Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers is dedicated to nurturing children and their families by providing quality, educationally-based, and financially accessible childcare in a safe, diverse, and enriching environment. | | |
  March-ing Into Spring At Critchlow Adkins! | |
While the weather is still full of ups and downs, spring has officially sprung in our classrooms! Green was the color of the month, from Green Eggs and Ham during Read Across America Week to St. Patrick's Day festivities to outdoor nature exploration. Learning was in full bloom as students became botanists, zoologists, artists, meteorologists, and engineers.
Please watch the video below to see some of the smiles YOU made possible this month, then scroll down for more March highlights!
| | Look At What We've Been Up To! | | |
Nurture and Nature!
The preschoolers at our White Marsh Site started off the month as zoologists! They learned how people take care of animals, brought in items to donate to Talbot Humane, role played as veterinarians, and had kisses and cuddles from a special visitor - Bruno the dog! Meanwhile, the school age friends have been celebrating the start of spring. They painted bird houses, participated in a plant growth experiment with Ms. Mariah, and of course, spent lots of time outside enjoying the bursts of warm weather!
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Little Learners, Big Readers!
At our Preschool Site in Easton, reading took center stage this month! They celebrated Read Across America Week with Dr. Seuss themes, including Green Eggs and Ham Day, Cat In The Hat Stripes and Hat Day, and Funky Socks Day. The children had a very special visit from Arianna Ross of Story Tapestries, and worked with her to create their own storybooks, which they got to take home and read with their families!
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Art Adventures Abound!
It was an art-filled month at our St. Michaels Site! During Read Across America Week, the students created several Dr. Seuss and storybook-inspired masterpieces. The school age students helped deck out the classrooms for St. Patrick’s Day, created a neat watercolor earth art project, and made 3-d solar system paintings. The preschoolers made colorful sidewalk chalk rainbows outside, tie-dye butterflies, marble art, and Q-Tip flower paintings. They even made art with their food, turning their snacks into butterflies and decorating “shamrock pie” with Lucky Charms. Students participated in the site’s annual no-smoking t-shirt contest, and Jaylin Jennings’ design was declared the winner!
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St. Patrick's, Stretches, and Stories!
In Cordova, the students celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by trying to catch an elusive leprechaun! The preschoolers made leprechaun traps, while the school age students headed out on a hunt. They had all the luck, finding the leprechaun AND his pot of gold! Other highlights from the month included yoga with Ms. Karen, the site’s annual anti-smoking march, the launch of this year’s Raising a Reader Program, and guest story time visitors including Board Members Cindy Orban and Annie Raymond!
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Imaginations In Full Bloom!
Spring was in the air last week at our School Age Site in Easton! With the weather changing almost daily, the students did a fun science experiment, attempting to predict what the weather would be. While many predicted snow, they were pleasantly surprised with a few beautiful, sunny days. The children headed out on a spring nature hunt, searching for blooming plants and the first insects of the season – signs that warmer weather and bustling wildlife are on the way! Our friends from the Easton High School Interact Club also swung by the site this month, sparking imaginations while working with our kiddos to create character cookies! They worked together in groups to brainstorm characters and describe who they are and what they do. It was a fantastic (and delicious) way to bring literature to life!
| | Follow us on Facebook to get your Friday fix of cuteness with our Weekly Round Up! | | | We are absolutely honored to have been named Nonprofit of the Year at the Talbot Chamber of Commerce Best in Business event on March 27th. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our team, the strength of our community, and our shared commitment to making a meaningful impact for the children and families we serve every day. We are incredibly grateful to YOU, our Critchlow Adkins family, for making it possible to provide educational, financially accessible childcare for more than 55 years! | | Our Development Director, Liz Connelly, attended the BWI Business Partnership Women's Leadership Series Breakfast last week. She had the opportunity to hear Comptroller Brooke Lierman share her insights on leadership, her perspective on the future of economic growth in the State of Maryland, and how strong fiscal stewardship can support thriving communities and businesses in our region. Also presenting at the breakfast was our new friend Arianna Ross from Story Tapestries, who you will read about below! Pictured with Liz is Liz LaCorte, the Director of Philanthropy at the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. | | | | | |
As we mentioned above, earlier this month, Arianna Ross of Story Tapestries visited Critchlow Adkins to make some story time magic with our students, including helping them write their own storybooks.
She then led a training for our staff, during which they learned how to incorporate performance, visual arts, and creative writing to teach reading, writing, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), problem solving, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.
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Arianna was born in Maryland, but has lived all over the world, performing and teaching in India, Europe, and Brazil. She earned her Bachelors in Science degree from Northwestern University in Theatre, Intervention Strategies, Advanced Storytelling, Advanced Creative Drama, and Dance Training. Arianna’s mentor, Anmoi Vallani, introduced her to Bansi Kaul, acclaimed theater director and the founder of Rang Vidushak (“the colorful fool”), a theater group and institute in India. Arianna was invited to join the troupe, and travelled India for two years.
After returning to the US in 2001, she became involved with Young Audiences/Arts for Learning, a nonprofit arts education organization. She performed in hospitals all over Maryland and was featured in a free, public series at the National Theatre. She was invited to perform in other states, and began touring nationwide.
After much encouragement from people familiar with her work, Arianna founded Story Tapestries in 2010. The organization uses the arts as a powerful tool to create accessible, open spaces and opportunities for individuals to reach their highest potential and to work together for a more inclusive community. Story Tapestries provides innovative, custom-designed performances, workshops, and hands-on community and educational experiences. We were fortunate to be one of the more than 1,100 venues Arianna and her organization have visited since the organization’s founding!
| | When asked about her experience at Critchlow Adkins, Arianna shared that, “EVERY moment was a pure gift. The teachers were a total delight, and the children were simply loves. The family event was full of individuals, caregivers ready to support their kids. We had a wonderful time. In particular, I appreciated during the professional development workshop the teachers’ willingness to learn and share with their students. Then when it came time to apply the learning, the students were thrilled to absorb the various books and strategies.” | | | |
She also spoke about the similarities between the Story Tapestries mission and that of Critchlow Adkins. “They align perfectly,” she said. “We believe in the importance of nurturing and developing the voices of our children.”
Thank you, Arianna, for sharing your talent and wisdom with us. Both our students and staff had a wonderful time learning with you!
| | A March STEAM Project YOU Can Do At Home! | | Our March STEAM activity is inspired by the wonderful book, The Hole Story, by Paul Knight and Bruce Ingman. In this story, Hamish and Hermione Hole are chased out of the cheese where they live. They must search the palace for a new place to call home. | | | | But they create holes that cause havoc wherever they go – no one wants holes in their knickers, bike wheel or boat! Exhausted, the pair rest in a piece of wood, only to be discovered by the palace carpenter, who knows that holes can be really useful – especially when making beautiful musical instruments. | | |
After enjoying a great book together and reading about all different kinds of holes, it's time to find some on your own! Head out on a scavenger hunt. Your mission is to find at least three different holes. You can look inside your home or head outside. Are the holes manmade or natural?
Next, take a piece of paper (any size) and make a hole in it. You can make the hole anywhere on the paper and use any method you would like (tear, cut, poke, hole punch, etc.). Now, use your imagination to draw a picture on the paper showing how your hole can be used. Use crayons, pencils, paint - whatever supplies you would like to create your "hole invention."
| | | 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! | | If you hear the question "Who," the answer is that we love YOU! | | | All children can learn, no matter how small! From preschool through elementary school, your support gives local children a positive head start that sets them up for success in school and beyond. Consider Building Brighter Futures year-round with a recurring monthly gift of any size! | | 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
Kiln Born Creations
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Maryland Zoo
Pickering Creek Audubon Center
Police, Fire, and EMS Departments
Positive Strides Therapeutic Riding
Project Right Steps
Ready at Five
Shore Lit
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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