As a Berry Patch family, you have access to a licensed Parent and Family Educator as part of the program. We are delighted to have Becky Danielson, M.Ed, on staff and available to you for one-on-one conversations at no additional cost. To schedule an appointment with Becky, please email her at b.danielson@berrypatchschool.com.
Dear Berry Patch Families,
Young children are scientists at heart. Kids experiment to make sense of their world. Scientific learning begins at birth, with cause and effect and builds from there. Encourage curiosity and exploration. Continue reading “April Parent & Family Education Newsletter”
Dear Berry Patch Families,
Faith matters. As a school community, it’s “our desire that each child enrolled at the Berry Patch learns about the heart of God.”1 Faith lessons and family values are rooted at home, in what a child learns, observes, and lives each day. The Berry Patch staff reinforces these values in the classroom.
Foundational faith practices like praying and reading the bible, come from intentional leading on the part of the parent. The bible is a roadmap, instruction book, and communication tool all rolled into one. Reading the bible with children of any age provides a solid foundation in faith. The lessons learned today will translate into truth for the future when the going gets rough. When Mom and Dad lean on God, scripture, and faith-filled friends, children learn to do the same. These practices become habits in times of need and celebration. We as parents will not do it all perfectly, but where we’re lacking, God fills in the gaps. Continue reading “March Parent & Family Education Newsletter”
March 1, 2021
We have had another WONDERFUL month at The Berry Patch!
Our Strawberries are getting so OLD– they are ready for their next step as Kindergartners– the direction following, involved conversations, and leadership development in the classroom are all incredible to see.
Dear Berry Patch Families,
Do you ever experience BIG emotions in your children? If so, it’s normal! Social emotional learning (SEL) is an essential aspect of your child’s development, big emotions and all. Helping our children manage their emotions in a healthy way is another aspect of their education. Children need time, maturity, instruction, and practice to manage emotional responses. Learning to navigate emotions and solve their problems leads to self-regulation. This skill set, being able to express, control, and re-direct emotions, is one of the predictors of later academic and social success. Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D. explains, “Healthy self-regulation is related to the capacity to tolerate the sensations of distress and anxiety that accompany an unmet need (respond vs. react). Healthy self-regulation is related to teaching children to recognize their needs and find positive ways to meet their needs.” Continue reading “February Parent & Family Education Newsletter”
February 1, 2021
Sweet Berry Patch Families,
It was a wonderful month at The Berry Patch with TONS of outdoor play for our berries and many great learning experiences about winter, animals and their habitats, and deepening friendships.
Dear Berry Patch Families,
We all know children learn through experience. This is also true with fine and gross motor skills. Small and large muscle motion are important for little ones as they learn to navigate their world. Recall your child as a baby, grasping an object. Think of the skills needed to accomplish that task: eye-hand coordination, small motor reflexes in the fingers, large motor skills in moving the arm, and more. The lesson in cause and effect as well as independence in accomplishing the movements without assistance all add to the learning curve.
According to CDC guidelines, young children (less than 5 years of age) need at least 60 minutes of vigorous activity per day. Unfortunately, the American Academy of Pediatrics has determined many children are falling short. “Sedentary activity for young children has been shown to range from 32.8 to 56.3 minutes per hour.”1 That’s a lot of inactivity! Continue reading “January, 2021 Parent & Family Education”
January 1, 2021
Dear Berry Patch Families,
Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to seeing many of you this week as we return to school. If your family traveled or gathered with other households over the break, please reach out to let us know so we can help determine your child’s return to school plan.
Dear Berry Patch Families,
December offers a variety of terrific opportunities for learning adventures. With all the time we’ve spent at home with our immediate family members this past year, think of Christmas as a jolt of joy. Provide intentional learning experiences punctuated with love this month. Here are a few suggestions to get the ideas rolling. Continue reading “December Parent & Family Education”
December 2, 2020
Happy December! Even as the days continue to get shorter and we spend more time at home with it dark outside, it does feel like there is light on the horizon, doesn’t it? We have the Christmas Advent season, a Coronavirus vaccine closer to reality, and a New Year around the corner. Our theme as a staff community this year is “BE A LIGHT” and as the fall has unfolded and we head into winter I am so grateful for how your children’s teachers and the staff that supports them has SHONE SO BRIGHTLY!
Looking ahead . . . Continue reading “December Director’s Newsletter”
Welcome to Winter!