February ELC Newsletter

Here at the Early Learning Center, we use The Creative Curriculum which is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that features inquiry, exploration, and discovery as the foundation of all learning. Children have opportunities to think critically and develop process skills with rich, hands-on investigations of relevant and interesting study topics in the classroom.

During our studies, or long-term investigations, children learn concepts and practice skills related to literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts. They develop thinking skills as they observe, investigate, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions, and test their ideas.

• Ms. Floming, Ms. Fisher, Ms. Griffith and Ms. McFarland's classes recently finished up their study on PETS as they planned special events and celebrated the learning that took place.
  
• Ms. Linnenburger and Ms. Edwards' classes are engaged with their study on BALLS as they continue to offer meaningful opportunities for exploration and investigation related to this topic.
  

Boxes! Sheets! Pillows! Oh my! Whatever you choose to use, fort building is always a great way to encourage creativity, problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, social interaction and a sense of autonomy. Fort building allows your child to actively engage their imagination while learning to manipulate their environment and work with others while doing so, all while feeling a sense of control, safety and security with the space that they created. Here are some of the key benefits of box fort building for preschoolers:

• Problem Solving: Children need to figure out how to arrange boxes and other materials to create a stable structure, trying different ways of doing so and learning to adapt as needed.
• Imagination: The act of creating a fort encourages imaginative play. This is where they transform their fort into different things such as a spaceship, castle or hideout!
• Collaboration: When children build forts with others, they learn to work with their peers and share ideas.
• Sense of security: A self-built fort can provide a safe and private space for children to retreat to when needed. (This is also a great way to create a safe space in your home for your child when they are needing to calm their body- something we use here at school!)
• Fine Motor Skills: The act of arranging and stacking boxes develops hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills!

If you are wanting to try this at home with your child and need some boxes, please contact Ms. Lindsey at ljohanson@emsd37.org or message her on Rooms!

Just a reminder to send in your child's Kindness Quilt square by Thursday, February 6th!

Kindness Scavenger Hunt to try at Home!

You may be asking yourself, what is this "Family Advisory Council" that Ms. Lindsey keeps talking about? Let me tell you! This group helps recommend activities, classes and services for families, helps plan field trips, family nights and other fun events and we serve as a springboard for parent engagement in the district! Our FAC meets once a month with alternating AM/PM meeting times. Your feedback and input is very important to us here at the ELC!

Why should you join the Family Advisory Council? Great question!

• You will be involved in decisions about the Early Childhood Program.
• You will meet other parents with young children!
• The meetings are easy, fun and casual (plus we will have refreshments!).
• Opportunities to volunteer in your child's classroom!
• The MOST important is Parent/Family Engagement is key to a child's success in education!

See the flyer below for our next meeting! Please let Ms. Lindsey know if you would like to attend. Email her at ljohanson@emsd37.org!

The early years of a child's life are a time of incredible growth and development. It's during these formative years that children learn best. Not only through instruction, but through experiences. Field trips instill a sense of community, it presents opportunities to engage with our environment in meaningful ways and it fosters growth and development which is critical for their social and emotional growth. Joining your child on a field trip is a great way to help your child see all of the interesting things they get to learn and experience in their community. You'll get to know their teachers, other members of the school staff and parents of other students in their class! Please consider joining us on our next field trip on February 14th at our District Administration Building for our Kindness Day Field Trip! We have LOTS of exciting things planned for our students and the district staff! Please find our field trip flyer below! RSVP with the QR code that is provided!

Play groups are an excellent way for both parents and children to get out of the house and make new friends! Our school serves as a safe place for your child and your family! We host playgroups here at the ELC in hopes to foster meaningful connections with other families, build communications skills, motor skills and relationship-building skills! Family Engagement has been proven to improve child and student achievement, improves parent/teacher and student/teacher relationships and improves our schools environment!

Our most recent play group was an absolute BLAST! Our friends had an opportunity to create box forts with their families and peers. Lots of laughter, creativity and imagination took place! We hope you can make it to the next one! See the flyer below for info and a link to RSVP!

On Wednesday, February 26th from 11:45 am to 12:30 pm the Early Learning Center will be hosting our February Play Group- Donuts with Grown-Ups! Get ready for a scrumptious story about donuts in our read-aloud! A tasty craft for you to create with your child to take home! And DO-NUT forget about the yummy donuts that you get to EAT!!! A special THANK YOU! to Olde Towne Bakery for the generous donation of those tasty treats we get to devour! Please scan the QR code to RSVP for this event or click the link here! We can't wait to see you!

Free opportunity for families! Join the author, Jani Kozlowski for a virtual book study! Click HERE to register for the series!

Our school implements The Pyramid Model, a framework for supporting the social and emotional development of our children. An important part of our Pyramid Model work includes supporting families and sharing information about promoting social and emotional skills at home.

Children are not born knowing how to take turns. It is a skill that they must be taught. Taking turns can be hard. In order to learn how to take turns successfully, children need lots of practice, support and encouragement from families, teachers and other important adults in their lives. Children have many opportunities to practice turn-taking here at school and you can support them to learn this skill at home, as well!

Check out the resource linked below (in English and Spanish) to learn more about how you can help your child learn to take turns.

How to Teach Your Child to Take Turns (English)

How to Teach Your Child to Take Turns (Spanish)

• February 5th--No School
• February 14th--Kindness Day (Field Trip, parents welcome to attend!)
• February 17th-- No School (Presidents' Day)
• February 18th--No School (In-service Day)
• February 19th- Family Advisory Council Meeting
• February 26th- Donuts with Grown-Ups Play Group

• Your family's health, well-being and partnership is important to us! Use the forms below to easily request information, resources and/or support for your family.

• Are you interested in more information, resources, or a meeting with one of our staff members? CLICK HERE for a Request for Family Support
• Could you family benefit from extra food on the weekends? Click HERE to sign up for the Food Program!
• Does your child need a winter coat or full-size backpack? Click HERE to sign up for the Coat or Backpack Request Form!

Click HERE to sign up for the Backpack Food Program!

Please let us know if your child is in need of a winter coat. Sizes and supply are limited. Please fill out the request form here . If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Lindsey, Family Educator at ljohanson@emsd37.org.

Do you have younger children? Bring them in for a developmental check-up! Open to EMSD residents with children aged 0-5 years old. Call Tara to schedule an appointment for a screening (now scheduling for 2025). Currently enrolled students do not need to be screened.

• 24-25 Family Folder-Here you will find general information about our school and programming. This folder contains information about school supplies, our daily schedule, policies/procedures, communication platforms, the school calendar and more!
• 24-25 Early Learning Center School Calendar
• Outdoor Play Guide--Children benefit from being outdoors for unstructured play in a natural environment. Please see the attached Outdoor Play Guide, as the colder weather begins to move in.

Important contacts:

Main Office: 309-865-6900

Tara Schofield, Secretary (tschofield@emsd37.org)

Lindsey Johanson, Family Educator (ljohanson@emsd37.org)

Melissa McCullough, Principal (mmccullough@emsd37.org)