March Director's News

DIRECTORS NEWS

Fort Atkinson Preschool and Childcare March 2017

March News While we try to teach our
children all about life,
March at Fort Atkinson Preschool and Childcare is a busy and fun month! Our children teach us what
life is all about.
We kick off March with Dr. Suess’ birthday week-plan to stay an extra 10 minutes ~Angela Schwindt
at pick up on March 2 and help your child participate in the Dr. Suess math
activities set up in the hall. Afterwards enter a drawing for your child to win a Dr.
Suess book.

March 7th we will celebrate National Cereal Day with a cereal buffet for Dad.
From 6:30 am-8 am, Dads (or uncles, step dads, grandpas or other male friends)
and children should join us in the kitchen for breakfast and fun cereal games and
activities. It is a drop in activity so join us even if you just have a few minutes.

March 16th is our Spring Concert. ALL children in ALL classes will be singing.
Please have your child in his/her classroom no later than 5:45 pm. 4K children
should go to their 4K rooms. Please leave your child with his/her teacher and go
straight to the gym. The concert will start promptly at 6 pm and we will not be
waiting for anyone who may be late. After the concert children can be picked up
downstairs in his/her classroom. To avoid congestion downstairs please consider
only sending one parent downstairs to retrieve children. That evening you may
use either the front or back stairwell.

March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day...I wonder if the leprechaun will visit us this year as
he has in the past!

In This Issue

 Lunch Requirements
 Dental Health
 Center News
 Peach of a Parent Awards
 Service Project Updates
 Excuse our mess….painting updates
 Hearing and Vision Screenings
 Center Facebook Page coming soon
 Parental help with Staff Evaluations

Greta wins our Dairy Newsletter contest for February!

Policy Reminders

Even though you pack and send your
lunches from home, our participation in
Wisconsin YoungStar requires us to
make sure your child’s lunch meets the
federal food guidelines and to
supplement the lunches of children who
are missing any components.

These guidelines are provided in your
folder at enrollment or you can find
them here https://www.fns.usda.gov/
sites/default/files/cacfp/
CACFP_childadultmealstandards.pdf.

At lunch children ages 3-5 should
have :

 3/4 cup of millk (provided by us)

 1/2 oz of meat ( or meat alternative
such as peanut butter, eggs, tofu)

 1/4 cup of fruits

 1/4 cup of vegetables A visit from Tiny the Tooth from Eby Family Dental!

 Grains– 1/2 slice bread (or buscuits, Dental Health Month
muffns, crackers) or 1/2 cup of pasta Celebrated
or cereal
Rainbow and Sunray students at Fort Atkinson Preschool and Childcare
Children are never required to eat either enjoyed a visit from the staff at Eby Family Dental in Fort Atkinson. They
the food sent from home or the learned about taking care of their teeth, received some gifts from the dentist
supplements provided. We encourage and visited with Tiny the Tooth. A huge thank you to Dr. Eby and all the staff!
children to eat their healthy food first
followed by any “treats” you may send . The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a
Research tells us best practice is to teach child go to the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts.
children to eat until they feel full and then Primary teeth typically begin growing in around 6 months of age.
stop.
According to the AAPD, it is very important to keep primary (or “baby”) teeth in
If you need a copy of the meal guidelines place until they are lost naturally. The primary teeth are important for many
please stop in the office. reasons including:

If your family is having a hard time  Helping children chew properly to maintain good nutrition.
affording healthy food please let us know,  Involvement in speech development.
we can confidentially find you assistance  Helping save space for permanent teeth.
to help your family through this tough time.
 Promoting a healthy smile that helps children feel good about the way
they look.

Want to learn more about preschool dental health? Check out this website
https://www.deltadentalins.com/oral_health/first-visit-to-dentist.html .

Vision and
Hearing
Screenings

4K students will be screened by the Fort
Atkinson School District staff on Marcch 6
-7th during 4K. If you have any concerns
about your child’s vision or hearing please
be sure to let your child’s teacher know
prior to the screening date. Parents will
only be notified of results if there is a
deficiency noted.

Kids United grows a baby oak tree from the “mama oak” on the Facebook
playground!
Coming soon! Fort Atkinson Preschool
Center News and Childcare will be starting a center-
wide Facebook page to be used as a
Staff Updates communication tool for families. This will
be a closed page for parents only. Please
While a date is not set, we are sad to be having to say goodbye to Ms. Kathy watch your child’s cubby for more
in the upcoming months. Her husband, a pastor, has been transferred to the information including releases and
Oshkosh area beginning this summer. She will be greatly missed by staff and information on how to join. Only children
students alike. who have signed releases will have
photos placed on the page. No children
You may have noticed Ms. Gibby has been subbing in our classrooms again will be named or tagged on the page at
after she moved back to Fort Atkinson. We are happy to have her help when any time.
our teachers are sick or enjoying vacation.
Tuition Express
Painting
Thank you to all families who are utilizing
This past weekend we began our painting project to help spruce up our email billing and Tuition Express
center. The hallways, kitchen and dining room will be painted. Please excuse (automatic withdrawals from checking and
our mess as the project is expected to take several weeks due to the large savings). More than 75% of families have
space and need for multiple coats. The painting will occur at night and on opted in and it is greatly reducing
weekends so as to not disrupt your child’s day. The paint that is being used administrative time, eliminating late fees
was chosen specifically for it’s low VOC which means the paint will have little and saving the trees!
to no odor. VOCs are contained in many paint products and have been
linked to a variety of health problems such as watery eyes, headaches,
asthma, respiratory diseases and cancer. If you have any questions about
the painting please stop in and see Ms. Jen

Staff Evaluation Surveys

All of our teachers receive yearly performance reviews from the center
director. Going forward we are going to be incorporating parent surveys into
our staff evaluation process through Survey Monkey. If you receive an email
with a link to a survey please take a moment to fill it out and to help to
contribute to your child’s teacher evaluation process. Surveys will be 10
questions and easy to complete. You answers will remain anonymous to
your child’s teacher unless you request otherwise.

Center News Peach of a
Parent Awards
Hellos and Goodbyes!
Peach of a Parent Awards
We say goodbye to Miranda from Kids United and Corbin from AM 4K Explorers. We go to parents, grandparents
welcome Jackson R to Rainbow Wraparound. or other family members
who have given of their time,
Service Project Updates talent or treasure this month.

In February: February’s Awards go to:

 The Sunrays started a collection “Pennies for Puppies.” Please consider donating  Kelly Bostwick for
spare change to the jar on the family involvement shelf in the hall. Proceeds will helping out with our
go to Jefferson County Humane Society. Dental Health month
visit.
 The Detectives visited the post office to thank the town’s mail people.
 The Kids United class is participating in the “Lunches for Love” program with  All of the families who
donated to our
Ronald McDonald House and will be decorating lunch bags and collecting
donations for this program including napkins (any color), individual serving chips/ Coming Soon….
pretzels and sandwich and snack sized zip loc bags.
 4K Explorers continue to collect pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House (donation  March 2, 2017 Stay and
jars outside KU and Explorer classrooms). Play at Pick Up. Dr.
Suess math activities in
 Rainbows decorated stress balls for PADA. the hall. Help your child
participate and enter him
into a drawing for a Dr.
Suess book.

 March 7, 2017 National
Cereal Day Breakfast with
Dad. Drop in between
6:30 am-8:00 am

 March 16, 2017 Spring
Concert 6 pm in the gym.
All classes will sing.

 March 21, 2017-Fishsticks
Comedy Show-7 pm in
gym (see attached flyer)

 April 8, 2017 Bunny
Brunch 10-11 am in the
gym

The Rainbows make stress balls for People Against Domestic Abuse.

In honor of Dr. Suess’ birthday…

Stay and Play
Dr. Suess Math
March 2, 2017 11:10 am-6 pm
Main Hallway

Plan an extra ten minutes at pick up
time to do some self-directed Dr.

Suess math activities in the main hall
with your child. Afterwards enter
him/her to win a Dr. Suess book!

In honor of National Cereal Day…

Breakfast with Dad
March 7, 2017

6:30 am– 8 am Preschool

Bring your Dad, Step Dad, Grandpa,
Uncle, or male friend to enjoy a cereal
buffet and cereal related games and

crafts.

The First Congregational Church invites all preschool families to attend the Fishsticks comedy
show-comedians with a commitment to doing squeaky-clean improv and a “nevercross-the-
line,” all age appropriate, high energy, improvisational approach!

Snack Menu 2017

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNES- THURSDAY FRIDAY

6 DAY
AM-Rice Chex/milk, OJ
PM-Goldfish crackers, milk 12 3
13
AM-Corn Chex/milk, OJ AM-Bagels/cream cheese, milk AM-Graham Crackers, milk AM-Yogurt, milk
PM-Ritz Crackers, milk
PM-Pretzels, milk PM—Carrots/dip, milk PM– Triscuit Crackers, milk

7 8 9 10
AM-Mixed fruit/milk AM-Raisin toast, milk
PM-Corn chips w/salsa, milk PM-Club Crackers, milk AM-Pineapple, milk AM-Cottage cheese, apple juice

14 15 PM-Cucumbers/carrots/dip, milk PM-Flipside Pretzel Crackers,
AM-Peaches/milk AM-English muffins, milk 16 Spring Concert 6 pm milk
PM-Rice Cakes, Milk PM-Corn Chips w/guacamole,
milk 17 St. Patrick’s Day

AM-Kix/milk, OJ AM-Granola Bars, milk

PM-Oranges, milk PM-String cheese, grape juice

20 21 22 23 24 KU - No School
AM-Raisin Bran/milk, OJ AM-Applesauce/milk AM-bananas, milk
PM-Cheez-Its Crackers, milk PM-Wheat Thins, milk AM-Wheat toast w/jelly, milk AM-Animal crackers/milk PM-Tortilla Chips/Nacho
Cheese, milk
PM-Ritz Crackers/cheese, milk PM-Carrots/Celery/Dip, milk
31
27 28 39 30 AM-Yogurt, milk
AM-Pears, milk PM-Wheat Thins Crackers, milk
AM-Rice Crispies/milk, OJ PM-Popcorn/raisins, milk AM-Bagels/cream cheese, milk AM-Graham Crackers, milk

PM-Chicken biscuit crackers, PM-Pretzels, milk PM—Carrots/dip, milk
milk