Mission Statement
  
To elevate child development to a new level by leading the social and emotional growth and education of young children by providing a safe, welcoming, home-like environment with a caring, educated and professional staff that promotes partnerships between parents, children, and other early childhood professionals. 
October Notes of Interest

Fall Family Cookout 
Our Fall Family Cookout (formerly called the Wiener Roast) is coming up! All families and extended families are welcome. We will provide the hot dogs, buns, and toppings, as well as beverages and s'mores. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Don't forget to sign up at the front desk to let us know how many people are coming. Most importantly, be prepared for a fun evening together!
         When: October 18th
        Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
        Where: Katie's Kids Preschool Playground

Messy Mondays
Messy Mondays are starting on October 1st. This is an 8 week session that we are adding to our curriculum this fall. For more information, please click here

Prep Freeze Cook Fundraiser 
We will continue our Prep Freeze Cook fundraiser in October. Make your evening easier and have someone else prepare dinner for you! Pick up your order form in the lobby. So far, we have raised $235.20 for new preschool tricycles (59% of our goal). Thank you for your continued support!

2018-2019 Tuition Rates

New Tuition Rates go into effect on October 1st. Each family affected by the rate change will need to sign a new financial agreement with the new rates.

We are also taking this moment to update our admission forms, which we are mandated to do by DCFS each year. Every family needs to fill out a new admission form unless you have enrolled in the past 60 days (from August to October).

These documents were placed in your child's cubby last month. However you can also access them below. If you have not turned in your forms yet, please do so as soon as possible. You can hand them in to a member of the leadership team at the front desk.

Thank you!!

Financial Agreement
Admission Form
 
 
Upcoming Dates

October 1st:  New Tuition Rates take effect
October 1st: Messy Mondays Begins (8 week session)
October 6th: SNL @ K2 5:00 - 10:00pm
October 8th & 9th: School Age Days
October 9th: Rader Farm Field Trip (preschool & school age)
October 18th: Fall Family Cookout
October 29th - November 2nd: Spirit Week


Closure Dates for 2018

Please click  here to view the Katie's Kids Center Closure list for 2018.
   
            


Saturday Night Live

Saturday, October 6th
5:00 -10:00 p.m.
@ Fort Jesse (K2)

Enjoy a night out on your own! We will watch your kids. Children ages 3+ have the opportunity to watch a movie and use their artistic abilities to create a masterpiece of their choice! Free play activities will be set up for children under the age of 3 years. If you have any questions please ask the KKLC Leadership Team. 

ISU Partnership

Have you seen some unfamiliar faces in our building? I can tell you why!
We often partner with Illinois State University by hosting students and allowing them to gain necessary information and skills to help further their education. We host students from ISU's Early Childhood Education program, Family Consumer Science program, Special Education program, and the Nursing program. Often these students simply need to observe the classroom. Occasionally they may need to complete an activity with the children in the room or learn the role of a caregiver under the guidance of our Katie's Kids staff. Either way, we are proud to help the future workforce grow in their skills and knowledge and are honored by ISU's desire to partner with us. 

Health Corner
information provided to us by Nurse Amy, our nurse consultant


Flu Vaccine: Should you and your child get one?

The CDC recommends you get the flu (influenza) vaccine every year and as soon as it becomes available. It is important to receive the vaccine every year, the immunity provided by the vaccine declines over time. Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family from getting influenza. Influenza is a serious respiratory infection that hospitalizes and kills many each year. The elderly and young children are the most vulnerable. Most healthcare providers recommend the flu vaccine for everyone over the age of 6 months. A Flu Shot A Year, Keeps The Flu Away.


Click below for more information.


            
Community Connections



















Our community has great things to offer families! We are adding this new section to the newsletter to help you connect to the variety of community events occurring  in the Bloomington/Normal area. Enjoy!

Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
Click here to view the 2018 - 2019 Season of Events

Car Seat Safety Check
Click here for the 2018 schedule of Car Seat Safety Checks

Children's Discovery Museum
Click here for the Fall 2018 schedule of events 

Farmer's Market
If you are looking for a variety of fresh farm products - including vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meat, eggs, plants, and more - visit the farmer's market on the downtown Bloomington square between 7:30AM and noon every Saturday through October. 

Halloween Events for Kids
The Town of Normal is hosting a Non-Scary Haunted Trail on Oct. 18th - 20th from 6:00-8:00pm.
The 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat will be held on Oct. 24th from 5:30 - 7:30.
Miller Park Zoo is hosting their 2nd Annual Spooktacular even on Oct. 27th from 5:00-8:00pm.
Up-Town Normal will have their annual Treat Feast on Oct. 30th from 5:00 - 6:30pm. 

Open Cockpit Day
There will be an Open Cockpit Day on October 31st from 1pm - 4pm at the Prairie Aviation Museum. Click here  for more information.

Ideas for Home
--------------------------------------------  
It's pumpkin season! Involve your children in the picking of a pumpkin this year; either at the store or from the pumpkin patch. Below is an article with 5 toddler friendly ideas for decorating your pumpkins.

Click  here for ideas!
 
Loose Parts Donations -   

We, at Katie's Kids, would like to keep utilizing loose parts in our classrooms throughout the year.  Therefore, we are inviting parents and families that are interested to keep the supplies coming!  If you choose to donate you can drop the materials off at the front desk at any time!
  
Be sure to look through our center for how the loose parts are being used within the curriculum! 
  
Thank you in advance for your donations, we look forward to seeing the creativity that stems from all of the materials!


Our Focus this Month: 
  • Various nature items to be used as food in the outdoor playhouse (e.g., pine cones, short & thick sticks, bark, nuts, seeds)
  • Fallen leaves
  • Buttons
Meals to Go

Did you know? In order to make our foot print a little less on this Earth, we use reusable food containers for our Meals to Go! We kindly ask that you rinse your containers and return them to the front desk at your earliest convenience . We will wash and sanitize these containers to be used for our next meals. 

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October 4th

4 Cheese Grilled Cheese on Texas Toast
Tomato Soup
Brownies
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October 11th

Orange Chicken
Fried Rice
Chocolate Chip Cookies
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October 18th

Patty Melt on Rye
French Fries
Strawberry Bars
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October 25th

Pistachio Garlic Herb Pasta
Garlic Bread
Oreo Cheesecake
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Getting Healthier...
At Katie's Kids Learning Center, we are committed to providing the best possible nutrition to you and your family.  We hope you enjoy the following recipe: 
 
Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Apples

Ingredients:
  • 2 apples, sliced into wedges
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup granola, your favorite
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
  • Semisweet chocolate chips, optional*


  
Directions:

 

  1. Coat tops of apple wedges in peanut butter and sprinkle with granola and cinnamon.
  2. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring in 30 second increments until melted. Be careful not to overheat.
  3. Drizzle wedges with melted chocolate, set on a large platter and serve.
TIPS
To substitute the chocolate drizzle, you can sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top of the wedges. Or, leave the chocolate out altogether. They're still delicious!

If not eating immediately, brush each side of apple wedges with a little lemon juice to avoid browning.


 

 

 

Katie's Kids Learning | @ the Links | 309.663.5800 |  Katie@katieskids.net | www.katieskids.net
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