Our Best Story
Fundraising season is here, and it starts Monday with a special visitor. Friday, we're off to the pumpkin patch! Read it during your work day and confirm at the bottom.
Team Reflection
Our biggest giving moments of the year are coming up, including Giving Tuesday and All In for Kids in January. That means more visitors and tours in the weeks ahead, starting Monday.
When guests walk our halls, they see the care you give our families, and that's what moves people to give. You don't need to do anything special. Just keep doing what you do every day. You are our best story.
This week's reflection: If a visitor spent five minutes in your classroom or session this week, what would you want them to see?
Updates & Announcements
Each item is labeled so you can see what applies to you: Everyone or Educators.
A friend of our Board is coming for a tour on Monday at 10:00 AM. It's a chance to show what makes this place special: you, our kids, and the work you do every day. You don't need to prepare anything. Keep your rooms tidy and say a warm hello if they stop by.
To save for retirement through payroll, you need to register on the new Empower site by this Friday. Contributions from our old plan did not carry over.
- Go to empowermyretirement.com and select Register.
- Create your account. You'll need a mobile number on file.
- Choose how much to contribute from each paycheck.
- Add or confirm your beneficiaries.
If you have an Empower account from a past employer, send Shari a note and she'll confirm your steps. Money in the old plan moves over on its own. From October 22 to about November 6, you won't be able to make changes to that balance while it transfers.
If you have trouble logging in, call Empower at 800-338-4015 before trying several times, so you don't get locked out. Other questions? Send them to Shari by Monday. We meet with Empower on Tuesday and will get you answers.
All classes are heading to Joan's Farm & Pumpkin Patch (4351 Mines Rd, Livermore) from 9:15 AM to 1:00 PM. We'll enter at 9:15 for group story time, feeding the animals, and one activity per child.
There are no classes or Late Birds at SOI that day. Therapy remains open.
Educators: please remind families in your class who haven't RSVP'd yet. Check with Megan for your class's RSVP list.
Our goal: complete and certify at least one Trainual module by October 31.
Christina is out this week (October 12–16) and back Monday, October 19. Book your conversation now for when she returns using this booking link. Meetings are listed in 15-minute blocks, so please book one block per module.
Requesting a Lead module? Please email Christina instead, so she can make sure Megan is available. Lead modules need a joint sign-off from Education and Operations.
If your classroom team hasn't scheduled an environment walk for Module C1 yet, please reach out to Megan to set one up. Here's what the environment walk involves.
Please keep submitting one Brightwheel observation per student each week. February will be here before we know it, and this gives you a head start on your DRDP Rating Record.
When you log, double-check the Learning Framework: choose “Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) 2025.” The labels for “Experience Developmental Continuum (2025)” look very similar, so check before you log skills.
Costume day and Halloween Parade: The theme is Disney! The parade begins at 9:15 AM in the main SOI parking lot. Staff will park at the Donlon Staging Area that morning and can move cars back to the employee lot after 10:30 AM. T/Th students are welcome to join; parents can drop them off at their regular start time and take them home after the parade.
City Hall Trick-or-Treating, 3:15–4:30 PM: Dublin City Hall invites us to trick-or-treat at their city services offices, and families are welcome to join.
| Day | Step 1 · CR 6 | Step 2/3 · CR 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Jennifer | Melissa |
| Tuesday | Rae | Rebecca |
| Wednesday | Miranda | Rebecca |
| Thursday | Rinkoo | Rae |
| Friday | No Late Birds (Pumpkin Patch) | |
View the Early Bird / Late Bird list of kiddos.
Important Dates
Little Rainbows
Little Sunshines
Clinical Team
Mon, 10/12: Special visitor tour, 10:00 AM.
Oct 12–16: Christina out, back Monday 10/19.
Fri, 10/16: 401(k) sign-up deadline. Pumpkin Patch field trip at Joan's Farm, 9:15 AM–1:00 PM: no classes or Late Birds at SOI; therapy remains open.
Sat, 10/17: Dublin Police Services Trunk or Treat, 6:00–9:00 PM.
Fri, 10/30: Costume day, Halloween Parade (9:15 AM), and City Hall trick-or-treating (3:15–4:30 PM).
Sat, 10/31: Goal: one Trainual module certified.
Planned Outs
Celebrations
Recognition Spotlight
Want to celebrate someone? Share a recognition
Read it? Let us know.
Select your name from the list and tap Submit by Monday at 5:00 PM. Please read the update during your paid work time, not on your own time. If something is getting in the way, Shari is happy to help.