Pine Forest Children's Center

PFCC crew at the VTAEYC Annual Conference in Stowe!

Connection, growth, learning and collaboration are essential for early childhood educators. This conference provided joyful opportunities for our early childhood educators to spark their creativity, reflect, play and rejuvenate.

Today is PINE FOREST CHILDREN’S CENTER DAY in the City of Burlington!

The proclamation reads as follows:

Whereas, the Pine Forest Children's Center (PFCC), is a mission-driven nonprofit organization celebrating 35 years of unfailing service in providing high-quality infant to preschool child care to more than 70 children and their families from Burlington and surround communities annually; and

Whereas, PFCC is a multi-faceted community institution that engages with Burlington's natural, civic and cultural resources and fosters courage, integrity, responsibility, and the joy of discovery in children and adults; and

Whereas, the services of PFCC are provided by a diverse, committed, and skilled group of early childhood educators who consistently strive to achieve the highest ideals of early childhood education in preparing our community's children and their families to reach their full potential; and

Whereas, despite persistent national underinvestment in early childhood education, PFCC continues to serve its mission of making high-quality early childhood education equitably available to our diverse community regardless of income; and

Whereas, PFCC's early childhood educators and families are invested as advocates for the essential role early childhood education plays in scaffolding the development of young children, their families and communities.

Whereas, the City of Burlington has committed to becoming a City where every child, no matter their background or family's income, has an opportunity to succeed, and high quality child care is a critical part of this vision; and

Now therefore, I, Miro Weinberge, Mayor of the City of Burlington, do hereby proclaim October 26, 2023 to be

PINE FOREST CHILDREN’S CENTER DAY

In the City of Burlington, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Burlington expresses its congratulations and thanks to the early childhood educators and families of PFCC for its invaluable contributions to our community over the past 35 years.

Inservice 2023- Day 1

As an early childhood educator you pour your heart, soul and all energy into being present day in and day out. The end of a school year and the beginning of the next comes with many emotions.

If we learned anything in the last 3 years, it is that every early childhood educator needs to carve out time and space for wellness. For the first time ever, we took a day to unwind and relax at . We took time to read, swim, hike, walk, explore, draw, play games, and Forest bathe. We shared meals, stories, laughs and ideas. We also discussed important new steps for our school, made our yearly teaching community goals, and opened ourselves up to innovation.

Thankful for this day! Now tomorrow we move back to school! ❤️

Vermont just made history!

Today our whole team attended the Courage to Care Rally in Montpelier at the Statehouse.

Let's Grow Kids

It’s Artsy Thursday! You can tell spring has arrived when the preschoolers are OUTSIDE bright and early making art!

The Star Dancers and Otters made Jackson Pollack inspired canvas art. Using straws, spray and squeeze bottles, the preschoolers worked collaboratively to make some art outside! They were a splashed with vibrant color!

Eliza and The Star Dancers created salt watercolor paintings. This was a three step art project. They created a design with glue, then shook salt over their creation to give it texture and then added watercolors with squeeze bottles! Some chose to make patterns, some wrote their initials and some made pretty scenes. When the water color was applied to the salt, they could watch as the salt absorbed the water color and spread along the glue lines using a chemical reaction.

Fun fact: Salt is hygrosopic which means it can absorb both liquid and water v***r in air.

Loose wooden parts and rocks were also offered with paint which inspired colorful architectural creations. The children used their fine motor skills to balance objects and paint while engaging in rich conversations about their ideas.

Art can incorporate so many subject areas and today’s Artsy Thursday had lots of scientific vocabulary!
Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children

We work together every day to make our school a safe, engaging space for learning. Therefore, it was easy to highlight how often throughout the day children and early childhood educators collaborate, use teamwork, compromise, communication and more.

Today the older infants made applesauce. Using kid safe knives they helped to chop apples and then through osmosis they had applesauce for snack! 🍎

The Coyotes worked together to build towers and move heavy objects on the playground. Look at them carrying tires!

The Star Dancers each created their own puzzle piece to make a giant puzzle. While doing this they were asked “How do we work together?”

They worked together with their UVM student teacher Abbey to play the board game Snakes and Ladders! They practiced turn taking, cheering each other on as they worked through the game and patience.

The Star Dancers and Otters worked together to make the scale on the playground equal ten pounds. This took balancing skills, communication, problem solving and encouragement!

The Otters continued to be inspired by their pizza making from Tasty Tuesday and made a big pizza today! They each took a turn completing a step in the process. 🍕

Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children

For Tasty Tuesday, the Star Dancers created an ice cream shop with our UVM student teacher Lizzie. This led to discussions about ordering, flavors, cost and combinations of flavors.

Children were invited to create representations of their favorite foods. Some chose to draw and others used pretend food. Cake and pizza were some of the top favorites!

The Otters read the book “Pete’s a Pizza” by William Steig. They were then invited to make their own pizzas for afternoon snack. They learned to spread the dough to create a base and then sprinkled cheese and toppings. Yum!

It’s Tasty Tuesday!!!

Today the toddler classrooms did some taste testing. The Dragonflies tried pineapple 🍍, coconut 🥥 and tangerines 🍊. They noticed patterns, textures, colors and flavors that were familiar and new.

The Coyotes explored the taste of sour by sampling limes. They noticed the juice from a wedge made their lips pucker and that they could also create lime water.

Taste tests are a great way to slowly introduce children to new foods without overwhelming them. These experiences help them identify flavors they like or dislike and over time lead to healthy eating habits.

Today we are kicking off the Week of the Young Child with Music Monday! 🎶

Today we explored rhythm by making rain sticks, had a drumming circle, danced outside in the fresh air, watched a conductor lead an orchestra and used outdoor loose parts to create patterns of sound.