ECDC Newsletter
May 1, 2021
A Message from the Principal, "Miss Kelty"
Hello ECDC Families!
I wanted to start by expressing our tremendous gratitude for all the love and support that came to our ECDC teaching team throughout this past year, AND during this awesome Staff Appreciation Weeek! I added just a few pictures of some of the fun that your generosity has funded! Thank you all!
Spring is a time of hope, growth and transformation for us all! As the warm weather finally arrives (it always does), the dark shades of the winter browns and grays are coming alive again with all the colors of the rainbow!
As spring settles in, we see that same hope, new growth and transformation in our little learners! Some of our students are preparing to transition to kindergarten: to a new school, to a new team of teachers, to a school community, and to a new and exciting learning environment. Others are beginning to prepare for the transition even within ECDC to a new teacher for the summer and/or the fall. And still others are preparing for a move to a new home, a new school and new community.
But the most exciting and hopeful transitions come from our students as transitioning learners! When I think of where your children were in September, I am always amazed—-each one has made great progress, and no two are the same! Of course, our students are expanding their general knowledge and understanding of important early readiness concepts, but they are also growing as problem solvers.
Even with the limits of social distancing and mask wearing, students have embraced the social emotional curriculum and are thinking about themselves and their peers in terms of which of the “zones” they are in. Students are using strategies to help get “back to the “GREEN” or “READY TO LEARN” zone, but also are expressing when they, or a peer, or a parent, are in the “BLUE” (sad) or “RED” (mad) zones. These skills will help our students continue to grow into thoughtful, collaborative social partners.
I love spring and I am hopeful for the continued growth of each of our young learners and how far their educational journey can take them!
Please feel free to reach out to me at Kelleyk@franklinps.net , our school nurse, Suzanne Roma (romas@franklinps.net ), our School Psychologist, Jennifer Curry (curryj@franklinps.net) and/or our team chair, Sarah Martin martinsa@franklinps.net , as well your child's class room teaching teams for support and guidance.
Warm sandwiches from Mac's Roast Beef on Wednesday
A dessert bar on Friday!
Treated to a relaxing quiet space...
We are adding a new morning integrated class for the fall that has 8 peer openings!
New CLASS Hours:
4 days, 2.5 hours a day
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
9:15-11:45
Annual Tuition $3,040
(any payments or deposits already collected will be applied to this total)
If your family pays tuition and you are interested in switching to this program, please reach out to Miss Laura at flanaganla@franklinps.net.
These spots will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
Current ECDC students will be given initial priority (until May 15th)
Any questions or if you need more information, reach out to Miss Kelty at kelleyk@franklinps.net
Books about the K Transition
Take a look at this short list of children's books about the kindergarten transition. We encourage families to read these books together with your children to help them understand the transition process and increase comfort with their new learning setting.
Here are a couple of fun videos
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, read by Dr. Bergeron
- First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, read by Amanda Bryans
The list below includes other recommended books:
A Place Called Kindergarten by Jessica Harper
Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee
David Goes to School by David Shannon
Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child
Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis
Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! by Nancy Carlson
Preparate, kindergarten! Allavoy! by Nancy Carlson
Mae's First Day of School by Kate Berube
Off to Kindergarten by Tony Johnston
School's First Day of School by Adam Rex
Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
Welcome to Kindergarten by Anne Rockwell
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolf
ECDC Memory Rock Garden
As one way to help your child honor the time they spent at ECDC, we are inviting all families to participate in the ECDC Memory Rock Garden project! It’s easy and it’s fun!
A couple of years ago our school read the book "Only One You," by Linda Krantz. We loved the story so much that what started as a lesson in one classroom, became a bigger whole-school project!
Listen to the story below with your little ones and then have them create a unique, special rock for our ECDC Rock Garden! Each of your children has left an imprint on our hearts that will stay forever, and we see these these rocks as our "forever reminders" of each little one who comes through our doors!
Help your little one leave their mark here at ECDC!
(You can do this project every year that your child is here, no need to wait until they transition to kindergarten!)
Find a rock in your yard or while you are out exploring nature with your child...it can be anywhere from
about the size of a tennis ball to the size of a basketball!
As a family, decorate this special rock! Be creative, but plan for the weather...be sure the paint won’t run!
Any time between now and September, you can come to ECDC as a family, share some happy stories
and fun memories, and then place your rock anywhere in the mulched garden beds
These rocks will remain at ECDC over the years so you can come back and revisit your special rock anytime!
If you have any questions just reach out to me
kelleyk@franklinps.net or your child’s classroom teacher!
1000 Books by Kindergarten Challenge coming to ECDC!
"...The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your [preschooler]. The goal is to have read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your precious one starts kindergarten." ( 1000BooksBeforeKindergarten.0rg )
Over the next year, a small team of ECDC staff, our PCC and family volunteers will meet regularly to
- Develop a plan
- Collect, sort and organize at least1500 children's books
- Create 140+ bags of 10 books each (varying genres) to be loaned out to families
- Get these bags into the hands of our ECDC families no later than the spring of 2022
Are you interested in joining this team? Just email me kelleyk@franklinps.net
Notes from Nurse Suzanne
Seasonal Allergies:
As we head into allergy season it is important to remember that some allergy symptoms (for example runny nose, congestion, and cough) are the same symptoms seen with the common cold and Covid-19. If your child has seasonal allergies, it is important to make sure they are documented in the health office here at school with a note from your child’s primary care provider (PCP). The ongoing Covid pandemic is complicating this allergy season. If your child has allergy symptoms while at school, and they do not have documented allergies, they will be sent home to follow up with their PCP for clearance to return to school.
If you have any questions at all, please reach out to me anytime. You can send me an email at romas@franklinps.net, or call me in the office at 508.541.8166 ext. 2940.
ECDC Parent Communication Council (PCC)
Quick Bites from your PCC
As you know, this was Staff Appreciation Week! Thank you for helping us to spoil our fabulous teachers and staff! If you are able, and would like to help the PCC with a financial contribution to be used specifically for Teacher Appreciation Week, we would greatly appreciate the support. This will allow us to use current funds for student enrichment activities this spring. You can send cash or checks in with your child in an envelope marked PCC and Miss Laura in the office will get them to me. The amount is of your discretion, and any amount is appreciated. Checks should be made out to “ECDC PCC." If Venmo is easier, you can send donations to Heather at @heather_edouard and just include ECDC so I can track the funds. The profile pic is black & white and the last 4 digits if asked for are 4965.
Our next restaurant fundraiser is at PJs Bar and Grill in Bellingham on June 1st anytime between 11:30-8!! Here is the flier (it is also included below). When ordering, make sure to mention the fundraiser and/or show them a screenshot of the flier.
Thank you to everyone who attended Wednesday’s ECDC playdate! It’s been a tough year to make connections so it was so nice to have an opportunity to meet and chat with many of you! I would imagine that we will be able to have more opportunities for play dates next year.
Our Spring bulb sale is up and running! Support ECDC by purchasing your spring plants though Dutch Mill. They ship right to your door too! This link will be open through June 1st. https://groups.dutchmillbulbs.com/shop/?affiliates=ecdcpcc
Our teachers and staff are truly enjoying the Grab and Go Snack Station! We are in desperate need of volunteers to keep this station stocked each week. There are many slots still open! If possible, please sign up via the sign up genius link to donate treats for our staff, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4AACAF2DA1FB6-ecdc
Please join us for our next virtual PCC meeting being held Monday, June 7th at 7pm. We would like to establish our PCC board for next year! You can join at this link!
Your ECDC PCC Board Members
Lindsay and Heather
Are you new to ECDC, or haven't yet subscribed to our PCC Newsletter? Click here to opt-in and stay in the know! https://franklin-ecdc.groupvine.com/subscribe. Also, join our ECDC PCC Facebook page!
Miss Marsha's Update
It is so wonderful to be in the month of May!
We at Self Help CFCE are very excited to announce the start of in person outdoor activities! There are Storytimes for toddlers, Family hikes at Moose Hill Sanctuary, and nature programs at the World War 1 Memorial Park and Zoo in North Attleboro. More will be added as Spring continues to unfold. All our activities are designed with fun and safety in mind. If April showers spill into May there are many exciting activities and videos on our upcoming activities calendar to keep you busy at home. With just the click of a button you can find science and literacy activities to do at home. Click here www.selfhelpcpc.org and go to the upcoming activities calendar for more information.
May is a wonderful time to observe nature. There are many wildlife areas right in your own backyard. Delcarte playground located at 459 Pleasant Street is a great place to observe birds, waterfowl, and other wild life. Walk along the trails and nature be your guide. Encourage your child to look and listen. Point out the different sounds the birds make as you walk along the trail. Stop and look closely at the plants you find along the way. Nature has a magical way of helping us feel calm and replenishes our energy. And best of all it is free of charge!
Looking ahead, I can’t wait until June when I will be at the ECDC doing the Storywalk The Bubble Factory by Tomie de Paola. I know the kids will love it!
Marsha Wright, M.Ed
Parent Child Educational Specialist
Self Help Inc CFCE
If you have any questions or would like more information about Self Help CFCE please send me an email: mwright@selfhelpinc.org
Shop with SCRIP--an raise money for ECDC!
What is Scrip? Scrip is a WIN – WIN for you and for our school.
Our school makes money on your gift card purchases which goes towards enrichment activities for our kids!
When you purchase your gift cards through our Scrip account instead of at your grocery/drug store, your purchases help raise money for ECDC. This is a great opportunity to help our school by shopping at the places you normally do! Don't just think of gift cards as a gift, buy them for yourself to use as payment where you shop/spend anyways! Most are reloadable if you purchase an actual card (not an eGift card) so you only pay for shipping once!
Are you a regular shopper at Stop & Shop, by bulk S&S gift cards to use to pay for your groceries! Do you like your Dunk's or Starbucks Coffee? Buy and/or reload a gift card through Scrip and we earn a percentage back for no more out of your pocket than you'd be spending anyway!
If you have not already enrolled in the ShopWithScrip program, now is the perfect time to do so. To enroll, please visit www.shopwithscrip.com, select "Join a Program," and use our enrollment code: D7C3LC7D76279
You can purchase gift cards online or in the NEW very convenient mobile app (look for RaiseRight in the Google Play Store or App Store). We would love for you to take advantage of this program and also to let your family and friends know that they can participate, as well!
ECDC School Council 20-21
The ECDC School Council is a group of educators and parents who work together with the principal to provide guidance and input into such processes as the development of a School Improvement Plan and the articulation of a school budget and operating in the time of COVID-19.
20-21 Members:
Miss Elizabeth (Reynard)
Miss Linda (Cournoyer)
Sarah Parmenter, Parent
Nicole Irabor, Parent
Miss Suzanne (Roma) , School Nurse
Open Parent Position--please reach out for information on joining our team!
School Council Meeting Schedule
All meetings for the 20-21 year will be held virtually
on Mondays from 1:45-3pm
February 22nd: Meeting Notes Linked Here
March 22nd
May 10th
The council met on February 22nd (rescheduled due to snow on February 1st), virtually via Google Meet and the minutes are linked above.
We still have ONE OPEN position for a parent/guardian, so please reach out if you would like to join our team, for the rest of this year and/or next year!
Keeping the Learning Alive During Quarantine (or any time)
- Visit the ECDC Keep the Learning Alive! site that was set up last spring. Each teacher has great lessons, activities, games and more. In this example, Miss Meg made some videos of how to draw some AWESOME ANIMALS! Check it out!
- Visit the FRANKLIN ECDC Youtube page to see ECDC’s wonderful teachers and staff and join them in wonderfully silly & fun activities, reading stories, making crafts and sharing their love and kindness
Stock up on your ECDC Spirit Wear!
You can now purchase shirts, sweatshirt, blankets, and even masks with the ECDC Logo right here! COVID friendly shipping, Items ship directly to you.
You can pick from many different styles and colors!
This year we have added fleece jackets for adults and base ball caps, both of which have a bit different logo as they are embroidered on!
Port Authority Fleece Jacket (adult )
Sweatshirt (youth and adult)
Baseball Cap
F.X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center
Kelty Kelley, Principal, M.Ed.
"There is no hand so small that it cannot leave an imprint on the world!" Klub Kidz
Visit our YouTube Channel @FranklinECDC
Email: kelleyk@franklinps.net
Website: https://www.franklinps.net/ecdc
Location: 224 Oak Street, Franklin, MA, USA
Phone: 508-541-8166
Twitter: @FranklinECDC