September Newsletter 2025
Teri Ann Cox
Executive Director of The Children’s Center
Dear Center Families,
Just like all the kids starting a new school year and learning new things, fall presents us with opportunities to learn about different things too. For example, did you know that September is National Courtesy Month?
I learned a couple of years ago that a courtesy campaign was first launched in 1979 by the Ministry of Culture in Singapore. Each year the campaign grew, becoming a global event. Eventually, it was added to our national calendar. The word “courteous” comes from the Middle English word “kindness,” which means “noble deeds” or “courtesy.”
How appropriate, as we kick off the new school year teaching our program wide expectations known as the “4 Bs” (Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Kind). Our teaching method works best when childcare professionals effectively model these behaviors themselves and in turn reward young children and students who follow their examples. We work hard to teach these expectations in the classrooms and reinforce our “rules” in the hallways and on the playground. We especially encourage children to be kind and care for each other every day because kindness is one of the most significant contributors to positive climates.
A dear friend of mine shared that her 4-year-old granddaughter had her teacher send home a note at the end of her first day of school to let her mom know that she had spent much of her time that day hugging all the kids who cried. My friend was so proud! Her granddaughter had chosen, without prompting, to be the comforter, the nurturer. I reminded my friend that her granddaughter has been fortunate to have always had caring people around her, so her instinct is to care. Children, after all, are reflections of the people they have grown to know best. Every day, they are learning how to be in this world. Our actions teach, and our curious minds want us to learn. Always.
Please join us in creating a center…a community…and a world filled with courtesy and more kindness!
With warm regards,
Teri Ann
