Hello, Snow!

Due to the ongoing snowstorm, all Gretchen's House childcare centers in the Ann Arbor area will be closed today, February 1st, 2008.

(Gretchen's House at Little Oaks in Pontiac remains open as long as the Oakland County government stays open.)

--Admin

Sleep Solutions

Feeling tired and grumpy? You're not alone. Sleep issues are one of the most popular searches in online parenting forums.

At our centers, we have had so many conversations about sleep with new and experienced parents alike that we made a summary of our sleep suggestions. You can download a printable copy of our purple page on the topic here. Purple Pages are our coffee break-sized newsletters about various developmental and family challenges. We're up to more than forty different topics by now! Parents and visitors can pick up hard copies at any of the centers. Parents of currently enrolled children can download printable pdf files of all the purple pages plus other original material from our website, on the Child Development tab.

We recently received a mailing from parent educator Elizabeth Pantley introducing her No-Cry books and website. You can download her helpful suggestions at the links below:

• Newborn Babies and Sleep
• 8 Sleep Tips for Every Child
• Moving from Crib to Bed
• Solving Naptime Problems

Ms. Pantley is holding two sleep-related contests on her website. The deadline is Feb. 29th; four inners will have their choice of an autographed No-Cry book.

My own contribution to better bedtimes is a picture book called Hillside Lullaby. It's a story about a "wild little child" lulled to sleep by the sounds of the animals outside her window. You can download a free MP3 file of the song that goes with the book from my website.

Sleep tight!

-- H.V.

Winter Parent Workshops

Child development expert and GH Director of Curriculum Beth MeLampy is conducting a series of parenting workshops for Gretchen's House this winter. Parents need to sign up in advance with LoisAnn Arnold.

Topics include:

• January 30th: Encouraging Cooperation
• February 13: Alternatives to Punishment and Problem Solving
• March 5: Encouraging Autonomy

Spaces are filling fast, so if you're interested in participating, don't delay!

-- Admin

Gretchen's House All Centers 2008 Calendar

Please note that days the centers are closed are in bold. Center specific information can be found in the GH newsletter, classroom news, and classroom bulletin boards.

January

• January 1st: all centers closed for New Year's Day

February

• Kindergarten meetings, various: check at each center
• 25-29: Ann Arbor Public Schools winter break, sign up for school-age care at your center

March

• Parent Advisory Group meeting at GH-Mt.Pleasant, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• 27-29 MiAEYC Annual Conference in Grand Rapids

April

• Month of the Young Child Events: check newsletter insert for details
• 7-11 Ann Arbor Public Schools Spring Break: sign up for schoolage care at your center

May

• Parent-Teacher conferences: schedule with your child's teacher
• May 26th: all centers closed for Memorial Day
• Saturday center workdays, varied. Check with your center.
• Potlucks, varied. Check with your center.

June

• 3rd: Parent Advisory Group Meeting at GH-Dhu Varren
• 12th: Last full day of school for the Ann Arbor District
• 16th: First day of SCAMP
• Saturday center workdays, varied. Check with your center.
• Potlucks, varied. Check with your center.

July

• 4th: all centers closed for Independence Day

August

• 27th-29th: all centers closed for staff work days

September

• 1st: all centers closed for Labor Day

October

• Curriculum Night, various: check your child's class bulletin board

November

• 4th - 7th: National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in Dallas
• 27th and 28th: all centers closed for Thanksgiving

December

• Holiday parties, varied: check with your center
• 24th-31st: all centers closed for winter break

--Admin

Congratulations!

GH-Traver has been reaccredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children!

NAEYC's official stamp of approval is reserved for providers of high quality childcare. Gretchen's House centers have all been accredited for many years, but NAEYC recently changed their accreditation requirements. The new guidelines require much more concrete documentation than in the past, so director Lea Augustine and company had their hands full making sure all the i's were dotted and the t's crossed. And apparently, they were!

Going through the reaccreditation process, though a lot of work, is a great opportunity to ensure our standards remain high and to stay current with the latest research and recommendations about what's best for young children. Although we've been in business for more than twenty years, it's always nice to get an "honor roll" report card from an outside source. During the first year of the new standards, six centers in the state of Michigan achieved accreditation or were reaccredited. We look forward to our other programs marking this milestone over the next year or two.

You can read more about the extensive accreditation process here.

--H.V.

Ironing Out the Wrinkles

After a brief hiatus while we worked out the kinks in this new forum, we're back! We hope you'll return for:

• updates on center happenings
• links to fun local events
• child development and family living advice
• discussions of early childhood issues in the news

More to follow!

-- H.V.

But she was my favorite teacher!

When a teacher leaves an early childhood center, everyone wants to know why. Unfortunately, employers cannot compromise employees’ privacy by sharing details of these sometimes sudden departures. When teachers who leave broadcast their version of the separation, centers get flack for what may sound like unfair treatment. Parents also grow suspicious when very few departure details are released. “Was the teacher fired? What for?!”

After having made a thoughtful decision to hire someone, centers want to give staff every opportunity to meet their expectations. Extra training often brings people up to speed; other times, subtle differences in philosophy can have negative impact on quality of care and the cohesiveness of a teaching team.

Sometimes a bad fit is evident early on. Although no one likes disruptions, there are cases where everyone agrees that a teacher is not working out. Other times, though, an apparently popular teacher may leave or be asked to leave. While directors understand the emotional bonds that other staff, children, and parents form with teachers, they can’t staff centers via popularity contests. A teacher who has great rapport with children may not be suitable for a teaching position due to other important aspects of the job:

• Behind-the-scenes issues: documentation, caring for challenging children, favoritism, etc.
• Difficulty working with other staff, meeting employment requirements, following directions, etc.
• Unacceptable employee behaviors: tardiness, absenteeism, gossip, and other behaviors that undermine a productive workplace.

There are also many reasons unrelated to performance for which a teacher may choose to leave:

• Personal or family health issues
• More desirable offer from another center or employment sector
• Shifting home/work priorities.

1. What can parents do about staff turnover in the face of an information blackout?
2. Keep an open mind and positive attitude about new staff.
3. Give your center director feedback when things go right. Everyone remembers to point out negatives, but positive feedback helps directors get a balanced perspective.
   Protect teachers’ privacy (and dignity). Resist the urge to gossip, and always consider the other side of the story.

--M.D.

Out and About

Zero to Three Weighs in on Continuity of Care

How to Evaluate A Childcare Provider: from the American Academy of Pediatrics