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January News

Message from the Principal:

I’m sure that everyone is breathing a sigh of relief to have made it through the holidays! It’s always such a busy time of year, but I hope everyone had a great time with friends and family.

It is always so special to share in the holiday spirit with all of you and we thank you for all of your support throughout the past month. Our Holiday Open House was very festive and joyful and we thank everyone that was able to participate. The children had a blast at their classroom holiday parties, thanks to your donations of yummy treats! Thank you for thinking of all of us during the season, we appreciate your well wishes and special holiday treats!

Sincerely,

Robyn Mott, Principal


Reminders:

  • Winter Weather Advisory – Enchanted Care will close only if Delaware County is at a Level 3 Snow Emergency. There will be announcements on Channel 6 and 28 as well as most major radio stations.
  • Don’t forget to check your child’s cubby for important information from their teachers and the office.
  • Please make sure that you are signing your child in every morning and out every evening. Thank you for your consistency with signing the book!
  • Parking Lot Safety – Remember to drive slowly and cautiously through our parking lots. There are several small children and their families in the parking lot throughout the day and we want to be sure that everyone is safe! In addition, please do not leave children in the car unattended. It is also important that you do not leave your car running while in our school.
  • Tuition Due – Tuition will be due on January 5th and 19th. Please make sure that your account is current with the tuition cycle. There will be a $25 late fee assessed to all payments made after Wednesday of the tuition week. If you are interested in our automatic withdrawal program please stop by the office to pick up an authorization form.

Important Dates:

  • January 1: School CLOSED for New Year’s Day
  • February 16: School CLOSED for Professional Development Day. Teachers will spend the day reviewing our Links to Learning curriculum, learning new classroom management techniques and working together to improve as a team.

In the Community:

Delaware:

  • January 2nd – First Friday: “FREEze Fest” – 6pm-9pm – Downtown Delaware
  • November 22nd – January 4th – Fantasy of Lights – Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds

Powell:

  • November 22nd – January 4th – Wildlights – Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

News from the Education Department:

Embracing Diversity and the Traditions of Others

Children as young as two years old begin to notice differences among people. For instance, they may notice differences between boys and girls, or recognize that some families eat different foods or celebrate different holidays than their own family.

Research shows that children who learn to have a strong appreciation of their own family traditions and culture have an easier time appreciating the traditions and cultures of others. With this foundation, as children progress through elementary school and beyond, they have more social confidence and success in interacting with many different types of people.

Below are some ways that we focus on self-awareness and the appreciation of diverse cultures in the classroom, as well as some ideas you can try at home.

INFANTS/TODDLERS: In our classrooms, infants and toddlers look at photos of familiar people and practice pointing to and naming each person, helping them to communicate a concept of self and family. At home, collect photos of people your baby knows, and place them where he can see and reach them. Talk about the photo with your baby. For example, “Look Jake, here’s your grandmother. Who’s she holding? That’s you, Jake!” Toddlers may be able to find and name different family members.

BEGINNERS (Ages 2-3): We introduce Spanish in our Beginner program to give children a head start on mastering a second language and understanding different cultures. In addition to Spanish language, students explore different traditions in Spanish speaking countries, such as music, musical instruments, and food. At home, discuss your own family’s traditions with your child. Show him photos from different holidays and explain why you celebrate your traditions, such as why you go to Grandma’s house for Christmas or why you light candles for Hanukkah.

INTERMEDIATES (Ages 3-4): As children read stories about different family structures, home environments, and traditions around the world, our teachers encourage them to share their own experiences. During circle time for example, we may read a story about children living in a different country, in a different type of house and wearing a different type of clothes. Afterward, the teacher connects the story back to what the children know by asking, “What does your house look like?” and “Who lives in your house with you?”

Recommended books to read with your 3 or 4 year old include “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss, “The Color of Us” by Karen Katz, “Why Am I Different?” by Norma Simon and “It’s Okay to be Different” by Todd Parr. After you’re done reading, share what’s unique about your child and ask him to discuss how he is different from the characters in the story.

PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (Ages 4-5): Pre-K children are curious to share their experiences and learn about those of others. Our teachers cultivate this curiosity with a focus on diversity. One way is by transforming their classrooms into international markets. Parents and teachers provide food, magazines, currency and musical instruments from various countries, and children are given the opportunity to shop for items found around the world. Some schools hold a cultural block party in which families share their heritage, including traditional foods.

Recommended books to read with your child at this stage include “Whoever You Are” by Mem Fox and “Hats Off to Hair” by Virginia Kroll.

In summary, we provide many opportunities for children to build self-identity, share family traditions, and learn about diversity in the classroom and around the globe. The better children understand themselves and the world around them, the easier they will make friends, accept others and appreciate differences as they transition into elementary school and beyond.

– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education

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