Diversity Mural Family-Teacher Workshop:Tuesday April 15th

Our Diversity Mural project kicks off with a workshop for CSDC parents and teachers with help from artist Richard Haynes on April 15th. We will begin with pizza and salad at 6:30pm and continue with the workshop from 7pm-8:30pm. Our focus will be on “How do we see diversity in our community?” with an opportunity to try out some of the art materials that children will be using for the mural. The larger project will involve CSDC children in the design and creation of a collective mural over the weeks ahead. Please join us! Child care (and pizza) will be available from 6:30pm although we suggest infants stay with parents at home or at the center. Please RSVP to Tracy Gagnon by Monday April 14th.

“Color Our World” Auction a Great Success!

Over 100 parents, CSDC alum families, community supporters, and UNH officials joined in the fun of our 3rd benefit auction at the UNH Alumni Center on Saturday, April 5th. Amidst all the conversation and laughter we managed to raise over $8000 (net) for the CSDC artist-in-residency and other programs for the future. This was a truly collective effort from parents who solicited donations, helped set-up the room, supported local businesses that donated, staffed the night, baked desserts, donated generously and attended the event. In particular, kudos go to the event coordinators Alison Magill, Sheri Millette, and Darleen Smith who incurred many sleepless nights and stressful days in order to ensure such an incredible success for our center. Finally, many thanks go to the Parent Advisory Committee members who took on multiple responsibilities throughout the planning.

Week of the Young Child Celebrations

Our national Week of the Young Child kicks off on Friday April 11th with a relaxed afternoon of family-focused events at CSDC from 3:30pm-5pm including a performance by wonderful music performer TJ Wheeler. Nursery families who won’t be in session are always invited to participate in these planned events. The celebrations continue on Tuesday night with the Diversity Mural workshop and then on Wednesday the children will be traveling by shuttle, van and parent transportation to our annual Community Sing and lunch in front of the UNH Dimond library. Please check in with your classroom teachers for more detailed information. A focus for the week is both making children’s capabilities and rights more visible to the community and advocating for early childhood teachers. A new feature this year will involve children (and families) creating cards to send to local child care programs to thank teachers for their efforts on behalf of young children.

Mud, Glorious Mud!

I still remember doing the laundry when my son attended preschool. Sometimes it seemed like he had the entire playground on or in his clothes – including assorted rocks! Fortunately, as an early childhood educator I understood the value of young children having daily opportunities to engage directly with nature, to use their bodies and to simply breathe fresh air. Here in New England it is a challenge for teachers and children to get dressed to venture outside into the snow and cold, but teachers are committed to making the effort every day. Indeed, it is even more important to get out into the elements during our long, dark winters. As the current winter draws to a close and the melt proceeds, we add to the mix the delights of mud! Mud is a phenomenon that simultaneously inspires delight in young children and a wonderfully interesting reaction from adults. Mud inspires children to wonder about the transformation of passive dirt into an almost sinister substance. Each day teachers try to negotiate a balance between the need for children to explore the natural world and the realities of the laundry room at home. We appreciate your patience and understanding!

In the next month we will be proceeding with the construction of a beautiful paved walkway from the front entrance to the playground that will connect to a trike path inside the playground almost up to the tree house. The pathway will provide children and adults with a relatively mud and snow free, wheelchair accessible route into the playground.

CSDC Community Workday: Saturday May 17th : 8am-2pm

Over the past 3 years we have established an annual tradition to come together as a community on a Saturday morning to work on various tasks at CSDC such as planting trees, clearing gardens, painting rooms, and repairing equipment. This year we will have a variety of tasks focused on helping our new playground flourish through its first growing season, including spreading fertilizer and planting additional shrubs. There will be a task for any skill level and the day is great way to make connections with other parents and teachers. Child care is provided on site for children in toddler group or older.

I am looking for a parent who would be willing to be the Coordinator for the work day – we already have 3 assistants to help out on the day. The coordinator role is perfect for someone who is organized, but isn’t particularly interested in getting her/his hands dirty. Laurie and I create a list of tasks for the day. The coordinator creates a “job” and tools sign-up for parents, welcomes and registers parents as they arrive, and ensures that we have refreshments and goodies to eat as we toil. In the past, we have done a great job of ensuring that everyone’s time is well-used and a sense of community is built. Please email me ASAP.

CSDC wins Garden Award

The CSDC Family Handbook is now online in the "About CSDC" menu

Important Reminder: No unattended parking is permitted at any time in our yellow fire lane at the front of the building.

Calendar

• Week of the Young Child celebrations: Friday April 11th-18th
• Diversity Mural Workshop: Tuesday April 15th; 6:30pm-8:30pm
• Parents Advisory Committee: Friday May2nd 8am-9am (all welcome)