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January News

Important Dates:

  • January 19: Westerville City Schools and St. Paul are closed. Sign up to be included on our Drop-In Day camp.
  • January 29: Westerville City Schools have Early Dismissal
  • February 6: Westerville City Schools are closed. Please sign up to be included on our Drop-In Day camp
  • February 16: ENCHANTED CARE is CLOSED for Professional Development Day

Reminders:

  • Tuition: Please remember that tuition is due on January 5th and 19th for the upcoming 2 weeks. If your tuition is not received by Wednesday the week tuition is due, a $25 late fee will be automatically assessed to your account. Take advantage of the ACH payment method. Drop In days, weather delays and school closing all taken care of through automatic withdraw. No need to write additional check!
  • Closing Time: Please keep in mind that our school closes at 6:00 PM, this not only means that you should be here to pick-up your child by 6:00 but you should not be staying after 6:00 to play in the classroom, on the playgrounds or in the muscle room. If you wish to stay and play with your child for a while before leaving please plan accordingly and arrive so that you will have time to do so before 6:00.
  • Parent Referrals: Want to take advantage of our parent referral program? Pick up a referral form at our front desk. Talk about your child’s favorite things about Enchanted Care, give them a slip and tell them to enroll. You can save up to one week of free tuition per child, per referral. Everythings better with a friend, Right?
  • Dropping-Off: When dropping off your child you MUST accompany them to the morning drop off point. Please refer to the posting on the front door of where that location is each morning. You may not allow your child to come into the building themselves or leave them at the front door by themselves. Though we like to encourage independence within our program, if a child has not been signed in or recognized be a crew leader they are considered left unattended and is a violation of our safetly policies.
  • Late Pick-Ups: Our operating hours are 7am-6pm. Enchanted Care and State Licensing policies require us to charge a late fee of $1/minute after 6pm. Crew leaders will be filling out late slips every night. This fee will automatically be charged to your account and can be paid by check or withdrawn automatically through the ACH process
  • Enchanted Care Food Policy: Please note that Enchanted Care KIDS Campus is a nut free facility. Enchanted Care does not permit sack lunches and other foods to be brought into our school.
  • Facebook: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! Keep in touch with all of the great things happening at Enchanted Care via Facebook! Weekly postings are entered by the school along with our participation in the parent share program.

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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