A Message from the Director
Dear Parents and Families of The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center and Princeton Public School Pre-k 3 General Ed (Hybrid), Pre-k 3 & 4yr old DLI classrooms,
 
March is an amazing time at The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center at YWCA Princeton.
 
The chill of winter is finally starting to melt away and spring is well within reach. While the snow might not be totally melted yet, we can relish in the fact that the sun is shining a little brighter and our children are excited about the upcoming change in the weather. We will be celebrating the First Day of Spring on Saturday, March 20th. It is a perfect time to reflect on all that we have accomplished in this last year. Believe me, we have accomplished a lot and we are stronger for it.
 
On the morning of March 2, ETS had some of their readers from different states read to our 3 – 4 yr old classroom in celebration of Doctor Seuss’s Birthday on a scheduled Zoom meeting. The classrooms included: Sunflowers, Dragonflies, Buttercups, Daffodils & Butterflies. We are planning to have another Read Aloud with ETS readers in April.
 
Our Spring Book Fair was from March 5-18. We want to thank all the families who purchased a book for their child’s classroom. Book Fairs are a great opportunity for all our classrooms to enhance their reading or Library Center. Having access to books stimulates children’s imagination and thinking skills, encourages developing language, and provides opportunities for creative expression through storytelling.
 
On March 17th, the children and staff read stories about how to capture a Leprechaun and looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What the children and teachers found in their classrooms when they returned from outside time was green & gold glitter on the floor as well as tiny footprints where the leprechauns went walking in the classroom.

With the warming of our days, Our teachers and children are able to spend more & more time outside exploring the environment around them. Whether it is taking walks around the facility in the Baby Buggy or walking around the facility looking for the birds flying in the air, watching the bunnies nibble on the grass Bramwell Lawn, or climbing on the playground… we are getting outside!

Please feel free to reach me at toshea@ywcaprinceton.org or 609.497.2100 x 325.

As always,
Be safe & stay well!
Tara O’Shea
Notes from your Administrators
Please visit our website or scan the QR code here to view our virtual video tour!!
Summer registration is now open!

If you have not already, please review and complete our Summer Attendance Survey. The answers to this survey will help us determine how many more families we can help with summer care in our preschool classrooms.

Please know that all of our Sprouts, Rose Buds, Cherry Blossoms, Tigerlilies, Sunflowers, and Dragonflies will continue on their current schedule until August 27, 2021 unless we are notified, via email to cmendoza@ywcaprinceton.org, otherwise. Current students, ages 2.5 and up, are eligible to opt for our weekly care options starting July 2021. This is extremely helpful if you plan to vacation throughout the summer.

Please visit our website at https://www.ywcaprinceton.org/programs/summer/ for more detailed information regarding our offerings.
Hand Hygiene

It has been brought to our attention that many of our students are suffering from dry, cracked hands due to our strictly implemented hand washing policy. For this reason we are asking families to send in a small bottle of lotion, labeled with your child's name, in with them as soon as possible.

In order to continue to limit our staffs close contact with our students 2.5yrs old and up we are asking parents to work on self-applying at home. The children should be able to dispense and apply the lotion on their own.
Required Notification of Travel

With Spring and Summer fast approaching please continue to notify us, via email to cmendoza@ywcaprinceton.org, of any travel outside of the immediate region (New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware). We will continue to use the guidance provided by the New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub regarding self-quarantine as a valued reference.

In accordance with the recommendations from the CDC, the YWCA Princeton has adopted the following travel policy:
  • Travelers should consider getting tested with a viral test (not an antibody test) 3-5 days after they return from their trip.
  • If travelers test negative, they are required to quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
  • If testing is not available (or if the results are delayed), travelers are required to quarantine for 10 days after travel.

Please note that we will continue to monitor the most up to date recommendations therefore this policy is subject to change at anytime.
ASQ-3 Participation

Thank you to all that have opted to participate in completing our ASQ-3 questionnaire. With the first round of assessments we were pleased to be able to assist a few of our families by providing resources to ensure that their child's developmental needs are being met both in school and at home. The second round of assessments will be sent out shortly.

If you do not receive a questionnaire to complete with your child by the end of March 2021 and would like to participate, please send a request to Cassandra Mendoza at cmendoza@ywcaprinceton.org.
Strengthening Families Survey

We appreciate that many of our YWCA families have opted to participate in our Strengthening Families survey. We will be sending out this survey within the next two weeks so please keep your eye out for an email from SFEP Support (Mosaic Network) <support@mosaic-network.com> for it may go into your junk mail. This is the Mosaic Stars Network which is the Strengthening Families Evaluation Portal.
Community Resources

Please continue to check our Community Resources page on our website for the most updated information regarding the resources that become available to our families. We will continue to update this page regularly.
Important Reminders for all:
  • Important Notices - Please continue to check your child's belongings for any important notices/announcements we send home.
  • Updated Dismissal Procedure - Please note that all dismissals will now be from the main entrance doors. The side door will now be alarmed after our morning intake.
  • Absenteeism Policy - According to the NJ Office of Licensing, we are to document the reason for all absences. If we are not notified in advance of an expected absence, the classroom teachers are now required to contact you the day of each absence to find out the reason for the absence.
  • We cannot accept any drop-off after 10am. This means that we will not accept children from 10:01am or later. The only exception is for doctors appointments, please notify us of the appointment in advance and provide a doctors note for the tardiness.
  • Please call 609-273-6524 when you arrive to pick up your child.
  • A current Universal Health form and immunization records must remain on file at the center at all times. If your child has their yearly physical or any new immunizations throughout the year these records must be updated. Your administrator will contact you if we are missing any records or if they have expired. Please act on these requests immediately in order to allow your child's pediatrician the time they need to complete them.
  • In order to receive updates and important information, please send us your current contact information. Updates can be sent to Myra, mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org, or Cassandra, cmendoza@ywcaprinceton.org
  • Because of unforeseen emergencies, usually related to inclement weather, our center may be delayed, closed early, or closed entirely. Please check our website at www.ywcaprinceton.org as well as our ClassDojo School Story.
Attention PPS Families
Updated Dismissal Procedure

Please note your child's school day is from 8:45am - 3:15pm. Beginning Monday, March 22, 2021, all PPS students will be dismissed from the main entrance at promptly 3:15pm. It is important that the children experience the full program therefore we will only honor early pick-ups with prior notice emailed to your Family Liaison at mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org. When you arrive, please wait at the circular drive for your child's class to be dismissed.
Bus Accommodation Notification Requirements

If your child is normally scheduled to take the bus home from school and you will be picking them up instead, please email your Family Liaison, Myra, at mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org by 12pm that day.
Spring Break Camp

The Princeton Public School classrooms (Buttercups, Daffodils, and Butterflies) will be closed from Monday, April 5th - Friday, April 9th. Please email your Family Liaison, Myra, at mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org to sign up for our Spring Break Camp.
Thank you in advance for your understanding an cooperation. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards,
Ms. Cassandra and Ms. Myra
Cassandra Mendoza
Assistant Director, The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center
Email: cmendoza@ywcaprinceton.org
Phone: 609-497-2100, Ext. 311
Myra Rabanales
Administrative Assistant, The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center

Family Liaison, Princeton Public School Preschool Expansion
Email: mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org
Phone: 609-497-2100, Ext.336
Mark Your Calendars
  • March 2021 - Summer Registration Opens
  • March 24th - PPS Parent Teacher Conferences - 1:15pm Dismissal
  • March 27th - Arm in Arm Mobile Pantry
  • March 31st - PPS Parent Teacher Conferences - 1:15pm Dismissal
  • April 1st - Mix & Match Day/Spring Goodie Hunt
  • April 2nd - Good Friday - CLOSED
  • April 22nd - Earth Day/Recycled Craft Show - Please see our ClassDojo announcement for more information.
To learn more, call (609) 497-2100 ext. 325