Spring 2017
Vision: a community of healthy families.
Mission Statement
To realize this vision, First Light provides
a secure and loving program partnering
with families to develop virtue, values and
character, inspiring success in school and
in life.
Values These serve as guidelines
for our conduct and behavior as we
work towards the vision:
n Each child is a unique and
valuable person.
n Operating with love, respect,
dignity, compassion, grace,
integrity, honesty and humanity
is essential to our success.
n All endeavors will be carried out
with excellence. We strive for
continuous improvement and
development at all levels of the
organization.
n First Light Children’s Center CAN be a
valuable resource for the community
and positively impact the lives of
people in Sheridan and beyond.
366 E. Brundage St.
P.O. Box 6351
Sheridan, WY 82801
tel: 307-673-0403
fax: 307-673-0753
www.firstlightsheridan.com
Come Experience the
First Light Difference
First Light
Family FUN
Photos
Strengthening Families What is your child’s learning style?
Learning is not a one-size-fits-all. For example, some
kids process information best by hearing the information
explained to them, some learn by seeing the information,
and others learn through hands-on exercises. Interestingly,
several colleges have more and more begun teaching new
students about learning styles, so they can develop more
effective study habits. Keep in mind, that most people use a
combination of styles but have a clear preference for one.
Kinesthetic learners learn by doing and touching. This type of
learner may have trouble sitting still while studying; however,
they tend to understand information by either writing it down
or doing hands-on activities.
The three basic learning styles are auditory, kinesthetic, and
visual.
• Moving around or taking frequent breaks
Auditory learners prefer listening to explanations instead of
reading them and may like and benefit more by studying and
reciting information aloud. The auditory learner may prefer
to have background music while studying or learning, or this
could, in fact, be a distraction and they may need a quiet
space to study or learn.
Tips for auditory learners:
• Talking to themselves or
with others about what
they’re learning
• Using word associations
• Setting information to a
tune and singing it to help
remember it
Tips for kinesthetic learners:
• Reading aloud and tracking words on a page with a finger
• Playing with a toy while studying
• Doing hands-on activities, such as building models or
playing games
Visual learners learn and process new information by reading,
looking at graphics, or watching a demonstration. Children
with this learning style tend to grasp information when
presented in a chart or graph displayed on a board; however,
keep in mind that they may grow impatient listening to an
explanation.
Tips for visual learners:
• Using flash cards
• Drawing illustrations
• Color-coding information
Your child’s learning style may change as she grows, have fun
with it!
• Limiting distracting noises
http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/826-what-is-your-childs-learning-style
Parent Testimonial:
“Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us about Lucas on Monday.
It was really wonderful to get a better glimpse of what Lucas is doing and
learning when we bring him to First Light. We came away from the parent
teacher conference feeling great about
the care and attention Lucas receives
there. We were already aware that
First Light is the best place to entrust
with caring for our boys, but we came
away from the meeting Monday with
even greater confidence that they are in
great hands when we can’t be with them.
Thank you again for everything you do!
-- Ryan and Kimberly Meisel
First Light
Champions!
Congratulations to our
First Light Recreation Volleyball
team (leisure division)
Active Learning
Winter Concert
Enrichment
Miss Haley is our Art
instructor. She provides
weekly art enrichment for
the 3-5 year old classrooms.
Miss Haley is also a Teacher
Assistant.
Haley shares:
Classroom
Art
“Art has been a huge part
of my life as long as I can remember. My mom loved
to paint and my dad played guitar so I was always
encouraged to use art as a form of expression through
painting, drawing, writing etc. I believe that teaching
creativity and expression through art is one of the
most important things we can do for young children,
especially at an age where they are already creative
‘out of the box’ thinkers. I am excited to bring my
knowledge of art history, techniques, and mediums to
our First Light students.”
Come share your talent with our
First Light students! We currently
have enrichment instructor openings
for music, tumbling, performing arts,
and Spanish.
Upcoming Events
March 23rd How to Advocate for your Child Parent/Provider Training @ First Light
April 11th Storyline Photography Spring Photos @ First Light
Ice Skating
April 24th -28th NAEYC Week of the Young Child @ First Light
April 27th 4-7pm Children & Families Community Resource Event @ First Light
May 24th Sunshine Seekers Prek Graduation
July 14th First Light Rodeo Parade Float with our families and staff
Singing at
Brookdale
Family
Night at
First Light
Fall Semester
School Photos
Special thanks to Storyline
Photography for the beautiful
Fall photos of our students!
Spring photos will be taken on April 11th. Photography packets available at First Light.
Ashley Koltiska,
Owner / Photographer
Storyline Photo Company, LLC.
www.storylinephotocompany.com
Partnerships
Together we are building a Community of Healthy Families
Thank Big Horn Pediatric for
teaching us about dental health
care in October and Sheridan
College students in February
Option 1: Order Online
1. Sign up at www.
scholastic.com/
bookclubs. If you are a
returning customer, you
can sign in. Otherwise,
you can create an
account.
2. When prompted,
enter the one-time Class
Activation Code: QQDDV.
3. Select the books you’d
like to order plus choose
from additional titles
(many more than are in
our monthly flyers).
Option 2: Complete
order forms
1. Pick up and fill out
order forms from the
First Light Office.
2. Write a check (you
can write ONE check
payable to Scholastic
even if you are ordering
from different orders).
3. Return order forms
to the front office in
the MIDDLE mailbox
marked Family Resource
Coordinator. Please put
in the folder marked
“book orders”.
First Light on
Display!
Boomerang has a big bulletin board and displays work
from different child care centers around Sheridan for
a month at a time. We had First Light displayed in
November 2016.
Early screening and identification of developmental
needs among young children allows experts to
provide appropriate interventions and create plans to
improve outcomes for and support the needs of those
with identified developmental delays. To schedule
your child’s developmental screening, call 672-6610.
Screenings for 3-5 year olds were held in September.
Screenings for students age 0-3 and new students will be offered onsite screenings in April.
HOW TO
ADVOCATE FOR
YOUR CHILD
Parent Information Center
A Project of Parents Helping Parents of WY, Inc.
Is your child struggling with learning or child growth and
development? Does behavior get your child into trouble every
day? Do you have questions on what you can ask for to get
support for your child to help him/her learn better and be
successful at school? Come learn strategies for how to
advocate for your child as he/she grows so both you and
your child can be more confident and comfortable in
getting what you need.
Thursday, March 23, 2017 6:00 to 7:30 PM
“How to Advocate for Your Child”
First Light Early Education Center | 366 E Brundage
Sheridan, WY
Presented by Terri Dawson and Juanita Bybee, Parent Information Center
No cost to families of children with disabilities, $10 for child care providers,
para-educators and other providers, payable at door. STARS credit available.
For more info call PIC at 307-684-2277, or e-mail [email protected].
Imagination Library
The WREN foundation has partnered with the Dolly Parton
Imagination Library to provide books to your child/children.
Eligibility: Children preschool to five years of age and are
residents of Sheridan County.
Each month a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your
child’s name and directly to your home and it is FREE.
You can register a couple of different ways. You can register your child
at www.imaginationlibrary.com or fill out a form that is located on the
parent table at First Light and mail it in. It is a very simple process and
takes only a few minutes.
We are excited that we received a $5000 training grant for
5 of our team members to travel to Michigan for
the National Highscope Conference April 18th21st. The Highscope curriculum is the philosophy
and practice we use to guide our daily routine.
Monthly Virtue:
Friendship
Friendship: a friendly feeling or attitude: kindness or help given to someone
Friendship in the Classroom includes:
• Taking turns choosing what to play.
• Inviting others to play with you.
• Listening to others and working together to
solve problems.
I will...
• Offer to help my friends if I see they are sad.
• Greet others with their name and a smile.
• Use gentle hands and words when I talk to my
friends.
“I will help and care about others!”
Practical Application: 3 Tips for Encouraging Friendship
1. Talk to your children about characteristics that you see in them that would
make them a good friend to others. Point out specific times that you see
them being kind to others.
2. Ask your children about who they enjoy playing with at First Light. Ask
what they like to do when they play together. Help them to learn the
names of their classmates and teachers.
3. Children need to see that you value friendship as well. If you need to
make a call to a friend, use the word “friend”. Talk about what makes that
person a good friend to you and ways that you are a good friend to others.
Friendship
Donations!
We are a private nonprofit 501(c)(3)
organization. If you would like to make
a tax deductible gift toward First Light
families that may endure a crisis
or need support, we have a
Hope Fund you can contribute
Executive Director
to (anonymously if preferred).
Please contact us for further
details. If you would like to donate in-kind materials for
the classroom this can also be tax deductible. We have
one company that has a corporate partnership with us
offering a discount for their employees to assist with
quality childcare expenses. If you own a business or think
a business you work for would be interested in learning
more, please let us know.
Maureen Metcalf
Thank you for your generous donations
for our classrooms!
Health & Wellness Family Resources
The perfect pick me up for the middle of Winter!
Hello February… yep, we’re in that not so fun middle of Winter when the snow becomes a
Itwonderland
is almost time
to sayand
goodbye
winter
hellothey
to spring.
We are
ready.
Ouranymore…
hands are so
they
at times
your to
hands
areand
so dry
don’t even
absorb
lotion
dryGood
don’t
even absorb lotion anymore... J Good News! One of the great things about this time of year is the
News! One of the great things about this time of year is the delightful array of citrus available! From
delightful array of citrus available! From Cara Cara Oranges, to grapefruits to strawberry clementine’s.
Cara Cara oranges, to grapefruits to strawberry clementine’s. There is no better way to brighten up a
There is no better way to brighten up a snowy winter day - and get a nice dose of vitamins - than this
snowy winter day – and get a nice dose of vitamins – than this Winter Citrus Salad! (shared by Ahu
Winter
Citrus Salad! (shared by Ahu Shahrabani on Yummly)
Shahrabani on Yummly)
Winter Citrus Salad with Honey and Almonds
The more variety of citrus fruits you can find, the
more colorful and dynamic the salad will be. The
almonds add a *crunch* (not to mention a bit of
protein) while the honey sets off the tartness of
the fruit with a bit of sweet. Top of all off with a
touch of flake salt and you’re good to go!
Did you Know:
Ingredients
1 large grapefruit
2 medium sized oranges (Cara Cara or Blood oranges)
3 small citrus fruits like strawberry clementine’s or tangerines
⅛ cup of almond slivers
1 tablespoon honey
⅛ teaspoon flake salt
Instructions
 Citrus plants originated in Southeast
Asia?
 Each person in the U.S. eats about
12.5lbs of citrus per year!
 There is more fiber in an orange
than in most other fruits and
veggies!
 Citrus is the most widely grown crop
in the world!
 In Florida there are approximately
10.3 million citrus trees!
 If you plant a single seed from an
orange, you will probably get more
than one plant growing from it.
1. Peel all the fruits and remove as much of the pith as possible with a sharp paring knife.
2. Using a serrated knife, slice the fruits (in a cross-section fashion) in cuts ½ inch thick.
3. Arrange the slices on a plate - mix up the different colors for variety!
4. Sprinkle with the almonds, drizzle the honey and lastly add the salt.
5. Serve and enjoy!
PRESORTED STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 113
80525
P.O. Box 6351
Sheridan, WY 82801
Return Service Requested
Come experience the
First light Difference
6:45 AM TO 6:00 PM, YEAR-ROUND
6WKS - 10 YEARS
AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
FULL-DAY/HALF-DAY
n Safe, secure, locked facility
n College-educated instructors teaching the
validated HighScope Curriculum
n Non-denominational values-based approach to character building
n Serving nourishing breakfasts and lunches prepared daily with fresh fruits and vegetables
n Students arrive to a clean, healthy environment daily
n NAEYC accredited, high-quality early learning
program
n Family Resource, Health & Wellness, and
Community Outreach Coordinators
n Investment in a child’s education at First Light helps other community organizations further
their mission as well
NAEYC Renewal
First Light had a successful annual
renewal of our accreditation
with National Association for the
Education of Young Children.
NAEYC strives to raise the quality
of education for all children
from birth through age eight.
Accreditation systems are major
part of NAEYC’s efforts to improve early childhood education; they allow
programs to provide the best learning experiences for young children and
their educators by meeting national standards of
quality.
Staff
Maureen Metcalf, Executive Director . Stormy Broad, Center/
Health Wellness Coordinator . Ashley Tiffany, Educational Coordinator/Prek
Teacher . Jo Madson, Business Coordinator . Lisa Lunbeck, Family Resource
Coordinator . Kathryn Law, Marketing/Outreach Coordinator . Amber
Quarterman, Contracted Bookkeeper
www.highscope.org . www.naeyc.org