We hope everyone had a restful Winter Break. We were so excited to see our students back in action! 

During our recent Staff Professional Development Day, we dove into a meaningful conversation about what diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) look like in our early childhood classrooms. For us, it’s about more than just teaching concepts—it’s about creating an environment where all children feel seen, heard, and valued. This means actively promoting an atmosphere of respect for all backgrounds, abilities, and experiences and making sure every child sees themselves reflected in the classroom. From various cultural celebrations to books, activities, and visual representations that represent diverse experiences, we are committed to fostering a space where differences are celebrated, and every child feels like an important part of our EEC family. 

In addition, we’ve made some exciting changes in our Chameleon and Tiger classrooms! The new room layouts are a hit with the children, and they’ve also provided our teachers with new opportunities for more intentional lesson planning. Drawing inspiration from the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which emphasizes the child as an active participant in their learning, these changes help transform our classrooms into dynamic environments that encourage curiosity and collaboration. In this approach, the physical space is considered the “third teacher,” with thoughtfully arranged areas that invite exploration and foster creativity, problem-solving, and social development. 

We were also delighted to have one of our Chameleon parents visit this month to share their Lunar New Year traditions with the class. The children loved learning about the holiday, and they even took home red envelopes—such a sweet reminder of how connected we all are, no matter where we come from! 

Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re hoping to add two new teachers to our team soon! We’re excited about the extra support and expertise they will bring to the classroom.