Curriculum Night - 11/13/13

Join us for Curriculum Night on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Learn about your child's classroom experiences. Investigations and conversations begin at 5:30 p.m. Teachers, interns and children will discuss curriculum learning groups and project work. Children are welcome to attend.

Trick-or-Treat Walk

The annual ECEC/CEF Halloween Walk will take place on Thursday, October 31, 2013. 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. Mrs. Jacobs' classes)
- 9:50 a.m. Preschool (Ms. Finkelstein/Ms. Fennessey, Ms. Muehlenbein/Mrs. Holman's classes) 
- 10:00 a.m. Preschool (Mrs. Lenihan & Ms. Kurtjian's classes) 
- 10:30 a.m. Toddler (Mrs. Stone/Ms. Rodegher & Mrs. Daigneau/Ms. Camardese's classes) 

If your child is not scheduled on Thursday, they can come if accompanied by an adult. Children not scheduled on Thursday 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 a light refreshment.

We're also collecting donations for treats to pass out at the trick or treating stations for the ECEC Halloween Walk.  If you'd like to contribute, please drop your donation in the collection box by the front desk.

Suggested donations include pencils, erasers, Play-Doh, stickers, crayons, bubbles, pretzels, goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, Rice Krispie treats, etc.

ECEC Scholarship Applications

We are pleased to announce the following scholarships are available for currently enrolled children for the 2013-2014 school year:

- Early Childhood Education Center Child Tuition Award
- Parent Association Tuition Award
- Jack Finkelstein Memorial Scholarship Award

These awards provide financial support to families who might otherwise be unable to afford their education or quality care for their children.  The amount awarded will be determined by available funds and the applicant's need.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS are available on the ECEC website. Applications are due in the office by Friday, October 11, 2013.

Better Made Potato Chip Fundraiser

The Early Childhood Education Center is pleased to announce our annual Better Made Potato Chip Fundraiser.  You can support the ECEC and a Michigan company at the same time.  Chips are $16.00 per case of 50 bags - only 32 cents per bag!  These snacks are great for lunches and also make neat Halloween treats. Proceeds go to the ECEC scholarship fund to assist families in need of tuition support for their children.  Last year, you helped the ECEC raise over $1,500 from this fundraiser.

Please return ORDER FORMS with payment by Thursday, October 17, 2013 (makes checks payable to ECEC Parent Association).  Orders will be available for pick up on Fri., October 25th & Mon., October 28th at the ECEC. 

Family Meet & Greet / Parent Association Meeting

A big thank you to everyone that attended the CEF Family Fun Day last week. Our next event is a family Meet & Greet this Friday, September 20th from 8:00-9:00 a.m. followed at 9:00 a.m. with the first Parent Association Meeting of the school year. 

The Meet & Greet will be in the art studio and front stage area. Take a few minutes with your child to enjoy a light refreshment and talk with the teachers and meet other parents. Then join us in the Seminar Room located at the front of the building to help plan events, fundraisers and share your ideas at the Parent Association meeting. We will have committee sign-up sheets for areas of need in the center; the children's garden, repairs, fundraisers,etc. We will also have information available about Parent Association board members if you are interested in serving on our board.

CEF & ECEC Family Fun Day

Please join us for the annual CEF & ECEC Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on the playground.  The is a FREE event with live entertainment fun family activities and great food. The schedule for the day is as follows:

1:00-2:30 p.m.
Food



1:00-3:00 p.m.
Clowns & Face Painting
Bounce Houses
Woodworking
Crafts







3:00-4:00 p.m.
Special Guest Appearance by Detroit Piston's Hooper


3:30-4:00 p.m.
Dunk Tank





Special thanks to our volunteers and event sponsors Schwynn Family Foundation, Binson's, Wright & Filippis, Medtronics, Dearborn Sausage, Tim Horton's, Absopure, Westborn Market and UM-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center.

New Teachers & New School Year!

Jennifer Jacobs

We are pleased to announce that the ECEC has hired Mrs. Jennifer Jacobs. Mrs. Jacobs has her Master’s Degree in Education as well as the Early Childhood Endorsement (ZA) and is a graduate of the UM-Dearborn’s School of Education. Mrs. Jacobs recently taught preschool in the Van Buren Public Schools. We are excited to have Mrs. Jacobs join our teaching team.

Brooke Holman

In Spring the ECEC was awarded additional Great Start Readiness Program grant funds for the 2013-2014 school year. A new classroom has been added and I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Brooke Holman and Ms. Danielle Muehlenbein will be co-teaching in this classroom. Mrs. Holman is a graduate of the UM-Dearborn School of Education with her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education as well as her Early Childhood Endorsement (ZA). 

Dana Fennessey

We are also pleased to announce that Ms. Dana Fennessey has joined our teaching team as a co-teacher with Ms. Caryn Finkelstein in the four year old classroom. Ms. Fennessey is also a graduate of the UM-Dearborn School of Education with her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Early Childhood Endorsement (ZA). Ms. Muehlenbein and Ms. Finkelstein's biographies can be found on our Personnel page along with all of our returning teachers. We will be updating the biographies for our new teaching staff within the next week.

We are excited to begin the new school year with all of our new and returning families. Please keep checking our blog for upcoming announcements and events.

ECEC Family Picnic

Join us for the annual ECEC Family Picnic on Friday, June 14, 2013 from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. on the ECEC playground.

Mingle with other families, enjoy the inflated obstacle courses and great food!  Please bring blankets and/or lawn chairs for seating.

Sign up in your child's classroom to bring a dish to pass.  Please make the dish size proportionate to the number of people you bring to the picnic.

Please note: Families are responsible for their children during the picnic. 

Mary Louise Hemmeter - Vanderbilt University

The Early Childhood Education Center is offering FREE admission for UM-Dearborn SOE early childhood students for a presentation by Mary Louise Hemmeter, Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Hemmeter will present "We Are All in This Together: Preventing and Addressing Challenging Behavior" on Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Lecture Hall B of the Social Science Building.

Addressing the needs of children with challenging behavior can be challenging and frustrating for parents, teachers and other caregivers.  This presentation will focus on strategies for preventing and addressing challenging behavior as well as how to provide supports to the adults who work with young children with challenging behavior.  The presentation will include a description of a framework for promoting social emotional competence and preventing and addressing challenging behaviors, videotaped examples of strategies associated with that framework, and a team based approach for supporting children with the most significant behavioral needs.

To attend for at no cost, please RSVP to liasim@umich.edu with your name, referencing the Inclusion Conference and bring this flyer with your student ID to the registration table on the date of the presentation.

Mom2Mom Sale

The ECEC will host it's 4th Annual Mom2Mom Sale on Saturday, March 2, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Admission cost is $1.00 per person.  Early bird admission is from 8:00-9:00 a.m. and is $2.00 per person.  Please no strollers before 11:00 a.m.



Table rental cost is $15.00 per 6 foot table.  Rack space cost is $5.00 per 4 foot space.  Space is still available by contacting saralynnbeauchamp@yahoo.com.

Vendor Show w/Scrapbook Retreat

Here's just one more reason to register for the 2013 Scrapbook Retreat happening this Saturday, February 9th - a vendor show!  We've extended the registration deadline for the Scrapbook Retreat until Thursday, February 7, 2013.  Vendors will display their products from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  Each vendor will have a raffle prize.  So join us for scrapbooking, food, prizes and great company!

2013 ECEC Scrapbook Retreat

Saturday, February 9, 2013

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

(Vendor Show from 1:00-4:00 p.m.)

Please use this REGISTRATION FORM to register by Thursday, February 7, 2013.  Checks should be made payable to UM-Dearborn ECEC.

2013 Scrapbook Retreat

Join us for the 2013 ECEC Scrapbook Retreat at the UM-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center on Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.  Cost is $35.00 per person and includes lunch, dinner, snacks, beverages and a raffle ticket for terrific prizes!  Additional raffle tickets will be available for sale.  Seating is two people per 6 foot table.  All proceeds benefit the ECEC Professional Development Fund.


Please use this REGISTRATION FORM to register by Thursday, February 7, 2013 (deadline extended).  Checks should be made payable to UM-Dearborn ECEC.

NEW!  We've added a vendor show.  Check out the vendors here!

Little Caesar's Pizza Fundraiser

The ECEC is holding its annual Little Caesar's Pizza Kit Fundraiser.  Funds will benefit the ECEC Parent Association which helps to provide scholarships to ECEC families, materials for the classrooms and supplies for family events.

There are a variety of items to choose from including pizza kits, bread kits, salad kits, pizza cone kits, wings, calzones, gourmet spices, cookie dough and more!

If you'd like to participate, please use download this CATALOG & ORDER FORM and return with payment to the ECEC front desk by Friday, January 18, 2012.  Please make checks payable to ECEC Parent Association.  Orders will be available for pick up on Monday, January 28, 2012 after 12:00 p.m., just in time for your Super Bowl party!