Curling

On March 22nd, 2017, the Preschool and Kindergarten groups had the unique opportunity of visiting the Sanford Rec Centre.  They brought their helmets and were ready to curl!  They each had the chance to send the curling rocks down the ice and they realized a few things:

1. The rocks are HEAVY
2. Curling is hard, and it takes some skill
3. Curling is SOOOOO much fun

We would like to thank the Sanford Rec Centre for letting us use your space!  We had a blast!



Spring Fundraiser Success!

We just finished our first fundraiser of the year, and we are very pleased to say that it was a success!! We want to thank each and every one of you for your fundraising efforts!! We appreciate your support so much!!!

The Tuffo Gear was quite popular. We sold 57 items in total - 22 blankets, 25 muddy buddies, 4 rain jackets and 6 rain pants. These items are due to arrive at the centre on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. There were 35 Epicure trio dip sets sold and $205.61 worth of other Epicure food items. And we also received $70 in cash donations in lieu of selling.

Our total net profit is going to be just shy of $1,000!! The Room Leaders have already begun planning some field trips - one is set for April 21st (details to come soon!), and the FunQuest Amusement rental on March 31st has been upgraded to a 65 foot inflatable obstacle course - so much FUN! And there are several other special events and activities that will be planned using these fundraising dollars.

THANK YOU again so much for your help in fundraising! Our next fundraiser will be taking place in early June.

If you ever have any fundraising ideas for us, please let us know!!

Thank you again,

The JA Cuddy Child Care Fundraising Committee

Spring Fundraiser

It's time for our first fundraiser of 2017! The daycare would like to do some fun and educational field trips this year and bring in some special guests for the kids, and as you know - these things cost money. The Room Leaders have already developed a 'wish list' and it includes field trips to splash pads, the zoo, Great Big Adventure, bowling lanes, Fort Whyte Alive, the Children's museum, parks and playgrounds, and special guests such as Mr. Ken, Petland, Lego Lady, Car Town, Prairie Exotic, inflatable bouncers and much more! All fundraising dollars will be put towards expenses relating to these field trips and special guests. Let's make 2017 a super fun and memorable year for the kids!

We will be fundraising once per quarter. Each fundraiser will provide two options for you. You can choose to sell both OR just one of the two. It's difficult to find a single fundraiser that suits everyone, so we hope that by offering two, at least one of the two will appeal to you, and your family, friends and/or coworkers. And if both appeal to you - that's awesome!! You'll be a fundraising rock star! We just want to stress that you do not need to sell both - the choice is yours!

We are excited about our first fundraiser of the year. We have Tuffo gear and Epicure dips!

1) Tuffo gear: Muddy Buddy rain suits, water resistant outdoor blankets, and adventure rain jackets and pants. Please find attached a catalogue outlining their features, colours, sizes and uses. Muddy Buddies are perfect for spring and allow your little ones to have fun in the puddles and mud while staying clean, dry and comfortable! They are available in 5 fun colours and size 12 months to 5T. The blankets are amazing for picnics, swimming lessons, afternoons at the splash pad, the sidelines of the soccer field, in your backyard, the beach, camping and more. The rain jackets and pants are perfect for those who don't want the one-piece coverall. The wind and water proof jackets come in red and blue and size 6X to 12, and the matching pants are black and available in size 2T to 12. These products will be delivered to the centre at the end of March - just in time for spring! Tax is already included in the price, and in appreciation for supporting this fundraiser, JA Cuddy Child Care will be covering the cost of shipping.

2) Epicure: 3 top-quality Epicure dip mixes (3 onion, lemon dilly, and cheese, chives & bacon). This popular trio dip set comes in a reusable bag and with a recipe booklet for $20. Please find attached an information and order form sheet. These dip mixes are great to have in the pantry for quick and easy snacks and delicious meals, and they make great gifts - for Mother's Day, or for a teacher, party hostess or friend!

*Please pay by cash or cheque only*

Please make all cheques payable to JA Cuddy Child Care Centre, and return all forms and money to the office on or before Wednesday, March 22nd.  The forms are attached.  Sheena also has extra copies in the office if you need.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you and happy selling!!

The JA Cuddy Child Care Fundraising Committee

 

Muddy Buddy Picture:

 

School Age Kinder Update March 2017

February was a busy month in the School Age Room. 

Kindergarten:

The Kindergarten children spent a lot of time outside, exploring town to find the biggest snow hills.  They love to walk to the high school and play on the big hills in the field. 

The Kindergarten children spent quite a bit of time experimenting with a variety or art materials and created numerous different Valentines day creations.  They definitely filled the room with love this month.

The Kindergartens were able to enjoy a musical guest a couple of time in February.  The children had the opportunity to try out some instruments and sing their favourite songs.

Before & After:

After school, some children choose to enjoy the great outdoors while others choose to stay inside.  They have been using their imaginations in the daily living area, making fuse bead creations, and engaging in various process-based activities implemented by the staff.

We had 2 inservices last month.  The first inservice (Feb 3rd) was Pirate Day.  We dressed up as pirates, sent messages in a bottle, ate an ocean snack, did some face painting, and some children even walked the plank!

On our second inservice, we had Rocks and Rings come to the centre.  The children had the opportunity to learn about the sport of curling.  They also got to play a game of indoor curling together with the instructor.  It was fantastic!

The children also created their own marshmallow structures and made chocolate covered pretzels as a sweet treat.

We are very excited about March.  Spring Break is just around the corner and it is going to be a blast!

March 2017 Calendars

We are taking a bit of a different approach to program planning for the next little while.  Please read below (from our curriculum statement):

 

The children at J.A. Cuddy Child Care Centre Inc. are celebrated as unique individuals who deserve a variety of opportunities to grow and develop to their fullest potential. We believe that children learn best through play, and we place great emphasis on a child-centred curriculum. Play is unlimited, open-ended, and spontaneous, stimulating imagination and expanding intelligence. Play has no extrinsic goals, and is often a testing ground for language and reasoning. Children’s play is based on their interests and ideas, and is often self-directed. Children are active learners who are curious about the world around them. As educators, we feel that it is important to offer a child-based curriculum that supports and extends children’s play.

            Our role is to enhance existing play situations by providing materials and opportunities for learning and growth. The curriculum at J.A. Cuddy Child Care Centre Inc. is based on goals for children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development while understanding each individual child’s needs, abilities, and interests. The main components contributing to our curriculum are the interactions and relationships between children and staff, the surrounding environment, and the implementation of planned and spontaneous experiences.

 

So, what does all this mean?? Basically, our talented staff at the centre plan their program around the children's interests.  Sometimes the children love the activities we implement, other times they don't.  We strive to provide as many learning opportunities as possible for the children throughout their day.  We often hear parents ask their children what they did at daycare today, the children say "played" or "I don't know."  We document our activities on white boards in the rooms, and on the chart in the front foyer, but at the end of the day when you are just trying to get out the door, an activity chart is the last thing you want to look at!  We decided that we want to let parents know what is coming up in each program in order to keep everyone well informed about what is going on. 

 

Take a look at our plans for the month of March.  Let us know what you think!  If you have any ideas to add, or any materials to bring in to enhance their learning, let the staff know. 

 

Please note, the Infant Program will be continuing to provide activities based on their children's interests, needs, and abilities.  They will not be doing a monthly calendar, with the exception of Spring Break & Summer.  If you have any questions about their programming, please see Sherry.

 

 

 

Infant Room Program Update March 2017

With some nicer weather in February, the Infant Program was able to get outside more, either to play in the yard or to go for a walk.  February is the month of love and to celebrate Valentine's Day, the children made Valentine's for their parents, did Valentine's crafts, played games, and enjoyed heart-shaped brownies with berries as a sweet treat on Valentine's Day.

Last month was also filled with lots of other activities, like water table play, playing on the mats and in the tunnels, and playing with the new baby prop box.

The children love to learn, and some of their recent favourites have been learning about animals and their sounds, counting, and learning their body parts.  We love to sing "Head and Shoulders" and read the book called, "About Me."

We are excited to have Eleanor join us in the infant room.  She has made some friends within our room and she is a great addition to the group. 

Preschool Update March 2017

February was a fantastic month in Preschool.  The Younger Floor children are interested in dinosaurs.  We have been talking about the names of each dinosaur and facts about each one.  The love to pretend they are dinosaurs and chase each other around.  Check out the window on Younger Floor-the children made their very own dinosaur eggs to spruce up the space.

The Younger Floor children love sensory play, so we introduced a twist on play dough and made "Snow Dough" with cornstarch and conditioner.  It was messy, but the children had a blast!

We were lucky to have some beautiful weather in February.  We spent lots of time outside in our play space and on walks in our community.

The Older Floor children have started to do a circle time each day.  They take time to sit and talk about whatever the children are interested in.  They have also been doing "Letter of the Day" and "Show & Tell" during circle time.

The Older Floor children have also been interested in dramatic play.  The staff have set up a baby area with baby clothes, food, high chairs, etc.  The children love taking care of their baby dolls.  They have also been putting on concerts for each other (singing and dancing).  Can you guess what the song of choice is for this group??  It's "Oh Canada!"

Along with dancing, the children are also into exercising and moving their bodies.  You will often find them in the block area making their very own "gym" or "play structure" or playing hopscotch.  We love to see the children interested in being physically active, and we are excited to see what the month of March will bring!