Amy's July Letter

July 1, 2008

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of another Family Center Program year. Water play on the roof, good-bye books being made, ordering supplies for next year, and summer mailings are all concrete symbols that it is once again time to say good-bye. Please let teachers know if your child's schedule will change throughout the month.

Saying good-bye to teachers and friends is often very difficult, not only for the children but for the parents and teachers as well. The teachers are beginning to talk about saying good-bye. There are three steps to saying good-bye at the Family Center. The way we talk about it is as follows:

• The first step is "talking about it". This is what we have been doing thus far. Talking about the good-bye, saying where children will be going the following year and, giving concrete examples of when we will say good-bye. For example "We say good-bye to the Family Center long after the sprinklers are out on the roof."
• The second step is :getting ready". We get ready to say goodbye by making good-bye books, cleaning toys, cleaning the furniture, visiting new classrooms and we make a calendar to mark off the days until the end of the year.
• The final step is "doing it". This happens on the last day a child will be at the Family Center. Children take home their family pictures, birthday markers, artwork, clothing and naptime supplies and say good-bye to their teachers and friends. Children in rooms 1, 2 and 3 have been visiting room 3 or looking into what will be room 4. We will begin talking about saying good-bye in the next week or so.

In order to minimize some of the disruption during the last month of the program, we keep our schedule and routines the same leading up to the last day. We take our cues from the children and talk about the end of the year and saying good-bye as it comes up in conversations and in play.

Calendar Notes
Friday July 4th -Family Center Closed-Independence Day
Monday July 21st -End of the Year Pot-Luck Supper in the Cafeteria or Playdeck 6:00
Friday July 25th-Room 3 Growing and Changing Ceremony-9:00am in the Auditorium
Tuesday July 29th -Last Day of Family Center-Center Closes 3:00

A sign up sheet for the pot-luck will be posted in the front office area. We also need a few parents to volunteer to help set up at 5:15 and stay late for clean up. (Please sign up on the sheet posted in the office area.)

Staffing News
I have almost completed all my hiring for the classroom and updated staff list will be included in your August mailing.

 It is with mixed emotions that I have to pass along the news that Taisha and Sebastian will not be returning to the Family Center next year. Taisha will be pursuing her degree in Nursing. Taisha has had a long history at the Family Center and it is hard to imagine not seeing her and Amaia here everyday. Taisha began her work here in 1999 as a Liberty Intern. She has grown and changed so much over the years and has blossomed into a wonderful teacher and mentor for the other Liberty Interns in the program. Sebastian has decided to pursue other career options next year. Sebastian has been working at the Family Center since 2004 as a Liberty Intern. Sebastian has worked hard for us over the past 4 years, filling in as needed in all the classrooms. This year Sebastian has worked as a wonderful support in room 3 throughout the year. Please join me in wishing Taisha and Sebastian good luck as they move out of the Family Center into the larger world. You both have bright and successful futures ahead. Remember to come back and visit you are always welcomed.

Thank You
This has been a wonderful year at the Family Center. Before the year ends I want to extend my thanks to all the parents who worked so hard to support the program this year. We have accomplished so much for this year. We had a successful benefit concert, a wonderful Spring Auction and our Annual Fund has done very well. Our biggest accomplishment has been the addition of Room 4. Construction is underway, walls are up and the room should be ready for children on September 3rd.

We had an exceptional staff of teachers and therapists this past year. Please join me in thanking the staff for taking such good care of each child and family. Finally to all the children who continue to amaze us with their growth and development, they have been a joy to watch this year. The children have kept us all on our toes and as always, made us smile. To all the families, children and staff leaving, some of whom have been a part of this community for over 8 years, we will miss you. Come back to visit, you are always welcome. I look forward to next year and all the new possibilities it brings.
 
See you all at the end of the year potluck. Have a great month.

Sincerely,

Amy Flynn