Patti's Play Center

Mercer Island, Washington

Phone: 206-232-4453    

4400 86th Avenue Southeast, Mercer Island, Washington 98040
Located at Emmanuel Episcopal Church

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News You Can Use 02.19.2022

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Hello Lovely Patti’s Families,

Patti’s will be closed the week of February 21-25 for mid-winter break.

Teacher Michelle, Teacher Rosey and I hope that our Patti’s friends all have a wonderful week with their families and we look forward to welcoming everyone back when we reopen on February 28 for our Dr. Seuss Week!

After wrapping up our Zoo theme (have you heard your kiddos singing about the Crocodile and the Orangutan?),  we celebrated friendship and kindness, as well as Valentine’s day.  We have talked about being a good friend and about sharing, giving everyone space, and using gentle hands.  We have read lots of stories about our favorite friends, including Maisy, Elmer and Llama Llama.

Our friends also did a mosaic art project celebrating a special artist during Black History Month. I have attached a picture from that art project, our special Valentine snack and our rainbow water bead sensory table.  Please also see more info about the artist whose work we honored, Alma Thomas.

On Saturday March 5th from 10-12 Patti’s Play Center will be hosting a Registration Open House and Playground Playdate.  We will be gathering on Patti’s playground and offering tours of the classroom for families interested in joining us for the 2022/2023 school year. 

We would love to have some of our current families join us as well, and would appreciate it very much if you could help spread the word to your friends and neighbors!

Have a wonderful week!
Cheers,
Jennifer 

Alma Thomas (1891 – 1978) was an African-American expressionist abstract painter and art educator. Miss Thomas was an Art teacher at a Washington D.C. Junior High School for 35 years. After retirement, Miss Thomas fully dedicated her time to her painting. She debuted her abstract work in an exhibition at Howard University 1966, at the age of 75. For this exhibition, she created Earth Paintings, a series of nature-inspired abstract works. Miss Thomas was the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art in 1972 at the age of 81, and she exhibited her paintings at the White House three times. 

We celebrate Ms. Thomas and her joyful, colorful abstract expression!

New You Can Use 2.03.2022

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February Greetings Patti’s Families,


January was a busy month at Patti’s.  Our kiddos came back to snow and winter themed activities and then moved into our dinosaur theme, which is always a favorite!  We read about different dinosaur sounds and features, as well as some silly dino stories, and created different dino art and even created our own fossils.  This week we have moved into our Zoo Theme, but also celebrated the Lunar New Year with a story at circle time as well as by making mosaic lanterns and Year of the Tiger crafts. Zoo theme will continue next week and then we will celebrate kindness and friendship for Valentine’s week before Mid-Winter Break.


2022/2023 registration is now open at Patti’s Play Center!  If you are interested in enrolling for next year please return your Reservation Request Form soon, our priority registration period has ended and we have already received a lot of new family requests.  Sunnybeam and other area preschools are accepting dual reservations for 2022/2023 which gives families more options.  Please reach out with any registration questions.  


Mid-Winter Break is coming up and Patti’s will be closed from February 21-25.  If your family will be away before or after Mid-Winter Break please let us know. 

Patti’s is currently at full enrollment on all days and we have many requests from families to drop in an extra day.  It helps us and your fellow classmates if we know when children will not be attending and can open a drop in for another family. It is also very helpful for us to know who not to expect at drop-off in the morning.


If you have heard your kiddo talking about circles or spots it may be because Patti’s Play Center received a fantastic donation this month.  We were gifted a new rug which is helping our friends find good spots to sit at circle time (pun intended).  Ask your kiddo what color they sat on at circle time! We want to encourage them to choose a spot and stay there during stories so everyone has room.  Rest assured our stories are brief and we incorporate movement into all our circle times.  I have attached a picture of our new rug (modeled by my 2nd grader) and one in action during circle time with Teacher Rosey.


Mercer Island Preschool Association did not hold their traditional Preschool Fair this year and has instead asked area schools to provide a current parent who is willing to serve as a liaison for interested new families who may have questions.  Please let me know if you would be open to be our parent representative for MIPA, it would be most appreciated!


Cheers, Jennifer

News You Can Use 1.03.2022

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Happy New Year to all of our Patti’s families!
We hope that you had a wonderful winter break and were able to enjoy some snow play! We are looking forward to welcoming our Patti’s friends back to the classroom tomorrow.

Winter weather and snow may bring delays or closures for Patti’s. If there is snow we will monitor the MISD advisories. As a general rule, if MISD opens with a one hour delay then Patti’s will be open as usual.  If MISD opens with a two hour delay Patti’s will open with a one-hour delay at 10 a.m.  If MISD is closed we will make our own evaluation based on island conditions and we will send out an email by 8:00 a.m. regarding any delays or closures. At times when MISD closes or delays because the snow in outlying areas makes commuting difficult, but streets around Patti’s are clear, we will make every effort to be open.  If we decide not to open the Play Center, you will not be charged. If we open one hour late you will only be billed from the time we open. Patti’s reserves the right to add up to 3 additional weather make-up days at the end of the school year.
In anticipation of the cold weather please make sure your child comes with a warm coat, and that it is labeled with their name.  Any hats and gloves need to be labeled as well, we really appreciate your efforts in helping us match cold weather gear to the right kids! 

 MISD has announced a delayed start tomorrow. Please check your email in the morning before heading to Patti’s. We will make a determination about whether to delay Patti’s opening time and send an email by 8 a.m.  

Cheers,

Jennifer

News You Can Use 10.29.2021

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Happy Halloween Weekend!Our Patti’s classroom community had lots of fun with Halloween activities, songs and stories this week! 
We have had some schedule changes and would greatly appreciate a family to make Play Dough for Monday 11/1, it is one of the favorite activities in our classroom!  Any color you choose 

😃

 Please let me know if you can help or have any questions. 
I am including a copy of Patti’s Play Dough recipe, but feel free to use your own favorite recipe if you have one. We would love a double batch so we can change it out more often during this season of chilly breezes, rain and runny noses.
Also check out our glitter pumpkins glazing at the art table and Teacher Rosey’s Cutie Pumpkins which were a hit at snack time Thursday and Friday! 
Rosey, Michelle and I appreciate our Patti’s Families and thank you for sharing your precious kiddos with us!
Cheers, Jennifer

Festive Halloween snack…yummy!
Pumpkin painting at the art table..

News You Can Use 10.26.2021

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Greetings Patti’s Families,
We began October with lots of fall fun with leaves, trees, acorns and apples – we even made leaf piles on the playground to jump in which was a big hit! Thank you to Teachers Rosey and Michelle for gathering all the leaves blocking our door and turning them into a fun activity. 

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Last week we also began Halloween crafts, stories and songs.  This week we have more Halloween fun in store and have brought in a pumpkin sensory bin with two of the pumpkins from our fall fundraiser!  Today we colored our pumpkins, tomorrow we will wash them,Thursday and Friday we will empty them and turn them into silly monsters using our potato head bin. Thank you to William and Casey’s grandparents for donating two pumpkins to our classroom!  We have more pumpkin painting kits available for Halloween weekend projects, please reach out to Christine at pattispresident@gmail.com if you would like to order.  
While Patti’s does not have a Halloween party or parade like programs for older children, we will offer a special Halloween snack (Rosey’s Cutie Pumpkins) and children are welcome to come in costume if they choose to on Thursday or Friday, but please make sure the costume allows the children to easily use the potty or have their diaper changed. 

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Notes for November:
Patti’s now has full enrollment most days. In order to facilitate classroom coverage, we need to have two teachers in the classroom after the first groups arrive. If you arrive and I am not out front then please wait, I will return as soon as the previous arrivals have washed hands and entered the classroom.  Once we have over 15 children the front door will be closed, please call the classroom and I will come out to greet you.  Thank you for your patience and understanding. 
Patti’s will be closed 11/11 for Veteran’s Day and 11/25 & 11/26 for Thanksgiving. If you will be taking an extended Thanksgiving break please let us know, it is helpful for our planning purposes.
We are continuing to work on routines and transitions. It is wonderful to see children transitioning from parallel play to joining in games on the playground, sharing in the classroom and even asking by name for a friend to play. I have attached a couple of photos from today of some Halloween fun. Thank you for trusting us with your wonderful kiddos!
Cheers,Jennifer

affordable, convenient, part-time childcare

Patti’s Play Center provides a nurturing and well-supervised social environment where children are encouraged to develop new friendships and explore interests at their own pace. Offering part-time childcare programs for 2–4 year olds, Patti’s Play Center fills a unique niche. Patti’s is not a daycare or a preschool, but a structured play center designed to both prepare young children for their first preschool experience, and complement an older child’s preschool schedule.