Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center

There are 3 more Open Houses!

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Velma Thomas Open House
Please join us for a tour + Q&A
Thursdays May 5, 12 & 19
3:30-5pm
3625 S Hoyne

Please join us for our Local School Council meeting tomorrow!

This is a wonderful way to learn about current school studies, goals and leadership.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022
12:45-2:15 p.m.
Copy and paste link into browser:
meet.google.com/vwe-azvy-dgr

Meet Real-time meetings by Google. Using your browser, share your video, desktop, and presentations with teammates and customers.

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Reminder!
first Open House tomorrow 4/21
3:30-5pm (every Th through May 19th)
come learn about our dual language, Reggio-Emilia approach

Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center
a Chicago Public School for ages 3 & 4
3625 S. Hoyne

Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center is happy to announce the opportunity for prospective families to come visit our beautiful & unique center!

image text:
Velma Thomas Open House
Please join us for a tour of our center, including Q and A, on Thursdays, beginning April 21-May 19! 3:30-5pm
3625 S. Hoyne

Please help us spread the word about our amazing community!

CPS applications open on April 19th.

(Note: Returning students do not need to reapply)

Spread the word about our wonderful programs to your friends & neighbors with preschool aged children!!!

Citywide Preschool Applications Open Soon!

Citywide preschool applications for the 2022-2023 school year open April 19, 2022. Save the date on your calendar to apply early and increase your child’s chances for getting into their top choice.

Chicago Early Learning Enter your address (work, home, or somewhere else!) to find a preschool or early learning program near you. Choose The Best Program For Your Child & Your Family.

It's always good to revisit our foundations. Just wanted to share our most recent mission & vision with you - our community.

Mission
Our mission is to provide a public education that honors the unique image of each child and strives to appreciate and nurture a diverse community that includes all learners. By promoting multi-literacy, we cultivate authentic relationships through culturally responsive communication and collaboration with children, families, staff and members of the community. These relationships support children in becoming global citizens who are inquisitive and self-motivated lifelong learners.

Vision
All young children are engaged, active learners. They construct their understanding of the world using knowledge from interactions with family, environment, language, culture, and community. We believe in the importance of engaging teachers and families and empowering them to be advocates for children.

We hope that you are warm and well. Just wanted to share some green trees and inspiration!

State of school VT 2021

FYI —

“Of course, many things that happen in school can be seen ahead and planned beforehand. But many things that happen cannot be known ahead of time. Something will start to grow inside the child and suddenly what is happening in the school will move in that direction...We need to be open to what takes place and able to change our plans and go with what might grow at that very moment both inside the child and inside ourselves.”
Loris Malaguzzi

Malaguzzi, L. (1993). Your Image of the Child: Where Teaching Begins.
https://www.reggioalliance.org/downloads/malaguzzi:ccie:1994.pdf

Happy Friday!

We hope you can take some time this weekend to reflect and restore.

Here are some reflecrion questions that relate to the article we posted on Wednesday.

In what ways have you noticed your child(ren) using materials?

Can you recall an occasion where they were discovering what a material could do? What materials do you have available to them at home?

Which materials do you think they gravitate towards the most at school? How do you know?