Curriculum Night & Open House

Join us for Curriculum Night & Open House on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Learn about your child's classroom experiences. Investigations and conversations begin at 5:00 p.m. Teachers will discuss curriculum learning groups and project work. Children are welcome to attend.

Scholarships Distributed

The ECEC distributed $6,700 in scholarships to 14 families for the 2012-2013 school year. These awards provide financial support to families who might otherwise be unable to afford their education or quality care for their children. Tuition awards are thanks in part to budgeted ECEC funds, fundraising efforts of the ECEC Parent Association, and generous donations to the Jack Finkelstein Memorial Scholarship.

ECEC Basket Raffle

The ECEC staff and Parent Association will be raffling off gift baskets during the week of November 12. Here's how you can help! We are soliciting donations for family-friendly items to include in the gift baskets. Donations may be dropped off in your child's classroom any time before November 12. This is a chance to support the ECEC's fundraising efforts in a fun and creative way by soliciting/making donations to help create some fabulous specially-themed gift baskets to be raffled off!


The following are the theme baskets for each classroom*:

Mrs. Daigneau/Ms. Camardese - Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate
Mrs. Stone/Mrs. Paris - Breakfast
Mrs. Lenihan - Scrapbooking
Ms. Kurtjian - Movie Night
Ms. Szymaszek - Gift Cards
Ms. Finkelstein/Ms. Muehlenbein - Animals (no live animals please :)
Mrs. McAuliffe - Game Night
ECEC Office - Sports and Homemade Items

*You are free to donate to any of the baskets that interest you - you don't have to stick to your child's specific classroom theme. Specific lists of suggested items can be found on each teacher's blog.

Assembled baskets will be on display in the school during the week of November 12th and at the ECEC Curriculum night on November 14. Raffle tickets will be sold that week for chances to win ($1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5). Participants will place their tickets in the container in front of the basket(s) of their choice.

DRAWING WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT 10:00 AM

(Winners need not be present and will be notified by e-mail) GOOD LUCK!!

Love & Logic Workshop Series

You're invited to attend Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun: Creating Happy Families and Responsible Kids, a parenting with Love & Logic workshop series.




Parents will learn tips to:

- help young children learn from little mistakes
- how to set limits
- how to avoid power struggles
- techniques for dealing with whining and arguing
- how to use effective choices
- strategies to help with potty training
- morning routines and bedtime routines and much more!

Workshops will be held on the following Tuesdays from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the ECEC:

- November 13, 2012
- December 4, 2012
- January 15, 2013
- February 19, 2013
- March 12, 2013

The cost is $30 per person for the series. Call 313-593-5424 to reserve your spot today...space is limited! This workshop is facilitated by Dawn Watson of Strategic Parenting Solutions and partially funded by The Great Start Readiness Program and The Schwyn Fund.

Trick-or-Treat Walk

The annual ECEC/CEF Halloween Walk will take place on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. Activities will happen rain or shine so please dress your children for the weather.





The schedule for the classrooms is as follows:

- 9:40 a.m. Pre-K/K (Mrs. McAuliffe & Ms. Finkelstein's classes)
- 10:00 a.m. Preschool (Mrs. Lenihan, Ms. Kurtjian & Ms. Szymaszek's classes)
- 10:30 a.m. Toddler (Mrs. Stone/Mrs. Paris & Mrs. Daigneau/Ms. Camardese's classes)

If your child is not scheduled on Wednesday, they can come if accompanied by an adult. Children not scheduled on Wednesday should arrive at the time indicated above for their classroom's trick or treating so we can avoid overcrowding that we've had in the past.

Come wind through the Center's trick or treat stations, search for a "needle in a haystack", decorate a pumpkin and enjoy cider and donuts.

Fundraiser Updates

Thanks to the ECEC families and campus community, our fundraisers are off to a great start for the 2012-13 school year. The Thirty-One fundraiser made $1,400 with the ECEC receiving $300 (20% of the profit). The annual Better Made Potato Chip fundraiser exceeded our expectations bringing in an astounding $4,304 with $1,345 going to the ECEC scholarship fund. Thank you for your support!

Kudos to Debbie Jones!

Congratulations to ECEC Site Director Debbie Jones on winning a UM-Dearborn U Make a Difference Award. Debbie was nominated by Chris Tremblay, Executive Director of Enrollment Management on the Dearborn campus, for going above and beyond to provide services to accommodate a UM-Dearborn staff member's child. Debbie, along with other recipients, will receive their awards at the Staff Senate Open Forum on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Kochoff Hall on campus.