“One of the best investments we can make in a child’s life is high-quality early education.” 

– Barack Obama 

     It is hard to believe the summer is almost over, and we are a week into returning to school. We are so excited for our recent graduates who have begun kindergarten! While we miss them, we are so proud of the young men and women they are becoming, and for the time we were given with each of them. We are also so happy to see some of their faces in our Afterschool Program!  

     Here are some photos of our afterschoolers getting off the bus after their first day of school:  

 

     Congratulations to each of them!!! 

     Speaking of faces, you may notice some new ones around the center. We are thrilled to have several new educators who have joined our teaching staff in the last few weeks. Each is a real gift to our organization and has brought fresh energy and expertise to our team. If you notice any new faces around, be sure to welcome them to the Children’s Center family.

     Saturday School was a tremendous success, and we are deeply grateful for all those who gave financially, gave of their time, and shared the impactful work The Children’s Center is doing with family members and friends. Saturday School enabled working parents (particularly in the tourism industry) to leave their children in a safe and educationally rich environment, rather than being forced to bring children to work. The Island Packet wrote a fantastic article on The Children’s Center’s Saturday School Program and the impact it has had on local families. You can read that article here. 

     Mrs. Jenkins and her Ladybugs got creative with a little pasta and glue this week! For children, activities like these develop their creativity, hone their motor skills, and foster independence. We are grateful for amazing teachers like Mrs. Jenkins who make The Children’s Center an incredible place to play, grow, and learn.  

 

 

Back-to-School and COVID-19

     As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, as new variants develop daily and new information regarding the virus is released all the time. We now know that even vaccinated individuals are not completely out of the woods when it comes to getting and transmitting the virus. At our center, we have reinstated our mask policy while on-site and encourage everyone to be diligent in doing the things within our control to stop the spread (washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, and remaining at least six feet apart when possible). But what about kids? How do we keep them as safe as possible as they return to school? A recent CNN article offers some safety tips for children returning to school: 

Before leaving for school: 

• Dr. Steven Abelowitz encourages families not to ignore cold symptoms in children, and to confirm with a peditrician that symptoms are not indicative of COVID-19.  

Waiting for the bus: 

• While it is unlikely children will contract COVID while outdoors, encouraging kids to wear masks if the bus stop is crowded is encouraged. 

On the bus: 

• With the proximity of children on the bus, a 3-ply mask that covers their nose and mouth is critical.  

When carpooling: 

• If families have “pandemic pods,” carpooling could be safer than riding the bus for children. While not impossible, the reduced interaction with others can decrease risk of contracting the virus. 

In class and hallways: 

• The CDC recommends children in kindergarten through 12th grade wear masks in school. According to Dr. Abelowitz, the Delta variant has been a game changer, and wearing masks in school is an important part of reducing the risk of exposure. 
• Find a mask that is a comfortable fit for your child. This increases the chances they will keep the mask on their face. 
• Explaining that masks help keep your child and their friends safe, as well as helping them be able to see their friends at school may help your child make sense of all that is happening. 

At recess: 

• As with the bus stop, if children are playing outdoors, chances of contracting the virus are reduced. While not impossible to spread the virus, experts do not consider it necessary for children to wear masks outdoors. 

At lunch: 

• While the lunch set-up will vary depending on the school, children should try to eat outside or all facing the same direction and then talk face-to-face after they finish eating. If social distancing is possible, it is a clever idea to do so during lunch hours. 

At afterschool: 

• Whenever possible, the CDC encourages outdoor activities. Close-contact sports as well as indoor sports pose a much greater risk of virus contraction. 

     We are honored to be a part of the future of the Lowcountry as we educate Lowcountry kids. We consider it an honor and a privilege, and are so grateful for the donors, staff, community partners, and everyone in between who make it possible. Thank you! 

Before you go, check out our Staff Spotlight! 

Staff Spotlight: Pam Ross

*Mrs. Pam in action!

      Mrs. Pam is new to The Children’s Center, but has already captured the hearts of her students, and has proven to be a wonderful addition to The Children’s Center team. She is a skilled and kind educator, and has taken on the challenge of facilitating our First Steps Program, a state-funded initiative providing free preschool for children in the Lowcountry. When Mrs. Pam is not at The Children’s Center, she enjoys spending time with her family members and friends.

 

Do you want to make a difference? We are looking for full-time and part-time employees! E-mail resumes to info@thechildrenscenter.org.