January ELC Newsletter

Happy New Year Early Learning Center Families! We hope you enjoyed the Winter Break, and found some opportunities to reconnect with loved ones while creating new memories with your children. Our classrooms will be busy over the next few days easing back into routines and our daily schedule, while also continuing to focus on the curriculum study that began in December. Below you will see some highlights from each classroom, including the study topics that they are investigating. Baking, exercise, and music-making.....oh my!

In addition, as part of our focus on social-emotional learning, as a school we will be teaching social problem-solving. This is a necessary life skill that requires practice and sometimes a little help from grown ups. In early childhood, conflicts can emerge as children learn to play together. They are learning how to take turns, share materials, and share ideas. They may also experience verbal conflict or disagreements. This can lead to big emotions as they try to navigate social challenges, which is where the adults (teachers, caregivers, parents) step in to teach the skills that will help children learn how to collaborate, cooperate, communicate, negotiate, advocate for themselves, and learn to respect others.

Through our partnership with families, we can work together to use similar strategies, language, and techniques to introduce and practice social problem-solving in home and school environments. See below for some valuable resources that can be used in the home setting, that are aligned with what your children will be learning, seeing, and hearing at school. These are available in English and in Spanish. If you would like assistance printing any of these resources, please reach out to us and we will gladly send home a copy in your child's backpack.

Introducing the Solution Kit Family Handout (English) - Letter addressed to families announcing the use of the solution kit at the program.

We Can Be Problem-Solvers at Home (English) - Scripted story to help children understand the steps to problem solving at home.

Solution Kit- Home Edition (English) - Families can use these solution kit cards as prompts to assist in problem-solving.

Introducing the Solution Kit Family Handout (Spanish)

We Can Be Problem-Solvers at Home (Spanish)

Solution Kit- Home Edition (Spanish)

The East Moline School District has adopted an E-Learning Plan to be utilized in the event that live in-person instruction is unable to take place (due to circumstances such as a snow day, shutdown due to illness, etc). For more information to the district's E-Learning Plan, CLICK HERE. See below for specific details for the E-Learning Plan for Early Childhood.

.....our new Family Educator! We are extremely fortunate to welcome Ms. Parsons as our new Family Educator! Katlyn has had several years of experience in the field of early care and education, as a Parent Educator, paraprofessional, and childcare provider. Her experience working with families will be an asset in her new role as she builds relationships with students and families. Welcome to our School Family, Katlyn!

If your child is in need of a new winter coat, hat or gloves, please fill out THIS FORM and a member of our team will help!

• 1/3/24--School resumes
• 1/15/24--No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
• 1/26/24--No School (Inservice)
• 1/31/24--FAC Meeting, 9:30 a.m.
• 2/8/24 (pm)--Parent/Teacher Conferences (by appointment)
• 2/9/24 (all day)--Parent/Teacher Conferences (by appointment). NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE
• 2/14/24--Kindness Day (dress in Red, White, or Pink). **See flyer below regarding Valentine's Day/Kindness Day activities**
• 2/19/24--No School (Presidents' Day)

• 23-24 Family Folder you will find general information about our school and programming. This folder contains information about school supplies, our daily schedule, policies/procedures, communication platforms, the school calendar and more!
• Your family's health, well-being and partnership is important to us! Use this form to easily request information, resources and/or support for your family.
• 23-24 Early Learning Center School Calendar

Important contacts:

Main Office: 309-865-6900

Pam Webster, Secretary (pwebster@emsd37.org)

Katlyn Parsons, Family Educator (kparsons@emsd37.org)

Melissa McCullough, Principal (mmccullough@emsd37.org)