Thanksgiving Family Feast! 

On Friday, November 20, 2015, we held our annual Thanksgiving Family Feast! We had several parents and grandparents join us! We ate turkey with gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes,  mac-n-cheese, stuffing, and pumpkin pie! All of the food was gone within an hour! No tummy was left empty:) 

One friend in Ms. April's class eagerly waves to the camera! He was super excited to have his dad come and eat lunch with him! 

It is always a joy to get together, especially when good company and food are involved!

When asked what was their favorite food was...most children said "mac-n-cheese!" No mac-n-cheese was left behind!:)

Silly Pre-K friends stop for a photo before the big feast begins!

A special thank you to all our families that came out to celebrate Thanksgiving with us! 

For more information about our program, please visit our website at: 

www.hollytreechildcare.com

Giving Back to the Community 

             

During the holidays we gather around with family and friends to eat and sometimes we exchange gifts. Many families have a multitude of food including meats, veggies, bread, and desserts. Their are some that do not have family and friends to sit and enjoy a conversation with or a warm meal, but they may go somewhere that offers holiday meals. These places thrive off of donations so that they can continue to provide not only a warm meal, but other items to men and women in need. Sometimes, we may wonder what we can do to help out? Places like Second Harvest and Grace Works are always needing donations or a volunteer.  

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee was founded in 1978, in hopes to help solve hunger problems in Middle and West Tennessee. Second Harvest has a network of over 450 Partner Agencies working together to feed hungry men, women, and children throughout our 46-county service area. Second Harvest collects, sorts, distributes food, and personal care products for all of their partner agencies. Their partner agencies area include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, foster care facilities, senior centers, group homes, and youth enrichment programs. 

Each year at Holly Tree, we team up with Second Harvest and have a food drive. We make it fun between classrooms, and have a competition to see which class brings the most food! The class with the most items gets bragging rights and $100 to spend on their classroom! We can not thank each of our families enough for going above and beyond with donations! This year's class winner with the most donations was Ms. Shanice's Preschool Two! Although, it was a close race with Ms. April's Preschool One and Ms. Molly's Toddler room right behind. 

If you are looking for ways to give back or lend a helping hand, and wonder what can you do,  head down to your local shelter or Second Harvest. There, you can volunteer your time or donate other items. They need volunteers during the holidays, but also would be appreciative of the extra hands any other day of the year!:) Sometimes a warm meal and a friendly face is all we need to make the holiday season extra special! 

For more information about Second Harvest please visit them at:  https://secondharvestmidtn.org

For more information about our program, please visit our website at:

htt://www.hollytreechildcare.com

The Importance of Hand Washing

Why is washing your hands so important? It helps to stop the spread of  germs that we come in contact with daily. From Changing diapers to playing in the dirt-good hand washing, if
done correctly, is the first line of protection to stop the spread of many illnesses.

 Is there a right or wrong way to wash your hands? Yes!
There are a couple of steps that you should take to ensure that your hands are being washed correctly. If you are not sure if you should wash your hands, just do it! It could save you a trip to the doctor!

Steps for cleaning your hands:

1. Wet your hands with warm water

2.Apply soap

3. Lather your hands, making sure you lather the backs of your hands, in between your fingers and under your nails.

4. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. (For little ones,you could sing "ABC's")

5. Rinse your hands thoroughly 

6. Dry your hands using a clean towel, then use towel to turn off water.

 When Should We Wash Hands?

1. After changing a diaper or using the restroom

2. After you blow your nose, cough, or sneeze. Also,after you clean a child's nose.

3. Before preparing food or eating food

4. After playing with any animal or cleaning an animal space

5. After playing outside

6. After taking out the trash or place trash in garbage can

7. Before and after being with someone who is sick

8. Before and after cleaning a wound

For more  information about proper hand washing and it's importance, please visit:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/hand_washing.html

or

http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/

For more information about our program, please visit our website at:

www.hollytreechildcare.com

Halloween Fun

On Friday, October 30, 2015, all of our children dressed up and paraded around our school! We had teenage turtles, bees, firemen, and a host of other costumes! After our school parade, each of our classrooms had parties! We had ham sandwiches, fruit, veggies, and special treats! We had so many special dishes including bat cut sandwiches, pumpkin fruit cups, and festive cupcakes! We also had a parent "Best Dish" competition... and boy, was the competition fierce!! To find out the winner of for the best dish/treat read on... :)

Ms. April and a Preschool Three friend were two of our Teenage Turtles! This friend was Leonard, and Ms. April was Raphael! 

Our back building classrooms were happily running around the circle showing everyone their costumes! We had firemen, pirates, skeletons, fairy's, and many more.

One of our Nursery One friends, was dressed up as a gumball machine! The gumballs were going for a steal at $0.25 each!  

Another infant was dressed as the cutest little elephant! She loved showing off her sweet smile! 

We loved the family costume! This family dad was Batman, mom was Cat-Women, and the Preschool One friend was Robin! 

A few of our Preschool One friends were excited to get to the parade and show off their cute costumes! 

Drum roll please......The parent that was picked among the staff for the best dish/treat goes to... a Preschool Two mom! Hat's off to you for your creativity! A special thanks you to all of our families that participated and helped make this a special day for our little ones!

For more information about our program, please visit us at:

www.hollytreechildcare.com