A Note from The Director September 2014
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! This year promises to be a particularly exciting one with a mixture of old and new. Although we are a new administration, we are committed to consistency and tradition, and we will be offering the same enriching, literacy-based curriculum that you and your children have come to expect at ICDC. Our teachers, many of whom have been working here for quite a while, are committed to meeting the needs of each and every child. By far, the single most important factor in the success of a school year is the relationship between teacher and child. The relationship between school and family is an important one too. It is only by working together on behalf of your children and keeping the lines of communication open that we can help them reach their fullest potential. I hope that in the coming months I am able to get to know each of them, and you! Please call for an appointment, or stop by to say hello. When I first arrived at Interfaith, I was struck by the warm, family-like atmosphere. It is my hope and my goal that this will continue. All the best, Julie Oudin
ICDC Newsletter
September 2014
Important Dates
September 1
Center Closed
September 2
First day of classes for Partial Day Preschool, School Day, MDO classes
September 2-3
Registration for Enrichment Programs for all Three Year Olds & above.
September 22-26
Spirit Week – ICDC 38th Anniversary 1
Health & Safety Welcome back. We have an exciting year planned. So that we can work together to keep your children safe and healthy, we ask that you become familiar with the policies in our Parent Handbook. If you have any medicine left in the clinic from the summer, please pick it up by September 12th or it will be disposed of. New medication forms are available for the 2014-2015 school year and they will need to be signed if your child needs any medications. This includes sunscreen, insect repellent, or diaper cream. Forms are available for you at the front office. Regarding illness, children cannot attend school if their temperature is 100.4 degrees or greater. They may only return to school when they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. If your child has had any vomiting or diarrhea, they need to be free of these symptoms for 24 hours as well before returning to school. Safety The door code is for the security of our building. Please do not share this code with anyone. Only adults may enter the code; please do not allow your children to do so. When children are being assisted out of the car in the morning, please place your car in park or turn it off for the safety of the children. Please remember that cell phones are not to be used in school zones. Children can be very impulsive when entering or exiting the building. Please hold their hands as you are leaving at the end of the day so they do not run out the door into the parking lot. ICDC has a policy regarding footwear. We ask that you not send your children to school in flip flops, sandals, or crocs. Cowboy boots should only be worn on Texas celebration days. Closed-toe shoes with rubber soles are best. Please label all items and please provide an extra pair of clothes and shoes to be kept here at ICDC. If we all work together, we can ensure that your children have a safe and happy school year. Thank you for your cooperation. Georgy Redifer, RN ICDC School Nurse
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Curriculum Corner Literacy Julie Oudin, Director Story baskets have been placed in the children’s classrooms for them to enjoy. With props in hand, children can act out the stories they read and the stories come to life. Teachers are excited to act out and dramatize some new books with the children. Children love doing what the words say! Some favorites are: Tickle Tickle and All Fall Down by Helen Oxenbury Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley Freight Train by Donald Crews The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Science Lab News: Lisa Whittle, Assistant Director
We are so excited to have all of our little scientists back at school! We have an incredible Science Lab here at ICDC, and we are ready to explore and discover science concepts through observation and experimentation. This month, we will focus on Health and Safety as we learn about germs and the importance of washing our hands. Here is a great song that you can sing with your children to help them learn about hand washing: WASH YOUR HANDS Tune: “Mary Had A Little Lamb” Wash, wash, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, Wash, wash, wash your hands, wash the germs away. Grab the soap and scrub, scrub, scrub; scrub, scrub, scrub; scrub, scrub, scrub, Grab the soap and scrub, scrub, scrub several times a day! Jean Warren You can also read these books with your children to help them learn more about germs and washing your hands: Germs Are Not For Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick Wash Your Hands! by Tony Ross ICDC Newsletter
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ICDC Parent’s Club
From The President
Hi everyone! Welcome back!! Parent’s Club is about to kick-off one of our biggest fundraisers of the year - School Spirit t-shirts! All proceeds raised throughout the year by Parent’s Club directly benefit our school providing items such as new enrichment materials for the classrooms, learning toys for our children, staff appreciation events for our teachers and the cookies for the beginning of the year socials!! Please be looking for the t-shirt order forms that will be going home with your child the week of September 8th. Colors and sizes will be displayed in the lobby near the front office. Have your child wear their Interfaith t-shirt to school to show school spirit! T-shirt orders will be due by Friday, September 19th to the front desk. The Parent’s Club is hard at work planning for a great year, but we are always open to new ideas, thoughts and suggestions. If you are interested in getting involved with Parent’s Club - please contact me. I would love to speak with you about the opportunities that are available. Our first Parent’s Club meeting will be held at the school on Tuesday, September 9th at 1:30 pm. Please join us! I look forward to working with all of you and it is my sincere hope that this is one of the best school years ever! Warmest regards, Shannon K. de la Paz skdelapaz@gmail.com 713/851.1411
Parent Involvement Opportunity Being a Room Mom or Dad for your child’s class is a very rewarding experience. We will be having an information meeting on September 16th at 6:00 p.m. in our Great Room. We thank you for volunteering and look forward to a wonderful partnership in the development and growth of your children. ICDC Newsletter
Kroger Plus Card Please help our school earn money by linking your Kroger Plus Card to Interfaith Child Developmental Center. We will be participating in the Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Donation Program. Every time, you shop at Kroger, a percentage of your eligible purchases will be given to Interfaith for our enrichment classes. We will be sending a letter with a barcode home soon for the cashier to scan. Thank you for helping our school grow!
Helping Hand Volunteer Program
Our Helping Hand Program is a wonderful way to get involved in our school. Time is spent helping teachers with die-cutting, repairing library books, laminating, etc. If you’re interested in helping or have questions, please contact the front office. 4
Other notes: The teachers and staff of ICDC would like to extend a HUGE “thank you” to our amazing Parents’ Club for your generous donations to our school last year. We greatly appreciate the umbrellas for our Outdoor Nature Classroom tables, book donations from the Spring Book Fair, the contributions you made towards the new turf on our toddler playground, your contributions towards professional development for our teachers, the puzzles, science materials, and easel for a preschool classroom, and the wonderful treats you provided for the teachers throughout the school year. Thank you so much for your donations and continued support of our school. We appreciate you!! ICDC Teachers and Staff
Enrichment Programs Sign up for Enrichment Programs will be Sept 2nd and September 3rd, 4:30-6:00 pm in the P wing hallway. Enrichment classes begin the week of September 15th. Monday or Wednesday D is for Discovery (Science Program) 12:30 -1:30 for children in the Four Year Old Programs Tuesday and Thursday Spanish for Preschoolers 3:15-3:45 for children in the Four Year Old Programs Tuesday Music by Mary 11:30-12:15 All Day Threes A 6, A7, A8 12:30-1:15 Partial Day P 17, P 18 and P 19 2:45-3:30 School Day/All Day A9, A10, A 11, A 12, A 13, A 14, P 20, P 21 Wednesday Boni’s Dance 1:00- 2:00 for children in the Four Year Old All Day and School Day Programs only, off site-Bus transportation provided Playball 12:00-12:30 for children in the Three Year Old All Day and School Day Programs only Thursday Playball 12:30-1:00 for children in the Four Year old All Day and School Day Programs only Friday Playball 12:30-1:00 for children in the Four year old All Day and School Day Programs only
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