Hello All!

We will be opening tomorrow despite the closing of area schools. (If you have signed up for the text alerts, you knew this around 5:00.) The schools are remaining closed because of the snowy/icy roads.  Everyone use great caution to get to WF!

The roads to WF in Riverpark are cleared, but slippery since it is too cold for salt to work.   29^th Street is plowed and snow blowers were used to make it as clear as possible, considering the volume of snow.  Please be extra courteous about parking and follow our policies. Especially limit the length of time you are parked curbside at the houses so that all of our families can have the short walk.  The best times to use your full 10 minutes of curbside parking to catch up with teachers would be after 9:00 and before 4:30.  Otherwise, during these very cold days, please keep your dropoff/pickups very brief so parking does not get congested. 

I know we are all excited to get back to working with your children! 

Oh, for the quickest notifications, don’t forget to sign up for the text alerts.  It only takes a minute to be part of the group.

Text this message

@weefr

To this number:

(574) 310-8161

Thanks!

Tami

Good Afternoon,

Wee Friends will be CLOSED Tuesday, January 6th. Everyone please stay safe and warm during this extreme weather.

Tami

Good Snowy Afternoon,

To better help everyone make plans, I wanted to let everyone know that Wee Friends WILL be CLOSED tomorrow, Monday, 1/6/14 due to the winter storm. Please, if you do travel in the next 36 hours, please be careful! It’s a mess!

Don’t forget to sign up for our new free group text service! With this storm we have had plenty of notice and everyone is aware of a potential closing. However, this text service is a great way for me to contact everyone immediately at any point in the future when immediacy is the key. Thanks for doing this.

Enter this number in your texting app

(574) 310-8161

Text this message to the above number and this will sign you up to receive our WF group text messages

@weefr

Enjoy your snow day,

Tami

Good Morning!

I imagine most of you have seen the forecast for this Sunday and Monday and a few have contacted me for my call on opening on Monday. If the forecast (posted below) comes to fruition, we will be closed on Monday. While we generally do not close alongside of the public schools for temperature only, the forecast is to get dumped on with snow on Sunday and record setting subzero lows on Monday.

I hope this lets you plan better for Monday and if the weather prediction is incorrect, I will email you by 7:30 a.m. on Monday morning with the revision.

As always, I am so sorry for any inconvenience closing can cause. I do not close our program without great thought and anxiety.

NEW Text Alerts for WF Parents…Grab Your Phone!

Grab your phone and follow the steps below to sign up for your Wee Friends text messages. This is a free service that allows me to blast text anyone who has signed up for the service any emergency information, like closings. I won’t know who has signed up, since the service keeps subscribers private. (Not necessary for us, but keeping in mind the service is free, I’ll go with it!)

Enter this number in your phone as a WF contact

(574) 310-8161

Text this message to the above number and this will sign you up to receive our WF group text messages

@weefr

So when I have emergency/closing information, I’ll:

1. Send a blast text to those who have subscribed (immediate notification)

2. Email families (keeping in mind, sometimes emails aren’t immediate and get stuck in cyberland)

3. Post a blog (those signed up get email notifications, but that can be flakey)

YOUR WSBT FORECAST FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 4th

***WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7PM EST TONIGHT UNTIL 1AM EST MONDAY FOR ALL OF MICHIANA***

Mostly cloudy skies expected today. Highs will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s. For tonight, snow will begin during the evening hours and last through the overnight hours. Expect heavy snow at times. Lows will be in the middle 20s. More snow expected on Sunday, heavy at times. Storm totals 8-12″ across the area, with heavier amounts likely near Lake Michigan as lake effect snow begins to develop. Extremely cold temperatures expected Sunday night through Tuesday.

Happy Friday!

Here are pictures from yesterday and today! We hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday break! We’re so thankful for our dedicated and loving families not only this time of year but year round.

For breakfast, children had malt-o-meal and bananas. Lunch consisted of ham and cheese sandwiches, mixed vegetables, and banana. PM snack was crackers and sugar free jello…a holiday treat!

See everyone in 2014!

Dear Wee Friends Families,

What a terrific 2013 we’ve had! Springtime brought  the new tiny toilets! We moved into summer with a passel of baby brothers and sisters. In the Fall, we said goodbye to Wee Lifers and welcomed new friends to our classroom. Lisa got a new back, Melinda got a new knee, Laurie wrote “Nosey Snacks” to aid parents as they navigate between-meal snacking and Tami was discovered when she accepted a role in our Halloween story “The Three Little Pigs”-to rave reviews!

And our friends! Wow! What a year of discovery, laughter and growth. Finn continues to find his inspiration through costumes. He not only dresses as different characters, but can give you most any fact about the character he has chosen for the day. He also ends this year counting to and writing out 1-100, and all the letters of the alphabet. We are thankful that Leo made it through the year without any major head or bodily injuries. “Wheels on the Bus” is still his favorite song, and his blue slippers his favorite shoes. Elliott continues to create complex 3D sculptures with any material he sees in front of him. To use one of his hysterical quotes: “They will knock the socks off you.” Aislinn continues to exude curiosity and her friendship with Owen is the stuff dreams are made of! Owen remains very observant and holds onto his job as classroom informant. He can write his own name.  Ellie continues to share her love so very freely with hugs, kisses and compliments. The depth of her compassion became evident to us the first time we watched her dance to Whitney’s “I Have Nothing”. Smiley faces are her favorite subject to draw. In August, Sloane replaced Macy as the fourth Wee Teacher. She is very comfortable being in charge and she happily helps her friends (and teachers!) with any job they may need. Max finishes the year having listened to 1-30 of The Magic Treehouse Books. He can give you a detailed summary of any plot line. He also counts, by 10’s, to 120. Marta continues to fill the Wee walls with stories of her world travels including her preference for sparkling water. She loves to join her friends in writing letters, favorite words and numbers. Elizabeth’s passion for the ballet continues to permeate all of her work at Wee Friends, as well as create incredible learning moments.  She writes ballet vocabulary, her name (and other friend’s names) and her illustrations are full of dance detail. Clara continues to share her ideas (“Hey guys! I’ve got an idea!”) and watch with excitement as they come to fruition. The focus with which she approaches her puzzle work is tremendous. Tri-lingual Daniel’s vocabulary has grown incredibly this year. His fine motor ability and comprehension create amazingly detailed artwork. He and Leo spend lots of time together laughing hysterically.  Sophie continues to be a good friend to all she meets. She has found her voice and listening to her express herself is a joy for her friends and her teachers.  The Wizard of Oz was her learning tool this year and the story, pictures and characters informed her writing, drawing and singing!). Zoi lights up the room with her smile. She continues to jump in to every activity and work side by side her friends, watching them  and creating activities and words. And finally, Cassie. Cassie has been with us full time since the fall. She is a student, friend, mentor, comedienne and wonderful person. She loves the littlest Wee Friends and watches out for them. She is a master puzzle worker.

We love our Wee Friends and we thank you for entrusting them to our care. Here’s hoping your holidays are restful, peaceful and fun! See you back here Monday, January 6th, 7:45.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Goodnight!

Your WF Teachers

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Kashi and bananas. Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwiches on whole wheat bread, pears and mixed veggies. Snack: Apple slices and animal crackers.

Wee Santa is here-all day! He assembled his reindeer, elves, musicians and passengers in his sleigh and off they flew. His reindeer flew up/down, side to side and back and forth. The reindeer dipped very low and soared really high. His reindeer got injured a few times and he and his team ran to their aid. He and his crew counted backwards and forwards to “The 12 Days of Christmas”. Then he opened his bag and had his passengers reach in, using their fingers as their eyes, and make a guess as to which object they felt at the bottom of the bag.

 

We made it outside to play in the glistening snow. And the sleigh bells rang, were you listening?

Wee Sprouts: Pea pods (thanks, Elliott!). Breakfast: Oatmeal and applesauce. Lunch: Brown rice with beef, pear slices and green beans. Snack: Goldfish and cheese.

Have a great day.

Happy Wednesday!

We are half way through the week. Children spent time with their friends on the habitrail. It’s such an interesting dynamic in the gross motor area as it pushes us to do things outside of our comfort zone. For example, an almost seven month old crawling all the way up or walking up the slide without falling. We. Are. Awesome.

For breakfast, children had cheerios and pears. Lunch consisted cheese and turkey tortillas, peas, and banana/oranges. PM snack was crackers with soy butter.

Have a great night!

Today, we said goodbye to Marina! Marina joined the Wee Friends family in February of 2012. She heads to Nashville tomorrow, with her family, to begin a new school and make wonderful new friendships! We love you, Marina! Thank you John and Jackie for all the ways you have supported Wee Friends! We will miss you!

Wee Sprouts: Broccoli. Breakfast: Kashi and bananas. Lunch: Turkey and cheddar on whole wheat tortillas, broccoli and oranges. Snack: Yogurt and pear slices.

Happy Wednesday!

Note: We are still having trouble posting our photo albums. This is going to be worked out over the holiday. Thank you so much for rolling with it! Pictures are available for viewing on the classroom computer-feel free to use it. Also, we will make sure we send them out when we are back up and running!

Good Afternoon!

Gross motor was the name of the game today.

Friends went marching one by one. Hurrah. Hurrah.

Friends went climbing one by one. Hurrah. Hurrah.

Friends played music one by one, we all sparkle in the sun!

For breakfast, children had kix and pears. Lunch consisted of hummus on whole wheat bread, mixed vegetables, and banana. PM snack was animal crackers and string cheese.

Have a great night!