Day Nursery Federal Center two year olds celebrate Earth Day with special visitors

Day Nursery Federal Center teacher Nina Woodbury is known for going the extra mile to present a hands-on learning opportunity for the two-year olds in her classroom.  Today she didn’t have to travel any further than her driveway at home to find some special visitors for her class. On her way to work, Miss Nina scooped up a handful of earth worms to bring in to celebrate Earth Day today.  While our downtown Federal Center has a beautiful playground, it doesn’t have much dirt on it to explore so Nina imported the visitors. The chatter around the earthworm table has been punctuated with giggles this morning as the children have worked up the courage to touch the worms and marvel at their mobility.  Hope you and your little ones have a chance to dig into the dirt today.  Happy Earth Day!

Post update 11:15 am-Just got this photo emailed to me by Day Nursery Federal Center Director Sarah Parks.  She wanted to share this picture of the worms being released on the grass in front of the Federal Building.  She thought some grownups might be concerned about the worms spending the entire day with two year olds.  Rest assured, the worms have been safety returned back to the earth.

Downtown Indianapolis preschoolers enjoy annual Easter Egg Hunt

The Pre-k class at the Day Nursery Federal Center made their own paper mâché baskets for their annual egg hunt on the playground yesterday.  Sarah Parks, center director sent the photo and  big thank you to Mother Nature for the sun!!

Day Nursery Federal Center preschoolers enjoy Indy St. Paddy’s Day parade

They marched with the bands, held their ears when the fire trucks blasted their sirens, waved to Ronald McDonald and whirled in delight at the sound of the bagpipes.

Having a front row seat for the Indianapolis St. Patrick’s Day parade is just one of the benefits of attending preschool downtown at the Day Nursery Federal Center.  Give them a call and enroll your child now and we can guarantee you a great seat for next year’s parade! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Too Cute Tuesday: Day Nursery Federal Center

The Toddler 3 class at the Day Nursery Federal Center  made “hot” chocolate to warm up on a chilly day, pouring their own warm water and stirring it up, and the best part was of course tasting it!   Thanks to teacher, Ms. Kesha and Center Director Sarah Parks for sharing these pictures!

Sweet fun for Day Nursery Federal Center infants

What do you do with all that left over whipped cream from Thanksgiving? Put it in the sensory table and let the babies have some fun! Ms. Shawntel Hyde and Ms. Sarah Carwile are the infant room teachers supervising this fun at our Federal Center.

 

Day Nursery Federal Center Family Feast

Families gathered at the Day Nursery Federal Center yesterday to have lunch with the children and to enjoy a Thanksgiving program.  If you have ever seen the size of our kitchen in this center, you know that is was no small feat to prepare a big special meal for all the guests.  A big shout out goes to Center Director Sarah Parks, and our cook Gail Dodson.

Ms. Gail was assisted by our floating teacher Ms. Robyn and one of our parents Ms. Porshea.  Porshea is taking classes in the Human Services field and needed some volunteer experience, so has been volunteering here at the center for a few hours.

Day Nursery Federal Center staff bid farewell to a great teacher

Miss Amanda with Federal Center Director Sarah Parks and her daughter Selena

Today’s post was submitted by Day Nursery Federal Center Director Sarah Parks

Day Nursery Federal Center staff gathered Friday night to celebrate Amanda Childress, her 10 years of service to Day Nursery, the friendship and memories we share with her, and to wish her well as she starts a new chapter in her life in Alabama.  She was presented with a plaque, as well as a “moving gift” of cash from staff, families at the center now, as well as families whose lives she has touched in the past.  There were hugs, tears, smile, and lots of laughter.  The whole week Ms. Amanda was visited at the center by a host of families–past and present, as well as Senior Management from the main office.  It’s not every day you come across someone so dedicated to her job and to the families that she served, we will miss her more than she knows. Good Luck Amanda, and thank you for everything!

Hey everyone its Ms. Amanda and I cant thank all of you enough for all the love shown to me during my last week and especially my last day. I love you guys and families that allowed me to become a part of your lives and will miss you all more than you will ever know. Thank you for all years of love and laughter. It has been a great journey and I wish all of you nothing but the best.

 

Day Nursery Federal Center Preschool Graduation

Another Pre-K class has flown the coop.  On Wednesday, we graduated 9 students from the Day Nursery Federal Center.  Center Director Sarah Parks shared pictures and this report: The graduates each received a “Diploma”, as well as a special gift from Day Nursery–a picture frame to put their graduation pictures in to remember this special day.  Each graduate also got to keep the 2012 tassel from their cap & gown ensemble as a momento.  Afterwards all the guests enjoyed cupcakes and Ms. Sarah’s famous Graduation Punch.  Congratulations Graduates!  We wish you luck next year in Kindergarten!

Two Day Nursery Indianapolis centers recognized by Federal Government

Day Nursery Federal Center Director Sarah Parks (left) with Brenda Roldan, Regional Child Care Coordinator, GSA Public Buildings Service
Facilities Mgmt & Services Programs

Last month, two Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis centers were presented with a Keystone Award by the General Services Administration in recognition of our commitment to provide quality child care through the achievement of re-accreditation from the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.  NAEYC accreditation is an achievement reached by only 10% of child care centers nationwide, so we are very proud that 100% of our seven Day Nurseries in Indianapolis have reached this goal.  The two centers recognized are those we operate in partnership with the Federal government. Congratulations to Sarah Parks and her staff at the Day Nursery Federal Center downtown and to Debra Ballard and her staff at Day Nursery Start Smart 4 Children at Ft. Harrison.

(Left to Right) Jessica Stewart, Assistant Director and Debra Ballard, Director, Day Nursery Start Smart 4 Children at Ft. Harrison; Myrine Callihan, property manager at the Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center at Ft. Harrison; and Patty Fisher, Director of Center Adminstration, Day Nursery Association.

Day Nursery Indianapolis celebrates Week of the Young Child

All 7 of our Day Nursery locations are taking part in the national celebration of the Week of the Young Child.  We will wrap up the week with 143 of our teachers attending the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Childrenconference at the Indiana Convention Center on Saturday.

In most centers teachers set out special activities in the hallway outside their rooms for parents to do with their children at pick up time. It’s our version of “stopping to smell the roses”—spending a few quality moments in a learning activity with your child–nothing better than that.

Parent and child activity at the Federal Center

The kindergarten class at Day Nursery Northwest had a special guest reader--their teacher Mrs. Robin's mom.

Royalty Day at Day Nursery Northwest, the children made their own crowns and dressed up as Princesses and Princes.

Dress as your favorite book character day at Day Nursery Federal Center

Ms. Nina won the Federal Center staff competition for the most creative book character as the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!