February 11, 2019
Valentines day
Life & Times @ Learning Tots Academy
View from the front

Dear LTA Families,

We hope that everyone has had a great weekend and enjoyed the amazing weather we had last week! As we transition from last week’s theme of Community Helpers, to this week’s theme of Valentine’s Day, keep in mind that we would still love for parents to sign up to come to your child’s class to talk about how your job helps the community. Valentine’s Day is near! Did you know that teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by kids, mothers, wives and girlfriends?

Let’s make it a great week!!
Announcements
Fund raiser coupons
Fundraiser
We are hosting a fundraiser that started Monday, January 28th. This fundraiser is for purchasing outdoor toys for all three playgrounds. Our goal is to raise $1500 and we will appreciate your help. Each of the cards are $20 each and contains coupons for places around Learning Tots Academy. You can use each coupon in the card once every day till Feb 2020. We get $10 back for every card sold or purchased. You can take it to your work and sell more. We will award the top seller $50 off their March tuition.

Thank you for parent-led teachers' lunch
Thank you to the O'Hare family for providing lunch for teachers last Monday. It was delicious and the teachers appreciated it.
Memories of the week
PreSchool: Name a community helper.
“A vet” ~ Rowan
“A fireman” ~ Hannah
“My Mommy” ~ Daria
“A nurse” ~ Brody
“Police” ~ Noah
“A doctor” ~ Matthew
“A cook” ~ Jojo
“A bus driver” ~ Advy
“A teacher” ~ Dymeana
“Mailman” ~ Evelyn

PreK-1: Who is your favorite Black History person you learned about?
“Garrett Morgan because he made the Stoplight” ~ Eleanor B
“Jackie Robinson because he played Baseball” ~ Jaxen
“Michael Jordan because he plays Basketball” ~ Sydney
“Garrett Morgan because he made stoplight” ~ Cole
“Martin Luther King because he wanted peace” ~ Harper
“Mae Jameson because she was an astronaut” ~ Abigail
“Rosa Park because she sat in the bus up front” ~ Milton
“Garrett Morgan because he made stoplight” ~ Eleanor E
“Mae Jamieson because she was an astronaut” ~ Ayla
“Michael Jordan because I like Basketball” ~ George
“Michael Jordan because he plays Basketball” ~ Edwin
“Tiger Woods because he played Golf” ~ Dominic

PreK-2: What is your favorite community helper and why?
“Police because they help people. When I grow up, I want to be a police officer” ~ Luke M
“Doctor because they help sick people, I want to be a doctor when I grow up” ~ Leilani
“A lawyer because my dad is a lawyer” ~ Phillip
“Police because they control traffic. I would like to be a policeman” ~ Nolan
“Dentist because they repair people’s teeth and I will grow up to be the dentist” ~ Liam
“Doctor, because they help people to get better” ~ Sonnet
“Chef because I like food and they cook a lot of different kinds of food” ~ Luke T
“Fireman because when there is an emergency they go really fast and help people” ~ Bruce
“A policeman because when someone needs help they come but I want to be a Doctor” ~ RJ
“Teacher because they are smart. I want to be a teacher” ~ Drishti
“I want to be a dentist because they help people to keep teeth clean” ~ London
“Police because they go fast to help people and I want to be the policeman when I grow up” ~ Maggy
“Policeman and teacher because teachers teach kids and my mom is a teacher. When I grow up I want to be a teacher” ~ Teagan
A trampoline for balls
A trampoline for balls
Sand box becomes popolar again
The sandbox is popular again
Life is sometimes a spectator sport
Life is sometimes a spectator sport
Keep on trucking
Keep on truckin'
The 7 little bears
The seven little bears
Bringing down the flag
Bringing down the parachute
Celebrations of the week
Birthdays
Caden , Waddler-1: 2/11
Cole , PreK-1: 2/11
George , Toddler-1: 2/15
Anniversaries
None
Program notes
Spanish with Ms. Angélica
Hello LTA parents, this is Mrs. Angelica with the weekly report. This week was amazing! These children are so smart they surprise me every week - starting with the infants. Can you believe that a girl, 7 months old, told me the color rojo (red) in Spanish? For you guys it’s probably something simple but for her to be only 7 months old I almost cried with joy to see that my effort is having positive results on the children. I encourage the parents to keep practicing colores (colors), números (numbers) and the el alfabeto (the alphabet). We started new games because they get so excited about the games we do in the classroom and we strive to get the prizes at the end, and of course we have a student of the week. This child left me in awe by telling me all the numbers colors and alphabet in Spanish. It’s incredible how these children are advancing so fast and how they learn another language. Once again thank you for being a part of LTA and thank you for letting me be part of your child’s education.
~ Sweetly, Mrs. Angélica
Spanish stars of the week
Spanish star Dasha
Dasha is this week's Spanish & sign language star
Durham county library bookmobile
Durham library visits us on the last Monday of every month. It will next come on February 25th.

Kidokinetics Sports and PE Program 
Designed as a comprehensive physical education program for preschoolers, Kidokinetics follows standards set forth by the National Association for Physical Education (NASPE). We are at LTA every Tuesdays taking all age groups 18 months and older. Each week we play a different sport.

Tumblin' Tots
Tumbling is on Mondays now so please make sure your child gets at school by 9AM. Check the Holiday special discount for new enrollment. New forms are at the front desk.
Soccer Shots with Coach Cassidy
Soccer Shots is an engaging children’s soccer program with a focus on character development. Our coaches are the best-trained in the business. Our expert-approved curriculum is age-appropriate and aligns with childhood education standards.
Soccer Shots player of the week
Player of the week
Our player of the week is Sydney! She showed lots of leadership this week by following directs and helping her friends! Great work Sydney!!
Kidstunes with Ms Sarah
Dear Kidstunes Families,

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful week as much as I am!

We have continued our work on musical expression through a focus on tempo and articulation.

This week we heard a short poem about a turtle and a rabbit, and then listen to an instrumental recording to determine which was the turtle (slow and legato) or the rabbit (allegro and staccato). We then played with our scarves and pretended to be those animals, changing back and forth according to the music.

We also listened to “The Pizzicato Polka” (a lot of giggles in sharing that title)! This song is primarily staccato, meaning the notes are short and detached. We heard the story of Bugsy and the Pizzicato Polka, and then did our own bug dance to the song!

Please see the full update on the announcement board!
~Sincerely, Ms. Sarah
Doctor tip of the week

The Truth About Melatonin

Is Melatonin safe for kids? Are there any possible side effects? We have answers.

Melatonin is:
  • a. A sedative
  • b. An herb
  • c. A hormone

Parent tip of the week

How to Help a Bed-Wetter

Remember that your child isn't wetting the bed on purpose and may need your reassurance and support. They can also help find solutions.

Know that bedwetting is often a normal part of growing up. Most children don't stay dry at night until about the age of 3. And it's usually not a concern for parents until around age 6. There are ways to work toward dry nights as a family.

Looking ahead
Monday 28th Jan : Fundraiser begins
Monday, February 18 : School closed for a teacher work-day.
Menu for the week

  • Monday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain bagel with cream cheese, oranges and milk
  • Lunch: Turkey meatballs in barbecue sauce (veg sub: soy meatballs), rice, peas, sliced apples, and milk
  • Snack: Graham crackers, string cheese
  • Tuesday
  • Breakfast: Buttered toast, applesauce, and milk
  • Lunch: Whole grain cheese pizza, broccoli, mixed fruit with strawberries, peaches, mandarin oranges, and milk
  • Snack: Mini corn muffin, and 100% grape juice blend
  • Wednesday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain English muffin, jelly, pineapple, and milk
  • Lunch: HM Mac and cheese, lima-beans, pears, and milk
  • Snack: Cheez-Its and fruit yogurt
  • Thursday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain apple cinnamon toasted oats cereal, bananas, and milk
  • Lunch: Chicken patty (veg sub - garden burger with soy), wheat bread, corn, oranges, and milk
  • Snack: Wheat crackers, Nut free soy butter
  • Friday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain pancakes, syrup, applesauce, and milk
  • Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwich, vegetable soup with corn, peas, broccoli, tomato, lima beans, and noodles, pineapples, and milk
  • Snack: Goldfish crackers and 100% apple juice blend

(Cycle 1)
Links, policies, and review


Important Links

Attendance & Late Pickup 
Please make sure that your children are here by 9:00 AM so they can participate fully in class activities. Please pickup your kids by 6:00 PM at the latest otherwise there will be a late fee of $2 per minute that should be payable to the teacher who is present.
 
Tuition Policy
Remember that monthly tuition is due by the 5th of this month. If paying bi-monthly, then please pay by the 5th and the 15th. If paying weekly, please pay every Monday. This helps us run the center smoothly.
 
Parent Handbook
The Parent Handbook  is revised and now available on our website. We have some printed copies available at the front if you'd like a hard copy instead.   
 
Referral Bonus
Please do not forget to refer us to your friends, family, and neighbors. You will qualify for the bonus even if you refer someone to our sister school - LTA, Apex. The bonus amounts are $400 for a full-time referral, and $200 for a part-time one. If you would like to pick up some of our handy brochures, some are available at the front. Thank you so much in advance.

Review LTA! 
While we really appreciate hearing kind words from you, we would love it if you would also let the world know. For your convenience we suggest a few places below. And Thank You very much in advance!
Learning Tots Academy | 919-544-2815 | www.learningtotsacademy.com