Announcements 10.16.15

• If you have paid your dues and would like a receipt, please see our treasurer, Penny Julian. 
• A jacket was left behind at St. Paul's after classes. It's a boys size 7-8 orange sweatshirt hoodie from Gymboree. It's hanging on the coat rack inside our usual entrance at the church.
• We could use some household items for crafts. If you can save and donate cardboard egg cartons, 20 oz. soda or water bottles, toilet paper and paper towel tubes, and twistable milk jug caps, please see Jen Fjare and/or Rachelle Johnson.
• Term 2 begins next Friday, October 23. The CB Fire Department will be putting on a demonstration for classes from PreK to 5th Grades, so our schedule will be changed slightly next week. Please make sure all kids bring a jacket as the demonstration will be outside.
• We're holding normal classes on Friday, October 30, with no observance of Halloween.
• If you are new or have not had a chance to familiarize yourself with our bell and dismissal system, we ask you to read up on them here. 

• We also started a new name tag and color coding system yesterday. The system may need some fine-tuning as we all get used to it, but if you were absent or didn't hear the announcements, here's the basic idea:
• Each group/grade level has a color. Those colors will stay consistent all year, and are reflected in the ink color used on the name tags. This will help us sort out which younger kids are in which group at a glance.
• Bins that match the group and name tag colors will be on tables in the Fellowship Hall. Those tables will also stay consistent through the year. You can find your name tag in the appropriate color bin when you arrive, and can return your tags to the same color bin before you leave. 
• Adults who are part of an age-specific team can leave their tags with that group's bins. For example, if you're a teacher/helper on the 1st-2nd Grade team, keep your name tag with that group's bins. If you're on the PE, Parties, or Field Trips teams, there is a separate bin for your name tags.
• Kids should sit by classes during opening and dismissal. Adults and also probably 6th-12th graders will need to stand as there aren't enough tables and chairs for everyone. This way parents can help keep the younger kids at their tables and help maintain calm. 
• If you were at classes yesterday and could NOT find your name tag or your child's name tag, please email us at mindfullearningcenter@gmail.com. Lisa is working on making sure that tags have been created for everyone, and this will help her find and fill any gaps. 
• Please, please, please try to remember to NOT take your name tags home. Teachers, help collect tags from your second period students, especially the younger kids. Parents, check your kids before you head out the door. Double check your friends. The fewer tags we have to pay to replace, the more funds we have available for other supplies and activities.
• Let's all try very hard to remember to keep this system going all year. It's easy to keep this up for a few weeks and then let it slide, but it's one of several steps we're taking to help manage our large numbers. We're also hearing from a lot of people that they want help learning all the new faces and names, both returning members learning our new members' names, and especially our new members who have the entire group to learn from scratch. "I find names way too easy to learn and remember," said no one EVER, so hopefully this will help all of us.

Thanks for your help and cooperation as we cook up new schemes to help keep things moving as smoothly as possible. Constructive feedback is always welcome. 

See you next week!

Announcements 10.09.15 - Please read fully to the end

• Mom's Night Out is tomorrow, Monday, October 12 at 6:30. We'd love to see you there! If you plan to come, you MUST comment on the original web post.
• Next Friday, October 16 is the last class day of Term 1. The 3rd-5th Grade 'Navigating our World' class will be using hard candies during a treasure map activity. If your child cannot have the candies, please let us know that morning.
• Term 2 classes begin the following Friday, October 23. We are working on a visit from the Council Bluffs Fire Department that morning, and plan to include ages from PreK - 5th Grade in the activities. More details will follow, but be prepared for the normal class schedule to change for that morning.
• The PE Team plans to take kids outside for as many weeks as the weather allows. Please make sure that your kids have jackets (preferably with their name inside) and appropriate shoes. You're welcome to send a water bottle with your child, but make sure that it's clearly labeled with their name.
• If you have paid your membership dues and would like a receipt, please let Penny Julian know and she will make one for you. Membership cards will be ready soon.

BELL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES:  

We discussed this before classes on Friday, but we ask that all members please, please read through this and make sure that you're familiar with these procedures.

With the increased number of kids, it's important that everyone understands and follows this system. Our normal weekly attendance may be between 100-150 kids. Due to safety issues, etc., we cannot have all of them passing in the halls and using the stairs at the same time.

TWO bells will ring at the end of each period:

• Classes start at 45 minute mark (9:45 and 10:45)
• First bell rings at 35 minute mark (10:35 and 11:35)
• 3rd-5th Grades and 6th-12th Grades pass to next class
• PreK-K and 1st-2nd Grades - 5-minute heads-up
• Second period teachers and helpers, go to your classrooms
• Second bell rings at 40 minute mark (10:40 and 11:40)
• PreK-K and 1st-2nd Grades pass to next class.
• If no one is available to ring bell, teachers please watch the clock and pass at the correct times

Teachers: Please understand this bell system, and be prepared to end classes punctually.  This is important for all ages, but especially for 3rd-5th Grades passing between first and second periods. They need to MOVE as soon as possible after the first bell, and line up along the hallway walls outside of the gym. This keeps the hallways and stairs open for the little kids, and keeps most of the traffic on the stairs going one direction at a time - important for safety!! It also clears the upstairs classrooms for second period teachers to get in and get ready for the younger kids to arrive.

ALL teachers need to bring ALL students to the Fellowship Hall after Second Period. Classes will sit together at assigned tables, and teachers will help keep kids quiet and calm until after announcements. There will probably NOT be enough chairs for adults to sit - adults will be standing and helping to keep the students settled. If teachers have clean up to finish in their classrooms, they need to do that AFTER dismissal.

Can we say it again?  ALL teachers need to bring ALL students to Fellowship Hall after Second Period. Sometimes we have closing announcements, sometimes we don’t, but that’s NOT why we’re insisting on this. There are safety and security reasons that make this important. Please, friends - NO sneaking out between the bells and dismissal, and NO pulling your kids out of the lines of students that are being led downstairs. If your family needs to leave early, we ask that you collect your kids from their classes and leave the building PRIOR to the bell at 11:35. 

Also, please don’t congregate in the Heritage Room (coffee room) as we're gathering for dismissal - it creates a traffic problem. Go ahead and move fully into the Fellowship Hall.

Our best suggestion for the nursery at this point is that you grab your little ones on your way past for dismissal, and then return to gather diaper bags, etc. after dismissal is over. That may need some fine-tuning. 

The entire system may need some fine-tuning as the year goes on, but we THANK YOU for your attention, help, and cooperation in the meantime.

Announcements 09.25.15

We finally got the first day of classes off the ground!!  THANK YOU to everyone who attended, worked on a team, pitched in, was patient with our growing pains, and generally contributed to a great first day. 

Here are some of the announcements we covered today, in case you missed them:

1. This website is our MAIN line of communication. Any posts created here will be automatically sent to your inbox IF you're subscribed to our news feed. If you're not automatically getting these posts in your email, please use the Subscribe feature at the top right of this website. You will receive an activation email - you must activate the subscription before it will begin working. Let us know if you have any problems or questions.  

2. A few days ago we created a post with some pre-class Announcements. If you didn't get a chance to read that information, and/or didn't get a condensed printed copy at classes this morning, please take a minute to read through it now.

3. Everyone is asked to join us in the Fellowship Hall each class day for Opening Announcements at 9:30, and again for Closing Announcements and Dismissal at the end of classes. Thank you for your cooperation.

4. Upcoming Dates on our CALENDAR:
     No classes next Friday, October 2: open for HOPE monthly meeting
     Remaining class dates for Term 1: October 9 & October 16
     Reminder: Term 1 Core Field Trip was eliminated because of cancellations
     Term 2 classes start on October 23

5. Please have your students who are in PE wear appropriate shoes. They will be running around and being very active, so for safety's sake we ask that they wear shoes that they can move easily in.  You are welcome to send a well-labeled water bottle to gym with your child if you like.

6. We try to ring the bell twice at the end of each class period. Please review the basic order in which we try to switch between classes. Keeping everyone on the same page helps to reduce crowding and confusion in the hallways, esp. with the littlest kids:
     1st Bell:  10:35 & 11:35:   3rd-5th and 6th-12 Grades pass to next class
                                              PreK-K and 1st-2nd Grades clean up
                                              Second Period adult workers report to your area
     2nd Bell: 10:40 & 11:40:   PreK-K and 1st-2nd Grades pass to next class

7. 3rd-5th Graders: When you switch from your First Period class upstairs, to the Gym downstairs, please line up along the hallway wall outside the Gym. The little kids will be leaving the Gym and Lego rooms and passing by you. We need to ask you, the older kids, to stay to the side and make room for the younger kids to get through. Thanks!

8. We will usually post any relevant announcements here on the website each week, after classes are over. We know kids are starting to get restless as classes end, and they can make it tough for parents to hear or remember the announcements, so watch your news feeds for a recap each week.

Thank you again, everyone!! We were super excited to see you all this morning and to get things up and running. See you in two weeks!

Announcements - Please read before classes start

Dear MLC Members,

We want to thank everyone once again for your flexibility over the last couple of weeks, as unexpected, last minute changes have popped up. 

We're looking forward to classes starting this Friday, September 25. Please take a few moments to read through these quick announcements BEFORE FRIDAY. Things will be busy for everyone that morning, so making yourselves familiar with these basic points will help keep everyone on the same page.

DAILY CLASS SCHEDULE:

    9:30-9:45     Opening Announcements

  9:45-10:35     1st Hour Classes

10:35-10:45     Clean-up/Switch Classes

10:45-11:35     2nd Hour Classes

11:35-11:45     Clean-up/Go to Closing

11:45-12:00     Closing/Pick-up Children

1. Opening Announcements: We ask everyone to please join us downstairs in the Fellowship Hall for an opening prayer and announcements before classes start. We try very hard to start promptly at 9:30. Teachers and students are dismissed to their classes from the Hall.

2. Two bells will ring at the end of each class period: 

     10:35 - 3rd-5th & 6th-12th Grades pass to Second Period 

                 PreK-K & 1st-2nd Grades clean up

                 Adult helpers for Second Period, head to your posts

     10:40 - PreK-K & 1st-2nd Grades pass to Second Period

     11:35 - 3rd-5th & 6th-12th Grades pass to Fellowship Hall 

                 PreK-K & 1st-2nd Grades clean up

     11:40 - PreK-K & 1st-2nd Grades pass to Fellowship Hall

 - Keep in mind that the Fellowship Hall may be in use for a class as you arrive for closing. 

Sometimes, all of the Founding Members have their hands full at the end of a class period, and no one is available to ring the bell. Teachers and helpers, keep an eye on the clock, and if the bell doesn't ring as scheduled, go ahead and switch classes at the correct time. With the large number of students we have this year, it's important that we try to stick to the above times as closely as possible, to avoid excess chaos in the hallways.

3. Passing between classes: While MLC is holding classes, the staff of St. Paul's Church are going about their usual work. Please be courteous to our hosts and help maintain safety by keeping noise and disruption in the hallways to a minimum - this is especially important with our increased membership. Teachers and parents, please remind and encourage kids not to run, to use indoor voices in the hallways, and to move to the next class and clear the hallways as quickly as possible. 

4. Closing Announcements: All teachers should bring all classes back to the Fellowship Hall for dismissal after Second Period. No students should be dismissed to their parents from classrooms or hallways. Again, this is important to help manage the large number of students who will be in the building each week.

5. Restrooms: There are bathrooms upstairs, near the top of the stairway. Another small bathroom is at the bottom of the stairs not far from the nursery, and two more are off the corners of the Fellowship Hall. Please take your kids to the bathroom before classes start. We do not take scheduled group bathroom breaks during or between classes, though students are able to use the restroom as needed.

6. Parents: One parent from each member family is required to stay on the premises during classes. Under no circumstances should MLC be considered a drop-off activity! Please see our POLICIES page for further details. Parents who are not helping with a class are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and some social time in the Heritage Room, which is adjacent to the Fellowship Hall. Please be aware that classes may be taking place in the Fellowship Hall or other adjacent spaces, so keep noise levels reasonable.

7. Food Allergies: If your child has any food sensitivities or other allergies, please let us know if you have not already done so. Snacks are not generally served during classes, but we'd like to cover all the bases.

8. Membership Dues: We hope to have at least one Founding Member free during both class periods this Friday, to assist any members who need to pay dues or take care of any other membership details. We will NOT be taking dues prior to the first class starting at 9:45, as there will be new members to welcome and other tasks to see to. Please plan on seeing a Founding Member during one of the two class periods if you need to pay membership dues or if you need help with anything else.

Thanks for taking a minute to get acquainted with the way we do things. We are so looking forward to finally getting our classes started! See you all on Friday!!

01.30.15 Announcements

We're now finished with regular classes for Term 3. Thank you to everyone who helped us make things work, and thank you again for your flexibility as we've juggled quite a few last-minute changes.  

We do not meet again for classes for four more weeks, with our next regular class on Friday, February 27.  Please take a look ahead on the CALENDAR at what is scheduled for the Fridays in February:

• February 6: no MLC events.
• February 13: Valentine's Day party??? - please see below.
• February 20: Term 3 Field Trip.  Details to follow soon.
• February 27: Term 4 classes begin. 

Valentine's Day Party: We're still searching for an alternate venue, but haven't found anything workable yet. If you know of a place where we could hold the party, please let us know ASAP. Another church building might work well. If we don't find something within the next few days, we'll postpone the party and try again on a different date with a different theme.

Term 4: We were planning to have a helper sign-up sheet at classes yesterday, but first we need to do a little juggling and reorganizing of teaching spots, etc. before we know what spots need to be filled.  We'll create an online helper sign-up post here on the website as we get closer to that date. Please be watching for that in the coming weeks, and prayerfully consider where you'd like to serve. As always, we want to say a HUGE thank you to the parents who faithfully serve in various spots within MLC. None of this would be possible without you.

Lastly, we'd ask you to please take a look at the post about our Illness Policy if you missed it last week. This year's cold and flu season has been especially rough, and we know many of our member families have been dealing with sickness. We hope that February will see everyone return to better health, and we look forward to diving back into classes in a month. 

Stay healthy, stay warm, and stay safe!

Illness Policy

In light of the current media attention on the measles outbreak, including some cases relatively local to us, we thought that this might be a good moment to reiterate our illness policy. From the Policies Tab on this site, here is MLC's Illness Policy for your review:

ILLNESS POLICY:If keeping a sick child home, well children may only attend classes if a parent/guardian is present with them. 

Children with the following symptoms should not attend group activities:

1. Fever (within the last 24 hours)
2. Colored mucus (yellow or green runny nose)
3. Diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea
4. Eye drainage, pink eye, or other eye infections
5. Virus or infection (known to be contagious)
6. Rashes (known to be contagious)
7. Head Lice

This list is obviously not all-inclusive; please use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to expose other members to illness.

We would also like to point out that, among our membership, there are differences of opinion and practice regarding vaccinations. We ask that everyone be respectful of other families' rights to make decisions in this area based on their personal convictions, but also be mindful of your family's exposure to or diagnosis of serious illness, and the impact that could have on other co-op families. That impact may extend not only to families who may choose not to vaccinate, but also to other co-op members who may have weak or compromised immune systems due to various health conditions, etc.

If you are aware of a serious infection or exposure to a serious infection within your family, please avoid attending MLC events where you could spread germs. If you discover that you may have unknowingly exposed other co-op members to an illness, and feel comfortable sharing that information as a courtesy to the group, please email MLC and we will pass that info along so that others can be on the alert. We can share the info anonymously if you prefer.

Thank you, and stay healthy.