Code Blue

January 13, 2010


Dear Preschool Parents:

Today the morning session of the preschool program participated in a code blue drill. We are pleased to report that everything went well and all safety protocols are in place. As you know, fire, police and medical personnel regularly prepare for emergencies by conducting practice drills. These drills help to teach us to react in a calm and rational manner during an emergency. They also allow safety planners the opportunity to work out the details of an emergency response. Practice drills should become automatic for us and should not create any undue anxiety.

Please take a minute to review all of the safety protocols that are in place. As always, any questions please feel free to give us a call or send an email.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS
The Burlington Public Schools’ has developed three different safety protocols; Fire Drills, Code Red and Code Blue.

A Fire Drill is when the local fire department comes in and schedules the drill. The alarm is pulled and all children and staff are expected to evacuate the building in a timely fashion. Fire drills are supervised by the Burlington Fire Department. The teachers have evacuation procedures that are posted in the classroom that are followed during these drills.

Code Red is when the safety of the building has been compromised in some way and everyone is expected to evacuate. The school staff will follow the procedures that have been established for this purpose. The preschool will evacuate down Sunset Drive and will be met by members of the Burlington Response Team. In an emergency situation, parents will be contacted and will be told where they can meet and pick up their children.

Code Blue is when all students must remain in their classroom. They are required to sit quietly on the rug, all shades are pulled down and the lights are turned off. The students are told that they are to wait quietly.

It is important to note, that all Preschool staff have been trained in these safety protocols and will follow them to ensure the safety of all children. The Burlington Emergency Response Team includes members of the fire, police and school departments have established these protocols.

Thanks,
Louise D’Amato

Open House

Parents of preschool aged children looking to register their child for September, 2010, the Burlington Early Childhood Program will be having its annual Open House on Thursday, January 21st from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Burlington High School, 123 Cambridge Street (rear of the high school). Stop by and visit with our preschool staff, have your questions answered and pick up a Registration Packet (Children must be three years old by August 31, 2010). Any questions contact Louise D’Amato or Laura Caprio at 781-270-1808 or check our website at www.burlington.mec.edu, click on schools, then Integrated Preschool

Kindergarten Registration

Registration for children entering Kindergarten in September 2010 will be held at Fox Hill, Memorial, Pine Glen, and Francis Wyman Schools on Monday February 1, 2010 through Friday, February 5, 2010 from 9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m. each day. Children must be the age of 5 by August 31, 2010.

Please use the link below for additional information including paperwork that will be needed for registration.

http://www.burlington.mec.edu/ps/kindergarteninfo_2010/k_reg2101.pdf

Play dough Recipe (indoor fun)

Although we have given some great suggestion for outdoor play we understand that this time of year children spend a lot of time indoors and that you are looking for an activity to keep them entertained. Here is the recipe for play dough as well as some suggestions on how to make it not only fun but an opportunity for learning.

Basic ingredient ratios:

2 cups flour

2 cups warm water

1 cup salt

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon cream of tartar

food coloring

If you want your play dough to have a scent you can use cinnamon, jello packets, kool aid or other fun scented powdered materials.

Mix and heat

Mix all of the ingredients together, and stir over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes. (important to take your time and do this over low heat. If not you will burn and ruin your pan)

When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.

IMPORTANT NOTE: if your play dough is still sticky, you simply need to cook it longer!

Keep stirring and cooking until the dough is dry and feels like play dough.

Knead & color

Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone mat, and knead vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth.

Make a divot in the center of the ball, and drop some food coloring in. Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of the play dough, trying to keep the raw dye away from your hands and the counter. You could use gloves or plastic wrap at this stage to keep your hands clean- only the concentrated dye will color your skin, so as soon as it's worked in bare hands are fine.

Work the dye through, adding more as necessary to achieve your chosen color.

If you use unsweetened drink mix for color, test on a small ball first- it won't go as far as the "real" food coloring.

Play and store

Play with your play dough It's entirely edible, a bit salty, but safe to eat.

When you're done store it in an air-tight container. If it begins to dry out, you can knead a bit of water in again to soften the dough back to use ability. Once it's dried past a certain point, however, you'll just have to start over; thankfully it's not terribly difficult.

Play dough is a great indoor activity. Here are some ideas to extend play and make it more successful:

Have a designated area on the table for the children to use play dough. A plastic place mat is an easy inexpensive way to provide boundaries when using play dough at home. Make a rule that play dough can only be used at the table and on a place mat. This will eliminate the problem of having it stuck to a rug or finding it on the couch.

Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes. You can use alphabet cookie cutters and begin learning and sequencing the letters in your child’s first name. If they are beyond this move to the last or you could get fancy and do first, middle and last.

Use fun kitchen utensils such as garlic press, pizza cutter, spatula or other things that you can use to cut and press. While supervising your child let them use scissors to cut play dough into pieces. These are all great activities that will help strengthen hand muscles and develop fine motor skills.

The possibilities are endless when using play dough. The children love creating with the dough and it is a fun activity on a cold day when you can’t get outside.

Have fun!

The Safari Scouts had a great time sledding today. I don't know who had more fun the students or the teachers. Thanks to the Safari Scouts teachers for providing the students with such great winter exercise.

Remember to send it appropriate clothes for the weather so the children can enjoy outdoor fun.