HTB is GOING GREEN!

We have some way exciting news coming your way HTB family! Are you guys ready for this? Are you actually ready? Did you do anything to mentally prepare yourself? If not, I suggest you hold onto your seat.

We are working- slowly but surely on turning our school… GREEEN!

No, not like painting the bricks on the exterior green (although, that’d be SO spring) I’m talking totally environmentally conscious!!!!

Now, this is something that is very near and dear to my heart, and something that I have been thinking about for a long time. A couple of weeks ago I came to Caroline with the idea and in her usual gung ho way she said “Let’s do it then!”

That’s when the planning began.

We are very excited for all of the things that this can eventually mean… saving on paper supplies and obviously doing all we can do be good to our beautiful planet that we were given to be good stewards to.

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the sea and the skies and over all the earth and over everything that lives.”

It is our hope that as we go through these next couple of weeks- where we plan on keeping you updated with all of the changes coming- you will work with us and if you have any questions always feel free to ask!

First thing to go is excess paper! That means that from now on we will not be printing out menus and calendars for everyone. We will continue to email them to everyone like always but to reduce over using paper we will not ourselves print hard copies. There will still be one hard copy by the front desk as well as in the back- which we hope will keep you properly informed!

I’m sure a lot of you who have parent preferences on menu items (we would like you all to feel free to have that!) are wondering how in the world we are going to work this now! Our plan is to bring large white boards into every room, that way you all can simply write up there what your preferences are- we hope this will be very helpful for the support staff as well because there will be one clear cut place to check when they come into a room!

The second is Styrofoam. This is a HUGE one. Did you know that of all materials Styrofoam is one of the only ones that never decompose fully?? There is no way to recycle it either! Such a waste!!

We have replaced Styrofoam in favor of plastic rewashable plates, bowls and cups for the kiddos.

Now… I know what the next question on everyones mind is! What about the cheerios?? Being that we are getting rid of Styrofoam and I don’t really love the idea of replacing them with plastic bags that everyone will throw away… we are trying to trouble shoot a couple of different ideas. Perhaps each child that wants cheerios at the end of the day has a designated ‘school snack’ cup that they may take with them but are required to bring back the next day.

Now the biggest one… coffee. This issue is as near and dear to my heart. I live, breathe, and believe in all things coffee. Being a six cups a day girl myself. This is where some creativity might have to come into play. I’m not sure what the best option is for this. Do we provide paper to go coffee mugs that are fully recyclable? Do we require you to bring in a to go mug yourself in order to make coffee?

Any and all suggestions are welcome!!

This is a work in progress and we are working on things one little bit at a time. We are so excited to take the center in this direction but we hope that you will hold on while we try to figure out all of the logistics!

Did you know?

Did you know that St. Patrick was the one who brought Christianity to Ireland?!

Yes, it is true!  In the year 431, St. Patrick was sent to Ireland and become the most famous missionary to visit the country!  We celebrate on March 17, the death date of the patron saint of Ireland.

Yet, here we are today celebrating by wearing green and pinching people who don't.  Eating corned beef and cabbage, going to festivals, parade and searching for pots of gold at the end of the rainbow!  So as we celebrate this weekend, lets remember the real reason for the season and remind our children that this is more than an overly commercialized holiday, it is about spreading the word of Christianity!

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY from HOLLY TREE!

Fine Motor Skills in Toddler 1!

Fine motor skills refers to the movements we make with the small muscles of the hands.  Children start to use their hands right at birth to explore their own bodies and world around them.  Their fine motor skills develop as their whole body starts to move and become more stable.  They also learn to do more things with their hands as their cognitive and social/emotional skills improve.  This week in Toddler 1, Ms. Chericka set up an activity in which fine motor skills were put to the test!  

This activity is cheap and fun! All you need is styrofoam and some golf tees (with the ends filed down).  Let your child stick the tees in as if they were putting candles in a birthday cake!  Gotta love fun and educational games!

Why Mealtime is Important

Here at HTB, meal time is one of the most important times of day.  We use meal and snack time to socialize and talk about what we are eating!  We encourage children to talk at the table and discuss the foods they are eating.  While they are eating and socializing, they are building skills for the future!  They are making decisions about if they like a food or not and learning communication skills by describing what they are eating.  We talk about what colors foods are, if they are salty or sweet and if we need a spoon or fork to eat the different types of foods.  We also read a variety of books about meal times and new foods!  Last but not least, we pray before each and every meal, welcoming Jesus to our table!

For many, family mealtime has been lost in our over scheduled lives.  For many families, school, work schedules and extracurricular activities can make it difficult to find time to eat together and some go days or weeks without sitting down as a family to share a meal. However, family meals are important and should be considered part of our daily requirements.

Researchers have found that families who share meals together on a regular basis, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner reap many benefits.

• Family meals are more nutritious. A Harvard study found that families who eat together are twice as likely to eat their five servings of fruits and vegetables as families who don’t eat together.
• Kids who eat family meals tend to eat a wider variety of foods and become less picky eaters.
• Family meals provide an opportunity for family members to come together, strengthen ties and build better relationships. They build a sense of belonging which leads to better self-esteem.
• Family meals offer parents a chance to be role models. They can set an example of healthy eating and polite table manners.
• Family meals help prevent obesity. Research shows that people tend to eat less during family meals because they eat more slowly, and talk more.
• Research shows that kids who eat family meals have a lower chance of engaging in high risk behaviors such as substance use and violence, and fewer psychological problems.

Tips for eating more meals together:

• Make family meals a priority in your household. Focus on the importance of being together as a family more than on making an elaborate meal.
• PRAY!
• Start with small steps. Increase the number of family meals by one extra meal a week.
• As a family, plan a menu for the week and make a grocery list.
• Let the kids be involved. Let them help prepare food or set the table.
• Work as a family to clean up afterwards.
• Turn off the TV.

                   

It’s worth a try.  More family mealtime could mean large rewards for your family!

Fight the FLU!

Flu shots are not foolproof and how well they work can vary season to season and how well the virus strains in the vaccine match up with the viruses circulating in the community. According to the Centers for Diseases Control, the vaccine was about 52 percent effective during the last flu season and about 60 percent effective the year before. However, the vaccine can also lessen flu symptoms if you do catch a cold.

So what's a good healthy person to do? Here are 6 easy ways to stay healthy during the cold and flu season.

• Exercise and meditate (not necessarily in that order): New research suggests that regular exercise and meditation may be among the best ways to reduce acute respiratory infections. Run on the treadmill, do yoga, walk, stretch and sniffle less. 
• Get your share of protein: Protein helps your body to produce immune cells, which in turn help fight infection! Good sources of protein includes: fish, eggs nuts and seeds, lentils, beans and tofu. An added bonus is that many of these foods also contain valuable infection fighting zinc and magnesium.
• Minimize stress: Stress puts lots of wear and tear on many of your body's systems. Your immune system, for one, is adly compromised, making it tougher to fight off germs. Try some meditation to deal with stress.
• Be anti-social: While it's true that being around friends can boost good health, this does not apply to when they are coughing or sneezing. Staying three feet or more away will help keep you in the "safe zone." 
• Carry your own stash: You'll be surprised at how much you touch your face, so keeping hand sanitizers around can be very handy.
• Get enough Zzzz's: Getting less than seven hours of sleep a night can increase your susceptibility to germs. Sleep helps your body function at its optimal level by producing protective substances that help you fight infections or inflammation.

Take charge of your health this cold and flu season!