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| COUNTRYSIDE KIDS CLUB | BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL |
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This Month at Countryside KIDS Club
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 Peace Room
After surveying kids and families last month, we learned that we need more space for kids to do homework, and just rest if they need. We heard you, and are making a change!
Starting on Monday, February 1st, we are going to have the "Peace Room" available for kids to go to before and after school. The Peace Room will be open from 8:00 - 8:45 am and 4:45 - 5:30 pm.
The Peace Room will be for kids who choose to do something quiet, on their own. Kids can use this space to do homework, read or just relax.
We are excited to add this as a new space for our kids to use, and would love any feedback you may have about the space!!
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KIDS CLUB CLOSED FEBRUARY 15TH
Don't forget that KIDS Club is closed on Monday, February 15th in honor of Presidents Day.
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Good Times Park!
We will be heading to Good Times Park in Burnsville for an indoor active play day!
Needs for the day:
1. Bag Lunch (we will eat at Good Times Park!)
2. Outdoor Gear
Your child must be pre-registered to attend on these days!
If you are unsure of your non-school day status, you can check your online account, or you can email Jill Doxsie or Erica Koller.
Don't forget if you need care for our upcoming non-school day on Friday, March 4th, register by February 15th for the early bird registration, only $39. After the 15th the price goes up to $49/child.
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We have an early releases this month on Friday, February 12th!! School will be releasing at 1:50 on this day, and KIDS Club will be open from 1:50 - 6:00 pm.
If you need care and you are not already registered for Friday afternoons, you will need to go into your online account and add a drop in day ($15 for the drop in rate + $10 for the extra two hours.)
For those already registered for the day, you don't need to do anything. Your account will automatically be charged $10 for the additional 2 hours.
Coming Up:
Late Start (11:50 am)
Thursday, April 21st
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350 Club
Every Monday from 3:50 - 4:50 at Countryside
KIDS Club kids welcome!
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Family Breakfast
Countryside Cafeteria
Friday, February 26th
7:15 - 8:30 am
Join us on the 26th for yogurt parfaits, coffee & social time with the staff, your child and maybe even your child's friends and their family!
All family members welcome!
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 Toy From Home Day
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Social Skills
Here are the skills we are working on this month:
Using Self Control
Responding to Teasing
Being Honest
Avoiding Trouble
Please ask if you have any questions about these skills!
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| Accreditation Information
As you may or may not know, Countryside KIDS Club (along with the 5 other KIDS Club sites) is going through MAAP Accreditation this year. We are currently accredited through MAAP, which we received in May, 2013. This certification will expire this coming May, so we are due for our renewal!
What is MAAP?
The Minnesota After School Accreditation Program (MAAP) promotes program improvement and recognition of quality throughout the state.
* Programs are measured against MAAP quality standards in five key areas: Administration, Wellness, Activities, Relationships, and Environments.
* MAAP's team driven approach results in sustainable positive outcomes for children, families and staff.
* MAAP Accreditation builds a more stable program that is continuously reflective and committed to providing programming and activities that support the development and current interests of children.
Here is a link to an informational guide for parents if you're interested! As always, let us know if you have any questions!
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KIDS Club Clubs
What are Clubs?As you may or may not be aware, we started a new routine about a month ago every day with the kids. At 8:45 every morning, and 4:30 every afternoon the kids split up into their clubs. Each child is in a club with a staff that they will be a part of for the whole year. Each club has a name and a poster which signifies their identity.
Why?
One of the goals these clubs are for the staff to create closer relationships with a smaller group of kids by working with them in a different setting every day. Another goal is for the kids to experience something they wouldn't normally get to do with a small group of their peers.
It has been shown that kids who are made to feel a part of something special, who have a sense of belonging, and are a valued part of a team/club/family, do better in school, have higher test scores, make more friends, have better health, and in general do better in life.
What will they do?
The staff and kids together will brainstorm ideas of what they want to do each day in their club.
Activities could include reading a chapter book, playing a game, some kind of exercise, doing a service project, creating their own game, doing a craft project that's related to the season, brain teasers, show and tell or share day, learning something new, doing a science project, collaboration activities, writing a story/book, using the Chrome books and doing research of some kind, having a "question of the day" having the kids have a discussion about a certain topic, having everyone try a new food through a cooking project (talk about eating healthy, the value of nutrition!) having a star of the week, etc, etc etc.
Feel free to ask questions if you have them! |
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| Breakfast Info from Chartwells
As you may or may not be aware, our breakfast served during KIDS Club time is offered through our school food service company, Chartwells.
We will be offering breakfast during KIDS Club time everyday from 7:15 - 8:30. You are NOT responsible for this cost.
IMPORTANT
Chartwells also serves breakfast at the front of school (Grab-n-Go) everyday starting at 9:00. If kids eat during KIDS Club time, they should not get a grab-n-go breakfast while heading to school. Kids are only allowed one complete breakfast each day, so if they are eating twice, you will end up paying for them to eat, as well as we will pay a higher rate for them to eat "a-la cart."
Please talk to your child about their breakfast choices in the morning. We will encourage your kids to eat breakfast while at KIDS Club, and not get the grab-n-go, in order to save you the breakfast charges. Your help with this is appreciated!!
Let us know if you have any questions about this! Thank you!!!
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Community Education
Check our our upcoming CES Classes at Countryside
Piano Lessons (Individual Instruction - 30 min)
Class # Piano-Countryside
Runs until May
Drama Kids Spring Play: The Cleanest Town in Texas
Class #DR-S5
Mondays
Starts 4/11/16
LEGO Mania - Forces of Nature
Class # LE-S3
Wednesdays
Starts 4/13/16
Astounding Cartoons (Young Rembrandts)
Class #YRS-15
Tuesdays
Starts 4/26/16
Click here to register today!
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Parent Advisory Council
We are in need of another parent adviser to sit on our advisory council this year and represent Countryside KIDS Club! Please let us know if you are interested!!
Who are we?
The Advisory Council is a group of people, most of whom have children enrolled in Edina KIDS Club/WISE Guys or SURGE. The Coordinator and Operations Manager are non-voting members of the Council. Each parent member volunteers to serve a three-year term, meeting seven times a year. Each of the six elementary KIDS Club sites, as well as WISE Guys and Surge, has 1 or more parents on the Council.
Your Countryside Parent Representatives
Welcome to our newest Parent Rep!!
Marion Einck
Advisory Council Representative
My name is Marion Einck and I decided to participate on the KIDS Club Advisory council because two of our daughters currently attend KIDS Club. We feel fortunate to have such a great program and staff to help care for and develop our kids. My husband is Brad and we have three daughters, Iris age 8 (3rd grade), Charlotte age 7 (2ndgrade) and Vivian age 4 (preschool). Most of our free time is spent doing family activities including long bike rides with a fun destination (lunch at Punch for example) or transporting our kids to other activities. In my free time I try to stay active and squeeze in some workouts. I also enjoy reading or watching the news and browsing home décor magazines or Houzz for home décor projects that will probably never get done. I'm looking forward to learning more about the KIDS Club/WISE Guys organization and contributing over the next year.
Kathryn Matchinsky
Advisory Council Representative
I am originally from the Chicago area, but moved to Minnesota 15 years ago. I have been married to my husband, Tom, for 13 years and together we have two boys: Luke, a second grader at Countryside, and Andrew, who attends pre-school. I love to cook, especially when I can take my time doing it. I am a regular Cross-Fitter, but occasionally try to convince myself that I like to run too. I've really enjoyed being a part of the Countryside & KIDS Club family and feel very fortunate to live in such a great community.
What is our purpose?
According to the official bylaws, the purpose of the Advisory Council is to do the following:
- Define the mission for Edina KIDS Club/WISE Guys and SURGE.
- Monitor the program to ensure legal compliance with state regulations and to maintain fiscal stability.
- Evaluate the program to ensure that the mission is being achieved.
- Be an advocate for the needs of program within each building and to the Community Education Services Board.
- Serve as a conduit for parent concerns.
What does the Council actually do?
- We will continue to advocate for Edina KIDS Club/WISE Guys and SURGE within our schools and buildings. We realize we need other parents' support to accomplish this. The first step is for the Council members to become visible to the rest of the parents at each site. You need to know who we are so we can be your representatives. Look for our photos on the parent information bulletin boards at your site.
- We will be a conduit for on-going parent feedback about the program. We want to help Edina KIDS Club/WG/SURGE serve the needs of children, youth, and families the best that it possibly can.
- We encourage support and recognition of the KIDS Club, WISE Guys, and Surge staff. We want to make sure they know that we, as parents, appreciate the important work they are doing with our children. The Staff Appreciation Dinner in May is the big event of the year in this area.
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EPS Competencies,
Did you know that the Edina Public Schools has created 6 Educational Competencies to help drive everything that is happening in the district? (Both in and out of the classroom!)
The 6 Competencies:
Effective Communicator & Collaborator Responsible, Engaged Citizen Innovative Thinker & Creator Globally Competent Motivated Lifelong Learner Well Rounded Person Click here for more on this topic!
As a part of our ongoing commitment to quality at KIDS Club, we are constantly looking for new ways of doing things better! Something that our staff will be continuing to work on this year, is how we can better support the Edina Public Schools commitment to ALL for ALL as well as supporting the 6 competencies.
Please ask if you have any questions!!
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Hi, my name is Jason Van Houten and this is my first year here at Countryside Elementary and in KIDS Club. Before working here, I worked in marketing, graphic design, promotions and events. I also worked on interiors and exteriors of homes as a painter. Besides that, I coach high school football at Edina, which led me to opportunity at Countryside. I have been coaching for 12 years at the varsity level. 
