May 2016

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Saylor’s 2nd Birthday

2 3 Ella’s 5th Birthday

4 5 6 VPK Graduation

7

8

9

10 Peyton’s 5th Birthday

Jackson’s 4th Birthday

11 12 13 Brianna’s 4th Birthday

Kids Night Out 7-11 pm

14

15 Ethan’s 8th Birthday Chloe’s 3rd Birthday

16 17 18 Ms. Amanda’s Birthday

19 20 21

22 23 Izzy’s 5th Birthday

24 25 26 27 28

29 30 BDLA is Closed

31

We need your help. If you do not

recognize someone, please do not

let them in the front door. Kindly

tell them you will let a staff

member know and someone will

be there to help them shortly. The

children’s needs are the first

priority. This means that there may

be times when the office staff has

to step out for a moment to assist

a child.

Mother’s Day is

May 10th.

Don’t forget to

celebrate the

mother’s in your life!

"Kids in preschool

discover that they are

capable and can do

things for themselves -

- from small tasks like

pouring their own juice

and helping set snack

tables to tackling

bigger issues like

making decisions

about how to spend

their free time," says

Angela Capone, PhD,

(Parents)

What is so important about Early

Childhood Education?

Research has show that children enrolled in

preschool programs benefit by receiving formal

education before kindergarten. According to some

studies, children enrolled in these programs are

more behaved and have higher IQ scores upon

enrolling kindergarten than their peers without formal

education. Likewise, it was shown that children

enrolled in preschool programs learned quicker than

children not enrolled in these programs.

Children taught at an early age usually benefit in the

following ways: improved social skills, less or no

need for special education instruction during

subsequent school years, better grades, and

enhanced attention spans. Likewise, some

researchers have concluded that young children

enrolled in pre-school programs usually graduate

from high school, attend college, have fewer

behavioral problems, and do not become involved

with crime in their adolescent and young adult years.

“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” —Samuel Johnson

Have you ever wondered why children ask “why” so often? Even as adults, we question the “why” of many things not in our control. For children, “why” questions help them make sense of the world around them that they are just beginning to learn about. These “why” questions also help spur and accelerate learning. Our adult responses are crucial and pivotal. So, the bigger question is: What is your response to the “why” questions? Children’s innate curiosity plays a big part in their “why” questions. Their curiosity about the world around them helps to build concepts, skills, vocabulary, and understanding of the unknown. And you can help channel their curiosity and need to know why so that you help foster learning in a positive way. So, how do we support young children’s need to know? When your young child is asking a “why” question and you know that he or she needs to know and needs to know RIGHT NOW, my advice is simple: you should try to provide an immediate, direct answer that’s either short or detailed, depending on what you know and what your child can understand. Sometimes a simple, informational answer is all that is needed in the moment. For example, if your child asks, “Why does that cat have fur?” Your response can be brief and factual: “The cat has fur to keep warm. Almost all cats have fur.” This is a fully sufficient answer that will help your child learn about the world. But, if you know a little more about the subject and your child has a deeper level of interest and understanding, honor your child’s interest and try to offer a more detailed response, such as, “The cat has fur to keep warm. He is a member of the cat family and almost all cats have fur. Cats are mammals, just like we are, and mammals have either hair or fur. We have hair; cats have fur.” You could then make it a project to look up more information or take informational books out of the library about cats and/or other furry animals with your child. It can also deepen your child’s thinking if you turn the “why” question around so your child has to think about it and to come up with his or her own answer. For example, your first response to your child’s “why” question could be, “Why do YOU think he has fur?” Then let your child respond with an original answer. A second, higher-order question back to your child could be, “Why do you think many animals have fur? And why do you think we don’t?” Again, let your child respond with an original answer. Getting children to think about and answer their own “why” questions at this age is important because teachers are using “why” questions in every subject taught at school. Children are being asked questions that educators call “higher-order” questions. They are asked to read, think about what they read, and explain why they think certain things happen in the story. Being able to answer “why” questions is also crucial because older children and adults encounter why questions throughout their daily lives. And in our increasingly technological and global world, our children will be asked to solve problems that will require them to think for themselves and come up with their own answers. Our children’s first experiences in asking and answering “why” questions in their quest to understand the world they live in are the building blocks of deep thinking and will help prepare them for the future.

HEALTHY LUNCHES Lunch is a very important time for your child. It is important that

children have a healthy lunch that they enjoy every day. Here are

a few lunch packing tips:

Children need multiple servings of fruit and vegetables daily.

Please pack a variety of what they enjoy.

Lunch should include some sort of healthy drink. This

includes milk, juice & water. Please do not send sodas for

lunch.

Our center has a no candy policy. Please do not pack candy

in your child’s lunch.

Please pack things in your child’s lunch that they enjoy eating.

Meal time should be a pleasurable experience.

Discovery Learning Academy 4565 Commercial Dr. Niceville, Fl 32578

Congratulations to all of our

2016 VPK Graduates!

Please join us at 7 p.m. on Friday May 6th, at the Niceville

Church of Christ to celebrate our 2016 VPK Graduates

Kids Night

Out

Friday, May

13th

From 7 – 11

Reminder:

June’s

Tuition will

be charged

Monday

May 16th!

Don’t forget

about our

referral

program. If

you refer a

family you

will receive

a discount

off of your

tuition.

2016-2017 VPK OPENINGS

VPK registrations for fall 2016-2017 are underway! If your child turns 4

prior to September 1st they are eligible for this FREE program. Our VPK

classrooms offer quality programs that include high literacy

standards, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and

exceptionally qualified teachers. Space for these classes is limited but

we do still have spots available! We love referrals – tell your friends &

family about our

VPK program!!!

A Lost & Found collection bin is located in the lobby. To assist with finding lost items please label ALL of your child’s belongings. Unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity at the start of each month.

SUMMERCARE

OPENINGS (Age 5 and older)

Spots are still available for our school-age

summer care program. All children that

have finished VPK thru age 10 are eligible

to attend. Remember the last day of school

for Okaloosa County is Thursday, June 2nd.

Medication must be put

in a teacher's hands with a

medication form signed by

the office...even if your child

is not taking the medication

while at school. Please do

not leave it in the bag.

DLA will be closed on Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day. A

special Thank You to all the servicemen & women, who have served, protected

and sacrificed for our country & our freedom.

Registration for Bluewater Discovery

Learning Academy’s summer program is underway. All children attending

elementary school next fall are eligible for our summer program. $40

registration fee required. Cost is $25.00 per day. Students will participate in a

creative curriculum and have several in-house and off-site field trips throughout the summer. Don’t miss your chance to register for a fun-filled summer! Stop by

the front office for more information.

Sun Protection As the suns rays become stronger in the warmer months,

remember to practice sun safety. If your child needs sunscreen prior to outside play, please stop by the front

office to fill out a medical authorization form.

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2nd -6th.

Remember to tell your favorite teacher how

much you love them!

Closed toed shoes are required for all

outdoor activities. The children run

everywhere on the playground and run

the risk of scraping their toes on the

concrete with open toed shoes.