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Dear Extended Day Family,
I am happy to welcome you and your family as part of our "extended day family" as we welcome 27 new children into our program. As I write this note in the 11th hour, I am happy to announce some of the changes that have been made to HEDP during the 2011-2012 school year. With much planning, reorganizing and preparing for the fall well underway, here are some important dates, policies and information for your family. Our 2011-2012 teaching team is composed of many wonderful teachers who are extremely excited about the upcoming year and look forward to working with your child. The lower level of Extended Day (next to the gym) will be home to our Pre-K and Kindergarten through grade one program. We welcome back Alyssa Davis to lead this fantastic teaching team with Jackie Latucca in this room. Alyssa and Jackie will continue to work in this room with our 1st and 2nd (1/2) teaching team to create an excellent curriculum. They have many hands on activities and projects planned for the first few weeks. Our Kindergarten (KP) will be lead by Sofia Hamula who has extensive experience with early childhood, families and holds her masters degree in Language Arts and Literacy. She is looking forward to working with your child and family. Our Kindergarten (KP) group will be held in Min Jens Pre-K classroom from 2:20 on and is located across from the cafeteria. Our third through six-grade program will continue to meet in the Heath School cafeteria from 2:20-5:45pm with Malaina LeSage and Ellie Edraos. Malaina has been leading the way in our older kids programming and is looking forward to meeting some new families and seeing our returning 3rd-6th graders. Ellie comes to us from Baker School an brings an amazing amount of education, experience, and love for children. She holds degrees in Psychology & School Guidance. We are looking forward to having her share her skills and training with us to help become a stronger teaching team to all children and families. We will continue to use the upper level of extended day on an as needed basis to help create small group activities on a daily basis with Jared Mael. Jared will also help create a meaningful curriculum that encourages and supports friendship, self-confidence and leadership with our entire program (K-6). Please look for notices and announcements regarding this wonderful addition to our program. Two fantastic Wheelock Interns, Molly and Angelica who will also be working at Extended Day to enhance and help design an engaging and enjoyable program in our KP, 1/2 and 3-6 classrooms. We are also in the process of hiring two more amazing teachers for our Kindergarten and 3-6 classrooms. Please look for future notices and announcements as we proceed with completing our teaching team. Our dedicated teachers are enthusiastic and will teach through pleasurable hands-on activities that help enhance and bridge the learning from that is happening during the school day. We are happy to have such good natured and experienced teachers. All are committed to great afternoon programming that supports and encourages academic learning. We are currently at full capacity on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in K-6. I encourage all families who are interesting in making a schedule change out of ones of those days to contact me immediately. HEDP will waive the $150.00 change of schedule fee should we be able to fill your slot within the first 10 days of school. We continue to have space on Mondays and Friday afternoons and have several openings in our Pre-K program. I am also happy to announce that HEDP will be continuing our one of a kind older kids program called Tripping Out (for 5th-8th graders). Malaina LeSage will lead this program and has already planned many fantastic activities for this group. Please email [email protected] or phone the HEDP office for more information before September 10th should you have any questions or concerns. Space is limited for this one of a kind program. As our first day of school quickly approaches please feel free to give us a call should you have any questions or concerns. You may also reach us by email at [email protected]. We welcome you to Heath Extended Day and wish your child a wonderful first day. Warmly, Noelle Ahearn, Director Additional Notes…. *Our program is nut free. Please keep this in mind when sending special snacks or food for your child.* Because HEDP is becoming more of a cooperative program please look for ways to volunteer in each classroom. These needs will be posted on the information station bulletin board. There is a mandatory 5 hours volunteer commitment for each family. **Families who are applying for tuition assistance need to have all forms mailed to Noelle by ASAP. Please note that HEDP has changed our format and now award on a semester only basis. All families must reapply during our second semester. Pre-K On Monday, September 12th and Tuesday, September 13th you may pop into HEDP with your child to get acquainted with Alyssa, Jackie, and our classroom between 12:15-2:00pm. Please bring a lunch and explore our learning centers with your child. Pre-K Extended Day will officially begin on Wednesday, September 14th at 12:15pm. Alyssa will pick the Pre-K children up from Min Jen’s classroom on a daily basis. Please send your child with: ~ A packed lunch ~ A change of clothes in a labeled bag ~ A king size pillowcase with his/her name on it ~ A picture of your child with his/her family. Kindergarten On Tuesday, September 6th (Families with last letters A-M) and Wednesday September 7th (L-Z), Kindergarten will have an early release. We welcome your child to come to extended day only on the day your child attends his/her first day of Kindergarten with a parent, family member or sitter. Please pack yourself and child a lunch we can enjoy a bite to eat in our space. We encourage you to use this day to visit with our Kindergarten Teacher, Sofia and for your child to help him/her begin to feel comfortable and confident within our classroom. Kindergarten Extended Day will officially begin on Thursday, September 8h at 2:20pm. Sofia will pick up the Kindergartner's at 2:20pm and walk them to HEDP (in Min Jens PreK classroom) each day. Please provide your child with A) Change of clothes in a zip-lock bag with his/her name on it. B) family photo. This may be a challenging day for a kindergarten that does not feel confident due to the unpredictable schedule. Please contact us before 2:00pm should you have any concerns. 1st-6th Graders All are welcome to begin attending HEDP on Tuesday, September 6th at 2:20pm. Please remind your children to look for HEDP teachers in the hall to guide them to the Heath School Classroom or Cafeteria. Please call or email the HEDP office should your child not be attending on the first day. 1st and 2nd graders will be picked up at 2:20 from each classroom by Noelle for the month of September. They will walk down to HEDP in pairs beginning in October. 3nd-6th graders should walk directly to the Heath School cafeteria at 2:20pm. We have encouraged teachers to have HEDP kids walk together with buddies. Please note that there will be homework and reading time (DEAR) each day. So remember to bring your favorite reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers, comics…). We are always looking for good reading material so please feel free to donate. Tripping Out The first official trip is set for Thursday, September 22nd. Please meet Malaina LeSage outside of Min Jen Taylor Wu’s classroom. From there she will led the T.O. group to the gym where they will learn more about the program, go over the rules and expectations, then walk over to Eliot Field before heading to Cleveland Circle for a scavenger hunt. Tripping Out has additional forms that MUST be complete before your child can attend. Please phone Noelle should your family be interested in this program. Children with Allergies or Medical Limitations PLEASE contact Noelle ASAP for the required forms. Your child cannot attend HEDP without signed medical forms and medication from a certified practitioner. We also need a full container of medication when applicable (epi pen, prescription…). Please see Noelle ASAP for more information. The MA Department of Early Education and Care has mandated us to call a parent immediately for pickup should we not have the appropriate forms and medications. ALL Families We are still missing many registration packets. Please complete them and return them ASAP. All documents are needed before your child begins attending HEDP. This helps ensure that we will be prepared for your child. I will be in the office each day and would be more than willing to meet should that be easier for you. The annual meeting date has yet to be announced. Please look for notices regarding this mandatory meeting. Please remember to phone HEDP at 617-879-4565 or email us at [email protected] should your child be late or absent from HEDP. Please let us know as soon as possible. Please note that HEDP closes at 5:45. We encourage you to make necessary arrangements should you not be able to make that time. Late fees will go into effect Monday, September 26th. **Be prepared to sign your child out at the end of each day with YOUR signature or initials and the PICK UP TIME. This is a mandatory policy set forth by the MA Department of Early Education and Care. It is essential that you make a habit of this. Please make an effort to make contact with a teacher and sign your child out each day. If a nanny or babysitter will be picking up your child, please be sure they have a picture ID for the first few weeks. We have made the switch to green communication and encourage you to check out our BLOG at the beginning of each month to read about our updates and happenings. It is essential that you notify us immediately should want a hard copy of all handouts. We will try our best to keep you up to date and well informed. Please check us out at http://heathextendedday.ORG/ As of today , each family should have made a first month, last month (deposit) and registration payment. All pavements are due no later than the 1st of each month. Please contact Noelle or our Bookkeeper, Linda at < [email protected] > should you have any questions regarding your account. We hope that you are ready for a terrific year and are happy that you have joined our Extended family! Warmly, Noelle Ahearn Ongoing WISH-LIST Ipod's or CD Walkwan's for our "books on tape" Baby Wipes Clorox Wipes Comic Books Kids Magazines Radio with CD player
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