Infant Toddler Children's Center

The ITC staff and board recently enjoyed an evening out together at the annual year end dinner. Staff were treated to dinner, personal notes from board members, and a thank you gift of a fleece vest or jacket. There was also an ice breaker where the staff and board lined up in order of tenure at ITC. The longest staff tenure is over 40 years, and a board member attended ITC as a child! This event is always a great way for staff and board to come together to celebrate another successful year at ITC. Thanks to the Events Committee for such a fun night!

The PSD group did their own life cycle investigation recently, this time with butterflies. The children observed the life cycle stages from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. They made careful observations, recorded their observation in butterfly journals, and used different art materials to create butterflies. Finally, the day came and the butterflies emerged from their chrysalises. The PSD group brought their butterflies outside and released them, watching them land on nearby flowers or fly off to their new life!

"I found a spider!" a child from Toddler II shouted across the playground. Several children raced over to get up close and observe. This time, it was a spider with an egg sac. The teacher explained that the egg sac had babies inside. Another day, the children observed dozens of snakes from the bridge in the big woods. Today, they watched a snapping turtle from a safe distance.

The children in Toddler II have been fascinated by the wildlife they have discovered this spring, from the large heron eating a fish, to the small inchworms hanging by silk from a tree. The teachers decided to create a wildlife wall featuring photos from these moments. Here, children look back and excitedly talk about all of their wildlife encounters. These experiences have introduced concepts like kindness to all creatures, life cycles, predators and prey, and camouflage.

The children in Toddler II and Toddler III know how to stay cool in the heat wave. There is so much joy in outdoor water play!

The PSC group recently welcomed five new additions - baby chicks! The PSC children developed a deeper understanding of life cycles as they observed the incubation and hatching process. The children love watching the chicks and noticing the daily changes. They were excited to pet and hold the chicks and even built a chick playground out of blocks! The children even voted on names for the chicks with Sweet Chick, Chicky Fish, Wilbur, Cutie, and Candy Cane getting the most votes. The chicks also get many visitors at their observation window in the hallway!

💬 "We made our learning visible!"

Led by our teachers. Made for teachers. That's what made Saturday morning so special. 💛

Our educators opened their doors, shared their classrooms and natural materials, and led sessions on the topics they're most passionate about, risk-taking in infants and toddlers, mindfulness, the "language of loose parts," a walk to the Big Woods, honoring children as collaborators, and even a beautiful story of a year-long bird inquiry.

When teachers learn from teachers, something really magical happens. Thank you to everyone who was part of it! ☕

🌸 We are STUFFED. 🌸

And smiling. And so very grateful.

The Teacher Appreciation Week luncheon our ITC parents put together today was nothing short of magical. Every dish, every detail, every thoughtful touch made our team feel very loved. We may need a nap before pickup, but it was worth every bite. 😋

To every parent who cooked, set up, served, and showed up with so much heart: thank you. This is what makes ITC feel like family.
Still thinking about that dessert table. 🍰💛

Every year, our beloved Art Show brings our community together in the most magical way. 🎨 Families walk through our hallways filled with the extraordinary work of our youngest artists, from paintings to sculptures to collages, every piece telling a story only a child can tell.

This year was no exception. Families celebrated our youngest artists, savored ice cream on the playground 🍦, and sang, played and danced to the music of our beloved Holly from the Concord Conservatory of Music, whose weekly visits have made her well known at our school. 🎵

Year after year, this night fills our hearts. 💛

One child. One flower. One beautiful way to say thank you. 🌷 This morning our families filled our school with color and love, each bringing a bloom to celebrate the teachers who show up every single day with their whole hearts. We love our teachers! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.