Early Learning Center News

May 2022

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

May 20: ELC Graduation -9:30 a.m. in the FSDB Chapel - all are welcome - invitations in this newsletter and sent home in backpacks

May 30: HOLIDAY- NO SCHOOL

June 1: Field trip to Splash Park - plan to join us! Information in this newsletter and sent home in backpacks

June 3: Last day of school

June 13 - June 24: ELC Summer Camp *registration info is included in this newsletter

Hello to All!

It's May and that means so many things - ELC graduation, transitions, celebrations, field trips and, for many of you, IEP meetings. We appreciate your time and any and all support you are able to provide.

This month, the ELC classes are filled with LOTS of activites and lessons related to the ocean and the beach. The children are learning about ocean animals, counting and classifying seashells, exploring sand in the sensory tables, listening to the sounds of whales, dolphins, seals and more, and so many more fun activities.

This unit will culminate with an end-of-the year field trip to Splash Park at the St. Augustine Pier on June 1. See the included information about the field trip below. Please plan to join us if you can - the staff and students will ride the bus to the park and parents can meet us there or follow the bus from school. This is always such a fun trip!

ELC Graduation will be Friday, May 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the FSDB Chapel.

This is a time for all of our ELC families to come together to celebrate our 10 students who are graduating and going to Kindergarten. We will celebrate with ELC awards, a video story that the children have worked on, and of course, caps and gowns :) The ceremony will be followed by a short reception on the ELC patio.

(The last day of school is June 3, please continue to send your children to school after graduation :)

Thank you to the parents who attended our Countdown to Kindergarten transition event. If you have more questions about Kindergarten, elementary schools or anything else, please let your child's teacher know and we will try to help.

Pictures from our Mother's Day event are in this newsletter - thanks to all of our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters for helping us to make our Mother's Day Celebration so fun.

Last, please register your children for summer camp if you want them to attend.

The registration form should be working - but a form is included in this newsletter - if you can't complete the form electronically, send your child's teacher the information required from the form - especially if you plan for your child to ride the bus.

Please call or email with questions and thank you for sharing your delightful children with us!

Gail

Gail Strassel

strasselg@fsdbk12.org

V/T - 904-827-2835

VP - 904-201-4529

"The education of even a small child does not aim at preparing him for school, therefore, but for life." Maria Montessori

The end of the school year is upon us. Many of you may be feeling a lot of different emotions at this time of year.....excitement, relief and maybe a little anxiety....especially if your child will be transitioning to Kindergarten. Some of you have asked, "how will my child handle the transition from a Montessori environment to a traditional setting?" While it's true that all children handle transitions differently, the simple answer is that your child will do just fine. During your child's time in the ELC, s/he has been learning to develop a high degree of self-motivation and coping skills for new situations. Your children have developed a sense of respect and responsibility that will serve them well in their new classrooms and in their future.

"Research studies show that Montessori children are well prepared for later life academically, socially and emotionally. In addition to scoring well on standardized tests, Montessori children are ranked above average on such criteria as following directions, turning in work on time, paying attention, using basic language skills, showing responsibility, asking provacative questions, showing enthusiasm for learning and adapting to new situations." Michaelolaf.net

My advice for you?

Relax. Enjoy your summer. Send your child to the ELC Summer Camp. Breathe. And, be confident that your child is well-prepared and ready for the next step in life. We wish you all the best for a summer filled with adventure and relaxation.

We hope to see all of you at graduation on May 20 in the FSDB Chapel and at Splash Park at the Saint Augustine Beach Pier on June 1.

Thank you,

Gail

While many of us focus on the basics of letter and number recognition or reading skills, kindergarten readiness encompasses more than just a few isolated skills. We need to look at the whole child and all the skills and strengths each child has developed. That’s what makes them unique. As an example, Sasha may love books and have exceptional reading abilities, but she struggles with shyness that prevents her from engaging with other children. Joshua might be very strong socially but still has difficulty holding and using a pencil correctly. Emma can do both these things, but she can be very silly and wiggly and gets distracted in group settings. Despite these differences, all of these children are ready for school.

Here are some tips to help you prepare your child for Kindergarten:

Help your child to develop independence at home. Encourage your child to dress himself, take his coat on and off and hang it up, use the bathroom without assistance and wash his hands without constant reminders, and put on his own shoes. Provide serving spoons so your child can serve himself at the table and clear his own dishes.

• Focus on self-help skills. Your child should know how to wipe her face after lunch without prompting and blow her nose without assistance. But be sure she is also comfortable asking an adult for help when necessary.
• Teach responsibility. Start transferring small responsibilities over to your child, if you haven’t already. After a family trip to the pool, you might put your child in charge of emptying the backpack, refilling the water bottles, or hanging up his wet swimsuit. Even when it may be easier for you to complete these tasks, let him accept the responsibility.
• Develop and follow routines. Set up morning routines that will transfer into a school setting. Getting up around the same time every day, getting dressed, and having an early breakfast together is a great way to transition to school.
• Read aloud to your child. Get your child a library card, take her to the library to check out books, and be sure to read to your child every day. Read a variety of books, read the captions under pictures in the newspaper, even share the comics. Just read!
• Engage her in meaningful literacy activities. Encourage your child to help you with thank you cards, shopping lists, or notes. They may start with scribbles or pictures, move into scattered letters, and finally some recognizable words as they enter school. Appreciate their attempts and watch their skills develop with practice.
• Acknowledge his feelings. Avoid talking about school too much, or wait until the end of summer is near. Your child may express being nervous, not wanting to go or, alternately, feeling very excited to start school. Whatever they feel, take time to appreciate where they are.

Rather than worry about whether your child is ready to read and write, think about his or her skills as a whole. What can they do well that will help them succeed? The quiet child who has reading abilities will find her way to the social butterfly that needs help writing his name. The silly, wiggly child will find a spot as the classroom helper. Rest assured, they will all navigate kindergarten together.

https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/kindergarten-here-we-come

Tracy Galuski is an associate professor and mentor at Empire State College where she shares her experiences as a mother, teacher, and child care administrator with her early childhood students. She teaches online courses in child development and classroom environments.

CAMP INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW

WHEN: June 13-17 and June 20-24

TIMES: 8:00-3:30 Monday-Thursday 8:00-2:00 – Fridays

WHO: All ELC children who were registered in the ELC PreK during the 21-22 school year – including all children who are transitioning to Kindergarten in the fall.

TRANSPORTATION: Transportation will be provided – times and stops may vary a little from the school year. If you plan to use transportation, you MUST let us know and the transportation department will contact you to let you know the times and locations.

LUNCH: Lunch WILL NOT be provided. All children must bring their own lunch and a water bottle to camp everyday. We will have some “lunch food” on hand to provide in case someone forgets a lunch.

SCHEDULE: The children will follow a similar schedule to their school day – except we will have recess each morning and swim each afternoon.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP: Are the same as during the regular school year

SWIMMING*: We will swim EVERYDAY. Children who are permitted in the pool need to bring a towel and a bathing suit everyday – clearly marked with their name. We will have a certified lifeguard and staff will be in the water with the children. Children are permitted to wear life jackets or other floatation support – please send it in with your child’s name on it.

*ALL CHILDREN MUST BE COMPLETELY POTTY TRAINED AND OUT OF DIAPERS TO SWIM. NO SWIM DIAPERS ARE PERMITTED IN THE POOL.

We will have alternate afternoon activities planned for children who are still in diapers.

PLEASE CONTACT BROOKE STANFIELD FOR MORE INFORMATION - Stanfieldb@fsdbk12.org

If you are on Facebook - please join our ELC Facebook group!

The ELC posts cute pictures of cute kids doing cute things.

AND

FSDB posts notices to keep you aware of all of our FSDB Parent Classes and other activities.

If you would like to join the group, click the link below. Also, if you have not done so already, please like and follow the main FSDB Facebook page.

ELC Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/fsdbearlylearningcenter

FSDB Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/fsdbk12

ELC Office

PH or Text: 904-827-2835

VP: 904-201-4529

Gore Hall Office (if you cannot reach anyone in the ELC)

904-827-2520

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Health Care Center

PH: 904-827-2410

VP: 904-201-3910

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Transportation

PH: 800-992-8747

Parent Services

PH: 904-827-2212

VP: 904-201-4527

Campus Police

PH: 904-827-2315

207 San Marco Avenue,

St. Augustine, FL, USA

strasselg@fsdbk12.org

ELC Webpage

ELC Facebook Group

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, political opinion, affiliation, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other basis as mandated by federal and state law in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices. FSDB also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups as required by law.

Contacts for questions, complaints, or requests for additional information are as follows:

Student Discrimination/Harassment

FSDB Boarding Program Administrator

PH: 904-827-2603

Requests in writing can be sent to:

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

207 San Marco Avenue

St. Augustine, FL 32084