Sunday, September 9, 2012

West Nile Virus in Southborough

Dear families,
     We have all heard about the West Nile Virus, but now it has been detected here in Southborough.  They will be spraying between 7:30pm and midnight on Monday, September 10th from the side of the road, according to the automated message we received on Sunday.  We had our yard sprayed already, shortly before we learned this information and they sprayed all the way down back as well.  We will not be applying bug spray on the children, but if you would like to do so, please apply it before you come to daycare.  They say that the best type is the one with DEET.  The following is from the post that copied and pasted from mysouthborough.com
 
Thanks,
Jen and Wendy
 
 
Mosquitoes infected with West Nile have been found in Southborough
by susan on September 6, 2012
 
     The Central Mass Mosquito Control Project announced today mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus were found in Southborough. The virus was detected in mosquitoes trapped on Newton Street on August 28. No cases of human infection in Southborough have been reported.
In coordination with the Southborough Board of Health, CMMCP has scheduled spraying of the area around Newton Street for Monday, September 10. CMMCP notes that while spraying can reduce the threat of mosquito-borne illness, it does not eliminate it. Residents are still urged to take precautions both before and after spraying.
     The detection of mosquitoes infected with West Nile in Southborough was perhaps only a matter of time. West Nile had been found earlier this summer in nearly all of our neighboring communities, including Westborough, Northborough, Hopkinton, Ashland, and Marlborough.

The following streets will be sprayed:
Autumn Hill Ln
Howes Ct
School St
Boston Rd
Ledge Hill Rd
St Marks St
Common St
Lyman St
Upland Rd
Cross St
Main St
Walker St
E Main St
Marlboro Rd
Whistler Ln
Framingham Rd
Newton St
Winchester St
Hillside Ave
Overlook Dr
Wyeth Cir

Fingerpainting is so much fun

I just could not resist posting this.

     No matter how big or small you are, fingerpainting is still fun.  It provides for a wonderful tactile experience.  At some point during the next week, sit with your child and break out the paints.  We want to hear about this experience.  (Don't forget to get your hands dirty too!)

Introducing Julie!!!


To The Parents of Peek-A-Boo! Home Day Care:                                                         September 6, 2012

 

            I wanted to take a few moments to re-introduce myself to those of whom I met at Wendy's Daycare on Wednesday September 5th 2012.

            Over the next several months, I will be student teaching with Wendy and Jennifer, working towards my Associate degree in Early Child Care.

            Now, for some information and history when it comes to childcare and my positions held. I started in 1986 as a live-in nanny for a family in Watertown, Ma.  I worked for the family taking care of 1 child at first, then the second child was born some time later. I then worked for several other families in different areas in Massachusetts until about 6 months after my husband and I got married during the summer of 1992. I have been a licensed childcare provider since 1997. My husband and I have two children ages 14 and 11 years old.

            I appreciate you taking time out from your busy schedules to read my letter. I look forward to teaching your children. I feel that teaching is also a learning experience for both teacher and children alike. I look forward to getting to know your children as well.

 

Julie

The Holidays..........

     The holidays are quickly approaching and it came to our attention that we had not yet picked our Christmas schedule.  So, after much thought and a quick poll,  we decided to take the day before Christmas off.  Thank you for your imput.

     While we are on the subject of holidays, we would like to ask that you please let us know as soon as you make your final plans if you will be taking any days off during this time. This makes it so that when we are preparing projects, we do not create too many and do not waste materials for the activities that we provide.   We have the added responsibility of making sure we have the right number of supplies for our new student teacher (who you will read about in another post and some of you have met her) during this Holiday Season so that she can bring the proper number of supplies per child per activity for the activities that she provides.  She has to have a certain number of children included in her teaching so we need to schedule her days when we have the most children. 

     We take pride in including everyone in the holidays.  This year we are celebrating Halloween... (We know it is not an official holiday, but we cannot ignore it), Thanksgiving and Christmas; then nothing until Valentines Day and Easter.  Is there something your family celebrates that we have not mentioned?  All celebrations are simple and we do a few projects during the week leading up to the holiday.

Thank you so much,

Jen and Wendy

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Need Immediate Responses PLEASE

ITEM 1

     Christmas 2012 is on a Tuesday.  We close either the day before or the day after.  This year we are leaving it up to a parental vote.  Do you want Christmas Eve day to finish your shopping and wrapping or the day after Christmas to unwind and let the children play with their new toys?  We will be making the decision based on your votes no later than tomorrow at the close of Daycare.  Please respond to this or text WENDY.

ITEM 2

     Please take a green food program application, fill it out and send it to the address listed in the paperwork.    I need one filled out and returned for each child enrolled in the Peek-A-Boo! Home Daycare.  Please send this form to:
Bay State Child Care Food Program 
345 North Lake Ave.
Worcester, MA 01605
  
Thanks,
  Jen and Wendy

Sunday, September 2, 2012

"Look before you lock"


This has been a big thing in the news lately, and I would like to share this information with you.  This information was sent via email to Wendy and goes into further detail at this website listed in the following article.  I urge you to please pass along the information to anyone else who has children.  I know you guys are awesome, but it is always a good reminder.

Thanks,
Wendy and Jen

"A hot car can be deadly! Always be sure to look twice. It’s easier than you think to forget your baby in the backseat. "

A total of 15 children have already died in 2012 from heat stroke after being left in unattended vehicles. In 2011 a total of 33 similar deaths were confirmed.

In an effort to increase public awareness about the safe transportation of children, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Safe Kids USA have joined together to implement the "Look Before You Lock" campaign.

The "Look Before You Lock" campaign promotes the importance of double-checking cars, vans, and buses for children who might have been left behind. The campaign includes safety tips for parents, families, child care providers and other caretakers of children. To access these materials, visit:
http://www.safercar.gov/parents/heat-involved.htm.


The Department of Early Education and Care has also developed a training presentation on ensuring the safe transport of children. This training is intended to increase awareness in all adults, including parents and caregivers, about the risks of hyperthermia in vehicles and best practices to prevent this from occurring. The presentation is available online at:
http://www.eec.state.ma.us/docs1/Workforce_Dev/20120502-look-before-lock.pps.