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Welcome to the Smart Start email
newsletter. You will find a Family and Early Childhood Corner
below. Please enjoy the information, pass it along and
feel free to check out our website at www.partnershipforchildren.org!
A Welcome to our Newest Staff
Member...
We would like to welcome Kristie Davis to Smart
Start. Kristie serves as provider services specialist.
She welcomes and assists visitors to the Smart
Start office either in person or on the telephone. She
also provides technical support and program information to child care
providers based on developmentally appropriate activities by
utilizing our resource room, library, and production room.
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A quick thank you:
This past week Governor Bev Perdue released her
proposed state budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. This budget
makes critical investments in four key areas, education being
one of them. We would like to recognize and thank
our Governor today for holding the line on investments in young
children. Smart Start initiatives across the state were held as
equals to the K-12 and Community College systems. This is an
important step in our state's future success.
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Family Corner
Parent
Training at Fairgrove Family Resource Center
- What: 1-2-3 Magic:
Effective Discipline
- Where: Fairgrove Family
Resource Center
- When: Starts Thursday,
April 29th
- Time: Dinner starts at
6:00, Class at 6:45
- Register: Call 472-7217
MORE INFORMATION
The new Free Pre-K Applications are ready for the
2010-2011 School Year. If your child will turn 4 years old by
August 30, 2010 and you would like to apply for free pre-k, please
visit the website below and fill out an application.
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Do
you know about out our resource room?
Smart
Start's lending library offers play kits, toys, books, and much more.
These materials are available for early childhood professionals and
parents to check-out and use with their children. Come use our
die cuts and laminating machine as well! Soon we will be adding new
materials to the resource room for check-out. Some of the new items
include...
- School
Age Games
- Infant
and Toddler Toys and Equipment
- Wonderful
new and interactive books
- A
light table
- And
much, much more
 
For more information on
our Resource Room call (336)
249-6688
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Early Childhood Corner
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congratulations to
the 155 Davidson County Professionals who have received their Early
Educators Certification!!
Check
out who has received it
Call Mary Draughn @ 249-6688 for more information on
receiving your free certification.
Attention Directors/Owners: Food Program Update
Do you need help navigating your way through the food
program? There is help!
More Information
Please take this survey! Your voice counts...
Complete by May 10, 2010
The NC Institute for Child Development Professionals and
the NC Division of Child Development want to hear from you.
Your comments could change Early Childhood Professional
Development. For Example: funding, compensation,and
retaining a high quality and stable early care and education
workforce.
Survey Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P9G87FW
Reminder: You will not be able to re-enter your survey; so plan to
complete your survey in one sitting. Approximately 10 mins.
The Ready Schools Community Team has initiated a
new method for making connections between preschools and public
schools. The outcome of this fantastic new work is beneficial
for rising kindergarten children and their families. The Team
asked preschool programs to share information about children
they serve that will be attending kindergarten in 2010-2011.
This information was then sorted and shared with public
schools. The elementary schools can use this information
to:
- Identify
rising kindergarten children and families who have not
registered for kindergarten yet.
- Contact families
of rising kindergarten children to invite them
to kindergarten orientation and screening events.
- Build
relationships with preschool programs that typically send
children to their school for kindergarten.
The form was sent to child care centers, family child
care homes, and half-day preschool programs in the county. Our
intention is to continue this activity next year and we are hopeful
more preschool programs with participate in the future. To
learn more about Ready Schools or to volunteer, please contact
Stephanie Nelson at(336) 249-6688
Additional
information can also be found on the internet at www.ncreadyschools.org.
Telephone Seminars for Early Childhood
Professionals
Call-In Learning: Early Childhood Learning at your
fingertips. This is an opportunity to participate in exciting
seminars on issues facing child care providers across the state
without leaving your program.
Education for the Stars Update
Verification forms and grade reports or transcripts
for Education for the Stars Spring application due by 5:00 PM May
20th 2010. Please contact Don Stewart 336-249-6688
with any questions.
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Reminder: Smart Start
Scholarship Program!
For
those families currently being served under the Child Care
Scholarship Program at Smart Start, please see the information
below for upcoming deadlines to continue your child's scholarship for
2010-2011:
- Random
Eligibility Form and Documentation due
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
- Renewal
Application and Documentation due
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Also,
parents/guardians who have not attended a parent orientation, within
90 days of signing their child care scholarship contract, will not be
renewed for 2010-2011. Please contact Lauren at 249-6688 to
sign up for an orientation, if you haven't done so already.
For
more information on SSDC Child Care Scholarship Program, please call
Mandy Campbell or Lauren Groce at 336-249-6688 or email us at:
mandyc@partnershipforchildren.org
or laureng@partnershipforchildren.org.
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Linda Leonard
We have been very busy
this spring, and have even more plans underway for the remainder of the
year! On April 17th, SSDC hosted it's 11th Annual Itty Bitty Kiddie
Festival. We had over 4,000 people turn out for the event
and through generous donations were able to collect 2,680 pounds of
food; enough to feed 168 people for two weeks! Over 30
different agencies and businesses participated, and families enjoyed
crafts and games at each booth along with magic shows, bounce houses,
karaoke, and Kid Zumba. For pictures-
On May 27th Smart Start will host their second Business Leader's
Forum. Dr. Gustavo R. Grodnitzky will be speaking about survival
in the new workforce made up of four different generations.
A Parent Seminar is also being planned for early summer, keep an eye
out for more information soon!
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Starting
April 15th 2010 (on-going)-
Apply
for Free Pre-K @ Smart Start office. Call (336) 249-6688 for
more information!
May
27th 2010-
Business
Leaders Forum@ First Baptist in Lexington. Call (336) 249-6688 for more
information.
June
8, 2010-
Tuesday
for Tots, Trip to Raleigh to meet with legislatures about funding for
Early Childhood. Contact Megan at (336) 249-6688 for registration
information.
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