Explorations In October

Fall is definitely here! The leaves are ready to turn colors, and the temperature is beginning to dip. This time of year is such a rich time for learning. The changes outdoors offer so many opportunities for fun and enriching classroom activities as well as hands on explorations! The Explorers, Challengers and Discoverers are scheduled for a fall hayride atWarrick Farm on Thursday, October 22nd. The cost is $10.00/child which includes a small pumpkin to bring home. Parents, you are welcome to join us! If you are coming on the hayride, but do not want a pumpkin, your cost is $8.00. Be sure to sign the field trip form and bring in a CASH payment in an envelope with your child’s name on it. Please plan to drive (and drive your child) if you want to come to assure that there is enough space on the busses for the children! You can check out the farm at www.warrickfarm.com. Mark your calendars for our fifth annual Trunk or Treat! If you would like to join us (and we hope that you do), the date is set for Saturday, October 3rd at 3:00 PM. Parents, you can decorate your trunk and be part of the fun that way, or you can come on over and “trunk or treat” with us. Please plan to park off site if you are not decorating, and please do not park in Sew-A-Lot’s parking lot. All are welcome to contribute a bowl of candy to the event. Be sure to write your name on the the bowl or bag so that we can make sure everyone knows it was from you! As the weather turns cooler, please check to see that your child has a jacket to wear and a change of clothes at the center that is appropriate for cooler weather. We will take the children outside on a daily basis whenever possible! Also, if you are any missing anything, you might take a look in our lost and found box under the front hall table. Parent’s Night Out this month is scheduled for the evening of October 10th. If you plan to have your child here, please sign up in the front hall as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly for staff. Have a hauntingly fun month, and enjoy the cool weather!

Explorations In September

The first days in September are here, and school is underway! Our school-agers started with a mixture of cheers and groans, but everyone seems to be making the adjustment OK! We are beginning to get into a fall mood, and we are planning and preparing for many fun activities! Parents, it is important for you to let us know if your child will not be at the center. It helps us with our lunch count, and it is ESPECIALLY important if we are planning to transport your school-ager back from school. If they don’t come out with the group, we will have to spend valuable time finding out where he/she is. Your cooperation with this matter will really help! We are excited to have our new Enrollment year underway! Our program is full with a waiting list. PLAN AHEAD! School pictures are scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd with Sara Smile Photography. Watch for information to follow! Parent’s Night Out will be on Saturday, September 12th this month. Any interested parents need to sign up in the front hall as soon as it is posted to help us in our planning. If you missed the note about P.N.O., or have any questions, just ask! We have just celebrated our 28th anniversary! Wow how time flies!! Thank you to all of our families – old and new. We truly appreciate the trust and support from all of you. Thank you so much! We are looking forward to a great school year. Have a great month!

Explorations In August

Summer is in full swing, and we have been busier than ever! The children have been having such fun with water play and field trips.
The children have been doing art and craft projects, listening to stories and singing songs about America’s birthday. Everyone seems to be excited about seeing the fireworks and celebrating our nation’s birthday. Our annual Red, White and Blue bike parade is scheduled for Thursday, July 2nd. Pack your child’s bike decorated for our nation’s birthday! Parents, you are welcome to join us!
With all the field trips taking place each week, be sure that you are referring to your summer calendar each day. Some days your child may need to wear socks or bring swimwear. You don’t want to be caught unprepared! We have had some great feedback from the kids and parents on favorite outings this summer. Let us know if you have any thoughts or ideas as we continue our adventures. Also, please be sure to pack your child a lunch on the picnic days scheduled, according to the summer calendar. Thank you for your cooperation on this!
Parent’s Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, July 11th. Watch for the sign-up sheet in the front hall before that date, so we can plan our staffing correctly.
We are starting to work on our fall class lists. Please inform us of any changes that might take place at that time. We are also working on the bus schedules. Please check and make sure we have the right school listed for your child, especially for those going into kindergarten or Young Five’s and second grade. If you have not let us know whether your child is The summer has just flown by! Can you believe that it is August already? We know that the school-agers are counting down those last few weeks till school starts! We’ve been so busy in and around the center with special activities and field trips. Each class has found its own fun way to explore and discover summer.
Re-registration time is here. Hopefully by now we know everyone’s fall schedule. If your child will be here for the school year, the annual registration fee is due by August 7th ($50.00 for one child and $100.00 for multiple children). If there are going to be any changes that we are not aware of at this time, please let us know. If your child will be attending public school, please be sure to fill out the Transportation form, so that we include your child on the bus list. All families will need to sign their new Enrollment Agreements for the 2026-2027 enrollment period. Please take the time to read your copy so that you are aware of our payment policies and fees.
Parent’s Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, August 15th. Sign up in the front hall if you plan to have your children attend so that we can plan our staff accordingly!
We would also like to thank all our families who have trusted us over the years to take care of their children. On August 28th Explorations will celebrate its 28th anniversary! Wow, time flies! We have had such a wonderful time watching “our kids” grow up! What a GREAT feeling! We are very happy to have all our families here. We couldn’t be more appreciative of our wonderful families and the kindness and patience they have shown us. It is rewarding, and makes us realize how much of a relationship we have developed with all of you! Thank You!
That’s all for now. Enjoy the rest of your summer!am or pm, please do asap!
As always, please let us know of any ideas, questions or concerns that you may have. Your input is always welcome. Have a great month!

Exploration in July

Summer is in full swing, and we have been busier than ever! The children have been having such fun with water play and field trips.
The children have been doing art and craft projects, listening to stories and singing songs about America’s birthday. Everyone seems to be excited about seeing the fireworks and celebrating our nation’s birthday.
Our annual Red, White and Blue bike parade is scheduled for Thursday, July 2nd. Pack your child’s bike decorated for our nation’s birthday! Parents, you are welcome to join us!
With all the field trips taking place each week, be sure that you are referring to your summer calendar each day. Some days your child may need to wear socks or bring swimwear. You don’t want to be caught unprepared! We have had some great feedback from the kids and parents on favorite outings this summer. Let us know if you have any thoughts or ideas as we continue our adventures. Also, please be sure to pack your child a lunch on the picnic days scheduled, according to the summer calendar. Thank you for your cooperation on this!
Parent’s Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, July 11th. Watch for the sign-up sheet in the front hall before that date, so we can plan our staffing correctly.
We are starting to work on our fall class lists. Please inform us of any changes that might take place at that time. We are also working on the bus schedules. Please check and make sure we have the right school listed for your child, especially for those going into kindergarten or Young Five’s and second grade. If you have not let us know whether your child is am or pm, please do asap!
As always, please let us know of any ideas, questions or concerns that you may have. Your input is always welcome. Have a great month!

Explorations In June

Yeah! Summer is finally here, and we have been SO busy getting ready for the changes that will take place! Our summer calendar is FULL of “fun in the sun” activities and events. Be sure to keep your summer calendar in a handy place. You can also find information on all the trips and events in your child’s classroom. We will keep you informed all summer long of daily events. If your child is an Explorer, Challenger, Discoverer, Adventurer or School-ager, they will be embarking on periodic field trips. (*The older the group, the more outings they will take!) All of these traveling campers will receive a summer camp shirt that they will wear on all the outings. We will keep them here at the center, wash them, and send them home at the end of the summer session. The calendar, ProCare and/or the website include information on the group that is participating, any costs involved, days that they need to bring a sack lunch and the departure and return times for the field trips. Before your child can go on a bus trip, you will need to sign a permission slip and pay (if applicable). Cash only please. *Please be sure that any sack lunch is a healthy lunch. Daycare licensing expects all meals eaten by the children while in our care to meet acceptable nutritional standards. The summer activity was billed May 16th. The fee is $50.00 for one child and $100.00 for more than one child. This fee is only for Explorers, Challengers, Discoverers, Adventurers and School-agers. By now you should have seen the invoice on ProCare. Parents Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, June 13th. Be sure to sign up if you would like to participate so that we can staff the evening accordingly! Beginning the week of June 2nd, we will have water play days scheduled for the toddlers, 2’s, preschoolers, Adventurers and School age. Your child’s scheduled days are posted outside the classroom on the door. Be sure to check so you are prepared on that day with a LABELED swimsuit (or swimmers for the younger children), a towel and sunscreen (with a sunscreen form signed) in your child’s room. The wet clothes need to be taken home and laundered each week. This is also a good time to refresh your child’s extra clothes that you keep here with us. Are they the right season, and are they still the right size?? That’s all for now. We are excited about the summer program! As always, let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

Explorations In May

Let’s hear it for sunny warm weather, flowers in bloom and trees with green leaves! We love the nice weather. It brings a whole bunch of new things to do! We love spending time outside each day when it’s really pleasant to be out, and we love to explore all the changes that are happening every day! Speaking of sunny, warm weather, it may not be too soon to bring in a bottle of sunscreen for your child. Remember to label it with their full name, and sign the consent form (we can’t apply it without your written consent). A really great idea would be for you to apply the sunscreen to your child before arrival in the morning. This gives it time to soak in; it usually requires 30 minutes. This idea is especially good if your child is scheduled for an outdoor field trip. Also, if your child keeps a change of clothes at the center, please be sure that it is suitable for warm weather. Summer camp is right around the corner! Please let us know if you will have any schedule changes if you have not already! Preschool and school age parents, your summer camp activity fee is due by April 30th. You will be invoiced directly on ProCare, so no need to write a check! The cost is $50.00 per a child or $100.00 per a family. This fee will help to defer the costs for special visitors and programs as well as gasoline for the daily trips. Each camper will also receive a summer camp shirt to wear on all field trips, which you will take home at the end of the summer. The summer activity calendars will be available in the next few weeks. Trip information will also be on the website. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Parents Night Out is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, May 9th. If you would like to enjoy an evening out, sign up in the front hall on the sheet provided. The kids always have lots of fun, and the parents get some needed adult time! As always, if you have any ideas, questions or concerns, we want to hear from you. Let us know what you are thinking! Have a great month!

Explorations In April

Spring is definitely in the air, and we couldn’t be happier! Since the weather is finally cooperating, you can count on the children being outside every dry day. Remember that it may still be cool, even cold in the morning (or sometimes all day), so be sure to send your child in with a jacket. As much as the kids would like us to, we will not send them out on the playground in short sleeves when the temperature is in the 50’s. You may want to consider leaving a sweatshirt in your child’s cubby for those days that he/she set off in a coat, and it warmed up during the day. If you do leave a sweater or sweatshirt, please write your child’s name on the tag. Thanks!! You should have received a summer and fall planning worksheet. Please take a moment to fill it out and drop it in the office ASAP. We are busy working on our summer and fall class lists!

Spring photos are scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th with Sara Smile Photography. Please turn in your envelope as soon as you receive it to let us know if you would like your child’s picture taken. Sara should be ready around 8:30 am. Parent’s Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, April 11th! If this is new to you, we offer an evening of babysitting at the center on the 2nd Saturday of each month. The cost is $50/first child and $10/each additional child. Watch for the sign up sheet in the front hall. Remember to sign up in advance if you would like to participate. *Parents, if you sign up but change your mind for any reason, we need you to cross your name off by the THURSDAY before so that we schedule the appropriate amount of staff. The last few months we have had many families that signed up, but did not come. In order to make it worth our staff’s time, we will now charge $20.00/child for those that do not remove themselves from the count by Thursday. Please help us so that we have an accurate count of children. Please remember to drive SLLOOWLLY through the parking lot. Also, parents, please hold your young child’s hand as you walk to the car. We have witnessed a few children running through the lot, sometimes not even towards their own car. Yikes! Thanks for your help and consideration. We are looking forward to the nice weather ahead, and the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as we watch (and learn from) the changes taking place all around us! Have a great month. Think WARM!

Explorations In March

Let’s here it for March, because surely it means that spring can’t be far away! Here at the center, we have been SO busy indoors, but boy we are happy to take it outside! Already, we have begun planning for our summer and fall class lists. If you are aware of any changes that will take place, or if you are a parent of a child entering kindergarten or elementary school, please let us know what your needs will be. You will soon be receiving a summer/fall planning sheet. Please drop that in the office ASAP. As we come closer to the end of cold and flu season, we want to say THANK YOU for remembering our illness policy, and helping to keep as many germs away from our children as possible! Illness is always so widespread this time of year. As a reminder, if your child exhibits any communicable symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., please keep them home. They cannot return until the symptoms have been gone for 24 hours. Tylenol or another medication may make them feel better, but they are still contagious. It is disheartening to have a child in the center all morning, and have a fever appear in the afternoon, after a dose of Tylenol has worn off. This is definitely the hardest time of year! Parents Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, March 14th this month. As a reminder, the price for the first child is $50.00. The sign up sheet is on the front hall table. Please sign up as soon as possible if you are interested so that we can plan for adequate staff. We will offer spring photos again this year – the exact date is not set yet, but we will let you know very soon! We will be using Sara Smile Photography again. We are always very happy with her! That’s all for now, but watch for notes to follow with spring related activities, as the weather decides to cooperate with us! Let us know if you have any issues that you need to discuss at any time. Again, and always, thanks for all your cooperation, and for being a part of our Explorations family!

Explorations In February

Here we are in the second month of 2026. January can be such a dreary and COLD month! Let’s all think positive for February! With February comes the first hope for signs of an early spring! THINK WARM!! Even though the children were stuck inside for much of the January, they found many interesting and exciting things to do to keep them thinking and busy. The next scheduled Parent’s Night Out is set for Saturday, February 14th. If you were thinking that an evening out with your Valentine would be just the thing – then sign up in the front hall! We’re ready for you! If you have any questions, just ask! The children will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in their classrooms. Each group is making their own plans, so be sure to look for a separate note, or check with your child’s teacher for the details. This time of year is always very difficult with illnesses of every sort. Please be reassured that we are doing all that we can to keep the germs in the building at a minimum. We diligently keep the toys and rooms cleaned and disinfected, and try to isolate and remove any contagious children from the center. It’s hard for all of us. We also experience the added difficulty of contagious kids infecting the staff. We ask that all of you do all that you can to help us to survive the cold and flu season by not bringing your child in with communicable symptoms such as fevers, rashes and vomiting. If they vomited during the night please don’t assume that they are fine the next morning and bring them in! Remember, even if you mask the fever symptoms, your child is still contagious, and needs to be home until he/she is symptom free for 24 hours. Yes – this can create a hardship with missed days at work, but your consideration and understanding is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you! As always, let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns. Have a great month, and remember to think warm.

Explorations in January

Happy New Year! We have sailed through the holidays, and January has arrived. We are excited to be entering the New Year! Without a doubt, many fun and exciting things are going to happen! Hopefully, everyone enjoyed their holidays, and had a little bit of extra free time to spend with their families. We would like to give a GREAT BIG HEARTFELT THANK YOU to everyone for your enthusiasm as we supported St. Vincent this year. With everyone’s contribution, the project was a great success. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Parent’s Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, January17th. Watch for the sign-up sheet in the front hall. It’s January, so let it snow… right? If it does, and we have any major accumulation, please assume that we will always remain open if it is possible. We do not plan to close for snow days. School age parents, we will be prepared to accept you child for the full day as needed if the schools are closed. If there is a delay, we will provide transportation to school. Remember that there is a $20.00 fee for the full day. In the unlikely event that it is necessary to close, it will be posted on the WHIO local news station. It will also be posted on our Facebook/Instagram page (facebook.com/explorationscenterville) and ProCare. Keep in mind that if the playground is snowy, it is difficult to take the children outside. In order for them to play outside, they have to be in a protective layer that will keep their indoor clothes (pants, socks, and shoes) dry for their indoor time. Unless the whole group, or a large portion of the group comes in “snow clothes” the teachers must keep them inside. Your child’s teacher may inform you of a certain day, or plan for outdoor play. THANK YOU parents for your cooperation and understanding with our illness policy! This is a rough time of year for us all, and we appreciate your helpful attitudes. We know how hard it can be to have a sick child, but hopefully we can keep the spreading of germs down to a minimum! That’s all for now. Try to keep warm and have a good month!

Explorations In December

December is one of the busiest months for all of us, and there will be no exception to that rule around here! Do you think that we can take all of that excited energy flowing through the children, and turn it into creativity and learning? That is our goal, and we hope to reach it by singing, reading, sharing and learning as we watch fall turn into (Brrrrr) winter! Mark your calendar for December 9th! We will have a special visit from Santa! He should arrive at 9:30. Parents and grandparents are invited for this special “Cookies with Santa” event. Sara Smile Photography will be here too for photos. Be sure to send in your payment envelopes if you would like a picture with Santa! We are asking for a plate of cookies from anyone who would like to contribute, and hope that many of you can join us for an hour or two! This holiday season we are donating to St. Vincent de Paul. We are hoping to help supply much needed items at the homeless shelter this winter season. The list is included on the posted notes, and also on their website. Each year we try to support a worthy cause. Any items (new or gently used) are APPRECIATED! Please remember to fill out a vacation request form ASAP if you would like to use one or both of your vacation credits over the holidays.Parent’s Night Out scheduled this month for December 13th. Parents DAY out is scheduled for December 20th. Please remember to sign up in the front hall.

There are just a couple requests that we have. Please be sure that when your child is in the building or parking lot he/she is either with you, or with the teacher. It is disruptive and unsafe for the children to be in the building unattended. We are having problems with fast drivers in the parking lot! This is SO dangerous, and we have had several complaints. PLEASE SLOW DOWN and watch very carefully. It is getting dark early. Please be safe. We appreciate your courtesy. Thank you! That’s all for now. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Explorations In November

Isn’t it amazing how fast the months pass by? Here it is November already, with thoughts of the upcoming holidays just around the corner! We had a GREAT time Trunk-or-Treating last month. Thanks to all of our families that decorated and handed out candy, or donated candy It is (unfortunately) the time of year where we see many children with colds, flu, Covid and a variety of other illnesses. Please review the Communicable Disease Policy in your handbook on the website for the list of symptoms that need to be noticed, and how our staff will handle them. If your child exhibits any symptoms that are more than just those of a basic cold, he/she will need to be kept at home for at least 24 hours after the symptoms disappear. Please realize that giving your child Tylenol or other OTC medications before coming in the morning will only mask symptoms, BUT THEY ARE STILL CONTAGEOUS, and they will infect the other children. If you do medicate your child in any way, please inform his/her teacher, so that they will be aware, and know to watch for any side effects or problems. We understand that it is difficult to miss work. It’s equally difficult for us when our teachers are exposed to illness and miss work. Let’s all grin and bear it and do our best to be helpful, healthy and courteous! This month we will do Parents Night Out on Saturday the 8th. We will be adding a Parents DAY out too! This might be the perfect opportunity to start holiday shopping! Parents Day out is scheduled for Saturday the 29th from 9:00 to 2:30. Watch up for the sign up on the front hall table. We are also doing a Holiday Aid canned food drive again this year. We will definitely use this project as a teaching tool about helping others with our children throughout the center! There will be a barrel for dropping off food donations in the vestibule. We’re hoping that each family can donate a little something. If you will be using one or both of your vacation weeks over the holidays, be sure to fill out a Vacation Request form so that we will have it in advance. We will not credit the week unless we have your written request. The forms are located on the Parent Bulletin Board in the front hall, or they can be downloaded from the “Parent Forms” section of the website. This time of year, it’s nice to take a moment to stop and notice all the things that we are thankful for. The Explorations staff would like to say thank you to all of our families that have entrusted their wonderful children to our care. Your confidence means a lot to us! Thank you and happy Thanksgiving!