The ELC is a large, supportive school family. We are proud to be in this community of learners and strive to respect and honor each individual daily. With 200 children, 100 educators and staff, and over 400 strong in our family members, we function by working together to keep our school community safe, connected and ready to learn.

We need your help with this goal! Here are ways you can and should support your child’s development and our overall school community.

Parking Lot

• SLOW down in our parking lot, both going in and out of the lot. Follow the direction arrows.
• Park in the parent parking lot- this is as soon as you come in, labeled ‘ELC family parking’ and outlined in green.
• There is clear signage about the other areas, including no idling. Cars should not be left idling at any time and children cannot be left in the car unattended.
• Please do not park anywhere in the circle. Our circle is a fire lane and used for buses, service or emergency vehicles only.
• Our smaller lot is used for handicap parking and visitors. These spots cannot be used for drop off and pick up.

Use Walking Feet and Safe Bodies

• We ask children to walk on the sidewalk, in the hallways and in the classroom. We can run in the gym and the playground. Please practice this together.
• We directly teach children about personal space and keeping your body safe, using words to help communicate our thoughts and needs.
• We use “Safekeeper” language. (see below) The teacher’s job is to keep children safe. The children’s job is to stay safe and keep each other safe.

Drop off and Pick up routines 

• Connection is key during these time frames- both with adults and with adults to child. Develop a healthy goodbye and hello routine with your child.
• Follow our procedures- sign your child in, help them hang up their things in their cubby and help them wash their hands. Complete your goodbye ritual. 
• At pick up time, check to see where the class is- sign your child out, gather their things and go out to find them.
• Connect with your child’s teaching team, either by checking in or making eye contact with a wave- the teachers need to know when a child leaves. Go back inside, using the appropriate, expected door. We cannot prop any exterior doors open at any time.
• Keep your child(ren) with you at all times.
• Please finish any "on the way" breakfast bites before entering the ECL. We do not walk and eat at the ELC- we sit like a school family for our meals. We also have many different allergies and keep our hallways and classrooms safe by following this rule. 

“Safekeeper” is the term Conscious Discipline uses to describe the adult’s role in the home or school. Our primary job is to keep children physically and emotionally safe. The children’s job is to help keep themselves and each other safe. We are the Safekeepers and they are the helpers. For more info on safekeepers click here.

There are many best practices that guide the work we do at the ELC each day! The Head Start Performance Standards are one of our tools- they are comprehensive federal regulations designed to ensure high-quality, individualized care focusing on education, health, family engagement, and staff development. These standards require that all children brush their teeth once daily while at school. Toothbrushing had been a part of our daily routine - but was a practice that we suspended during the COVID years.  

We are pleased to share that we are once again brushing our teeth! 

All classrooms have been equipped with new toothbrushes and holders, fluoride free toothpaste for our under 2-year-old crowd and fluoride toothpaste for everyone over 24 months. Toothbrushes will be replaced every 3 months and as needed.  We are providing Tom’s Toddler Natural Fluoride-Free toothpaste for children under 24 months and Colgate with Fluoride for children over 24 months.  

Our family committee has been tinkering with the idea of a family swap board where families are able to post things they are looking to donate, or post things they are looking for, that others might be able to donate.

This board is now up and running! The board is located next to the kitchen, across the hall from the adult bathrooms and water fountain. When you enter the building, you would turn right towards our infant and toddler wing, and you will see the board in the first hall on the left.

A few people have already posted items, and we are excited to see more connections building in our school community.

A few things to note about this board (which are included on the board):

• It is a swap board, not a sell board. All items are free.
• Services are not included. The board is not for babysitting or business cards.
• Items cannot be stored at the ELC. The board is a touch point, and communication/arrangement of exchanges is between those interested in items. 

The ELC’s family committee consists or parents (maybe you?!) and several ELC teachers alongside our Co-Directors, Kelly and Jessica.

The committee meets quarterly about a variety of topics that impact the ELC as a whole. Our vision is to create equitable learning experiences that instill confidence, resiliency, compassion, and creativity for all who are a part of the ELC.

We are looking for more parents interested in joining this team! Some things we might discuss are family events, staff appreciation week, ELC news, parent ideas, and more! You can follow the link below to apply for the committee.

https://forms.gle/qK11nfff2wtAFbiL6

There will also be a flyer with a QR code as well as

paper applications available in the lobby. 

Hi ELC Families! 

For those of you are who are new to the ELC- Welcome! I am your Assistant Director and Social Emotional Learning Coach, Emily. I am a resource to you here at the ELC on all things concerning developmental milestones, behavioral supports, and social emotional learning development. My office is located in the preschool wing across from PK6 and is also known as the CAREs Room. The CARE Room stands for Calming and Recovery Environment. The C can also stand for Connecting.

The CAREs room is a special place we have created at the ELC that allows children to have a quiet, neutral space, to have big emotions and work through them. This room is filled with calm down strategies and materials directly related to our two SEL frameworks, Conscious Discipline and The Pyramid Model. Within this space, our children have access to active calm down strategies and self-regulation tools that promote safety, emotional awareness, and belonging. Many of these strategies are found in each classroom as well, but the CAREs room can provide a planned, intentional break, a quieter zone or a space for 1-1 supports, in order to promote SEL development and learning on a larger scale. The strategies we teach help children learn how to recognize their feelings, calm their bodies, and solve problems in healthy ways. Here are some pictures of what the CAREs room looks like if you have not had a chance to come visit:  

Fun Facts about Social Emotional Learning! 

• Children begin learning SEL skills from the moment they are born. Early relationships with their caregivers help build a foundation for trust, empathy, and confidence. 
• Strong SEL skills in early childhood are linked to better friendships, stronger learning skills, and greater confidence later in school.
• Simple routines like greeting children, talking about feelings, and modeling kindness help strengthen children's sense of belonging and emotional security. 
• When children learn to label or name their feelings, they are better able to manage their emotions. 

One of our SEL frameworks, The Pyramid Model, has a great resource page that focuses on teaching social-emotional skills at home. This page can be found here.

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

New Additions:

• HALO Dream Recalls Magic Sleepsuits Due to Choking Hazard
• TheKiddoSpace Recalls Peg Doll Children’s Toys Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Choking Hazard; Violate Small Parts Ban
• TheKiddoSpace Recalls Children’s Sensory Swing Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Strangulation



More products and information at link below-

• March 25th - 27th Family Conferences & Professional Development Days - ELC Closed to Children
• April 6th - 10th Book Fair @ the ELC
• April 13th - 17th Week of the Young Child & Spirit Week
• April 16th Annual Art Show & Stay and Play

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

University of Delaware Early Learning Center

 www.elc.udel.edu