Open House for DMA Parents Has been postponed to February 7th due to upcoming weather prediction.
Please join us for the Dublin Montessori Academy Annual Open House. It is a time for parents to come into the classroom and see what works your child enjoys. The date is Thursday, February 7th. It will begin at 4:30 pm and concludes at 7:00 pm. School Closings We have implemented a new alert system. You will receive a text or voice call to alert you of school closings due to weather, special events, scheduled days off, etc. By now you should have received some messages, please let us know what you think or if you haven’t received the messages. Montessori classes will close when Dublin City Schools close, however we make every effort to keep the Extended Care program open. You may call the school if you are in doubt, as the status of the school will be on the voicemail. Valentine’s Day Party Our next celebration is fast approaching...another opportunity to spread good cheer to everyone! On Thursday, February 14th, the children will celebrate Valentine’s Day. We ask that every child bring in 24 signed Valentine cards for each class that they attend. Classroom 1 PM has 20 total children. These cards should be in BLANK envelopes. PLEASE DO NOT ADDRESS THE CARDS. Special containers are also not necessary because the children will be making their own items in the classroom. Although parents do not attend, if you are interested in contributing items for the party such as plates, napkins, cups, fruit, etc., please call the office at 614-761-2020 and we will let you know what your child’s teacher has requested. Coming Events Valentine’s Day Party Thursday, February 14th Presidents’ Day No School/ No Extended Care Monday, February 18th 2019-2020 Registration due Friday, February 15th Spring Break No School/ No Extended Care Monday, March 25th through Friday, March 29th Registration 2019-2020 Registration forms will be distributed next week for next school year. These forms are only for current students planning to return next year. Siblings and referrals must register with a different form which can be obtained in the office. If you do not receive a registration form for your current student , please call the office. Forms are due by Friday, February 15th accompanied by a $200 deposit. After this deadline, when all currently enrolled students and siblings have had the opportunity to register, the school will then confirm new students for any remaining classroom openings. Help Us Help The Homeless Donations are being collected to help the homeless. All donations will be given to the Salvation Army shelter at Worthington Woods. Details are on the last page of the newsletter. We thank you in advance for helping us help our community.
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School Closings
We have implemented a new alert system. You will receive a text or voice call to alert you of school closings due to weather, special events, scheduled days off, etc. By now you should have received 2 messages, please let us know what you think or if you haven’t received the messages. Montessori classes will close when Dublin City Schools close, however we make every effort to keep the Extended Care program open. DMA will be open regular hours even if Dublin City Schools is on a delay. You may call the school if you are in doubt, as the status of the school will be on the voicemail. Coming Events Winter Break Begins Monday, December 24th Winter Break Ends Friday, January 4th Classes Resume Monday, January 7th If the cold weather would ever decide that it is here to stay, it will be important for your child to dress appropriately so that he or she can participate in outdoor play. The classes will go outside if the temperature is above 26 degrees and weather permits. This becomes challenging for your child to remember the additional articles of clothing. Please discuss with your child colors, etc. of their clothing so that they may readily identify their things. All items should be labeled so that we can help your child find what belongs to them. We often have duplicate articles so labeling is especially important. You may also want to change your child’s extra set of clothing that you provided at the beginning of the year. When sending your child to school in snow boots, please make sure to send in a pair of shoes to change into. Snow boots make it difficult for a young child to maneuver around the classroom during the day. Dear Parents, We love all of the homemade snacks that you provide for our classrooms. However when baking, we are asking that you provide a list of the ingredients so we can check ingredients for our children with various food allergies. Otherwise, when providing a purchased box or bagged snack we do require the snack come in the original packaging. With all the special activities within the classroom this time of year, it would be helpful to know if your child will be absent prior to our Winter Break. If you are planning on leaving early, would you please send a note letting us know. Dublin Montessori Loves Community Service! This is the season to share our good fortunes and we have chosen two charities to contribute to this holiday season. The Tradition Continues One tradition that we have had for many years is a food collection for St. Stephen’s Community House. The need this year is more dire than ever with empty shelves in many food pantries around the United States. With our support, St. Stephen’s offers hope and encouragement to many families during the holiday season. They are truly grateful for our donations. Beginning December 3rd through December 11th, your child can bring in any canned goods or unopened non-perishable food. This is a wonderful way to show the children how their individual efforts can come together and affect so many! Requested food items include, but is not limited to: rice, pasta, tuna, cereals, dry baby cereal, formula, spaghetti sauce, soups, peanut butter & jelly, baby food, tuna, canned beans, canned vegetables, cake mixes, frosting, juice, fruit snacks, and macaroni & cheese dinners. Gift cards to local grocers are always welcomed. Collection ends December 11th As the weather is changing we invite you, our Dublin Montessori Community, to turn your attention to a different, yet very worthy cause. On December 9th, Miss Sheidler will join other runners and walkers in the “One Warm Coat” 4 mile run/walk. Leading up to that event we are asking for donations of new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves and blankets. These items will be donated to various charities in Delaware County (please see full list of organizations on our school bulletin board). We will be accepting these items December 3rd to the 7th after which Miss Sheidler will deliver them at the race on Saturday, December 8th. We look forward to any and all donations, big or small. Pick Ups Other than Parents We all have occasions when we have additional people pick our children up from school. When informing us of a pick up change, please provide a phone number of that person. We ask that all cell phones be turned off when entering our building. It can be distracting to others as they are observing their child. If you do need to use your cell phone while at our location, feel free to step into an empty room or outside. Parent-Teacher Conferences
Two conferences sessions are offered each school year for parents to discuss the progress of their children. The first session is Monday, November 12th from 8:00 a.m. concluding at 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday, November 13th from 12:40 p.m. concluding at 5:00 p.m. The second session will be in April. All Day Kindergarteners and All Day Classes (unless enrolled in Extended Care) as well as children in the lunch program will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. You will receive your Progress Reports on November 5th. If you would like to schedule a parent-teacher conference, please call the school for an appointment. Conferences are twenty minutes long. Children do not attend the conference. Please bring the Progress Report with your signatures to the conference. If you do not wish to have a conference at this time, please sign the report and return it by Friday, November 9th. We must have the originals returned. Copies will be furnished upon request after the signed originals have been returned. There is no school during the conference sessions, however the Extended Care Program is in session. Parent-Teacher Conferences (NO SCHOOL) Monday, November 12th Extended Care Program In Session No P.M. Classes Tuesday, November 13th Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour. Daylight Savings Time ends November 4,2018. Parent Rosters are Ready! Please stop by the front office to request one for your child’s classroom(s). Lunch Reminders We thank you for providing nutritious lunches including all the food groups (school provides organic milk) with the appropriate portions. Keep in mind your child’s size in relation to the proportions. A healthy lunch gives your child the energy they need for their afternoon. If a treat is packed, your child knows that eating all the lunch must be accomplished before the treat (dessert) can be enjoyed. That’s why you see those items returning home unopened and uneaten. Remember, trail mix, dried fruits or a small granola bar are great treats to provide for dessert. Yogurt is a great source of calcium with out the added sugar found in pudding. Always check the label not only to see if an item is low fat, but also for the amount of sugar. Notes are a great way to remind your child you are thinking of them without the extra calories. Remembering to supply your child with utensils is also greatly appreciated. Cold weather is approaching so please check your child’s spare clothing box to see that the shorts and tee shirts are replaced with pants and long sleeved shirts. It is also very helpful to label all jackets, hats and gloves. Just a Reminder Our hours of operation are: 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Morning classes: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Afternoon classes: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Before each class, the teachers are busy preparing the classroom to create the best environment for your child and they are not to receive children prior to start time. If you must arrive before the start of class, you may wait with your child in our foyer. Please see Mrs. Roshon or Mrs. McMullen upon entering the building if arrangements need to be made for your child until class begins. Also, if you arrive after 8:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m. please ring the bell and walk your child to the classroom door. Thank you for your adhering to our policies and working toward the safest environment for all of us. Illness Policy In compliance with state law, our communicable disease policy as related in the Parent Handbook states that a child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, must be free from fever twenty-four hours before returning to school. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us to maintain a healthy environment. Please help us show consideration for each other’s children by complying with this policy. If your child is ill and is going to be absent from school, a phone call to the school is appreciated. If the illness is communicable, we need to know so that we can inform other parents to watch for symptoms. Medication If necessary, prescription medication can be administered to children attending the Extended Care Program. The Form JFS01217 must be signed by the attending physician and parent before we can give your child medication. The medication must be in the original container, and given to a staff member upon entering the school. Please do not put medicine in lunch boxes or backpacks. We ask that you not send cough drops or lip gloss. You may request a supply of forms to keep handy to avoid an additional trip to the physician’s office for signature. Please refer to the Parent Handbook for further details. Helpful Hints When Observing We welcome our parents to observe the classroom at any time, however, we respectfully request that certain guidelines be followed. The best time to observe is after the children are in the classroom. This allows them the needed space to get their coats. Please refrain from distracting your children during work or line-up times. Do not open the classroom door to talk to the teacher or your child. If you need assistance please see someone at the front office for help. The small window on the door does not have a privacy film, your children can see you. Please use the large window when watching your child in the classroom. If possible, please use a quiet voice while observing; your voices can be heard in the classroom. Label, Label, Label Coats, jackets, vests, sweatshirts, sweaters that might be taken off during the day, new lunch boxes and other items that might find their way to school need to be labeled with your child’s name so they can be found. Thank you! Thanksgiving Holiday (No School) Wednesday, November 21st through Friday, November 25th. Speech and Hearing Screenings
The Columbus Speech and Hearing Center will conduct speech/language and/or hearing screenings on Wednesday, October 17th. We are offering this as a service. There is no obligation to participate. The cost of each hearing and speech screening is $10.00 or $20.00 for both. Signed permission slips and payment are required in advance. Results are provided within a day or two. This information will be distributed on Friday, October 6th. If you have any questions, please call the office. Snack Program The monthly snack program is a wonderful way for your children to experience Montessori at home and share their efforts with their classmates. Attached you will find the monthly snack calendar where we have assigned a day to almost every child (sometimes there are not enough days to go around). On this day, we ask that you provide a nutritious snack choosing 1 item from 2 of the food groups (fruit/vegetable cut for serving). If juice is a selection, please be aware that juice manufacturers love to mislead us on their labels with all of the wonderful nutrition information, however a small percentage of actual juice listed in fine print. The school will furnish cups and napkins. For snack ideas, please refer to the Nutrition Guide and Healthy Snack Habits information sheet you received with your new school handbook. In an effort to make it simpler for parents with children in multiple classrooms, snack assignments have been scheduled on the same day. If you would prefer a different arrangement, please call the office. We want this to be a positive experience for everyone! Coming Events Picture Day Monday, October 1st Columbus Speech and Hearing Screenings Wednesday, October 17th Halloween Celebration Wednesday, October 31st Parent-Teacher Conferences NO SCHOOL Extended Care Program In Session Monday November 12th Conferences No P.M. Classes Tuesday, November 13th Student Arrival So much happens at the beginning of a student’s day. Socialization, sharing and building a routine help build a child’s confidence and to feel like a part of the classroom. We recognize that there will be an occasional tardiness, but ask that the children arrive at school on time. Morning session begins at 8:30 am and ends at 11:30. Afternoon session begins at 12:30 pm and ends at 3:30, with classrooms 1 & 3 beginning dismissal at 3:20 due to the number of children completing their day. Thank you for your commitment Just a Reminder Personal water bottles are not necessary for your child to bring to school. We have filtered water in the drinking fountains and filtered water is served at snack and lunch. We also discourage sun glasses as they often get forgotten, lost or broken. Toys are not permitted for sharing; we like to see the children bring in books, educational objects, crafts, etc. to share with their classrooms. If you have any questions about our policies, please give us a call at 614-761-2020 Halloween Celebration The Halloween Celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 31st. It is important that your child arrives at normal start time (morning session at 8:30 a.m. and afternoon session at 12:30 p.m.). It will be an opportunity to share and celebrate with family! The children will parade in their costumes, sing some wonderful songs to you with their classmates, and serve you cider and doughnut holes as a special treat! They should arrive in costume. Masks and props such as swords, knives, guns, etc. should be left at home in the interest of safety. The children in extended care should arrive with a change of clothes to be more comfortable after their morning class. The All Day Kindergartners ( and All Day Classes) may stay in costume all day so you may want to choose a costume that is comfortable. If you are interested in contributing cider, doughnut holes, napkins, etc., please call the office. We are looking forward to another heartwarming day...a sure bet to bring tears to your eyes! Music and Movement Class Music and Movement class with Mrs. Rachel Amidon will begin on October 5th (both morning and afternoon classes are on Friday). This class is provided by the school. There is no enrollment necessary. Birthdays The birthday cake that you see above is your clue on the snack calendar that a birthday will be celebrated in your child’s classroom. If your child’s name is with the birthday cake then it is his/her special day at school! This may not always be on the actual day due to other events, etc. Birthdays are very special and unique at our school. You will want to refer to the handbook to learn all about them. An exception is made for the classroom snack. A cookie, lightly frosted cupcakes, brownies or muffins (please make certain that all treats are of the same design and flavor) are acceptable on birthdays. If the cupcakes arrive with too much icing, please know that they will be altered before serving. Large napkins are also requested since the children have snack together in circle as a group. Keeping with the Montessori tradition, in honor of the child, we respectfully request that no special gifts such as: novelties or gift bags, be distributed to classmates. Summer Birthdays Because your child’s birthday occurs during the summer, we would like to celebrate it according to the schedule below. We will strictly adhere to this policy as we have become inundated with celebrations at the end of the school year. Those children with the last name beginning with: · A through F—January · G through L—February · M through R—March · S through Z—April Please contact us the month prior if you wish to schedule your choice of days. If we do not hear from you we respectfully acknowledge that you are choosing not to do a Celebration of Life this school year. MEDICATION Vitamins, over-the-counter medicine and prescription medicine have turned up in our children’s lunch boxes and backpacks. Please review your handbook regarding our medicine policy. And, for the safety of all, please do not send medicine of any type including vitamins and cough drops in a lunch box or backpack. Please contact the office if your child needs to have prescription administered while at school. We will advise you of the proper procedure. Open Door Policy Although many of you are dropping off your child in line, please know that we welcome your visits any time; as often as you can. The classroom windows are a wonderful feature that allow you to observe your child’s experiences and progress in the classroom. You will also have two parent/teacher conference sessions in the school year. The first session is in November. Coming Soon!
Registration 2018-2019 Registration forms for next year will be going out in February. It is already time to begin thinking about what you would like to do. If there is a sibling that you would like to register, please let us know and we will send home the appropriate form. It is different than what current students will receive. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the office at 614-761-2020. School Closings If it becomes necessary to close school because of winter weather, it will be on radio stations: WTVN (610 AM), WSNY (94.7 FM), WNCI (97.9), and WCOL (92.3 FM) and television stations: WCMH-NBC4, WSYX-Channel 6, WTTE-FOX28 and WBNS10TV. PLEASE NOTE: Dublin Montessori will be listed under DELAWARE COUNTY and not Franklin County where other Dublin schools are listed. Montessori classes will close when Dublin City Schools close, however we make every effort to keep the Extended Care program open. Montessori classes will be in session normal hours even if Dublin City Schools are on a delay. Please use your own discretion regarding the safety of your family. You may call the school if you are in doubt, as the status of the school will be on voicemail. Parent Meeting A parent meeting on January 18th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, is designed to allow open dialogue between parents of upcoming eligible kindergarten children and the Dublin Montessori staff to ensure that all your questions are addressed regarding the Montessori kindergarten year. The meeting is open to all current parents, however, the topic will be exclusively the importance of fulfilling the final year of the Montessori three to six program. Open House for Our Parents This occasion is a time for you to spend with your child in the classroom. Your children are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to show you what they have achieved and what they are striving to accomplish. Plan on enjoying some homemade refreshments! Please mark your calendar for Thursday, January 25th. The venue is open house which begins at 4:30 and concludes at 7:00. Stay tuned for more information regarding this fun event. Reminder The school will be completely closed on Monday, February 19th for Presidents’ Day. There will be NO Extended Care on that day. Registration 2017-2018
All registration forms for the next school year were due on Friday, February 17th. If you overlooked turning your registration form in, please contact the office. We will soon begin to accommodate new student requests for admission. Illness Policy In compliance with state law, our communicable disease policy as related in the Parent Handbook states that a child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, must be free from fever twenty-four hours before returning to school. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us to maintain a healthy environment. Please help us show consideration for each other’s children by complying with this policy. If your child is ill and is going to be absent from school, a phone call to the school is appreciated. If the illness is communicable, we need to know so that we can inform other parents to watch for symptoms. Thank you. Daylight Savings Time Begins Sunday, March 12th Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday, November 5th Coming Events NO SCHOOL Spring Break No Extended Care Program NOT In Session Monday, March 27th through Friday, March 31st Montessori Classes and Extended Care Resume Monday, April 3rd NO SCHOOL Parent-Teacher Conferences Extended Care Program IN Session Monday, April 10th NO P.M. CLASSES Parent-Teacher Conferences All Day Children Dismiss at 11:30 Tuesday, April 11th NO SCHOOL Good Friday NO EXTENDED CARE Friday, April 14th Graduation Day at the Columbus Zoo Friday, May 26th Parent Sharing! As you know, the children have an opportunity every day to share something with their classmates as a group. March and April is their opportunity to share you! We would greatly welcome you and/or your child to share something about you. This might include an occupation, hobby, culture, or special passion/tradition that your family practices! Your presentation does not need to be long...remember the attention span of your audience! One half hour is suggested to be the maximum amount of time for your presentation. Please call the office to submit your topic and schedule your day. We look forward to hearing from you! A big Thank You to all our parents that contributed cookies, frosting, strawberries, etc. for our Valentine’s party! The children really enjoyed their day! Dear Parents, Believe it or not the end of the year is right around the corner. And with it comes our graduation ceremony at the Columbus Zoo. The day is set aside for us to say thank you to all our families for a wonderful year, and all families are invited. However, the focus is on those children who will be leaving us and entering into first grade. These are our graduates and they are being acknowledged for completing a path and being ready to step into the next adventure…First Grade! The only children who participate in the ceremony are those who are actually going onto first grade. You will find this explained in your Handbook and it is quoted as follows: A graduation ceremony is held at the end of May. The participants are students who have completed their kindergarten course of study at Dublin Montessori and are advancing to first grade. The number of years the child spends in the school is inconsequential, whether it is two, three or four. The ceremony is to acknowledge their entrance into first grade and celebrate them, their achievements and independence. If you have any questions, please contact the office. Coming Events
Valentine’s Day Party Tuesday, February 14th Presidents’ Day No School/ No Extended Care Monday, February 20th 2017-2018 Registration due Friday, February 17th Spring Break No School/ No Extended Care Monday, March 27th through Friday, March 31st Registration 2017-2018 Registration forms were distributed on February 2nd for next school year. These forms are only for current students planning to return next year. Siblings and referrals must register with a different form which can be obtained in the office. If you do not receive a registration form for your current student , please call the office. Forms are due by Friday, February 17th accompanied by a $200 deposit. After this deadline, when all currently enrolled students and siblings have had the opportunity to register, the school will then confirm new students for any remaining classroom openings. BEWARE! We have been aware of some very unfortunate incidents in the near vicinity of our school. One involved a purse being stolen from an unlocked vehicle while the parent went into the daycare to pick up their child. This was around 5:45 in the evening. Child care centers tend to be targeted for these types of crimes as valuables are most often left behind in vehicles for short amounts of time unattended. The other incident involved several cars being broken into in a church parking lot between 9:30 and 10:30 am on Sunday, January 8th. Windows were shattered and possessions were stolen. Also, the Liberty/Powell YMCA has been the latest target. Please take extra care and caution when taking that quick trip into school, a grocery store or drug store. Lock your vehicle and make certain that all personal items are not visible through a casual glance in your car. Observations One of the best ways to learn about Montessori, and to see how and what your child is doing, is to come and observe through the observation windows. The school has an open door policy in which you are welcomed and encouraged to come and see your child in action. At first, you will only focus on your child, but after a few visits, you will be able to see other children, watch the interaction and socialization, observe children working with the didactic materials, and be taken in by the activity and flow of a classroom of twenty four independent explorers. The observation windows are for your convenience and allow observations without disrupting the classroom. We do ask that at anytime the classroom is in session, whether it is at the beginning or at dismissal, that you do not enter the room while the class is in session. If you need to get your child, please ask and we will be happy to do this for you. We thank you for respecting your child’s environment. The school will be completely closed on Monday, February 20th. There will be NO Extended Care. Please Label Clothing Please label your child’s clothing (hats, mittens, etc) for ease of finding the owners if lost. Also, when sending in replacement clothing for your child’s clothing box make sure you put the child's name on the bag. Snow Boots When sending your child to school in snow boots, please make sure to send in a pair of shoes to change into. Snow boots make it difficult for a young child to maneuver around the classroom during the day. Snack Information Some parents have wondered “When is snack served in the classroom?” With the exception of special occasions such as birthdays or days that French is taught and time is restricted, snack is placed in the classroom at the beginning of the session. Two children at a time may take a seat at the designated snack table and serve themselves the snack that has been provided by a parent according to the snack calendar. If you know that your child will be late or absent on your assigned day, we ask that you call another parent to exchange days. If snack does not arrive at the beginning of the session, a substitution will be made in order to allow enough time for every child to participate. The children really enjoy this time to eat and visit with a friend. Thank you for your interest and participation! A couple friendly reminders… Avoid snacks with trans fat (partially hydrogenated oil). Trans fats are industrial fats that keep products shelf stable, so all your crackers, all your snack chips have fat in them, and that fat is usually going to be a trans fat. The only way to know that it’s trans fat is to look at the ingredients and see the words ’partially hydrogenated oil’. Large napkins are greatly appreciated accompanying a birthday snack, also, school does not keep a supply of spoons. Therefore, if the snack you provide for your child’s class requires spoons, please be sure to send them along with the snack. For Preschoolers (Ages 3-5) the following preparations are recommended: · Prevent choking by shredding or cutting meat into small pieces, no larger than one-half (1/2”) cubes. · Cut cheese into thin slices or small one-half inch (1/2”) pieces. · Round foods like grapes should be cut in half lengthwise so the shape is no longer round. · Cut cherry tomatoes, grapes (lengthwise) and strawberries in half. · Peanut butter—spread peanut butter thinly on toast, crackers, fruit or vegetables. Do not serve in large globs. (This reference is for packed lunches, not snack as we do not serve nuts at our school). · Hard candy over 1/2” in diameter and gum should not be provided to preschoolers in child care. Thank you. Child Pick Up Thank you for providing the office with a note regarding the transportation of your children. Just a reminder, when both parents are out of town and transportation has been assigned to friends, neighbors or relatives; please be certain to indicate their contact information on the permission note. School Closings
If it becomes necessary to close school because of winter weather, it will be on radio stations: WTVN (610 AM), WSNY (94.7 FM), WNCI (97.9), and WCOL (92.3 FM) and television stations: WCMH-NBC4, WSYX-Channel 6, WTTE-FOX28 and WBNS10TV. PLEASE NOTE: Dublin Montessori will be listed under DELAWARE COUNTY and not Franklin County where other Dublin schools are listed. Montessori classes will close when Dublin City Schools close, however we make every effort to keep the Extended Care program open. Montessori classes will be in session normal hours even if Dublin City Schools are on a delay. Please use your own discretion regarding the safety of your family. You may call the school if you are in doubt, as the status of the school will be on voicemail. Coming Soon! Registration 2017-2018 Registration forms for next year will be going out in February. It is already time to begin thinking about what you would like to do. If there is a sibling that you would like to register, please let us know and we will send home the appropriate form. It is different than what current students will receive. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the office at 614-761-2020. Parent Meeting A parent meeting on January 12th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, is designed to allow open dialogue between parents of upcoming eligible kindergarten children and the Dublin Montessori staff to ensure that all your questions are addressed regarding the Montessori kindergarten year. The meeting is open to all parents, however, the topic will be exclusively the importance of fulfilling the final year of the Montessori three to six program. Coming Events Winter Break Ends Tuesday, January 3rd Classes Resume Wednesday, January 4th Parent Meeting Thursday, January 12th 7:00 to 8:30 pm No School Monday, January 16th Martin Luther King Day Extended Care IN Session Parent’s Open House Monday, January 16th Thursday, January 26th 4:30 pm/concludes at 7:00 pm This occasion is a time for you to spend with your child in the classroom. Your children are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to show you what they have achieved and what they are striving to accomplish. Plan on enjoying some homemade refreshments! Please mark your calendar for Thursday, January 26th. The venue is open house which begins at 4:30 and concludes at 7:00. Stay tuned for more information regarding this fun event. Reminder The school will be completely closed on Monday, February 20th for Presidents’ Day. There will be NO Extended Care on that day Snack Program Thank you for providing such healthy, wholesome snacks for our children. Just a reminder, we would like to forward the food preparation requirements from our licensing agency the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. These can be found in our Nutrition Guidelines. Please feel free to contact us with an questions. The staff greatly appreciates your efforts in helping us provide a safe environment for all. Choking Hazards are a concern with infants and toddlers and preschoolers. The following is from the Department of Job & Family Services regarding Food Preparation Requirements. Please keep in mind when preparing your child’s lunch and also when providing snack for you child’s classroom. For Preschoolers (Ages 3-5) the following preparations are recommended: · Prevent choking by shredding or cutting meat into small pieces, no larger than one-half (1/2”) cubes. · Cut cheese into thin slices or small one-half inch (1/2”) pieces. · Round foods like hot dogs and grapes should be cut in half lengthwise so the shape is no longer round. · Cut cherry tomatoes, grapes (lengthwise) and strawberries in half. · Peanut butter—spread peanut butter thinly on toast, crackers, fruit or vegetables. Do not serve in large globs. (This reference is for packed lunches, not snack as we do not serve nuts at our school). · Hard candy over 1/2” in diameter and gum should not be provided to preschoolers in child care. Cold Weather
If the cold weather would ever decide that it is here to stay, it will be important for your child to dress appropriately so that he or she can participate in outdoor play. The classes will go outside if the temperature is above 32 degrees and weather permits. This becomes challenging for your child to remember the additional articles of clothing. Please discuss with your child colors, etc. of their clothing so that they may readily identify their things. All items should be labeled so that we can help your child find what belongs to them. We often have duplicate articles so labeling is especially important. You may also want to change your child’s extra set of clothing that you provided at the beginning of the year. School Closings If it becomes necessary to close school because of winter weather, it will be on radio stations: WTVN (610 AM), WSNY (94.7 FM), WNCI (97.9), and WCOL (92.3 FM). Montessori classes will close when Dublin City Schools close, however we make every effort to keep the Extended Care program open. DMA will be open regular hours even if Dublin City Schools is on a delay. You may call the school if you are in doubt, as the status of the school will be on the voicemail. The Tradition Continues One tradition that we have had for many years is a food collection for St. Stephen’s Community House. The need this year is more dire than ever with empty shelves in many food pantries around the United States. With our support, St. Stephen’s offers hope and encouragement to many families during the holiday season. They are truly grateful for our donations. Beginning December 1st through December 16th, your child can bring in any canned goods or unopened non-perishable food. This is a wonderful way to show the children how their individual efforts can come together and affect so many! Requested food items include, but is not limited to: rice, pasta, tuna, cereals, dry baby cereal, formula, spaghetti sauce, soups, peanut butter & jelly, baby food, tuna, canned beans, canned vegetables, cake mixes, frosting, juice, fruit snacks, and macaroni & cheese dinners. Gift cards to local grocers are always welcomed . Collection ends December 15th. Coming Events Winter Break Begins Thursday, December 22nd Winter Break Ends Tuesday, January 3rd Classes Resume Wednesday, January 4th May, 2016 |
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