It is hard to believe that summer is almost over and school starts soon. We hope you and your family had fun adventures.

The ECCS has been busy over the summer. Check out our new website's navigation structure and translation options, and let us know if you have any feedback.

The first day of public school in Southington is Thursday, August 29th!

The school bus routes for the 2024-2025 school year have been posted.

Notifications about teacher assignments are usually sent out the week prior.

If your child hasn't completed their summer math and reading assignments yet they have several more days.

The mandated school physical form needs to be completed (and submitted) within one year prior to the first day of school for entry into SPS Preschool, Kindergarten, Grade 7, and Grade 10. 

Information for Southington Public Schools such as links to the school year calendar, bus routes, health forms, PTO websites, and more can be found at www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/southington-schools/. 

If you need before or after school care, the ECCS lists the options in that section of our Resource Directory.

We all know that academic skills are important, but we often forget the importance of non-academic life skills your child should have before entering kindergarten. These life skills include:

Using the restroom

Shut and lock a bathroom stall door, undo clothing, use the toilet, wipe themselves, redo clothing, flush the toilet, exit stall and wash hands.

Eating lunch

Open every item in their lunchbox independently, clean up at the end of lunch, determine what to throw away vs. what to keep (disposable vs. reusable), know if they brought a lunchbox that day, how to put their lunchbox in their backpack, and know what their lunchbox looks like.

Properly adjusting clothing

Zip, button, snap, tie, how to put on a jacket, fasten their belt, tie or velcro their shoes, and understand that they have to keep their clothes on at school.

Knowing important family information

Their first and last name, parents’ first and last name, and caretaker’s phone number.

Using proper social skills

Respectfully answer an adult, respond when their name is called, know to wait their turn, gracefully lose, be kind to one another, and know the difference between tattling and telling.

Behaving in a classroom

Sit in a chair, know how to follow a two-step direction, sit quietly and listen to a story, keep hands to themselves, know how to do NON-PREFERRED tasks (we have to let our kids be bored sometimes), pack their backpack independently, understand positional words, and blow their nose.

Using motor skills

Hold a pencil, use crayons, hold scissors, and roll play dough.

These skills help children learn how to complete tasks independently, regulate their emotions, develop social skills, and adhere to rules and routines. Not only does your child benefit in the long run, but learning life skills gives your child’s teacher more time to teach and work on their academic skills.

Connecticut's 24th Sales Tax-Free Week will run from Sunday, August 18th, to Saturday, August 24th. Durig this week, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales and use tax. Examples of Clothing or footwear that are exempt can be found here.

The ECCS Car Seat Safety Check event with the Southington Police Department will be on Tuesday, August 20th from 4 to 7 pm at the Calendar House. 

If you need your car seat checked before then you can reach out directly to the SPD non-emergency number to request an appointment.

The second annual Southington Summer Bookmobile Tour returns on Friday, August 23rd with three stops around town. Join us at any location and have your child pick out a free book.

Southington Farmers Market

The Southington Farmers Market is on the Town Green every Friday from June 21 to September 20 from 3 to 6 pm. In addition to the Bookmobile tour on August 23rd, the ECCS will be there on September 6 and September 20. Stop by and ask questions, say hello or pick up a fine motor skill item for your child.

The Southington Public Library will also be at the Farmers Market for story time every week at 3:30 before school starts and at 4:00 starting on August 30th. No registration is necessary, bring a blanket.

Preschool Showcase

Save the date, the annual Preschool Showcase will be held on Saturday, November 9th from 9:30 am to noon at the Southington Public Library. This is an opportunity to learn more about the childcare centers and preschool programs in town.

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Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington
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Southington, CT 06489-0210

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