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Upcoming Events
June 2: Summer Playgroup 10-11am
June 9: Summer Playgroup 10-11am
June 16: Summer Playgroup 10-11am
June 23: Summer Playgroup 10-11am
June 30: Summer Playgroup 10-11am
July 7: Summer Playgroup 10-11am
August 12 : ECC Meet Your Teacher Night, 6:30-7:30pm
August 16: Pre-School Starts (A-M)
August 17: Pre-School Starts (N-Z)
August 18: All Pre-School in Session
August 20: No Pre-School
August 26: Big Truck Night, 6-7:30pm, MSHS parking lot
August 27: No Pre-School
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See Me at ECC!
Bunny Cookie Bookie,
March 25,2010 | |
ECC Celebration
May 13, 2010
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 A Note From Miss June
Downtime: Doing Nothing is Important!
Those times just hanging out on the floor blowing raspberries on the baby's belly are important too! Cuddle up on the sofa, take a walk, just hang out. Brains actually need downtime to allow time to process, just as they need experiences that allow them to wire up. Being idle allows the circuitry to develop, to let the brain take what it already knows and think, reflect and change.
Downtime feeds creativity. It also aids memory. Open spaces in our day allow time for the child to recharge, as does a regular pattern of naps and nighttime sleep. Resist the temptation to make every minute a "learning opportunity".
Take time to enjoy your family! Watch the clouds, look for rainbows, point out the sunset (or sunrise), and just have a wonderful summer!
Yours for the journey of childhood!
June Rempel
Early Childhood Coordinator
jrempel@usd266.com
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Through your emails, phone calls, and contacts, the voices of young families were heard in Topeka. The legislature ended their session and spared cuts to Parents as Teachers, and our Pre-K programs. Area legislators heard from many of you and they learned how PAT and Pre-K impacted your family. Your stories made a significant differenced! Because of your support we will be able to continue our services! Thank you! |
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We will offer summer playgroups on Wednesday mornings, 10-11 am, on the ECC playground. They will be offered June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and July 7. It will be a chance for children to interact together in an outdoor setting and for you to meet with other parents. Each playgroup will end with a story, rhymes and songs. The PAT playgroups are
designed for children birth to age 3 along with their parents. Siblings are welcome. |
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Our Pre-K staff is on break for the summer, if you need to reach them, you may email them or contact the ECC office to leave a message.
Our PAT staff works a lighter schedule in summer. Parent educators will still be available by email or you can leave them a message at their phone extension.
We will check messages and do our best to respond promptly throughout the summer. Our office will return to our regular hours on August 2 (Monday - Friday, 8-4). |
Pre-K and ECD families for 2010-11 school year |
Please watch for a letter at the end of June from the Maize School district. It will give you login information for Skyward access to complete online enrollment. Family access will be open from July 1 to July 15 and each family must complete the enrollment process. You will have the ability to pay your milk and enrollment fees by credit card or you will be able to mail in a check. Families who qualify for Free and Reduced lunches and complete a Waiver of Confidentiality form will have their fees waived if approved. Free and Reduced applications and the Waiver of Confidentiality from will be available on the district web page after July 19. If you believe you qualify for Free and Reduced, please complete the enrollment paperwork but do not submit your payment until your application is processed. We look forward to seeing your child in August!
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Go on a picnic! Whether it is in your backyard, at your favorite city park or anywhere you choose, here are some fun recipes to make together with your child. |
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1 (6 oz.) can of frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (6 oz) can of frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
Water
6 pint-size zipper freezer bags
1 lemon sliced
1 lime sliced
6 straws
In large pitcher, combine juice concentrate. Add water as directed on the cans; stir. Pour into 6 small zipper freezer bags. Add lemon and lime slices to each. Seal tightly; freeze overnight or until firm. Thaw 2-3 hours until slightly slushy before serving. Insert straw to drink. |
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3 oz 1 cup uncooked pasta*
2 cups cubed cooked chicken and ham
1/2 cup sliced red onion
1/2 cup of celery
1 8-oz can pineapple chunks, drained
Dressing
1/2 cup tarragon or cider vinegar
1/2 cup oil
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cook pasta according to directions on the package. Rinse with cold water.
In large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. In large jar with tight fitting lid, combine all dressing ingredients, shake to blend. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Serves 4-6
*Pasta nuggets or radiator are shaped to look like tiny car radiators. They blend nicely with other bite-size pieces in this sweet and tangy salad.
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Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs |
12 medium strawberries
12 donut holes
6 8 inch bamboo skewers
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
Alternately thread 2 strawberries and 2 donut holes on each skewer. In small saucepan, melt chocolate chips and butter.; blend well. Drizzle chocolate mixture over strawberries and donut holes. Refrigerate till set. Makes 6
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"It's the Process, Not the Product!" |
Young children explore art as a learning experience or an experiment, discovering what is stimulating and interesting. They are more interested in doing art rather than making a finished product. During the process they discover their own independence, as well as the mystery of combinations, the joy of exploration, the delight of creating, and the frustration of challenges - all important pieces in the puzzle of learning. Whatever the resulting artwork - whether it is a bright, sticky glob or a gallery - worthy masterpiece - to a young child it is only the result of "doing art" not the reason for doing art.
To communicate with your young child that the process is indeed as important as they believe, use insightful, open ended comments that will encourage each child to feel free to explore. Some examples are:
· Tell me about your artwork
· Did you like doing this? Making this?
· Show me the fluffy part.
· I see you've used many colors!
· How does it feel to paint?
· Look at the bright yellow!
· What a big design!
Sometimes the art project can be sensory, such as feeling slippery cool paint on bare fingers. Other times it is a mysterious surprise as colors blend unexpectedly, or a blob of play-dough takes form. Art process can be a way to "get the wiggles out" or to smash a ball of clay instead of another child. The adult's job is simply to allow this process to happen! Provide interesting materials, then sit back and watch closely.
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What you need:
· Several packets of sugar free Kook-Aid
· White construction paper
· Tape
· Ice cubes
What you do:
1. Tape a large sheet of paper to the table or floor.
2. Sprinkle the paper with Kool-Aid and hand each child an ice cube. Instrict them to move the ice over the Kool-Aid powder, turning it into a liquid.
Keep "painting" until the ice is fully melted to make a sweet smelling watercolor masterpiece
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What you need:
· Craft knife
· Colored card stock or construction paper
· White and clear Con-Tact paper
· Colored sand (available at craft stores)
· Salt shakers or empty spice containers
· Tape
What you do:
1. Use a craft knife to create a frame by cutting out the center of the card stock leaving a 1 inch border. (you can also recycle the cardboard from a cereal box to make the frame)
2. Trim the Con-Tact paper so that it's slightly smaller than the frame, then set the Con-Tact paper face down and peel off the backing. Carefully lay the frame over the sticky surface and press it in place.
3. Pour the sand into the salt shakers, then put on the lids and cover some of the holes with tape. Give your child the bottles and let him pour the sand over the sticky surface - one color at a time or all at once, as he likes. Dump off the extra sand. When he's done, you can set a piece of clear Con-Tact paper over the front to help preserve the design.
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Snuggle with a good book! | |
Make memories with your child and read some favorite books! Here are a few favorites:
Goodnight Moon. Brown, Margaret Wise. HarperCollins, 1947
Maybe, My Baby. O'Book, Irene. Illustrated by Paula Tible. HarperCollins, 1998
My Colors (Mis Colores). Emberly, Rebecca. Little, Brown, 2000
Red, Blue, Yellow Shoe. Hoban,Tana. Greenwillow, 1986
Time for Bed. Fox, Mem. Illustrated by Jane Dyer. Harcourt, 1993
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Winter, Jeanette. Red Wagon, 2000
Welcome, Baby! Baby Rhymes for Baby Times. Calmenson, Stephanie. HarperCollins, 2002
Where's the Baby? Paxton, Tom. Illustrated by Mark Graham. Morrow Avon, 1993The Bear Went Over the Mountain. Wells, Rosemary. Scholastic, 1998
Big Dog, Little Dog. Pilkey, Dav. Harcourt, 1997
Count with Maisy. Cousins, Lucy, Candlewick, 1997
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Christelow, Eileen. Clarion, 1989
Freight Train. Crews, Donald. Greenwillow, 1978
Itsy Bitsy Spider. Wells, Rosemary. Scholastic, 1998
Jamberry. Degen, Bruce. HarperCollins, 1992
My First Action Rhymes. pictures by Lynne Cravath. HarperCollins, 2000
Pat the Bunny. Kunhardt, Dorothy. Golden, 1942
Rabbit's Bedtime. Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth. Houghton Mifflin, 1999
Read to Your Bunny. Wells, Rosemary. Scholastic, 1997
Sheep in a Jeep. Shaw, Nancy. Illustrated by Margot Apple. Houghton Mifflin, 1986
Ten, Nine, Eight. Bang, Molly Garrett. Greenwillow, 1983
Where's Spot? Hill, Eric. G. P. Putnam, 1980
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Martin, Bill Jr. and Eric Carle. Henry Holt, 1992
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Martin, Bill Jr. and John Archambault. Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Little Simon, 1989
Color Zoo. Ehlert, Lois. HarperCollins, 1989
Come Along, Daisy! Simmons, Jane. Little, Brown, 1998
Construction Zone. Hoban, Tana. Greenwillow, 1997
Dinosaur Roar! Stickland, Paul and Henrietta Stickland. Dutton, 1994
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs. Barton, Byron. HarperCollins, 1989
Hello, Lulu. Uff, Caroline. Walker. 1999
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? Yolen, Jane. Illustrated by Mark Teague. Blue Sky, 2000
In the Tall, Tall Grass. Fleming, Denise. Henry Holt, 1991
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Carlstrom, Nancy White. Illustrated by Bruce Degen. Simon and Schuster, 1986
Little White Duck. Zaritsky, Bernard and Walt Whippo. Little, Brown, 2000
Maisy's ABC. Cousins, Lucy. Candlewick, 1995
Max's First Word. Wells, Rosemary. Dial, 1998
"More More More," Said the Baby. Williams, Vera. Greenwillow, 1990
Mouse Mess. Riley, Linnea A. Scholastic, 1997
On Mother's Lap. Scott, Ann Herbert. Clarion, 1992
Silly Little Goose! Tafuri, Nancy. Scholastic, 2001
The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter Beatrix. Warne, 1999
The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Carle, Eric. Philomel, 1981
The Wheels on the Bus. Raffi. Illustrated by Sylvie K. Wickstrom. Random House, 1998
You're Just What I Need. Krauss, Ruth. Illustrated by Julia Noonan. HarperCollins, 1998
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