Early Learning Center Family Connections Where your child's future is our vision. April 2021

In this Issue

A Note from Diana Center Wide News Spring Art Show Drop Off/Pick Up Station Updates Summer Program for School Age Fall Enrollment Enhanced Outdoor Environments Zono Sanitation Cabinet Program Specific News Spring Webinar Series Community News Recalls General Information

A Note from Diana; ELC Director

Hello Families.  I would like to share, and as I am approaching my 2nd year anniversary (July 1) as Director of the Early Learning Center, it has been both interesting, challenging (COVID pause) and exciting. Learning about all the children and sharing in partnership with all of you is such a vital part of why I became an educator. The ELC continues to emphasize the importance of keeping everyone in our community safe by following layers of health and safety protocol. We are also dedicated to support the social emotional, developmental, and academic growth of all children in our community. Moving forward, we are looking ahead to days when family experiences, events and activities are once again permitted in the physical building. As always, we will continue to share the learning and excitement of the children through glimpses like our “Art out Front” display that is occurring throughout the month of May! Please take a moment to look at all the way’s children express themselves through art materials every day at the ELC. Please do not forget to also “like” us on Facebook to share in the everyday happenings at the ELC. We are very excited to share the developments of our Family Advisory Committee: The ELC Family Advisory Committee will help build effective family, teacher, and school relationships. The Board members serve as an advisory and support to the Leadership Team. They offer advice on policies, procedures, family engagement and issues raised by the community. The board serves, organizes, and oversees family-centered activities for the school community under several categories: educational, family engagement, community building, and fund-raising. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the families who have volunteered to serve on the 2021-2022 committee: Infant 3 and Preschool 6: Kidtoria Gayflor  Co-Chair  (Children Samuel and Samiya) Toddler 4 and Preschool 8: Kendall Wagner Co-Chair (Children Harper and Keegan) Toddler 6 and Preschool 7: Kimberly Van Buren (Children Maddie and Katherine) Preschool 7: Kaylah Dessausure (Child Kodah Dessausure) Toddler 4 and Preschool 8: Kelly Frick (Children Molly and Owen) Toddler 4 and Preschool 6: Jon Heckman (Children Josey and Jack) Toddler 3 and School Age/Summer:  Tia Barnes ( Children Jules, Jamie and Jordin) Infant 4:  Ozur Ogbu  (Child Nina) Toddler 5 and Toddler 7: Dana Farrior ( Children Zuri and Zariyah) Preschool 8: Chrystal Nielsen (Child Fiona Nielsen) Toddler 7 and Preschool 3: Jade Burris (Children Chloe and Piper)    The Family Advisory Committee has already teamed with the ELC Leadership Team to spearhead the Teacher Appreciation Week event for all the ELC staff. In the past, the Associate Directors would work together to develop and implement this teacher/staff appreciation event. With the development of the Family Advisory Committee, we can partner with families to enhance the experience while also including the children. The Advisory Committee is currently working on developing and creating the experience and will be sending details about how you can be involved early next week. Please look for this information coming to you soon! We will share information and developments about the Family Advisory Committee with all of you and will be adding a committee tab to our website to share information will all members of our Learning Center Community. We are also excited to provide a Spring Family Web Series to all who may be interested. More information about this can be found in this newsletter. Please read the information from Associate Directors Kelly Freel and Jessica Peace for important information relative to the age of your child.

Center Wide News

Spring Art Exhibit Artsy Thursday during the Week of the Young Child usually sparks our annual art show. This year, we are delighted to feature each child’s artwork in a new way! At the drop off station, you’ll see artwork featured each week. The display will be up for a few days for each class. We are so excited to be able to celebrate each child’s creation. Remember to take a photo to share with your family! Drop off/Pick Up Station Updates Our morning drop-off stations will remain at the front door. We will re-open the stations near our Outdoor Learning Environments, beginning April 26th. From 4:00-5:30, Infants and Toddlers can be picked up at the side path near the toddler garden area. Preschool and School Age children can be picked up at the gate on the Preschool side. Summer Program for School Age Adventures Our summer program starts June 21st for our School Age (finishing Kindergarten through 5th grade). Details about this can be found on our website at https://www.elc.udel.edu/summer-camp/ We only have a few spots left for this program! If you are interested in joining us, please contact Jessica Peace at jpeace@udel.edu right away!    Fall enrollment We are actively mapping out our classes for the Fall. We expect to be making enrollment offered for the Fall soon. Please spread the word to prospective families that they should absolutely bring their children to the ELC. Anyone interested should visit our website and fill out a registration form to get on our waiting list. https://www.elc.udel.edu/admissions/ This is the best way to show interest and to join our ELC family.

Enhanced Outdoor Learning Time The ducks aren’t the only friends spending more time outside- the children at the ELC are on the move with the increased temperatures and sunny skies! Here are a few ways you can help set your child up for success this spring. Please send in 2 complete changes of clothing to update your child’s cubby box for the spring weather...complete with socks. Does your supply of sunscreen need to be refreshed? If so- please send it completely labeled with your child’s first and last name. Please apply sunscreen at home in the morning. Teachers will re-apply after nap for the afternoon A good fitting pair of sneakers is a must for outside explorations and adventures on the nature trail. Please leave sandals and work boots home for weekend wear. Labeling is key- hats, bags, sweaters, bags…toddlers especially love to show their friends what they brought- treasured items don’t always easily make it back to the same cubby.   We are thrilled that Delaware regulations lifted the restrictions on the sandbox this week! We officially opened the sand area on Monday and there was a collective sigh among the toddlers as they happily set out to get their digging done! We are continuing to work on our outdoor learning environments and look forward to sharing our awesome progress with you over the next several weeks. We are very interested in adding additional tree stumps, logs, and tree cookies to our outdoor learning environments- if you have any during your own spring clean ups and would like to donate- you can drop them off on the side of the building by the toddler garden. Thank you in advance for any natural materials you can provide! Help Needed: Can you be a resource? Do you have access to small tree cookies or tree logs? We are always looking to enhance our spaces with natural items.

ZONO Sanitizing Cabinet  ZONO…what the heck is a ZONO? A ZONO sanitizing cabinet has been gifted to us by our partners at New Directions Early Head Start. It is a state of the art sanitizing machine that seems like it will be the answer to all of our “how do we possibly sanitize this?” questions! It also helps kill bed bugs and head lice! The Zono cabinet is amazing- it helps us sanitize all classrooms materials and can even fit chairs and single strollers.   Some Quick Details o  The ZONO plugs into a standard 120-volt 15-amp circuit. No special setup is required. o  The ZONO uses less electricity than a typical hairdryer. o  The ZONO requires less than 3 cents per cycle to operate. o  No heat is used except to kill bedbugs and lice. o  The ZONO requires tap water to create humidity. o  The ZONO is a sealed unit and requires no exhaust or venting. o  Yes, the ZONO has a three-year warranty for everything except physical damage to the cabinet.    For a quick demonstration video please visit: https://youtu.be/3D9_ve6qqzI

Preschool/School Age News Jessica Peace; Associate Director

Health and Wellness Update: Preschool MASK UPDATE The ELC is encouraging Preschool aged children to wear masks while inside the center/classrooms, except during eating and resting. This is not a requirement, as we want to be able to adjust and support individual children and their families. Children will not wear the masks when outside playing, unless a family requests that specifically. Teachers will continue to support the children and partner with families to meet their family wishes/needs and to help children adjust. We have disposable masks at the drop off station, if you need one.   School Age children will continue to wear masks as it is required for their age group, inside and outside.   Tips for masks – Label with child’s name Masks must be worn over the nose and mouth. Gaiters are not preferred, as they slide down and are not secured correctly Masks will be stored in cubbies during eating and sleeping, by hanging on the cubby hooks or storing in a paper bag, folded in the same way each time Clean, extra masks in Ziploc Bags are recommended and will be stored in the child’s cubby with their extra clothes Masks should be laundered at home daily Disposable masks should be thrown out each night (cut loops to protect wildlife)   Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please communicate with your teachers or with Jessica at jpeace@udel.edu summer camp fall enrollment separate heading 

Infant/Toddler News Kelly Freel; Associate Director

We have always known the ELC is the best place for babies...and apparently the ducks know this too!   Eduardo, our UD student garden intern, discovered mama duck in her nest last Friday afternoon while he was weeding our pollinator circle. This butterfly garden was specifically designed with native plants to contribute to our environment and help build ecosystems for other species. We intentionally left the garden intact over the winter to help insects, birds, and local animals with food and shelter. We believe there are many eggs in mama’s nest. Ducks lay 1 egg a day until they have their full set or “clutch”. On average a female mallard will lay between 8-13 eggs. Once her clutch is complete-mama duck will sit on her nest for 28 days-leaving only briefly to eat.   We will keep you posted on her progress. For now, we all have to do our part and help her keep her family safe. We need to stay far away from the circle. If she feels threatened or revealed from her hiding spot-she could leave and not return to her eggs.   It will be so hard not to peek...but watching the babies emerge from our blooming garden will be incredible!!!

Spring Webinar Series

1. Build Confidence in your Parenting Skills!     2. Learn new skills and strategies to try with your children     3. Q&A with a Psychologist to answer your specific questions   We have partnered with the University of Delaware Community Engagement Initiative and HEALTH for all to bring families a wonderful 3 part series. Take a look at the attached flyer to learn more about the upcoming first webinar on Thursday, April 29th at 11:30. The first topic is so relevant for us- A Healthy Rhythm: Developing Routines that work for your Family. The zoom link is in the flyer below. Please consider joining if you are able! A Healthy Rhythm: Developing Routines that work for your Family - Learn about healthy sleep for young children & tips for managing bedtime struggles - Talk about healthy nutrition and strategies for mealtimes - Hear about routines that work & brainstorm new routines to try with your family

Click Here: Spring Webinar Series Information

Community News

Recent Recalls from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Communications 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 Note: Due to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19, some of the remedies identified in recall press releases may not be available at this time. Consumers should check with recalling firms for further details. It is important to remember that CPSC and recalling firms urge consumers not to use recalled products.    Battat Recalls Infant Teethers Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Target: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Battat-Recalls-Infant-Teethers-Due-to-Choking-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Target    Audio-Technica Recalls Charging Cases Sold with Wireless Headphones Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Audio-Technica-Recalls-Charging-Cases-Sold-with-Wireless-Headphones-Due-to-Fire-Hazard    Target Recalls Cat & Jack Baby Rompers Due to Choking Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Target-Recalls-Cat-Jack-Baby-Rompers-Due-to-Choking-Hazard    Playgro Recalls Infant Activity Rattles Due to Choking Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Playgro-Recalls-Infant-Activity-Rattles-Due-to-Choking-Hazard BRAV USA Recalls Youth Jackets with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation and Entrapment Hazards: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/BRAV-USA-Recalls-Youth-Jackets-with-Drawstrings-Due-to-Strangulation-and-Entrapment-Hazards   Brompton Bicycle Recalls Electric Folding Bicycles Due to Fall and Injury Hazards: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Brompton-Bicycle-Recalls-Electric-Folding-Bicycles-Due-to-Fall-and-Injury-Hazards  Metal Ware Recalls NESCO Coffee Bean Roasters Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Metal-Ware-Recalls-NESCO-Coffee-Bean-Roasters-Due-to-Fire-Hazard   www.cpsc.gov

General Information

Join us as we make the important connection between mouth health and body health. Who: Delaware Readiness Teams and Delaware Smile Check Program What: How good oral health impacts overall health across the lifespan When: May 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. Click here to register

Check out our Facebook page "Like" our page Share our page with others Facebook Page

May 2021 School Menu - click here

2020-2021 Infant/Toddler/Preschool Calendar 2020-2021 School Age Calendar

Diana Morello-DeSerio - Jessica Peace - Kelly Freel Kathy Kampe - Jissell Martinez - Mary Reeves University of Delaware Early Learning Center| www.elc.udel.edu