March 2023 Newsletter
Dear Jack & Jill Families:
The weather team was accurate with its snow forecast this winter. It has been a long season and we all recognize the need for sunshine and spring ahead of us.
As we prepare for our staff development day on Friday, April 7th, our focus is Reflective Practices, which allows our program to maintain and continually improve upon our teaching practices in the classroom. Through reflection and continuous improvement, we desire to achieve better outcomes for the children. For example, we are reflecting upon:
The individual needs of each child are being met.
The self-esteem is increased within each child.
Using proper verbal and non-verbal communication to build a positive and respectful relationship.
An appropriate, interactive classroom environment, as we introduce new STEAM toys and activities for the children to enjoy indoors and out.
This reflection process will benefit the program as you see the changes and build confidence in the quality and improved care tactics.
You will begin to see changes within the classrooms as we remove the dividers in our preschool classrooms. Our focus on self-reflection will be to create a classroom environment that expands teacher-student-family relationships. We see the need to have the preschool classrooms operate as one unit, as we did pre-COVID. This will allow the teachers to support one another. Our training will focus on meaningful reflection in the classroom. Emphasis will be on building calm and positive esteem, reduce stress and behaviors, and optimize learning, discovery, and exploration with the children as a whole classroom.
Spring Forward
Daylight Savings Time is Sunday, March 12th – please remember to set your clocks ahead one hour this weekend.
Upcoming Theme Dress Days
Friday, March 17th: Everything is Green!
Monday, March 20th: It’s the first day of spring! Wear your favorite spring outfit and think sunshine!
Friday, March 31st: April Fools – It really is Pajama Day Friday! No slippers please
Save the Date Pre-K Open House March 29th and 30th.
WHO:
We strongly encourage all currently attending preschool families to attend. Any currently attending family at Jack & Jill is able to attend.
WHEN:
March 29 & 30: 4:00-6:00 PM
WHERE:
March 29: Saint Anthony Location
March 30: Blaine Location
WHAT:
An Open House is a perfect opportunity to learn more about our Pre-Kindergarten program. Come and meet the staff and discover the programs, activities and curriculum offered to your child in our Pre-Kindergarten program.
In the Pre-Kindergarten program, our goal is to help every child sharpen the skills they’ve already developed and learn new skills that will be needed for entry to kindergarten. The pre-Kindergarten program is offered to children 4 or 5 years old and takes place the year before kindergarten to prepare children for the social and academic challenges in elementary school.
The pre-Kindergarten program helps each child become an independent learner, setting up to be successful in the classroom. Jack & Jill uses a social emotional based curriculum based on the Minnesota Early Childhood Standards.
Children have in-depth discussions about a given topic and participate in question-and-answer time.
Introduction of charts and graphing components.
Master concepts of writing and be able to compose their first and last names.
Children learn to identify and match uppercase and lowercase letters.
Develop early reading skills such as phonics and blending letter sounds.
Math concepts include one-to-one counting, patterns, and simple addition.
Science concepts of cause and effect, gravity, force and movement are introduced with hands on experiments.
Focus on independent conflict resolution.
Focus on socialization and building friendships with peers.
As children learn these pre-academic skills, they can enter Kindergarten and grade school better equipped to learn more advanced concepts.
By attending Jack & Jill's Pre-Kindergarten program, you also gain priority registration to JJ's Jam, our summer program for children entering Kindergarten through age 12. This program typically fills up quickly and priority registration guarantees you a spot in our program.
School Photos
Lifetouch will be taking our school photos again this year.
St Anthony:
Tuesday, April 4th: Infants & Toddlers (all infant classrooms, Penguins and Ladybugs)
Wednesday, April 5th: Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten (L’ll Fish, Red Fish, Both Frogs & all Pre-Kindergarten)
Blaine:
Wednesday, April 12th: Infants & Toddlers (both infant classrooms, Penguins and Ladybugs)
Thursday, April 13th: Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten (Fish, Frogs, Tree Frogs and Pre-Kindergarten)
Jack & Jill will provide blue graduation caps and gowns to graduating pre-k children for pre-k graduation pictures.
Parent Teacher Conferences
In April you will receive an email to register or your child’s parent teacher conference from signup.com for a zoom meeting with your child’s teacher.
Pre-Kindergarten and Preschool classroom conferences will take place early to mid-May. Toddler conferences will be done the latter part of May and Infant conferences will follow.
Upcoming Closing Reminders: Jack & Jill is closed on the following days
Each day the center is closed is a paid tuition date.
Friday, April 7th: Staff Development Day
Friday, May 26th: Staff Development Day
Monday, May 29th: Memorial Day
Clothes Exchange
In the upcoming weeks, please be sure to send extra clothing for your child to school that are the correct size and seasonally appropriate. We will be sending home any clothes currently in your child’s locker that may no longer fit and are not seasonally appropriate.
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
ecfe@isd623.org
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
ecscreening@moundsviewschools.org
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
We appreciate your continued support.
Warm Regards,
Carol L. Arens,
Owner/Administrator