Great Escape News

September 2016

What to bring: Please Label Everything!

Packed lunch (will be refrigerated) Water bottle or sippy cup Change of clothes (including socks) Crib sheet, blanket and lovey for nap-time 3 Diapers, if needed Apply sunscreen at home or use the

sunscreen provided at the front desk

Dress appropriately for weather (closed toe shoes are required)

Need to Reach Us? Great Escape Office: 303-794-0707 LUMC Office: 303-794-6379

greatescape@littletonumc.org GreatEscapePreschool.org Facebook.com/GreatEscapePreschool

Lisa Perkins - Interim Director LUMC Children’s Ministry Director Jennelle Kreisher – Assistant Director Pat Wojahn – GE Advisory Board Chair

Important Dates Sept. 5 - Labor Day

Sept. 6 - First Day of School

Sept. 10 - Last day to pay Sept. Tuition

Sept. 22 - First Day of Fall

Sept. 26 & 27 - Donuts with Dad

Themes for September: Week Theme Shape Color PDO Preschool

Sept 6-8: Welcome to School circle yellow 1 Ii, 1

Sept 12-15: All about Me & Family circle green 1 Ll, 2

Sept 19-22: Feelings oval blue 2 Ff, 3

Sept 26-29: Career Week rectangle orange 2 Dd, 4

Reminders: Tuition September tuition is due by September 10

th to avoid paying a

$25 late fee. Please make checks payable to Great Escape. Please also write your child’s name on the memo line. If paying with cash, please put the cash in an envelope with your child’s name on it. If you are paying with ACH, the monthly tuition will be withdrawn from your account on September 10

th.

Monthly tuition amounts are as follows: 2 days/week…..$280 / month, $250 / month for 2

nd child

4 days/week…..$495 / month, $445 / month for 2nd

child

Snacks Each family is asked to sign up to bring a nutritious snack 1-2 times a month. The snack needs to be store bought in the original sealed packaging with the ingredients listed as required by the state. We love healthy snacks like: squeeze yogurt, fruit cups, cheese sticks, bananas, apple slices or other sliced fruit (sealed from the store). Please check with your child’s teacher to find out about any allergy restrictions. The state does not allow us to serve homemade snacks.

Lunches Please pack a nutritious lunch for your child. All lunches will be refrigerated until lunch time. Teachers will encourage the children to eat the healthy parts of their lunch before allowing them to eat candy or desserts. Teachers are not allowed to heat the children’s lunches in the microwave.

Sunscreen Apply sunscreen on your child before you come to school or use the sunscreen we provide at the front desk. You will be asked what time you applied sunscreen on the sign-in sheet.

Sign-In Sheet Don’t forget to sign your child in and print legibly who will be picking up your child (full name) and a phone number you can be reached at during the day. Don’t forget to sign your child out at the end of the day.

Please, No Toys from Home Children are discouraged from bringing toys from home unless they are bringing a toy for sharing time. Absolutely no toys that represent weapons: guns, swords, knives, slingshots, etc. are allowed. Any toy bearing a resemblance to a weapon will be collected and given to the parents upon pick-up.

Important Information….. Forms Please bring any paperwork that you have not already turned in and three pictures of your child (for identity purposes). We cannot let your child attend Great Escape without a copy of their current immunizations and a recent signed health status.

Closed Toe Shoes Only Closed toe shoes, no sandals or flip-flops, should be worn at all times. We have found that that open toed shoes are usually a hazard to the safety of the children.

Donuts with Dad Dads, grandpas or other significant family members are invited to join their child in the classroom for “Donuts with Dad” on Monday, September 26 or Tuesday, September 27, from 9:30 to 10:00 am.

Space Available We still have space available in our classes and we are hoping to expand and open the Duckling and Lamb rooms. If you know anyone who is interested in our program or you would like to add days, please contact us at 303-794-0707.

Great Escape Teachers Bunny Class (12 months – 24 months) Ms. Mykiel and Ms. Pat

Pony Class (2 years – 3 years) Ms. Terri and Ms. Janet

Preschool Class (3 years – 4 years) Ms. Jennelle and Ms. Charri

Pre-Kindergarten Class (4 years and up) Ms. Amy and Ms. Melissa

Music and Movement Ms. Beverly

Find out more about all the Great Escape staff on our website on the “Staff/Employment” page.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

By Rachel Rabkin Peachman from Parents Magazine

Whether you're dropping your child off at day care or leaving her at home with Grandma, farewells can be tough. By now your toddler understands object permanence -- the idea that something continues to exist when it can't be seen or heard (even Mom). However, she still needs reassurance that when you leave, you'll always come back. You can help give her this sense by playing simple games; start with peekaboo and then try the bye-bye game, says Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution. To

play the latter, say "bye-bye" to your child, hide behind a chair, then pop out. "This involves more separation than peekaboo," she explains. Finally move on to hide-and-seek.

Around 16 to 20 months, toddlers are working to develop more mastery over their body (think running and self-feeding), and every new challenge that they face can cause stress, Dr. Walfish notes. As a result, they feel conflicted about being away from the security of their parents. While this phase may take months or even years to pass, there's plenty you can do ease separation anxiety in different situations.

When it comes time for you to leave your kid for real, give her advance warning that a sitter will be arriving or that you'll be dropping her off, and then keep your goodbye brief. "If you act anxious, or keep returning for another hug, she will think there is something to worry about," says Vincent Barone, Ph.D., a child psychologist at Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Avoid sneaking out, which can cause her to worry that you might disappear without warning -- and result in more clinginess.)

It can help to develop a very brief ritual for the process. You might say, "Mommy will be back to get you after work. I love you." Then hug your child quickly or give her a butterfly kiss or a high five -- and leave. By keeping farewells the same each time, you create a familiar transition from being with you to being without you. Another smart move: Ask your sitter or day-care teacher to have an activity ready as soon as you turn your child over. Getting her engaged in a clapping game or a new toy will take her mind off the fact that you're leaving.

(Read the full article: http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/separation-anxiety/ease-separation-anxiety/

Great Escape Littleton United Methodist Church 5894 S. Datura St. Littleton, CO 80120

www.greatescapepreschool.org 5894 S Datura St., Littleton, CO 80120 303-794-0707

Great Escape

September 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Labor Day First day of school

No School

Theme: Welcome to School; Concepts: circle, yellow; PS: Ii, 1

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Theme: All About Me/Family; Concepts: circle, green; Preschool: Ll, 2

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Theme: Feelings; Concepts: oval, blue; Preschool: Ff, 3

25 26 27 28 29 30

Donuts with Dad Donuts with Dad

9:30 – 10:00 9:30 – 10:00

Theme: Career Week; Concepts: rectangle, orange; Preschool: Dd, 4