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Greetings!
WELCOME AND THANK YOU
We want to welcome all our new families and thank all are exiting families to another fun season of learning and exploring!! It is an honor you have entrusted us with your child’s Early Childhood learning experience. The teachers have been busy developing their Lesson plans to incorporate all styles of learning. As a reminder, lesson plans are posted outside every classroom. Look to see what your child will be doing in his or her classroom.
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EFC GARDENS
What a fun summer with a lot of learning and exploring!! The gardens again were amazing!! The children had fun watching things grow and ripening!! The teachers are already planning what their classes are going to plant next year.
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FUN DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
Friday, Sept. 7 – VIKINGS DAY! (this is a Superbowl year!)
Wednesday, Sept. 12 – Wear your favorite color day!!
Thursday, Sept. 20 – DANCE PARTY!!
Tuesday, Sept. 25 – Bring in something that starts with the letter of your name.
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DANCE PARTY
Join us on
Thursday, September 20
, from 4:00-6:00 for our annual DJ and dance party. This is a highly requested event by the kids. Kids dance will be providing the entertainment. We will be providing dinner. Hope you all can join us!! Don’t forget your dancing shoes!
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LOOKING AHEAD
Preschoolers will be going to visit Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch on
Friday October 12 from 10:00-11:30. We are looking for parent volunteer s to join us. Please let Brenda or Susan know if you can join us!!
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STATEMENTS
Starting in September all billing statements will be going out on email. Please make sure you keep your up to date with the center.
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EFC CLOSED
EFC is closed on
Friday, August 31, for professional development day and
Monday, September 3, for Labor Day weekend Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!!
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EXTRA CLOTHES
Like that summer is gone!! Fall is right around the corner!! Please make sure you change out your child’s extra clothes at the center to weather appropriate. Shorts and a tank when it’s 50 degrees may be chilly!!
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FALL CONFERENCES
Conference will be held the end of October watch for signs in your child’s classroom to sign up.
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APPLE ORCHARDS
September is a great month to visit one of Minnesota’s fantastic apple orchards.
Aamodt's, Stillwater
Enjoy apple picking, wagon rides, the Honeycrisp Express train, and more!
Applewood, Lakeville
This orchard includes raspberries and pumpkins too! You can also check out the Corn Maze.
Deer Lake, Buffalo
In addition to apple and pumpkin picking, Deer Lake features pony rides, a play house, facepainting, and outdoor games. Festival weekends at the orchard also include music and food trucks!
Emma Krumbee's, Belle Plain
In addition to the traditional orchard activities, Emma Krumbee’s features an artistic Scarecrow Festival with over 100 unique scarecrows.
https://emmakrumbees.com/apple-orchard/
Minnetonka, Minnetrista
Minnetonka Orchards are pet-friendly, so your leashed pup can enjoy a family outing too! You can also enjoy live music every weekend in September and October.
http://minnetonkaorchards.com/
TC FAMILY EVENTS—OCTOBER 6
There’s something for everyone at the TC Family Events, part of the TC Marathon Weekend. Race distances include 10k, 5k, Family Mile, Half Mile, Toddler Trot, and Diaper Dash. Enjoy the beauty of the State Capitol as well as fun activities in the Family Activity Tent. For more information and registration info, visit:
https://www.tcmevents.org/events/medtronic-twin-cities-marathon-weekend-2018/race/family-events
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HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A CHILD CARE CENTER IS DOING A GOOD JOB?
Many people say that they can feel what a program is like on their first visit. But for others it is a difficult thing to know exactly what their child will experience in a center by simply taking a tour and meeting with the director. However, whatever your decision-making process was, we are so happy that you are a part of the EFC family.
As you continue to participate in our program, we want to make sure that you are aware of the three main vehicles to assess quality in center-based child care in Minnesota. Here is a quick snapshot.
Licensing – A process overseen by the Minnesota Department of Human Resources (DHS) that regulates centers. Centers are required to be licensed which is an extensive process. After initial licensing, centers are routinely inspected. Requirements cover health and safety, equipment, space needs, staff qualifications and staff/child ratios as some of the key components. Minnesota has among the highest standards in the nation which contributes to the quality, as well as the cost of providing care in our state.
Accreditation – There are several organizations that accredit centers in the U.S. At Especially for Children we have chosen to seek accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the largest accrediting body. Under the NAEYC system centers voluntarily apply to be assessed on over 400 criteria.
After months of work preparing classroom portfolios, administrative portfolios, collecting parent and staff surveys, and assuring that each classroom reflects quality standards, an outside evaluator visits to assess all aspects of the center’s operations. Centers go through the accreditation process every five years.
We are extremely proud to announce that all eight of our centers are NAEYC accredited. Seven of our locations have recently received letters that they have been reaccredited as a result of outstanding performances at their validation visits this year. The Edina center will have its visit by the end of the year and we anticipate that it will be reaccredited with outstanding scores as well.
We are so proud of our directors and teaching teams who have worked together to make this happen!! With their commitment to quality our staff is determined to continuously live up to the accreditation standards.
Parent Aware – A Minnesota Quality Rating System that centers in Minnesota can apply to for an assessment of their quality on a variety of criteria. Parent Aware holds NAEYC accreditation in high esteem so as NAEYC accredited centers we become Parent Aware centers after having our staff complete significant additional training beyond the requirements of NAEYC and licensing. All of our eight centers are 4 Star Parent Aware rated which is the highest designation of quality.
Please remember that it is our commitment to be continually challenged to maintain these high standards. And your feedback is always welcome. Here’s to a great year!
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Apple Orchards
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As noted in the Especially for Parents article, Especially for Children seeks accreditation through NAEYC. The organization has resources for families as well.
Check out their
blog
for articles on child development as well as developmentally appropriate activities you can do at home!
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Especially for Children
8885 Evergreen Blvd
Coon Rapids MN 55433
Lisa Ward
Director, EFC Coon Rapids
(763) 784-0901
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