2026 October Growing Tree News

It is Happy Harvest Time

Our annual Growing Tree Fall Gathering is planned for Saturday, October 3rd, and we hope you’ll join us at DD Ranch in Terrebonne for one of our favorite fall traditions!

Spend the morning enjoying life on a working farm—tromp through the pumpkin patch, take a hayride, visit the animals, and enjoy time together with other Growing Tree families.

It’s always a fun, relaxed morning and a wonderful way to celebrate the season together.

Grab your boots, bring the family, and come help us welcome FALL—the Growing Tree way!

Let Them Struggle a Little

As adults, our instinct is often to make things easier for children. We zip the coat, open the container, fix the block tower, or step in when something isn’t working. But sometimes the best thing we can do is allow them to struggle—a little.

Struggle is where children learn persistence, problem-solving, patience, and perhaps most importantly, confidence. There is something powerful about the moment a child finally gets that zipper started, figures out how the puzzle piece fits, or solves a disagreement with a friend and realizes, “I did it!”

Of course, we don’t want children to become completely overwhelmed. We can stay close, offer encouragement, ask a question, or give just enough help to get them moving again. The goal isn’t frustration; it’s giving them the opportunity to discover what they are capable of.

At Growing Tree, we often remind ourselves: Easiest is not always best. Sometimes taking a little longer, making a few mistakes, and trying one more time is exactly where the learning happens.

So the next time you find yourself wanting to jump in and do something for your child, give them another moment. You might be surprised by what they can do.

Annual Poinsettia Sale

We are excited to welcome you to our Annual Poinsettia Fund Raiser!

It’s hard to believe our annual poinsettia sale has been part of the holiday season at Growing Tree Children’s Center for more than 30 years. Year after year, families, friends, local businesses, and community members have supported this tradition, and we are incredibly grateful.

When you purchase or sell a poinsettia or wreath from Growing Tree, you are doing more than adding a little holiday cheer to your home or business. Funds raised through our poinsettia sale directly support staff development and professional growth for our teachers. Your support enables us to invest in our staff and helps them grow as early childhood professionals.

At Growing Tree, we believe that investing in our teachers is one of the very best ways we can invest in our children. Strong, knowledgeable, supported teachers create the nurturing, engaging environment our children deserve every day.

Poinsettias are a great way to complete your yearly volunteer hours:

• Do you need to complete your yearly volunteer hours?
• Sell to businesses, family, and friends
• For every 2 poinsettias you sell you will receive 1 volunteer hour
• Delivering Poinsettias equals volunteer hours
• I personally will deliver the plants to the businesses you sold the plants to

School Pictures:

Julia Duke nailed our pictures again! You will receive your pictures via email. Her turnaround is pretty quick. I’ll let you know when I hear that they are out for delivery!

Boo!

The week of October 26-30th has been named “BOO” week at Growing Tree. We will have Bootiful snacks, Ghostly activities, and monstrous fun!

• Monday – Crazy Hair Day
• Start Boo Week with silly, spooky, or simply CRAZY hair!
• Tuesday – Orange & Black Day
• Wear orange, black, or both!
• Wednesday – Wacky Wednesday
• Mismatched socks,
• Thursday – Monster Mash Day
• Backwards clothes, crazy patterns—anything goes!
• Friday – Spooky Shirt Day
• Finish Boo Week dressed in your spookiest shirt!

Winter Menus:

We will be switching over to our Winter menus November 1st. You can find our menus on the bulletin board in the lobby, in the classrooms and on our website under the ??? tab

Sunscreen:

We will be packing the sunscreen away at the end of the month. If you have personal sunscreen at home, please pick it up in the classroom.

Play Lists:

Class playlists have been updated on the website under the Parent Tab. Please review to ensure your information is correct.

Please visit: thegrowingtree.org <parents<playlists
Log-in information is username: parent password: gtcc2023.

Immunization Rates:

Growing Tree’s and Deschutes County’s 2024 Immunization Rates are available for review on our website under Parents<Parent Handbook.

Brightwheel Sign In

Please sign your child in and out daily using your Brightwheel App. QR codes are available at the front door and on each classroom window; we even have paper codes for your car as a convenience.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Take Blue Bags to Bottle Drop –
• Clean rain gutters out.
• Pick up trash and pull weeds around the perimeter of the Center.

First Friday

First Friday is October 2, 2026 Growing Tree provides a parent’s night out on the First Friday of each month. This is an excellent opportunity for a date night or quiet time. The evening includes dinner, crafts, and a movie. Children should bring their pajamas. Cost: $40 per child

• Time: 5:30-10:00pm
• Cost: $40 per child Cash, Check or Venmo
• Bring pajamas
• Enjoy your evening

Helpful Hints

• All clothes from home should be labeled with your child’s name.
• Please take your child’s nap supplies home each Friday to wash and return them on Monday.
• Please check your child’s file folder on Fridays.

Blue Bags:

• Blue bags are available for your recyclable bottles and cans. Each sleeve of bags earns you one volunteer hour. Please drop your full blue bags at any bottle drop location. If you want to drop off Growing Tree’s recycling at one of the bottle drop locations, you will also earn one volunteer hour. To date, Growing Tree has received over $2000 from your recycling.
• Bottle drop locations
  • New bottle drop location at the Albertson on 3rd an Revere.
  • Fred Meyer has a bottle drop.
  • Bottle Drop 755 NE 2nd St

Wishing you an enjoyable October!

Tammy