Eaglet Gazette
Enfield Head Start, Integrated Pre-K, PK STEAM Academy
October 22, 2021
Thank you to those of you who were able to join us at this Tuesday's FEO (Family Educator Organization) meeting! Dr. Peg Oliveira joined us to discuss bedtime routines! To support you in establishing strong bedtime routines and a love of reading, you will be receiving, if you have not already, a BEDTIME BOOK BOX! The QR code on the front of the box will take you to an unboxing video to get your Eaglet excited about what to do with the box! If you were not able to make it here are a few tips from Peg:
EVERYDAY THINGS TO BUILD IN:
- Take care of you first! This allows you to be the best version of yourself!
- Make sure your child has an active day! (Fresh air and exercise DURING the day)
- Teach self-regulation skills: practice self-soothing, identification of feelings, how to calm down, cooperation, etc.
- Use feeling words
- Make bedtime predictable and consistent
Do's FOR SETTING A BEDTIME ROUTINE:
- Be consistent every single day!
- Short & Sweet 30 minutes
- Adapt to your child's needs
- Good sleep hygiene: dark, cool, quiet (in room and out)
Don'ts WHEN SETTING A BEDTIME ROUTINE:
- Start too late when already overly sleepy
- Use screens
- Run around/get excited right before bed
- Feed sugar or caffeine
- Read scary stories
- Abandon routines on weekends
A few reminders:
- As mentioned in the last couple of newsletters, ECDC has shifted their hours which makes 8:00 quite busy in our parking lots. If you are parking in the front lot to drop your child off, please remain aware that if a bus has a stop sign out and staff are unloading kids, YOU MAY NOT PASS THEM. Additionally, parking in the middle of the drive way to drop off poses a traffic jam. Parking in a space ensures we don't get backed up onto Post Office Road.
- Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping SELC healthy by monitoring your child for illness and communicating with Nurse Jen!
We can't wait to see your Bedtime Book Box creations!
On your child's iPad there is an app called Flipgrid. Use the join code: stowefamilies
Once joined, look for the title Bedtime Book Box! There you can post a video or photo showing us your creations!
Menu Week of 10/25
PROCESS ART PRESTIGE!
SMILE! SPOTLIGHT ON ORAL HEALTH FROM NURSE JEN!
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SNACK
Executive Function Strategy: Freeze Game
Description:
Freeze game is a teacher-led movement activity. This game provides children the opportunity to practice self-regulation. The freeze game requires that the children pay attention and plan ahead in the midst of distractions.
How we do it…
The teacher turns on the music and holds up a picture card while the music is playing. The children are encouraged to dance. The teacher reminds the children to look at the card while they are dancing so they will know how to freeze when the music stops. The teacher shuts off the music the children stop dancing and freeze in the position that is on the card.
What are children learning?
Self regulation skills by starting and stopping
How to follow directions
Getting exercise
This activity focuses on the following Executive Function skills:
Inhibitory control of actions and attention by freezing when the music stops and dancing when the music is playing
Working Memory by freezing like the position card and remembering the rules of the game
Cognitive Flexibility by being okay with their pose not looking exactly like the pose on the card or their friend’s pose
Looking to expand your leadership skills?
Advice on quarantining from Nurse Jen!
FLU SHOT REMINDER FROM NURSE JEN!
Health and Wellness
- Per the Governor's orders, our PK"ers" are required to mask until further notice
- There are plenty of mask breaks built into the day during outside, meal, and rest times
- Please send an extra mask in the event one gets soiled so we can switch it out
- Frequent handwashing will be in place
- Vigilant cleaning of classroom materials will occur on a consistent basis
- See the daily health attestation below. This is placed at your child's classroom door. Please review this and if your child is exhibiting any symptoms of illness, please do not hesitate to reach out to nurse Jen! jmaier@enfieldschools.org 860-763-8858!
Community Resource Guide for Young Families-FALL VERSION
Getting to Know Stowe! (I will keep this posted for a few weeks so you have it at your fingertips!)
Joining a new school community can sometimes feel like learning a new language as you acclimate to the procedures, environment, people, and lingo. See below to begin learning about all things Stowe:
- SELC=Stowe Early Learning Center
- SELC=our mascot (the eaglet featured above)
- FEO=Family Educator Organization
- ECDC=Enfield Child Development Center
- EPS=Enfield Public Schools
- FRC=Family Resource Center
- IPS=Integrated Pre-K
- HS=Head Start
- KITE=Key Initiatives to Early Education
- PKS=PK STEAM Academy
- Eaglets=all children taking part in any program at SELC
IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
- Main Office=860-253-4741
- Head Start Family Support=860-253-4717
- Nurse=860-763-8858
- FRC=860-253-6580
- KITE=860-253-6502
Our building is quite unique in that we house 4 PK programs, a Family Resource Center, and KITE.
Stowe Early Learning Center
Email: jvalley@enfieldschools.org
Website: www.enfieldschools.org
Location: 117 Post Office Road, Enfield, CT, USA
Phone: 860-253-4741
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/424681288154509/
Twitter: @EnfieldEPS