Welcome from Teacher Kim

Hello Vaughn Families!

We are off to such a great beginning of a brand new year.  I cannot believe what a great group of kiddos we have!  Our first few days of class we have been reading "Llama, Llama Misses Mama", the children were all experiencing the same thing that Llama was, their first days of preschool!  The important ending to this story is that Mama came back!!  We talked about feeling shy and maybe scared, we learned that we were all feeling the same way and we talked about these feelings.  We had some great discussions!

We will begin November with "Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you See?"  A great story with repetitive text for the children to be able to read along with me.  I will be making the children each a "Friend, Friend, Who do you See?"  book, and while reading this book at home it will help them to learn the names of all of their new friends.

Thank you so much for sharing your children with me!

Teacher Kim

Welcome from Carol

Dear Parents,
Welcome to co-op preschool! The beginning of school is always such an exciting
time, as the possibilities for a great new year are endless. It is personally an
exhilarating time as I get the opportunity to meet and to get to know all of you
a little better. In my September visits to the three classes this week I was so
impressed with how well you and your children are adjusting. Every child seemed
busy and engaged. The working parents were doing their jobs while interacting
with the children. Of course our two wonderful teachers made it all run smoothly.
Besides these class visits, another way that I meet you is through the parent
shares that I facilitate once a quarter; in October, January, and March. For those
of you who don’t know what a parent share is there is a description at the end of
this article. For those of you who have attended a parent share, you already know
how fun and informative they can be.
The upcoming parent shares for October (one in November) are:
Vaughn 3-day – F 11/9
Vaughn 2-Day – Th 10/25
Evergreen – Th 10/25
I look forward to seeing you at the next parent share.
Carol

A parent share is a fun and helpful informal discussion held during your child’s

class time in another room. This is your chance to talk with (or just listen to) me

and other parents in your class talk about whatever is on your mind regarding

parenting issues, ages and stages of development, your child’s and/or your role

in the classroom, etc. Because these sessions are informal, you may come and

go as you please. Siblings are welcome (please bring things to entertain them).

Earn a parent education credit.

BTW There are usually treats as well.

Great Start by Teacher Mary

Dear Parents,

 The school year has started out great.  The children are learning the routine, classroom rules, and how to make friends.  We are still working on learning each others names.

    In the month of October we will be visiting the farm. We will talk about farm animals, and what happens on the farm.  We will watch as the autumn leaves turn from green to red and orange .  We will also have fun with apples.  What can you do with an apple?  Your child will soon find out.

    Thanks for making the start of the school year go so smoothly.

                Miss Mary

Safety Tips

This month's safety tip is in regards to Fire Safety and Prevention.  October hosts a week long observance the 7th through the 13th. Here are a few tips to share with your preschoolers. Talk to them about how they can prevent fires. Children under age five are especially curious about fire and need to start learning about the tremendous danger. 

• Never play with matches, lighters or candles.
• Never play with electrical cords and never put anything in a socket.
• Blankets or clothes should never be thrown on top of lamps.
• Don’t turn up a heater without a grown-up’s permission.
• If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop and roll.

Mom Tip: Check under beds and in closets for burned matches or candles. Kids often choose “secret” places to play with matches and light fires. Even “good” kids are curious– teach your kids to always tell you when they find matches and lighters.

Look at Your Home From Your Child’s Perspective

Think about how your child sees potential fire hazards in your home by getting down on your hands and knees with them and taking a look around. See any dangling cords that could cause a problem if pulled? Enticing heaters or other appliances? Make adjustments to your home according to what you find.

Mom Tip: Make your floor-tour a game with your kids. Have them point out things they see by playing eye-spy. You’ll be surprised by what catches their attention.

October is also the time of year for costumes, sweets, and tricks and treats. Put Halloween safety first with these common-sense tips.

Carve safely

Are your children begging to carve pumpkins? Make Halloween safety a family affair.

• Decorate with markers or paint. Let young children draw faces on pumpkins with washable markers or child-friendly paint. Leave any carving to an adult.
• Use candles with care. Place candlelit pumpkins on a sturdy surface away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended. Better yet, light pumpkins with flashlights or battery-operated flameless candles instead.

Get clever with costumes

From furry animals to princesses and superheroes, choosing costumes wisely is an important part of Halloween safety.

• The brighter the better. Whether you buy a costume or make one yourself, choose bright colors and flame-retardant materials. If your child will be trick-or-treating outdoors after dark, attach reflective tape to his or her costume.
• Size it right. In case it's chilly outdoors, make sure your child's costume is loose enough for warm clothing to be worn underneath — but not long enough to cause tripping. Avoid oversized shoes and high heels.
• Skip the masks. A mask can obstruct your child's vision, especially if it slips out of place. Use kid-friendly makeup instead.
• Limit accessories. Pointed props — such as wands, swords and knives — may pose safety hazards.

Trick-or-treat with care

The promise of Halloween candy may leave stars in your child's eyes, but Halloween safety still rules.

• Get in on the fun. Accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. Pin a piece of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside your child's pocket in case you get separated. Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group of friends, parents or older siblings. Make sure someone in the group carries a flashlight with fresh batteries.
• Stay close to home. Don't allow your child to go door to door in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
• Set ground rules. Review safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes and never going inside a home. 
• Inspect the treats carefully. Don't let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Feed your child a healthy snack before heading out, and inspect the treats before allowing your child to dive in. Discard anything that's not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable. If you have young children, weed out gum, peanuts, hard candies and other choking hazards.
• Ration the loot. If your child collects gobs of goodies, dole out a few pieces at a time and save the rest. You may even ask your child if he or she would like to swap some — or all — of the candy for something else, such as a special toy, book or outing. You might also suggest donating excess candy to a food shelf or other charity.
• Plan a party. Consider planning a trick-or-treat party with a couple of neighbors instead of house-to-house door knocking. Decorate the garages, have a costume contest, and plan games and prizes. 

By Amanda Warfield - Health and Safety