🌷 March at The Little Red Barn 🌷

As we step into a new month, we’re so excited for all that March has in store! With spring just around the corner, we will continue to see intentional daily routines, hands-on learning experiences, and fostering meaningful teacher-parent-child interactions.

>>🧼 Handwashing Reminders 🤚🏼

• Teachers: Please make sure to wash your hands immediately upon entering a classroom!
• Please remind families to wash their child’s hands at drop-off — this is especially important with stomach bugs going around.
• Both Classrooms: Kiddos must get hands washed after coming in from outside!

>> 🫧 Clean Faces & Clothing Before Pick-Up

Before sending kids home, please make sure you are:

• Cleaning faces and noses! We want to send kids home looking clean.
• Change clothing if messy from lunch or snack.

We want families to feel confident that we care about their child’s appearance and well-being.

REMINDER: Before posting photos on Playground, please double-check that faces are clean.

>> 📲 NEW Playground Expectations

Sunscreen:
Every application must be logged in Playground | We should be putting sunscreen on kiddos every time they go outside.

Name-to-Face:
ANY time you transition infants:

• Leaving the classroom to go to play area
• Returning from outside

You must log Name-to-Face in Playground!
This is not optional and ensures safety and accurate ratios.

>> 💤Nap Time = Productivity Time

Nap time is not for personal phone use! I’ve observed way too much phone usage recently.

Here are appropriate nap-time tasks:

• Sanitize tables, chairs, high chairs, bumbos
• Wipe cubbies, shelves, gates, mirrors, windows
• Work on portfolios
• Inventory + restock diapers, wipes, gloves
• Prep activities

Please use this time intentionally!

>> 🍽 Dishes & Toys

• Please put dishes and toys outside classroom doors no later than 3:30 PM.

• Please dump any remaining food left on dishes, bibs, and utensils into trash before sending to wash.

✔️ Closing MUST

Closing checklists must be approved by admin every night before each classroom mops!

Please make sure to use your cleaning checklists everyday. They should be actively marked as tasks are being completed!

Tasks include:

• Floors swept and mopped
• Shelves and centers are left organized
• Trash removed + new liner placed | Diaper genie included
• Fridge sanitized (inside & outside)
• Bottle warmers wiped out (Dried)
• Materials restocked for next day
• PT sheets and diapers switched

Closing sets the tone for the next day! Please don’t rush through it.

>> 🍎 Daily Classroom Expectations

• 📱Playground Photos and Captions: Aim for 2-3 photos per child daily! One of these pictures needs to be curriculum! Add a short learning caption (doesn’t need to be long, just meaningful!)
• 📚 Don’t fall behind on Portfolios: Remember to start completing anecdotal observations and developmental checklists for Spring Conferences!
• 🎨ART: Make sure you are doing an art project once a day! You should be saving art for portfolios and hanging some in your classrooms – this looks great for incoming parents! Product art is ok, process art is HIGHLY encouraged!!!

>> Outdoor Play🌻 : Please prioritize taking kiddos outside!

• Make sure infants are dressed appropriately for weather!
• Piglets | REQUIRED that you go outside AT LEAST once a day, weather permitting
• Cuddly Calves | REQUIRED that you go outside 2-3 times a week | daily if possible – weather permitting

🌟 The Little Red Barn 🌟

As we move into February, I want to thank you all for your continued dedication, flexibility, and love for our kiddos. This season is all about growth, consistency, and connection—and I’m so excited to see what we continue to accomplish together 💕✨

>> 📝 Classroom Cleaning Expectations: Please continue making a conscious effort to maintain clean, organized, and sanitary classrooms each day. This is essential for the health, safety, and well-being of everyone who enters The Little Red Barn. As we remain in cold and flu season, it is especially important that we stay consistent and thorough with all daily cleaning and sanitizing routines.

Please ensure the following expectations are met:

✔️ Daily Sanitizing

• All tables, high chairs, and learning surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized after use
• Sweep and mop at the end of EVERY mealtime!
• Toys that are mouthed must be removed and placed in the “dirty toys” bin

✔️ Toy & Material Rotation

• Toys should be cleaned and rotated regularly
• Sheets, boppy covers, soft toys and restricted toy covers must be sent to wash every week!
• Please don’t put toys in the crib area – We don’t want to restrict play during the day!

✔️ End-of-Day Classroom Reset

• Floors swept and/or mopped as needed
• Shelves and centers organized
• Trash removed
• Sanitized inside and outside of fridge – bottle warmers are wiped cleaned
• Materials restocked for the next day! PT sheets and diapers switched!

We need to be completing the weekly cleaning checklists! Moving forward, I will be checking to see that they are getting completed! 🧡✨

• 📱Brightwheel Photos and Captions: Aim for 2-3 photos per child daily! One of these pictures needs to be curriculum! Add a short learning caption (doesn’t need to be long, just meaningful!)
• 📚 Don’t fall behind on Portfolios: Remember to start completing anecdotal observations and developmental checklists for Spring Conferences!
• 🎨 ART: Make sure you are doing one art project at least once a day! You should be saving art for portfolios and hanging some in your classrooms – this looks great for incoming parents! Product art is good, processed art is HIGHLY encouraged!!!

>> Handwashing Policy 🤚🏼🧼: As we head into flu season, please be extra mindful of handwashing routines with the babies- and yourselves! Parents MUST wash their infants hands at morning drop-off!!

>> Formula Bottle Update:

As the Health Department continues to update rules and regulations, effective mid-February, all bottles containing formula must have a formula band placed on them by parents.

>> Weather Guidelines for Outdoor Play 🌨️ : Once it starts snowing, we may not be able to go outside as much, so take advantage of the nice weather while we still have it!

• Make sure infants are dressed appropriately! (long sleeves, jackets, pants, socks, shoes, hats, etc.)
• Piglets | REQUIRED that you go outside once a day, weather permitting
• Cuddly Calves | REQUIRED that you go outside 2-3 times a week, weather permitting

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season! I’m so excited to see what this next year has to offer✨

>> 📝 Classroom Expectations: Just a friendly reminder about The Barn Difference – even as a nursery, we still want to make sure that Frog street is a priority. Please utilize the chart I made for you to keep track of daily activities and curriculum!

• 📱Brightwheel Photos and Captions: Aim for 2-3 photos per child daily! One of these pictures needs to be curriculum! Add a short learning caption (doesn’t need to be long, just meaningful!)
• 📚 Don’t fall behind on Portfolios: Remember to start completing anecdotal observations and developmental checklists for Spring Conferences!
• 🎨 ART: Make sure you are doing one art project at least once a day! You should be saving art for portfolios and hanging some in your classrooms – this looks great for incoming parents! Product art is good, processed art is HIGHLY encouraged!!!

>> Handwashing Policy 🤚🏼🧼: As we head into flu season, please be extra mindful of handwashing routines with the babies- and yourselves! Parents MUST wash their infants hands at morning drop-off!!

>> Weather Guidelines for Outdoor Play 🌨️ : Once it starts snowing, we may not be able to go outside as much, so take advantage of the nice weather while we still have it!

• Make sure infants are dressed appropriately! (long sleeves, jackets, pants, socks, shoes, hats, etc.)
• Piglets | REQUIRED that you go outside once a day, weather permitting
• Cuddly Calves | REQUIRED that you go outside 2-3 times a week, weather permitting