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A Leader In Community Services
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Greetings!
Welcome to the Mid-State Regional Key STARS Newsletter!!
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How to Close your STARS Grant
See below for the documentation explaining what you will need to do to close your STARS Grants. If you received multiple grants this year, you will need to do each process separately. There is also a receipt chart attached for those of you that received Merit or Rising STARS Awards.
PLEASE READ the directions attached and make sure we have your grant closure by the date listed on your grant agreement packet (45 days after you receive your check).
If you do not think you have the
Final Approved grant documents, please reach out to your Quality Coach, and they will send them to you. These are the documents you
must
use for your grant closure.
If you received a Special Initiatives grant, please contact your Quality Coach for assistance with closure.
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Register to be a One Book Reader or Host Site
Help support early literacy during April through Pennsylvania's One Book Every Young Child! Individuals are invited to be a PA One Book reader during the month of April at an early learning program in your community. Registration is also open for early learning programs to host a guest reader during April. The PA One Book, Every Young Child is Pennsylvania's collaborative project using the vehicle of "One Book, One State" program to highlight the importance of early literacy development.
This year's selection, My Cousin Momo, written and illustrated by Zachariah OHora, is a story that explores accepting and celebrating differences.
Reading events will take place during April. Guest readers are provided with a copy of the book and can select a time and date during April that works best with their schedule. Register to be a guest reader by completing the
Guest Reader Online Registration
. If you represent an early learning program, you can register to be a host site by completing the
Host Site Online Registration
.
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ASQ Chat and Chew
The next cohort of the After School Quality (ASQ) Initiative is about to begin! This is a great opportunity to engage your after school or summer program stakeholders in your quality improvement goals. Throughout the process you get ongoing technical assistance and concurrent support for other parts of your program. This includes supporting staff with activity planning, behavior guidance strategies, room arrangement and scheduling and/or summer programming. Additionally, participating staff will earn professional development credits.
ASQ Chat and Chew sessions have been scheduled for the month of February. See the
attached flyer and RSVP to find out what the After School Quality Initiative is all about!
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Media and Your Children
These questions are also in one of the
linked articles
– but worth pulling out. Share them at your next family event.
Here are five questions I'd suggest all families should ask themselves before sharing anything online about their children:
1.Why are you sharing it?
2.Would you want someone to share it about you?
3. Could your child be embarrassed by it now or in the future?
4. Is there anyone in the universe who shouldn't see this about your child, now or at any point in the future?
5. Is this something you want to be part of your child's digital footprint?
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February is National Children's Dental Health Month
How many time a day does your child brush his teeth? Does she floss? It's never too early to teach your child how to take care of their teeth. During February's National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) learn how you can help your child practice good dental health.
This year's theme is "Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth for a healthy smile." This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, health care providers and others to promote the benefits of good oral health to children and adults, caregivers, teachers and many others.
The
NCDHM Program Planning Guide
offers program coordinators resources to promote the benefits of good oral health to children. The guide includes easy-to-do activities, program planning timetable tips, a sample NCDHM proclamation and much, much more.
Did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children in the United States? The good news is it can be prevented with the help of CHIP! CHIP coverage includes teeth cleanings, check-ups, x-rays, fluoride, dental sealants, fillings, orthodontia services when medically necessary and much more. Get more info at
CHIPcoversPAKids.com
.
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To Share with Families
Helping your child towards school success
Will your child start Kindergarten in the fall? In the next few months, many schools will host Kindergarten Registration.
Early Kindergarten registration will help you prepare your child for his first day of Kindergarten. Your school may provide special programs, events, or resources to help your child prepare for the important transition.
Visit the
PA's Promise for Children
website
to locate Kindergarten Registration information, then check out these resources to help your child prepare to be successful in school.
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Promoting Resilience & Social-Emotional Health
Strategies for Infants & Toddlers
Safety Check-Up
- A safety check-up is a review or observation of the physical surroundings in which babies and toddlers play and interact. When the physical environment is free of hazards both at home and at the care setting, infants and toddlers can more readily explore, thus building their initiative.
Communication
- Respond to your infant's or toddler's attempts to communicate with you through facial expressions, gestures, cooing, babbling and words. Gently mirror his or her sounds and expressions. Your encouraging responses help your infant or toddler learn to value attachment/relationships.
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Join us for a STARS Networking Meeting!
STARS Documentation
STARS & Certification Networking
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Other Community Meetings & Events
Centre County LICC Meeting
Tioga ECE Coalition Meeting
Clinton County LICC Meeting
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Professional Development Updates
Upcoming ERS Training
February 10th in Harrisburg
February 19th in Mount Joy
Brush Up on Children's Oral Health
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 from 2–3 p.m.
Infant/Toddler Cognition: Supporting Early Math
Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 from 3–4 p.m.
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Newsletters & Websites
Online Training Opportunities
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Job Openings
Director of Little Lights Learning Center
Little Lights Learning Center of Carlisle United Methodist Church is hiring a full-time director to set the tone for the facility, overseeing physical facilities, managing the curriculum, hiring staff and managing the overall image of the center. This enables Little Lights to be a ministry of Carlisle UMC to care for and share the love of Jesus with kids 6 weeks-5 years old. As a PA Keystone Star 4 Center, the director must meet Star requirements. The director must possess exceptional communication, administrative, and interpersonal skills; be able to work under the direction of the Little Lights Board, and must have an obvious love of Jesus Christ and the church, and the passion to share that love with children and their families. The director will assist in designing a new center as the church moves facilities in fall 2019.
For consideration, a candidate must submit CUMC employee application, cover letter, and current resume. Deadline to apply is February 21, 2018.
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Thank you for all you do for children, families, and your community by being part of the STARS program!
Sincerely,
Mid-State Regional Key/Child Care Consultants
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