<p align="center" class="LgBodyBold" style="margin-bottom: 0;">MCGREGOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><br>
<br>
<span class="LgBodyBold"><img src="images/IMG_0572.jpg" alt="McGregor School" width="300" height="194" hspace="6" vspace="0" border="1" align="left"></span>I would like to introduce you to McGregor Early Chidlhood programs. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0;">Research by the US Department of Education shows that parents are their child's first and most influential teachers. In other words, you the parent have the most important job in your child's learning environment and preparing your child for school. McGregor Early Childhood recognizes that and supports you in your efforts. <br>
<br>
What can McGregor ECFE do to help parents in this endeavor? We can provide a rich, learning environment for you and your child to discover that wood floats, but coins sink; and figure out how shadows are made. We can help with the hands on experiences with clay, play dough, science projects while introducing nature; help with manners, table setting and sharing. And of course we can not forget that literacy is implemented into each different class day as a very important element to children's learning needs. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0;">We offer a safe and comfortable place for your child to discover, explore and interact socially with others while parents find comfort in other parents as they learn that all children are enthusiastic, curious learners. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;">Parents play an important role in helping their children become independent with their every day activities. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0;"><br>
I encourage you to check out our facilities and programs. Meet Miss Melanie and Miss Pam as they help make the early childhood years rewarding for you and your child.<br>
<br>
<span class="SmBodyBold">Lisa Kruse <br>
Community Education Director </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="LgBodyBold style2" style="text-align:center;"><strong>MCGREGOR EARLY CHILDHOOD 2010-2011 PRESCHOOL SCHEDULE</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;"><em>McGregor Preschool program is a wonderful opportunity for your child. McGregor ISD #4 strives to provide the best possible start for all children ensuring every young child is fully prepared for learning success.</em> </p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><em>We strongly support your role as a parent believing that the home is the child’s first learning environment and that parent’s are the child’s most important teacher.</em> </p>
<p style="margin-top:0;"><em>We provide programs for you as the parent to invest early in the life of your child. If you are interested in registering your child for preschool contact Lisa Kruse at 218-768-2111 x233 or Melanie Guida at 218-768-2111 x300.</em> </p>
<p style="text-align:center; margin-bottom: 0;"><strong>TUESDAY/THURSDAY AM CLASS </strong>* 8:30 - 11:30am * October 5, 2010 - May 12, 2011 </p>
<p style="text-align:center; margin-top:0;">T<strong>UESDAY/THURSDAY PM CLASS </strong>* 12:15 - 3:15pm * October 5, 2010 - May 12, 2011</p>
<p><strong>Class Dates:</strong> October 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 26, 28 * November 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 30 * December 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 * January 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 * February 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24 * March 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 * April 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 * May 3, 5, 10, 12</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;"><strong>Monthly:</strong> $40 due 1st day of class each month starting Oct 5 * <strong>Sliding fee: </strong>$30/monthly</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><strong>Quarterly:</strong> $105/due Oct 5 (Oct 5 - Nov 30) * $105/due Dec 2 (Dec 2 - Feb 24) * $110/due March 1 (Mar 1 - May 12)</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><strong>Quarterly Sliding Fee: </strong>$80/due Oct 5 (Oct 5 - Nov 30) * $80/due Dec 2 (Dec 2 - Feb 24) * $80 due March 1 (Mar 1 - May 12)</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>FRIDAY AM CLASS </strong>* 8:30 - 11:30am * October 8, 2010 - May 13, 2011</p>
<p><strong>Class Dates: </strong>October 8, 15, 29 * November 5, 12, 19 * December 3, 10, 17 * January 7, 14, 21, 28 * February 4, 11, 18, 25 * March 4, 11, 18, 25 * April 1, 8, 15, 29 * May 6, 13</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;"><strong>Monthly:</strong> $20 due 1st day of class each month starting Oct 8 * Sliding fee: $17/monthly</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><strong>Quarterly: </strong>$50/due Oct 8 (Oct 8- Nov 19) * $50/due Dec 3 (Dec 3- Feb 25) * $60/due Mar 4 (Mar 4 - May 13)</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><strong>Quarterly Sliding Fee: </strong>$45/due Oct 8 (Oct 8- Nov 19) * $45/due Dec 3 (Dec 3- Feb 25) * $46/due Mar 4 (Mar 4 - May 13)</p>
<p align="center" class="LgBodyBold" style="margin-top:0;"><u>Explore, Play & Learn </u></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0;">You have an important role in the lives of young children. Explore, play & learn sessions will provide useful information and fun activities to help guide you in your important role of caring for young children. Are you a grandparent, friend or neighbor caregiver? If so, these sessions are designed with you in mind to enhance the knowledge and skills you currently have helping promote the healthy development, early literacy, and school readiness of young children 0-5 years old. </p>
<p align="center" class="SmBodyBold" style="margin-top:0;">What is Explore, Play & Learn?</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0;">* Make and take activities</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">* Social get-togethers & opportunities to connect with others</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">* Books and learning materials for early literacy</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">* School readiness materials</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0;">* To offer support in your role as a caregiver</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0;">(Explore, Play & Learn is a joint effort of the Northland Foundation and McGregor Early Childhood Program)</p>
<p align="left">Active bodies = active minds. Kids will enjoy an array of activities to get their little bodies moving while parents enjoy socializing with others. </p>
<p align="center" class="SmBodyBold" style="margin-bottom: 0;">Tuesday, September 14, 2010 from 5:30 - 6:30pm</p>
<p align="center" class="SmBodyBold" style="margin-top: 0;">Melanie Guida, Early Childhood Educator</p>
<p align="center" class="LgBodyBold"><u>Theme Night...Autumn is in the Air</u></p>
<p align="left">Enjoy the many wonders of Autumn; splendidly rich in color and magic in the air as the classroom is filled with ideas and activities that spur your child's creative mind. Leaves falling, apples in abundance, pumpkins aplenty...join in on the fun!</p>
<p align="center" class="SmBodyBold" style="margin-bottom: 0;">Tuesday, October 19, 2010 from 5:30 - 7:00pm</p>
<p align="center" class="SmBodyBold" style="margin-top: 0;">Melanie Guida, Early Childhood Educator</p>
<p align="center" class="LgBodyBold" style="; font-size: 10px; color: #000000;"><span class="LgBodyBold" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><u>Theme Night...Animals and Their Habitats</u></span></p>
<p align="left" style="; font-size: 10px; color: #000000;">Kids are naturally curious about the world they live in. The focus of this class will be animals...small, big, soft, furry, wild and tame; in the jungle and in the woods. Your child will experience all the natural curiosity as they learn all about animals and their habitats.</p>
<p align="center" class="SmBodyBold" style="; font-size: 10px; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 0;">Tuesday, November 16, 2010 from 5:30 - 7:00pm</p>
<p align="left">Early Childhood Screening is required in Minnesota for all children entering preschool and/or Kindergarten. If you have a child who has not gone through the screening process please call the elementary office at 218-768-2111 x225 to make arrangements. Early Childhood Screening is for ages 3 1/2 - 5 years of age. </p>
<p class="style4" style="; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0;"><span class="style6">ARE YOU NEW TO THE DISTRICT??? </span><em>WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION...parent/guardian name, child name, address and birthdate.</em> <a href="mailto:llkruse@mcgregor.k12.mn.us"> llkruse@mcgregor.k12.mn.us</a> </p>
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">Information, resources, and activities for parents to help their children grow, develop, and learn from birth to high school.</p>
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">Resources to help prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting positive parenting and healthy families.</p>
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">(800) children </p>
<p align="left" class="SmBodyBold" style="margin-bottom: 0;">Zero to Three</p>
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">Information, tools, and support designed to help parents nuture their young children's development.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0;"><span class="LgBodyBold">Young children are naturally curious</span><span class="LgBodyBold"><br>
</span>Experiencing new and varied learning opportunities helps build upon their knowledge base.<br>
<br>
<span class="LgBodyBold">Children learn through trial and error opportunities </span><br>
Early Childhood classrooms and planned activities are designed in a way that encourages this kind of experimentation. It is often said that "children are young scientists". This is one important way for them to learn about the world they live in.<br>
<br>
<span class="LgBodyBold">Young children are excited about learning and eager to see what this world has to offer them</span> <br>
Nurturing their early experiences helps them establish a life-long love of learning. <br>
<br>
<span class="LgBodyBold">Social situations are instrumental in allowing children to broaden their problem solving skills as well as their social skills </span><br>
Guidance and encouragement are key to helping them discover solutions to questions and to children's success in future social situations. <br>
<br>
<em class="SmBodyBold">McGregor Early Childhood programs recognizes that the parent is the child's primary and most important teacher and that home is the child's first learning environment. We supplement your child's learning environment with ECFE and School Readiness classes. </em></p>
<td valign="middle"><div align="left"><span class="LgBodyBold">The three components of Early Childhood Family<br>
Education are... </span><br>
<br>
... <strong>parent and child interaction <br>
</strong>a place for <span class="SmBody"><em>parents and children</em></span> to engage in fun learning activities together while <em>enriching family life</em> <br>
<br>
... <strong>parent education <br>
</strong>provide <em>information and support</em> for your important role as a parent and allow parents to share joys and concerns of parenting <em><br>
</em><br>
... <strong>early childhood education <br>
</strong>a place for children to actively learn through <em>exploration, <br>
experimentation and inquiry</em>. During play children are free to experiment, attempt and try out new possibilities which will enable them to reach above or beyond their usual level of abilities. <span class="SmBodyBold"><br>
