January 2024 Newsletter
Happy New Year Jack & Jill Families,
We kick-off the New Year celebrating:
Families use Parent Aware Star Ratings to find program using research-based best practices that prepare children for school and life. To accomplish this goal, our staff participated in extra training and professional development to go above and beyond basic health and safety licensing requirements. Staff received bonus compensation for the training, and we are proud that all their hard work has paid off as we were rated 4 stars!
Programs can earn a One, Two, Three, or Four Star Rating. Each rating level builds on the lower level, helping families easily see the practices our program is using.
Four-Star Rating
Programs have demonstrated all One-, Two-, and Three-Star practices, AND commits to ongoing quality improvement by using most of these best practices:
Responds to unique cultural customs and needs of children and families.
Offers activities that encourage family participation and help children transition to kindergarten.
Gives families opportunities to provide feedback about the program.
Shares child development updates with families to set goals together.
Makes accommodations for children with special needs and their families.
Has highly qualified and trained leadership staff, teachers, and providers
Creates a program-wide professional development plan.
Encourages healthy living through nutrition and physical activity, always evaluating to set goals for growth.
Each of our programs received $4,000 Quality Improvement Support to spend on classroom items to support our Parent Aware goals of continuing to improve our classroom learning environments through the addition of new books, music, and classroom equipment and the continued education of our staff by providing our staff with state approved trainings to meet the Parent Aware Lead Teacher Qualifications.
Valentine's Day Celebration - Wednesday, February 14th
Valentine’s Day will be celebrated with our children on Wednesday, February 14th. Each classroom will have a Valentine’s exchange. The celebration consists of some fun friendship games and a Valentine card and treat exchange if you like. If you want to bring a treat to share in your child’s classroom, please bring a pre-packaged, peanut and tree-nut free item if possible. No treats will be consumed at the time of the party and will be sent home to be enjoyed with your family.
To keep things simple, classroom treat exchange quantities are as follows:
Preschool: (Fish, Frogs and Tree Frogs – both locations): Each child should bring 20 Valentines to Exchange
Pre-Kindergarten: Each child should bring 20 Valentines to Exchange
Toddler Classrooms: (Penguins and Ladybugs) Each child brings 16
Infant Classrooms: (All Bebe and Baby Bear rooms) Each child brings 12
Please have the Valentine’s signed with your child’s name and sent to school in your child’s backpack or given to the staff at drop off.
We encourage all kids to dress in red, pink, white or their favorite color for the day.
Upcoming Theme Dress Days
Friday, January 19th: Wear your favorite sweatshirt!
Wednesday, January 24th: Wacky Wednesday! Wear your craziest outfit!
Friday, February 2nd: It’s Ground Hog Day – Wear Your Pajamas To School…
Friday, February 9th: Wear your favorite sports team!
Wednesday, February 14th: Red, Pink & White or your child’s favorite color
Friday, March 1st: Crazy Socks Day
Friday, March 15th: Everything is Green!
Reminder: Center Closed for Staff Training Day: Friday, March 29th
School Photos
School picture days are scheduled as follows:
St Anthony:
Wednesday, March 27th: Infant & Toddler Picture Day
Thursday, March 28th: Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten (Graduation)
Blaine:
Wednesday, April 3rd: Infant & Toddler Picture Day
Thursday, April 4th: Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten (Graduation)
JJ's Jam Summer Camp Registration
Summer registration is only three weeks away! Our team is working hard to plan our summer program for our best summer yet! Priority registration opens on February 1 for currently attending pre-K families and families who attended last summer. We are excited to release our brochure on Monday, January 15 via email and on our website! Our program is perfect for children entering Kindergarten through age 12. Please see the timeline of registration below and email info@jjsjam.com if interested in summer 2024.
Timeline for Summer 2024 Registration
Monday, January 15th: Brochure Reveal for JJ's Jam & the Pros Program. This includes pricing for summer 2023, highlights of summer, and more!
Thursday, January 18th: First Day of Zoom Conferences for Summer Registration
Monday, January 22nd: Second Day of Zoom Conferences for Summer Registration
Wednesday, January 24th: Summer Spotlight & Open House from 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM at our Saint Anthony location.
Thursday, January 25th: Summer Spotlight & Open House from 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM at our Blaine location.
Wednesday, January 31st: Summer Registration Form Sent Out via email
Thursday, February 1st: Summer Registration Opens! Children who attended JJ's Jam last summer and pre-K families currently attending this school year are able to register.
Thursday, February 8th: Summer Registration opens to children who attended in past summers at JJ's Jam and siblings of currently attending children at Jack & Jill. **Enrollment is subject to availability by age group at both locations.
Monday, February 12th: Summer Registration opens to children who have not attended JJ's Jam or are not siblings of currently attending Jack & Jill children. **Enrollment is subject to availability by age group at both locations.
March 2024: Reveal of Summer Calendar
April 2024: Waivers sent out for registered children.
Snow Days and other Weather-Related School Closures
Decisions about school closing due to weather conditions are made by the Owner & Administrator of Jack & Jill Early Childhood Learning. The decision to close due to weather conditions is strongly based on decisions of the local school districts as well as the ability for Jack & Jill Early Childhood Learning staff to make it safely to and from work in inclement weather. School closures will be announced via email and text message.
We will be sending out a test school closure notification out via email and text tomorrow 1/12/24 at 10:00am. Please let us know if you do not receive the tests so we can make sure you are included in our distribution lists.
Pre-Kindergarten Screening
Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of your child’s development, based upon their age. Minnesota State Law requires that all preschool aged children be screened before entering public, and some private, kindergartens. The ideal age for screening is three and a half years old, or before a child turns four.
Each school district has a specific location where screenings are held. Below you will find a link to your school district’s early childhood screening website and their contact information.
Roseville School District:
Fairview Community Center
701 W County Road B
Roseville, MN 55113
651-487-4378
St Anthony New Brighton School District
St Anthony Community Center
3301 Silver Lake Road
St Anthony, MN 55418
612-706-1166
Mounds View School District
Pike Lake Education Center
2101 14th St SW
New Brighton, MN 55112
651-621-7350
Minneapolis School District
Locations vary by neighborhood.
Contact by either phone or email
612-668-3715
screen@mpls.k12.mn.us
Anoka Hennepin School District
Sandburg Education Center
1902 2nd Ave
Anoka MN, 55303
763-506-2400
Spring Lake Park School District
Early Childhood Program’s District Service Center
1415 81st. Ave NE
Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
763.600.5800