S.C.C.C. PARENT NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2012
Box 347, 82 Chalk Street North, Seaforth, ON N0K 1W0 Phone: (519) 527-0682 Fax: (519) 527-0682 Email:director@seaforthchildcare.ca
Check us out on the web at www.simplesite.com/seaforthdaycare
PAYMENTS ARE DUE IN ADVANCE!
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE CALENDARS THAT DO NOT HAVE CHEQUES ATTACHED. THANK YOU
Our core values are PLAY, PROFESSIONALISM, PROGRAMMING, and PARTNERSHIPS
“If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm”.
Bruce Barton
What’s New at S.C.C.C
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Congratulations to our toddler class who read the most books (287!) for our read-a-a-thon. Honourable mention goes to the Best Start class at our St. James School location who came in a close second. We had lots of great literacy activities and Dr. Seuss games during the week. We even had green eggs and ham for lunch one day!
Did you know that a child must hear a story at least 11 times before becoming familiar with it and to be able to retell the story? That is why your child asks for her favourite story to be read over and over again! One of the easiest investments you can make is to read to your child every day!
Book Exchange
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We would like to start a book exchange here at the centre with a bookshelf full of children’s books, adult books, and possibly DVDs as well. Parents would be able to purchase the books for a small price/donation to the centre. We are looking for a parent volunteer who might be interested in spear heading this project. If this is a project you might be interested in, please let us know.
We are now on Twitter! You can follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/SeaforthDaycare Snow Day closures will be announced through Twitter and Facebook so make sure you sign up/follow us to get the updates.
We have a lot to be thankful for!
Thanks to Becky Janmaat for the pet shavings, and trim for a preschool window.
Thanks to the Ritzema family for the bulk box of kleenex, rabbit and guinea pig food, and glue sticks for the children.
Thanks to Jenn Rooney and RONA for the new bookshelves for preschool, and also for the RONA samples.
Thanks to Kendra Redegeld for organizing the Mom-to-Mom sale and donating cereal and mustard.
Thanks to Erin Dolmage for the donations.
Thanks to the Smith family for the donation of salad dressing.
Thanks to Rhonda English and Judy MacLean for the bags of salt.
Thank you to anyone I may have forgotten. We truly appreciate all the participation and donations from our parent co-operative centre.
Fundraising
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We are having an M & M Meat Shops Fundraiser! Please watch for the flyer coming out next week. Orders and money due back Friday, February 24 at the latest. Cheques can be made out to S.C.C.C. please. Food will be delivered Friday, March 2 around 4:30. Please arrange for pick up, as we cannot store the frozen food. Thanks!
Beautiful new tables and chairs have been ordered for the main centre with all of the fundraising profits you raised the winter. They are expected to arrive in 6-8 weeks. Thank you!
Mom-to-Mom Sale:
We are having a Mom-to-Mom sale (and Dads too!) on Saturday, February 25th at the Seaforth Public School from 9-12. There will be many tables and a variety of children’s clothing, toys, and equipment for sale. Tell all of your friends. Only $2 admission and it is stroller-friendly. If you would like to book a table and make some money on those clothes your child has outgrown, please see Naomi or Kendra at Blooms’n’Rooms. We are looking for a few volunteers to help set-up the Friday evening prior and to help at the sale on the Saturday. Please let us know if you can help.
Did you know?
Currently 47% of our families use subsidy from the County of Huron to help pay for the cost of their childcare. Many parents are surprised that they actually qualify. There is an online calculator in which you can submit your income from line 236 of your tax assessment. It will tell you how much you are eligible to receive toward your childcare. I encourage all of our parents to check this out! Every dollar helps and you may be missing out on some much-needed help with childcare costs. You can also call 519-482-8505 x 4208 to inquire about subsidy or set up an appointment.
Click on this link and at the bottom of the page you will find the online calculator:
www.huroncounty.ca/childcare/childcaresub.php
Our Wonderful Staff
Infant Room – Sherry Hugill, Jodi Clarke, Karen Taylor, Jill Tatara
Toddler Room –Melinda Dorsch, Becky O’Neil
Preschool Room – Connie Bromley, Tracey Campbell
Best Start & SA SPS –Lana Hiemstra, Melanie Mero, Julie Hermsen
Best Start & SA St. J – Gail Fonseca & Sarah Stonehouse
Apprentice –Janita Boekee Program Assistant – Kayla Flanagan
Kitchen – Brenda Finlayson, Ryan Jewitt Custodial – Glenda Meidinger
Business Administrator – Barb Beuermann
Director – Naomi Pelss
Our Dedicated Board of Directors
President – Joanna Wallace
VicePresident/Treasurer – Amanda MacDonald
Human Resource – Kendra Redegeld & Keri-Lynn Price
Secretary – Judy Wilson
Members at Large – Shawn Allen & Heather Ritzema
INFANT ITTY-BITS
Welcome to Rory who has joined us most recently. We look forward to getting to know him and his family better. Our infants have been having lots of fun dancing, exploring sensory materials like oatmeal, play dough, and snow in many forms, learning “Old MacDonald’s Farm”, animal sounds, and even “EIEIO”, playing with dolls and learning a little about sharing. The infant room is a very busy place. Remember to have a look in your child’s portfolio for our most recent updates and documentations of their development according to the ELECT document. We currently have openings for more infants. We would love to have you come visit and have a tour. It’s never too early to reserve a space. Thanks from Sherry, Karen, Jodi, Jill and Stacey
TODDLER TIDBITS
This month our toddlers will still be working with babies, as they are still very interested in them. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up we will also be working on the colours red, white, and pink. Since the weather is changing every day we ask that you could please send appropriate clothing for outdoor activities. We would like to welcome Emma into our toddler room! If your family has any family photos we would love for you to bring them in so we display them in our room. Thanks,
Melinda and Becky
PRESCHOOL POINTS
Wow, only six more weeks until spring! The preschool group has enjoyed exploring the snow (whenever possible!) We have talked about animals in winter and trains in January. Their new focus is building/construction. We have offered a variety of building, stacking, and sorting materials for their exploration. If you have any empty yogurt or margarine tubs of various sizes or small blocks of wood or toy hammers, etc. you could donate that would be great. We are also working on our self-help skills (toileting and dressing) to prepare the children for Kindergarten. We encourage parents to allow time at home for the children to use these skills. Just a reminder we do go outside twice daily so please ensure your child has appropriate clothing for the changing weather. Thanks,
Connie and Tracey
BEST START BUSINESS - SPS
What a great age for imagination! The children often play pretend superheroes in the classroom. We have been discussing real heroes in our everyday lives like firefighters. Lately they have been playing pretend weddings as well. We are always grateful for any donations to our classroom. Ask us what we need! Have your child show you his/her portfolio of documentation. Extra clothes are always a great idea in case of any “accidents” that may occur. Please be sure to send in their backpacks or we can keep a set in the class. Thanks, Lana and Julie
SCHOOL AGE SCOOP – SPS
This month we are continuing with reading buddies. The children are really enjoying it. Please bring in a cookie recipe for us to bake and try. We will also be making a book of cookie recipes. With the February calendar we have sent home new actions/consequences. Please review at home. We are focussing on kindness towards others. Thanks, Melanie and Kayla
BEST START BUSINESS – ST. JAMES
In January, the Best Start made “resolutions” and celebrated Chinese New Year and a Chinese birthday. We sampled green tea, fortune cookies and rice balls in our class restaurant. We also spoke to a real Chinese lady at Wong’s restaurant. Our class had an indoor gym/yoga area. We even made our own exercise clothes, weights and sweatbands. Donations welcome! As a result we have learned about our muscles and bones. Our other passion is our brain food – we love phonics, spelling and reading. Please search for old books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, music books, magazines, and leave them for us at the centre. We will be spreading kindness; surprise visits and gifts for Valentine’s Day and you could be on our list! Gail
SCHOOL AGE SCOOP-ST. JAMES
Over the month of January we have been interested in puzzles and board games and chalkboard games like hangman. In February we want to make our own board games and puzzles to hand out to the Best Starts and other friends to complete. If you see or have any 250-300 piece puzzles, we would really appreciate them. We will also be making Valentine’s Day crafts and baking a special Valentine’s Day cake this month.
Have a great February! Sarah
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
We wish Happy Birthday this month to Michael M., Leah P., Dana L., Nicholas R., Abigail W., Iris S., Kyle D., Sawyer M., Pierce M., Robine W., Ella T., Peyton R., Emma P., Will R., McKinlee M., Keagan S., Kesler B., Brooke T., and Duke M.!
DON’T FORGET WE ARE CLOSED FEB. 20th!