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. | | |
Let's Talk Turkey... We Are SO THANKFUL For You! | |
The weather might be cooling off, but your generosity continues to warm our hearts! This month, much of our focus was on gratitude. Our students talked about the people and things in their lives that they are thankful for and learned about all of the "helpers" who make our community a better place to live. And, of course, we are incredibly grateful to you for giving our children the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive with Critchlow Adkins!
We hope you will take a few moments to watch the video below and see some of the smiling faces that you made possible this month!
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Look At What We've Been Up To! | |
Museum Ready Masterpieces!
The artists at our St. Michaels Site put their creativity on full display! Our school age students celebrated fall with colorful cornucopias, transformed paper plates into happy horses, and made the classroom feel warm and cozy for the holiday season with personalized hot chocolate mugs. The preschoolers created autumnal art that featured things for which they are thankful, and welcomed Thanksgiving with a terrific turkey craft!
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In Touch With Our Senses!
At our Easton Preschool Site, the students participated in several hands-on activities related to the five senses. They had a class-wide smell test, during which they used their sniffers to determine whether or not they liked a variety of smells. Popcorn was a fan favorite, and coffee got a big thumbs down from all of the children! Our cuties also had a conversation about things that are ok to taste, and things they should not put in their mouths. Finally, they explored sound by creating relaxing rainmakers!
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I Voted!
On election day, the students at our Cordova Site got out the vote! They held an election to decide which song to dance to. The "candidates" were The Floor Is Lava, Dancing Robot, and The Wiggle Dance. Each student had the opportunity to fill out his or her ballot and place it in the ballot box, and of course, everyone received a coveted "I Voted" sticker. The votes were tabulated, and the winner was "The Wiggle Dance!"
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Helpers Make The World Go Round!
At our White Marsh Site, the preschoolers wrapped up their lesson on Community Helpers. They visited with firefighters, police officers, and cafeteria workers, and role played to learn how it feels to be doctors, grocers, and postal workers! They finished the lesson by creating heartfelt thank you cards to thank the helpers they met for all they do for us! Speaking of thankfulness, the students in the school age classrooms completed a project sharing things for which they are thankful. They also prepared for the holiday season by talking about the special traditions they share with their families.
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From Here To There!
The adventurers at our School Age Site in Easton rolled through the world of transportation. They learned about different air, land, and sea vehicles. During a lesson on air travel, they learned about the science of hot air balloons and then built their own! One of the favorite lessons this month was about all of the different kinds of construction vehicles. Everyone dressed like they were ready for the build site, decked out in hard hats and orange vests!
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Follow us on Facebook to get your Friday fix of cuteness with our Weekly Round Up! | |
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Congratulations White Marsh! | |
Please help us congratulate the wonderful staff at our White Marsh Site for earning their Accreditation from the Maryland State Department of Education's Office of Child Care. All five of our sites consistently earn Accreditation and EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School Age Care) Check Level 5 Ratings. Check Level 5 is the highest rating that can be awarded to childcare providers in the State of Maryland. Accreditation and EXCELS are voluntary processes that we choose to undertake each evaluation cycle so that we can be sure we are providing the highest quality, most enriching care possible for the children and families we serve. | |
You're The Best of the Best! | |
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Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who voted for Critchlow Adkins in the APG Best of the Best Chesapeake contest! Because of you, we won the title of Best Childcare for the sixth year in a row! We were also named as a finalist in the Best Preschool category.
It is our absolute privilege to be able to serve our community, and we are constantly striving to do so at the highest level. To be recognized in this way is a big honor. We are humbled and so grateful!
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The 2024 Maryland Charity Campaign is Underway! | | |
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If you are a Maryland State Employee or Retiree, you are eligible to participate in the annual Maryland Charity Campaign through December 13th. Critchlow Adkins is proud to have been accepted as one of the organizations eligible for support during the 2024 campaign. Click the button to learn more and donate! | |
Mid-Shore Gives Returns On December 3rd! | |
Mid-Shore Gives is a 24-hour give-a-thon hosted by the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. It is held each year on Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) starting at midnight. Next Tuesday will be Critchlow Adkins' third year participating in this wonderful community event. Last year, you donated more than $5,000 in support of our mission in JUST ONE DAY!! Please mark your calendars and keep an eye on your email and our social media for information on how to give! | |
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This is the perfect time of year to introduce you to our wonderful board member, Rebecca “Bicky” Warrington! Bicky is the owner of Shapers Salon, a full-service, multicultural salon with a diverse, 18-member team that goes beyond hair types, textures, and styles.
Last week, Bicky and the Shapers team won the award for Best Spa in the APG Best of the Best Chesapeake Contest!
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For 30 years, giving back to the community has been part of the fabric of Bicky’s life and Shapers’ mission. Throughout the years, they have supported many worthy community organizations, such as Talbot Mentors, CarePacks, Imagination Library of Talbot County, and Special Riders.
Bicky’s husband Dan is the owner of Warrington Builders. Several years ago, he made a connection with an Amish family for custom cabinetry for his clients. This led to a partnership between Shapers and Amish Greenhouses, and the Shapers Annual Poinsettia Sale was born! For seven years, Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers has been the grateful recipient of the sale’s proceeds.
This year’s sale kicked off this Tuesday, and the poinsettias are already flying off the shelves. To make sure you don’t miss out, visit Shapers at 413 Needwood Avenue in Easton Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm or Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. These absolutely stunning plants are only available while supplies last.
When we asked Bicky why she has chosen to support Critchlow in this way, she shared, “I am proud to be serving my second term on the CACC board. I’ve always admired CACC and share so many similar values, including supporting its families and our community.”
Speaking of community, Bicky expressed how thankful she is for ours, saying, “Over these many years, not only have our poinsettias grown in size, but so has the support from our community. I have a strong faith, and we are so blessed to be able to continue giving back in this way. This community is so caring, and it is wonderful to be a part of it, both professionally and personally.”
Thank you, Bicky! We are blessed as well, to have both your leadership and your giving spirit as part of our Critchlow Adkins family!
Don’t forget to head over to Shapers and get your poinsettias!
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November STEAM Projects YOU Can Do At Home! | |
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Each November, our students gear up for Waterfowl Festival fun with a series of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activities. These projects are a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about the amazing animal and plant life we are surrounded by on the Eastern Shore. Today, we're sharing two educational, duck-themed projects that you can do at home with your child!
Before digging into this month's STEAM activity, read the book, Just Ducks, by Nicola Davies.
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Just Ducks is a wonderful story from the perspective of a young girl who observes the mallard ducks that live near her home in the city.
She describes the ducks’ day from morning until night, including how they appear, what they eat, where they play, and where and when they sleep.
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Now, it’s time to fly into your STEAM Projects!
Duck Feather Science
How are ducks able to stay warm while swimming in cold water, especially during the winter months? Their feathers are actually coated in a waxy oil that keeps them warm and dry! You can test this out with a simple project.
Click here to download a coloring page picture of a duck. Have your child color the picture of the duck using crayons. Make sure that the drawing is entirely covered in crayon, with no gaps. Next, with a dropper or straw, place several drops of water on your colored duck picture.
You should observe that the water is not absorbed by the paper. Why is this happening? Just like a duck’s feathers, the wax from the crayons is repelling the water!
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STEAM Activity #2: Building A Duck’s Nest
Using Just Ducks and other sources like National Geographic, search for some information on mallard ducks, which are common here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Pay special attention to how mallards build their nests. How big do they need to be for a mother duck to lay her eggs? What types of materials do they use? What shape are they?
Now, head outdoors to find and collect supplies to build your own mallard duck nest. Look for twigs, weeds, vines, leaves, mud, and other materials that you think a duck might use. Take your materials home and put them together to build your nest. As an added challenge, try using only your thumb and forefinger to pick up the materials and put the nest together… That will give you an idea of how a mother mallard uses her beak for this process!
When you are done, compare your finished product to the pictures in the storybook and online. How closely does your nest resemble the mallard’s nest?
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As always, be as creative as you want, and have lots of fun learning together! Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages to see a new STEAM project every week on "STEAM Saturday!" | | |
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You Hold The Tur-KEY To Our Hearts! | *Artwork by children at our Preschool Site | | |
Not only are we incredibly grateful to you, but so are the parents of the children we serve. Your generous support ensures that every family at Critchlow Adkins Children's Centers, no matter their financial situation, has access to the highest quality care in a safe, nurturing, diverse, and enriching environment! Consider setting up a monthly recurring donation to Build Brighter Futures all year round! | |
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 Wonderful Community and Business Partners! | |
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Grant Partners
Bryan Brothers Foundation
Christmas in St. Michaels
Dock Street Foundation
Fullwood Foundation
Maryland State Department of Education
Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Rural Maryland Council
Rotary Club of Easton
St. John Foundation
Talbot County Health Department
Talbot Optimists
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
Eastern Shore Speech Therapy
Easton Cinemas
Easton Volunteer Fire Department
Environmental Concern
Family Affair Farm
Girl Scouts of America
Healthy Talbot
Imagination Library of Talbot County
Judy Amdur Music
Judy Center Early Learning Hubs
Lion's Club
Maryland Zoo
Pickering Creek Audubon Center
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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 Interfaith Shelter
Talbot Thrive
Trident Air Craft
University of Maryland Extension
US Armed Forces
4-H Club
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Critchlow Adkins is blessed to have incredible support from our local business community. It is our pleasure to introduce you to 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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Bartlett Tree Service
Benson and Mangold
Brambles Electric
Carpenter Street Saloon
Chesapeake Building Components
Coventry Motor Works
Freestyle Fabrication
George's Green Thumb
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Moore Funeral Home
Out of the Fire
RLE LLC
Roto Rooter
Talbot County Chamber of Commerce
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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