Discovery Kids Learning Center

DK Family Times Nov/Dec 2014

From the Director Dates to Remember:

By now, families of preschoolers have had an th opportunity to conference with their child’s teacher. It is Nov 4 – Williamsville is closed, vitally important to track growth and development right DK school age program is open from birth so that strengths and areas of challenge can be identified as soon as possible. Teachers use information from child portfolios not only to conference with you but Nov 11th – Veterans’ Day, to inform their teaching, as well. Knowing where each child’s strengths and needs lie helps teachers plan Summit is closed, DK is open activities to challenge them at their current developmental level and to provide extra practice where needed to st th improve skills. Nov 21 & 24 – Williamsville ½ Days Fall and Halloween provided for a flurry of – DK school age program is open activity here at DK, including two visits to Beechwood Homes. Residents get so much joy from seeing your children’s smiles and were delighted with the Infant and Nov 27th& 28th – Thanksgiving Toddler scarecrow and Halloween costume parades in DK is closed October. They were doubly delighted to receive artwork created by the children which they proudly hang in their households. Suzanne, the Activities Director, tells us that Dec 2nd – Summit ½ Day, DK full day many people who almost never come out of their rooms DO come out to see your children. Preschoolers from Room 216 will be visiting in November. Dec 11th Make room in your calendars for lots more – Preschool Gingerbread activities in the coming weeks. Check the calendar to the Extravaganza right for dates of the not-to-be-missed Gingerbread House th th Extravaganza and Holiday Show, plus other important Dec 18 & 19 – Holiday Shows dates to remember. If you ordered school pictures, you will be th th receiving them soon. For those of you whose children Dec 24 – Jan 4 – Summit Winter Break were photographed on the make-up day, your pictures will be arriving in mid-November. th th st Looking ahead, our Staff Development Day is Dec 24 , Dec 29 -31 – DK is open planned for January 19th, Martin Luther King Day. On this day, DK will be CLOSED to allow teachers to take part in workshops and activities to enrich their knowledge of Dec 25th -26th– Christmas Holiday child development and new trends in early childhood DK is closed education. You will need to make alternate child care plans for that day. We thank you in advance for making it possible to provide our teachers with a day of learning. Jan 1st - New Years’ Day As shorts and sneakers are packed away and sweaters and boots are brought out, we wish you all the DK is closed best the season has to offer! Thank you for sharing your beautiful children with us. Tamara Manly

Thank you to all who ordered books in September. We were able to add over $50 worth of books to each of our 9 classroom libraries with points earned from parent orders. We will be having another book order this month in plenty of time to order books for gifts. Look for fliers in your child’s mail box Thanksgiving Holidays Orders are due Wednesday, November 12th! To give our staff time with their families, Discovery Kids will be closed th Thanksgiving Day, November 27 and th Thanks, again, for your continuing Friday November 28 . support for our Scholastic program! We wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday with your families! Read every day, lead a better life!

Slow down! Our children are precious! School Closings Please! STOP at all stop signs in our parking lot. There are children coming and going at all

times during the day!

In the event of weather serious enough to close schools, please remember that Discovery Kids will be listed as a separate agency. There may be times when we stay open, Also, stopping for a school bus even if Summit is closed. with its red lights flashing is the We will use TV channels 2, 4 and 7 to list LAW - even in a parking lot! any closings for Discovery Kids. Refer to A few minutes wait is little to these stations’ websites for up to the minute closings. pay for our children’s safety! If you’re still not sure, call 629-3463 after 7am.

. Holiday News

Because Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, a decision has been made to close Discovery Kids on Friday the 26th.

Gingerbread Event We will be closed from 3:00pm Wednesday, December 24th until 7:00am Monday, December 29th. On December 11, 2013, we will hold our annual Preschool Gingerbread Event. No tuition will be expected for Friday, The fun will take place in the gym, and December 26th. Tuition will be charged for th parents are very welcome! the 25 as stated on pages 20 & 21 of The children will choose which your Parent Handbook.

decorations to use and place them on For the New Year Holiday, we will be their own house. closed only on January 1st. Each child will have an original gingerbread house to take home. Happy Holidays!

HOLIDAY SHOWS Outdoor Play Our annual holiday shows will Weather permitting, our teachers will be be held on December 18th, and planning outdoor time this winter. As long th as the temperature and wind chill are not December 19 . too low, we will be taking walks, using the All of the preschool classrooms playground and playing in the snow. will be performing. You will be Please, make sure your child comes to DK receiving dates and times for with appropriate outer wear. They will need coats, boots, mittens, hats and each classroom from your sometimes leggings. child’s teacher as we get closer Your teachers will let you know when your to the event. child will be going outside.

Happy Holidays! From the Discovery Kids Staff:

Tamara Manly Mary Hall

Renee Cronk Grace Miller Lissette Pastor Holly Bartel Snowman Craft Jessica Reuman Mindy Newman Mary Milazzo What you’ll need: Angie Crespo Eugenia Canty  7 craft sticks  small piece of ribbon Chrissy Strader Teri Scherbyn  Orange paper Angela Ilecki Erin Boynes  Black & white paint Monique Ramelize  Googly eyes & “coal”  Glue Angela Wind Deanna Haseley How to make it: Jenn LaSpada Katie Lapham  First Paint 1 stick black then 6 sticks ¾ white and the rest black.  Glue the white and black sticks Lara Kienle Colleen Klas together on the long edges.  Glue the black stick across the rest Kate Goldberg Della Hummel to make a hat.  Glue a homemade carrot nose in Lindsey Powell place along with eyes and coal mouth. Fran Koch Katie Landel  Decorate the hat with a piece of Jillian Connick ribbon. Sara Miliotto  Use string to hang or stick a magnet on the back.