Families Are Choosing Us
Twenty-nine new families in October, and All In for Kids tickets are now live. Read it during your work day and confirm at the bottom.
Team Reflection
October brought 29 new families to Happy Talkers, up 61% from September. Twenty-nine families who heard about us from a pediatrician, a neighbor, or a friend, and decided to trust us with their child. That's not marketing. That's you, every session, every pickup, every “I noticed something cool today.”
In January, our whole community gets to see that work up close. More on that below.
This week's reflection: Think of a family who seems more confident now than when the year started. What do you think made the difference?
Updates & Announcements
Each item is labeled so you can see what applies to you: Everyone or Educators.
You've seen the poster in our lobby, and now it's official: tickets are live. Last year Stephen Vogt skipped the MLB Manager of the Year ceremony in New York to spend a weekend with us, and before it ended he said “same time next year.” He's back Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23, 2027, with emcee Mark Ibanez.
This weekend celebrates what you build every day. Saturday at noon, the Community Model Launch shows our community the Integrated Care Model you built, and you're invited too. It's your work on display, and we'd love to have you there. Launch page (password: allin2).
Share it with the people you care about. Friday's dinner, Celebrating Our All-Star Kids, and Saturday night's Celebrity Poker Tournament are a wonderful way for the families, friends, and neighbors in your life to be part of what we do. No poker experience needed: there's a beginner table and a gallery to cheer from.
And if you'd like to join us yourself, you're always welcome. Use code ALLSTARKIDS for our team rate, our thank-you to the people who make this possible. Friday dinner page (password: allin).
Want to be part of poker night? We're gathering interest in volunteers now, with details to come. Let Megan know if you'd like to help.
Know an alumni family who'd love to share how their child is doing now? Send them our Then and Now form by Monday, November 30.
If you find something broken or wobbly, take it out of use right away and email fix@schoolofimagination.org. Our handyman is here Friday, November 6, so please get broken items on the list before then.
Good news: three sturdy tower stools are on the way, and the handyman will assemble them Friday. Until then, the wobbly kitchen chair is not for standing.
Kelly's questions about what we'd do in a power outage turned into a plan, and we want everyone to know it before we ever need it:
- Each classroom has a printed roster and emergency contacts, updated monthly.
- Classes continue if it's bright enough.
- Mass messages to families go out through Brightwheel from a phone.
- Classroom emergency backpacks are ready.
Thank you, Kelly, for asking the questions that made us ready.
Clocks went back an hour this weekend. Please update the clocks in your offices and classrooms!
When scheduling sessions, only open slots in a clinician's schedule are offered. Booking into a clinician's protected time goes through the approval process. This keeps time for documentation, collaboration, and the work behind every session.
We're partnering with Target and Dublin Police for a Heroes & Helpers shopping event on Thursday, December 17, 2:00–3:00 PM. Ten of our kids will each get a $200 Target gift card and shop with local officers. If you work with a family who'd benefit, nominate them here. Please check with the family first that they're interested and available that afternoon, and leave medical details out of the “why.” Nominations close Friday, November 20.
Observations resume Monday, November 2: one per educator, per student, each week.
Daily activities: please log each child's food, potty visits and diaper changes, and naps every day. Parents are expecting it.
Certifications: schedule and complete all of your Trainual certifications with Christina by the end of November using this booking link. We suggest C1 and M1 together, then M4 and M5 on their own. Leads: please request Lead certification conversations at least a full day in advance, so Christina can make sure Megan is available.
Math resource: check out this article from the Erikson Institute Early Math Collaborative on why continuing to work with small numbers matters, even when it feels like your students have mastered them.
A reminder that each classroom has $50 a month for Amazon orders. Requests go through your Lead before Megan places the order.
We're hiring an Early Intervention Specialist and a Lead Educator. When someone you refer is hired, you earn our $750 referral bonus.
Early Intervention Specialist: leads our toddler classroom (18 months to 3 years) and partners closely with families. Looking for a bachelor's in child development, special education, or a related field, 12+ ECE units, and 2+ years with infants and toddlers with special needs.
Lead Educator: leads one of our inclusive preschool classrooms. Looking for 12+ ECE units and lead teacher experience.
Have them complete our short form and list your name as their referral, or email hr@schoolofimagination.org with their name. Think of former classmates, colleagues from past programs, or friends finishing a degree.
| Day | Step 1 · CR 6 | Step 2/3 · CR 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Jennifer | Ruchi |
| Tuesday | Rinkoo | Melissa |
| Wednesday | Rinkoo | Melissa |
| Thursday | Ruchi | Rebecca |
| Friday | Athena | Rebecca |
View the Early Bird / Late Bird list of kiddos.
Important Dates
Sprouts
Succulents · Step 1
Buttercups · Step 2
November Bulletin Board: Across from CR 2: Little Sunshines | Next to CR 4: Little Stars
Fri, 11/6: Handyman on site. Get broken items to fix@ before then.
Wed, 11/11: School of Imagination closed for Veterans Day.
Thu 11/12 & Fri 11/13: Spirit Days: wear flannel!
Fri, 11/20: Heroes & Helpers nominations close.
Thu 11/26 & Fri 11/27: School of Imagination closed for Thanksgiving.
Tue, 12/1: Giving Tuesday.
Thu, 12/17: Heroes & Helpers, 2:00–3:00 PM.
Fri 1/22 & Sat 1/23: All In for Kids: Stephen Vogt Celebrity Benefit Weekend.
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.