November 2022 Newsletter

Dear Jack & Jill Early Childhood Families:

We hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend. We have several updates to provide on the upcoming weeks as we quickly approach the holiday season.

Fall Harvest Children's Day

Fall Harvest Children’s Day will take place during the school hours of 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on the scheduled dates:

• Wednesday, October 26th

  • St Anthony Site

• Thursday, October 27th

  • Blaine Site

The fun, exciting games and activities will be available at a scheduled time during the day for each POD of children to enjoy. Games and activities will be cleaned and sanitized between each POD’s use. The games and activities will be set up within the corridors, hallways, and, weather permitting, outside.

The weather this weekend was beautiful! We are hopeful the weather will accommodate the outdoor costume parade on Friday, October 28th at 4:00 pm in each of the program parking lots. Parents and Grandparents are welcome and please bring a lawn chair if you like.

The children’s treat exchange will be held on Friday, October 28th.

Upon completion of the parade, we will have your child’s belongings for the weekend set on the lawn for easy pick up. Please plan to send your child’s costume and/or personal belongings in a backpack or bag for easy transition. Be sure the bag is labeled with your child’s name. This eases the congestion of having to go inside the building for pick-up after the parade.

The programs will close upon completion of the parade. If you do not plan to attend the parade, please pick your child up for the day by 5:00 pm on Friday, October 28th.

Parent Teacher Conference
Parent Teacher Conferences begin via Zoom early December 2022 through January 2023. We will begin with the Pre-Kindergarten and Preschool conferences per classroom and work our way through toddlers and infants. In that these conferences are done throughout the day; it takes time to accommodate scheduling and staffing.

Online registration will be sent to families 2-4 weeks prior to the scheduled conference dates.

Absence, Late Drop-Off, and Sick Days
Kindly remember to email info@jackandjilledu.com if your child will be absent for the day. Children over the age of 16 months should be dropped off by 9:00 am daily. Drop-off requests after the start of the learning time of 9:00 am should be sent in advance to the info@jackandjilledu.com.

If a child does not arrive as expected for the day, and notice is not received of the child’s absence, the child will be marked absent for the day. Morning drop-offs after 9:00 am for toddler and preschool children make for a difficult transition and most importantly, arriving routinely after 9:00 am daily does not allow your child to participate in the majority of the daily educational learning program.

Health Update

Winter Celebration & Teddy Bear Workshop!
Like our fall harvest event, the Winter Celebration and Teddy Bear Workshop will take place! Your children will celebrate the season with holiday games and activities in their individual classroom PODS.

Our Teddy Bear Workshop returns, where wishes come true and new friends are made! Children will be able to choose from a variety of stuffed animals, go to the stuffing station and fill their new pal with fluff and love and add a magical wishing star! Your child’s teachers will help the kids “snap” up the stuffed animals and they will be ready for your child to take home. Staff will make a stuffed animal for the babies that may not be able to do this on their own!

• St Anthony Location

  • Wednesday, December 14th

• Blaine Location

  • Thursday, December 15th

Hours: 9:00 am to Noon St Anthony After School Age Kids: 4:00 pm

Getting Ready for Winter Outdoor Play
October already brought us the first snow of the season! After this beautiful weekend, we know winter is around the corner.

Here is a checklist of items your child should bring to and from school daily in their backpack:

• Winter Coat

• Snow Pants

• Boots

• Hat

• Waterproof Gloves or Mittens (extra pairs are great for afternoon play to keep our fingers dry!)

***Kindly remember mittens and hats have to be free of strings to prevent any injuries during outside play.

All winter gear will be required to go to and from school daily to allow our nightly sanitation process. Please have your child’s gear in a labeled bag or backpack to come to and from school.

Toddler and Preschool Dramatic Play - Getting Dressed for Winter
In the upcoming weeks, you will begin to see winter gear added to the dress up and pretend areas of our classroom. This will allow children to practice independently putting on boots and snow pants, and practice zippers. Our goal is that each child can do some part of their winter gear independently. Please talk with your child’s teacher about what is an appropriate expectation for your child to do at their age. We will even share some tricks that we use here at school to get everyone dressed, including THE MAGIC COAT FLIP!

Magic Flip!
Step 1: Put your child’s jacket on the floor upside down with hood by the feet.
Step 2: Have your child push their arms down into the sleeves or “through the tunnel.”
Step 3: When hands are down to the opening of the sleeves, have your child flip their jacket up and over their head.
Step 4: Your child’s jacket is on and they are ready to go outside and play!

2022 Pajama Drive
It is our 12th year Jack and Jill Childcare Families, Children, and Staff will participate in our annual Pajama Drive.
All School Pajama Wearing Days this year will be:

• Wednesday, November 23rd

• Wednesday, November 30th

• Wednesday, December 7th

• Wednesday, December 14th

Please send your child to school in pajamas with closed toed school shoes. No slippers please. Winter gear will be needed on our pajama wearing days.

Please drop your pajamas in the designated area at the curbside entrance of each center. Donations will be accepted on the mornings and afternoons of the All School Pajama Wearing Days above. Our goal is to collect 200 pairs of pajamas at each of the Blaine and St. Anthony centers. Pajamas must be newly store bought. Pajamas in all sizes are needed from newborn to school age.

Pajama donations will go to community crisis centers and children in need. Thank you for the gift of sharing!

Looking Ahead... Closed Center Days
November 2022

• Thursday, November 24, 2022: Thanksgiving Holiday

• Friday, November 25, 2022: Thanksgiving Holiday

December 2022

• Friday, December 23, 2022: Winter Holiday Break

• Monday, December 26, 2022: Christmas Holiday

• Friday, December 30, 2022: Winter Holiday Break

• Monday, January 2, 2023: New Year’s Holiday

Please email info@jackandjilledu.com if your child will be absent any days near the holidays. Note your child’s name and classroom. You may simply cut and paste the calendars below and submit via email.

New App for Check Ins, Scheduling, & More!
In the coming weeks, we will be introducing iPads in our classroom. They will initially be used for checking children in and out of the classroom. We will expand the use of these over time to include daily nap notes, scheduling conferences, and more.

In the coming weeks, further information will be sent out, along with an invite to create a parent account for this system.

Thank you!
We ask all families to make the best choices to continue to make Jack & Jill’s environment safe and healthy for our staff, children, and family. Please do not send your child to school or enter the building if you are experiencing any symptoms of any communicable illness.

We appreciate your continued support.

Warm Regards,
Carol L. Arens,
Owner/Administrator
carol@jackandjilledu.com