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. 
June Notes of Interest
Teacher Appreciation Week Thank You
We really appreciate all of your hard work and support in making our Teacher Appreciation Week such a success! Our teachers enjoyed all the special activities and meals you prepared for them. THANK YOU!

Tia's Maternity Leave
As many of you know, our director Tia is expecting to welcome her twins sometime soon! Tia's last day with us is scheduled for June 8th. Congratulations and best of luck to her during this exciting time!

Summer Front Desk Help
We recently hired Patty Charczuk to help out at the front desk during Tia's absence this summer. We are excited to have her here and encourage you to stop by the front desk to introduce yourself to her as you drop off/pick up your children.

Chef Change
We recently hired a new chef, Cody Cox. He has lots of experience working in kitchens, and we are very excited to have him on our team! Please welcome him if you see him around!

Water Feature
As a reminder, our water feature days have begun! Please make sure that your children have all the necessary items on their assigned water day, including a towel, swimsuit, swim diaper (if necessary), hat, and water shoes. 

Fundraiser
We have started a fundraiser through Prep Freeze Cook, which provides busy families with a variety of delicious prepped meals. We encourage you support our center by ordering meals for your family and friends. Please pick up an order form at the front desk and return it to us by June 8th. Our center will receive 10% of all sales, and we plan on purchasing new outdoor tricycles with these proceeds. We appreciate your support!

Sign Language Training
Join us in learning basic infant and toddler signs through an interactive sign language training on June 19th 5:30-7:30PM at Katie's Kids in Normal (K2). All families are welcome to attend and childcare will be provided. Please sign up at the front desk by Friday, June 15th.

Relay for Life
We encourage you to support Katie's Kids for the Relay for Life event by joining or donating to our team, Katie's Kids Kicks Cancer. The event will take place at the Corn Crib from June 22nd at 2PM until June 23rd at 2PM. Please watch for more information about this event in the coming weeks. We appreciate your support!

 
 
Upcoming Dates

June 12th: School age field trip to Miller Park Zoo & Splash Pad
June 16th:  SNL @ K2 5:00-10:00PM
June 17th: Father's Day
June 19th:  Sign language training @ K2 5:30-7:30PM
June 22nd-23rd: Relay for Life


Closure Dates for 2018

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

Saturday, June 16th
5:00 -10:00 p.m.
@ Fort Jesse (K2)

Enjoy a night out on June 16th. 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. 

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!

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

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

Royal Princess Coronation & Festival
The Ewing Cultural Center in Bloomington will be hosting a Royal Princess Coronation and Festival on Sunday, June 10th from 2:00-4:00PM. You can obtain tickets for this event at pantagraph.com/princess

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. 

Sensory Bags for Kids with Autism
The Bloomington and Normal public libraries now have sensory bags filled with various items for children on the autism spectrum, in an effort to better accommodate their unique needs. Additionally, the Bloomington library will hold Sensory Story Time on Wednesdays at 2:00PM, where children with and without autism can enjoy special stories, music, activities, as well as opportunities for play and socialization.

New Business
Brandt Group of Companies, a Canadian agricultural manufacturer, recently opened a plant in Hudson, IL, bringing 75 job opportunities to the area. The company is expected to grow to about 300 employees within the next few years, which is very exciting. The company is currently accepting job applications at brandtjobs.com, and it plans to partner up with McLean County Unit 5 and Heartland Community College to offer job-training programs in the future.

Ideas for Home
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Looking for a fun summer craft? Try constructing a homemade wind chime using materials available in your home!

 
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: 
  • Plastic plant containers
  • Plastic storage crates
  • PVC pipes
Meals to Go is Back!

Busy this summer? Choose a meal from our June Meals to Go menu!


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June 7th

Main Dish: Burgers
Side: Citrus Salad & Homemade Sweet Potato Fries
Dessert: Brownies

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June 14th

Relay for Life Fundraiser!

Main Dish: BBQ Chicken Pizza
Dessert: Monster Cookies
($20 per pizza)



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June 21st

Main Dish: Lemon Pepper Chicken
Side: Rice Pilaf
Dessert: Chocolate Mousse

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June 28th

Main Dish: Salmon
Side: Salad
Dessert: Berry Bars

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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: 
 
Healthy Summer Pasta Salad 

Ingredients:
  • Kosher salt
  • 8 ounces dry cavatappi 
  • Quarter of a red onion, minced 
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoons dry mustard 
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper  
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or fresh chives
  • 1 ear of corn, husked and kernels cut from the cob (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut into a small dice
  
Directions:
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cavatappi and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, soak the onion in cold water for 5 minutes and then drain.
  3. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, cider vinegar, sugar, mustard, drained red onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper until smooth.
  4. Add the cooked cavatappi, tomatoes, dill, corn, and zucchini to the dressing and stir to coat.
 


Katie's Kids Learning | @ the Links | 309.663.5800 |  [email protected] | www.katieskids.net
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