Welcome to a New Fall School Year!
We are so excited to begin another wonderful school year and we hope you are too! Whether you’re a returning family or visiting our blog for the first time, welcome. These posts are designed to give you a peek into our day, along with helpful tips, strategies, and fun activities you can enjoy at home with your family.
When we first started the blog a few years ago, our goal was simple: to connect with our families and community while sharing meaningful resources. This blog reflects what guides our preschool every day: a focus on Positive Education.
What is Positive Education?
Positive Education is one of our “Specials,” or enrichment programs, that complement our core curriculum. Alongside Jumpbunch, Spanish and Mindfulness, Positive Education encourages children to learn everyday skills and ways of thinking that support their growth and happiness.
In addition to Specials, we also offer exciting Special Activities such as Author Study, Dress-up Days, Bike Day, Cooking Classes and more!
Back in 2019, we transformed our preschool into a Positive Preschool, which means Positive Psychology is part of our everyday culture. Children learn simple but powerful practices like taking deep breaths to calm their bodies, shifting from negative to positive thinking and focusing on strengths.
For those who may be new to the concept, Positive Psychology is the study of the strengths that help individuals and communities thrive. It’s built on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, cultivate what is best within themselves and, enhance their experiences of love, work and play.
How We Put It Into Practice
Each month, Brandy Merriman (2-3’s Lead Teacher of Glen Burnie), Erica Bury (3’s Lead Teacher of Crownsville), Brianna Beverly (Site Director of Glen Burnie), Whitney Carr (Site Director of Crownsville) and Aubrey Edwards (CEO) meets to brainstorm ways to bring Positive Education to life. Together, we provide our teachers with classroom tools, activities for children, and ideas families can use at home. We also create opportunities for team building, share fun facts, and provide important resources for staff development.
This Month’s Focus: Gratitude and Kindness
Beginning in October, we’ll be turning our focus to Gratitude and Kindness. These two values go hand-in-hand and create an upward spiral of positivity. Gratitude often begins when we notice and appreciate the good around us, while kindness grows when we act on that gratitude to uplift others.
With children, it’s especially important to introduce not only these words but also the meaning behind them. Gratitude helps us recognize life’s gift, big or small, that are often taken for granted. Kindness reminds up that even the smallest actions can make someone else’s day brighter.
So here’s our challenge for you: starting today, look for ways to show more gratitude and kindness in your everyday life. Whether it’s saying “thank you” more often, leaving a kind note, or simply pausing to appreciate the moment, these practices can make a lasting difference for you and those around you.
Stay Connected
Be sure to check back next month as we share how our classrooms, teachers and children are exploring Gratitude and Kindness. We’ll also provide practical ways you can carry these ideas into your own home and family routines.
Here’s to a year filled with community, growth and positivity! See you soon!
*Photos by: Bethany Swain
