies should be stored in Rubbermaid containers and should remain in an easily accessible area in the center. This list is the minimum requirement, but your state guidelines will supersede this minimum requirement if additional items are needed.
- Water-bottles
- First Aid supplies (Band-Aids, gauze, tape, Ace bandages, etc.)
- Assortment sizes of diapers and wipes
- Infant ready-to-feed formula
- Back up communication such as walkie-talkies, pre-paid cell phones
- Tissues
- Bathroom toilet paper
- Disposable Gloves
- Blankets
- Flashlights
- Lots of different sizes of batteries
- Portable radios
- Disposable cups
- Food (dry goods, cans of fruit, cereal, non-perishable food items) As well as a hand-operated can opener or single serving item.
In the event of a medical emergency, the following steps will be taken:
1. A supporting staff member will call 911 for an EMS team to come to the center while the primary caregiver will attend to the injured child and initiate basic first aid is possible.
2. Once EMS has been called, the supporting staff will contact the injured child’s parents and make arrangements for the meeting at the closest or predetermined place of emergency care.
3. The child’s medical records accompany the child to the emergency care site.
4. The child is not left alone at any time; the staff member accompanying the child will remain with the child until the child’s parents assume responsibility for the child.
5. In the event a staff member must leave the center to accompany the injured child, a substitute will be called in to replace that person
6. Notify Regional Manager
7. A center incident/accident report will be filled out as well as any state specific reports within the timeline given per state guidelines
This list as well as list on Severe Weather, Hazardous Materials, Utility Maintenance and/or a Disturbance, can be located in the Emergency Management Policies and Procedures manual. And If we are consistent with the usage of this manual, we can achieve great things as a company. These steps will help us safeguard priority one, our children.