Great Beginnings Early Education Center

Great Beginnings Early
Education Center
May 2014 Newsletter
Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that another school year has come and gone! What a joy and
privilege it has been to watch your child learn and grow. We are so fortunate to live in
an area that has so many wonderful experiences to offer to families over the summer
break. Have a fun, safe summer and make many wonderful memories with your children.
If you have a little one that will be returning to Great Beginnings Early Education
Center next year, please be sure to complete your child’s enrollment process on July 30
or 31. Your child will not be placed in a class until enrollment is complete. This is also
true for those students who will be going on to kindergarten for 2014/15 school year.
Wishing you a safe and happy summer,
Kerry Boehm and Sarah Birk
Book List
Amy Loves the Sun by Julia Hoban
Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll
Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons
Growing Colors by Bruce McMillan
Mary Wore Her Red Dress
by Merle Peek
Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward
Brown Rabbit’s Shape Book
by Alan Baker
Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni
Who Sank the Boat by Pamela Allen
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe
Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear
by Don and Audrey Wood
Dates to Remember
May 13th End of the Year Celebration
(See Flier)
th
May 15
Big Truck Night (See Flier)
May 27th Last Day of School for GBECC
July 30th GBEEC Enrollment for 2014/15
12:00 to 7:00
July 31st GBEEC Enrollment for 2014/15
8:00 to 4:00
Did You Know?
Hollie Temple, an ECSE teacher
at
Great
Beginnings
Early
Education Center, was honored
with an Excellence in Teaching
award
and
as
one
of
12
candidates for the LSR-7 Teacher
of the Year.
For more information, check out
the full article later in this
newsletter.
Great Beginnings Business Partners
Flip Zone – Lees Summit Hospital –John Hancock
Financial Services-Mike Allen – Paradise Park –
Raytown-Lees Summit Credit Union
R-7 School District reminds
parents about procedures
during tornado warnings
All schools to go into full lockdown during area warnings
During summer 2011, Lee's Summit R-7 School District administration completed
a review of safety and communications procedures related to tornado warnings. R-7
staff members communicated with school officials at Joplin, site of a severe tornado on
May 22, 2011, while also reviewing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
current recommendations.
Both the Joplin tornado and a school-day tornado warning for Lee's Summit R-7
during late May provided the district with relevant and timely information to help
improve the district's emergency-response procedures in this area. Until May 2011, it
had been many years since the Lee's Summit area has experienced a tornado warning
during the school day.
R-7 schools and facilities routinely practice tornado and other emergency drills,
and all district buildings have tornado shelter areas designated. As part of the recent
review, all shelter areas were evaluated to ensure that they are the safest locations for
students, employees and guests during an emergency. District staff and students will
continue to take shelter anytime a tornado warning is activated for the Lee's Summit R7 area.
During a tornado warning, all R-7 schools and other facilities will be locked down.
No students or staff members will be allowed to leave the shelter area until the warning
has expired. District officials emphasized that school tornado shelters are among the
safest locations for students. For this reason, parents will not be allowed to pick up their
children from school while a warning is underway. In addition, if students are released
to parents during tornado warnings, staff members would be required to leave the
shelter to release the students, putting both the students and school employees at risk.
When students and staff members take cover in shelter areas during tornado
warnings, all parents will receive a phone call through the district's automated calling
system (known as SchoolMessenger). This call will notify parents that their children have
been moved to the shelter. A second call will go to parents to notify them that the
warning has expired and that students and school staff are returning to classrooms.
The recorded phone calls will also inform parents that students will not be
released from school during the warning. In addition, school staff members will not be
answering the office telephones since they are all required to report to the shelter
areas.
Summer Reading Program @ Mid-Continent
Public Library
The program begins May 19 and lasts until July 31, 2014!
Guidelines for Children Birth through 5th grade
Listen (Children 0-6)
Share 24 books with your Listener to earn a free book. Up to three (3) paperback or board books may be
earned over the summer.
Read (Children 6-11)
Readers earn a free paperback book for every 360 minutes they read or listen to a book. Up to three (3)
paperback books can be earned over the summer. Be sure to log your books online or visit a Library branch
to pick up a reading log.
Children are encouraged to read independently at their own reading level.
Children can continue to log their reading or listening after attaining all three levels.
Every Listener and Reader that completes three summer reading logs will be entered into their branch's
drawing for a LeapPad Ultra or Kindle Fire HD.
To receive prizes, visit any Mid-Continent Public Library branch (except Midwest Genealogy Center). Library
staff can access the participant’s online reading log or will accept a completed paper log
http://www.mymcpl.org/kids/srp
Twelve R-7 Teachers Receive Chamber
of Commerce Excellence In Teaching Awards
Twelve Lee’s Summit R-7 School District educators were recently named Lee’s
Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence In Teaching award winners. Recognized
teachers are Todd C. Arasmith, Bernard Campbell Middle School; Erica Arbuckle,
Hawthorn Hill Elementary School; Enjoli Avila, Summit Pointe Elementary School; Jon
Courtney, Bernard Campbell Middle School; Beth Files, Summit Lakes Middle School;
Andrea N. Foote, Greenwood Elementary School; Jayne Hartwig, Trailridge Elementary
School; Tammi S. Krones, Lee’s Summit High School; Scott Kuhlman, Lee’s Summit North
High School; Melinda Moylan, Hazel Grove Elementary School; Hollie Temple, Great
Beginnings Early Education Center; and Kim Victor, Longview Farm Elementary School.
All 12 recipients will be honored at a reception and program scheduled from
4:30 to 6 p.m. April 3 at the Longview Mansion, 3361 SW Longview Road. The reception
is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the R-7 School District, and all students,
parents and community members are invited to attend. At approximately 5:15 p.m., a
brief program highlighting each of the 12 Excellence In Teaching Award winners will
begin.
The recognized teachers were selected by a committee composed of R-7 staff
and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and the community. Excellence In
Teaching winners are also finalists for the R-7 Teacher of the Year program and will
participate in an interview with the selection team.
In addition to the Excellence In Teaching Award winners, other finalists for 2014
Teacher of the Year include Teachers of Distinction, former Excellence In Teaching
recipients who were nominated for the award again this year. The Teachers of
Distinction interviewing for Teacher of the Year are Aaron Bailey, Lee’s Summit West
High School; Nancy Collings, Bernard Campbell Middle School; Kerrie Creemer, Meadow
Lane Elementary School; Sarah Graff, Lee’s Summit North High School; Rhonda L.
Ireland, Lee’s Summit North High School; Paul Morales, Pleasant Lea Middle School; Paul
M. Rutherford, Summit Technology Academy; Deanna Soukup, Bernard Campbell
Middle School; Michael Walker, Summit Lakes Middle School; and Paula Zimmerschied,
Underwood Elementary School. The announcement of the 2014 Teacher of the Year will
be made at the April 3 reception.
To read more about the Excellence In Teaching winners, visit the R-7 website at
http://www.lsr7.org/news/twelve-lees-summit-r-7-school-district-teachers-receivechamber-of-commerce-excellence-in-teaching-awards/.
Cassie Anderson, RN 986-2462
Chris Sabin, Health Clerk 986-2472
End of school reminders:
MEDICATION PICK UP:
For students not attending the summer ESY program their medication will need to be
picked up by the last day of school, May 27, 2014. If not picked up by that date
medication and supplies will be disposed per end of year procedure.
Please call the health room if you have any question or concerns.
Warm weather reminders:
•
Protect your child’s skin from the sun:
 Seek shade  Cover up  Get a hat  Wear sunglasses  Apply sunscreen
•
Viruses and Germs don’t take a break during the summer.
Have your child WASH HANDS: Before eating, after bathroom use, after playing outside.
•
Be sure to continue checking your child’s hair and skin for things like lice/nits,
rashes or bites that don’t go away and/or cause continued discomfort to your child.
Have a fun and safe summer!
5/14
May 13, 2014
We will be having an End of the Year Celebration of Learning. Your child’s
classroom will be participating in learning activities in the Multipurpose Room and
Playground. The activities will be designed around these books to help extend
learning. Adults will participate in the learning activities with their child. This
event is sponsored by Lee’s Summit Partners in Education.
*Due to limited space, each child will be limited to 2 adults. Children not
enrolled in programming at GBEEC will not be allowed to attend.
*If you have more than one child enrolled at GBEEC, please make arrangements to
attend sessions with each child’s individual classroom.
Be looking for a permission/RSVP form that your child’s
teacher will be sending home soon.
It will include the time scheduled for their
class to attend the event.
This form must be completed and returned no later than by May 9.
LSR-7 PARENTS AS TEACHERS
JOINS
MODOT FOR A FUN FILLED EVENING
AT
BIG TRUCK Night
Thursday, May 15
4:30 to 7 p.m.
at the Missouri Department of Transportation
Kansas City District Office
600 NE Colbern Rd, Lee’s Summit MO
If bad weather is an issue, please check the website for a reschedule date
Lots of FREE activities for kids of all ages:
Tour construction trucks
Learn about traffic safety
Play games
Try the seat beltconvincer
Face Painting
See demonstrations by
local law enforcement
Enjoy concessions
Meet Mac from the
Missouri Mavericks

www.modot.org/kansascity
for all the details!
How can
you help?
You are your child’s
first and most important teacher. You can
give your child an early start to school
success by helping him acquire skills
necessary to be a confident learner. This
guide is intended to give you a place to
begin as you prepare your child to
become a happy and successful
kindergartener.
Motor Skills
My child can:
 Hold and use crayons, markers,
pens, and pencils
 Put puzzles together
 Cut with scissors
 Copy letters and shapes
 Build with blocks
 Hop, jump, run, throw and catch
 Ride a tricycle or bicycle
Your child will learn at her own pace. Be
patient and supportive as she learns and
grows. Remember that your child’s play is
her work. She will learn best through
imaginative play, exploration, and
investigation. Make time for your child
and enjoy these moments together!
As you look to the new school year, talk to
your child about his new school. Listen to
his concerns or fears. Enjoy playing on the
school’s playground together. Keep a
positive attitude. Chances are . . . if you
are excited for the first day, he will be, too!
“Each day of our lives we make deposits
in the memory banks of our children.”
-- Charles R. Swindoll
Great Beginnings Early Education Center
Parents As Teachers
905 NE Bluestem Drive
Lee’s Summit, MO 64081
816-986-2480
To schedule a developmental screening for
your 3, 4 or 5 year old (pre-kindergarten)
please call 816-986-2486
Ready
For
Kindergarten
Social Emotional/Self-Help
My child can:
 State full name, address, phone
number, birthday, and age
 Follow simple rules and routines
 Name and talk about feelings and
emotions
 Interact with other children in play
 Be away from parents/family
 Take care of own toileting needs
What you can do:
o
o
o
o
Provide opportunities for your child
to play and talk with others.
Encourage your child to try new
things.
Talk about what it looks like and
sounds like to be respectful and
appreciative of others.
Play card/board games to practice
taking turns, paying attention, and
following directions.
Math Concepts
Language and Literacy
My child can:
My child can:
 Count number of objects in a small
group
 Knows that the final number
counted represents the total
number of objects in the set
 Distinguish numbers from letters, and
understands that numbers relate to
quantity
 Recognize some numbers, 1 – 10
 Name shapes (triangle, circle,
square) and colors
 Use the concepts and related
language of ―all‖, ‖none‖, ―less‖
and ―more‖
 Create and recognize simple
patterns (red-blue-red)
 Compare objects as:
 taller/shorter,
 bigger/smaller,
 heavier/lighter
 Enjoy listening and talking about
story books
 ―Read‖ picture books – either from
memorization or using pictures
 Understand and follow at least 2
step directions
 Speak in 5 and 6 word sentences
 Identify environmental signs (Hy-Vee
and stop sign)
 Sing the ABC song to the tune of
Mary had a Little Lamb in these
phrases:
ABCDEFG HIJ KLM NOPQRST UVW XYZ
 Identify many letter names and
some letter-sound relationships
What you can do:
o
o
o
o
o
Read to your child daily and ask
questions about the characters,
events, or subject material within
the story/text.
Sing rhyming songs with your child.
Visit the library often and
participate in activities there.
Show your child many ways in
which writing is used—signs, menus,
lists, recipes, grocery store, street
signs. Ask for help in finding letters
and words.
Use new and different words to
describe what you see, hear, and
feel helping to build your child’s
vocabulary.
What you can do:
o
o
o


Ask your child to count objects they
can touch (cereal, blocks, or
pictures in a book)
Talk about numbers and count
throughout the day: ―You have 4
books.‖ ―There are 7 cars.‖
Point out shapes, colors, and
patterns in your child’s environment.
Before your child boards the bus in August,
come check out one of the best places
in the school — the library!
Tuesday, June 24 or Thursday, July 17
5:30pm to 7:00pm
Please visit one of the following locations
Cedar Creek Elementary
2600 SW 3rd Street
Lee’s Summit, MO 64081
Lee’s Summit Elementary
110 S Green Street
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Trailridge Elementary
3651 SW Windemere Drive
Lee’s Summit, MO 64082
Underwood Elementary
1125 NE Colbern Road
Lee’s Summit, MO 64086
During your visit
*Tour the library
*Enjoy a story
*Browse the collection
*And more!
Library Media Specialists will be available
to answer questions about getting
your child ready for Kindergarten.
Check out our website: http://media.leesummit.k12.mo.us/
Follow us on Twitter: @LSR7Libraries