Kids and Covid: Juliet gets her Covid Shot!
Our Immunized Schoolagers!!!!!
Every time a new vaccine comes out against Covid-19 it feels like the world is a little safer. When we found out our kindergarteners and school agers were eligible for this essential layer of safety against the pandemic, we were ECSTATIC.
We sent out this link so that we could help get as many of our students appointments as soon as possible.
Which is why on November 4th at 10:45AM, a day after the shot was approved, I got my daughter Juliet her first covid shot.
Was I worried? No. There had been more than enough research done on the vaccine so I knew it was safe for her. I am much more worried about the new variants of covid that are spreading.
Was she worried? A little! Juliet and her friends get each other really anxious about the shot itself. She really didn’t want to get stuck! But she was also SUPER excited and made sure to tell everyone she could that she was going to get it.
“Am I the first kid in America to get the shot?” She asked me as we walked toward the Covid-Shot clinic set up inside the mall. It was early morning and there were hardly any people around.
“No sweetie, but you’re probably one of the first thousand in Fairfax County!” I thought about it, smiled, and said “And you’re the first kid to get it at Common Ground, so make sure to let everyone know it’s not so scary, okay?”
Juliet gave me a thumbs up, because she’s cool like that, and we went into what used to be an old department store transformed into a vaccination center. All around the old “Diamonds for Her” and “Men’s Fragrances” counters there were colorful signs that said things like “Kids are Tough,” “Kids are Brave,” and “Kids are Super Heroes.” On the floor there were big stickers with pictures of a nasty looking coronavirus cell with the inviting slogan “Stamp the Virus OUT!”
We did. We stomped on every single one of them on our way. And let me tell you something… it felt really good.
There were kids everywhere. Older kids, younger kids, kids who looked nervous, kids who looked bored. Juliet was excited and scared and ready all at the same time.
All of them are my heroes. Their parents too. They are a part of getting a handle on this virus that has changed our lives forever.
When Juliet sat down she told her nurse she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up. She told her all about the cardboard doctor’s kit she had made all by herself, and how she was always taking our temperatures and taking care of us. The nurse smiled and told her all about what the shot was going to do, and why it was so important, that it would protect her from the virus, but also take care of us. “It’s what a doctor would do!” She said, high-fiving Juliet.
I still had to hold her down. That girl does NOT like shots. But she perked up pretty quickly when she realized everyone was cheering and clapping. Those medical professionals were ROCKSTARS.
Her symptoms lasted about 24 hours. They were arm pain, a little scratchy throat, and she had a low-grade fever in the night of about 99. We were told that since she’s had covid before her symptoms might be a little more severe, so we let her stay home from school on Friday… even though she didn’t NEED it, getting some extra cuddles from Daddy is never a bad thing.
Since then, so many of our kindergarteners and school-agers have come showing off their bandaid! When one of them leaves to go to their appointment, everyone else cheers and claps and tells them how brave they are. Kids are so ready to be wonderful to each other, it is such a moving display in a time we need Hope more than ever.
If you have any questions or need help getting your child’s covid vaccine scheduled, please contact us!
SIGN UP FOR OUR FALL FUN STUFFY SLEEPOVER!!
ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 28th, WE ARE HOSTING ANOTHER STUFFY SLEEPOVER AT THE BOOK FAIR!!
What is a Stuffy Sleepover? We are glad you asked!
The Stuffy Sleepover kicks off our Book Fair and our Giving Tuesday Campaign. Kids bring their favorite toy. It can be a stuffed animal, a doll, an action-figure, an excavator! They leave them in the loving care of Miss LJ, Mr. Josh, Miss Janette, Miss Liz, and Miss Victoria for a night of music, books, and awesome activities at the Book Fair. Kids can watch their favorite toys play with their best friends’ favorite toys from either Facebook Live or YouTube. Then their favorite friend will ready for pick up at our BOOK FAIR!
Basically, it is a heartfelt way for kids to be together without BEING together.
We had seen them before, Scrawl Books does an especially fun series of them featuring amazing children’s authors.
They are ridiculous fun for everyone involved. CHECK OUT OUR VIDEOS FROM THAT NIGHT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
STUFFY SLEEPOVER VIDEOS
OUR THEME THIS TIME IS FALL FUN! We will be doing Autumn crafts, reading Autumn books, and singing fun songs that may or may not be Autumn themed, but DEFINITELY sing-a-long-worthy!!
Then, in the morning, all our stuffed animals will board the Common Ground bus and be returned to their best friends with stories to tell and goodies to share.
Sign Up Right Here!
$30.00 Donation to our COMMON GROUND GIVING TUESDAY Campaign gets you a ticket for the stuffy sleepover! It includes the goodie-bags, the fun, the live-videos, and more surprises!
Then you can drop your stuffed animal off on Monday the 28th at the center. It will “sleepover” that night at the Book Fair, then be picked up by your child the next morning.
The money raised will go towards necessary educational initiatives at Common Ground Childcare as part of our Giving Tuesday Campaign.
This is our favorite way to be with you, even when we are apart! Thank you so much for being a part of our community.
Thanksgiving Boxes - Let's make the holidays bright!
Common Ground Childcare and St. Anne's Episcopal Church are working with Cornerstones to gather Thanksgiving boxes for Reston Families in need!
What's a Thanksgiving Box? Each one is fully stocked with everything needed to make a complete Thanksgiving dinner for a family. No person should ever have to go hungry, especially in a time of giving and gratitude. Let's show gratitude for our good fortune by sharing it with our community!
HERE IS THE LINK TO OUR SIGNUP GENIUS
If you would like to help us build these Thanksgiving Boxes, there are a couple of different ways to sign up!
>You can choose to help your child's class by purchasing certain items
> You can build your OWN box as a family
ALL ITEMS AND BOXES MUST BE BROUGHT TO COMMON GROUND CHILDCARE CENTER BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, BY THE END OF THE DAY.
Do you know someone in your family or neighborhood who would like to sign up for a Thanksgiving box?
Encourage them to sign up with either Common Ground Childcare or St. Anne’s Episcopal Church! There are hundreds of families who are struggling to provide for their families this year… we want to help as many people as we can every way we can.
Common Ground Childcare: sign-up here
St. Anne’s Episcopal Church: sign-up here
On Site, Rapid BinaxNOW Testing
We are excited to announce that we have found a solution that will allow us to accept over the counter, rapid covid tests for admission to care.
Common Ground has the BinaxNOW rapid antigen covid tests on site and will be able to perform them with parental permission when:
your child develops a mild symptom over night, but is otherwise healthy and would not be excluded from care
you child has recovered from a fever and has now been fever free for over 24 hours and you would like them to attend, but you have not gotten a doctors note with alternative diagnosis or a negative covid test result from your child’s physician
This test is not a replacement for a PCR test when PCR testing is required by the health department.
There is a suggested donation of $20 per test to help fund this program.
NOVEMBER 5TH: TRUNK OR TREAT IS BACK!!
EDIT: DATE UPDATED FROM OCTOBER 29TH TO NOVEMBER 5TH PLEASE ADJUST YOUR CALENDARS. Scroll down for an updated FAQ.
IT IS THAT SPOOKY TIME AGAIN!! We have been waiting since last year and are SO EXCITED to trunk or treat with our families.
WHAT: Common Ground Trunk or Treat Spooky Spectacular!
WHEN: November 5th from 4:30-5:30PM
WHERE: Common Ground Childcare Upper Lot
WHY: To provide a safe, outdoor event for our families and children to enjoy Halloween together in their Covid Cohorts.
ALL KIDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DRESS UP! They will be taken out to the trunks and tables to trick or treat with each of their classes starting at 4:30PM. Our School Aged children will also be setting up a (not so) Scary Haunted House for the kiddos who are waiting for their turn!! There will be music and dancing, treats, and maybe a few TRICKS!
HOW CAN YOU HELP: Just like last year, we need volunteers! We need parents who are willing to decorate EITHER their trunks or a rectangular table! Parents can provide treats, stickers, little favors, anything they like, and can pick any theme they like for their decorations!! We just want as many trunks/tables as we can get. Make sure to dress up!!
Sign up HERE for a slot and help us make this the best Halloween yet!!!
We are going to give you some FAQ answers below, but if you have any more questions please feel free to email us.
This is a Common Ground community-wide event! We have a ton of parent volunteers running trunks and tables for our students, but you don’t have to be a volunteer to show up! The event is from 4:30PM-5:30PM and we encourage you all to come and enjoy the festivities! The Trunk or Treat is in the upper lot, please join us.
Rain or Shine we are outside: We want all our families to be able to participate, but we also want everyone to be safe from the Covid-19 pandemic. We have seen the forecast for Friday, and it does look wet! So we have a couple of mitigation tactics.
We will be putting up as many of our tents as possible! If you have a little outdoor cover you could lend us, we would really appreciate it.
Have rain gear ready just in case! Rain jackets, rain boots, anything that helps you embrace the mantra “no bad weather, only bad clothes!”
If it gets truly torrential or it’s active lightning, we will, of course, pack it in early to keep everyone safe. We have a hard stop at 5:30PM so, while we will try to “wait it out” if this happens, we know our limitations.
Costumes Costumes Costumes! We recommend sending your kid in normal clothes, but putting a costume in your child’s backpack! That way they don’t have to wear a costume all day, but they can participate in Trunk or Treat all dressed up.
Spotlight On: Conscious Discipline - A Transformative Experience
We, as an entire center, have been taking Dr. Becky’s Conscious Discipline courses.
This is so much more than a “how-to” class. Conscious Discipline takes a transformative view on our interactions with EVERYONE, not just our students, which makes it an incredibly unique and humbling experience.
What is Conscious Discipline?
Instagram I Blog I Free Webinars I Podcast I Discipline Tips I Extra Info Links I Methodology
Conscious Discipline is designed to completely transform the way we look at “discipline.” For generations we have looked at punishment and discipline as synonyms. We have created a divide of judgment between good and bad, pass and fail, win and lose, that encourages learning and behavior through fear.
All. Behavior. Is. Communication. If we only address the behavior, we are not addressing the needs causing the behavior that aren’t being met. The goal is not “to drive you crazy,” which they can’t do anyway, if you have control! They just do not know how to ask for what they need yet.
Conscious Discipline is a series of classes designed to give you empowering tools that help you communicate, guide, and encourage with LOVE, a force much more powerful and long lasting than fear. Check out the methodology link above for the four key tenants!
In order to help children build a foundation of discipline and emotional regulation within, we need to teach ourselves to be aware of what we are saying with our words. We need to catch ourselves in moments of heightened emotion, and break defensive habits that have been passed down from parent to child.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN US! How?
Here is a tried-and-true tool that we learned at the very beginning of our training. It’s called STAR BREATHING, you star!
Three deep breaths shut off the “fight or flight” system of the brain.
This active calming technique is an essential component of emotional health. Teach children to S.T.A.R.: Smile, Take a deep breath And Relax.
S.T.A.R. is one of four core breathing techniques in Conscious Discipline. The other techniques are Drain, Balloon and Pretzel. <—Click here to download a poster showing these different techniques to remind you and your kiddos how to calm yourself before you respond.
Giving yourself a chance to calm down gets you out of the “survival state.” Once you’re calm, if you’re still frustrated, repeat to yourself ”I am safe, Keep Breathing, I can handle this.” to keep the bad feelings at bay. Problem solving can commence once you are calm and ready!
We have made our Conscious Discipline Action Team and will be rolling out changes! Stay tuned, we will be sharing more things that we are implementing in our center to help transform early childhood education as we know it.
Love Love Love,
Your CG Family
Fall Supplies to stay Warm and Dry
It’s that time again, the leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter, and the temperature is all over the place! It’s FALL in Northern Virginia!
We would like to remind you that our kids spend a good portion of their day outdoors, so layers are a must this season! In addition to the every day things your child needs, we ask that you also send in:
A lightweight jacket each day: Preferably a wind breaker, given how strong the wind can be in autumn!
A raincoat to live here at the center: We have had several days where the weather starts out sunny, but by pick up it is POURING. Per our Covid-19 policy, we try to stay outside as much as possible. Help us keep your kiddo safe and comfortable outside!
A pair of rain boots and extra socks to live at the center: We have had several days where the weather starts out sunny, but by pick up it is POURING. Per our Covid-19 policy, we try to stay outside as much as possible. Help us keep your kiddo safe and comfortable outside!
You can read more about our philosophy on “no bad weather, only bad clothes” here.
You can read more about why, even without the influence of Covid-19, we stand by going outside as much as possible here.
THE PERFECT RAINCOAT: ALLOWS THE CHILD TO WORK IN TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND STAY REASONABLE DRY FROM THE KNEES UP.
WATER BARRIER - RAINCOAT MUST BE A RAINCOAT AND NOT A WINDBREAKER. WINDBREAKERS ABSORB WATER; RAINCOATS ACT AS A BARRIER.
ZIPPER - MUST HAVE A WORKING ZIPPER CLOSURE.
UNLINED - THINNER RAINCOATS CAN BE WORN IN ALL TEMPS AND OVER COATS IN COOLER TEMPERATURES.
OVERSIZED - OVERSIZED RAINCOATS ALLOW FOR MULTIPLE LAYERS AND COVERAGE OF LEGS WHEN RAIN PANTS ARE NOT PRESENT. (HINT: BUY AN ADULT SIZE OR LARGER CHILD’S SIZE! - SEE IMAGE FOR GOOD FIT!)
A GOOD FITTING HOOD COMES WELL FORWARD OF FOREHEAD.
SLEEVES COVER FINGERS WHEN ARMS ARE DOWN; HANDS STAY DRY. CAN BE ROLLED, HEMMED, OR CUT IF TOO LONG. IF BOTTOM OF RAINCOAT COMES TO AT LEAST THE KNEES. KNEE TO ANKLE LENGTH BEST. DOES NOT HAVE CINCHED BOTTOM.
Need a Notary? We have 3!
It’s not often that you need something notarized, but when you do, it can be a hassle! Common Ground has you covered!
Miss Victoria, Miss LJ, and Miss Liz all became notaries this fall, so now you can just bring those documents with you to drop off or pick up and one of us would be happy to notarize it for you!
We aren’t charging families for this service, but are happy to accept donations at our paypal giving fund: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1778362
We are also happy to notarize documents for members of the greater Reston community either by appointment or on scheduled drop in days for a charge of $5 per document.
Team Spotlight: Kindergarten + School Age
Our Kindergarteners, better known as “The Jellyfish” are doing swimmingly with Miss Janette!
The small class experience has really allowed Miss Janette to take our kids on a hands-on, personalized adventure for their first year of elementary school. They do yoga, they utilize play in all their lessons, they get up-close and personal with science projects and class activities. It has been such a delight seeing them grow so much in so little time!
Our School-Age Kids don’t “check out” when they check in, thanks to Ms. Victoria!
Once the Before/After care kids get to their outdoor classroom, the fun really starts! Ms. Victoria has taught them kickball, read Encyclopedia Brown, even made elephant toothpaste! They are even making a HAUNTED HOUSE for our Trunk or Treat Spooktacular!
They may only be here for a few hours, but our School Age crew really makes that time count for something.
We have found that, for both groups, the more focused physical activity the better. These two teachers really get to know the students in their care, take account of what they need, and make sure they provide for them in a patient, structured way. In doing so, these kids feel confident in trying new things and exploring their curiosity.
Thanks, Elementary School Team! You exemplify what Common Ground stands for.
Links from the Library!
We thought you’d appreciate these links from the Reston Library!
We at Reston Regional Library are to help you and your families and customers find resources for county residents of all ages. Here is a list of links curated by FCPL’s Youth Services team. There are many interesting library programs and connections here. If you have any questions or could use some follow up details, please let me know. -- Becky
Early Literacy Resource Center: An Overview of Early Literacy - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Talking to Young Children About Race: Talking to Young Children about Social and Racial Equity - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Early Literacy Publications: Early Literacy Publications - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Early Literacy Publications in Spanish: ¿Habla Español? - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Resources for Early Childhood Professionals: Early Childhood Professionals - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Books Kits: Early Literacy Book Bags - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
STEAM Kits: Early Literacy Book Bags - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
English Language Learning Resources: About this Guide - English Language Learning - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Library Services and Databases
*Databases require a library card*
New Library Hours: Branches | Library (fairfaxcounty.gov)
Library to Go program: Overview - Library to Go — Handpicked for Pickup - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Curbside and Virtual Services: Curbside Services & Returns - Curbside and Virtual Services - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
My Perfect Read: Connect with a Readers' Advisor - Curbside and Virtual Services - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Maker Resources at Your Library: Overview - You’re Gonna Make It! - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Video Streaming Service - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
Becky Takacs (she/her/hers)
Youth Services Librarian and TAB Coordinator
Reston Regional Branch, FCPL
Pizza Pizza Party Party!!
On Friday, October 15th, we had a DAY LONG PIZZA PARTY!
We are big fans of themes here at Common Ground, and if there is an opportunity to integrate FUN into eating, we are going to take it!
All of our classes got to have Ledo’s cheese pizza, and they chowed down! Even our littlest Common Ground champions got into the fun.
That night, we had several families and friends who continued the pizza party fun! Some ordered from their favorite restaurant, some made pizzas from scratch, and some got the best of both worlds by making individual pizzas from our Little Caesar’s Fundraiser!
Part of the awesome benefit of the LITTLE CAESAR’S PIZZA KITS is that picky eaters get to MAKE their own pizza, and know EXACTLY what goes into it! Maybe they try a little bit of cheese while they put it on. Maybe they lick the sauce spoon, or like the look of the little olive circles so much that they use them to make a pizza smiley face. At the end, once it’s all baked, maybe the kiddos are so proud that they want to try the food that THEY MADE THEMSELVES. Give them agency over what they put on their pizza. Maybe they don’t want to try the sauce. Maybe they just want to add olive oil and rosemary to the bread. Maybe they want to put the cheese on before the sauce or wrap the pepperonis inside the dough!
Remember: You aren’t just making pizza. You are making little independent learners who aren’t afraid to experiment. You are rewarding their curiosity and cherishing the experience rather than being tied to convention or recipe. And who knows? Maybe Banana pizza with cinnamon topping is your next family tradition.
THANK YOU FOR CREATING NEW MEMORIES WITH US! Remember! Even when we are apart, we are together.
Ms. LJ - Our Family Experience with Covid-19
After a year and a half of masks, hand sanitizer, spontaneous quarantines, and vaccinations…
I came home from Summer Camp with the kiddos on a seemingly normal Wednesday August to find my husband masked indoors. He had lost his taste and smell.
A rapid test from the INOVA Urgent Care, of course, came back positive. John was vaccinated and worked from home, but he had a work meeting out in Tyson’s, a small gathering of vaccinated friends, a small outdoor birthday pool party for the kids. They were all activities we thought would be safe before Delta reared its head and dissipated any thoughts of normalcy.
Luckily our townhouse is almost perfectly designed for quarantine. My husband stayed in the basement with little need to come upstairs, and the kids and I spent time on the upper floors with the doors and windows open. We lysoled regularly, never ate in the same space at the same time, and communicated via text so that any travel between floors was telegraphed.
The kids and my first PCR tests were negative. John’s symptoms were really mild, mostly brain fog and the inability to taste. We all felt excellently, if a little stir crazy, and looked forward to the end of quarantine.
On August 10th the kids got their second PCR tests. It had been six days since they had last seen John, and they were totally restless and energized. We went home, played with the sprinkler, baked cookies. Juliet had a fever of 102 about 18 hours later.
Conrad’s 4th birthday was spent apart from his sister, opening gifts in the master bedroom. Juliet’s PCR test hadn’t come back yet, so we could not stick her with John just in case it WASN’T covid, but the pediatrician had told us to keep the kids apart in case it was. Schrodinger’s Covid kept us wearing masks inside, yelling across the hall to make sure everyone had gatorade and snacks. I would never have left Juliet alone, but I wore a mask, rationed my time in between them, and washed my hands. We sent songs and announcements to each other through Alexa and, despite everything, giggled a lot.
Conrad was positive by Friday the 13th, eight days after the last time he had seen John. You would think I would be terrified. Maybe I was. But when the rapid test came back positive, all Conrad did was rush to the bottom of the stairs and scream “JULIET! YOU CAN TOUCH ME NOW! I HAVE COVIC!” She came pelting down the stairs and they laughed and screamed. They both demanded to watch a movie, since it was movie night, and asked if Daddy could come upstairs. I was the last Donnell standing, but I had been cuddling and watching over these little covid kids for days, it was really only a matter of time. So we all went upstairs, put on a movie, and contact sat with each other.
Everyone has to decide for themselves how their family quarantines. For us, with the Delta Variant, I found that quarantine within the house was a total waste of time. I don’t think the kids gave it to each other, and I don’t think they got it through the vents. I think that my mostly asymptomatic husband infected them before we exiled him downstairs, and the rest was history. Would I have gotten a breakthrough infection had I not been breathed on by two sick kids for days? Probably not. Was it worth it to cuddle them and make sure they knew I was there? Absolutely.
We were very fortunate. Despite the Delta Variant being much harsher on kids, my two had mild cases. Fevers, some coughing, a little fatigue. We have been monitoring them for any signs of long covid, and will continue to do so, but we are hoping that really was the worst. Given how some of our symptoms still linger, John and I were especially fortunate to be vaccinated.
I am lucky I had so much support from my work crew, my coworkers, my family members. I had friends drop off things at the door and sing happy birthday to my kids while they stood on the balcony. I got sent pictures from the last few weeks of summer, presents shipped through amazon, and so many messages of love and comfort it chokes me up to think about it. We sang karaoke, ate a lot of icees for our sore throats, and passed the time just being grateful we were together.
What we learned.
YOU ARE CONTAGIOUS EVEN IF YOU AREN’T OBVIOUSLY SICK. We quarantined the second we saw any symptom from John, and the kids had already been infected.
YOU COULD STILL HAVE BEEN INFECTED EVEN IF YOUR FIRST TEST WAS NEGATIVE. My kids were active, happy, and totally separated from their dad. Their first PCR test was negative, but they were sick within the incubation period. TAKE. THE. INCUBATION. PERIOD. SERIOUSLY. Take the quarantine seriously. You don’t know who you’re risking even if you feel fine.
WEAR A MASK AND GET VACCINATED. Breakthrough cases, strong variants, long-term exposure to asymptomatic family members, COVID-19 is not over by a long shot, and you could get sick. Making sure you’re vaccinated so you can stay quarantined at home is best for you and anyone who needs a hospital bed. GET YOUR FLU SHOT TOO. It helps to mitigate flu AND Covid-19 symptoms.
PROTECT YOURSELF. PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY. PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.
I love you all. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me, I’ll tell you anything you want to know.
LJ and Fam
Team Spotlight: Our 4 year olds DIG their Routine!
Our 4s teachers are absolutely incredible at what they do to get their kiddos ready for kindergarten.
What’s the main thing they focus on? Self-Motivated Learning. This requires our preschoolers to feel safe, supported, and free to explore their surroundings without fear.
A clear, firm, interactive schedule provides an excellent foundation to a child. The teachers have a schedule complete with pictures of their students doing each activity! Having pictures tied to words helps form tangible understanding of each task and is really helpful for prewriting skills. Plus, seeing themselves in pictures DOING the activities is often a fun incentive to get them to stick to it!
Jobs and Responsibilities. The students have to take care of their classroom! To encourage them to be excited about this, their teachers give them SPECIAL JOBS every day to show them how to be leaders!
Practice Practice Practice. Every day the kids help guide circle. Every day the kids draw whatever they like in their journals and have discussions with their teachers about it (there’s no WRONG way to draw a squiggle). Every day they get a chance to be the person they want to be when they step through the door. Their teachers are here to encourage them, not punish them, and making mistakes is an essential part of GROWTH!
Family Photos. We are all Common Ground. Our teachers understand how integral a child’s family is to their growth and learning journey, and do not expect them to leave that at the door! Each child has a family photo with them so that they can be reminded they are loved ALL the time, 24/7.
The Love Bugs and the Busy Bees have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to preschool. Our kids go into kindergarten confident in themselves and comfortable in the learning environment. We have found that in this time of uncertainty where everyone is a little more stressed and unsure, we need these foundational tools more than ever! So parents, take as much comfort as your kiddo does that they are safe, healthy, happy learners here at Common Ground Childcare.
Love Love Love,
Your CG Family.
CG Fundraiser: Little Caesar's! So Good it's SCARRRYYYY
YOU ASKED FOR IT, WE ARE DOING IT AGAIN!
From October 1st until October 31st we will be hosting another
Little Caesar’s Pizza Kit Fundraiser!!
What is a Little Caesar’s Pizza Kit?
Little Caesar’s has created these amazing kits with all the fixins you need to create a pizza night for your family! They have mini pizzas, regular sized pizzas, breadsticks, and so much more!
Kids can help you create your perfect pizza! They can spread the sauce, sprinkle the cheese, add the ingredients. Did you know that kids are more likely to try foods they help prepare? You can reward them with a scrumptious cookie they also baked themselves!
These are frozen! They keep for any occasion. Movie nights! Birthdays! Rainy days when you don’t feel like cooking. Rough days when you want to see a smile. Have a perfect memory stored away for when you need it most.
Anyone can buy them and support us! Share THIS LINK on your social media, with your office, with your fam! Anyone who buys a mouth-watering pizza, breadsticks, cheese bread, or cookie kit with our link earns us money!
This fundraiser is completely online and runs 24/7! The Pizza Kits get delivered right to your door, so it’s simple, easy, perfect.
You could have a Pizza Pumpkin Party where you carve pumpkins and eat pepperoni!
You could watch (not so) spooky movies with a large spinach and pineapple pizza!
You could roast marshmallows in the cool Autumn breeze, tell Halloween stories, and enjoy simple-yet-effective cheese pizza!
What other Autumn Pizza Nights could you Enjoy? Share in the Comments…. also….
WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE RESTON’S LARGEST PIZZA PARTY!
On October 15th we will be cooking our own pizzas and going live from the center! We will read books, sing songs, and YES! Eat lots of pizza! We encourage you to order your kits early and do the same! If we get enough people taking pictures and eating their pizza at the same time from their homes, we could actually host THE LARGEST PIZZA PARTY RESTON HAS EVER SEEN! When Rome did it, they got 1,146 people. While we know that it’s Covid and wow… that’s ambitious… LET’S SHOOT FOR THE MOON! We can only land among the delicious pizza stars.
HOW DO YOU HELP US SELL PIZZAS AND ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF LARGEST RESTON PIZZA PARTY?
HERE IS OUR PIZZA FUNDRAISER LINK
Share with friends, family, neighbors, tiktok buddies, facebook acquaintances, insta-friends, and more! Tell them to check out our Facebook on the night of the 15th from 6:00PM to 9:00PM and take pictures with their pizzas!
We are so excited to share this hilarious, fun, ridiculous goal with you. This is going to be SO AMAZING that… it’s almost spooky.
Save the Date!
Your CG Family
Team Spotlight: Infant and Toddler teachers make our days bright!
As we all know, LEARNING BEGINS AT BIRTH.
Our Bubble Buddies, Little Penguins, and Playful Pandas Teachers are incredible about offering what all babies need: Undivided attention, opportunities for curiosity, full-body play, and daily outside time.
We all know that children function better in countless ways if they get to be outside for multiple hours each day. The little ones, especially the LITTLE little ones that are not ambulatory, sometimes make this tricky…
So what do your fabulous infant and toddler teachers do? They lay out blankets and let them stare up at the sky while getting leg stretches. They go on lovely nature walks where they narrate the new and interesting surroundings. The teachers talk about leaves and bird calls while the kids stare in wide-eyed wonder and peace. They let them play with age appropriate toys, practice their walking skills, or sometimes just read them a book in the bright sunshine! It is such a joy to see them go on their mini-adventures.
How do we do this all year, rain or shine, cold or hot weather? Take a peek at our EXTRA DAILY SUPPLIES for all seasons! We recommend you make sure your children are prepared for any weather at all times. We are outside as much as possible to protect against the Covid-19 pandemic, but also because kids just learn better after running around breathing fresh air.
THANK YOU, INFANT AND TODDLER TEACHERS!! You are all shining stars, and our babies are so lucky to have you.
Team Spotlight: Our 2s and 3s are ROCKING AUTUMN!
September is in full swing and our Dancing Monkeys and Rising Stars are really bringing Autumn into their classrooms! All of our lessons are rooted in full-body play and exploration, which means our littles get to really experience nature with their hands while they learn colors, numbers, and shapes!
In the Monkeys, our two year olds are playing with pine needles and leaves they collected themselves! In the Rising Stars, the three year olds are painting their own houses and learning how to be curious in circle time. Our teachers are amazing at letting kids become brave, independent learners who realize that the only thing FAIL means is “First Attempt In Learning.”
How can you bring Autumn into your daily life?
You can collect Acorns and Pinecones and discuss their role in the life cycle of trees.
You can do a leaf freeze dance!
You can have a sunset journal and talk about all the different things that happen in each season.
What else? Let us know in the comments! We will also post more lovely things our teachers are doing each newsletter!
Thanks again, Rising Stars and Dancing Monkeys! Our kiddos are lucky to have you.
— Your CG Family
Save the Date: Flu Shot Clinic
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH: GET YOUR FLU SHOT AND PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY!
We will be hosting a flu shot clinic right here in the Common Ground Parking Lot!
WE WILL BE SELLING LARGER PIECES OF LEDO’S PIZZA FOR $2.00 EACH FOR ALL FAMILIES WHO WANT TO GET THEIR SHOT AND REWARD THEMSELVES WITH DINNER! We take cash and venmo! Please do exact cash if possible.
SIGN UP TO LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING, BUT WALK-INS ARE WELCOME. This does not promise you a specific time, this just allows us to know how many people might be coming and helps send you reminders.
Studies show that a flu shot helps prevent serious symptoms and hospitalization with Covid-19
With the Covid-19 pandemic, hospitals are struggling with capacity. With Flu season coming we need to do everything we can to keep our community safe and healthy. This is open to the public, so please encourage everyone you can to come out to get their shot! Even if you get the flu, with the shot the symptoms are mitigated. This clinic is open to everyone ages 4 and up.
The Flu Shots are free with insurance, incredibly cheap without, and you are not required to pay onsite! Just sign up, get the shot, and enjoy the food truck afterward!
HERE IS THE SIGN-UP. You can sign up for any of these:
- Influenza (Flu Shot)
- Shingles
- Pneumonia
- TDAP/Whooping Cough
You can also just show up on the day! Please encourage everyone you know to get the flu shot this year, whether or not they get it with us it is ESSENTIAL to keeping our community healthy!
Your CG Family
CG Spirit Night: BASKIN ROBBINS BACK TO SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH FROM 6-9PM
WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
AT BASKIN ROBBINS!!!
A lot of our school age kiddos have already started classes (which is also worth celebrating!!) but our preschool programs start on Tuesday, September 7th! We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to say goodbye to the summer months and Hello to school in any delicious style they want.
IT IS ALSO A FUNDRAISER!! Every wonderful, yummy, technicolor treat purchased gives us proceeds to help support your classrooms all year! Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to come celebrate the new year with us, because everyone should have an excuse to get icecream.
Worried about Covid? They have amazing outdoor seating! Still don’t want to stay out? You can order pick-up or delivery!!
However you order, just make sure that you are letting them know you are ordering to support Common Ground! Along with eating something delightfully tasty.
If you have any questions you can email LJ Donnell. Happy September!
Goodbye Mr. Josh!
After five years of laughter, hugs, skinned knees, and turning nursery rhymes into classic rock instant hits…
We are saying goodbye to our beloved Mr. Josh! He is focusing in on school and looking towards his future to decide what he’s going to do next, and we could not be more proud of him, more sad to see him go (but excited for the next part of his journey!), more thankful for everything he has done for us and the students who were lucky enough to grow under his care.
While he will no longer be working with us, he still loves his community here and would be happy to hear from any of you! Make sure to say “see you soon!” to him this afternoon!
We will also be posting pictures on our Facebook, and encourage you to share your favorite Mr. Josh pictures, stories, songs, memories!! It shows Mr. Josh what you meant to him and reminds us all that all of our most normal days are sometimes the most lovely.
A note from Mr. Josh:
“My five years at Common Ground have been some of the most transformative and fulfilling I have ever known.
I started teaching as a goofy 19 year old kid, and now? I'm a goofy 24 year old man, and I wouldn't have it any other way. From sharing my music and any creepy-crawly creature I could get my hands on to helping my students navigate the complex emotional landscape of early childhood; I've considered it privilege to grow alongside these wonderful little people.
To the children I've had the opportunity to work with: I love you all. I'm constantly amazed by how far you've come, and I'm so proud that I had the chance to call myself your teacher. This time has more to me than I could possibly express and I look forward to visiting Common Ground in the weeks, months and years to come.”
Thank you for everything, Josh, Common Ground loves you!
SAVE THE DATE: SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IN AUGUST
FROM AUGUST 2ND TO AUGUST 6TH WE WILL BE HOSTING
AN ONLINE AND OUTDOOR BOOK FAIR.
What does this mean!?
It means that EVERY DAY from 3:30-5:30PM we will have our ENTIRE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR outside to peruse during pick up!! We will also have games, contests, wish lists, and recommendations ready to help really cement the experience.
The books will range from board books to camper-level chapter books, so make sure to swing by and find your kids’ new favorite! Especially since school is just around the corner…
YOU WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO SHOP ONLINE 24/7. There are over 6000 books, learning aids, and fun scholastic products that make good gifts for any age.
All the proceeds help Common Ground save up to build our READING RAINBOW LIBRARY and buy much needed curriculum supplies for the coming school year!
Save the date, shop with us, share our online site with your friends when it’s available! We cannot WAIT!!
Love Love Love,
Your CG Family