Fall Early Childhood Programs Newsletter
Thank you for choosing Dearborn Public Schools Early Childhood Programs. We are honored that you place your trust in us to work with your child(ren). Fall has been busy and brought many changes to our programs. Here is a list of our sites, staff and contact numbers.
DuVall:
While Ms. Ann Novak retired Ms. Andrea McMahon moved up to the Head Teacher position and Ms. Cindy Berry, a favorite substitute has joined us as Assistant Teacher.
Little Scholars/Mini ScholarsPreschool: 827-2763 Andrea McMahon: Head Teacher Cindy Berry: Assistant Teacher
Manager Kids Club: Theysha Williams (Multi-site – 919-0581 cell)
Karen Andrews: (LCP am/pm) 827-2759
Haigh:
Welcome to Haigh Alyssa Hogue as Lead Child Care Provider. Ms. Jessica Hallmark has taken maternity leave to care for her little one Zoe. We hope to see her return in February. Haigh meets the before and after school needs of students from Divine Child and Haigh Elementary school.
Manager Kids Club: Theysha Williams (Multi-site) 827-6209 [main site]
Alyssa Hogue (LCP am/pm) 827-6209 Jessica Hallmark (CCP am/pm) February Return date
Henry Ford Community College Child Development Center:
Child Development Center on the campus of HFCC serves the students of HFCC, Faculty and the surrounding community. We have All Day Preschool, Little Scholars, Mini Scholars and Kids Club. This is the only site that is not affiliated with a specific Dearborn Public School. We operate from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. M-Th and until 6 p.m. on Fridays. We only require registration a minimum of 2 hours per week per semester. After 4:30 pm we serve children up to 12 years of age at this location. We welcome Ms. Moneisha the newest addition to our staff who began work as an HFCC work study student. Raghida Choucair joins us as Developmental Preschool Teacher.
Manager: Patricia Zander 317-6529
Preschool: Michelle Whitaker (CCP a.m.), Moneisha Jones-Thomas (CCP a.m./p.m.)
Kids Club: Cristina Greco: (LCP p.m.) Carol Allie: (CCP p.m.)
Little Scholars/Mini Scholars Preschool: Rhagida Choucair Head Teacher 317-6527
Howard:
Kids Club numbers have grown we have an addition of Ms. Teresa Martinez as an afternoon assistant.
Manager: Theysha Williams (Multi-site 919-0581 cell)
Ann Booker: (LCP am/pm) 827-6363 Teresa Martinez: afternoon assistant
Little Scholars/Mini Scholars Preschool: 827-6362 Jennifer Harris: Head Teacher Naamat Darwiche: Assistant Teacher
This is our only AFTERNOON program for the 4 yr. old and 3 yr. olds. Ms. Harris and Mrs. Darwiche also teach in the Snow Developmental Preschool classroom.
Howe Montessori Preschool:
Ms. Sue Powers and Ms. Stephanie Hinojosa have returned and they are sharing cultural celebrations this month! Their Winter Celebration is December 19th!
Ms. Sue Powers and Ms. StephanieHinojosa: 827-7686
Lindbergh:
Lindbergh All Day Preschool welcomes Nicole Kolts and it is on the grow! Watch out for the “tumbling turtles”as they call themselves!
Kids Club welcomes Tina Williamson as LCP. She replaces Kevin Tate who completed his degree in computers and found a job in his field. Sally Schild enjoys retirement but I’m sure she misses the children.
Manager: Stephanie Koch 827-6308
Preschool: Nicole Kolts (LCP) Elaine Burkholder (CCP a.m.) Joanne Borsodi (CCP p.m.)
Kids Club: Tina Williamson (LCP a.m./p.m.) 827-6310
Long:
Long Elementary School has two long standing programs with staff who have been here for many, many years.
Little Scholars/Mini Scholars Preschool and Wee Scholars Parent/Child Program: 827-6113
Kathy Harrison: Head Teacher Debbie Scott: Assistant Teacher
Kids Club: Before and After School Program 827-6146
Cindy Elder: LCP
Manager: Hala Rammal (Multi-site 402-6755 cell or 827-6808 site)
Snow:
Growing numbers at Snow Elementary School precipitated the need to consolidate our All Day Preschool and Little Scholars/Mini Scholars Preschool classrooms into one shared space. The large room allowed for this to occur and maintain both programs. Ms. Jen and Ms. Naamat join the Snow team with the retirement of Nancy McDonald and Merilee Barkoff. While there is thematic collaboration, the programs are essentially separate with students benefiting from their own teacher directed activities, guidance and circle time.
Welcome to Patricia Cummings our new Lead Child Care Provider in the Kids Club Program!
Manager: Lisa Bonza Preschool: Kathy Wroblewski (LCP am) Sharon Sadowski (CCP pm)
Kids Club: Patricia Cummings (LCP am/pm)
Little Scholars/Mini Scholars Preschool: Jennifer Harris,Head TeacherNaamat Darwiche, Assistant Teacher
Whitmore-Bolles:
Whitmore-Bolles pilots the new district security system please, ring the bell and smile for the camera! The safety and security of your children is important to us as well as the district and we appreciate your cooperation. The transition seems to be a smooth one. Welcome Barbara Garcia-Sauceda to our program!
Manager: Hala Rammal (Multi-site) 827-6808 [main site]Barbara Garcia-Sauceda (LCP am/pm)
CATCH is the Coordinated Approach to Child Health: This evidence based program brings activity and nutrition education to the after school program. We are fortunate to partner with Oakwood Hospital Inc., Oakwood Community Health to bring this program to Kids Club. This program is an effort to keep kids active, educate them and their families about healthy eating habits and instill lifelong interest in keeping active and help fight childhood obesity.
Our partnership includes approximately $1,200 in equipment, training and support for activity based programing three days a week and the support of a registered dietician. Our Summer Adventure Program piloted this program and we felt it was a good compliment to our Kids Club program. Many of the CATCH games your children already play during gym. Our CATCH “box” gives our staff a plan and instructions on the game, technique, and skill building as well as team building ideas. This isn’t a competition it is inclusion. We hope you ask your child about CATCH.
Billing and Billing Questions:
December Bills have been mailed to your homes. If you have moved recently and have not updated your address with our billing office you will not receive your bill in a timely manner. Bills are due December 10, 2013 at the close of business. If you have not received your bill by Friday, December 6 PLEASE see your Lead Child Care Provider or Manager. (see list on the first two pages of this newsletter) Please read the letter in your December bill regarding credits for November and the process for requesting end of year statements. November credits will appear on your JANUARY statement.
If you have a question regarding your statement please:
- Look at the Center portion of the statement it describes the week you are billed, the hours and the credits
- Ask your Lead Child Care Provider for assistance. Sometimes a second pair of eyes can be helpful.
- Enlist the assistance of the Manager or Multi-site manager. If you are at Howard, DuVall or Long you may need to speak with this person over the phone. (Multi-site Manager’s [main site] noted in list of sites)
- Finally, call the billing office. Sherry isn’t always available and given our cycle at least one program is being billed each week.
Paying your bill:
- Check at the site to your LCP
- Cash here at HFCC
- Credit card at the site (LCP will hand you a credit card slip to complete)
- Credit card via email
- Credit card via phone here at HFCC is possible but the email address is the best way. It is processed each evening.
Unfortunately we have not been cleared for automatic billing or withdraw yet.
When Your Child Is SICK!
In keeping with DPS policy please do not send your child to school/child care if he or she has a fever of 100 degrees or has had a fever in the last 24 hours. Your child should be fever free “without fever reducing medication for 24 hours” before returning to school. This is for your child’s comfort as well as the health of the other children in our care.
If your child has diarrhea please keep him/her home as well. The “24 hour rule” applies to these situations as well. We realize that cold and flu season is upon us and little ones are often hit the hardest and cannot explain where it hurts. We will do our best to make your child comfortable until you can arrive and reassure him/her that you are on your way. Please have a COMPLETE change of clothes for your child available from the skin out that is weather appropriate.
Please call Kids Club when your school age child is absent so the LCP is not searching for your child.
Going Outside:
Preschool:
A new State of Michigan Child Care Licensing Rule states: “A center operating with children in attendance for more than 3 or more continuous hours per day shall provide daily outdoor play, unless prevented by inclement weather.” This rule includes our Little Scholars Program and All Day Preschool Program. Please provide weather appropriate clothing for your child. It is DPS policy to send children outdoors to play for at least 15 minutes until the temperature reaches 16 degrees including the wind chill. Please also provide shoes or rubber soled slippers to change into for the classroom. Snow/rain boots cannot be worn in the classroom.
School Age:
Kids Club students go outdoors regularly during the school day and will go outdoors regularly during Kids Club as well, temperature and weather permitting. The CATCH program is used 3 days per week. Each session is generally 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity; however, the equipment and nature of the games often require the gym. Lead Childcare Providers and Managers will do their best to adjust these times as much as possible.
What are your Kids Club Needs?
We are in the process of “Updating” the look of our Kids Club Program. In our first step we added the CATCH program to Kids Club. I believe it “gets them moving” and adds value to our Kids Club Program. In the past, my experience with CATCH was a very positive one and students came to our program due, in large part, to the implementation of CATCH.
What is the next step? We would like to hear from you! What do you need from Kids Club? Could you send us an email and let usknow how to meet your needs? We want to know. We can’t guarantee that we can meet all of these needs but knowing is the first step. Our Leads and Managers have some great ideas and we want to include you in our conversation. Please contact me directly at:
Stephanie Stover
Have a Great DECEMBER!!