This week in library the kids were introduced to our coding mice! We started very simple and were introduced to the concept of coding and got some hands on time with the mice to see if we thought what we were telling it to do with the buttons is what happened when we hit go. We are going to build on this and spend the next few weeks in both library and STEM working on becoming coding masters and will eventually be able to tell Colby the mouse how to get from the start of the maze to the end. Not only will the mice travel through mazes we makes through programming and sequencing, the mice also light-up and make sounds. Mrs. Fraze started the lesson in library this week with reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie which introduced them to the if/then thought process. If one thing happens, then another thing happens, and so on and so forth. The kiddos all also got a copy of that book to keep for their at home libraries! Mom's and Dad's, we sure hope you can join us at the Makers Fair on Wednesday April 12th at the High School to see what we have learned to do! We can't wait to show you! There will be kiddos aged Kindergarten-12th grade showing off all their talents as well. There will be SO MANY COOL things to see, so please pencil in the date to join us at the Hobart High School Fieldhouse anywhere between 6 & 8pm on Wednesday 4/12 to check it all out.

The Week of the Young Child® is a time to recognize that children's opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment—at home, at child care, at school, and in the community—that will promote their early learning.

We’re excited to invite our kiddos to the upcoming Scholastic Book Fair. This event is an opportunity for students to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. All purchases do benefit our school and our kids as the money raised goes back into getting more books into their hands. Our Spring Book Fair will be a wonderful event for our students. Our fair will run from Monday April 3rd – Thursday April 6th with your child shopping during their scheduled library time. You are more than welcome to come join them here at school to shop during their time. Just make sure to bring your ID!

The schedule is below as it is a little different from normal library days- If your child normally attends library on Tuesdays their shopping day will be Thursday 4/6. We have books for every interest, priced at prices for every budget. If there is a particular title you are looking for, reach out to our librarian via email at mfraze@hobart.k12.in.us or send in a note with your child so we can try to get it for them.

You can sign up for contactless payment options via card called the Scholastic E-Wallet at Book Fair Homepage (scholastic.com) , send in a check made out to the ELC (with a budget of course!) or cash. Even if all you can afford is a baggie with a couple of dollars in loose change- send it in with them! We will hook them up with a book they will love!

SHOPPING DAYS & TIMES!

Wednesday 4/5

Kelly Class 10:10-10:40

Boyle Class 12:30-1:00

Helminski Class 1:00-1:30

Skertich Class 1:35-2:05

VanMilligan Class 2:10-2:40

Thursday 4/6

AM Brickie Kidz & ECD Pre-School 9:25-9:55

Buckley Class 9:55-10:25

Metz Class 10:25-10:55

Swims Class 10:55-11:25

PM Brickie Kidz & ECD Pre-School 12:25-12:55

Schiller Class 12:55-1:25

Rosenbaum Class 1:25-1:55

Gruhlke Class 1:55-2:25

Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative

Did you know that all of the special education staff in the School City of Hobart are employed by both NISEC and SCOH? NISEC is a cooperative that serves 8 school districts across Lake County.

Here at the George Earle Early Learning Center we have 12 staff members that serve the special education community. Each week for the month of March (National Disability Awareness Month) we will introduce you to our special education staff.

Get to know our special education staff:

Stephanie Mensonides - Speech and Language Pathologist

• Years at ELC: 3

• College attended: Calvin University

• Degree: Masters in Speech Pathology, Bachelor’s in Speech Pathology and Spanish

• Hobbies: dancing, horseback riding, playing the violin

• As the speech pathologist, I work with students who have difficulty articulating letter sounds, answering questions, following directions, socially interacting, speaking smoothly, and forming complete sentences. I create and implement IEP’s for speech services.

Ashley Matthews - Speech and Language Pathology Assistant

• Years at ELC: 1

• College attended: Purdue University West Lafayette

• Degree: Bachelor’s in Speech Language Hearing Sciences and Psychology

• Hobbies: yoga, pilates, baking

• As the speech and language pathology assistant I work with students who have difficulty articulating letter sounds, answering questions, following directions, socially interacting, speaking smoothly, and forming complete sentences. I implement IEP’s for speech services.

Christina Johnston - Occupational Therapist

• Years at ELC: 17

• College attended: University of Indianapolis

• Degree: Master’s in Occupational Therapy

• Hobbies: paddleboarding, hiking, yoga

• As the occupational therapist I help students who might have sensory needs, fine motor/visual challenges and help provide adaptations and equipment in the classroom.

Jean Carlson - Physical Therapist

• Years at ELC: School based physical therapist for the past 32 years

• College attended: The Ohio State University

• Degree obtained: Bachelor's Degree in Allied Health Professions with a certificate in Physical Therapy

• Hobbies: Home improvement projects (never ending), Walking, playing with my 2 dogs.Game nights with friends

• School-based physical therapists are related service providers that work with students, who have physical disabilities, in order to help them benefit from their special education program. The school-based physical therapist evaluates the child's strength, range of motion, balance, and mobility in order to assess their ability to move throughout the school environment and participate in classroom and recess activities to the greatest extent possible. They can also assist classroom teachers, staff, and parents with obtaining necessary adaptive equipment for appropriate positioning.

Our Heart Challenge for American Heart Association came to a close last week and we were wowed by all of your generosity! As a school we beat our goal and raised $2,338.19! Miss Kelly's Class had the most donations for a class with $677.87 and will be celebrating with a popsicle and movie party one day soon! Below are also our top 3 students who raised the most individually. Congrats to Grayson, Arabella, and Emma! Way to go everyone!

There is no need to call the office when calling your child off of school due to illness. Follow the simple steps below to have your child marked absent. If we have any questions, we will get ahold of you. Thanks so much!