Our ELC school family is absolutely amazing each and every day- our staff, children and our families!

We have one special week where we highlight the special people who make the ELC run swimmingly- our STAFF! And, boy does it take a whole school of fish to keep everything smooth sailing - so we need to celebrate!

We are celebrating staff appreciation week May 4th-May 8th!

We invite you to celebrate our staff with us during staff appreciation week - they o-fish-ally deserve it! Our teaching teams & part time substitutes, Allyson and Lauren in the kitchen, Susie and Sarah J at the front desk, Becky, Sarah OC, and leadership team work hard in the classroom and behind the scenes to support the ELC, and it’s time to give them a spotlight!

The theme of this year's staff appreciation week is .... Under the Sea! Because our staff are absolutley Fin-tastic!

Keep on the look out for ways for your family to contribute to our Under the Sea theme! There will be a sign up in our front lobby for contributing to the events we have planned for the week!

We are also going to be bringing back "Chalk the Walk" & Teacher Appreciation Bags!

• Chalk will be available for everyone to draw pictures or write messages on our front sidewalks!
• Each staff member will have a bag in our front lobby for anyone to drop notes or small tokens into throughout the week for the staff member to receive on Friday
• Paper and coloring supplies will be available in the front lobby!

And of course staff appreciation is never complete without a SPIRIT WEEK!

At the ELC, we take a holistic approach and help children build positive routines and healthy habits. One of the best indicators of overall health is a healthy smile!

Across all of our age groups, we have implemented toothbrushing in the classroom. There is a medical form in your child’s cubby for the specific brand/type of toothpaste we provide. Please sign and return to your childs teacher!

If you opt to provide your own tooth paste for your child, please complete a medication administration record from - available in our lobby. Submit the completed document to your child's teacher with the toothpaste.

Our Students under age 2 use: Tom's Fluoride-Free Toddler Training Toothpaste

Our Students over age 2 use: Colgate Toothpaste with Fluoride for Cavity Protection

Tooth brushes are replaced every 3 months or as needed

Tuesday Morning wear your sneakers! Our center is partnering with UD's College of Health Sciences Physical Therapy Program to take part in Project ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously)!

Our classes will spend our morning with the PT students to get our bodies moving and grooving

YOU are the Heart of UD!

Together, our UD community is bound by Blue Hen pride and a shared drive to better the world around us. Because of YOU, breakthroughs in research happen, championships are won and students find their voices. Helping bright futures take shape!

I Heart UD Giving Day is this Wednesday April 29! Please keep an eye out for more information next week on how to donate to our ELC campaign - we are raising funds to purchase waterproof rain suits so we can play outside in every type of weather!

The ELC hosted our annual Art Show on April 15th with a new addition of a Family Stay & Play. Both were a smashing success!

Everyone enjoyed a beautiful afternoon spending time outside together creating & viewing art and playing together on our playground!

Family Rocks!

One of our activities invited families to paint ONE rock that will become part of a special display lining our front landscaping!

If your family did not have the opportunity to paint a rock at the stay & play, we have set up a space for you to do so this week! This family rock station will be in our second school age classroom next week from Wednesday, April 29^th through Thursday, May 7^th.

This classroom is located between the preschool playground door and gym entrance on the preschool side of the building. Look for signage to guide you there! In the classroom, you will find all you need to create a rock including rocks, paint, paintbrushes, and instructions. The completed rocks will remain at the ELC, and soon you’ll be able to see them each morning as you walk into our building—a lasting reminder of our community spirit.

Please note: We ask that families that already painted a rock not create an additional rock – we only have supplies for one rock per family!

It’s time for our Kinderbound children to celebrate graduation!

Save the date and bring the family- it will be a sweet memory to hold in your hearts. While the date is early in the summer, we are still learning all summer long together. 

PK Graduation Dates at 4pm

PK8- Monday, June 1^st 

PS3- Tuesday, June 2^nd

PK7- Wednesday, June 3^rd

PK6- Thursday, June 4^th

Please click the button below to access the US Consumer Product Safety Commissions Site with up to date information about recalled items.

New Additions:

• Magnetic Stick Figure Sets Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Magnet Ingestion; Violate Mandatory Standard for Toys; Sold on Walmart by BlissfulDestiny
• Autobrush Recalls Sonic Pro Children’s Toothbrush Boxes Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Battery Ingestion; Violates Mandatory Standard for Consumer Products with Coin Batteries
• Children’s Tower Stools Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury and Death from Entrapment and Fall Hazards



More products and information at link below-

• April 28th - Project ACES Day
• April 29th - I Heart UD Day
• May 4th-8th - Staff Appreciation Week
• May 22nd - ELC Closing at 12pm
• May 25th - ELC Closed - Memorial Day
• June 1st-4th - PreK Graduation Ceremonies for families

6/1 - PK8 | 6/2 - Ps3 | 6/3 - PK7 | 6/4 - PK6

Kelly Freel kfreel@udel.edu • Jessica Peace jpeace@udel.edu

University of Delaware Early Learning Center

 www.elc.udel.edu