Message from the Principal:
Happy 2015 everyone! I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season with friends and family. It was such a joy to spend this holiday season with all of you! Our holiday open house was a fun and festive evening; thank you to everyone who was able to attend! A special thank you to everyone for thinking of us during the holidays; we truly appreciate your well wishes and special holiday treats!
Professional Development Day: Monday, February 16th will be Professional Development Day here at Enchanted Care, therefore we will be closed. The teachers will be spending the day reviewing our Links to Learning Curriculum, learning new classroom management techniques and working together to improve as a team.
Winter Weather: Enchanted Care Learning Center will close only if Franklin County goes under a level 3 snow emergency. An announcement will be made on Channels 6 and 28 as well as most major radio stations.
O – H – I – O: Monday, January 12th will be BUCKEYE day here at Enchanted Care. Come dressed in your Buckeye gear to support and cheer the BUCKEYES on to a victory at the National Championship Game!! Win or lose, Tuesday we will be having a special BUCKEYE edition PJ day!!!
Reminders:
- Don’t forget to check your child’s cubby for important information from their teachers and the office.
- Parking Lot Safety- Remember to drive slowly and cautiously through our parking lot. 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 January 19th. Please remember a $25 late fee will be assessed for any payments received after 6pm on Wednesdays.
Important Dates:
- January 12: BUCKEYE DAY! GO BUCKS…O-H
- January 13: Win or Lose – BUCKEYE PJ Day!
- February 16: ENCHANTED CARE CLOSED for Professional Development Day
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
January News
Message from the Principal:
Happy 2015 everyone! I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season with friends and family. It was such a joy to spend this holiday season with all of you! Our holiday open house was a fun and festive evening; thank you to everyone who was able to attend! A special thank you to everyone for thinking of us during the holidays; we truly appreciate your well wishes and special holiday treats!
Professional Development Day: Monday, February 16th will be Professional Development Day here at Enchanted Care, therefore we will be closed. The teachers will be spending the day reviewing our Links to Learning Curriculum, learning new classroom management techniques and working together to improve as a team.
Winter Weather: Enchanted Care Learning Center will close only if Franklin County goes under a level 3 snow emergency. An announcement will be made on Channels 6 and 28 as well as most major radio stations.
O – H – I – O: Monday, January 12th will be BUCKEYE day here at Enchanted Care. Come dressed in your Buckeye gear to support and cheer the BUCKEYES on to a victory at the National Championship Game!! Win or lose, Tuesday we will be having a special BUCKEYE edition PJ day!!!
Reminders:
Important Dates:
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