Big Oak Bulletin April 2009

Big Oak Child Care Center 2030 Winnebago Street Madison, WI 53704 608.249.3991 [email protected] www.bigoakchildcare.org

Important Dates:

April 6 – 9 – Toddler Parent Teacher Conferences April 10 – Big Oak Closed, Spring Break April 13 – 16 – Preschool Parent Teacher Conferences April 17 – Big Oak Closed, Staff Development Day April 21 – Board Meeting, 7:00p.m., Big Oak April 22 – Family Open House, 6:00 – 7:00p.m., Big Oak

A Thank You:

Greetings Families and Friends of Big Oak,

I am writing to thank everyone for their participation in Big Oak's Parent's Night Out event. Thank you to all who sold raffle tickets, parents who donated raffle items, and everyone who attended and brought their friends. Your collective efforts helped make our event a success. We will be providing our Board of Directors a complete accounting of our expenses and revenues in the next couple of weeks, but I am pleased to say that we did indeed make money for our new playground, and will likely exceed our stated fundraising goal. Thank you all.

I want to especially thank the members of the fundraising committee, Jen Burkel (Nathan's mom), Pam Felt (Clara's mom), Paul O'Flanagan (Ellie's Dad), Nicole, and Ann. Their hard work produced a fun evening with great prizes and generous donations. I also want to thank Jeff Burkel (Nathan’s dad) and Jeff Knight for donating their musical talents to our cause, Andrew Carne for acting as the evening's MC, and Cynthia and Lori for securing tasty treats and gorgeous flowers.

As corny as it sounds, we can accomplish a great deal when we work together. A Parent's Night Out is small example of this simple but moving sentiment. I feel grateful to have worked with such fun and committed people.

Best,

Marykay Wills (Benjamin's mom and Fundraising Committee Chair)

Notes from the Board of Directors:

Greetings Big Oakers –

It must be spring – I can see the walls in the Big Oak coatroom again! With the arrival of the season, it’s time for me to clean a few items out of my "notes from the board" folder.

This winter we finalized the new teacher contract, and there are two major changes to report. First, we added a 401k plan to our teacher benefit package. This should be a great long-term benefit that will help the Center attract and retain the quality of staff that makes Big Oak the best in Madison. Second, our collective bargaining agreements have had a duration of one-year in the past, but this time around we have entered into a two-year contract. This longer term will free up time for teachers and parents to focus on all the other great Big Oak projects, which brings me to my next point . . . What a party! Thanks to everyone involved with our 20th anniversary parents night out. Thank you to each and every attendee, prize donor, raffle ticket seller (and buyer), and alumni participant; thanks to Jeff (Nathan's dad) and Jeff (the other guy in the band); and thanks, of course, to Marykay and the organizing committee! I think it can be said that this was the most successful Big Oak fundraiser ever – and super fun, to boot! Hopefully we can make it a biennial affair. Please make a point, if you have a chance, of thanking our raffle prize donors.

Coming up, please watch for the parent survey which will soon be arriving in cubbies. The board really values the input we receive from them.

Lastly, a few season-appropriate items. Keep a look out for information related to the upcoming spring work day. We are especially interested in finding someone willing to help with the sprucing up of our front yard landscape. Any green thumbs out there who can take on the (notoriously difficult) job of finding plantings for under shady oak trees? Also Big Oak is (thanks to Cheryl) again selling grass seed this year. Please ask Ann or Nicole if you need a bag.

Best to everyone. See you around the oak –

Andrew Carne Board President

Center Wide Notes:

Spring is on the way! We are excited to spend more time outside (when it is not raining!) and enjoy the longer days. Parent Teacher Conferences are held this month. Please sign up on your child’s classroom door.

A few details that need your attention. As always, if you have any questions or need clarification, please speak to Ann or Nicole.

1. Children may not be left unattended for any reason in the entry way (or any part of the building). If you need to run out to fetch something, you must bring your child with you or sign them into their respective classroom. We cannot budge on this as it is a State Licensing Rule. 2. All children and families must leave the building at 5:45p.m. Our staff are paid only until 5:45p.m. and our insurance is in effect until 5:45. 3. Big Oak is a Peanut Free Center. We have some children with severe allergies. Please leave your nuts at home! 4. Check your child’s cubby for extra clothes (socks, pants, shirts, etc.). 5. Thank you!

General Information

Please do not leave food in your child’s cubby. We have found some rotting (and smelly!) snacks. Please be extra sure to speak quietly upon entering the classroom and try not to disrupt children who are working.

In the event that some unforeseen event occurs and Big Oak’s door is not open at 7:00 a.m., here are two contact numbers: 1. Ann Fox 239-1929 2. Lori Pape 240-9185

Please label all of your children’s belongings. Big Oak is not responsible for lost items. Please remember that Big Oak classrooms are a “Shoe Free Zone.” Please provide indoor only shoes or slippers for your child to wear at Big Oak. Outdoor footwear should remain in the front entryway. We will also require anyone entering Big Oak classrooms to remove their shoes. Thank you for your cooperation and keeping Big Oak clean.

Please note that both Big Oak’s policies and the Wisconsin state licensing standards are always available for review in the entryway.

Just a reminder, Big Oak closes at 5:45. Parents and children need to have left the building by this time. If you need extra time to dress your child and/or gather materials please plan accordingly and come earlier. Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.

Due to safety reasons, please remember children must be supervised and accompanied by a parent at all times within the center. Parents/Guardians are responsible for their children before they are signed in and after they are signed out.

Preschool News:

This month we will be preparing for one of our favorite events of the year: the open house! We will be cooking, making art, cleaning the classroom, and taking pictures of our daily life at Big Oak. We are also very excited for the Week of the Young Child and its various associated activities. One of the lesser known but significant purposes of the Week of the Young Child is to highlight the importance of early childhood education. Please take a moment to call or e-mail your legislators to let them know how important it is to support early childhood care. Programs to help families with tuition and create incentives for early childhood professionals to stay in the field are frequently first on the budget-trimming list of our state government. High quality early childhood education is one of the most effective ways to address a variety of social issues. If we all had equal opportunity to learn to use our words and take turns early in life, the world would be a better place. If you’d like more information, contact the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA).

Important dates: Dance at Donna’s: Tuesday, April 14th and 28th in the morning. Open House: Wednesday, April 22nd 6:00-7:00 pm. Preschool conferences: April 13th-17th

Older Toddler News: The month of April is here which hopefully means better weather and less illness! We will continue working with food and will begin to put together our O.T. cookbook. We will discuss where our food comes from and how it makes it to our plates. Our class will use this as a stepping stone to our spring planting project where we will try to have a mini garden and grow some of our own food. Here is one of the recipes we hope to cook to add to one of our lunches one day! It will also be in the cookbook.

Oven-Baked Carrot Fries

1 1/2 lbs. carrots 1 tsp. sugar 2 tbsp. olive oil 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tbsp. finely chopped pinch of pepper Fresh rosemary Preheat oven to 425. Line a shallow pan with foil. Using a sharp knife, slice away the tip and end of each carrot; peel each completely. Cut carrots in half cross-wise, then cut length-wise, then cut length-wise again. In a mixing bowl, combine the carrot sticks, oil, rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir till all are evenly coated. Place carrots in pan, spreading sticks out as much as possible. Bake for 20 minutes or until carrots are tender. Serve hot or at room temperature. Makes 4 servings

Younger Toddler News:

Spring can be a messy time of year. This month the Younger Toddler classroom will focus on making many different types of dough and paste. We plan to use many ingredients such as flour, salt, oatmeal, and dirt. We will also plant flowers, record our voices, and make kites.

This month’s song

Do your ears hang low? Do they reach up to the sky? Do your ears hang wide? Do they wobble to and fro? Do they wrinkle when they're Do they flap from side to side? Can you tie them in a knot? wet? Do they wave in the breeze Can you tie them in a bow? Do they straighten when From the slightest little Can you throw them o'er your they're dry? sneeze? shoulder Can you wave them at your Can you soar above the nation Like a Continental Soldier? neighbor With a feeling of elevation? Do your ears hang low? With an element of flavor? Do your ears hang wide? Do your ears hang high? Do your ears hang high?

School to Home Connection:

Each April, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) designates of week to celebrate the young child. The theme for this year’s Week of the Young Child is “Bring Communities Together for Children – Children Bring Communities Together.”

This week we, as a community, focus attention on the needs of young children and their families and also recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. The following websites have more information and ways to support early childhood education, nationally and locally.

http://www.naeyc.org/about/woyc/ http://www.wecanaeyc.org and click on Advocacy

At Big Oak, the following special activities are planned for The Week of the Young Child, April 20 – 24. Monday, April 20 – Bring your favorite book to school. We will share these books throughout the week. Please label your book. Tuesday, April 21 – Wear your favorite color to Big Oak. Wednesday, April 22 – Family Open House at Big Oak, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 23 – Ice Cream Social at Snack Friday, April 24 – Pajama Day