A Note from The Director January 2014
Dear Interfaith Families,
Happy New Year and welcome back! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. On behalf of the staff at ICDC, I’d like to thank you for the scrumptious holiday brunch you provided in December. It was quite a treat and enjoyed by all! We’re looking forward to an exciting schedule of activities and curriculum to start our second semester. We will be conducting Parent-Teacher Conferences this month. It is a time for parents and teachers to reflect on the first semester and discuss your child’s progress. I encourage you to come to the conference prepared with your questions and concerns. Your child’s teacher will provide information about your child’s cognitive, socio-emotional, physical, and self-help skills development. We have scheduled fifteen minute blocks for each parent. If you cannot make one of the scheduled times or want more time, please call and schedule a more convenient time with your child’s teacher. I want to emphasize the importance of the Parent-Teacher conferences. This is an excellent time to strengthen the relationship between you and your child’s preschool. We are very fortunate and appreciative of local area support of our school. A special thank you to the Lego store in The Woodlands Mall. The local manager felt that our school represented the mindset and focus on children that their organization supports through their grant foundation. He nominated our school and we were recipients of one of their localized grants. We are thankful our wonderful area organizations can contribute to the benefit of our children. Thank you for letting us be part of your child’s development. We look forward to a wonderful second semester. Warmest regards, Bobbie Hrycushko, Director
IMPORTANT DATES Please see page 6 for the many important dates this month. ICDC Newsletter
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Health & Safety This month we will focus on safely storing medications in your household. Each year, more than 60,000 young children are brought to the emergency room after ingesting medications and vitamins that were left within reach. Toddlers and young children are very curious and in the blink of an eye, they can quickly get into medicines when parents or caregivers are not looking. Listed below are a few safe storage steps. If followed every time, they can help ensure the safety of your children: •Store medications in a safe location that is too high for young children to reach or see. •Never leave medicine or vitamins out on a kitchen counter or at a sick child’s bedside, even if you have to give the medicine again in a few hours. •Always relock the safety cap on a medicine bottle. If it has a locking cap that turns, twist it until you hear the click or you cannot twist anymore. •Never tell children that medicine is candy so they’ll take it, even if your child does not like to take his or her medicine. •Tell children what medicine is and why you must be the one to give it to them. •Remind babysitters, houseguests, grandparents, and holiday visitors to keep purses, bags, or coats that have medicines in them up and away and out of sight when they are in your home. Also remember to please call the Poison Help number at 1-800-222-1222 anytime your child accidentally ingests any substances that could be harmful, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter remedies, and vitamins or other dietary supplements.
Hope you all had a joyous holiday season and a happy new year! Lindsey Johnson, RN ICDC School Nurse
FRIENDLY REMINDER Please review and update, if necessary, your child’s file with any new contact information, including phone numbers (cell, home, or emergency numbers), or any change of addresses. This will ensure that we are able to reach you in the quickest manner should an emergency occur.
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Curriculum Corner January 2014
Natali Gee, Assistant Director
Science Lab
Parent Education Class:
This month, we continue to focus on Life Science as we learn about dinosaurs, reptiles, endangered species and insects. We will become archaeologists as we go on a dinosaur excavation adventure. We will also explore the world of reptiles in our new specimen center. Here are some great books to read with your scientists this month: What Happened to the Dinosaurs? By Franklin Branley Miles and Miles of Reptiles by Tish Rabe Endangered Animals by Elise Forier Insects and Crawly Creatures by Angela Royston
Play Therapy Basics Thursday, January 30th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Children use play to express themselves, solve problems and deal with difficult issues. Join us and find out why children choose the toys they do, and how to facilitate healing through play. Babysitting will be provided for ICDC students. Please RSVP by January 24th at 281-2923617.
Library News: Janet Murphy, Literacy Specialist Our January themes are snow and dinosaurs, with a little fun thrown in for bleak January days. Some of the books are: Under My Hood by Kim Norman If It’s Snowy and You Know It Clap Your Paws by Kim Norman Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein Magic Matt and the Dinosaur by Grace Maccarone Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Claire Freedman We will sing “I’m a Little Snowman” and “The Dino Song.”
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People of ICDC Each month our Parent’s Club will be highlighting one of our staff in their newsletter. This is a great way for you to learn more about our wonderful teachers and staff. My name is Marissa Lange and I have been the lead teacher for the T-1 classroom for 19 years. I am originally from Lima, Peru; specifically Miraflores along the city’s beaches. There, I was surrounded by my very large and loving family. I started my professional career in public relations and worked in the medical branch of the police department. I worked there for many years. When I came to the US on vacation, I met my wonderful husband. We like to travel together around the country and even visit his family in Michigan. We have been living in The Woodlands for many years and had our beautiful daughter here, who also attended Interfaith throughout her childhood. She is now currently in her third year at the University of Texas at Austin. During my free time, I spend time with my family and friends, watching movies, exploring restaurants and shopping with coffee breaks. I am so glad to be a part of the Interfaith family. I have always loved working with the little ones. It is amazing to see how they all adapt to our program and learn and grow as individuals throughout each year and in the classes thereafter. My heart melts when I see their smiling faces every day. I am truly blessed to be a part of their lives and work with such wonderful teachers and families.
Safety Reminder Please do not double park in our parking lot, even if it's momentarily. It presents a safety hazard by impeding vision and disrupting the flow of traffic.
Following the break the enrichment programs will be resuming on the following dates Program
Resumes on:
D is for Discovery Science
January 27 and January 29
Music by Mary:
January 7
Boni’s Dance:
January 8
Playball
Week of Jan 6
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ICDC Parent’s Club From The President
We hope each one of you and your families had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! Welcome back! First things first, Thank you!! Our teachers and staff members really enjoyed the Holiday Brunch held on December 12, 2013! Thank you to all who provided a delicious dish or volunteered to lend a helping hand at this event! Also, a big thank you to Julia Warren for chairing this special event! SAVE THE DATES… Please join us for our next Spirit Day to be held on Monday, January 27th! More details will be coming soon… Please join us for our annual Silent Auction and Family Night- Friday, February 7th at the school. All auction items are donated from each class and the community. Please check your child's school bag for information that will be sent home regarding the event. If you or someone you know would like to donate something, purchase an ad in the event program or volunteer to help at the event, please contact our auction chairs Melissa Young at melissa.young@corp-inc.com or Tiana Smith at tiana.smith@corpinc.com. We are requesting all donations by January 10th to ensure inclusion in the event program. Thank you for supporting our school! Shannon K. de la Paz ICDC Parent’s Club- President
The 2014 ICDC Family Night & Silent Auction Under the Big Top Friday, February 7, 2014 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the Great Room Come enjoy the festive class parties and bid on some fabulous auction items.
Did you know we’re on Facebook? Search for: Interfaith Child Development Center.
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Other Notes January 2014
Important Dates
Thurs. & Fri.
Spirit Days – wear your ICDC T-shirt
January 2
All-Day Program Resume
January 6
Partial Day Preschool, School Day, and MDO Programs Resume
January 11
Dad’s Day
January 20-24
All Day Program Parent-Teacher Conferences
January 21-22
No Partial Day Preschool, School Day, and MDO Classes due to Parent/Teacher Conferences- Please See Class Newsletter for Exact Scheduling
January 27
Spirit day, more details will be available soon.
February 4
In-House Registration for All Programs
February 7
Annual Silent Auction and Family Night
In-house Registration for All Programs February 4, 2014, starting at 7:00 a.m. in our P-Wing, we will be accepting applications for our summer programs and the 2014-2015 school year. Enrollment forms will come home through your child’s classroom. Please bring the registration form filled out, along with your enrollment fee. Classroom admittances are filled very quickly by current students and their siblings, so it’s important to register early. Spots are filled on a first come, first served basis. February 17, 2014 begins our Legacy Registration for those families whose children have attended ICDC in the past. Saturday, February 22, 2014 begins our public registration.
Bus Transportation 2014-2015 School Year Our After-School Program allows students to engage in physical, learning and imaginative activities that encourage them to explore who they are and what they can achieve. ICDC transports students to and from elementary schools via bus to our school. It is available for students in grades Kindergarten through fourth grade. ICDC will provide transportation to the following schools for the 2014-2015 school year: Galatas Elementary, David Elementary, Glen Loch Elementary, Creekside Forest Elementary, and Timber creek Elementary. ICDC Newsletter
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