SEPTEMBER 2015 NEWSLETTER

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Dear Parents,

Welcome to a new year at Friends ‘n Fun. Our mission is to help you to provide your child with experiences that are filled with adventure, exploration and discovery. We want to be in collaboration with you as we work together to support your child as he/she grows and develops during these exciting early years of childhood. We encourage you to let us know of any concerns or questions that you may have throughout the school year.

Teachers at FnF realize that parents know their children better than anyone. It is you who have seen them smile their first smile; it is you who celebrated their first words and first steps; it is you who have nursed them through illness and accidents, and it is you who continue to encourage, support, comfort and love them. Thank you for sharing your children with us and know that we take the trust you have extended very seriously. Please always feel free to “chat” with us about the day’s events.

We are all looking forward to an exciting year and all of the journeys ahead of us.

This newsletter has a lot of information regarding upcoming events and getting started in our program. PLEASE take time to read it and make notes on your own family’s calendar so that your family does not miss out on important dates, etc.

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September’s Journey 

The beginning of a new school year presents us with an opportunity to see ourselves not only as individuals but also as a part of something bigger: a family, a school setting, a community.

“A child is born a first time, and then, through the long and difficult process of constructing his identity, it is as if he is born again. In this process, he gives himself a face, a body, gestures, movement, speech, thought, feelings, imagination, fantasy; in short, the awareness of being and the means of expressing his “me-ness” which is absolutely essential for becoming autonomous and distinguishing ourselves from other people and things – people and things we live and interact with and from which, little by little, we draw most of the raw material with which we create our own identity. To recognize ourselves and to be recognized. But a child’s most sought-after goal is to recognize himself in others, and to find in others (objects and the natural world as well) parts of himself.”                                                                                                     – Loris Malaguzzi

We will begin by looking with “new eyes” – seeing each other as we are now and learning how to appreciate and support each other as we expand our sense of selves in the days to come. The teachers have chosen the concept of “identity”, and specifically “a portrait of self” as a place to begin.

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Greetings & Goodbyes – Entering the school environment is a transition time and the most significant one of the day. Children and parents enter the school with multiple needs and feelings. There can be enthusiasm, excitement, anxiety, sadness, confusion and frustration – just to name a few. Teachers see their role at this time as facilitators of the morning transition. We make ourselves available to hold a child during a tearful or joyful good-bye, receive and transfer information from and to parents, reassure everyone that things will be okay, and help children connect with activities, materials and each other when they are ready. Parents tend to feel more comfortable going off to start their day once their children are engaged in an activity. On the other hand, most children are preoccupied with the process of transitioning from home and parents to school and teachers. They are really not ready to begin something until the transition is complete. Once the parent has driven away, they are ready to look around and spend some time thinking about where they want to start. Please speak with teachers if you would like support with your morning transition.

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LITTLE REMINDERS – Here are a few things we want to remind you about:

  • Read your Parent Handbook – it’s full of useful information. If you need a new one let us know.
  • Please sign your child in and out each day in the notebook on the white shelf at the front door.
  • Check your child’s cubby box daily and take home the things they have worked so hard on and treasure. Please notice exactly where your child hangs his/her coat. There will be 2 children sharing a coat space during each preschool session. Please be respectful of your “coat cubby mate!”
  • Please bring an extra change of clothes for your child to keep in his/her cubby. Please label them.
  • Ask any of us about what we did during the day. Sometimes a clue from you will help spark your child’s memory and they’ll be able to tell you all sorts of things about their day at FnF.
  • Backpacks – We have so very little space in this building that we are unable to store backpacks at school. The children share the coat hanging spaces and backpacks make it difficult to hang up coats.
  • Snacks – there is a calendar at the front bulletin board for you to sign up to bring a healthy snack for the entire school (22 children.) This is a great way to participate and help your child feel a part of the school. We try to serve healthy snacks to the children in single service form, as we do not have a licensed food preparation kitchen. When Birthday time comes, please feel free to bring a special snack for your birthday child. If you should choose to provide cupcakes, try to send the mini sized ones, as full size cupcakes are too much snack for young children.
  • Check the parent board and front door for posted information.
  • We will have book orders on the front door from time to time. Please feel free to take them if you are interested. They are usually fairly inexpensive and make great gifts. Orders usually take 3-4 weeks to come in.

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END OF DAY

Friends’n Fun’s day has several schedule options. Teachers plan a variety of experiences for the groups of children who are scheduled for specific time frames. It can be confusing to all if there is an unrequested time overlap. Please help us with this by picking up your child at your scheduled end of day. If you would like to add to your schedule speak with Janet or Jane and we can plan for your child’s participation.

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HEALTH FORMS – The State of Colorado requires us to have a recent physical for each child at FnF. This physical must be updated annually. Please be sure that by September 25, 2014 we have documentation of this exam. Jane will let you know if you are missing any paperwork. Your cooperation is appreciated. RETURNING FAMILIES: As required by licensing, we are required to have you initial/date the permissions page of your child’s paperwork. Jane will try and catch you at the beginning or end of the day to review and sign.

MEDICATIONS – A form MUST be completed by your doctor each time he/she prescribes ANY medications to be given to your child while in our care. This includes prescriptions and over the counter meds. Please ask Jane or Janet for the medications form and have your physician complete this form and return to school with the medication(s), as we will not be able to administer any medications without it. THANKS!

WATER BOTTLES – Our nurse consultant, who keeps us up to date on so many things and helps make sure we’re on top of current information regarding children’s health, has recommended that we do not allow water bottles. Water bottles left in the cubbies, or even the refrigerator, are tempting to many children. There is a chance a child may take a drink from someone else’s water bottle and this can lead to spread of germs. Some people may also add something to their children’s water bottle that may be unsafe for another child to have (examples: vitamins; fruit juices to which other children may be allergic). Children have ready access to our water fountain whenever they need a drink and we work with the children on the best way to drink from the water fountain and sanitize it several times a day. Thank you for your help in trying to contain the spread of germs.

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CLASS LIST WITH CONTACT INFORMATION – we are working on this and will make sure everyone has a copy once it’s ready!

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UPCOMING EVENTS-

Mark your calendars and watch the Parent Bulletin Board for more specifics regarding these dates.

Wed. Sept. 9 POTLUCK PICNIC – an all school, all family event held from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm at LaMont Does Park in Lafayette on South Boulder Road. Watch the parent board for more information.

Tues. Sept. 29 (2:00 – 4:30) & Wed. Sept.30 (4:00 – 6:30) PARENT-TEACHER FALL CONFERENCES – watch the parent bulletin board for a sign-up sheet to schedule a 15 minute conference with your child’s small group teacher.

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FRIENDS ‘N FUN SCHOOL CLOSINGS FOR 2015 -2016

September 7, 2015                                      Labor Day

November 26-27, 2015                               Thanksgiving

December 24-31 January 1                        Winter Break (reopen Monday, Jan. 4th)

January 18, 2016                                        Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

February 15, 2016                                      President’s Day

March 23-24-25, 2016                               Spring Break

May 30, 2016                                             Memorial Day

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Please watch Channel 9 News for notices of school closings or late opening times on days of extreme snow. If you can, check Channel 9 News online for the most current updates, as the television has a delay time from when we called.

Phone numbers – If something should come up during off school hours call:

Janet 303-818-4842             Jane 303-775-1531

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“THE HUNDRED LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN”

Friends ‘n Fun has pursued the study of the internationally renowned philosophy of early childhood education that has been cultivated over the past 50 years in the Reggio Emilia community in northern Italy. We continually integrate this philosophy with our own- weaving them together to beautifully and holistically address the needs of our own unique community. There is so much to learn.

Following is a poem from the book – THE HUNDRED LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN, pg. 293.

If I can

     ask my own questions,

     try out my ideas,

     experience what’s around me,

     share what I find;

If I have

     plenty of time for

     my special pace,

     a nourishing space,

     things to transform;

If you’ll be

     my patient friend,

     trusted guide,

     fellow investigator,

     partner in learning;

Then I will

     explore the world,

     discover my voice,

     and tell you what I know

     in a hundred languages.

******************************Welcome to Friends ‘n Fun. We hope you enjoy your journey with us.   Janet, Jane, Kara & Honor