doodle days! - Doodle Bugs!

DOODLE DAYS!
community newsletter │ march • april 2010
SERVING WNY SINCE 1992 • WWW.DOODLEBUGS.COM
In This Issue
Doodle Bugs! Penfield Center
Spring has Sprung at Doodle Bugs!
When you step inside our centers, you’ll immediately notice that our winter wonderland
has been transformed with bright, beautiful springtime colors. The children are
replacing the decorative snowflakes, snowmen, and winter scenes with shamrocks,
rainbows and other signs of spring – as always, their creativity is in full bloom!
Spring is a spectacular season at Doodle Bugs!, full of exciting activities and
special events. Our March curriculum focuses on some of the children’s favorite
themes, including Dr. Seuss, March Weather, Caterpillars & Butterflies and Insects
& Tiny Creatures. In April, we’ll continue the fun as we learn more about Pond
Life & Great Gardens and celebrate the Week of the Young Child. The teachers
have planned games, stories and lots of small group activities to complement our
studies – we can’t wait to get started!
Of course, we’ll also make time to tiptoe through the tulips, chase the butterflies,
and enjoy lots of outdoor fun – some of Mr. Doodle Bug’s favorite pastimes!
We’ll definitely be busy, so every day at Doodle Bugs! is sure to be fun o’plenty.
Take a few minutes to browse through this newsletter to find out more about
what’s going on during marvelous, magnificent March and equally awesome April.
1
spring haS sprung!
2
center news
4
in the spotlight
6
your doodle bugs
8
kudos!
9
s a f e t y FIRST
10
events
11
D OO D LE D ETAILS
12
f o r k i d s o n ly !
stay updated on the latest
doodle bugs! news at:
direct links are available
at doodlebugs.com
H ap
p
H a p y C h i l dr
p
e
Hap y Pa r e n n!
py T
each t s!
ers!
1
CENTER NEWS
Clarence Center
Grand Opening Celebration
M
r. Doodle Bug extends a HUGE
thank you to everyone who
helped make the Clarence Grand
Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
a tremendous success. It’s always
wonderful to see so many happy
visitors enjoying the play village,
chatting in the halls and getting
comfortable in the classrooms.
Doodle Bugs! Clarence Center
Held on January 22, this event was the
perfect way to mark Mr. Doodle Bug’s
18th birthday. With the addition of the
Clarence center, the doodle community
now includes more than 1,300 happy
families in Buffalo and Rochester.
The Clarence center extends
special thanks to the families
and teachers who have
made the center’s debut a
tremendous success.
In appreciation of your
support, you are cordially
invited to a ‘Get to Know You
Night’ on Wednesday, March 31.
This spring-themed
celebration will be fun for
the whole family – please
keep an eye on the parents’
boards for details!
Clarence Cen
ter
Doodle Bugs! Ranks Among the Top 50
Child Care Organizations in North America
Additional special thanks to the
following local dignitaries, who
participated in the ribbon cutting
ceremony and showed their ongoing
support for Doodle Bugs! expansion
into the Clarence community: NYS
Assemblywoman, Jane Corwin; Erie
County Legislator, Raymond Walter;
Town Supervisor, Scott Bylewski;
Chamber Executive Director, Judy
Sirianni; CIDA member, Paul Leone and
Staff Assistant, Robert Matthews, on
behalf of Congressman, Christopher
Lee. Thanks so much for supporting
our program; Doodle Bugs! is proud to
be part of the Clarence community.
Henrietta Center - Coming Soon!
THANK YOU!
Doodle Bugs!
W
e’re happy to announce that our Henrietta center (on Calkins Road,
adjacent to the new Wegmans) will debut this summer! Construction is well
underway and is progressing nicely. Details will be shared as they become available
and interested families are encouraged to e-mail: [email protected]
for more information.
Doodle Bugs! Cla
rence Center
W
e’re proud to announce that
Doodle Bugs! Children’s Centers
has earned placement on Exchange
Magazine’s Top 50 List, an annual
ranking of North America’s largest forprofit child care organizations.
For 30 years, Exchange has been
chronicling the history of and trends
in the early childhood profession.
Exchange Top 50 Lists are now
regarded as the Fortune 500 of early
childhood. A complete list of the
2010 Top 50 is available at
www.childcareexchange.com.
“I attribute our continued growth
and success to our team’s strong
commitment to providing the absolute
best in child care services,” said Anthony
Insinna, company president and CEO.
“We believe that excellence is in the
details, and we work hard to provide
“We believe that excellence is in
the details, and we work hard to
provide evidence of that in every
aspect of our program.”
evidence of that in every aspect of
our program. From our innovative
curriculum and enrichment programs
to our state-of-the-art facilities and
highly qualified staff, we aim to exceed
families’ expectations.”
Doodle Bugs! debuted in 1992 when
Insinna and his sisters, Clarine and
Doodle Bugs! Clarence Center
Anna, opened a small center in East
Amherst. The doodle community now
includes more than 1,300 happy families
in Cheektowaga, Clarence, East Amherst,
Lancaster, Orchard Park, Penfield,
Webster & West Amherst; a new location
in Henrietta will open later this year.
The Insinna family extends sincere
thanks and appreciation to the teachers
and management team for their
commitment to building a community
of happy children, happy parents
and happy teachers, and to the doodle
families for their ongoing support of
the program.
Doodle Bugs! Clarence Center
2
march • april 2010
www.doodlebugs.com
3
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Classroom Spotlight:
UPK at East Amherst
Accreditation Focus
MIDDLE STATES
ACCREDITATION
Doodle Bugs! is proud to support
early age accreditation by the
Middle States Commission on
Elementary Schools (MSA).
In 2006, our sites in
Cheektowaga, East Amherst,
West Amherst and Williamsville
(now Clarence) were the first
early childhood centers in WNY
to achieve the prestigious MSA
accreditation; these sites will host
a mid-point visit in May 2010.
Our newer centers in Lancaster,
Orchard Park, Penfield and
Webster recently were approved
for candidacy and have begun
the self-study process.
T
he heart of the accreditation process is a genuine commitment to our
mission – building a community of happy children, happy parents and
happy teachers. MSA standards require evidence of this commitment in all facets
of our program including assessment, curriculum, health & safety, nutrition,
parent relationships, administration, facilities and finances.
While each article (and photo!) in this newsletter is evidence of our efforts in one or
more MSA standard areas, we’re happy to provide the ‘Classroom Spotlight’ – articles
focused on specific high-quality classroom practices and the MSA correlation.
Classroom Spotlight: Infants at West Amherst
W
hen infants in Stephanie’s room at the West Amherst center see her special
‘circle time’ box, they immediately walk, run or crawl right over and begin
patting their knees – they know that the fun is about to begin! Songs, stories
and fingerplays (complete with lots of props) are creative ways to support the
children’s varied levels of language development. In these classroom routines and
in group activities, music & movement also helps children learn about rhythm and
pitch, balance and coordination and of course, music appreciation!
Daily sensory play is also a highlight of our babies’ day. Infants delight in
experimenting with slimy, slippery goop, colorful fingerpaint, and even oh-sochilly snow. These experiences encourage imagination and investigation, promote
independence and build fine motor control – and they are lots of fun, too!
Sample of Related MSA High Quality Indicators:
est Amherst Cen
Doodle Bugs! W
ter
• 4.1a - The curriculum reflects an integrated approach to children’s social, emotional,
physical, cognitive, and language development.
• 4.4c - Teachers encourage children’s early language development and literacy skills through
conversation, storytelling, singing, poetry, finger-plays, games, puppets, pretend play,
shared reading of picture books, and other meaningful learning experiences.
• 5.4a - Children are actively involved in learning that is appropriate for their
ages, experiences, cultures, and skills.
Doodle Bugs! West Amherst Center
4
march • april 2010
D
oodle Bugs! collaborates with
several school districts to provide
UPK services to eligible students, as
part of our commitment to bringing
early childhood into the continuum
of education. Our UPK program
is unique, in that it requires joint
enrollment in Wrap Around – meaning
that all students spend a full day at
Doodle Bugs!. This insures that every
pre-kindergarten student, whether
in our UPK room or in another
one of our Pre-K classrooms, enjoys
the benefits of our BRAVO! Early
Childhood Curriculum – and is incredibly
well-prepared for kindergarten!
Reading readiness develops
naturally because children are
engaged in hands-on learning
experiences in a print-rich
environment.
Students in Miss Amy’s classroom
enjoy a purposeful focus on literacy.
Reading readiness develops naturally
because children are engaged in handson learning experiences in a print-rich
environment. Countless homemade
books fill the shelves – every student is
an author! – and words, songs, poems
and sentences are obvious in every
corner of the room.
Doodle Bugs! E
ast Amherst Cen
ter
Whether students are adding
suggestions to the word wall, using
balloons and blue paint to print the
letter B, or practicing forming letters
using the ‘Handwriting Without Tears’
methods, they are actively engaged and
learning that letters and words are both
meaningful and fun! You can see their
excitement about learning to read when
a classmate brings a ‘double whammy’
to show and tell – everyone loves to
point out when an item begins with the
letter of the week and relates to the
weekly theme!
Every doodle day also includes DEAR
time, an opportunity to Drop Everything
And Read! Everyone, including the
teachers, finds delight in the magic of
a good book – a necessary first step to
building a lifelong love of reading.
Doodle Bugs! East Amherst Center
Sample of Related MSA High-Quality Indicators:
• 4.2b Teachers plan and guide learning experiences that encourage development of
• children’s higher-order cognitive and language abilities, such as thinking, reasoning,
and problem solving.
• 4.4c Teachers encourage children’s early language development and literacy skills
• through conversation, storytelling, singing, poetry, finger-plays, games, puppets, pretend
play, shared reading of picture books, and other meaningful learning experiences.
• 5.5a The learning environment is designed to encourage children’s active engagement
• in learning as well as quiet, independent play.
Doodle Bugs! East Amherst Center
www.doodlebugs.com
5
YOUR DOODLE BUGS!
Penfield Center
Webster Center
Penfield Center
Penfield Center
Cheektowaga Center
Cheektowaga Center
Webster Center
Penfield Center
Penfield Center
Clarence Center
Webster Center
East Amherst Center
Webster Center
Cheektowaga Center
Orchard Park Center
Webster Center
Webster Center
Penfield Center
Cheektowaga Center
Lancaster Center
Penfield Center
Penfield Center
East Amherst Center
6
march • april 2010
West Amherst Center
www.doodlebugs.com
7
ugs!
Doodle B
r Center
Lancaste
KUDOS!
Doodle Bugs
! East Amh
SAFETY FIRST
erst Center
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle
HAPPY
ANNIVERSARY!
Mr. Doodle Bug extends his
congratulations and many thanks
to the following team members who
are celebrating their employment
anniversaries in March and April:
1 Year
Samantha Hensell (Orchard Park)
Nicole Kosmowski (Orchard Park)
Judith Shine (Cheektowaga)
Kate Serwinowski (East Amherst)
Marina Christopher (Lancaster)
Kelly Myers (Lancaster)
Sarah Smith (Lancaster)
Jennifer Wagner (Lancaster)
Molly White (Clarence)
2 Years
Amy Carloni (Orchard Park)
Mary Zoldos (Orchard Park)
Caitlin Fitzgerald (Education Director)
Rosemary Hoagey (Webster)
Elizabeth McCarthy (Webster)
January Employee of the Month
A
n authentic commitment to the
Doodle Bugs! mission—evidenced
in every interaction with families and
team members—makes Marissa Lee a
tremendous asset to the doodle community.
Thanks, Marissa, for your
admirable efforts to build a community
of happy children, happy parents and
happy teachers!
2
Years
Marissa’s management style is best
described as an ideal blend of
professionalism and passion. She leads
the Penfield team by enthusiastic example,
giving equal attention to customer service,
education and team-building.
As a result, Marissa has successfully
built and retained an impressive
teaching team and operates her center
at capacity. Families frequently comment
that they feel ‘at home’ at the center and
are confident in Marissa’s leadership.
4 Years
t is often said that attitude is
contagious and every interaction
with Amy affirms that! Her positive
outlook influences children, parents and
coworkers alike.
5 Years
Dana Smith (West Amherst)
Roseann Boswell (Healthcare Consultant)
7 Years
Tara Bednarz (Cheektowaga)
Kristen Peruski (Cheektowaga)
12 Years
Michelle Schultz (Lancaster)
8
march • april 2010
Convertible Seat
Marissa Lee - Penfield Center Director
February Employee of the Month
Lupe Williams (Cheektowaga)
Jose Rivera (Maintenance)
As a valued member of the doodle
team, Amy consistently exhibits
professionalism, enthusiasm and a ‘can
do!’ attitude. She is a terrific role model,
inspiring others to approach their
responsibilities with professionalism
and maturity.
Amy clearly demonstrates a genuine
talent for teaching young children
and an admirable commitment to
the Doodle Bugs! mission.
DID YOU
KNOW?
• These seats are designed for infants from birth to about 27 inches & up to 20 pounds.
• These seats must always be used in the rear-facing position.
• These seats may come with or without a removable base. Use only to weight and height
limits specified by the manufacturer.
• Use only until the infant’s head is within an inch of the top of the shell.
• Infants should remain rear facing until they are at least 20 pounds & a year old.
• Infants less than a year old who weigh over 20 pounds or have reached the height limitation
of an infant seat should use a rear-facing convertible seat.
• Note: Never place a rear-facing infant seat in the front seat with a passenger-side air bag.
Serious injuries or death may result if the air bag inflates.
“We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them.” — E. Hubbard
I
N
YS law now requires that children be restrained in a federally approved car
mherst Center
seat (up to at least age 4) and in a booster seat (or approved equivalent) until Doodle Bugs! East A
age 8. It is important to note that a vehicle’s safety belts are not defined as a child
restraint system under this law because safety belts are not designed for children
under 4' 9". In other words, a child may not be restrained in only a vehicle safety belt
(i.e., use just a seat belt) until after his 8th birthday! The best car seat/safety seat is
one that fits your child and your vehicle properly and is properly installed. Complete
information about the Child Passenger Safety laws, including answers to frequently
asked questions, can be found online at www.safeny.com. For your convenience,
Effective November
here is an excerpt that provides an overview of the four basic car seat options:
2009, all children must
Rear-facing Infant Seat
3 Years
Sara Vinci (West Amherst)
Cristina Dehlinger (Clarence)
Car Seat Safety
Thanks, Amy, for your ongoing efforts
to build a community of happy children,
happy parents and happy teachers!
2
Years
• These seats can be used for both infants and toddlers.
• Most convertible seats are designed for rear-facing use with infants 5 pounds to 30-35
pounds and for forward facing use for toddlers who are over 1 year old, weighing between
20 pounds to 40 pounds.
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions for use and installation.
use an appropriate
‘child restraint system’
while riding in a motor
vehicle, until their 8th
birthday! NYS law now
requires that children be
required in a federally
approved car seat (up
to at least age 4) and
in a booster seat (or
approved equivalent,
such as harness or vest)
until age 8.
Forward-Facing Only Seat
• These seats are used for children who are at least one year old and weigh at least
20 pounds. Recommendations for use vary so it is important to check manufacturers’
instructions for use.
• This seat is used with a 5-point harness for children up to 40 pounds and for children,
who weigh over 40 pounds, the internal harness is removed and the seat becomes a belt
positioning booster seat, used with the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt.
• Special note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride
in a forward-facing child safety seat with the full internal harness until they reach the
manufacturer’s recommendations for upper size limits.
Booster Seat
• These seats are used for children who have exceeded the height or weight limits of
convertible and forward-facing seats and provide a transition from child restraints with
internal harnesses to the vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
• Most children ages 4 to 8, approximately 40-80 pounds and less then 4' 9" will require
a belt positioning booster seat for correct lap/shoulder belt fit.
• Note: Never use a booster seat with just the lap belt.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
A car seat safety inspection is being planned at the West Amherst center in May.
Amy Wroblewski - Clarence Center Toddler Teacher
Details will be posted on Facebook and will be added to the parents’ boards at the center.
www.doodlebugs.com
11
9
MARCH EVENTS
Dr. Seuss is on the Loose!
March 1 - 5
In a box, with a fox, in a car, near or far –
everyone loves Dr. Seuss! In connection
with Read Across America week, we’re
celebrating the wonderful works of Dr. Seuss
this week. Parents are invited to read their
favorite Seuss stories in our classrooms
throughout the week. Festivities also include
a special reading of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ in
the activity room on Thursday and a Parade
on Friday at 10:00am.
Windy Day Parade
Thursday, March 11*
Our handmade kites will fly through the halls,
beginning at 10:00am, as we celebrate the
wild, windy days of March. Please join us
- you’ll be surrounded by roars (if March
comes in like a lion) or by bleats and baas
(if March comes in like a lamb)!
Butterfly Flutter By
March 15 - 19
To complement our study of caterpillars
& butterflies, we’re setting up a butterfly
pavilion this week. We’ll watch the caterpillars
make their magical transformation in the
coming weeks; this exciting event helps the
children gain a practical understanding of the
butterfly’s life cycle.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Wednesday, March 17
We’ll celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a
Leprechaun Hunt and activities that are
guaranteed to be plenty o’ fun. Mr. Doodle Bug
is famous for his leprechaun traps! Everyone is
Irish today so remember to wear green.
DOODLE DETAILS
Signs of Spring
March 22 - 26
Spring has sprung! Signs of the season will
be apparent this week, as each classroom
creates a cooperative mural, featuring
interesting insects and fabulous flowers.
Music in our Schools
March 29 – April 2
In recognition of March as Music in our
Schools Month, we hope you’ll join us
for a fabulous musical event. Our Doodle
Palooza concert will begin at 10am on
Thursday, April 1. Each classroom will
perform with homemade instruments,
costumes and props. Family Instrument
Demonstrations are also welcome this
week! Please sign up to share your
musical talents with your child’s class!
*Oops! The school calendar lists the wrong
date for this event, March 11 is correct!
APRIL EVENTS
Egg-stravaganza 2010
Friday, April 2
This egg-citing event includes a traditional egg hunt, coloring eggs and an egg toss.
We hope you’ll hop in to join in the springtime fun!
Week of the Young Child: Early Years are Learning Years
April 12 – 16
We’re proud to participate in the Week of the Young Child, a national initiative designed
to focus attention on the needs of young children and their families, and to recognize the
programs that meet those needs. We believe that having fun and celebrating the ‘little
things’ is an essential part of early childhood, so we’ve planned something special for
each day this week:
Mixed Up Monday
Yep, go ahead –wear your shirt backward today! Mis-matched socks and other
silly outfits are encouraged too!
Top Hat Tuesday
Don’t forget your hat today! Top hats, magic hats, hats with antlers… anything goes!
Wacky Wednesday
Surprise us by dressing up as someone else today! Will you be
a favorite book character? A clown? A classmate? Anything goes!
Thankful Thursday
We are especially thankful for our fabulous families. Help us celebrate this important
partnership by visiting today for a story, craft, song or snack!
Funny Food Friday
You’ll find lots of unusual toppings at this year’s ice cream social – even worms in dirt?
10
march • april 2010
OTHER SPECIAL
DAYS!
Earth Day
Thursday, April 22
Recycle, reuse, renew – it’s what
we’re learning to do! To complement
classroom discussion and related
activities, children will create
reusable ‘litter bags’ that can be
used in the car or at home.
Arbor Day
Friday, April 30
It is estimated that 18 million
trees are planted annually
on Arbor Day! We’ll learn
more about this and
show our support
with a creative
display in the entryway.
Parent Reminders
E-mail Notifications
Did you know that you can choose to receive the doodle news by email? Just add
your contact information to the list at the front desk and all the doodle news that’s
fit to print will be delivered directly to your inbox. With your support, we can
reduce the number of paper copies printed and be a bit more green – which is
Mr. Doodle Bug’s favorite color, of course!
Vacation Club
School-agers are always invited to attend Doodle Bugs! on school holidays. Our
Vacation Club provides a safe, supervised environment with plenty of fun, field
trips, and educational activities. Please let us know if your school-ager will need
care during Spring Break in April.
Doodle Bugs! O
rchard Park Cen
te
r
Where did the Parent’s Page Go?
The good news is that our newly designed newsletter now features more doodle
details, more classroom features and more photos! the bad news is that the added
content means that we no longer have space available for the Parents’ Page that was
featured in past issues. Many thanks to the doodle families who previously featured
their businesses; we appreciate your support and wish you much continued success!
Tell us About it!
Was your doodle day especially delightful? Tell us about a super staff member
today! Email [email protected] or complete a comment
card at the front desk. Your feedback is important to us!
Doodle Bugs! West Amherst Center
Save the Date!
The St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
St. Patrick’s Day fun continues at the Orchard Park center from 5:30pm – 7:00pm
on March 17. Sara Utech, Center Director, cordially invites all doodle families and
team members to a fun-filled Shamrock Party/Open House. Don’t forget to wear green!
Scholastic Book Fair
If you’re looking for a new bedtime story
the Scholastic Book Fair is perfect for you!
Support of the book fair, which offers a variety
of affordable, high-quality titles for all ages,
helps every classroom add great new books to the
classroom library. This event will be held at the
Lancaster center (March 15 – 19) and at the West
Amherst center (April 26 – 30).
Summer Camp Discount!
Summer Camp 2010 is just around the
corner. With awesome activities, theme
days and field trips, this is sure to be the
best doodle day camp yet! Return your
Summer Camp Contract by June 1 to
receive the Early Bird Discount!
A SPECIAL
THANK YOU!
The Cheektowaga center
would like to thank Miss
Jamie Wallace’s mom for
the beautifully impressive
handmade table cloths
she has been creating for
the dramatic play center
in Classroom 10. The
seasonal tablecloths bring
such a warm, homey touch
to the classroom!
Doodle Bugs! O
rchard Park Cen
ter
www.doodlebugs.com
11
FOR KIDS ONLY!
Name______________________________
Q. What season is it when you are on a trampoline?
A. Spring-time!
Q. When do monkeys fall from the sky?
A. During Ape-ril showers!
End
Q. Can February March?
A. No, but April May!
Q. What flowers grow on faces?
A. Tulips (Two-lips)!
Q. Why is the letter A like a flower?
A. A bee (B) comes after it!
Start
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ants are in the
newsletter?
12
march • april 2010
Copyright © 1992 - 2010, Doodle Bugs! Children’s Centers. All Rights Reserved.