Week of 10/7/2013

This week was a blast back to summer.  With two half days for the school age kids, it was fun all around!

Announcements:  There have been 2 incidents of lice in our after school program.  As both of these kids attend Irving I am sure it is coming from there, but none the less please check your child's head thoroughly.  Here is a helpful link to checking heads: http://www.wikihow.com/Check-for-Lice

Little Friends

Thanks to Elli and her Dad for the monster teeth...they were a big hit all week long.  Many never even made it out of the back packs, so they kept coming out each time any of the kids were near their back packs.  If you haven't found your red monster teeth...check the pack packs!

This week we welcomed Nicky to our group.  He was here over the summer so many of the kids already know him.  Welcome Nicky!

Preschool Pals

We had a short but fun week with our preschool pals! We are studying the letter C, the #5, the color purple (and the idea of mixing colors), and circles. We practiced tracing circles, we made cookies, read and sang the story of the 5 Little Monkeys, made circle prints with different sized jar lids, and a caterpillar counting craft. And we welcomed our friend Nicky into our preschool group this week!

This week we will remain on the letter C. Our activities include working with clay, counting corn, and mixing colors. Miss Lauren does a wonderful job picking out books to go along with our themes each week and the kids really look forward to story time at the end of preschool. Thanks!

Ms Chloe and Ms Lauren

School Time Friends

This week was spent outside.  The kids did a great job managing their homework, so we could spend a good amount of time outside!  Can you believe it is October?  Speaking of homework, if there is anything specific you would like us to focus on with your child, please let us know.  We try really hard to make sure that all kids are getting their homework done.   Please make sure to double check their work, and to have their reading done.  We usually do not have reading time so please make sure that gets done at home.

The Zoo outing was amazing.  Miss Lauren and Miss Chloe did a great job getting the kids through the zoo...by the end of hearing about it from the kids, I couldn't believe they had see so much in 3 hours!  Make sure to ask them about the snow leopards...it sounded fun!

Jam and pickle making on Friday was so cool.  The younger kids helped to hull and cut and smash the strawberries.   The middle kids helped make the pickles we will eat in daycare, and the older kids pulled them all together!  For those of you who were here Friday, please look for the jam coming home.  And a huge thank you to Miss Chloe for showing us all how to can...it was so fun!

Week of 9/30

Little Friends

This week we had fun working on counting with apples, matching letters making paper chains as tall as they are, and just having fun!  A trip to Wonderworks with Miss Lauren was also on the agenda this week.  Check out the photos section to see pictures from the trip. 

Preschool Pals

Last week was a blast! We were able to explore different ways to paint by using balloons as paintbrushes and painting by blowing bubbles. It was a lot of fun, and the kids’ pictures turned out really cool! The kids were able to practice their handwriting more, working on writing their B’s. One of the many books we read last week was Jack and the Beanstalk, and our pals did some counting using the beans, as well as created some artwork. They also made their own bumblebees and Letter B butterflies; super cute!

This week we are moving on to the Letter C, and since this week and next week are short weeks, we will be exploring the letter C the week of the 14th will continue to develop their handwriting and counting skills, as well as explore our shape of the week, the circle. Even though the week is short, there will still be plenty
of awesome artwork coming home!

We know a lot of our friends have been singing our circle time songs at home, so here are some links to our Days of the Week and Months of the Year songs, if you wish to learn them too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPzIbbvoiMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5enDRrWyXaw

To another week fabulous week!

Ms. Chloe and Miss Lauren

School Time Friends

This week we spent building...building the tallest building possible with marshmallows and tooth picks, building lego marble mazes, build balloon powered lego cars...somethings worked better than other, but check out the pictures to see the marshmallow buildings...that was fun had by all!  The lego cars were super fun, but frustrating to Peter as we could not figure out how to consistently make them work...oh for longer day when we can really spend some time on it.

Week of 9/23/2013

A few things are on the horizon that I wanted everyone to be aware of.  The week of October 7th, the school age kids have half days on the 10th and the 11th, and a day off on the 14th.  We are full on the 10th, and will be headed out to the zoo or a forest preserve for a hike.  On the 11th we have 8 spaces left and will be making jam, tomato sauce and pickles and canning them.  On the 14th we have 7 spots left and we will be going to a pumpkin patch.  In order to go on the field trip though, your child needs to be here by 9 and not have to be picked up until after 3:30.

In order to reserve a spot (unless you have already told me), please use the paypal button to the right.  The spots are first come first serve for all the spots.  Once paid your spot is reserved.  If you have questions please email me.

Little Friends

Last week we spent time looking at trees, identifying different leaves and smelling bark.  I know this last one is kind of strange, but we encountered a tree that looked like it was growing vanilla beans, so we smelled it to see if it smelled of vanilla.  It was great that all the kids were able to identify a ginko tree by the end of the week.

This week we will be continuing to work on our leaves, as well as playing with all sorts of sensory items.  Finger painting, sponge printing (to make stained glass) and we continue to use scissors, so this week we will be making paper chains.

During circle time we are learning sign language as we sing the ABCs....ask you kids to share with you.

Ms. Talley


Preschool Pals

 We had a great week with our Preschool Pals! We made our 3 Little Pigs houses, our Brown Bear masks, our Triangle fish, and our Big Green Monsters! The kids also worked on cutting shapes and they are getting much better with the scissors. All our pals are becoming more vocal during our sing-alongs. You may be hearing some of our songs at home as well! We try to fit in our Days of the Week and Months of the Year songs each day, along with other song requests.

This week, we will continue exploring the letter B with bubbles, butterflies, bumble bees, balloons and counting with beans! In addition to practicing our counting, we will work on writing our letters each week. Enjoy this beautiful week!

Ms Chloe and Miss Lauren

School Time Friends 

In school time friends melty beads took over.  It was either melty beads, or the playground.  It has been so fun to see all the kids come together, and this was that week.  If you have kids that need a little more help with their homework, or you would like them to be doing more homework, please let me know...I really see our job as helping you have time with your kids when they leave here, so anything I can do to make that time more meaningful, please let us know.

Ms. Talley

Week of September 16, 2013

Well it was indeed all about apples last week.  Every craft and snack and activity had to do with apples or fall.  The pictures were fun...some of the best was making the apple exploding sidewalk paint with the after school kids, working with the little friends on using sizzors and glue, as well as just being outside in the glorious weather. 

More fall to come...

Miss Talley

Preschool Pals Week of 9/23

Last week was a great success! The kids made some amazing apple artwork. They used apples as paintbrushes, made little apple trees, and practice their cutting skills while making their letter A apples. We used apple counting sheets and played Hi-Ho Cherrio so the kids could further develop their counting abilities. For the kids who came on Friday, we were able to make it out to Thatcher Woods to observe the changes in nature, as well as take in the wildlife by the river and Trailside Museum. All and all, it was a lot of fun. This week our activities will focus around our letter and number for the week, which are the letter B and the number 3. Going along with the number 3, our shape for the week is the triangle. One of our crafts will be an adorable picture of a fish made entirely of triangles (and one circle for the eye). The other crafts we have planned are based off of our selected readings for the week, which include: The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? We will continue to build upon our knowledge of the weather and the calendar during our circle time, as well as expand our musical library of songs we all enjoy to sing together. Happy Fall to All!

Miss Chloe and Miss Lauren

Sickness Reminder

As many of you know there has been the runny nose going around.  I always classify this as the beginning of the school year cold.  We have had a few extensions of this to possible strep and the tummy bug.

Please be vigilant and if your child is not feeling well please keep them home, or take them to the doctor.  If the mucus is no longer clear, please keep your child home or have them checked out...it usually means there is more than a cold happening. 

If you happen to find out that it is more than a cold, please let me know the diagnosis and symptoms so I can alert others to be on the look out...I would like to move through it a fast and healthy as possible.





Here is our sick policy in case you need to see it:

Children should not come to care if they have any of the following:

• Fever over 101 F, uncontrolled diarrhea, vomiting, mouth sores with drooling, rash with fever, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), scabies, head lice, TB, impetigo, strep throat (until 24 hours after beginning antibiotics), chicken pox, etc.  If you have a questions please call and ask…Please be prepared with back up care in case of a sick child.
• If you are notified that your child is ill, please pick him up as soon as possible, or designate an alternative person to pick up your child.
• Should a child get seriously injured during care and require medical treatment, I will notify the parent as soon as possible.  In life-threatening situations, I will first call 911 and then notify the parent as soon as possible.  If the parent can not be reached, I will provide the signed Medical Authorization For to medical personnel.

Thanks for your attention.

Talley

Apples, Apples, Apples

This past week was the week we all finally settled in.  It was the first full week for us all, asides from the beginning of school, and it was the week that Preschool Pals began for the non- nappers.  It was an exciting time for many of the kids.  Please keep in mind, those children who are napping are still building on many pre-school skills during our morning time, and that when they are finished with their naps, they will transition over to Preschool Pals in the afternoons with Miss. Chloe and Miss. Lauren.

Our outing on Friday to the trip to the Jonamac Orchard was fabulous.  Many had been apple picking before, but some had not and we talked about how to find the best apples, and to tell which ones were good for baking and which ones for eating.  We also had run of the place as it was a weekday and most school age kids were in school.  Check out the link to this week's pictures to see the fun we had.

The has been an incident of head lice in two kids in daycare.  Please check your child to make sure that they do not have any...if you have any questions please take them to Hair Butterflies in Oak Park to be checked.

Please note that our late payment policy is posted on the website.  There have been many families that may be confused by the invoices and reminders, but it seems to be a pattern developing.  Please make sure to pay your invoice either via PayPal, Check or Cash, by Thursday, midnight.  Unless you have talked to me previously I will have to charge you the late fee of $37.   If you have questions please let me know.

Miss Talley

Preschool Pals Week of 9/16

This week we have a lot of fun crafts planned, mostly centered around apples and fall, so be prepared for your kids bringing home some amazing art work at the end of the week! We are going to be making paintings using apples, constructing our own apples and apple trees, as well as using apples to practice our counting. We will be exploring shapes this week, working on patterns, including a craft based off of one of the stories we will be reading, Go Away Big Green Monster. The kids will be making their own big green monsters while learning and using a lot of different shapes.  During circle time this week, we will be building upon our usual routine, using our big board to discuss the weather and the calendar, as well as singing our favorite songs, including our greeting song. We will be learning two new songs, one about the days of the week and one about the months of the year that we think the kids are going to really enjoy. All in all we are going to have fun, so here’s to another great week!

Miss Chloe and Miss Lauren

And the school year begins

Welcome back!  This week was a transition week for all of us.  New faces are present and we are all trying to find our rhythm.  It was nice to give each other the space to learn about our new friends and just play, after being in school for the whole day.  Every few weeks we will have a new theme that will help us focus our activities.  For the next few weeks we will be getting to know each other.

A few things I want to make sure you see:

• Reservations for days off, or half days will be on a first come first serve basis.  Please use the PayPal button to the right to reserve those days.
• Days off are listed to the right
• Please fill out the contact list so that we have your up to date information.  If you do not want it shared please let me know
• Weekly schedules for all three programs
• Pictures from camp and the past week
• School Calendars

As always please let me know if there is anything I can do to make this a good experience for you and your family.

Talley