A Note from The Director October 2015
Dear ICDC Parents, It’s hard to believe that we’ve already completed a month of school! The year is off to a great start and it is so exciting to see the learning that is taking place in our classrooms. Our teachers are working hard to create an environment that will allow your child to grow cognitively, socially, and creatively. By working together with you, we hope to make this year a positive experience for your child. If you are interested in resources that you can use at home with your child, please feel free to stop by our Family Lending Library located in the administrative hallway. This library has themed bags on math concepts, science, literacy, and social studies. There are also resource books on topics such as toilet learning, biting, and developmental stages. If you are interested in borrowing one of these resources, please let us know. The month of October will be filled with wonderful activities for your child to enjoy: hands-on activities in the Science Lab, a visit from the Montgomery County Firefighters, and a trip to the ICDC pumpkin patch. We’ll end the month with our Parade of Costumes, and we hope that you will be able to join us for that event. Please look for more information regarding our costume parade in the coming weeks. We’re looking forward to a fun-filled Fall (and hopefully some cooler weather, too!). Kindest regards, Lisa Whittle, Director
ICDC Newsletter
October 2015
Important Dates
Thurs. & Fri.
Spirit Days – wear your ICDC T-shirt
October 1-2
Classroom Group Pictures
October 6-9
Individual Portraits
October 19-20
Vision, Hearing, and Speech Screening for Four-YearOlds
October 29-30
Parade of Costumes and Classroom Parties
Health & Safety Helping Kids Handle Worry (KidsHealth.org)
Just like adults, kids have their share of disappointments and frustrations. The temperament and personality of your child will determine how much he or she may worry. Younger children who are feeling anxious may resort to thumb sucking, hair twirling, nose picking, or become unusually clingy. It is important for a parent to recognize that while a particular situation may not seem stressful to the parent, it may cause anxiety for the child. You can help your child manage his/her feelings and tackle everyday problems with ease by: • Spending time with your child. Let them know just how important they are to you and that you understand they are stressed. Acknowledge what your child is feeling. • Not expecting your child to be able to put into words why he or she is feeling anxious. Spending time doing a fun activity will help your child to feel more secure. • Reassuring your child that it’s okay to feel angry, scared, lonely, or anxious and other people have the same feelings. • Making sure you are relaxed. Your child can sense your level of anxiety. • Keeping adult conversation for a time when the child is not present. Never put your child in a situation where they need to choose parenting sides. Some level of stress is normal. Helping your child manage their feelings will develop a sense of confidence and optimism to master life’s challenges. Georganna Redifer, RN
The Teachers and Staff of ICDC would like to express our sincerest thanks to the Parent’s Club for providing a special treat for the children and a delicious lunch for us in honor of ICDC’s 39th Birthday! We all had a great time celebrating our school’s birthday! Thank you so much! Many thanks also go out to all the parents who provided additional classroom treats!
Please do not send money through the classrooms or car line. All money for enrichment activities, tuition, classroom parties, etc. must be turned in to the front office. Thank you!
ICDC Newsletter
Curriculum Corner Science Lab
Debbie Lauducci, Assistant Director Fall arrives in the Science Lab this month with lots of Fall themed activities! One activity will be Apple Eruptions. Children will learn the parts of an apple and then have fun mixing baking soda with vinegar and watch what happens! After reading Who Sank the Boat? children will look at walnuts, acorns, small pumpkins, and pinecones. They will make predictions about which ones sink and which ones float. Then they will have the chance to put their objects in the water to see if their predictions are correct. Fun!! Another activity will be measuring and weighing pumpkins, squash and gourds. Children will learn the parts of a pumpkin and read books about apples and pumpkins. Fall is fun!
This one-of-a-kind cycling event will be held Saturday, October 17, 2015. As a family-friendly event, Le Tour de Woodlands invites all levels of cyclists to participate as we celebrate The Woodlands as a “bicycle friendly” community. Cycling courses will include a short course for families and young children, a 15-mile course, and a 30-mile option. Last year, over 450 cyclists participated—from toddlers to senior citizens. The Finish Festival will feature a Kid Zone, refreshments provided by Whole Foods, a bounce house, and booths set up by local sponsors and businesses. Check-in opens at 7am on the 17th at The Woodlands Township (2801 Technology Forest Blvd, The Woodlands) and the event kicks off at 7:30am. Registration is open online at https://wdlndsif.ejoinme.org/ltdw2015 until October 14th. Day-of registration will be available.
ICDC would like to congratulate two classroom teachers for having perfect attendance during the 2014-2015 school year! Congratulations to Ms. Maria Patino and Ms. Carrie Rodriguez!! ICDC Newsletter
People of ICDC Each month our Parent’s Club will be highlighting ICDC teachers in the newsletter. This will give you an opportunity to get to know some of our staff. My name is Nisha Gregoire and I am the Assistant Teacher in P-19. I was born, raised and educated in Sri Lanka. I graduated from Sacred Heart College, Sri Lanka with a Business Management degree. I spent 15 years in Banking and thereafter, for 4 years, as the Director of Student Accounts at Concordia College, New York. My family and I moved to The Woodlands, from New York about a year ago. We have two sons, Luc age 10 and Isaac age 4. While researching schools for Isaac, I had the good fortune of finding Interfaith Child Development Center. I joined Interfaith this school year. In this short time, I’ve come to realize that, of all the positions I’ve held in the past, none could compare to the rewarding position that I hold at Interfaith. I strongly advocate for a solid foundation in early childhood education. As such, I embrace the opportunity to be a part of this literacy based, fun filled teaching environment. On a personal note, we are a traveling family. We love learning about other cultures, languages, foods and the arts. Locally, we bike, hike, kayak, camp and swim. I enjoy cooking, baking, gardening and crafting.
Kristen French is an Assistant Teacher in T-1. She loves caring for her “babies.” As soon as she was old enough to babysit, she enthusiastically took on the task. She has been caring for children for 15 years. Kristen says that she “loves to see the children grow and develop, and it’s rewarding when you can see the look on their faces when they have accomplished something.” In addition to caring for our youngest children at ICDC, Kristen enjoys dancing, watching sports, and spending time with friends.
ICDC Newsletter
ICDC Parent’s Club From The President
Thank you to all of our parents who completed the Parent’s Club registration form at the beginning of the year and generously gave your $10 donation! All of the funds given to Parent’s Club benefit our children, teachers and school. All of the time given by Parent’s Club board members, committee members and other contributors is given strictly on a volunteer basis. We are so thankful for each and every one of you! You’ve got SPIRIT – Yes You Do!!! Thank you for showing your school spirit and supporting ICDC with your t-shirt orders. Orders have been placed and t-shirts will be arriving in the next few weeks. Remember that each Thursday and Friday are considered spirit days at the school and are an opportunity for your child to wear their ICDC shirts. We will begin our annual INNISBROOK fundraiser on October 12th! Please take a look at the catalogs when they come home with your child on October 8th and 9th. There are some great gifts, holiday gifts and wrapping papers at all prices. For every dollar spent, 50 cents comes back to ICDC!
The 2016 Silent Auction and Family Night is still several months away but we are already working hard to make it a great success. Be on the lookout for flyers that will come home in the coming months with details about the event. If you or someone you know would like to donate an item, purchase ad space in the event program or volunteer to help at the event, please contact me directly!
**A very special thank you to Angela Gibbs of Takin’ It Ta-Geaux for donating lunch to our teachers and administration in honor of the school’s 39th birthday on Thursday, September 24th. Parent’s Club appreciates you!**
Monthly Parents Club meetings will take place on the first Wednesday of every month at 1:30 PM in Room P-18 at the school. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th at 1:30 PM. This meeting will also include our first silent auction meeting. If you would like to be placed on the reminder list for these meetings please e-mail me directly. There are many ways to become involved in Parents Club even if you cannot attend every meeting. I would love to speak with you about the opportunities that are available. Parents Club is so appreciative of your support! Thank you for your continued support! Mary-Kathryn D’Agostino mkdagostino@sbcglobal.net 832-236-2400
ICDC Newsletter
ICDC Newsletter