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FALL, 2008

Dear Parents,
In
the four years since Regent Park opened, we've been privileged to care for
and love a great many children and their families. Beautiful newborns
have grown into lovable toddlers; who have grown into inquisitive,
independent, and yes, defiant two and three year olds. We watch the
growth in awe of the power of time as it marches a long and with gratitude
that we've been allowed to be a part of your baby and toddler's life.
Regent
Park's original children are now in first grade and kindergarten. And
just like their parents, we have trouble grasping the fact these little guys
that were in diapers and not yet walking are now learning to read and write.
The babies that we took care of three years ago have "graduated" to
pre-kindergarten programs, but, fortunately for us, a good number of them
have left behind a sibling (or two). We relish the opportunity to
remain a part of our families' lives through a second or third infancy.
Currently,
at Regent Park, we are in the midst of a population explosion. Amongst
the two year olds, 10 out of 26 families have delivered a baby in the past
month or are expecting an addition between now and spring. We love the
excitement that a new little one brings for every family and are aware of
the challenges that the older child faces in coping with the change a new
baby brings. Our teachers know that a little extra TLC can go a long
way to easing the arrival of a new baby.
Just
as our staff enjoys your children on a daily basis, we also enjoy getting to
know the families at our pot luck dinners and holiday get-togethers.
Our Annual Fall Family Potluck
Dinner is coming up on
Tuesday, October 14th at 5:30pm. The potluck is a great
opportunity to meet other parents, chat with our staff and enjoy a delicious
dinner. Sign up in the office to bring a dish to share.
As
always, if you have a question, need some advice or just want to share a
funny story, feel free to stop in the office.
Marlene and Diana

REMINDER
friday, October
31st is our Annual Halloween Costume Parade. the children will parade
through the big room beginning at 10:30 am. Your child can come dressed in
costume or the teachers can help them get dressed. Bring your camera
and enjoy the fun!!


Mary Frances and Jessica's Class
Jessica is out on maternity leave after
giving birth to Blaine on September 28th. She and Blaine are doing
well. He is a beautiful baby! We expect Jessica to return during
November.
There are seven sweet babies in the
youngest baby room. We are working on tummy time, rolling, and
grasping. Some of us are even crawling. The babies are engaging in
parallel play with their friends. They are all starting to try new
foods and making some really big messes. But that is what babies do!
In September, we learned about things that take us places. Each baby
made (!) a collage featuring airplanes, boats and cars. In October, we
are experiencing fall - leaves, pumpkins and apples.
Please bring extra family pictures:
family, friends, and even pets. Be sure these are pictures that we can
cut to use in activities.
We get out in
the buggies every chance we get to enjoy the fresh air. Remember to
bring warm outerwear as the temperatures become more seasonable.
Vivian and Kelly's
Class

We're scooting,
creeping, crawling and walking in this class! We are always on the
move, exploring the environment. With some bumps and bruises along the
way we're determined and focused on our way to toddlerhood.
We enjoy dancing and
clapping to music and learning new words. We love "reading" books.
Every day brings new challenges: new foods, drinking from sippy cups and
waving bye-bye. The babies really enjoy the days when we can take
walks in the buggies or sit on the mats outside our classroom enjoying the
beautiful weather.


Nicketie and Markita's Class

We had a busy summer in our classroom
playing outside in the sunshine and inside when the sun turned our faces red
and hot! We have welcomed several new friends and said good-bye to our
oldest ones.
Fall brings a welcome change to the air
and we find ourselves outside enjoying it as much as possible. We have
been working on our "pumpkin patch" outside our door and are adding to it
almost daily - so keep an eye out for your child's art work "growing" in it.
Please remember to layer your child's
clothing, so we can adjust to the ever changing temperature throughout the
day. We go out to play every day provided it is not too wet.


Courtney, Lydia and Brenda's Room

In September we talked about things
that go. We read books about trucks, cars, planes and rockets.
Out favorite songs were "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Slippery Fish".
Out on the playground we saw airplanes in the sky, a school bus, and heard a
choo-choo train in the distance. With fall in mind, we have been doing
fun projects like making pumpkin paintings and working together to create a
fall-leaf collage. Painting has become a favorite activity. Most
prefer to use a paint brush. Some of us aren't sure what to think
about paint on our fingers.
During October, we will spend time
outside enjoying the beautiful fall weather. Whether on the swings,
pushing cars, or playing in the sandbox, we love our outside time and are
grateful for cooler days. We will explore fall and all its colors
through art, stories, and other hands-on activities.
We have also become more interested in
activities such as puzzles and lego building as our fine-motor skills
improve. The vehicle and animal puzzles are among our favorites.
Our love for animals carries over to our toy animals and, of course, books
and songs about animals.
In addition, we work every day on
treating our friends and teachers with respect. We work on "thank-you"
and "please" and "sorry". We are getting so big!


Jess and Brandi's Class

The leaves are changing
and fall is finally here. In September, we have been learning about
things that take us places. So our class has been busy making cars,
boats, planes and trucks. In October, we will be working on an autumn
theme. The children love to gather leaves and inspect them with the
magnifying glasses, along with the fake bugs in our room. So you will
be seeing lots of leaves, pumpkins and Halloween artwork this month.
Now that the weather is
starting to change we would like to remind parents to please bring an extra
paid of warm clothes for your children. Also, please remember to wash
your child's hands upon arrival.


Christina and Teresita's Class


Our class is busy, busy, busy doing art
projects! With two teachers who love doing art projects, I'm sure your
refrigerators will be covered in no time!
Last month was a time of transition as
everyone settled into their new class. The theme for September was
transportation. We learned about things that take us places
-everything from bicycles to rocket ships.
This month we will be learning about
autumn and Halloween. We will learn about changing leaves, feel the
air outside become colder, and have a lot of fun getting ready for
Halloween.
Lately, our class has been really
interested in puzzles and babies. many of our friends are quickly
becoming experts at doing puzzles. Interest in babies has increased
due to some of our friends welcoming new babies into their families.


In
addition to the teachers listed above as group leaders, Regent Park employs
several wonderful, very capable floaters that spend time in all of the
classrooms learning the children and routines. Malerie Crisp,
Courtney's sister (and Trey's mom) has been with us for 2 1/2 years.
Bethany Hoffman came to us a year ago. She works 3 days a week filling
in where ever she is needed. This past summer, Ella Shiryayeva came on
board. She works where ever she is needed. And then in
September, in anticipation of Jessica's maternity leave, we hired Amanda
Elliott, a recent A-B Tech graduate in Early Childhood Education. Each
of these folks are outstanding additions to the great staff here at Regent
Park.
As the cold weather
approaches, remember to send warm outerwear for your child to play outdoors
or take buggie rides. Thanks!

In an effort to cut down on germs at
Regent Park, please wash your child's hands immediately upon entering the
classroom.


UPCOMING
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tuesday, October 14th, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Fall Family Potluck
Friday, October 31st,
10:30am Halloween Costume Parade
November 27th and 28th
Closed for Thanksgiving
December 24th, 25th and
26th Closed for Christmas
January 1st
Closed for New Year's Day

The St. Nicholas Project
This year, once
again, we will be participating in the St. Nicholas Project of the Eblen
Foundation. For the past 2 years, we have "adopted" 6 families and
provided those families with new clothing, toiletry items, food certificates
and, of course, new toys. More information will be coming around
Thanksgiving.
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