Jump Start, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade Newsletter
December 2018
Important December Dates:

EARLY RELEASE DAYS
*Wednesday 12/5 *Thursday 12/6
*Tuesday 12/11 *Friday 12/21
What will happen @ MAP? 
On these days, if   it is your child's normal day to attend MAP, we will be expecting them (there is no Jump Start). There is no special sign up or extra charge for the extended coverage. If your child will not be coming, please make sure to notify MAP. Meghan.map@comcast.net or ( 508) 359-2165 
  • Jump Start - NO MAP
  • AM K & PM MAP – Children will be released to MAP @ 11:40.
  • AM MAP & PM K – Children have NO SCHOOL and may stay at MAP until 2:30 or their usual pick up time.
  • 1st Grade & Full Day K have a half-day, and will be released to MAP @11:40. 
  • All children need to come to MAP with a lunch (and a toothbrush if you gave your permission)

MAP will CLOSED over the Winter Break 12/24 through 1/1/19!

Looking Ahead to January 2019

Tuesday 1/1/2019 – Happy New Year!
Wednesday 1/2 – Welcome back to school and MAP!
Friday 1/18 - Early Release Day, no school for AM K - PM K attends the AM session of kindergarten - we will be expecting all children who regularly attend on Fridays unless you notify us otherwise. No special sign-up is necessary
Monday 1/21 - No School - MAP Closed

*** Please keep an eye out for our February Vacation Sign Up . MAP will be Open from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Tuesday 2/19--Thursday 2/21. We are closed Monday 2/18 for President’s Day and on Friday 2/22 for a MAP Teacher Professional Day.
Welcome Nancy to MAP!
Hi, I’m Nancy Reiff, the newest member of the MAP team. I was in the software technology field 20+ years ago, and I left it to raise my three children in Medfield. I think this town is such a supportive, wonderful place to raise children! I re-entered the work force a few years ago, and decided to become a part of the most important “job” of all - helping grow strong, bright children! 

JumpStart and Half Day K at MAP
November was an exciting month! We explored some interesting fun facts and lessons about math and mathematic ideas. It was a grand adventure of navigating through our groups each day engaged with everyday life situations such as how to add up tally marks, and recognizing our numbers 1 through 10 and many more helpful concepts. We had a great week of learning about geometry and the differences between shapes (2D and 3D), counting sides of shapes, and learning the names of different shapes. There was a lot of fun working with Tangrams and the art that is contained within these seven particular shapes. We discovered and measured a vast amount of tall and short items within our MAP room. We learned how to use a ruler, yard stick, measuring tape, and even a giant's footstep to measure things around the room . Weight was an important topic as we spent class time covering the idea of heavier or lighter. We had freedom to grab items throughout the room and weigh them to help further explore our own curiosity. It was fun discovering which things were heavier or lighter than others. We ended our month with some exciting graphing and pattern games, estimation, money knowledge and dice games. It has been a great month seeing everyone working well together and helping each other out!

   
MAP Holiday Shop
  
The Holiday Shop has set up a fun store for the children of MAP to secretly do their holiday shopping for family and friends. All items will be priced between $1 to $5. In addition, they will be able to wrap and make tags for their gifts at our gift wrapping station. Of course, participation is optional, but it is a fantastic way for young children to be involved and learn the joy of holiday gift giving! 
 
Holiday Shop is self sustaining, but we also love donations! We can use any small, unused items that you already have around the house - please don't go out and buy anything for the shop. We all have those gifts we received but never used and items we bought that we didn't really need. Think about kids' party favors that no one will miss (just be sure to sneak them out of the house!). Children will be buying gifts for all ages, so we can really use anything. 
 
The proceeds from the Holiday Shop will be used to make a donation to a charitable organization that the children help choose & to help support some special programming for early release & non-school days.

Just a few examples of items we can use:
candles, small games & toys , mugs, flashlights , soaps and lotions, pet toys , art & craft supplies, flowerpots , picture frames, sports trinkets, ornaments
keychains , costume jewelry, scarves, gloves, & mittens, office supplies, stationary items, wrapping paper,  clear tape , bows & ribbons
CLUB UPDATE

MONDAYS
PAINTING CLUB with Kim -We have had fun painting away! Our first week we water colored turkeys in honor of Thanksgiving. The kids had fun drawing and painting colorful turkeys!! They are excited for all different kinds of painting we will do!

TUESDAYS
CON STRUCTION CLUB with Jeanne- Club started off with a lot of excited builders! Who would have guessed that clothespins and craft sticks would have kept 13 construction experts busy for a very long time! They worked as a group clipping and connecting sticks that reached all the way from the “cubby room” into the MAP room. I wonder what next week will bring!
CARDS CLUB with Scott - Cards club kicked off with a blast. We learned about how many cards in a deck, suits, and all the numbers and face cards. We started off club with a couple of easy and fun games - Go Fish and War!! I can’t wait to get into some strategy card games like Garbage, Old Maid, and Spit. If anyone would like instructions on how to play any games at home, please feel free to ask Scott at any time. I’m hoping by the end of club that everyone will be able to shuffle a deck of cards and be able to correctly deal out the beginning of a game. It should be an exciting month of December.

WEDNESDAYS
ROCK BAND CLUB with Kathy - Rock Band Club is going amazing! Week one was so much fun! The kids made drums and drumsticks. When they were done making the drums each child performed an amazing drum solo!! They also had an ensemble performance of "We Will Rock You". I can't wait for what's to come!! 
HOLIDAY CLUB with Jodi - Holiday Club is off to a fun start. Our first week we celebrated World Kindness Day (ask them about my puddle story)! We're also going to explore 'Make Your Own Head Day' before we enter the full swing Holiday season!  If you have any holiday traditions or fun you would like to share with us don't hesitate to reach out!
 
THURSDAYS
PINKALICIOUS CLUB with Megan S. - Pinkalicaious Club has had so much fun and there is still more surprises to come! The girls and boys have enjoyed making and decorating their wands and in a few weeks will be working on jewelry boxes!  
BOOK CLUB with Trish - During our first club we talked about what kinds of activities the children would like to do. Everyone also was so excited to share some of their favorite books!! I learned about some great new books!! Next we talked about what makes a book great - a funny character, an amazing setting or something more crazy!! See you next time!

FRIDAYS
HISTORY CLUB with Mike - History Club kicked off with a tribute to Stan Lee, with a brief history of his life and contributions to pop culture. The kids were amazed to learn how many superheroes he was responsible for, and almost everyone’s favorite superhero was one that he had a hand in creating!


Session 3 Clubs will be offered when we come back to MAP,
the first week of January and start the week of 1/7. 
Look for the NEW CLUBS in our January Newsletter.
Afternoons @ MAP
The month of November is always a time to pause and reflect on the many things we are thankful for. The children took part in activities that involved thinking of those who are less fortunate and paying if forward. Whether it was preparing bags of clothes for Cradles to Crayons or making dog treats for the animal shelter the children were happy doing for others. We give thanks to you for sharing your wonderful children with us and trusting us with them each day.
We also would like to thank the Medfield Football team and Cheerleaders for spending some time with our future football players and cheerleaders. The kids had a great time throwing the ball and performing some cheers!
As always, the gym remains a very popular spot in the afternoons! The kids have loved playing Scatter Dodge, Foxes and Hunters, Slap the Cheese and Kick the Can!

We hope that everyone had wonderful Thanksgiving celebrations with family and friends and that you continue to enjoy your time together and we look forward to the business that December brings.
Snow Days & Emergency Closings
What You Need to Know!

When the Medfield Public Schools are closed, MAP cannot provide care, and will be CLOSED.  Regular tuition payments are still due for snow/emergency closing days.   

For Delayed Openings:  In the event of a delayed opening, MAP will open after that delay. For example, after a 1-hour delay MAP will open at 9:30 am for children in morning Jump Start & Kindergarten MAP at Memorial.  

Cancellations:   If morning kindergarten is cancelled, there will be no AM MAP. Children in FULL DAY JUMP START & PM MAP (Kindergarten & Jump Start) can be dropped off at 11:15 am. For all other children in the program, MAP will open at the usual time.  If afternoon kindergarten is cancelled, and your child is in morning MAP (Kindergarten & Jump Start), you will need to pick up your child by 12:15 pm.

Early Closings for Children in Jump Start, Half Day Kindergarten and FDK-Grade 6:  If the schools elect to close early, MAP will be closed for all children in Jump Start through 6th grade. Children in attendance (Jump Start & Kindergarten) will need to be picked up and children in K-6th will be sent home or to your emergency destination on the bus. Children will not be sent to MAP as MAP will not be open! If the Medfield Public Schools elect to close after the children who attend AM kindergarten & Jump Start children are in attendance, MAP will reach out to families to come and pick up their children as soon as possible but no later than 3:00 p.m.  

In the event there is a weather related or other emergency and the schools are closed but MAP is scheduled to be open or if MAP elects to close early, MAP will communicate with an email notice asking that you come and pick up your child as soon as possible, post on our website, will broadcast on Channel 7 News and on their web site www.whdh.com any closings, delays, or emergencies (early closing). MAP will use its own discretion on its openings and closing based on the severity of the emergency.
 
Other emergencies:  If MAP were to lose power, heat, or have any other emergencies that would necessitate us to evacuate the building, the following procedures will be implemented:
MAP will announce on Channel 7/www.whdh.com an emergency closing. All families will be contacted and ask to come and pick up their child or send their emergency designated person. If these locations are not deemed appropriate by Town Officials, we will follow their instructions and notify you as to where we are. Please remember to keep MAP updated on your numbers and persons that we are authorized to release your child to.
It is very important that the Medfield schools as well as MAP have names and numbers of emergency persons that we can access in the event of any emergency closings.
Help MAP While Shopping Online!
Do you buy things on Amazon.com? When you shop on AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to MAP! AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.  To SHOP: Go to  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-3061993  and start shopping!


Contact Us:
Meghan Jackson
JumpStart, K-1 Program Director
508.359.2165  
Gaye Shannon
Executive Director
508.359.0003
Annette Gallagher
Assistant Executive Director
508.359.0003
MAP provides high quality afterschool enrichment programs and is supported by tuition & tax-deductible contributions from families, their employers, other organizations. Proudly serving Medfield families for over 20 years! A nonprofit organization.
 
Fed ID # 04-3061993