Kangaroo Kids Logo

Kangaroo Kids

Child Care & Learning Center

Newsletter

August 2016

In This Issue

Curriculum Themes

Find Us On Social Media

Calendar of Events

Good Luck 1st Graders

Meet Your Fall Teachers

Be A Kangaroo Kid For A Day

Summer Fun

Tidbits

Quick Links- Just Click

Ka n garoo Kids Website

Curriculum Themes

School Themes for this month are:

● Wonders of Nature

● Celebrity Chefs

● Sports Spectacular

● Wet & Wild Good Byes

See Our Summer Calendar for daily events!

Please help us spread the word....

Thank you for your support! Many of you send us wonderful cards and letters and we truly appreciate all your kind and thoughtful comments. As a local program, social media reviews are important to our success. Would you mind taking a brief moment to write a review on our social media sites?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kangaroo-Kids-Child-Care-and-Learning-Center-301126633639/reviews/

Yelp page: http://www.yelp.com/biz/kangaroo-kids-child-care-and-learning-center-branchburg-3

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/101610034447063827871/about

Calendar of Events

Make sure you have confirmed your schedule with the office for September. Please submit a current Universal Health form and updated immunizations.

August 3rd Trip to Shoprite

August 10th Trip to 4-H Fair

August 17th Culinary Workshop at California Pizza Kitchen

August 19th Parents Night Out

August 24th Family Funplex Trip & T-shirt Day

August 26th Ice Pop Treats

August 27th Movie Field Trip

Sept. 5th Labor Day - No School

Kangaroo Kids Turns 25!

Recognizing the need for quality care for young children, Kathy Feigley established Kangaroo Kids in 1991 as a small school in Middlesex County. As the school grew, a larger facility was required and renovations were begun on a building in historic North Branch in 1997. Although the new Kangaroo Kids is a high tech facility, the building itself has a great deal of history. It's now more than a century old and began its life as a one room school house. It also enjoyed time as the North Branch Firehouse. The building has come full circle. Today, it's a modern, state of the art 7,000 square foot childcare and learning center licensed for 147 youngsters.

With advances in the field of early childhood education over the years, our program has evolved, but our values have remained the same. At Kangaroo Kids, we believe that providing a safe, positive, family friendly and caring educational environment is the foundation children need for future academic success. Kangaroo Kids strives to build a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

The logo exemplifies the philosophy of Kangaroo Kids with the nurturing environment depicted by the child in the pouch. The child holding a book represents the importance of education, and the child sliding down the tail of the Kangaroo demonstrates that learning should be an enjoyable process.

They proudly boast, fifteen Hall of Fame staff members have been at the school for over 5 years. Some of which were actually the original staff of Kangaroo Kids in 1991!

In 2009 Kangaroo Kids was awarded #1 school in America by the National Association of Child Care Professionals (now called Association for Early Learning Leaders). Seven of the long time staff members, Kathy Feigley, Ed Kross, Shaun Pidany, Carol McKinnie, Peggy Jones, Fatima Morin Pidany, and Sandy Rodrigo traveled to Florida to receive the award.

Kangaroo Kids is very involved in the community through their annual event, including the Giving Tree, Food bank collections, Valentines for Veterans and Seniors, and a Family Carnival for Autism Speaks, "Julia's Hope." Kathy is also a Rotarian and has received numerous awards including Director of the Year, "Outstanding Women of the Year Somerset County," Economic Vitality Award, Somerset County Diversity Award and was awarded a certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for significant contributions in professional fields, to women's causes and to community endeavors. She currently is the Executive Director of Kangaroo Kids, President of the New Jersey Child Care Association, and Chairman of the Rotary Club of Branchburg Public Relations.

Seven staff members have been awarded "Teacher of the Year," at times during their 25 years in operation. Carol McKinnie, Shaun Pidany, Fatima Pidany, Jackie Russano-Weiss, Sandy Rodrigo, Misse Turner, and Peggy Jones have all received this special recognition.

Kangaroo Kids earned accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children in 2001 and has successfully re-certified upon each renewal. Only 7% of schools nationwide have the distinction of being accredited which is equivalent to a Blue Ribbon school and is the industry standard of excellence.

Meet Your New Teachers!

Transition:

During August and the first week of September the children will visit their new classes. Parents are welcome to visit the new room with their child any day at pick up time. Parents are encouraged to attend the "Meet the Teacher" Day.

Meet The Teacher: The dates and times for parents to visit their child's new teachers are:

Waddler - Thursday, August 18th at 5:30
Discovery Preschool - Wednesday, August 24th, at 5:30 PM with Miss Diana & Miss Cris
Preschool - Thursday, August 25th, at 5:30 PM with Miss Peggy
Prekindergarten - Monday, August 22nd at 5:30
Kindergarten & Kindergarten Prep - Tuesday, August 23rd, at 5:30 PM with Miss Melissa

If you can't make these times, see the lead teacher to make arrangements

to visit at a time that is convenient for you.

Good Luck to All of Our Kindergarten Graduates!

Congratulations and Good Luck to all of our Kindergarten students as they move on to First Grade! How exciting for you and your parents! Stop by and visit us from time to time to let us know how you are doing! Please be sure that we have your e-mail address for our Alumni News & Events!

Summer Camp August Themes

Parents Night Out

Parents Night Out

An opportunity for Mom and Dad to to go out, shop, clean the house or just rest, while the children have fun at Kangaroo Kids!

Friday, August 19th from 6 - 10 PM

$35 per child / $55 per family

For infants and children through 10 years of age

To register, call the office at 908-231-7800 or email us at staff@kangarookidschildcare.com

Kindergarten Prep!!!

Please see the office if you have a 4 year old that just misses the deadline of October 1st and is ready for some kindergarten work. Kangaroo Kids has added a Kindergarten Prep Class to their regular kindergarten for children ready to do kindergarten work but just miss the cut off. This will provide opportunities for individualized training and advanced leadership skills. The following year they can do the full kindergarten program. For more information stop by the office or see Miss Melissa.

Update on Miss Jackie!

Many of you know Miss Jackie had a serious fall at her house a few weeks ago.

We are happy to report she is improving and hopes to return mid August! She has received clearance from her doctor to drive this week and after a few more tests we hope she will be healed enough to return soon.

We miss you Miss Jackie and all wish you a very speedy recovery!!!

Good News! In addition to the Branchburg Schools that bus to Kangaroo Kids. We will also have someTransportation from Van Holten and Milltown

Kangaroo Kids provides a full day private school kindergarten. For those who are attending public school Kangaroo Kids will now provide transportation to many of the public schools for a half day program at Kangaroo Kids to supplement and enrich the half day public school program. Determining which is better for your child is an individual matter. Feel free to make an appointment to discuss the options with the office. The difference with a full day at Kangaroo Kids is less transition, smaller class size, and more opportunity for enriched learning time. In addition, full day children have many learning opportunities beyond the classroom through gardening, field trips, Spanish, Chinese, Science and Music classes.

Congratulation Miss Lisa

Miss Lisa will become Director of Kangaroo Kids in August. She graduated from Lock Haven University in 2014 with a degree in Disabilities and Community Services, as well as numerous courses in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children ranging from ages 3-12 both in and out of school settings. In addition, Miss Lisa is a star volleyball player as well as a coach for a traveling girls volleyball team.

Miss Kathy will now be Executive Director and Mr. Shaun will continue as Assistant Director.

We are so excited about Lisa's new position. Her beautiful smile and friendly manner make her a perfect leader for providing excellent customer service for both the children and parents. She is very knowledgeable in Early Childhood Education and has been very proficient in handling all aspects of Kangaroo Kids over the past year. She is also very positive, solution oriented and willing to assist children, parents, and teachers in any area there is a need. We look forward to an exciting future together with Miss Lisa. Please stop by to congratulate her!

It is wonderful how quickly the children are becoming confident in the water! The happy giggles as they splash around make the whole school smile!

See the office for details on lessons! It's never too late to start. Lessons will be prorated based on the remaining number of lessons.

We are having so much fun in addition to learning about water safety and how to swim!

Be A Kangaroo Kid For A Day!

Invite a Friend and if they enroll you receive $100 off your next month's tuition!

Take a Peek at some of our Summer Fun!

Tidbits

Bus Transportation: In September, bus transportation for elementary school age children attending local Bridgewater, Branchburg and (some) Whitehouse schools will be available to and from Kangaroo Kids. Please see the office for details.

Fall Registration If you know anyone interested in enrolling, please have them contact us as soon as possible as some of our classes are almost filled.

Holiday and Vacation Care: What to do when your public school Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade is closed for a holiday? Kangaroo Kids now provides not only after school care but also care for the days that public schools are closed for vacation. Limited space available, please sign up early.