Roots and Wings

Host Melanie Little welcomes The Grinch to discuss his chaotic holiday plans, including Thanksgiving dinner (roast beast!) and how he celebrates Christmas with the Whos. Discover his unique views on Santa, presents (live rhinos and gassy hippos), and his anxiety over decorating. Plus, learn about his busy schedule, including appearances at the Fox Hill School event and various Massachusetts tree lightings. Meet Our Guest: The Grinch, famed resident of Mount Crumpet, sits down for a rare interview to share his (reluctant) holiday plans with the Whos. Top Takeaways The Grinch now celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, and "Flurbous Day" (with flurbing) with the Whos. He learned he can write Santa a letter, possibly asking for coal, which is very good for exfoliating. The Grinch will appear at the Fox Hill School event and several tree lightings in Massachusetts. Helpful Links & Tools Resources: The Grinch will be at Danvers Tree Lighting on December 6th from 4-5:30pm https://danversfalconfest.org/events/christmas_tree_lighting/ Comedy at the Bell Inn and Tavern on December 14th at 6:30pm https://www.bellinnpeabody.com/events https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grinch-comedy-night-tickets-1965632461606 Fox Hill School Website: https://www.foxhill-school.com/

Discover the vital role of Early Intervention (EI) for children from birth to three. Pam Ferris of Aspire explains the comprehensive services offered, covering development areas like motor skills, communication, and social-emotional growth. Learn the benefits of early intervention for maximizing progress, identifying developmental milestones, and accessing various support options, including cost-free community groups. Find out how easy it is to start services, as parents can self-refer. Meet Our Guest: Pamela Ferris, DPT, CEIS, CEIM, is the Assistant Director of Aspire Early Intervention-North Shore. Top Takeaways Early intervention is vital; the earlier you start (birth to age three), the better the progress. EI addresses holistic development, including motor milestones, feeding/sleeping trouble, and sensory reactions. Parents can self-refer; EI services have no out-of-pocket costs due to insurance or DPH coverage. Helpful Links & Tools Resources: Website for CDC Milestones (Milestone Tracker app/site): https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/features/developmental-milestones-matter.html Aspire Developmental Services Website (for online referral form): https://www.aspiredevelopmental.org Aspire Developmental Services Main Phone Number: 781-593-2727 Contact Pam Ferris: Pamela Ferris DPT, CEIS, CEIM Assistant Director Aspire Early Intervention-North Shore pferris@aspiredevelopmental.org 593.2727 Fox Hill School Website: https://www.foxhill-school.com/

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Colleen Shea joins us to discuss how parents can navigate the back-to-school season safely. We cover managing common illnesses, understanding the role of fever in building immunity, essential hygiene practices like hand washing and cough etiquette, and knowing when to call a doctor. Learn key guidelines to keep children healthy as they transition back to group settings. Meet Our Guest: Colleen Shea is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Salem Hospital and Fox Hill’s healthcare consultant. She advises: “Getting enough sleep... will also keep the body healthy and hopefully send off some viruses as well.” Top Takeaways Illness is normal in a group setting; it helps the body build essential immunity. Fever is defined as 100.4°F or higher. Treat the child’s comfort, not just the temperature. Keep children home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication. Helpful Links & Tools Fox Hill School Website: https://www.foxhill-school.com/

Join host Melanie Little as she introduces Fox Hill School teacher, Ms. Christina Hatch. Learn how Ms. Christina found the school when her daughter, Emma, was a preschool student in Danvers, transitioning from parent to dedicated teacher. Discover the powerful community established at Fox Hill and hear about Ms. Christina's latest project: organizing the school’s vast library of children’s literature. Meet Our Guest: Christina Hatch is a dedicated teacher at the Fox Hill School. After interning in early childhood education, she joined the staff and helps keep the school organized. She loves the Fox Hill community, noting: "It really is a fun community and the parents are friends". Top Takeaways How Ms. Christina transitioned from a Fox Hill parent to a beloved teacher. Fox Hill creates a strong, lasting community for students and parents in Danvers. The extensive school library of children’s literature is being cataloged and numbered. Helpful Links & Tools Fox Hill School Website: https://www.foxhill-school.com/

Join us as we chat with Lauren Bosse, a Fox Hill School teacher and proud mom of two alumni. Lauren shares her diverse journey from a decade in social work and running a children’s consignment business to becoming an integral part of the school community. Discover how her unique background informs her teaching and parenting, plus a surprising fun fact about her alter ego, Dr. Beaker. Meet Our Guest: Lauren Bosse is a teacher at Fox Hill School and a mother of two alumni. With a background in social work and entrepreneurship, she brings diverse experience to her teaching. Inspirational tip from guest: Her social work experience was "really helpful in teaching now and raising my kids," even if it made her want to "put them in a bubble". Top Takeaways: Takeaway 1: Diverse professional backgrounds enrich teaching and parenting approaches. Takeaway 2: Passion for a school community can lead alumni parents to become staff. Takeaway 3: Embracing creativity, like an alter ego, can make learning engaging and fun. Helpful Links & Tools: Fox Hill School Website: https://foxhill-school.com

In this episode of Roots and Wings, we introduce Emily Carter, a lead teacher and assistant director at Fox Hill School. Discover her inspiring 17-year journey from intern to assistant director, her unique perspective as both a teacher and parent, and her family's deep, multi-generational connection to the school. Learn how her diverse experiences contribute to making Fox Hill a valuable resource for families. Meet Our Guest: Emily Carter is a lead teacher and assistant director at Fox Hill School, with almost 17 years of experience. She holds a master's in early education and is also a parent, with two children who are Fox Hill alumni. Inspirational tip from Emily: "We can be a resource for our families as teachers, but also as parents". Top Takeaways: From intern to assistant director: Emily's 17-year journey at Fox Hill School. Teachers as parents offer invaluable insights and resources to school families. Multi-generational connection: Emily's family history with Fox Hill School runs deep. Helpful Links & Tools Fox Hill School Website: Fox Hill School website