Apollo Early Childhood Center
February, 2021 Updates
Principal's Corner
Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that February is already upon us. Time sure does fly when you’re having fun!
I would like to highlight some important calendar events that are happening at Apollo in the near future.
- February 3rd marks the first winter virtual home visit day for GSRP students. GSRP virtual home visits will also occur on February 10th and 24th. Watch for more information to come from your child's teacher.
- February 9th is a non-attendance day for PAL, GSRP and fee-based preschool students. SXI students have an early release day and will be dismissed at 1:36 pm. Child care students will be in session. Staff will be participating in professional development and professional learning community collaboration during this day.
- February 10th, 11th and 12th are picture days. Your child's teacher will share details with you specific to each classroom.
- February 10th and 24th are special virtual Wednesdays for PAL students.
- In observance of Mid-Winter Break, on February 15th and 16th, PAL and SXI students do not have class. GSRP and fee-based preschool students are off all week. Child care is in session all week. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
Finally, note that we are working through the challenges that some families are facing with the ClearToGo app. Please let your child's teacher know if you are are having trouble accessing the app and we will work to resolve each individual issue. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through.
Until next month...think spring!
Warm Regards,
Jen Kidd
Kindergarten Information Nights
The HVS Junior Kindergarten Information Night will be held on March 3rd. The HVS Kindergarten Information Night will be held on March 18th. More information pertaining to both events will come soon and will be updated on the website below.
Last Month's Friday Forum Highlights...
Curriculum Spot Light: Planning
Through daily plans, following through and recalling what they have done, children learn to articulate their intentions and reflect on their actions. They realize they are competent thinkers. They realize they are competent decision-makers and they realize they are competent problem solvers.
Planning encourages children to articulate their ideas, choices, and decisions. Planning promotes children’s self-confidence and sense of control and leads to involvement and concentration on play. Moreover, it supports the development of increasingly complex play.
As they plan:
- Children develop the capacity to express their intentions.
- Children indicate their intentions through gestures, actions, and words – some children may use more gestures and can be enthusiastic about making choices and planning while other children may not gesture, but act on their intent. Through language adults sometimes help identify for the child their intent.
- Some children are nonverbal planners so we take cues from the children and value their nonverbal planning.
Adults support children's planning by:
- Working with children in a small group or individual setting.
- Providing materials and experiences to maintain children’s interest at planning time.
- Conversing with individual children about their plans.
- Anticipating changes in children’s planning over time.
In our classrooms, intentional planning is important! For examples pertaining to how children make plans, click below.
Helping Little People Deal with Big Feelings
We Need Your Help!
Labeling: Please label all of your children's belongings. Including first and last names on all items (extra clothing, rest gear, bags, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc.), is a requirement set forth by State of Michigan licensing standards, but also ensures that we know what belongs to who.
Donations: Plastic grocery bags, winter items (gloves, hats, etc.), and outgrown clothes are always accepted as center spares if you no longer need them.
Winter Gear: As Mother Nature allows, even in the winter, we go outside each day. Please make sure that your child is prepared with outdoor gear every day (hat, gloves, snow pants, boots, and an extra set of clothing).
Thank you in advance for your support with these things.
Joy in our Stories: African American Read-In
Registration Link: bit.ly/os2021aari
S’more Flyer: https://www.smore.com/mcr0q-joy-in-our-stories
Parking Lot Reminders
Additionally, we are noticing that some people are using the handicap parking spots in our lots for student drop off without approval to do so. Please be conscientious of these spots and let's keep them open for those who are DMV handicap approved.
Apollo 2021-2022 Enrollment Information is Coming Soon! Stay Tuned.
About Us
Email: jennifer.kidd@hvs.org
Website: https://www.hvs.org/schools/earlychildhood/apollo-center/
Location: 2029 North Milford Road, Highland, MI, USA
Phone: 248-684-8040