Early Learning Center

Dear ELC Families,

We hope you all had a relaxing and fun-filled winter break. January is flying by. This newsletter has important dates for upcoming events including Montessori Night, a calendar for Celebrate Literacy/Spirit Week next week, Mason Dixon tournament info, information about upcoming Parent Engagement and Parent University workshops, ASL classes and more.

The changing weather, time off with family and friends and coming back to school all can contribute to the spread of winter colds, infections and viruses. In just the past two weeks the ELC has had cases of a stomach bug, flu, strep throat, and colds with fevers and a persistent cough. Please be extra vigilant watching your child for symptoms of illness and keep them home if you see changes in behavior, a fever, or other symptoms. Thank you!

The new year brought a lot of changes to the ELC. Soon we will have an entire new team of Instructional Assistants. Brandy and Aimee have transferred or resigned and we are in the process of hiring new staff to help us out in the classroom. As soon as the new staff start, we will send a video introducing them.

The children are thriving in this new year. They are familiar with the routine, with each other, with the lessons - this is an exciting time in our ELC Montessori classrooms. The children are able to easily apply what they've learned during the fall to will be learning new skills and building their indpendence.

We wish you a very happy 2023 and as always,

Thank you for sharing your children with us,

Gail

Jan 23 - 26: CELEBRATE LITERACY / SPIRIT WEEK - see schedule below

Jan. 26: HURRICANE MAKE UP DAY - WE WILL HAVE SCHOOL

Jan. 27: Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL

Jan. 27-28: Mason Dixon Tournament - see flyer below

Feb. 1-28: ELC Great Kindness Challenge - watch for a flyer

Feb. 2: Montessori Night - 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. - watch for a flyer

Feb. 3: Braille Challenge - see flyer below

Feb. 9: Parent University - Cooking is Sweet - see flyer below

Feb. 10: Parent Engagement Workshop (PEW) - see flyer below

Feb. 14: Valentine's Day - watch for a note from your teacher

Feb. 17: Donuts with Dad/Grandpa/Uncle - watch for flyer

Feb. 20: President's Day - NO SCHOOL

Mar. 13-17: Spring Break

The Montessori Early Learning Center classrooms are set up to help the children develop OCCI - order, coordination, concentration and independence. The classrooms provide age- and skill-level-appropriate tasks and materials to help scaffold the naturally developing abilities of the child. By focusing on the benchmark skills of OCCI (order, coordination, concentration and independence) the ELC teachers guide their students through the appropriate skills, accelerating their development, without pushing the children too far from their comfort zone.

• Order - Order is encouraged externally through the carefully prepared environment, classroom rules, and daily routines. Even the youngest children quickly begin to internalize this order through their experiences within the classroom.
• Coordination - Fine and gross motor skills, coordination, are encouraged throughout the classroom environment. Coordination builds from whole body to more refined movements. Our Montessori classrooms provide endelss opportunities, both directly and indirectly, to refine gross and fine motor skills, through relevant and motivational tasks.
• Concentration - Concentration is an essential skill to support effective learning. Classroom rules, in conjunction with materials that encourage hands-on work and are appealing to the child, help develop concentration skills. The child is encouraged to choose "work," for learning is the work of the child. Each work has a purpose apparent to the child, and the child is encouraged to repeat lessons often. Through this repetition, the child gains a deeper understanding of the concept presented, and extends their ability to concentrate.
• Independence - Cultivating independence is what makes the Montessori environment truly unique. The independent child thinks, "I can do it. I want to do it. I have what I need to do it." The freedom to choose, try, fail, and ask for help when needed, leads to perseverance and continued success. The Montessori child is given opportunities to succeed, at his or her ability, in all domains of learning. The environment, peers, and teachers bridge the gap between where each child is and the next step.

A child who is an independent learner can concentrate, remain organized, and has the necessary motor skills to succeed in school, and in life. (summarized from Setting the Foundation, Kingsley.org/news Jan. 2022)

• Jeff Bezos - founder of Amazon
• Sergey Brin and Larry Page - founders of Google
• Stephan Curry - NBA player
• Jimmy Wales - founder of Wikipedia
• Beyonce Knowles - Grammy award winning singer
• Sean Combs - Grammy award winning singer
• Will Wright - designer of the Sims

So do your children.......

Pretty cool right?

Come to Montessori Night on Feb. 2 to find out what makes it so special!

See you there!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! Thank you for remaining vigilant for calls, emails, or texts from the HCC should your student needto be givenmedication, tested for Covid/Flu/Strep, have an urgentor emergent need,or require picking up. Students with positive test results, fevers, or worsening symptoms cannot remain on campus.

We are here to supplement your student’s care while at school and are unable to provide primary care services. Please utilize your PCPs and specialists for routineand follow-up care forconcerns beyond the scope of the HCC.Our goal is to return students to class as soon as possible. Encourage your student to cometo the HCCfor minor complaints before or after school.

Flu A and Covid are on the rise in the HCC.

Please be watchful for any: Fever, Body aches, Fatigue, Cough, Headache, Nausea/Vomiting

Keep your student at home if they exhibit any signs of illness.

Along with rest, sunlight, and hydration, supplements may be of benefit in boosting your student’s immune system. Check with your provider about adding: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, Elderberry, Probiotics

Did You Know?

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. For more information, visit www.nei.nih.gov

Pretzels

Popcorn

Chips (Sunchips or Pirates Booty)

Graham Crackers

Animal Crackers

Ice pops

Any fresh fruit - grapes, tangerines, bananas, apples, dates, etc.

Mini bagels and cream cheese

Email: strasselg@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA
Phone: 904-827-2835
Facebook: facebook.com/FSDBEarlyLearningCenter

FSDB will be hosting the 69th Annual Mason-Dixon Boys Basketball Tournament and Cheerleading Competition on January 27-28, 2023. Come out and show your Dragon spirit and cheer on the teams. Tickets are $10 a day. For more information about the tournament and schedule of events, visit www.fsdbk12.org/2023-mason-dixon