On Thursday January 8TH, Future Scholars will host its first Parent Cafe--an educational program endorsed by the Burlington County Strengthening Families Initiative. The Cafe provides an informal, safe environment for parents, caregivers, and the community to share and support each other while engaging in peer-based conversations focused around specific questions. 

Our Cafe will take place in our Center, starting at 6:30PM on Thursday January 8TH. Dinner will be served at 6:00PM, immediately before the Cafe.

"Strengthening Families is a research-informed approach to increase family strengths, enhance child development, and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. It is based on engaging families, programs, and communities in building five protective factors: 

1. Parental resilience 
2. Social connections
3. Knowledge of parenting and child development
4. Concrete support in times of need
5. Social and emotional competence of children

Using the Strengthening Families framework, more than 30 states are shifting policy and practice to help programs working with children and families focus on protective factors." For more information, visit Strengthening Families.

We hope that you will all attend this very important and educational night.

With Hanukkah already here and Christmas only three days away, the winter Holidays are in full swing! Here are some reminders for the next two weeks:

• Santa & Mrs. Claus will be at Future Scholars from 9AM-10AM on Tuesday December 23RD. 
• Class Holiday parties will follow Santa's visit. Sign up at your child's classroom to bring some goodies if you haven't already. 
• Future Scholars will close at 3:30PM on Christmas Eve and will remain closed for the rest of the week. 
• Next week, Future Scholars will be closed for New Years on Thursday January 1ST and Friday January 2ND. 

We hope everyone has a Wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year! 

Last week, our Kindergarten class did something festive and fun...and it smelled delicious too! Room 6 made sweet-smelling Applesauce-Cinnamon ornaments! 

Using only two ingredients (applesauce and ground cinnamon), students helped Ms. Donna and Ms. Jodi mix up a delicious-smelling "dough". They then took turns rolling the dough out and cutting out festive ornaments with cookie cutters. After punching a small hole at the top of each ornament, threading a ribbon through, and leaving each to dry, our students were left with a beautiful and holiday-scented ornament to take home to their Christmas tree. 

Some of our younger students also gave ornament-making a try. This is a fun, easy, and inexpensive activity that parents can also do at home! Just remember, these ornaments are NOT EDIBLE, so be sure to supervise younger children.