Dear Parents,
Welcome to a new school year at Friends ‘n Fun!
Our mission is 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. This partnership is of great value to us and 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 us very seriously.
We all look forward to an exciting year and to all of the journeys ahead of us!
Janet, Jane, Katey & Kaela
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.
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, 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
One of the facets of our daily schedule is the time of the day when we gather the children together in smaller pods to share ideas, activities and experiences as we explore a shared focus. On M/W and T/TH we do this in “Small Group.” The children come together with a teacher who will remain their small group teacher for the year. It is a time when we put similarly aged children together. There are the 2 1/2 to 3 year olds; the pre-kindergarten aged children; and a crew who aren’t quite the youngest and not quite the oldest.
Small Group topics are selected in a variety of ways. Sometimes we use a rich and relevant children’s book as an anchor for exploration; sometimes teachers sense that a particular topic may be helpful in connecting the children to the school and each other; other times (and our favorite) is when we see patterns emerge in the children’s play that cross ages and gender and call for a more in depth investigation.
Friday is the day we switch gears a bit and have what we call “Studio Discovery.” Teachers set up a “surprise” for the children as they take turns messing about with materials and experiences that invite discovery. The teachers observe and learn about each child’s approach to what is set before them. Sometimes it is an individual experience that encourages creativity, investigation or tactile experimentation, and sometimes they are asked to work together to generate ideas and solutions to specific problems. For the past three years a “Studio Discovery” topic has been selected that lends itself to a deeper dive and is explored for the entire school year.
Every August the teachers come together around a thought, idea or focus that anchors and guides the upcoming school year’s work. As always, we seek to create opportunities for problem solving, collaboration and creativity. We hope to do this in a manner that reflects compassion, kindness and caring for each other and our ideas. We hope to communicate with the children in a manner that supports deeper thinking, not right or wrong answers to closed questions. We encourage you to share in this way of thinking.
BEGINNINGS……….When thinking about a possible way to kick off our new school year the teachers stumbled upon a children’s book titled “Waiting” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes. In this quiet book five toy friends sit on a child’s windowsill and look through the window and watch. Each of them is “waiting” for something. The story explores patience and how children experience time, anticipation and stillness. It encourages noticing changes in the world around us.
And of course the joy and comfort of friendship.
We look forward to the journey’s start and will be excited to see how it grows and evolves. Stay tuned………..!
We are beginning our Studio Discovery Fridays with a deep dive into the SOUNDS of MUSIC!
“Tuning” into vibration will be the starting point. How does vibration become sound? How does sound become music?
Through the year we will explore sound waves; how animals make sounds; musical instruments and music from different cultures. We hope to uncover many “discoveries” on our Fridays throughout the year!
Drop off and Pick Up
Parking and access to school can be a bit squishy at times. There is a public parking lot behind FnF on E. Geneseo & Public Road that you can use should you encounter a really busy time. If you park there you can cross the alley, walk through FnF’s playground and come around to the front for drop off, or come in through the back door. We are typically on the playground for the 12:00 or 1:00 o’clock pick up.
If there is a day where you will be later than expected or your child will not be attending please give us a call at 303-666-5111 to let us know.
FALL CONFERENCES
We like to check in with you after your child has been attending FnF for a few weeks to hear more from you about your child and to answer any additional questions that may have come up . We will be scheduling conferences in October (dates are still to be determined). The conferences usually take about 15 minutes and you are welcome to bring your child/children if you wish. Your conferences will be scheduled with your child’s small group teacher and each of us will connect with you to arrange a time.
The scheduled Fall conference secures an opportunity to chat together but we want you all to feel free to talk with us whenever a question or thought comes up!
Health Precautions
We have been so very fortunate over the years to have successfully minimized major illnesses at school. That has been in large part due to the amazing efforts of all of our FnF families and their conscientious diligence in monitoring their family’s health so as to insure we are all as protected as possible. In an effort to continue to work together around health, we request all families do a symptom check before they leave home each morning. The Colorado Department of Public Health resource “How Sick is Too Sick” outlines the guidance we follow for all illness, including COVID. Please let Jane know if you need a copy emailed to you.
We can all help take care of each other within our Friends’n Fun Community and safe guard the health of ourselves and those in our lives outside of school!
We so appreciate everyone’s continued efforts and awareness!!!!!!
Parenting Discussion Night
Parenting is a tough job and finding ways to feel connected to others while navigating the ups and downs of this important work can help.
Several parents have requested an opportunity to get together with us to share parenting experiences and questions as we brainstorm strategies for working with our children.
We will gather at FnF on a scheduled Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30. The first meeting will be TBA!
*Unfortunately our space is not big enough to accommodate a discussion group and child care.
BITS & PIECES
HEALTH FORMS – The State of Colorado requires us to have a recent physical for each child at FnF. This physical must be updated annually. Jane will let you know if you are missing any paperwork and when it needs to be updated.
PERMISSION FORM– Licensing requires the permissions page of your child’s paperwork to be signed and dated annually. Jane will catch you to have you sign/date the permission form for this year, even if you signed it earlier in the year. It is easier to have everyone on the same signing schedule!
INFORMATION CHANGES – Please let Jane know if there are any changes to your family’s: address, phone numbers, employment (and that contact information), emergency contact, physician, insurance. If any of those things change during the year, please let us know so that we have current/correct information.
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. Please note that we are not allowed to administer any homeopathic medications/remedies. THANKS!
WATER BOTTLES & BACKPACKS
Our nurse consultant has recommended no water bottles at school, and space for backpacks is extremely limited – especially when winter gear starts sharing the hanging space. Thanks for understanding.
PLEASE GIVE US A HAND………….
As we begin our school year it would be really helpful to us if you take a few minutes to help your child practice hand washing at home. The process we are asked to follow by the Health Department is – running water, soap up, scrub both sides of the hands and between fingers while singing Happy Birthday or the ABC song (approximately 20 seconds.) Then rinse under water to remove the soap. Dry with paper towel. The tricky parts for the kids seem to be scrubbing all of their hands and getting all of the soap rinsed off. A little extra practice will go a long way!
E X T R E M E W E A T H E R C L O S U R E
In the event of extreme weather there are a couple of ways you canfind out if Friends ’n Fun will be closed. If Boulder Valley School District cancels school, Friends ’n Fun will also be closed. We will email you as soon aswe have that information and will post it on our Facebook page, too. BVSDsometimes opts for a delayed start – we will not do a delayed start. It is up to your family to decide if you will bring your child in a little later, or if you will choose tostay home. Please let us know if you decide to keep your child home!In addition to sending an email and posting on our Facebook page, we also list ourclosing on Channel 9 News. Their online closure listings are more quickly updatedthan the scroll on their TV channel.
www.friendsnfunchildrenscenter.com
www.facebook.com/FriendsnFunChildrensCenterInc
Phone numbers – If something should come up outside of school hours call Janet or Jane. Their cell phone numbers are on the class list you received.
FRIENDS ‘N FUN IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2026-2027
August 24, 2026 Fall Session begins
September 7, 2026 Labor Day (closed)
November 26 – 27, 2026 Thanksgiving (closed)
December 24 thru Jan. 1st Winter Break (closed) Reopen Mon., Jan. 4th
January 18, 2027 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (closed)
February 15, 2027 Presidents’ Day (closed)
March 17 – 18 – 19, 2027 Spring Break (closed)
May 28, 2027 Last Day of School Year
May 31, 2027 Memorial Day (closed)
“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.