There have been a few questions regarding the paperwork sent home on Friday. I feel it is my responsibility to explain how the program works because I am in charge of qualifying each family.

About a year ago we found out that we qualify for state assistance for food. We get reimbursed each month for groceries, paper products, meal service and some labor. The program also insures that we are providing adequate meals and sanitary meal preparation for your child. We receive state inspections and are monitored through Indianapolis. It’s a fantastic program that provides plenty of opportunities for the school to save on food and milk expenses.

Two weeks ago I received a visit from our state inspector, and I didn’t have the correct paperwork on each family. I kept my own personal records and apparently that’s a big no no! We were told to get on the ball, and fast. The sponsor told me that each parent had to fill out their financial information and it had to be kept in a private file. This information is completely confidential.

Each income bracket qualifies. We still receive reimbursement for children in the highest income bracket. It isn’t quite as much as the reduced and paid categories, but it is something.

I have done my research, and each center in Evansville that qualifies participates. I just enrolled my son Jack in public school, and I had to fill out the same paperwork. Miss Kelly and I will also fill out this paperwork for our children at the Garden School. It is an enormous help with the quality and the cost of food provided.

I understand that this is uncomfortable for parents. If you refuse to fill out the information, I will only request that you give a written reason that I can keep on file. This way I can at least show the inspector that I attempted to collect the appropriate information, and the school won’t be sited.

It is not our intention to ostracize anyone. We love our parents. We appreciate your business and your friendship. We respect your privacy 100%! We are all very new at this! We are just trying to do what’s best for the school. If you have any questions, I left my home number on the documents. Please feel free to call! We’ll see you all on the 7th!!

regards,
Miss Molly

We had a wonderful time at the lake. The rain stayed off, the kids seemed to love the water and the parents seemed to enjoy the kids. Food was passable. Thanks to Joe, we managed to get ten pounds of hamburger cooked.

I hate goodbyes. I always make a bee line for the kitchen and hide out while everyone leaves. I’d rather not say goodbye to kids and parents even on the last day. I know it’s part of it, but it’s a part I’d rather just let continue as if “I’ll see you next week.” Silly, but characteristic. I suppose it has to do with the right kind of change. It speaks of growth and development. It speaks of the thing we are all eager to watch – the child grow up.

We’ve had a marvelous group of parents this last year. We couldn’t thank you enough for all you did for us. We would love to keep in touch, if you are leaving the GS. We love visits.

I’m off to Florida to see #3 and #4 grandchildren. I have never seen Patrick. So Terry and I are off until next Friday. Miss Judy is going to swim in the ocean. I will be in school all day Saturday if you need me.

PRAYER REQUEST According to the weather reports, it is 122 degrees in Iraq right now – and the low will be 111! Our troops need our prayers for strength, endurance, and safety. If it be God’s will, give these men and women the strength they need to prevail. I am sorry but I am not breaking this one…..Let us pray. Prayer chain for our Military…please don’t break it… Please send this on after a short prayer. Pray for our soldiers… Prayer “Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.” Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world. There is nothing attached…. . Just send this to all the people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you, please…. Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine &others deployed in harm’s way, Prayer is the very best one!!!!!

This is really a good article especially for new parents looking for childcare outside the home.

I would add a few extras.

Medication of any kind should be reported to your child’s teacher. If there is an accident of some kind, rescue squads need to know. Some parents are secretive about medication and only after several months will a teacher “discover” that the child is on a mind altering drug.

If a child is too anxious about going to school, two things to explore are 1, there is something going on at home the child just can’t bear to be away from, and 2, that someone in the childcare is not nice to him.

Always consider illness as an epidemic starter. Look at other children and ask, “Would I like to share a drinking cup after ‘that child?'” Then create a standard for your own family.

Behavior issues begin at home. In order to change a behavior, often it is the parents who have to change their own behaviors in order to change a child.

Most childcares run week by week. If parents don’t pay for vacation time, that income is not spendable and often a teacher will not get paid. It’s something to think about.

And one more thing: we were asked about our open door policy. Our front door remains unlocked because we are not a prison; we are a school. By order of the Fire Marshall’s office, we must keep our front door unlocked. That means parents can come through the door without having to wait. Every parent should have that right.

If a criminal wanted to gain entrance to the school, no matter how many doors and windows were open, they would do it.

Ten things every parent needs to know about day care
By Maria T. Olia
Day Care
Tuesday, July 25, 2006 –

Childcare is a real concern for parents of young children. “Trusting the care of your child to another person is huge” says Reed Donahue, co-director of Little Red Wagon Play School in Sudbury. Whether your child is enrolled in family or center- based day care, communication between the parent and the caregiver is key.

Frequent feedback is vital. High-quality daycare providers will use a variety of methods- bulletin-board postings, newsletters and formal conferences- to communicate with parents. One of the best ways parents can do is allow enough time to talk to the teacher at drop-off and pick-up. Drop-off is the time to tell the teacher that your child had a late night terror or that you started your infant on solids. At pick-up, the teacher will often share information about your child’s day. Roya Touran runs a family day care for 10 children in her Westwood home. Touran provides parents of infants and toddlers a daily “What I did today” form which notes how much was eaten, sleep patterns, and developmental milestones; such as rolling over and new words learned.

Heed your provider’s advice when dealing with your child’s separation anxiety. At the Beverly Hospital Childcare Center, Director Debbie Ago requests that parents visit the classroom with their child. Tangible reminders, a favorite toy, or a picture of the parent can help too. Donahue says that consistency is critical. She suggests that parent make a plan with their child. “For example, tell your child that you will give them 5 kisses and 5 hugs, and then you will leave. Lingering always makes it more difficult for both the parent and the child. I also always tell my parents that they can call after drop-off to hear how their child is doing.”

Be aware of early drop-off/late pick-up policies. Most day care providers will charge a fee for early drop-off or late pick-up. If parents are consistently early or late, they should consider changing their child’s day care schedule. Donahue says that her school is generally overstaffed. “If we have the room, we can accommodate a temporary change in a child’s day care schedule. This is life, things do happen.”

Respect sick-child policies. For licensed day care providers, Massachusetts has established guidelines for sick children, but day care providers know that for a slightly ill child, the decision whether or not to attend day care is a gray area-especially for working parents. Childcare centers will insist that children be fever-free for 24 hours and able to participate in all activities. However, for children that attend home-based day care, there is often more lee-way. Touran says, “I prefer that a sick child doesn’t come to day care, but I understand that parents have to work. If a child has a runny nose and wants to rest instead of play outside, I try to be flexible.”

Work with your day care provider to address any behavioral issues. Whether your child has a behavior issue or there is a problem with another child in your child’s day care, a parent’s first step should be to make an appointment to talk with your child’s teacher. “Often our teachers will work with the whole group and coach the kids through role-playing to empower the children and help teach empathy.” For a parent whose child is having a behavior problem, Donahue prefers to brainstorm with the parent about positive reinforcement and redirection strategies for the child. Ago says that accident logs are useful to teachers and parents in isolating behavior trends. “For a child that is a biter, we can look at the report regarding the victim, staffing, or the time of day of the occurrence. We can then make changes such as have one of our high school volunteers shadow that child until the child outgrows the problem.”

Know expectations for paying for vacation and sick days. You should expect to pay for childcare if your child is sick for a few days or misses days for a family vacation. After all, your day care provider has reserved a spot for your child. Family day care providers typically close for the day care provider’s vacation. Touran closes her day care for two weeks per year. Families have time to arrange back-up childcare – parents take vacation time, use short-term emergency day care at work, or get day care help from family members.

Share any food allergies or nutrition concerns. Day care providers are increasingly aware of the importance of healthy eating. At the Beverly Hospital Childcare Center, all meals and snacks are provided. Parents are encouraged to meet with the cook and review the day care’s menu. Touran provides all meals at her home day care too, and offers only water and milk as a beverage choice. At Little Red Wagon, children bring their own lunch, but parents are given guidelines regarding nutritious choices. Allergies are a hot topic in education. Day care providers can help manage a child’s food allergy by providing “safe snacks” (raisins, pretzels, etc.), enforcing a “no food sharing” rule, checking each child’s lunch for food allergens, and practicing good hygiene.

Understand inherent differences between day care centers and home-based centers. A home day care provider’s family cat or dog may be a wonderful learning opportunity- or a safety hazard. Some home day care providers may take the children on field trips- you will need to give written permission so that the day care may transport your child by car. And since your family day care provider is sharing her home with your child, you should be comfortable with her other family members as well.

Be familiar (and comfortable) with the provider’s discipline strategies. Children behave very differently in a classroom than at home. A common discipline difference between day care and home is the use of time-outs. Ago says “A time-out may be an appropriate discipline technique in the home, but we prefer to redirect a child and not use a time-out in the classroom.” Day care providers are often a great resource for parenting advice-especially for first-time parents. Some childcare centers help “parent the parent” through workshops with staff or local parenting experts.

Act quickly when something doesn’t feel right. Because very young children do not communicate well, a change in your child’s behavior is often a parent’s first clue that there may be a problem at a childcare. Donahue believes that anytime a parent has a concern is a good time to speak with their child’s caregiver. “A parent should never have to go to sleep with a concern about their child.” Childcare providers should have an “open door” policy where parents can visit at any time. Also, stay in touch with the other parents at your child’s day care- share your ideas and you will all have a better sense of what is going on in the classroom.

More info
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has developed 10 standards for quality child care programs, preschools, or kindergartens. This list, based on the NAEYC standards, can be a starting point as you look for the best program for your child. For more information please visit http://www.rightchoiceforkids.org/.

Maria Olia is a freelance writer from Newton, who has warm memories of her four children’s nursery school days.

Some of the parents were talking about spiders yesterday, and when I got home from work I found this in my email. The pictures were sent from my daughter, Katy, who is a safety specialist for a large manufacturing company.

The pictures are graphic, and I apologize for any upset, but it does show how terrible brown recluse spider bites can be. Too often we shake off a spider bite. We tough it out as if we’re tough, but after looking at these pictures, I will be more careful about spiders.

The pictures are in order. Notice the spider looks a lot like a common house spider. It has two large fangs at the head. It is not especially large.
You can see from the second picture, taken on the first day, that this si something to worry about. Since pictures have been taken, this bite has been treated which is even more alarming.

The next picture is day three.

The next picture is day 5.

The last picture is day nine. Notice the string keeping the finger together. I have a close up of this, but I didn’t print it.

This is really a curious thing and a very interesting article. We did a taste test last spring, and we noticed that the picky eaters were the most sure of tastes.

MedIndia – India

Sensitive Taste Buds Can Be The Blame for Lil’One Not Eating Vegetables

A new study has concluded that preschool children who are sensitive to bitter flavors are very likely to be among those who do not eat vegetables.

The researchers publishing their study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, have explained that their findings suggest that the naturally sensitive taste buds help explain why some children are so staunchly opposed to vegetables.

The researchers had explained that their experiment that was conducted on 65 preschool children had found that among those children who were very sensitive towards bitterness were most likely to eat fewer vegetables. They found that some of them even hesitated for eating not only bitter vegetables, like broccoli and olives, but also those that were sweeter like carrots and red peppers.

It was explained that in recent years, scientists have identified a gene, now known as ‘TAS2R38’, which controls a receptor for bitter flavor.

Reports also showed that a study published last year found that children with a few difference of that gene are particularly sensitive to tastes, and they were able to detect even a very small amount of a bitter-tasting compound when added in water.

The researchers found in their current study, when tested in the same way, 37% of the children said that the water tasted ‘yucky’ or bad, while the remaining claimed not to have tasted anything, and were considered as ‘nontasters’.

Today is a day of passage, a last day for many of our GS kids. It’s always sad to see the children we’ve taught and love leave the school, but isn’t that the whole point?

“Take a child from where ever he is as far as he can go,” is the direction we work for. So where was he when he started and where is he on his launching day?

The question the teachers will ask today is how far did I take that child?

I love what Edith said a few days ago, “They walk in like little lambs, and they walk out like the Devil wears Prada.”

It’s a wonderful and exciting world to live in when a child has a little moxie, a little spirit, some knowledge to back that up, some dignity and some creativity to hold up the rest.

Yesterday Austin felt the loss and he spent the day thanking me for everything we did for him.

The older girls decided to scrub out the dress up section just because they could.

Ty earned lots of treats yesterday buttoning his lip and picking up after the little guys.

And so went the day.

Yesterday we had a lovely young couple come in with a three year old who will start school in September. She’s just darling. I always look at where they begin and wonder what they will be like three years later.

Together with the parents, it’s a team teaching effort. Discovery and awakening is what every teacher hopes to contribute, but you have to have the place. The GS is small, but it’s set up to encourage knowing in small bites and small doses.

This year is beginning unlike a lot of other years. We have a team teaching effort that is going to be spectacular.

So today we launch the ones who have been with us and who are off to new starts, new beginnings, and new places. These children will leave the GS as friends. There have been a lot of words exchanged over the years, lots of laughter, lots of oops, lots of get a grip, “use your brain,” and “Miss Judy, you’re in time out.” How long can I stay there?

It’s not a sad time; it’s a joyful time. God’s speed – He’s still in the safety zone.

Some of the parents have asked us for the cookie recipe we use at school. It’s an old one I got from one of my childhood mentors. Parkie was a Sioux from Minnesota and one of 12 children. She was a trench nurse during WWI and the mother of my oldest friend of 51 years. She was instrumental in letting me believe in myself.

The recipe is:

2 sticks cheap margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking SODA
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg

Mix
Add 2.5 cups of flour

Bake at 350 degrees until they puff up and have turned brown on the bottom.

Remember, the more baking soda you put in cookies, the crispier they are. By adding .5 tsp of soda, you will make them cracker like.

If you want a cake like cookie, reduce the soda to 1/2 a teaspoon, and increase your flour by 1/2 – 1 cup.

Always bake cookies in the center of the oven and don’t put two cookie sheets together. Cookies burn that way.

Cookies will continue to cook after they have been removed from the oven, so take them out before they really look done.

Don’t be afraid to add stuff like coconut, nuts, peanuts, corn flakes, raisins, ground orange peel.

And don’t think you have to use the whole batter at once. I keep at least a batter in my fridge at all times so when I know my grand kids are on their way, I can pop a sheet of cookies in the oven and have the house smell great and fresh cookies on a plate when they arrive.

This is a fun thing sent to us by Faith’s mom. For those unexpected overnights, and for a teen party this would be great! — Judy

I have lots of friends who make these every weekend, they love them. They are good for camping too! –Stacy

ZIPLOC OMELET

(This works great !!! Good for when all your family is together. The bestpart is that no one has to wait for their special omelet !!!)

Have guests write their name on a quart-size Ziploc freezer bag with permanent marker.

Crack 2 eggs (large or extra-large) into the bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them.

Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, hash browns, salsa, etc.

Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake.

Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.

Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water.

Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed.

Nice to serve with fresh fruit and coffee cake; everyone gets involved in the process and a great conversation piece.

This is an excellent article out of New Mexico. It’s good to remember that play is a part of early education, and without play the education falls flat. More learning will come from a life time of play than a life time of work because people actually learn more from the things they love than the things that they hate.

Our view: Schedule in childhood’
The Current-Argus

A new recommendation from the Foundation for Child Development suggested that children begin attending a full day of preschool by age 3.

The children, according to the foundation, benefit from developed social skills, self-discipline, reading and math.

Voluntary, full-school PK-3, according to the foundation, also reduces the need for special education services, enables parents to build long-term relationships with important adults in their child’s life and helps students prepare for the future workforce.

So why does the whole thing feel so wrong?

The concept of full-day preschool for 3- and 4-year-old children calls to mind a more extreme example of a group of pregnant mothers attending the world’s first prenatal preschool class so that their unborn children can get an academic head start. And it only seems like a matter of time before infants will be forced to face their own wave of standardized tests.

Our society should look at preparing young children for the future but we should also look at, and pardon this strange idea, actually allowing children to be children. There’s nothing wrong with letting kids hold on to a rattle for a few years before handing them a Calculus book.

Playing is an important aspect of development. Forming emotional bonds with adults is absolutely vital to young child development.

In an ideal world, a parent will play the pivotal role in most of this development.

As pointed out in a recent study, however, parents in a working society don’t have the time to provide young children with all the developmental skills needed for kindergarten. Many fully responsible parents are simply unable to work 50-hour-a-week jobs without receiving some assistance raising their child. If millions of 3-year-old children are going to be spending
much of the day in someone else’s care anyway, why not place them in a similar school environment where trained experts can help them develop?

Our society seems increasingly interested in placing more burdens of child rearing on the school district. Thirty years ago, young children ate breakfast at home. Today, most children eat breakfast at school. That’s not because some families cannot afford to provide breakfast as much as it is because studies show the importance of children having a nutritious morning meal and that many families of all economic levels simply don’t have the time anymore to provide that.

In the case of education, it is the duty of our society to find a compromise that balances the academic needs of children with the need to allow children to be children. We must find a plan that balances the societal fact that parents need to work but we cannot just use this as an excuse to pass child-rearing responsibilities on to the school system.

With such a difficult issue, St. Edward principal David Gomez seems to offer a good starting point on the debate. Gomez said his school’s single requirement is that potential students be potty trained. Potty training before American history seems fairly reasonable.

Beyond that, the topic may still be a matter for debate. Half-day preschool for 3-year-olds and even full-day preschool for 4-year-olds may be possibilities, but a full-day PK-3 certainly seems to be an unreasonable extreme.