DECEMBER 2018
Greetings!

PAJAMA DRIVE EVENT
Bring the gift of a smile to kids and their families. 
 
We are asking for donations of a new pair of pajamas from birth to five years old (possibly the same size as your own child) from December 10-December 14 . We will be bringing these donations to a local shelter. Any donation you are able to give is appreciated! The donation box will be located by the parent counter.
 
In celebration, all students and staff are asked to wear pajamas on Friday, December 14
 
We will be having a fun Pajama Party at the center throughout the day for the children, and invite families to join us at the end of the day for a winter trail mix snack! Snack will start at 3:30pm. All are welcome.
PARENT REMINDERS
HOLIDAY ATTENDANCE
We understand many families travel or spend time at home together during the holiday weeks. Please let us know your child’s attendance by signing the forms on the classroom doors by December 14 . This will help us staff classrooms and allows us to give our teachers some well-deserved time off. Thank you!

CENTER CLOSURES
Please mark your calendars in preparation for the holiday season:
 
EFC will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 12/7 for our Company-wide holiday party.
 
 EFC will be closed the following days:
*         Christmas Eve: Monday, 12/24
*         Christmas Day: Tuesday, 12/25
*         New Year’s Day: Tuesday, 1/1
 
We wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season!
PARENT RESOURCES
Here are some helpful tips that we hope will make your Holiday Season more enjoyable, fun and memorable for everyone in your family:

  1. Remember to keep a normal sleeping schedule to ensure that your child doesn’t get overly tired.
  2. Keep a regular diet. Limit the amount of sweets and rich foods.
  3. Don’t be surprised or disappointed if your child does not want to sit on Santa’s lap. Children have been taught to be aware of strangers.
  4. Don’t expect a young child to participate in all the rituals during the holiday season. His/her short attention span may only be able handle a few minutes of tree decorating or cookie making.
  5. Make gift giving simple. When so many gifts are opened at once, so much is lost in the excitement of new toys.

Remember to have fun! You are making memories that last a lifetime and traditions that will be passed down from generation to generation.
ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS
PriscillaWilliamsEFCPres
OUR COMMITMENT PROJECT
In the spring of 2017 our team of managers and administrators began a process of reflection and goal setting. What has come to be called Our Commitment Project is an effort to reinforce our dedication to what we believe makes EFC such a special place for children, families and staff.
 
As a team we gathered, reflected and brainstormed. Together we came up with one line that summarizes our overall goal:
 
Our commitment is that children will thrive in classrooms led by engaged and passionate teachers.
 
From there we had discussions about what that sentence means to us. What did we need to do to be assured that all our children are thriving? How can we support our teachers so that they feel engaged in their classrooms and passionate about their work?
 
We divided into three teams and have been working together to support this commitment.
 
The three teams are:
  • Mentoring
  • Training
  • Strong Leadership
 
The Mentoring Team has launched a program where each newly hired teacher-qualified employee is teamed with a Coach for the first three months he/she is employed. While we know our veteran teachers have always served as informal mentors for new staff, this program has allowed us to solidify and enhance that relationship. It not only makes the newly hired employee feel more supported, but it also provides leadership opportunities for the staff who have been trained to be Coaches and can share their immense experience with new colleagues.
 
Our Training Team has come up with several ways to improve our training. We have launched a Staff Intranet where teaching staff can share ideas and access resources to help them in their classrooms. We are offering more regular staff trainings on topics that the staff have requested. We have increased the number of classroom observations we are doing each year to be able to give teachers more specific feedback and support. These have been great opportunities to assure that teaching staff know how much we appreciate what they are doing.
 
Our Strong Leadership Team spent time assessing our job review tools and feedback systems. They have introduced new staff recognition opportunities and ways to acknowledge teaching staff for the exceptional work they do. The team improved internal communication systems, created tools and systems to support classroom observations, and implemented new ways that teaching staff can take on leadership roles.
 
We feel very pleased with the way Our Commitment project has given us new opportunities to support what Especially for Children has always believed in—that engaged and passionate teachers help children thrive.
TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS

Now-12/23  Holidazzle , Minneapolis
Now-12/27  Mary Poppins Jr. , Stages Theatre, Hopkins
Now-1/6  XOXO, An Exhibit About Love and Forgiveness , Children's Museum, Saint Paul
Now-1/6  How the Grinch Stole Christmas , Children's Theatre, Minneapolis
Now-1/7 Gingerbread Wonderland , Houses of Norway, Minneapolis
Now-2/3   Wells Fargo Winter Skate , St. Paul
Now-2/23 Night Trains , Twin City Model Railroad Museum, St. Paul
12/1  Reindeer Day , Linden Hills, Mpls
12/1-12/2 Holly Trolley , Lake Harriet, Mpls
12/8  Reindeer Run , Lake Harriet, Mpls
12/22 Beauty and the Beast in Concert , Minneapolis
12/25   Joyful 5k , Maple Grove

Our 2018 Photo Album highlights some of the many wonderful moments that took place at Especially for Children this year! It is amazing to stop and think about how much your child has changed and grown in just one year. We are thankful that you have chosen Especially for Children to be a part of your child's journey!
Especially for Children
3370 Coachman Rd. 
Eagan, MN 55121 
(651) 452-0043 

Center Director:
Bri Dieffenbach
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