Greetings,

We are thrilled to bring you the latest happenings at Fun Time Early Childhood Academy. Our focus this month has been on children demonstrating their knowledge related to living things and their environments. We encourage students to use their imagination and creativity to express themselves using a variety of open-ended, process-oriented, and diverse art materials.

If you visit our high-quality center, we encourage you to check out our bulletin boards. They are a powerful tool for communicating with parents and showcasing the exceptional learning taking place in the classrooms. We want families to feel more connected to their children's education and better understand the value of the learning experiences that we provide.

We believe that outdoor play is essential for children's physical, emotional, and social development. Our playground is equipped with various structures and equipment that stimulate their gross motor skills and spark their curiosity. We also organize nature walks to expose children to the wonders of nature. Reading is a vital part of our curriculum as it promotes language development, cognitive skills, and a love of learning. Our teachers read aloud to our students daily, and we have a well-stocked library that includes a rich variety of children's books.

We are pleased to share the positive results of the recent Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) visit that was conducted in our center. The assessment measures the quality of teacher-student interactions in early childhood classrooms based on ten domains, and we are proud to report that our center received a high score in many of these domains.

The assessment found that our teachers are providing a warm and supportive environment for our students, and are demonstrating high levels of emotional support and teacher sensitivity. These are areas that we have always prioritized, and it is gratifying to see that our efforts are being recognized.

The assessment also highlighted some areas where we can improve, particularly in the domain of Instructional Support. We are working on enhancing this area by incorporating more small-group and individual instruction, and we are providing professional development opportunities for our teachers to improve their skills.

At our center, we are committed to providing high-quality education and care for all of our students, and we will continue to strive for excellence in all areas. We are grateful for your partnership in this effort, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions as we work to create the best possible learning environment for your children. We hope that you enjoyed reading our monthly newsletter and that it gave you a glimpse of our vibrant and nurturing learning environment. If you have any questions or feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Warm regards,
Jessica Campbell
Executive Director
Hop into the Easter spirit with our egg-citing Eggstravaganza! 🐰🌷🥚🎉
The Easter bunny came to Fun Time to share love and create memories with the kids. Easter just wouldn't be complete without our classic tradition of hiding eggs for our children! 🐣
They had a lot of fun egg-hunting on the playground. We loved watching them as their faces lighted up with excitement when they found the hidden treasures.
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)
The VPK program is a free prekindergarten program for four- and five-year-olds who reside in Florida. Participating children must be four years of age on or before September 1. Parents can enroll their children in the state’s free voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) education program that year or wait until the following year when their children are five.

You will also need to upload:

  • Proof you live in Florida (utility bill, bank statement, etc.)
  • Your child’s birth certificate or passport

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) gives children a jumpstart by preparing them for school and enhancing their pre-reading, pre-math, language and social skills. By developing the skills that children need to become strong readers and students at an early age, our students are more likely to be successful in school.

Our two VPK classrooms at Fun Time Academy offer a high-quality program that includes literacy standards, developmentally appropriate curricula, small class sizes and qualified teachers. The school-year program includes 540 hours of instructional time and begins in August.
Butterfly Cycle by Healthy Earth
Falon from the Healthy Earth Organization visited us to teach the students about the butterfly life cycle. It consists of four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.
They watched this video about the life cycle and were given all they needed to see the process in the classroom. Once the butterflies can fly, the children will observe the entire process firsthand.

It’s important to teach our youth about the importance of nature and how to be good stewards of it from a young age so they can help us create new ideas and solutions for a more eco-friendly way of life.

Ask your children about it now that they are metamorphosis experts.
See the butterfly release experience after two weeks.
VPK STARS - Lake Park Elementary Tour
Our VPK students were thrilled to visit their future school, Lake Park Elementary School. The field trip was a chance for them to explore their upcoming academic environment and meet the teachers who will guide them in their educational journey.

The tour was filled with exciting experiences, starting with a visit to the playground, and followed by a tour of the classrooms, the cafeteria, the art class, and the magnificent library.

The students are excited about applying all the knowledge that they have acquired at Fun Time Academy and continuing their education at their new school. They can hardly wait to meet new friends and teachers. We are confident that they have a bright future ahead.
Dental Screening - University of Florida
The Head Start children received dental screening services from the University of Florida, and they exhibited exemplary behavior during the process! The students received a thorough tooth cleaning as well as treatment for any dental issues that were identified.

We are so grateful to the University of Florida for this outstanding partnership.
Parent Meeting & Taco Night
Suncoast Financial - Understanding Credit
This is an important topic for our parents as they work to achieve their financial goals in the short and long term. Our presenters stressed the need to understand what credit is and how it works in terms of borrowing and lending.

This workshop covered what lenders look for when approving credit, factors that impact qualifying for credit, how credit is scored, and the impact money management has on future credit standing. By wisely acquiring and using credit is a tremendous tool to achieve financial goals.

We encourage parents to attend at least two parent engagement meetings per semester. We continue to present valuable information and resources for parents to enhance their parenting skills.
In case you missed the presentation, please download it by clicking the bottom below.
Reading Volunteers Needed
We all know that early education is a key factor in preparing children for kindergarten. Reading to children contributes to the growth of their verbal skills while giving them the opportunity to bond with a caring adult.
 
We need volunteers to read books with preschool-aged children once a week to further their learning experiences. Everything is provided for volunteers (ELLM Bags, with books, props, lesson plan and other materials). Our children love interacting with our volunteers who help them read stories, complete academic activities and even head outside to our garden.
 
Please consider getting involved. Contact us to schedule a tour or visit our website to learn more. 
Donate

Want to help support our mission?
Make a donation to provide safe, quality and affordable childcare.
Legacy Society

Supporters who have a passion for Fun Time Early Childhood Academy's mission can ensure that their love of education will live on for generations to come. A preplanned legacy gift is one of the best routes for having a long-term impact. Through simple estate planning, you can enjoy the tax benefits of your gift long before you actually make it!
Early Release Day
May 26, 2023
Please pick up your child by 12:30 pm

No School Day - Memorial Day
May 29, 2023

Collier CARES (Community Application for Resources and Emergency Services) is a mobile application and web app for the purpose of connecting people in need with critical resources and services available in Collier County, Florida. 
In partnership with the Collier Community Foundation and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, created the application to serve Collier County’s most vulnerable populations.

The application is free and bilingual. It provides users with information about critical resources and services in Collier County. NCEF is proud to partner with community leaders, stakeholders, and service providers across the county to ensure that no family is without access to help when they need it.
If you recently moved or changed your phone number, please update your information by clicking the button below.
Thank You!
Your commitment to Fun Time Early Childhood Academy allows us to provide safe, quality, affordable education and care for children and parents from low-income working families and to prepare the children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn!
Fun Time Early Childhood Academy | [Website]