Dear Parents/Guardians,

I wanted to reach out to our families to address any questions and concerns about the recent outbreak of Coronavirus virus. The CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) has stated that the United State’s impact is low but can disrupt daily life.  The latest news in New Jersey  is that one individual  is currently quarantined and being treated for the virus. Additional information on how this person came in contact has yet to be released.  Your children, families, along with our staff’s safety and security is and will always be the utmost importance to us. We are following not only the recommendation by our state and country but as well WHO (World Health Organization).

What is Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness
that can spread from person to person. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China that has now spread to 6 out of 7 world continents. Some countries that have been affected  are  Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, and the United States with more to be identified as the weeks progress due to the increase of testing.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

COVID-19 onset can be 2-14 days from when a person is exposed. The infected people have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

• fever
• cough
• shortness of breath

How are we at Mighty Sprouts handling this situation?

We consider our staff and all of our students a part of our family! The health and well being of you all is our main priority. Here at Mighty Sprouts we have taken steps to protect each other and everyone around us. Some of these steps include but are not limited to:

• Cleaning and sanitizing of our facility and our materials daily. A deep and more thorough sanitizing is preformed during the weekends to ensure the safety of our children.
• Onsite training for staff on recognizing signs and symptoms related to the respiratory system.
• Continuous screening of staff, students, families, and visitors for symptoms that can be related to any respiratory issues. Detailed interviews about recent travels and any close associates (family or friends) that have traveled outside of the United States.
• Teaching and ensuring our students can and will communicate their feelings and emotions when they are not feeling well to others. Ensuring our staff is performing and teaching self care techniques when one is sick to prevent the spread of germs. Such as, how to cough properly, how to wash hands properly and how to treat soil items. Using these techniques as a teachable moment on the importance of hand washing, demonstrating how to, and having our students demonstrate the process has been our goal even prior to the onset of this virus.

How can I protect myself and my family?

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.
There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.
These include:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Frequent hand washing  with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

If you or your child are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

We follow the health and guidelines of the East Hanover township. For any possible disruption in our daily school schedule as to delays, closings or other recommendations you will be notified immediately via email.

Thank you for being a part of the Mighty Sprouts family. With warming weather around the corner and our community involvement I believe we can continue to have a healthy and happy 2020. I have attached below links to both the CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) and the WHO (World Health Organization). These sites are updated with real time information.  Please feel free to call 973-503-9010 or email me at info@mightysproutsnj.com.

Sincerely,
Jeralen Mascarinas BSN, RN

A Month Full of Thankfulness Activities

It’s safe to say that raising thankful kids is a high priority in our family. Here are some thankfulness activities for the whole family to do. Although being thankful and grateful throughout the year is important, it is extra special during the holidays as it brings on new meaning and allows for more creativity!

• Gratitude Scavenger Hunt: It’s time for some fun! This scavenger hunt will allow you and your family to list all of the things you are grateful for. It will also allow you to take in all of the beautiful things the world has to offer.

• Grateful Poster: Decorate the house with a beautiful poster. In each blank space write down the things you or your family are grateful for. Once you finish writing down all of your thoughts, decorate it and hang up!

• Gratitude Tree: It is never too early to decorate a tree! Make little ornaments with your family using construction paper and write down what you are grateful for. This tree would be a great decoration for the house and great reminder of the important things in life!

• Gratitude Game: It’s time for a game! This game is a great bonding time with friends and family. Use the sticks or straws to name the people, places, food, and things you are grateful for.

• Thankful Turkey Can: Let’s be organized! Create a grateful turkey can with you family. Before you place the pencils in the can, write on the pencil what you are grateful for!

By: Celine Pascual

Fall is finally here! It’s time to enjoy the cool, breezy weather this beautiful season has to offer. As the leaves begin to change, it’s time to consider making a bucket list of fun and adventurous outdoor activities to do with your kids. Here are some of our FALLtastic ideas to add to your bucket list:

1. Take a Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

It’s time to get festive with some pumpkins! With a field full of pumpkins, there’s a perfect one for everyone in the family to take home. Don’t forget to carve the pumpkins, and to use some to make yummy treats. Also, try to find a place that doesn’t just have a pumpkin patch but offers a corn maze, hay rides, and delicious food. It makes for a fun filled day!

2. Jumping in Leaves

It doesn’t cost anything to jump into a pile of leaves. As the leaves begin to change and fall, it won’t be difficult finding leaves to pile together. The bigger the pile, the better! You can also make it into a treasure hunt by hiding a small, soft toy into the leaves and having the kids find it.

3. Find a fall festival

Mark your calendar with a fall festival near you! You can’t go wrong with a day filled with live music, food, shopping, and activities for all ages.

4. Paint Pumpkins

Carving pumpkins may be difficult to do with younger children. It could also be very messy. To save some time and energy, it may be best to allow your children to paint the pumpkins instead. This will allow everyone to be more creative in their design. When they are finished, you can use it as decoration.

5. Apple Picking

It’s that time of year to pick some apples. Walking around the field looking for the best apples is a fun adventure for the kids. Don’t forget to grab some apple flavored treats, and some homemade apple cider before you leave the farm!

6. Nature Scavenger Hunt

With rainbow-colored leaves, acorns, and much more; there are so many things you can find outdoors during the fall. Instead of just a walk to the park or a hike, make it a little fun by making a scavenger list for kids to discover.

7. Take Family Photos

Fall has the perfect weather to take beautiful family photos. It isn’t too hot or too cold but just the right temperature. No matter where you go, I’m sure you could find a place with beautiful scenery especially with the colorful leaves.

8. Have a Bonfire

Enjoy a relaxing night with a bonfire. A bonfire is great in the summer but even better in the fall when the weather is cool, and breezy. It’s a great time to roast some hotdogs, and s’mores while sharing stories, and spending quality time with friends and family.

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Hello and our team is excited to open Mighty Sprouts Montessori!

Opening the school has been a passion of mine and the entire Mighty Sprouts team.  For the last +11 years, I have devoted my life and career to children.  I always knew that I wanted to be a pediatric nurse.  It takes a particular set of clinical and bedside skills to care for such young patients, but I found that these abilities came natural to me.  The amount of joy and sense of fulfillment I gain in caring for children is the reason why I was compelled to open up Mighty Sprouts Montessori.

Finding the right school for your child can be a challenge.  The market is filled with such an abundance of options.  It can be overwhelming, since there are many factors to consider.  What is the value in sending my child to a private school versus a public school?  Will my child thrive more within a traditional or non-traditional school setting?  Can I entrust the well-being of my child in the care of this school?  Am I making the right choice? I’ve interacted with thousands of parents throughout my career.  These are only a fraction of what parents ask themselves in searching for the right school for their child.  Ultimately, it narrows down to the quality of care and level of comfort and trust in the facility and staff.

At Mighty Sprouts Montessori, we are dedicated in providing the utmost attention and support to help your child become strong, self-sufficient, and educated individuals.  Within our facility, we have Montessori-certified teachers and a supportive staff guiding students through their studies.  Not only do we offer a positive and safe learning environment, but we’ve set high standards for our team and students.  We are very proud to be a member of the American Montessori Society and our curriculum is based on the North American Montessori center.

The 2019-2020 school year brings great opportunities, challenges, and growth for our students.  It’s a journey that I am honored and thrilled to take with our Mighty Sprouts family.  I look forward to partnering with you in making this year a fun and rewarding experience for everyone!

Thank you all,

Jeralen Mascarines, BSN RN – Program Director
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