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November 2025
Newsletter
| | | Critchlow Adkins Children's Centers' mission is to provide quality, financially accessible childcare for children and their families in a nurturing, diverse, safe, and enriching environment. | | |
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Gobble up the Gratitude...
We are Stuffed with Thanks!
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As we close out this season of thanks and enter a season of joy, giving, and togetherness, we want to take a moment to express our deep gratitude for everything you do for Critchlow Adkins, our families, and our community. You give children the high-quality head start they deserve, and give parents the opportunity to help their families thrive. We are humbled by all you do.
Thank you for Building Brighter Futures!
We hope you will take a few moments to watch the video below and see just a handful of the smiles YOU made possible in November!
| | Look At What We've Been Up To! | |
Exploring The Senses!
It was all about the 5 senses at our Easton Preschool Site! Throughout the month, our littlest learners participated in activities designed to learn about sight, sound, hearing, and touch. They created weather sensory bottles, made a list of what they can and cannot put in their mouths, played a “Guess What’s in the Box” touch game, and sniffed different scents. Their favorite and most delicious lesson of all was the apple taste test. Our pint-sized Picassos dabbed and smeared colors, creating finger (really, whole-hand and arm) paint masterpieces.
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In The Fast Lane!
At our Easton School Age Site, students were on the move as they explored different modes of transportation. They learned how items are imported and exported all over the world, and discussed how many of the foods they enjoy are imported as the seasons change. During a lesson on air travel, they put on their engineering caps and built hot air balloons. Ms. Erin from Challenge Island visited the site for more hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) learning.
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All Things Fall!
The staff and students at our White Marsh Site spent the month getting into the fall spirit! The school age classes made pumpkin smoothies, enjoyed fall yoga with Ms. Karen, made turkey art, and did some squishy turkey science. Our preschoolers made paper mache pumpkins as part of their month-long art exploration, which included practicing lines and shapes, experimenting with watercolor, and using finger paint and construction paper to make “beautiful oops” artwork.
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Making Melodies and Memories!
The children at our Cordova Site enjoyed a special treat when Mr. M from Jump Start with the Arts paid them a visit. He shared his musical talents and introduced the children to different instruments. In true fall fashion, our students carved a pumpkin and made a foamy pumpkin volcano! They also learned how to save the seeds, wash them, and bake them into a tasty snack.
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Giving Thanks, Giving Back, and Tasty Snacks!
In St. Michaels, students prepared for Thanksgiving with a special art project sharing what they are thankful for. The pre-k children headed outside for an autumn scavenger hunt, where they searched for items like trees, leaves, pumpkins, spiders, and acorns. They made colorful leaf rubbing art and beautiful fall wreaths. Another highlight of the month was Home Economics Week, where students learned about ironing, washing dishes and clothes, and cleaning the house. The children worked together to prepare some very exciting Tasty Tuesday treats this month, including pancakes, acorn cookies, Rice Krispie pumpkins, and stoplight graham cracker snacks!
| | Follow us on Facebook to get your Friday fix of cuteness with our Weekly Round Up! | | | Holiday Cheer Is Officially Here! | | |
Thank you to Board Member Bicky Warrington and her husband Dan for opening up their home and grounds Cruisin' Into Christmas with Critchlow Adkins on November 9th. It was a day full of smiles, community, and seasonal cheer!
The fun began at the Warringtons' home with a classic car show, photos with Santa framed by a spectacular Christmas backdrop, plus snacks and hot chocolate. In the evening, attendees cruised on over to the Cordova Fire House for a drive-in style showing of the holiday classic, Elf.
Proceeds from Cruisin' Into Christmas will provide tuition assistance and enrichment programming for our Cordova Site.
Check out a few photos below, then click the button to visit our website for our full photo album from the event. After seeing all of the smiling faces and dazzling decorations, you'll be inspired to embrace the magic of the season!
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If you missed Cruisin' Into Christmas, never fear! The Warringtons are bringing you another opportunity to get experience the joy of the holidays...
Their annual Poinsettia Sale kicked off on Tuesday, November 25th!
If you're looking to spread some holiday cheer, head to Shapers Salon at 413 Needwood Avenue in Easton. Shapers is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Poinsettia pricing is available on the Shapers Salon Facebook page and website. Scoop yours up soon - these stunning seasonal plants are only available as long as supplies last.
| | Preschool Playground Project | | |
Over the past year, thanks in part to your generosity and that of the Philip A. Zafferee Foundation, we have been renovating the playground at the Easton Preschool Site. We installed a privacy fence, resurfaced the entire playground, and added new and exciting interactive play structures. We are thrilled to announce that the project was completed this month! It looks incredible, and more importantly, the kids are having a blast playing, exploring, and learning in their new outdoor space.
This project goes far beyond play - in early education, playgrounds are outdoor classrooms, where children learn important motor skills, use their imaginations, and practice social skills that will help them throughout their lives. We cannot thank you enough for making this project possible.
We would love to show you the fruits of your generosity! If you would like a tour of the site and the new playground, please reach out to our Development Director, Liz Connelly, at lconnelly@cacckids.org or 410-822-8061!
| | You're the Best of the Best! | | |
Cristy attended the APG Best of the Best Chesapeake awards dinner on November 20th, and brought home two awards! Thanks to your votes, we won in both the Best Childcare and Best Preschool categories!
These awards have a special place in our hearts because the winners are decided by our community. Every single day, our staff strives to provide the highest quality childcare experience for local families. We are so incredibly grateful for your ongoing vote of support for Critchlow, our mission, and our children!
| | | | | We love introducing you to the people who make up the Critchlow Adkins family! Meet Lee Coulby, owner of Sight and Sounds and Terrapin Security. For many years, Lee has generously provided his services at Critchlow Adkins events, playing an integral role in the success of each one. Most recently, he provided the sound for our Cruisin' into Christmas drive-in movie, and created an immersive experience for all of our holiday movie-goers! | | |
Lee grew up on the Eastern Shore, graduating from Chesapeake College, then studying business and accounting at Towson University. During his time at Towson, Lee opened his first business in Easton - Records Plus. That business eventually evolved into what is now Sight & Sounds, which partnered with Terrapin Security during 2004. Today, the company offers a wide range of electronic solutions, including audio, video, security, and video surveillance.
Throughout his career, Lee has been actively involved in the community, including the Easton Rotary, the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, and the Maryland State Police. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family. The Eastern Shore is a special place to him, and he looks forward to meeting new people every day.
"My association with Critchlow Adkins began several years ago when a very good friend of mine, Rennie Gay, invited me to participate in a fundraising event in honor of his grandson, Conor," shared Lee.
Providing a public address system and music for the event was "a natural fit for what has now become an annual tradition. Helping raise money toward the goal was a bonus, as it also allowed me to speak with local families about Critchlow Adkins and the impact it has within our community."
Since becoming involved with Critchlow, Lee has found additional ways to contribute, including providing sound for events like Cruisin' into Christmas and supporting several of our facilities.
When we asked Lee what he enjoyed about working with Critchlow, he said, "I believe the best part is seeing the smiles on the faces of Critchlow students and the families who are involved day to day."
Thank you for everything you do for Critchlow Adkins and our community, Lee! We are blessed to have you as part of our family!
| | | |  | Hands down, you put the "thanks" in Thanksgiving! We think you're Tur(key)-riffic! | | | |
Mid-Shore Gives 24-Hour Giving Day
THIS TUESDAY!
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The third annual Mid-Shore Gives is coming up on Tuesday, December 2nd - otherwise known as Giving Tuesday! This 24-hour give-a-thon runs from midnight through 11:59 pm, and is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and support their favorite local nonprofit organizations.
Last year, thanks to your generosity, we raised more than $8,000 in support of our mission in a single day! We hope you will consider participating again - or for the first time - this year!
To donate, simply click the button below anytime on Tuesday, December 2nd and make your donation. If you'd like to encourage others to support Critchlow Adkins, you can also use this link to sign up to create your own one-day fundraiser.
Thank you so much in advance for your generous support!
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You can support Critchlow Adkins ANY DAY by:
Mailing a check to
15 S Hanson Street | Easton, MD 21601
Make a one-time or recurring online donation by clicking below.
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Making a gift of stock or other securities.
Charles Schwab | DTC 0164 | Code 40
Easton Daycare Centers
Account # 5028-3304
Taking your Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA as a Charitable Distribution to Critchlow Adkins.
Giving a grant from your Donor Advised Fund or Personal Foundation.
Use our EIN: 23-7404362
Joining our 1970 Society by remember us in your Estate Plans.
| | If you are a MD State Employee or Retiree, you are eligible to participate in the annual Maryland Charity Campaign. Last year, nearly 5,000 Maryland employees and retirees raised almost $2 million for nearly 900 worthy causes. The campaign runs through December 12th. Click the button below to learn more and donate! | | | A November STEAM Project YOU Can Do At Home! | | As we reflect on gathering around the table with our families this week for Thanksgiving, we're bringing you a November STEAM activity that is all about the table. You and your child will have tons of fun with this simple - but not-so-simple - engineering challenge! | | | | As always, before your STEAM activity, take a seat at the table to read a great book together. We recommend Our Table, by Peter H. Reynolds. This is the story of Violet, who misses when her family used to gather at the table for meals and memories. As family members become distracted by screens, the table shrinks and eventually disappears. | | |
To bring her family back together, Violet gets them to help build a new table, creating a stronger, more beautiful place for them to share stories and make new memories.
Now that you've got your inspiration, it's time to build and learn together! For this activity, all you'll need is 5 sheets of paper and some tape. Your challenge - should you choose to accept it - is to design and build a table that can hold 4 to 5 books. Keep in mind that a sturdy support on the base of the table will be the key to building a strong structure. Give lots of thought on how you will fold, roll, or cut your paper to create your sturdy table legs. Click here for some extra engineering inspiration.
| | As always, be as creative as you want, and have lots of fun learning together! Visit our website for hundreds of additional STEAM activities you can do at home! | | Support Critchlow Adkins While Shopping! | | Connect your Harris Teeter VIC card to Critchlow Adkins via the Together in Education Program, and when you purchase the brands listed below, you help earn money to support our programs! | | If you are a Weis Market customer, scan the bar code below at checkout to help Critchlow Adkins earn funds for supplies, programs, and more! | | Thank You To Our Critchlow Adkins Community and Business Partners! | | |
Grant Partners
Bryan Brothers Foundation
Christmas in St. Michaels
Christ Church St. Michaels Parish
Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Women
Dock Street Foundation
Fullwood Foundation
Maryland State Department of Education
Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Rotary Club of Easton
Rural Maryland Council
St. John Foundation
St. Mark's United Methodist Church
Talbot County Health Department
Talbot Optimists Club
USDA Rural Development
Van Strum Foundation
Whole Kids Foundation
Women & Girls Fund of the Mid-Shore
Philip A Zaffere Foundation
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Academy Art Museum
Adkins Arboretum
Appleseed Books
Boy Scouts of America
Candlelight Cove
Carepacks of Talbot County
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Chesapeake College
Choptank Community Health
Cordova Fire Station
Eastern Shore Speech Therapy
Easton Cinemas
Easton Volunteer Fire Department
Emily's Produce
Environmental Concern
Family Affair Farm
For All Seasons
Girl Scouts of America
Healthy Talbot
Imagination Library of Talbot County
Judy Amdur Music
Judy Center Early Learning Hubs
Jump Start With The Arts
Lion's Club
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Kiln Born Creations
Maryland Zoo
Pickering Creek Audubon Center
Police, Fire, and EMS Departments
Positive Strides Therapeutic Riding
Project Right Steps
Ready at Five
SOS Sink or Swim
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Michaels Community Center
Talbot County:
Health Department
Infants and Toddlers
Oral Health Department
Parks and Recreation
Public Schools
Talbot County Free Library
Talbot Family Network
Talbot Humane
Talbot Interfaith Shelter
Talbot Thrive
University of Maryland Extension
US Armed Forces
4-H Club
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Critchlow Adkins is so fortunate to have generous support from our local business community. Meet our CACC Stars!
*For more information on how YOU can become a CACC Star, click HERE or contact our Development Director, Liz Connelly, at lconnelly@cacckids.org.
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Ball Greenhouses
Benson and Mangold Real Estate
Brambles Electric
Carpenter Street Saloon
Chesapeake Blooms
Chic-fil-A
Coventry Motor Works
Crackerjacks
Dairy Queen of Denton
Dragonfly Boutique
Easton Music Academy
L. Lucke Designs
Moore Funeral Home
PeachBlossoms Events
RLE LLC
Salt & Light Entertainment
Vintage Family Farms
What's Good, LLC
Windswept Clothiers
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Licensed Maryland Childcare Providers
Cordova - 45445
Easton Preschool - 31291
Easton School Age - 31294
St. Michaels - 31292
White Marsh - 53488
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