The Calm You Bring
Kids borrow our calm before they can find their own. The steadiness you bring isn't separate from the work. It is the work.
Team Reflection
The research keeps pointing to the same thing: before a child can regulate their own emotions, they need a regulated adult beside them. Kids borrow our calm before they can find their own. That means the steadiness you bring to a hard moment isn't separate from the work. It is the work.
And here's the part worth remembering on a busy week: you can't pour calm from an empty cup. Co-regulation starts with your own regulation, the breath you take before you respond, the teammate you lean on, the minute you give yourself to reset. Taking care of yourself isn't a break from caring for kids. It's how you keep doing it well.
There's a free webinar this week on exactly this, "The Calm You Bring" (details below), if you'd like to go deeper.
This week's reflection: What helps you find your own calm in a hard moment? What's one small thing that helps you reset during the day?
Updates & Announcements
Our first drill of the new school year is Tuesday at 10:30 AM. Please review the fire drill process in Trainual beforehand so everyone is ready: Safety for All > Drills.
Connecteam doesn't show everyone's approved time off in one place, so we've set up a separate Time Off Calendar. Before you submit a request, check it first, so your day off doesn't land on a day the team is already short. Here's how:
- Open the Time Off Calendar (also on the Team Dashboard).
- Go to the day or days you're thinking of requesting.
- See who's already approved off. If several people, or your coverage, are already out that day, pick a different day if you can.
- Submit your request in Connecteam as usual.
- Once approved, your time off is added here automatically, so the calendar stays current for everyone.
We're switching things up this year, no more small-group costumes by team. Whatever theme wins, everyone can dress up as anything that fits it (for example, if Disney wins, wear any Disney costume you like). This year's options: Disney, Superheroes, or School Supplies. Costumes are optional, but if you're participating, keep it work-appropriate and make sure it doesn't interfere with your daily role.
Voting closes 9/30. Theme announced 10/1. Costume day is Friday, 10/30. Cast your vote here.
We know you're eager to start getting your Strategy Card coaching from our clinicians. That coaching is being planned now, and you'll start seeing sessions land on your calendar after October 1. If you have questions in the meantime, reach out to Christina or your classroom's clinician.
"The Calm You Bring" is a free webinar on co-regulation, adult regulation, and building calm into your day, with a CE certificate. It's Wednesday, 9/23 at 12:00 PM our time (3:00 PM ET), which is during the school day, so if you register you'll also receive the recording to watch later. Register through edWeb.
We're growing, and your referrals mean more than any job posting. We're hiring Assistant Preschool Teachers, a Classroom Coordinator, an Occupational Therapist, and an RBT. Earn $250 when your referral is hired and starts, and another $500 after they complete 90 days in good standing, $750 total per successful referral.
Email your referral's name, contact info, and the role to hr@schoolofimagination.org before they apply. Full details, role requirements, and eligibility are in the referral bonus memo from Megan and Shari.
Thank you for all the hard work completing your training modules in Trainual. Please keep scheduling your certification conversations with Christina. They can happen one module at a time, a few at a time, or all at once, whatever you're most comfortable with.
You may continue working as a team to enter one Brightwheel observation per student, per week, through the month of October (previously we were only continuing through September 18). We hope this frees up some time to complete your training modules in Trainual.
Leads, please continue including the Baby Doll Circle Time message in your newsletters through 10/1.
A representative from our new 401(k) provider will be here to walk through the plan options, the enrollment timeline, and answer your questions. We'll work with clinicians' schedules to reschedule clients so you can attend too.
Because of planned outs, coverage looks a little different this week.
| Day | Step 1 · CR 6 | Step 2/3 · CR 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Ka'tia | Melissa |
| Tuesday | Allie | Rebecca |
| Wednesday | Emily M. | Rebecca |
| Thursday | Rinkoo | Rebecca |
| Friday | Miranda | Natalie |
View the Early Bird / Late Bird list of kiddos.
Please grab items out of your mailbox regularly. If something's in there, it's for you or your class team. Please don't let items sit for weeks.
Please keep hallways clear of toys, furniture (benches aside), and extra supplies. Items left out make SOI feel cluttered, and should be stored in your room.
Important Dates
Sunflowers · Step 1
Buttercups · Step 2
Little Stars
October Bulletin Board: Across from Classroom 2: Buttercups (Step 2) | Next to Classroom 4: Little Rainbows
Monthly Supply Requests due Monday, 9/21.
Pumpkin Patch Field Trip: Friday, 10/16.
Planned Outs
Celebrations
Recognition Spotlight
Want to celebrate someone? Share a recognition
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