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Greetings!
MUFFINS FOR MOMS
We will be hosting a “Muffins for Mom” event on
Friday, May 11
, from 7:45-9:00a.m. Come and have a special muffin with your child or grab one on your way out. All mothers and special women in your child’s life are welcome. We hope to see you there!
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THANK YOU!
Thank you so much to all the families who donated and contributed to our staff appreciation potluck. Everything was delicious, and we greatly appreciate your generosity.
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EFC CLOSED
In our commitment to provide time and opportunities for staff to grow professionally, EFC will be closed on
Friday, May 25
, for a staff in-service day. We will also be closed on
Monday, May 28
, for Memorial Day. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend.
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CONFERENCES
We will be holding conferences for infants, toddlers and preschoolers during the month of May/early June. Please watch for sign-up sheets outside your child’s classroom. The conferences will be 20 minutes in length and we do our best to keep to our schedule. We hold conferences twice a year to keep you informed on your child’s progress as well as to discuss any questions that you may have. Please be aware that children should not attend these conferences. This is a time for teachers and parents to meet. We look forward to seeing you.
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SUMMER REMINDERS
Hopefully we will have warmer weather in May and we can send home the winter wear! During the summer flip flops become very popular however, we do not allow them at the center. They fall off easily while running and climbing causing tripping and falling injuries. Please have your children wear proper athletic shoes so they can enjoy their extended outdoor activities. Also, please bring in a bottle of
non-aerosol
sunscreen to keep here, labeled with your child’s first and last name. We will apply sunscreen in the afternoon before we go outside each day. Remember to apply sunscreen each day before your child comes to school for going outside in the morning.
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PARENTS AS CARING GARDENERS
“Daisy and Suzie danced the summer away.
They grew strong.
They were beautiful.
They were thankful for
caring gardeners.”
This is an excerpt from a children’s book titled
Go Daisy, Grow written by Ruth Ann Willius. The story engages readers in cheering on a daisy – from seed, through a rough period of struggles, to a second chance when she’s finally given the attention and nourishment she needs to reach her full, beautiful potential.
I received a copy of the book and love it on many levels. First, Ruth, the author, worked at Especially for Children for over 20 years and was my soul mate as we decided how best to develop a program to educate and nurture young children. It is so exciting to see how Ruth’s experience as a teacher and manager have come together with her love of nature and her skill as a parent educator to create this wonderful story.
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The illustrations in the book are all done by sixth graders from Scandia Elementary School. The art is amazing, and the collaboration that took place between Ruth and the students makes the book a truly unique creation.
As Mother’s Day approaches I was thinking about this book’s timely message about the importance of nurture. Just as Daisy was able to achieve her dreams when she was given care and attention, our children are given the opportunities they need to reach their full potential through the adults in their lives who act as “
caring gardeners.”
From her years of being a mother, a teacher and a parent educator, as well as an avid gardener, Ruth has developed a simple formula that I would like to share with you.
Good Beginnings + Patience + Knowledge + A loving caregiver = Successful Growth
By being a “
caring gardener” for your child, you will dance together as dreams are achieved!
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
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After the long winter we had, any activity that our family can participate in outside in the sunshine sounds like an excellent idea. I have never been known for my green thumb, and in fact always feel a bit guilty when given a plant by a friend because it’s not likely to last long under my care. However, after reading this
blog post
on gardening with children, I’m inspired to try out a pizza garden with our girls this summer.
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Especially for Children5133 W. 98th St.
Bloomington, MN 55437
(952) 831-1435
Center Director:
Kathy Hane
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