Ashley Read '05, Head of Early Childhood

 

December 20, 2024

Dear Families,

As the first semester comes to a close, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the incredible journey your children have embarked on during their time in the Early Childhood Center. While academics are undoubtedly essential, we have dedicated equal attention to nurturing their social-emotional development and fostering their growth into kind, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals.

Over the past 17 weeks, your children have made significant progress in various academic areas, such as confidence with the alphabet, number sense and phonological awareness. Classes have engaged in daily letter recognition, sound identification, and rhyming activities to help your children develop a strong foundation in early literacy skills. Through hands-on exploration and interactive games, your children have developed a deeper understanding of numbers, counting, and basic math concepts.

While academics are crucial, we believe that social-emotional skills are just as important for your children's overall well-being and future success. Here are some key areas where we have focused our efforts:

• Empathy and Compassion: We have encouraged your children to understand and share the feelings of others, whether it's through storytelling, role-playing, or simply talking about their emotions.
• Self-Regulation: We have taught your children strategies for managing their emotions, such as deep breathing exercises, positive self-talk, and seeking support from trusted adults.
• Cooperation and Teamwork: Children have spent time collaborating on projects, playing games together, and learning the importance of working as a team through cooperative play.
• Respect and Responsibility: We have emphasized the importance of treating others with respect, valuing diversity, and taking responsibility for their actions.

It has been a joy to watch your children grow and learn both academically and socially over the past 17 weeks. As they move forward in their educational journey, I am confident that the foundation we have built together will serve them well.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education and care of your precious children. We look forward to continuing to partner with you in fostering their development in the years to come.

On behalf of the Early Childhood Educators, we wish you a wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely,

Ashley Read, Oakridge Class of 2005
Head of Early Childhood