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

When The Boys Are Away...

It has been almost a month since I last updated the blog...I guess I too had a learning curve on how to fit this all into my busy schedule...but this weekend Rob, Elliot and Thomas are away in Michigan on Indian Guides camp out. Greg had a lot of homework and so I was finally able to get all the pictures up, and comment on them, find new and fun Halloween crafts for us the next few weeks...and add a few pages to the blog I have been meaning to add.

Even though I may be behind in adding a post here and there, the menu is updated each week...so feel free to check back and at least see what we are eating:)

In the next few weeks and plastic or glass jars, cardboard egg cartons, or gallon milk jugs would be helpful...and let's hope our school age kids get all that homework done so they can work on these cool crafts I have planned!

***Reminder I am closed Friday the 19th and Monday the 22****

T

Arts and Crafts Oh My!

This week Olivia began Pilgrim for her last year before kindergarten and so now we have fallen into our groove.  This week we will be focusing on tactile fun...lots of arts and crafts experiments...all we will do during the day with the younger crew and after school with the school age kids...a few things we need for the week:

1. Plastic jars with screw top lids
2. Diamond Glitter
3. Glow sticks
4. Bars of Ivory Soap

If you have any of these lying around the house send them in...if not we will gather them up.  Thanks to Lydia's mom, Katharine, for the yummy blueberry muffins.  Here's to another great week!

Talley

Back in the Swing

Now that we have one full week under our belt things are starting to fall into place.  We had a great time at the zoo...who knew that 9:30 was the best time to go...all the animals were out and being fed and the kids had the run of the zoo...we got to see the kangaroos hopping all around, including babies.  Hypos that were almost close enough to touch, bears sunning themselves in the water...and dolphins and seals...Maya and Lydia loved anything swimming!  Ethan's favorite was the bears...Once we figured out how to turn the water on at Anderson it was so fun...with the park right there they ran and played in the water, and then to the park and back again.  My favorite was all the girls hanging their heads upside down in the fountains, Lydia's hat even stayed on with her head upside down!

Next week we begin the trek north to Pilgrim nursery school for Olivia.  We will be leaving around 8:30 Monday through Thursday. Pick up from Pilgrim will be at 11:15 am each day...then we will come back for lunch..or a picnic there on the lawn..depending on the weather. 

For the school age kids it has been a great week getting into the grove of homework and after school.  One thing I love is that I get to see what comes home from almost every teacher in the school...that being said, please let me know how you would like me to handle your child's homework.  If there is a special event in the evening, or you specifically need something to be completed please let me know.  In addition, if there is something you think your child needs extra attention to please let me know and I will do my best to help out there as well. 

That being said, I am trying this school year to make it a little more fun after school...so beginning this week, or the week after, we may have extra activities, or projects that they can choose to work on, or not.  After being in school for 7 hours, unwinding a bit is always a nice touch...and as the kids have gotten older, hanging on the playground is not what they want to do all the time...so having the option to do art, science experiments, or just build something might be a nice change...we will see how this goes.

This week we will celebrate Lia and Grace's birthdays on Tuesday...cupcakes again...

Please don't forget to fill out the contact form at the right if you want your information included...and check the menu and schedule each week...and as always, please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your time away from your kids easier.

Talley

Welcome Back

Summer seemed to fly...we were so busy that we had no time to even chronicle the summer...hopefully I will be able to do that in the next few weeks.  Most of you know, but in case you did not, the Murphy family (Joe, Jame and Jack) have moved on and are staying home with their Mom, Meg.  After taking care of the family for the past 4 1/2 years it was hard to say goodbye, but I am sure we will see them around the parks and school!

We have added one new little one...we welcome Lydia Klette to the mix...that makes Lydia, Maya and Olivia my only full timers as Thomas has even moved on the Kindergarten!  What a change from so many boys, to three girls...and Ethan...This week we say goodbye to Ethan Wojcik (Grace and Maeve's brother).  He has been with us all summer and we have enjoyed having his wonderful brand of make believe in the mix.  He goes out with a bang this week as we celebrate his 4th birthday on Wednesday.

I know often times families would like to contact each other.  If you would like to be included on a contact list of families, feel free to add your information...it will be available on the blog and updated as I get your information.

A few other things that I have added: A weekly calendar of meals and activities for the full timers.  Once we settle into a routine I will post a loose daily schedule, a link to each school's calendar, vacation days for 2012-13, and a schedule for the after school program.

I know many of you have been so wonderful in passing my names along to other families.  As of now I am not taking any more full time children, as we will have a new baby beginning in January, and another one beginning in the late Spring.   I do still have a few spaces after school open, but Tuesdays I am full.  So if you, or anyone you know needs a day here or there feel free to pass my name along.

Have a great week!