September and October have been filled with learning, laughter, new friendships, and unforgettable memories at Ozaukee Child Care & Preschool! From our first day of school to pumpkin patch adventures and Halloween celebrations, our children and teachers have been busy making the most of the fall season at both Mequon and Grafton.
September
Swimming Into a Great School Year!
We kicked off the school year with our special theme: “We may all be different fish, but in this school we swim together!” Our first day was extra special as everyone sported their fish shirts and got ready for a new year of learning and growing together.
Why did we choose this theme? Just like fish in a school, every child at OCC is unique! Each child brings their own personality, interests, strengths, and talents to our classrooms. We want every child to feel welcomed, valued, and included. By working together, showing kindness, celebrating our differences, and helping one another, we create a community where everyone belongs. We may all be different, but we are one OCC family!
And September didn’t stop there! Our classrooms were buzzing with activities as we explored classrooms and routines, made new friends, learned about fire safety, and discovered all things apples. From friendship art to apple experiments, our teachers went above and beyond to create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for every age group.
One of our favorite celebrations was Dress Like a Grandparent Day! Grandparents play such a special role in our OCC family. We see so many wonderful grandparents at pick-up, drop-off, and special events, and we love the relationships they share with our children. Their love and involvement help make OCC such a special place.
Firefighter Day was another big highlight! The children were thrilled to see the fire engines and learn more about the brave firefighters who help keep our community safe. There was so much excitement as we explored the world of these everyday heroes!
We also welcomed the first day of fall and celebrated Johnny Appleseed’s birthday. While we didn’t all wear pots on our heads, we did wear our favorite hats! It was a fun way to celebrate the season and bring a little history and imagination into our classrooms.
October
Pumpkins, Pink, and Plenty of Adventures!
October arrived with just as much excitement! We started the month by celebrating School Custodian Day and showing our appreciation for Mr. Kirk. Our children absolutely love him, and we are so lucky to have him as part of the OCC family. Mr. Kirk does so much more than fix sinks, build things, and keep our buildings in working order. He brings smiles to our children’s faces, takes time to connect with them, and makes our centers a better place every day. Thank you, Mr. Kirk, for everything you do!
Throughout October, we wore pink every Tuesday in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This tradition was especially meaningful because one of our very own teachers is a breast cancer survivor. Wearing pink gave us an opportunity to show support, spread awareness, and celebrate the strength of those who have faced breast cancer.
One of our biggest fall adventures was our combined Mequon and Grafton field trip to Spieker’s Pumpkin Farm! The children had a wonderful time exploring the hay maze, enjoying a tractor ride, husking corn, and choosing their very own pumpkins. And, of course, the bus ride was an adventure all on its own! It was a special opportunity for our two locations to come together, make memories, and enjoy the magic of fall.
We also had fun celebrating Dress Like a Farmer Day! Our little farmers looked adorable, and we took time to appreciate the hardworking farmers who help provide the food we eat every day. It was a great opportunity to connect our classroom learning to the world around us.
As Halloween approached, we celebrated with a week full of Halloween spirit! Our themed dress-up days brought plenty of creativity, laughter, and excitement. We ended the week on a high note with trick-or-treating, giving the children one more chance to show off their costumes and enjoy some Halloween fun with their friends.
Meet Ollie C. Cuddles!
Our Mequon center has also welcomed a very special visitor: Ollie C. Cuddles! Ollie has been joining in on the adventures at OCC, and the children are loving every minute of it. Ollie loves the children just as much as they love him!
One of the favorite parts of the day is when Ollie finds a hiding spot before the evening ends. The children love searching for him and seeing where he has popped up next. Ollie has quickly become a fun part of our OCC days, adding a little surprise, imagination, and excitement to our routines.
Two Months of Get Kids Ready!
We are now two months into our Get Kids Ready program for OCC’s 4K class, and it has been exciting to see our learners continue to build skills, gain confidence, and prepare for the next steps in their educational journey. Get Kids Ready is a free program for families, supported through the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Through engaging activities, supportive teachers, and meaningful learning experiences, we help children grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
At OCC, we know that learning happens in so many ways—from experimenting with apples and exploring a pumpkin patch to building friendships, celebrating community helpers, and learning how to care for one another. Every experience provides an opportunity for children to discover something new, develop important skills, and grow together!
Grafton Expansion
We’re Almost There!
Our Grafton expansion is finally coming to a close, and we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! It has been a long journey, filled with planning, progress, and plenty of patience, but we are getting closer to the finish line. We are so excited to see everything coming together and look forward to sharing this next chapter with our Grafton families, staff, and community. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey and supported us along the way!
Growing Together at OCC
September and October reminded us just how much fun learning can be when children feel safe, supported, and included. We are grateful for our wonderful teachers, families, grandparents, community helpers, and everyone who makes OCC such a special place to learn and grow.
As we continue through the school year, we look forward to more discoveries, more laughter, and more memories together. After all, we may all be different fish, but at OCC, we swim together!