SCS Art Show is Coming!

 Magnet Promotion Winner: Last week's winner contacted us and decided to anonymously contribute the prize of a week of free chidcare to a needy SCS family - well, as you can imagine, that went over huge with some folks who are just making ends meet.  The family asked us to express their heartfelt thanks!  The beautiful red vehicle below was sighted by our spotters and low and behold it just so happened to have an SCS magnet right on the side!  Are you the owner of Plate NH 361-9327?   Please contact Amie Cole at 603-422-8223 and claim your week of free childcare or other prize.

 SCS Spring Art Show "Imagine Nation" Tuesday May 1st:  You have probably heard directly from the classes that the yearly SCS Art Show is just around the corner on next Tuesday.  Kids of all ages (including infants) will be producing wonderful works of art and displaying them at Community Campus from 5:30-7:00pm that evening for all to enjoy.  All families from all programs (ECE and PEAK) are invited.  Light refreshments will be served, and some of the art will be auctioned off to support classes.


 Summer PEAK Registration and Enrollment: Just a reminder that exclusive Summer PEAK Registration and Enrollment for current families ends May 1st.  After that, all remaining Summer PEAK slots will be opened to non-current families.  So, claim your PEAK days NOW.  The new online system allows you to choose whatever days you want (as long as they are not already filled) and at this moment the summer schedule is wide open.  After May 1st all waitlist families will be allowed to choose days and then later the schedule will be opened to the public.  Remember, this year add/drop ends on May 15th and you will be billed for all chosen days on May 16th.  After that date, days will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Contact Jess Couture at 603-422-8223 for more information.
 
 2018-19 School Year ECE Enrollment Opens May 1st:  Yes, it is time to start thinking about 2018-19 and we have made it super-easy for you to re-enroll for the next SCS school year right from your SchoolCareWorks Connect Portal online.  On May 1st a new option will appear in your Registration Tile that will allow you to sign up for 2018-19.  All current ECE children who are planning to be with us on July 1st need to re-enroll, including those who will only be with us until September and then enter Kindergarten.  Fortunately, re-enrollment is simple and you will not have to resend us data we already have in our system.  Also, there is no deposit to hold your space.  Hot Tip: Be sure your addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and contacts are up to date in your portal online before re-enrolling.  (Fall PEAK students in Portsmouth will be offered re-enrollment later this Spring for start at the beginning of the school year.)

Special SCS Food Edition

 Car Magnet Promotion Winners:  Wow, the magnet promotion is really taking off and our first sighting have come across my desk.  The first winners were the Kovick family and little Sam will be having a free week of childcare in the Seahorse Room!  Here is our next sighting:  Plate # 3147271 NH.  Call 603-422-8223 to claim your week of free ECE or PEAK care!

 UNH Moms and Kids Reasearch Study is Seeking Volunteers: If you are a mom of kids ages 4-8 and would be interested in participating in a Research study with your children run by the UNH Department of Psychology under the guidance of Prof. Michelle Leichtman please step forward.  Participation involves a simple interview (15min) with you and your child, as well as two short questionnaires online.  Please contact Erin Kenney at EML233@Wildcats.unh.edu to volunteer or call 603-862-3806 for more information.

 Your Roving Food Reporter Eats Kids Lunches for a Week:  Ever wonder what your kids are eating through the USDA approved lunch and snack program we run here at SCS?  Well, so did I, and I decided to eat kids lunches for a week.  Here are the early results and ratings:

Monday: Well, I started the week with what was touted as the "best lunch we offer" in the form of chicken burgers with lettuce & tomato slices, as well as potato salad and apples for desert.  I rated this meal an A- because it tasted good but the potato salad had no mayo (apparently they are trying a new recipe).  The fresh apple was a nice finish.  The kids seemed to love everything smothered in ketchup, and in the end I figure the whole thing was just a good excuse to eat ketchup anyway.

Tuesday: Sweet and sour chicken with Asian vegetables and noodles, strawberries, milk.  This was an impressive name for a dish that really looked more Italian than Asian.  I rated it a B- because the serving I got had very few veggies in it (although other kids got lots more of veggies), and it was basically just spaghetti noodles with a hint of something sweet in there.  The chicken I had was excellent - but other kids got less attractive slices.  Strawberries were good - especially when the kids showed me how to dunk them in the milk!

Wednesday: Beefy macaroni, tomato and cucumber salad, and melon slices.  I gotta admit, I liked this more than I thought I would.  The fresh veggies and melons were tasty and I went for seconds on the macaroni dish, of which there was plenty. (No, I did not have to fight off a four year old!)  Certainly the vinaigrette dressing helped a lot.  Rating B.

So far things have been pretty good - albeit fairly bland as the kids don't subscribe to much in the way of sauces and spices.  I'm thinking of sneaking my Sriracha bottle in tomorrow!

Awards, Sunset, Magnets, and More!

 Lori Parsons: New Hampshire Early Childhood Educator of the Year!  Each year when the Early Learning New Hampshire organization searches for the unique educator who could possibly fill the bill as "Early Childhood Educator of the Year," they look for someone who is a master in their craft, has a long tenure of service in the field, is respected by parents and peers, and has touched and brightened the lives of hundreds of children.  Well, this year that person is none other than our own Lori Parsons of Minnows fame!  If you have ever experienced this woman teaching kids you know instantly why this was the right choice.  Organized, intelligent, understanding, and most importantly loving, she is the full package.  The attached photo is Lori with two former and one current Executive Directors (Deb Stokel, Jackie Cowell, and me), but there were easily 200 other people at this event, including the NH Commissioners of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services.  Please take a moment to congratulate Lori on receiving this prestigious award and let her know how much we appreciate the wonderful work she has done over the years.  Congratulations Lori!    LParsons@Seacoastcommunityschool.org

 Sunset 2018 Success:  Wow!  What an evening it was!  After months of planning by various Committees comprised of parents, board members, faculty, and admin staff, the event last Friday night was a real corker!  Over 120 people showed up at 3S Artspace, Portsmouth in some fairly nasty weather to enjoy the warmth of the SCS community, and celebrate a school that has done nothing but grow stronger over the last half century.  Supporting three programs (Scholarships, Professional Development for Teachers, and Enrichment for Kids,) the crowd raised over $17,000 through various measures.  From the stage, I can tell you this was a sight to see - people digging deep at every level to show their true support for a school they know is doing good work with their children, and great work for the Seacoast as a whole.  Thanks to everyone who volunteered, planned, participated, contributed, and enjoyed a great evening together.  Couldn't make it?  Be sure to join us next year at Sunset 2019!

 Car Magnet Promotion Launches:  Ladies and Gentlemen let the SCS Car Magnet showing begin!  For those of you who now have on the back of your Subaru, Ford Fiesta, Dodge Caravan, or Audi Q5 one of the coveted "Miracle Magnets of Mirth" your time has come and your chance to win a week of free ECE or PEAK is here!.  Below are the rules, and our first winner is posted below.  Remember, if sighted, your plate number will stay posted for multiple blogposts so check the blog!

Magnet Game Rules:

• All cars with magnets are eligible to win.  If you do not own a car you can "adopt" one for your use and put the magnet on that - you will have to know the plate number to identify it in the blog.  Cars must be parked, but may be occupied!  Unlimited Magnets may be displayed on unlimited cars!  Just call 603-422-8223 to get more for $5 each.
• Spotters (members of the SCS staff) will snap a picture of the car and plate and that will be posted in the Blog.  Spotters must not know who owns the car for it to be eligible.  If multiple pictures come in, we will randomly draw one winner.
• The Blog is restricted to members of the SCS community.  If you got a magnet and do not want to participate please put your magnet on your refrigerator (we won't snap a picture of that!)
• Current Parents will win one week of ECE or PEAK for one child - all others will win gift cards for local restaurants etc.
• Families can only win once.  Winning parents with multiple children can choose one of the children's weeks.  The prize will show as a credit on your bill.
• We will run the contest for six weeks.  We will potentially run it again in the future.
• As the Overseer of the contest I will strive to remain impartial, make all decisions about winners, and my say will be final on all questions.  Good Luck!

Our First Winner:  NH 3208998     Whoever you are please call: 603-422-8223

 Reading is Fundamental:  Here is an interesting article about the many values of reading to children aloud - and continuing to read to them well into their middle school years.  It turns out that it is great for both them and you!  Btw, as I was reading this it dawned on me that I still love to have books read to me - I am an avid listener at Audible.com and the melodious voice of a reader like Charlton Griffin is music to my ears.  In fact, I have spent hours and hours enjoying volumes of history (riding my lawn mower or commuting to work) in blissful thought just as my parents provided for me years ago.  What a life long treasure!
Link:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/03/health/reading-aloud-to-kids-go-ask-your-dad/index.html