Now is the time to take home the winter clothes in your child’s bucket and bring in a complete set of summer clothing.  Please bring in shorts, a shirt and SEVERAL PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR.  The younger children will also need extra shoes and socks.  We do not have extra Berry Patch clothes in the larger sizes so please make sure your child has extra clothes.

Each child needs sunscreen.  We will apply sunscreen in the afternoon to the children who have sunscreen here.  Please mark the bottle with your child’s name.  Each classroom has a basket for sunscreen in the teacher closet.  Please put the sunscreen in the basket instead of your child’s bucket.

The children are spending more time outdoors on the playground and going for walks.  Tennis shoes are the best footwear rather than sandals and flip flops.  Please make sure your child’s shoes fit properly and will stay on their feet.  Many of the children wear shoes that are too big and their shoes fly off their feet when they run or kick balls.

The Berry Patch is open from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., five days a week, twelve months a year.

We are closed seven (7) days out of the year for holidays.

New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (4th of July), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday following Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.

We will close at 1 o’clock on Christmas Eve and at 5 o’clock on New Year’s Eve.

Holidays will be celebrated according to the state of Missouri’s observance.  E.G. if Independence Day falls on a Saturday, but it is observed as a holiday on Friday, we will be closed on Friday.

STATE LICENSED

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services licenses the Berry Patch.  In our operation, we meet or exceed all of the standards for child care.  These standards relate to our facility, staff, health and safety procedures, nutrition, child-staff ratios and record keeping.  State and county health, fire and licensing representatives routinely inspect our Center.  All staff undergoes a background screening through Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Family Care Safety Registry.  Licensing regulations and reports are available upon request in the office.  Staff are mandated by the state of Missouri to report suspected Child Abuse and Neglect.  Parents can also report Child Abuse and Neglect.  The telephone number to report suspected cases of Child Abuse and Neglect: 1-800-392-3788.

CDCA MEMBER

We are proud to be members of the Child Day Care Association.  As a member, we enjoy many special advantages and services.  Each room is inspected and observed, videotaped or workshops for the staff are conducted annually.

Suggestions are then made for continuous improvement.  CDCA has monthly meetings for center directors, workshops for all staff members and library resources.  They assist each staff member to realize the psychological as well as the physical needs of your child and help each staff member grow as professionals.

ACCREDITED

The Berry Patch is an accredited program recognized by Missouri Accreditation of Childhood Care and Education Programs.  We received our initial accreditation in 1987.  Missouri Accreditation (MOA) is committed to the recognition of childhood education programs which provide appropriate, high quality learning experiences for your children.  We are reevaluated every 5 years.  The MOA self study and materials are available in the office.

ADMISSIONS

Prior to admission, a pre-enrollment tour of the Berry Patch with parents or guardian is scheduled.  The purpose of his tour is to determine the needs of the parents or guardian and child and the suitability of the Center to meet them.

Before a child can start in his/her class, all forms must be completed and returned to the office along with the enrollment fee, one week’s deposit and the first week’s tuition.

No person shall, on the basis of race, color, religious belief, national origin or sex, be excluded from participation, be denied benefits, or be subjected to discrimination.

You will be asked to bring your child to the Center for a visit in his/her classroom before the first full day of care.  Please let us know when you are coming.  You will need to stay with him/her during this visit, and may stay as long as you like.  A midmorning visit of an hour or two is ideal.  On the first full day or two, we suggest that you plan to stay for just a few minutes.  As soon as your child becomes interested in a toy, the teachers, or another child, please plan your departure.  Tell your child you are leaving, when you will return, exchange hugs and kisses and leave quickly.  It is best to tell your child you are leaving, as he/she may become quite distressed if your just disappear.

 For some children the only alternative may be for you to say “Goodbye”, leave and allow the teacher to attend to the tears.  It is NOT recommended that you come back into the room once you leave.  This only tends to increase a child’s anxiety or anger.  Most children stop crying within a short time.  Sometimes it takes weeks before a child feels comfortable about coming to the Center in the morning, even if they are having wonderful days that are free of tears.  Feel free to call the Center any time to check on how your child is doing.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

When enrolled, an immunization record or exemption card for each child must be provided.  All immunizations must be up-to-date.  Within thirty (30) days following admission each child must have a physical examination.  The form must be signed by a licensed physician.  Failure to provide the immunization record and/or the physical examination may result in suspension of services until the form is completed and returned.  Government representatives make periodic checks of our files to determine that all children in the Center are properly immunized.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

We need to know of any special medical condition in your child, what treatment or medication is being given, how it is handled at home and how you want us to follow through.  For example: 1) If asthmatic, what are the triggers? What is the usual reaction? 2) Allergies: seasonal, insect, food?  What symptoms?  What treatment?

ILLNESS

As a center licensed by the State of Missouri, we follow the Missouri Department of Health guidelines for evaluation of the health of the children enrolled at the Berry Patch.

Missouri Licensing rules 13 CSR 40-61.185

(A)  Each child should be observed for contagious diseases and for other signs of illness on arrival and throughout the day.  

(B) Each child’s parent/guardian shall be notified immediately when any contagious disease occurs in the facility.

(C)  Unusual behavior shall be monitored closely and parents shall be contacted if the behavior continues or if other symptoms develop.  These behaviors include, but shall not be limited to :

1.  Is cranky or less active than usual;

2.  Cries more than usual;

3.  Feels general discomfort or seems unwell; or

4.  Has loss of appetite.

(D)  The parent/guardian shall be contacted when signs of illness are observed.

(E)  If the children exhibit any of the following symptoms, they must be sent home:

1.  Diarrhea–more than one (1) abnormally loose stool.  If a child has one (1) loose stool, s/he shall be observed for additional loose stools or other symptoms;

2.  Severe coughing–if the child gets red or blue in the face or makes high pitched croup or whooping sounds after coughing;

3.  Difficult or rapid breathing (especially important in infants under six (6) months);

4.  Yellowish skin or eyes;

5.  Pinkeye–tears, redness of eyelid lining, irritation, followed by swelling or discharge of pus;

6.  Unusual spots or rashes;

7.  Sore throat or trouble swallowing;

8.  An infected skin patch(es)–crusty, bright yellow, dry or gummy areas of skin;

9.  Unusually dark, tea, colored urine;

10.  Grey or white stool;

11.  Fever over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (100F) by mouth or ninety-nine degrees Fahrenheit (99F) under the arm;

12.  Headache and stiff neck;

13.  Vomiting more than once and;

14.  Severe itching of the body or scalp, or scratching of the scalp.  These may be symptoms of lice or scabies.

You will be called to pick up your child if he/she becomes ill while at the Center.  A reasonable amount of travel time is expected but we are unable to accommodate parent requests to wait for the conclusion of business matters.  It is, therefore, essential that parents arrange reliable plans for alternate care of a child who becomes ill while in our care.  Children must remain home for 24 hours after the disappearance of all symptoms including fever.

Please notify the Center if your child is absent due to illness.  Notify us immediately if it is a communicable disease.  You will be notified if your child is exposed to a communicable disease.

MEDICATION

Medication can only be given at the Center when the parent/guardian has signed and filled out the authorization form.  These forms are kept in each classroom.  All medication is to be kept in the teacher’s closet in the medicine basket or in the refrigerator in the office.  All liquid medicine must be in a sealed container in the refrigerator.  Ziploc Bagsareavailable for that use.  All medicines must be in their original pharmacy containers with the child’s name on them.  All over-the-counter medicine must have the child’s name written on it.  All medicines must be taken home after the ending date on the medicine authorization form.  One form must be completed per medication.

EMERGENCY CARE

We ask that you complete an authorization for emergency medical treatment.  Of course, we hope we never need this authorization, but we want to be sure your child receives the attention needed should such an emergency develop.  If your child is injured while in our care, our first step is to administer any necessary first aid.  Staff is trained in basic first aid and CPR.  We will make every effort to contact you and/or the doctor you have chosen to treat your child.  Please keep your telephone numbers and that of your doctor current.  In the event that we cannot contact you or your doctor, we will make sure that your child receives the necessary emergency treatment until we can reach you.

BAD WEATHER CLOSING

The Berry Patch will try to remain open during inclement weather.  If we would have to close due to the weather, a Berry Patch staff member will call you.  Please keep your home, work and cell numbers current.  Please tell your child’s teacher if you want them to call your home or cell numbers.

TOYS

Parents are asked to see that children do not bring toys to the Center.  The Jamberry and Raspberry rooms have Show and Share on Friday.  The children may bring an item from home  for Show and Share.  We ask that the children not bring weapons, e.g. toy guns, swords or knives.

Books and CD’s are welcome any time.  Your child may bring a soft doll or stuffed animal to sleep with.  Please make certain your child’s name is on their items.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Parents are welcome to bring a simple birthday treat for the class.  Please clear the date and time with the teacher.  The children seem to enjoy donuts, cookies, brownies or Rice Krispietreatsthe most.  All food items much be purchased items with the ingredient and allergy label attached.  We prefer you do not bring favors as it causes competition among the children.

COMMUNICATION

Each classroom has a bulletin board outside the classroom.  This board will contain the weekly lesson plan, daily schedule and goals for that room.  Eachclassroomalso has a parent/teacher communication board with notes, the weekly menu and class information.  Children have a communication slot above their coat hook in the classroom.  Please check the communication slot for notes.

A Center bulletin board is located across from the office.  Information of interest, the menu and child related articles are posted.

Parents are welcome to call anytime during the day.  For lengthy conversations, the teachers have more time during nap time (1:00-3:00).

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

Parents are to bring their child into the building, sign the child in and see that the child is under the supervision of the teacher before leaving the premises.  Any unaccompanied child will result in the parent being called.  If the incident happens a second time, further care of the child will be terminated and no refund will be given.  This is for the safety of your child.

When picking up your child, please reminder to sign him/her out, check the communication board and your child’s bucket area.

Only the parent or guardian may pick up a child unless written or verbal notice has been given for someone else to pick up the child.  Persons picking up the child will have to show the proper identification.  Proper legal documents much be provided to the Center in cases where a noncustodial parent is not allowed to pick the child up.

Parents are to use the school parking lot for pick-up and departures.  Please respecttheNO PARKING areas and the Handicapped Parking spaces since we do share the parking lot with the Cure of Ars church.

NUTRITION

A nutritious breakfast , lunch and afternoon snack are prepared at the Center and served daily.  Every meal and snack is planned to meet the child’s nutritional requirements.

The teachers eat lunch with the children to create a home-like atmosphere.  During this time, we teach the fundamentals of good nutrition , sound eating habits and table manners.

Food exceptions will be made for individual children for medical (with doctor’s notification) or religious reasons.

AN ORDINARY DAY

Children are greeted and checked as they come in.   They engage in quiet play, gym play or outside play.

BREAKFAST is served between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

GROUP TIME is a learning and sharing time.  The children work on a skill such as sequencing, number or letter recognition.

MUSIC TIME occurs throughout the day.  The children learn songs, play musical instruments, listen, sing and dance.  They are exposed to different kinds of music and a variety of sounds.  This provided a great opportunity for an emotional and physical outlet.

ACTIVITY/OPEN CLASSROOM TIME is a time when the children can choose what interest centers they want to play in.  They are free to move from one area to another.  The interest areas include:

Block Center:  Here a child develops large muscles, a sense of balance, line and space.  Much self-expression and emotional release takes place in this area.

Art Center:  Here a child learn to work with different textures and sizes,  They are introduced to art activities of many kinds.  Creativity and self-expression are enhanced along with small muscle development and reasoning.

Dramatic Play:  Here children can play “make believe”.  They learn to interact with other children, to role play, to work out feelings and fears.  They will also develop language, imagination and socialization by experimenting with many different relationships.  Prop boxed are sometimes used to extend play.  Examples of these are “grocery store”"doctor’s office”"beauty shop”.

Manipulative Center:  Small muscles are developed and math skills are learned through puzzles and small manipulative toys.  This lets children enjoy a sense of achievement.

Science Center:  Encourages the development of sensory experiences (smelling, touching, tasting, seeing, hearing) helps children become aware of his/her surroundings and gives the opportunity to learn to care for plants and animals.

Book Area:  Books are open to children for quiet and relaxing moments.  Books help a child increase their attention span and vocabulary.

Sensory Table:  This is used to help develop math skills, volume, weight and measuring as well as numerous sensory experiences.

Computer Center:  Computers are available in the Jamberry and Raspberry Rooms.  A variety of software is used.

STORY TIME occurs several times during the day.  Listening and verbal skills are increased at this time.  Stories can be from books or involve puppets, flannel board or memory.

LUNCH is served and eaten family style.  This is an excellent time for developing manners and conversational skills with each other and the teachers.  Children help set the table and are responsible for cleaning up their place.

NAPTIME occurs after lunch.  The children are lulled to sleep with music and sometimes a back rub.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES:  When in the classroom, children will be able to choose from the various interest centers.  They will have an opportunity for gross motor play in the gym or outside if the weather permits.

OUTSIDE PLAY, weather permitting takes place several times a day.  It is a part of our daily program for the children to get some fresh air so be sure they are dressed appropriately for the weather.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Two parent-teacher conferences will be scheduled each year, early fall and late winter.  A progress report will be written on your child’s development and shared with you at the winter conference.  A copy of the progress report is placed in your child’s file.  Your child’s file is available to be reviewed by you at your request.

Parents are always welcome to request a conference any time with the teachers or the director.

CLOTHING AND BEDDING

We encourage children to wear clothing that is comfortable and washable.  We have many messy activities and your child won’t have to worry about dirt and stains.  Keep in mind we go outside daily so your child should have a coat, boots, mittens, etc. when the weather is wintry.  Shoes are important for safety.  You may want to avoid hard or slippery soles as well as sandals and flip flogs.  When children wear those types of shoes, they are not allowed on some of the equipment.  children should wear tennis shoes on a daily basis.

Parents are asked to provide a complete change of clothing from the skin out, including underwear, socks and shoes.  Please replace the extra set of clothing as the season or growth of your child changes.

A small blanket and small pillow should be provided for nap time.  One cot sheet is provided by the Center.  All bedding is sent home every Friday or your child’s last day of the week to be washed.  Please make any repairs and return the bedding the next week.  State licensing requires a cot sheet on each cot.  Additional or replacement cot sheets can be purchased through the office.

EVERYTHING YOUR CHILD BRINGS TO THE CENTER SHOULD HAVE HIS/HER NAME ON IT.

DISCIPLINE AND GUIDANCE

Our Center, in accordance with Missouri Child Care Licensing Regulations, never uses corporal punishment or any disciplinary techniques which will frighten or humiliate a child.

Our goal is to develop self-discipline in young children and to have them happily, constructively involved through out the day.  To that end, we will try to prevent problems from occurring by guidingand directing children as they make choices and interact with each other.  We will help them talk about and solve their own problems.  We will use “positive reinforcement:-that is praising a child’s helpful, constructive actions, and redirecting them away from troublesome behaviors.  if a child’s behavior is clearly out of control, a brief “time-out” to calm them down is used. 

In the event a child has any ongoing disciplinary problems, we or the parents, may ask for a conference in which we will work out together a plan to help the child.

TERMINATION/WITHDRAWAL

Should the Director feel that your child cannot adjust to the Center’s program, you will be given at least one week’s notice before your child must be withdrawn.

In the case of withdrawing your child, you are required to give at least one week’s notice prior to withdrawal.  This gives us time to prepare your child and his/her friends for the approaching separation.  It also gives the Center time to have a new child ready for admission.

Parents withdrawing children without proper notice of at least one week shall not receive reimbursement of any payments made and shall forfeit the original week deposit.  If proper notice is given your deposit will be applied toward the last week’s tuition.

FINANCIAL POLICIES

PAYMENT

Weekly charges are due and payable on Friday for the following week.  They are considered past due if not paid by Monday noon and a late charge will be assessed then.  Holidays are not deducted.  Services will be terminated if payment is overdue by one week unless special arrangements have been made and approved by the Director

TUITION

Our general policy is to adjust fees annually.  Other adjustments may be required occasionally.  Parents will receive one month notice, in writing, of any fee changes.

DISCOUNTS

Families enrolling more than one child will receive a 10% discount off the youngest child’s tuition fee.

ABSENTEE CREDIT

Because staff assignments are based on enrollments, we cannot extend any credit for absences of only a few days.  If your child is absent for a period of one week or more due to either illness or vacation, the tuition rate will be adjusted to 50% of the normal charge.

Each child is allowed three (3) weeks per year at the 50% rate.  The year will run from January to December.

EXTRA CHARGES

LATE PICKUP

A charge of $5.oo per 15 minutes or any part thereof will be assessed for the first time the child remains in the Center after 6:00 p.m..  Each time thereafter there will be a charge of $1.00 per minute after 6:oo p.m..  This fee must be paid within 24 hours.  Continued late pick up may result in the child being expelled.

LATE PAYMENT

A late payment of $5.00 per week is assessed on past due accounts.  Accounts are past due after 12 o’clock noon on Monday.

RETURNED CHECKS

Returned checks result in a $10.00 minimum charge.  Recurring returned checks will cause the account to be collected on a cash basis only.

OTHER CHARGES

Charges may be assessed for screenings, photography etc. which may be offered to you on an optional basis.

Now that summer is almost here, we will be spending more time outside and our routine will change in the classroom.  We longer have week end news.  You will get your child’s week end news from this year in the memory books at graduation.  For Show-N-Share, your child may bring in any toy, but we may be outside all morning and not have Show-N-Share.

Summer Camp will start the week of June 8th.  Our outside days are Tuesday and Thursday.  During summer camp, the children can play in the sprinkler and all the different activities that will be out.  Please have your child in a swimming suit under their clothes (don’t forget to send underwear) with sunscreen applied.  We will go outside right after breakfast and it makes it go so much faster if everyone is ready.  They may bring in a towel and shoes that can get wet for summer camp.  Also, since it is getting warmer outside, please bring in sunscreen to leave at school.  We will put the sunscreen on them when we go outside in the afternoon.  Please write your child’s name on EVERYTHING so it doesn’t get confused with other children’s.

Now the one event everyone is waiting for; Graduation Ceremony.  the ceremony is Friday, May 21st at 10:00 in the multi purpose room downstairs at The Berry Patch.  Everyone is welcome!  Please let us know how many will be attending so we can have enough chairs set up.  Right after the ceremony, we will have refreshments for everyone up in the classroom.  The ceremony will last about 20 minutes.

We will miss everyone who is leaving for the summer and the ones who are going to kindergarten.  Don’t forget to come back to see The Berry Patch.  We would love to see you again.

Good luck, kindergartners!

Miss Carolyn and Miss Ashley

The children really enjoy books.  They have their favorite books they want to hear again and again.  They enjoy listening to stories, sharing their favorite books from home with their friends and are starting to show an interest in words.  The pillow area with the books on tape is always an area the children spend a lot of time in.  They can relax on the pillows by themselves or share the books and stories with their friends.  Listening to stories is a key part in a four-year-old’s development because it is the earliest stage of learning to read.  Children learn to read by being read to.  It creates an appreciation of print and understanding a sequence of events.  They learn grammar and new vocabulary words.  Over time children will memorize the stories and be able to tell them as they turn the pages.  There are several children that have memorized their favorite stories and will “read” them to the class.  Gradually children will be able to associate the text with the pictures on the pages.  In addition to your child learning to read while you are reading the stories, it’s a great way to spend quiet time with your child.  Remember we love to have books from home–they are always welcome!

Summer Camp is starting June 8.  Don’t forget to bring your child in their swimsuit with their sunscreen applied.  Mark all your child’s clothes with their name.  Sometimes clothes get mixed up and white socks all look the same!

Enjoy your summer!

Miss Mandy and Miss Julie

Miss Mandy and Miss Julie

Summer camp will begin on Tuesday, June 8th.  Your child needs to arrive in their swimsuit and water shoes with their sunscreen applied.  Please bring along a towel and their clothes to be put on after camp.  Please remember to mark their name on everything.  It is very difficult when the children are changing into their clothes to remember what item belongs to what child, especially when all the girls love princesses and all the boys love superheroes and their clothing reflects it!  If your child does not wear a swimsuit they are unable to participate in most of the outside activities which are water based.  Our camp days are Tuesday and Thursday every week.

State licensing requires that each child have a clean sheet on his/her cot at the beginning of the week and our licensing representative does come and check.  We have quite a few children who come without a cot sheet every week.  Please help us eliminate this problem.  If you have misplaced/lost your child’s sheet you can purchase a new cot sheet for $15.00.  Also, please check your child’s extra clothes.  With playing outside for long periods of time, accidents happen.  Berry Patch has a limited supply of extra clothing.

Please come by and join us for lunch.  You cannot get any better conversation than in the Strawberry Room.  If you are unable to come for lunch, give your child a “special” phone call during the morning.  It will make your child’s day and yours too.

Being three rocks,

Miss Kim and Miss Theresa

Soon some of the children in our room will be moving on up the hall to the three-year-old room.  Your children are growing up!  The first few days may seem stressful to you and your child but in a very short time they will be having a great time playing with their “older” friends, and learning all kinds of new things.

Since the weather is warmer, we are spending more and more time outside.  The fresh air is wonderful for all of us!  We ask that you put sunscreen on your child in the morning when you bring them in.  This is a big help to us.  It takes quite a while to put sunscreen on the whole class.  If you bring us a bottle of sunscreen to keep at school, we will be glad to reapply it later in the day.

Summer will be with us very soon and at the Berry Patch that means  the start of summer camp.  During summer camp we will be taking our activities outside–art, manipulatives, sensory, and of course we will have the sprinkler to run through.  Our summer camp days will be on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the summer, starting in June.  On summer camp days things are a little different.   Instead of dressing your child for the day, put on his or her swimsuit.  If your child is in diapers, just put a regular diaper on.  The swim diapers are not absorbent and the kids tend to be wet before they get in the water.  The children also need to have some kind of shoes to get wet in.  they don’t have to be watershoes–an old pair of tennis shoes will do.  the blacktop get too hot for bare feet.  Bring your child’s clothes in a bag, hang them on their hooks and we will dress them when we come inside.  Don’t forget shoes.  It is no fun to have to wear wet shoes all day.

If you haven’t already done so, please check to see that your child has season appropriate clothes here at school.  Also, please make sure that you mark everything (clothes, shoes, towels, swimsuits) with your child’s name.

Enjoy the time with your little one!

Miss Pat and Miss Sue

 Cereal/Raisins/Milk/Juice

Meat Loaf/Bread/Corn/Mixed Fruit/Milk

Cheese Crackers/Milk

Tuesday 3

Blueberry Muffin/Fruit/Milk/Juice

Beanie Wienies/Bread/Peas/Pears/Milk

Cookies/Milk

Wednesday 4

Cereal/Fruit/Milk/Juice

Fish on a bun/Carrots/Applesauce/Milk

Cinnamon Crackers/Milk

Thursday 5

Pancakes/Fruit/Milk/Juice

Grilled Cheese Sandwich/Green Beans/Peaches/Milk

Snack Crackers/Milk

Friday 6

Cereal/Raisins/Milk/Juice

Meat & Cheese Sandwich/Chips/Carrot Sticks/Fresh Fruit/Milk

Pretzels/Milk

September

Miss Karla 9/6, Mrs. Berry 9/9, Emma 9/24, Maddie 9/24

October

Auden 10/12, Francesca 10/14, Katie 10/14, Katie 10/22, Jacob 10/25/         Sophia 10/27

WELCOME TO OUR NEW YEAR

Welcome to the Berry Patch!  September is a month of change at the Berry Patch.  Many of the children have moved to new rooms and new routines.  Miss Mandy will be moving to the Jamberry Room starting September 2nd.  The Jamberry Room teachers are Miss Julie and Miss Mandy.  Miss Carolyn will be the sole teacher in the Raspberry Room.  After several weeks everyone should be settled in and things running smoothly.   Please feel free to call your child’s teacher or Karla if you have any questions.  Please mark your calendar with all the special events we have planned.

COT SHEETS: NEW POLICY

The Berry Patch is a licensed and accredited center.  As such, a cot sheet and blanket are required for each child at nap time.  We provide a cot sheet that is to be taken home and washed at the end of your child’s week.  These must be brought back on your child’s first day of the next week.  We were in violation of our license during our licensing representative’s last visit because some of the children’s cot sheets were not returned.  At our licensing representative’s suggestion we have a new cot sheet policy.  Monday of each week, a cot sheet will be given to the children who do not have their cot sheet returned.  On Wednesday if your child’s cot sheet has not been returned, there will be a $15 charge added to your account for the new cot sheet.

BOOK ORDERS

We order from several book clubs through out the year.  Every 4-6 weeks, Lois from Books Are Fun will bring in a selection of books and set up a display.  The books will be set up for one week during which time you turn in your orders to the office.  The books are delivered when Lois picks up the display.  The time frame is usually one week from the time Lois sets up the display until you receive your order.  For every 10 books ordered, the Berry Patch receives 1 free book.

We also order from Scholastic Book Clubs.  The order forms for Scholastic will be on your child’s communication hook.  Online ordering information is included with the book selections.  Orders can also be turned into the office with checks payable to: Scholastic Book Club.  The Berry Patch receive bonus points for each item ordered.  We use these to purchase books and other items for the classroom.

Child of the Week

Starting the week of October 6th, each room will have a “Child of the Week”.  We would like you to bring in a poster of pictures of your child and family.  You will be notified in advance when your child’s special week will be so you will have time to prepare and bring in their poster.  During the week, the child of the week is our line leader and special helper.

Berry Patch Reminders

• Please notify us of any changes in employment, address and/or telephone numbers: home and cell. 
• Please sign your child in/out daily.
• Please notify us when your child will not be coming to the center.
• Please tell a teacher or call during the day if someone other than a parent will be picking your child up in the evening.  They need to bring a photo ID.
• Each child needs a complete change of clothing (shirt,UNDERWEAR, pants and socks) in their bucket.
• Medicine forms must be filled out for us to give any medication.  Please fill out a separate form for each medicine.  Medicine must be in the original container and labeled with the child’s name, including over the counter medicine.  All medicine forms must have a beginning and an ending date.  All medication must be taken home when the medicine authorization form expires.  Medicine needs to be put in the teacher’s closet in the medicine basket or in the refrigerator in the office.  Medicine in the refrigerator must be in a ziplock bag.  There are ziplock bags on the refrigerator in the office.  DO NOT PUT ANY MEDICINE IN YOUR CHILD’S BUCKET OR BOOK BAG.

Welcome To The Cherry Berry Room

I would like to welcome all the children and parents to our room.  I know that you, as parents, are concerned with your child’s development.  Your child’s development is our concern, too.

When your children join our two year old room, they are still very much babies.  They are still learning to talk and have not quite mastered the use of their spoons or cups.  By the time they are ready to leave us and move up to the three year old room, they will be much more independent and grown up.  It is the main goal of our classroom to encourage this step toward independence.

We will be working very hard to help the children get along with each other. 
They will be learning to share toys and attention–a new experience for many of them.  Sharing is very difficult for a two year old.  A two believes that everything is “MINE”.  We will be encouraging the chldren to express their feelings and needs verbally and to listen to the needs of the other children.

We will have activities planned for all areas of the room.  We will have lots of things for the children to look at, smell, touch, and experience.  It is by handling these materials that the children will learn more about the world around them.

The children will have paint and crayons with which to practice making marks, a fine motor skill.  Playdough, blocks and other materials will be available to help  them learn how things work and how their actions can change things.  They will be trying out new roles in the dramatic play area.  Our room should be a very busy place this fall.

We will be walking over to visit our friends at the Assisted Living section of the nursing home once a month, usually the third Thursday of the month.  The children love these visits with the “grandma and grandpas”.  On these days, please make sure your child arrives by 9:00 and is dressed for the weather.  We will be walking over for the visit.

 I hope you will all be able to join us for our Potluck Dinner and Room Meeting at the end of the month.  We will discuss our classroom goals and this is a great time to ask questions and to meet your child’s friends and their parents.  Other activities are planned for the months ahead too.  Be sure to watch our “What’s Happening” section of our bulletin board to see what is coming up.  It should be a fun year!

Have a great fall!!     Miss Pat and Miss Sue

Welcome To The Strawberry Room

A hearty welcome to all the children joining us in the Strawberry Room.  Our main goal in our classroom is developing social skills.  Children today are beginning earlier and spending more time in social situations with their peers.  Current studies have shown that some friendships formed in early years of childhood are second only to family relationships in importance.  From these findings comes a heightened awareness of the social and emotional importance of friendship in the early years.  Your child will encounter many opportunities to negotiate and compromise with their peers, they will be encouraged to express opinions and ideas, as well as  to respect each others feelings.  Interactions with and acceptance by peers have long-term effects on your child’s life.  Preschoolers develop social competence in three main areas: initiating interactions, maintaining ongoing relationships and solving conflicts with others.

Our philosophy behind our curriculum is that young children learn best by “doing”.  We encourage them to learn and explore at age appropriate activities, classroom involvement and working together.  Play is the work of a young child.  Children who are given time to play, learn to ask their own questions and find their answers, thus becoming explorers, problem solvers and inventors.

Our first few weeks in the Strawberry Room we will work on classroom routine, first name identification, manners(especially at lunch time) and cleaning up.  We will move on to colors and shapes.  We will concentrate on potting training, since several children are still in diapers.  As you can read, we have a lot to accomplish and our days are very busy.

 Please feel free to join us for lunch, call your child on the phone, or join us for our activities.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to talk to us when you see us or give us a call between 1 and 3 pm.  We are looking forward to watching your child grow.  Here’s to a year filled with laughter, learning and fun.

Here’s to a fun-filled year!  Miss Kim and Miss Theresa

Hello From The Jamberry Room

Welcome to the Jamberry Room.  The children are growing up and becoming more independent.  They are working out their problems with each other, learning to give and take, and what to play with and how to play with it.

Our morning begins in the Strawberry Room for drop off and breakfast.  Our gross motor time-outside on the playground or inside in the gross motor room is right after breakfast.  Please send a light jacket or sweater in the mornings this fall.  The weather will be cool in the mornings then warm up for the afternoon.

When we come in, we have our small group time.  We will divide the class into two groups.  We work on specific skills: counting objects, matching, sequencing, letter and number recognition and following directions.  After small group, we read a story, then we do our calendar.  We talk about the month, day of the week, count to the date and talk about any special days coming up.  We talk about the different activities set up in the room.  We have name cards to help the children recognize their first and last name.  We ask the children informational questions: parent’s name, their birthdate, address or telephone number and starting this year, a cell number.  Please make sure we have your current information.  When the child’s name card is held up, they tell us what area they would like to start their activity time in.

Our room is open and the children move around freely.  The children work on writing their names, doing art projects, waiting their turn for the computer and cooperating with others.  We cook one day of the week.  The children are learning to do tasks or jobs.  This involves deciding what to  do, completing the task, then cleaning up.

Please send a blanket for naptime.  If you send a pillow, it needs to be small enough to fit inside a grocery bag.  The small travel pillow is the perfect size for nap time.  Remember:  all cot sheets and blankets must be returned your child’s first day back of each week.  You will be charged $15 if you do not return your cot sheet.

Show-N-Share is every Friday morning.  Your child can bring a toy from home that they will share with the other children during activity time.  Please make sure it is not valuable, fragile or a weapon/violent toy.

Miss Mandy is moving from the Raspberry Room to the Jamberry Room starting September 2nd.  Miss Julie and Miss Mandy will be the teachers for this year.  Miss Julie will have parent/teacher conferences with the parents of the children in her small group and Miss Mandy will have the parent/teacher conferences with the parents in her small group.  Miss Mandy will be on her honeymoon during some of the scheduled parent teacher times so she will post the weeks she will have parent/teacher conferences.

Good bye from Miss Julie, Miss Mandy and the Jamberry Room

To Our New Families and Friends

Welcome to the Raspberry Room!  It is very important that you know what is happening in the classroom and the Berry Patch.  Since, this is the last year before they go to kindergarten you want your child to be ready.  I look forward to listening and learning from you, and I will share information back through newsletters, news on the Parent Board and just talking to you.

The first week in the classroom, the children will create the classroom rules/guidelines.  We will discuss the rationale behind the classroom rules.  Letting the children participate in making the classroom guidelines gives them a sense of ownership to their environment.  The children will also be assigned various jobs around the classroom.  Each week the children will be assigned a new job.  Some of the jobs the children will be responsible for include: setting the table for lunch, caring for Petey (our pet rabbit), feeding the fish, watering the plants and being line leader.  By making the children responsible for their own belongings, it will give them independence.  This will start around or after the Family Potluck.

Daily activities will center around the children’s interests and experiences, so they may change accordingly.  Each week, we will have a theme, like letter of the week, outer space, the ocean and more.  One day, each week, we will talk about what starts with the letter they are working on.  Their answers will be recorded and displayed on the wall in the classroom.  To further letter cognition, we will have pictures of objects that start with that letter.

After breakfast, we will ease into our morning routine with circle time/calendar then into our group time.  Please be here by 9:00 each day so your child does not miss group time.  Group time is one of the most important activities for kindergarten preparation.  Group time is time set aside specifically to focus on following directions, raising their hands to speak, fine motor skills and math skills.  Journal activities give children the opportunity to draw, write, etc at least once a week for the duration of the year.  The children will then have their activity time. They chose the activity they would like to start their activity time in.  After they play and clean up, they will have their recall time.  The recall sheets are used to have the children mark down what they did during their morning activity time.  This gives you more insight into your child’s day and another opportunity for pre-writing skills.  This will start after the Potluck.  Next, we will have outside time/motor movement depending on the weather.  On the Parent Board in the classroom, I will be posting daily reports along with news and information.

On Fridays, we will have Show-N-Share.  Make sure you read the Parent Board by the sign in/out sheet because each week I will post what type of item they may bring.  This will start after the Potluck.

Please make sure your child has extra clothes in their bucket with their initials on them.  Also make sure you change the clothing once it starts to get cooler.

I look forward to a productive and exciting year of getting to know your child and family.  Feel free to join us for lunch, call to say “hi” or come play.  If you have any concerns or questions don’t hesitate to ask.

Here’s to a great year together!   Miss Carolyn