Dear Angie,

It's Summer T-Shirt Time! Each year, EFC designs a summer t-shirt for optional purchase to celebrate the season. Check out this year's shirt here. (Quote on back: "We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it." -- George Eliot)

If you wish to order, please do so by Monday, June 10. Happy Summer!

FAMILY RESOURCES

NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK, JUNE 17-23

National Pollinator Week is an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health. It is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. Fourteen years ago, the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations.

Did you know:

Pollinators play an important role in the production of more than 150 food crops in the U.S, such as apples, alfalfa, almonds, blueberries, cranberries, kiwis, melons, pears, plums, and squash?

Bees are the primary pollinators. However, about 200,000 invertebrate species, (bees, moths, butterflies, beetles, and flies) serve as pollinators, as well as about 1,000 species of vertebrates (birds, mammals, and reptiles).

With no pollination at all, many of the foods we eat would no longer be available. The plants that many wild creatures rely on for food or shelter would also disappear.

What we can do to protect pollinators:

Be kind to your pollinator friends. Pollinators like bugs and birds are small and fragile. It’s easy for people to hurt them. Be gentle and quiet when they are near!
Look, but don’t touch! When you see a butterfly, bee, beetle, or hummingbird outside, look, but don’t touch! Pollinators won’t hurt you if you leave them alone and are nice to them.
Keep pollinators’ homes safe. And help make habitat for pollinators. Take care of a garden. Plant some flowers. When you find a bug in your house, gently take it outside to its natural habitat.
Support local bees and beekeepers by buying local honey.

For additional information on National Pollinator Week visit: www.pollinator.org

JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

The City of Edina is hosting a Juneteenth celebration for the whole community.

Juneteenth Celebration

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Join us for Edina's annual Juneteenth celebration!

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location:

Maetzold Amphitheater – Centennial Lakes Park

Address:

7499 France Avenue S

Edina, MN 55424

Juneteenth Celebration

This family-friendly event will feature activities, musical performances, a special speaker, and food vendors for the whole family to enjoy. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Musical acts: Carolyne Naomi, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist; and Smash Jazz.

Food Vendor: Lutunji’s Palate bakery

Activities:

• Live reading of Isaiah Allen's children book titled "A Smile"

• A book giveaway, including copies of "A Smile"

• Activities at the Art Cart

More information to come!

https://www.facebook.com/events/361720629970540

FAMILY REMINDERS

LOOKING AHEAD

Especially for Children will be closed on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day. Enjoy your long weekend!

DOOR AND GATE SAFETY

The general direction we use at EFC during the day is “grown-ups open doors”. For everyone’s safety, we’d like your help in enforcing this while picking up and dropping off your child, and if children come in other classrooms while picking up siblings. Please remind your child to allow a grown-up to open and close the doors, or playground gates, and ensure your child always remains with you.

STAR WELLNESS

WAYS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY CHOOSE WATER INSTEAD OF SUGARY DRINKS

Water doesn't have to be boring! Here are a few ways to encourage everyone in the family to drink healthy and stay hydrated.

Infuse water with fruit, mint, or cucumber.
Keep fruits and vegetables high in water content handy. Some great options are zucchini, cucumber, tomato, celery, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, grapefruit, and cantaloupe.
Freeze fruit inside ice cubes for water bottles. It makes water fancier, and young children can even help fill the trays.
Make your own popsicles with pureed fruit.

ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

LONG TERM EFC EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

We were honored to recognize our long term employees (those who have been with Especially for Children for 5 years or longer) at our Professional Development Day in May. They are pictured below!