Winter Weather Safety

With the cold weather upon us, it's a good idea to know how to protect yourselves and your families from the cold. Read on for some Winter Weather Safety
 

• Prepare for power outages: Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and have extra supplies like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, and blankets.
• Stay warm safely: Wear layers of warm clothing, and use portable heaters safely by plugging them directly into outlets, keeping them 3 feet away from flammable materials, and never leaving them unattended. Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
• Protect pipes: Wrap exposed faucets and pipes, and allow water to trickle from faucets to prevent freezing.
• Practice fire safety: Never leave a fireplace fire unattended and ensure any heating sources are properly ventilated to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. 

Outdoors and while traveling

• Dress in layers: Wear loose-fitting layers of lightweight, warm clothing made of synthetic materials that wick moisture. Mittens are warmer than gloves, and a hat is essential for preventing heat loss from your head.
• Limit travel: Stay indoors during the worst of a storm. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit in your vehicle.
• Prepare your vehicle: Before winter, ensure your vehicle's antifreeze levels, tires, heater, and defroster are in good condition. Keep your gas tank near full.
• Be cautious when shoveling: Avoid overexertion by taking breaks and stretching first. Pushing too hard can lead to a heart attack.
• Watch for hazards: Be careful on icy walkways and roads. 

Know the signs of cold-related illnesses 

• Hypothermia: Look for shivering, confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, and exhaustion. Symptoms can include very low energy or bright red, cold skin in infants.
• Frostbite: Signs include numbness, tingling, and a gray, blue, or ashy appearance to the skin. The skin may also feel hard or waxy. 

Check on others

• Check on neighbors, especially the elderly and those with children, and bring pets indoors. 

Fun Thanksgiving Facts for Kids

 Take a look at these Thanksgiving Fun Facts for Kids! 

The Academy will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th.

Best of Parenting 18 Years In A Row

 A huge THANK YOU to everyone as The Academy has won Best of Parenting of 18 years in a row! We couldn't do it without you!

Halloween Safety Tips

We want everyone to be safe and have fun during this Spooky Season. Here are a few safety tips to help you out! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 

Safe Travels In Cooler Weather

 

How Does Cold Weather Affect Tire Pressure?

When outdoor temperatures drop significantly, so does the pressure in your tires. That’s because cold causes air molecules to slow down and stick together, resulting in a drop in air pressure and a potentially underinflated tire. Conversely, when it’s hot outside, warmer air molecules move around faster, bumping into each other more and raising the tire pressure to a potentially overinflated level.

Many tire manufacturers, such as Firestone and Goodyear, estimate that tires lose one psi for every 10 degrees the outside temperature drops. If your car has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, the warning light will be triggered by at least a 25 percent drop in tire pressure. This is especially useful for keeping track of tire pressure in cold weather.

Checking Tire Pressure in Cold Weather

Check your tires after your car has been parked for at least three hours. (Driving raises the air temperature and therefore the air pressure in the tires.) Your car’s ideal tire pressure is usually listed inside the driver-side door and in the car’s owner manual. A common mistake is to fill tires to the max pressure listed on the sidewall, instead of what’s recommended by the auto manufacturer. Also, be sure to check the recommended pressure for the front and rear tires in case they’re different.

Insert a pressure gauge into the tire air valve swiftly and firmly for an accurate reading. Then, immediately replace the air valve cap to avoid letting out any air. If your tires are below the recommendation for your car, use an air compressor to inflate them until you get the right reading.

It’s best to check your tires once a month, but you might need to check your tire pressure more often in cold weather. Other signs that your tires might be underinflated:

• They look flatter than usual;
• The steering wheel shakes;
• It takes longer to come to a stop when braking.

A few Pumpkin Recipe ideas

 Fall is definitely in the air... we found a few amazing recipe ideas to keep you warm through the season.

1. Pumpkin Pie - A classic dessert featuring a spiced pumpkin filling in a flaky crust.
2. Pumpkin Soup - A creamy and comforting soup made with pureed pumpkin and warm spices.
3. Pumpkin Bread - Moist and flavorful bread, perfect for breakfast or a snack, often with nuts or chocolate chips.
4. Pumpkin Risotto - A creamy Italian dish made with arborio rice, pumpkin puree, and Parmesan cheese.
5. Pumpkin Pancakes - Fluffy pancakes infused with pumpkin and spices, ideal for a fall breakfast.
6. Pumpkin Muffins - Soft muffins packed with pumpkin flavor, often topped with streusel or nuts.
7. Pumpkin Curry - A savory dish combining pumpkin with coconut milk and spices for a hearty meal.
8. Pumpkin Cheesecake - A rich cheesecake with a pumpkin twist, often served with whipped cream.
9. Pumpkin Smoothie - A nutritious blend of pumpkin, yogurt, and spices for a quick breakfast or snack.
10. Pumpkin Spice Latte - A seasonal favorite coffee drink flavored with pumpkin and warm spices.
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Annual Fall Fest

 As the crisp air and vibrant leaves signal the arrival of autumn, there's no better way to celebrate the season than at our beloved Annual Fall Fest. This year the festival will be held on October 28th from 2:30p-5:30p. Please come out to this family fun event and enjoy various activities. We will have a trunk or treat supported by the Brentwood City Hall. A fun train ride, a double bubble bounce house, games, food and more! This is a fun filled family event and we hope to see you there!

The First Day of Fall

Today is the first day of fall. Here’s why

Summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere are both coming to an end. That means the days and nights are becoming roughly equal in length, and the path the Sun traces across the sky is changing.

On a winter day, the Sun is low in the sky, whereas on a summer’s day the Sun lies considerably higher. But on a specific day in the spring or autumn, the Sun will be visible directly above the equator, somewhere in the middle of the two arcs traced by the Sun in the summer and winter.

This is what’s called the equinox, and there are two each year. Around March 20 we have the vernal equinox or March equinox, also known as the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. Then around the September 22 or 23 is the autumnal or September equinox.

You might think that the lengths of the day and night would be equal during the equinox. As it turns out, this is only approximately true.

The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words aequus meaning equal and nox meaning night. But day and night are not exactly equal length on the equinox. To understand why, we need to know what causes the equinox in the first place.

Earth’s tilt

The reason we on Earth have equinoxes at all is because the Earth’s axis is tilted. The Earth spins around an imaginary line running through it called its axis. If the axis pointed straight from top to bottom, at a right angle to the direction of Earth’s orbit around the sun, the intensity of the light shining on Earth’s hemispheres would be the same all year round, and we wouldn’t have seasons.

Some planets in our solar system are like this – for example, Venus’ axis points nearly straight from top

 to bottom. 

All About Me

 We have REALLY enjoyed getting back into the groove of our Frog Street Curriculum! We started out September with a little "getting to know each other" by completing projects that are "All About Me"

Frog Street Curriculum

 As Summer begins to fade and September approaches, The Academy will start implementing The Frog Street curriculum in all of our classrooms, ages 6weeks-5 years. 

Please click on the link below to check out everything this fantastic curriculum offers!

www.frogstreet.com