Inclement Weather Policy

If Baltimore County schools open one hour late, all classes are held on time. If Baltimore County schools open two hours late, all classes are canceled. If Baltimore County schools are closed, all classes are canceled. We will have a telephone chain to alert you if we deviate from the above for any reason or check the hotline.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to JHTC! We hope that you had a terrific holiday with your families.

Please mark your calendars for our Winter Carnival- January 21st! This exciting day is a wonderful day for JHTC families to unite as a community for a fun and exciting day. The Silent Auction and Winter Carnival Committee has been hard at work for months planning the events of the day. We have a large number of terrific auction items that have been donated to JHTC. We hope to see everyone there!

Halloween Fun

HALLOWEEN 2011

Miss Gloria's Friday AM class cuties in their halloween garb!

Tuesday PM Class Update

Due to numerous requests, we have adjusted the Tuesday PM class to accommodate siblings. Some Co-op families have to use sitters to attend class, and we felt this is a creative solution. The class runs from 2:30 -4:30. Consider this option and remain in Co-op! Thanks! The JHTC Board

Thank You!

To all the Wonderful Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Friends, Co-op Board Members, and Teachers,

Thank you to all who made this year's Holiday Bazaar a success! An extra special thank you to the committee and coop volunteers who helped at the bazaar, set up and cleaned up. A thank you also goes out to all the families that donated baked good items, bottled water or juice boxes. A big shout out goes to our teachers, Mrs. Bernie and Mrs. Gloria who are always so supportive!!!

Kudos to the Bazaar co-chairs, Megan and Colleen who did an AMAZING job! You girls ROCK!!!

Co-op is a wonderful place to be and Saturday was one of the reasons why!

Thanks again to all who made the Bazaar a booming success!

With all my thanks and appreciation,
Debbie Liberto
debbieliberto@comcast.net
VP Fundraising
JHTC

Get Out Of The House!

Despite the falling temperatures, now is a perfect time for getting outside with kids. Explore the changing seasons, run and play without overheating, observe plants and animals... Here are a few great places for toddlers to learn more about nature, or just romp around in the woods:

Irvine Nature Center

http://www.explorenature.org/

Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center

http://www.masonvillecove.org/

Cylburn Arboretum

http://www.cylburnassociation.org/

Oregon Ridge Park

http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/recreation/countyparks/oregonridgelodge/

Stony Run Trail

http://local.yahoo.com/info-24459180-stoney-run-park-baltimore

If you walk the Stony Run Trail, you'll also come across these locations, all highly recommended:

Linkwood Park Playground

http://www.coolprogeny.com/2010/07/hidden-gem-linkwood-park-playground.html

Little Lamb Consignments

http://baltimore.citysearch.com/profile/4974914/baltimore_md/little_lamb_consignments.html

Shananigans Toys

http://shananiganstoyshop.com/

Bubbles Galore

The Friday 1s class with Ms. Gloria is all about their bubbles. Blowing bubbles is a great activity that appeals to kids of all ages. It stops them in their tracks - which is a rare occurrence by all means! Blow bubbles for an infant as they sit in their bouncy seat or lay on their back and watch their eyes follow the bubbles around the room. Your toddler or preschooler can practice their eye/hand coordination by catching the bubbles with their hands or stomping them out with their feet. It is a no fail activity that is an easy mesmerizer no matter where you are. Bubbles are a great indoor activity at bath time and outdoors they are great for a windy day. On a cold day, see if your little one can blow frozen bubbles!

If you are up for it, here is a homemade recipe for bubbles:

1/8 cup liquid dishwashing soap

1 gallons water

1/2 tablespoon glycerin, available at any drugstore (optional)

Mix together gently and you have what it takes to make bubbles. You can make a bubble wand from a pipe cleaner that has been wrapped around a pencil or a stick. Voilà!

Here are a few other fun activities for your toddler (Since we are always looking for something to entertain the ever-mobile 1+ year old!) :

Use chocolate pudding as finger paint on wax paper (so you don't have to worry about them licking it!)

Cut out different shapes and have them stick them to a piece of contact paper

Let them paint their pumpkin instead of attempting the jack-o-lantern (easier for you and more hands-on for them!)

Spring Registration Information

SPRING REGISTRATION for current families begins on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1. The Spring Semester runs from January 23 through May 25, 2012.

To hold your current class spot, print the attached registration form, and mail it WITH YOUR SPRING TUITION ($245), to Kate Sinclair, 233 Grindall Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30, 2011. If you do not submit your form by November 30, your spot could be given to another family. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR FORM BY MAIL. FORMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL, IN PERSON, OR THROUGH CLASSROOM FOLDERS.

To change your class, ACT FAST. Change requests are granted based on availability, and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis as indicated on your post-mark. Print the attached registration form, indicate the new class you would like, and mail it with your Spring tuition check ($245) to Kate Sinclair at 233 Grindall Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. The sooner receive your application, the better your chances will be of getting your requested new class. You will be notified by mid-December if we are able to accommodate the change.

It would be helpful to our budget for you to print the attached registration form at home. We will provide some extra forms in the classroom in one of the wall pockets by the bulletin board, if printing at home is not possible.

It is JHTC's policy that all registration forms and tuition be mailed via US Mail. Applications and tuition cannot be dropped off in the classroom. JHTC will not be held responsible for registration forms and tuition left in the classroom.

If you have any questions, please contact VP of Registration, Kate Sinclair, at 443-449-5068, or at kch3d2002@yahoo.com

Spring registration opens to new families on December 1. Please spread the word about JHTC to your friends and families.

Fall Field Trip

This year's fall field trip was to the North Run Farm in Greenspring Valley. It was a dreary and rainy day but fun was had by all who came! The children got to ride on a tractor ride, pick pumpkins for a pumpkin patch, visit with the farm animals, and play in the corn maze. Thanks to Meg and Laura for organizing!

Tis the season to cook. Or at least dream to - what with all our free time, right? What with different gatherings for Halloween, Thanks Giving and then the holidays in December, I thought I would give out a secret that my friend Christine gave to me: a delicious, easy recipe to bring to parties that tastes like it took far longer to cook than it does:

Here's the "recipe" for the artichoke dip. Sorry that I'm not more specific - I swear that I "wing it" every time I make it! Soften 1-2 blocks of cream cheese (depending on how much you want to make - I just eyeball it!)

Add 1-2 jars of marinated artichokes - chopped and mostly drained - I save some of the marinade and add that to the cream cheese - Mix together

Add garlic powder (maybe 1 tsp)

Add salt to taste

Add 1/2 tsp white pepper

Add 1/2 bag (1 cup or so) of shredded cheese - italian or four cheese mix or cheddar

Microwave or bake until melty

Add remaining shredded cheese on top and continue to nuke or bake until bubbly

Dig in - pita chips, tostitos, bread or veggies are good with this

Bumper Ban

They're designed to be cute and comfortable, but crib bumpers can pose a deadly danger to babies, according to state health officials.
The head of Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says it's time to ban the sale of bumpers to save babies from potential suffocation. Experts say they can't justify keeping a product on the market that can gravely endanger a child, especially when they say they can't find any clear benefits to justify the risk. Bumpers are included with many nursery bedding sets and are billed as padding that can protect babies from bumping their heads or getting limbs caught in crib slats. Medical officials say the concern comes from the bumpers' potential to restrict a baby's airflow, which can cause suffocation. You can learn more about the proposed ban here:

http://www.wbaltv.com/video/29325587/detail.html

State officials are asking for public comment before they make a final decision on the ban, which would take effect in 2013. You can weigh in on the DHMH website: http://dhmh.maryland.gov/news/crib/cribbumpers.html

from Kerry Rice

Fall Field Trip!

Please join JHTC at

North Run Farm on Thursday, October 13!

Enjoy tons of fun including farm animals, hayrides, corn mazes and the best pumpkin patch around town!

The field trip will begin at 9:30 but please arrive by 9:15 to check in.

Please view the attachment for more info and the permission slip. There are also permission slips in the plastic bin labeled field trips on the wall in the back of the classroom.

All forms and money are due Monday, October 10.

www.rodgersfarms.com <http://www.rodgersfarm.com/> for more details.

Free Activities Around Baltimore

Check out this great blog for free activities around Baltimore for the Fall!

http://economomsbaltimore.blogspot.com/2011/09/free-fall-baltimore-best-bets-for-kids.html

Holiday Bazaar Update!

Hello everyone!

Did you know that Christmas is only 95 days away? Have you started your shopping? If not, I have the perfect place ----

JHTC's Holiday Bazaar
Grace English Evangelical Lutheran Church
8601 Valleyfield Road
Lutherville, Maryland 21093
November 5, 2011
10am - 2pm

This year we will have plenty vendors such as Tastefully Simple, Stella and Dot, Cookie Lee, Tervis and Scout, Mixed Bag Designs, Kelly's Kids, jewelry designers, doll clothes, handmade hair bows and MUCH MORE!!!

We also will have Chick Filet for a lunch time treat, bake sale table, raffles and a prize wheel for the kids.

Send this to all your family and friends. Also, if anyone knows of someone who has a home business such as lia sophia, silpadia,pampered chef, usborne books or a business that would like tobe a vendor, please send me an email and I will send them the registration form.

Mark your calendars for November 5, 2011. You don't want to miss this event!!!

Debbie Liberto
VP Fundraising
debbieliberto@comcast.net
443-257-9957

A Birthday Anywhere

Miss Gloria and her class parents generously donated to A Birthday Anywhere. A Birthday Anywhere was founded in July of 2010 in an effort to continue the circle of giving and community service that is encouraged in the Jesuit education.

The goal and vision of A Birthday Anywhere is to reach out to homeless children of Baltimore City and Baltimore County by providing birthday parties for them at area shelters.

A Birthday Anywhere is the creation of Sue Grafton, a mother of a 6 & 4 year old, a nurse, and a graduate of Loyola University.

We are currently a charity organization with the goal of having a 501(c)(3) non-profit status within the next year.

A Birthday Anywhere functions solely by the support of the community. Family, friends, neighbors, and businesses support our parties through sponsorship, donation of goods, and monetary donations.

Visit the website http://www.abirthdayanywhere.org/ for more info!