Cultivate Mankato: February 2023 News

VOL. 33 FEB 2023

This Month's News

Parent Resources

NEW Parent Dashboard, MNaeyc Teacher Award, CultivateLOVE Nominations, Valentine's Reminder

Co-Regulate with Your Child Infant Crying

NURTURE. GROW. EMPOWER.

www.cultivatemankato.com

February News Index 2023 Center Closures

03

Upcoming Study, Valentine's Day Reminder

04

2023 Volunteer Baby Rockers, Sensory Library Coming Soon!

05

Abbey Weilage Teacher Award

06

Cultivate LOVE

07

RaiseRight - Save on Tuition

08

Scholastic Book Orders, Early Education Day on the Hill

09

Spirit Week Photos

10

Infant Development Center

11

Workiversaries

12

Referral and Hire: Parent Incentive

13

Parent Resource

14-16

NEW Parent Dashboard - Access Menus

17

227 Event Space

18

Covid-19 Policies updated February 2022

Review & download MN Dept of Health COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in Child Care Programs

25-26

Upcoming Study

Valentine's Reminder

Within our education curriculum, we use studies to guide our lesson planning. Studies are a broad concept that we focus on for 4-6 weeks. Currently our study has been all about Health. This month we will begin our Music Study. If you feel your family has something special to share in regards to our upcoming study, we would love family participation.

Reach out!

Hello Parents, I wanted to touch base with you about our programming for Valentine’s Day. We enjoy celebrating this holiday, a holiday that is based on one of our core values…LOVE! With that said, at Cultivate it may look a little different from typical Valentine’s Day traditions of candy and gifts being given.

We are asking that there be no candy or gifts brought in for classmates. We encourage you to think about another way to spend that time and money to show love. Spend that time making a homemade card for someone special to your child. Or spend that time doing something special or kind for someone they love…an act of service as kindness.

At this age, Valentine exchange between classmates may not be understood as they are with older children. We can show love in lots of other ways! We encourage outside of the box thinking and to keep things simple...love can be shown in simple ways!

If you are a parent that looks forward to putting together Valentines with candies or little gifts, you can still do them but consider making them and bringing them to a community home/assisted living with your child, and see their faces light up! We don’t want to take away from something important to you and how you express love, so feel free to share those candies and gifts with others!

Some classroom teachers may have their own way they’d like you to be part of Valentines, instead of doing class Valentines. If so, they will be communicating with you on that. If you don’t hear of any set plans, feel free to chat with them about any ideas you had, in lieu of candy or gifts that you’d like to share with the class as a way to spread love.

Thank you, Laura Walser - Early Ed. Coordinator

CULTIVATE NEWS | 4

www.cultivatemankato.com

Welcome Baby Rocker Volunteers!

We have reintroduced and defined our Baby Rocker Volunteer program this last month, and had ?? volunteers participate in our orientation training. We look forward to continuing to build this program into 2023. Welcome Baby Rockers!

Message to families from Anissa: Hello there! I am excited to announce that our Baby Rocking Volunteer Program is moving forward this week with our first volunteers in the infant classrooms! YAY! Each volunteer has received in-person orientation to Cultivate Mankato. This orientation includes a review of Cultivate Mankato’s Vision, Mission & Values, a review of important policies we follow as an organization, and a discussion about the expectations we have of our volunteers.

During their first hour of volunteering, they will receive additional hands-on training to ensure they are properly lifting and holding the children.

Please note, volunteers are supervised at all times while in the classroom.

If you have any questions, or know of anyone who might like to volunteer at Cultivate Mankato, please email me at anissa@cultivatemankato.com

Sensory Library

Coming Soon!

Sensory Library made possible by community donations through

We have been working hard with Sam Olsen, OT with Persist Therapy, getting our sensory library ready for our families to use! Watch for details on when and how you can check out items from our sensory library, which will be located in our administrative office!

Teachers will also be able to utilize our sensory library, and children will be able to come over to the administrative office and use our quiet space if sensory breaks are needed.

Sneak Peek of some of the items being utilized by our classrooms.

CULTIVATE NEWS | 5

www.cultivatemankato.com

Congratulations to Abbey Weilage!

The 2023 MnAEYC Outstanding Educator Award is presented to an individual who has been an outstanding educator in an early childhood program in Minnesota. This person provides exceptional service to children and families each day. This person has a great attitude, is a lifelong learner, and is committed to equity and best practices in early education.

Help us congratulate Abbey Weilage!

CONGRATULATIONS!

ABBEY WEILAGE Toddler 3 Co-Teacher

DO YOU KNOW AN EDUCATOR WHO GOES ABOVE & BEYOND?

CULTIVATE LOVE

Recognition Award!

Please Nominate them today: WHO QUALIFIES?

WHAT THEY WILL RECEIVE:

ANYBODY WHO WORKS WITHIN THE EARLY EDUCATION FIELD

RECOGNITION AWARD CERTIFICATE

TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, PARAS ADMINISTRATORS, DIRECTORS, ETC

CULTIVATEMN T-SHIRT LETTER THANKING THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF EARLY EDUCATION

NOMINATE TODAY www.cultivatemn.org

Nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator today and we will send some LOVE! Click Here to Fill Out our Nomination Form

SAVE ON TUITION

click here for Cultivate Mankato' s RaiseRight FAQ ENROLL HERE

ENROLLMENT CODE:

GIFT CARD ORDER SCHEDULE:

HAVE QUESTIONS?

CZGPSWL3ID8X

1st & 3rd FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

JORDYN ERICKSON jordyn.erickson@cultivatemankato.com

CULTIVATE NEWS | 5

(physical gift cards)

www.cultivatemankato.com

HELP US BUILD OUR CLASSROOM RESOURCES

SCHOLASTIC Book Orders!

Use Class Code: R76H7

Through the Scholastic Book Club, you have the choice to place an order each month. Your orders will allow us to earn free books for our Cultivate library and will be used throughout all of our classrooms. Books will be delivered to Cultivate and sent home with your child.

Orders are due the 2nd Friday of every month.

Reminder: please write your first & last name on your book orders Use the link below to order.

Order will be due on Friday, February 10th.

Any questions about ordering can be emailed to Ms. Tera at tera.vankeulen@cultivatemankato.com Link to order: https://orders.scholastic.com/R76H7

Representatives with CultivateMN will be attending MCCA's 2023 Day on the Hill to SHOW SOME LOVE for Child Care. They'll have opportunities to connect with colleagues, meet their personal legislators, hear from key child care champions, observe committee hearings, and take a tour of the beautifully-restored Capitol.

January '23 Spirit Week Monday = Flannel or Plaid Day Tuesday = Backward Day Wednesday = Wacky Hair or Wear a Hat Day Thursday = Beach Day Friday = Pajama Day

CULTIVATE NEWS | 10

www.cultivatemankato.com

CULTIVATE MANKATO INFANT DEVELOPMENT CENTER

SAME PROGRAM SAME VALUES SECOND LOCATION

SECURE YOUR SPOT FOR 2023 NOW ENROLLING & HIRING | REQUEST A TOUR TODAY

www.cultivatemankato.com Interested in being a volunteer baby rocker? Contact Us Today!

Our Infant Development Center:

♡ Conveniently located near Mayo Hospital & Mankato Clinic ♡ Space is designed specifically for infants 3-16 months ♡ Brand new facility with the same stellar infant program ♡ Exceeds policies & procedures expectations ♡ Detailed parent communication throughout the day ♡ Infant development checklists, lesson planning & activities ♡ Staff on-site training & professional development CULTIVATE NEWS | 11

ENROLLMENT CONTACT FORM JOIN OUR TEAM APPLY HERE MORE INFO SCHEDULE A TOUR www.cultivatemankato.com

CELEBRATING ONE YEAR WORK ANNIVERSARY Sam Deyo, Toddler Co-Teacher Liv Benson, Central Kitchen and Food Coordinator Megan Diedrich, Human Resource Assistant CULTIVATE NEWS | 12

www.cultivatemankato.com

CULTIVATE MANKATO

Referral & Hire $200 TUITION CREDIT

Family Incentive Program

Refer a teacher and if hired, receive $200 tuition credit.

No limits on the number of referral & hires.

Questions? Email Megan Diedrich at megan.diedrich@cultivatemankato.com

​Please share this information to help us find caring, outstanding and qualified individual to join our team!

Our Benefits & Incentives: ‣ Health, Dental, Vision Insurance ‣ Professional Development Training & Stipend ‣ Retirement Plan ‣ Professional Work Environment ‣ Competitive Wages ‣ Paid Teacher Appreciation Days ‣ Child Care Benefits ‣ No Nights or Weekends ‣ Drinks, Snacks & Lunch Provided ‣ Team Parties & Events Click Here to Apply CULTIVATE NEWS | 13

www.cultivatemankato.com

Parent Resources CLICK THE IMAGE(S) FOR MORE INFORMATION

CULTIVATE NEWS | 14

www.cultivatemankato.com

DID YOU KNOW THAT CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE IS PART OF CULTIVATE MANKATO 'S CURRICULUM? CULTIVATE NEWS | 15

www.cultivatemankato.com

NEW!

Access to menus, events, reminders, links, forms, etc. – all in one location!

C L I C K H E R E T O AC C ES S T H E P AR EN T D AS H B OARD Remember to bookmark the link – it cannot be found on our website.

Only those with the direct link can access the dashboard.

CULTIVATE NEWS | 17

www.cultivatemankato.com

Us & ff r e f Re 0o 2 $ eive tion c e R tui r u yo

OUR EVENT SPACE PROVIDES: • A large kitchen island with bar stools • Tables, table clothes & matching chairs • Three large windows for lots of natural lighting

• A kitchenette with a refrigerator, freezer, sink & microwave • Access to bathrooms • Beautiful artwork

To reserve visit: www.cultivatemankato.com/community-room

ENROLLED CULTIVATE FAMILIES RECEIVE A FREE RESERVATION