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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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STARS Updates from the Mid-State Regional Key
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STAR 2 Benefits You!
Join us for the STAR 2 Benefits You group meetings. We will go over the benefits of being a STAR 2 and the standards to meet this goal. You will have the opportunity to work in cohort groups, individual meetings, and have lots of support throughout the process!
8/29/17, 9:30-11:30, at United Way, 145 S. Hanover Street, Carlisle
8/29/17, 1:30-3:30, at PaTTAN, 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg
8/31/17, 9:30-11:30, at Child Care Consultants, 29 N. Duke Street, York
8/31/17, 1:30-3:30, at SCCAP, 153 N. Stratton Street, Gettysburg
9/12/17, 9:30-11:30, at Lanc. Farm & Home, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster
9/12/17, 1:30-3:30,at CCIS, 808 Quentin Road, Lebanon
9/14/17, 9:30-11:30, at JC Head Start, 129 Smith Road, Mifflintown
9/14/17, 12:30-3:30, United Way, 13 E. 3rd Street, Lewistown
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Request for Applications: Innovative Programs for Pennsylvania's Early Childhood Education Workforce
Applications due September 29, 2017
Higher education, early learning and child care programs, and community-based partnerships working to implement innovative and sustained pathways, designed specifically to meet the needs of Pennsylvania's early childhood workforce.
The PA Department of Education and OCDEL have announced the Innovative Programs for Pennsylvania's Early Childhood Education Workforce application guidelines, established to ensure that early childhood education (ECE) professionals have the required knowledge and skills to help all young children learn and develop. These guidelines provide direction to partnerships as they submit applications focusing on building new innovative and sustained career-oriented pathways for current early childhood workers to earn the following ECE industry-recognized credentials:
- A credit-bearing Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate;
- An associate's degree;
- A bachelor's degree; and/or
- A Pennsylvania ECE PreK-4 instructional certificate.
Pathways created under these guidelines are designed to develop the capacity for early childhood educators to help all young children learn across the age groups of birth to eight years old. Applications submitted in response to these guidelines are limited to partnerships aimed at nurturing and sustaining high quality cross-systems relationships among and between two-year and four-year institutions of higher education (IHEs) and Pennsylvania's early learning programs.
Approximately $1.4 million is available on a competitive basis under this grant application for one funding cycle beginning in fall 2017 and ending December 31, 2017, unless the U.S, Department of Education grants a one - year, no - cost extension. In that event funds will be available through December 31, 2018. Each regional or statewide-partnership will be limited to $400,000.
Applications are due by 5 p.m., September 29, 2017.
For more information, see the Notice and the Guidelines.
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Family Provider News - Carrie Kitchen
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July is National Ice Cream Month!
Celebrate with the children in your care by making homemade ice cream with the recipe below from PBS Kids Kitchen Explorers. Super Simple Ice Cream Recipe: Learn how to make delicious ice cream at home without an ice cream maker.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- (2) 1/2 cups of salt, plus one pinch
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 10 cups of ice
- 3 one-gallon freezer bags
- towel (for insulation) Instructions
1. Put the milk, heavy cream, sugar, a pinch of salt and the vanilla extract in one freezer bag. Before sealing it, take out as much of the air as possible, so the bag will be as flat as possible.
2. With the bag sealed, mash the ingredients with your hands to mix them all together.
3. In the second freezer bag, pour five cups of ice and add 1/2 cup of salt. Close the bag and mix the ice around (from the outside) with your hands. Repeat this process with the third freezer bag.
4. Lay one bag of ice on half of the towel. Put the bag with the milk mixture on top. Then on top of that, lay the second bag of ice. Cover with the other half of the towel. Wait at least 30 minutes for the milk mixture to freeze.
5. When it looks firm enough to serve, go for it!
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Health & Safety News- Anne Dodds
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How much water should a child drink?
Water is the liquid of life and plays a critical role in ensuring the body functions correctly. It not only helps manage body temperature through perspiration and provides a mechanism to dispose of waste through urination, but it also transports nutrients absorbed by the digestive system to repair damaged cells and tissues. Children especially, because of their small
body mass and active nature, need plenty of water to avoid the risk of dehydration.
Significance
- How much water children should consume on a daily basis depends on a variety of factors, including their height and weight, their level of activity and even the time of year if they are playing outdoors. Children often keep playing even after the twinge of thirst strikes, so during the summer there is an increased risk of dehydration.
The Facts
- When trying to determine how much water your child should drink each day, pediatricians recommend them consuming half of their total body weight in ounces of water. For instance, the average 2-year-old weighing 28 pounds should drink almost two cups of water, or 14 ounces, and the average 6-year-old weighing 46 pounds should drink about three cups, or 23 ounces. A good indication that a child is drinking the appropriate amount of water is urine that is nearly or completely colorless.
Misconceptions
- For years, medical experts have stuck by the rule that eight glasses of water per day was the best advice for everyone. But especially given vast differences in the way people live their lives today, there is no one answer that applies to all, especially when talking about children. They key is not to take chances. When in doubt, make sure your child drinks a cup of water with each meal and at least one other cup during the day.
Some May Need More
- On very hot days, or when exercising a lot, a child should drink more water. A child who feels lethargic or dizzy or appears flushed may need more water, as these are signs of mild dehydration. A child who urinates less than usual or has abnormally dark urine also needs more water.
Bottom Line
- The amount of water a child needs depends on the child's age, the climate and activity level but most children should get about 48 ounces or more each day. Children who show signs of dehydration should increase their water intake.
Think Prevention! Before kids go out in the sun, remember,"Slip Slap Slop"
Countdown to Get Smart Competition 2017!
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Summer Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) from the USDA provides free meals to children from low income families so they may receive the same high quality nutrition throughout the summer that they eat in school cafeterias during the school year. To find a SFSP site in your community:
- Call 211
- Call 1.866.3.Hungry or 1.877.8Hambre
- Text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877877
- Download Rangeapp.org to your phone
Find a location on the USDA's Summer Meals Map.
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Healthy Mealtimes: Feeding Your Baby & Toddler Right from the Start: from the Zero to Three website
Food is at the center of our lives. And it’s much more than the fuel that keeps us going. It can be a source of pleasure, celebration, and—sometimes—challenges. Figuring out how to make sure kids are eating the right things, in the right amounts, can be tricky. Here are some tips for starting healthy eating habits early, without turning mealtime into a battle.
Click on the link above to learn more.
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School Age News - Rhea Simmons
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After School Quality: Engaging Families and Children
To meet the needs of children and families is why school age programs exist. School Age program directors and staff often express concern about the lack of parent involvement and feedback in the School Age program. Do parents want their children to play or do homework? Do they consider the staff caring and friendly? Does your technology policy work for them? ASQ is one way School Age programs can connect with and engage families, and be informed about how well they are meeting the needs of those they serve.
Through surveys, observations and parent and child representatives on your ASQ team, you have access to their thoughts and opinions about what is important to them in an afterschool program. This provides your program with the rationale for making changes that serve the needs of families. When parents are invited to be program observers and members of your ASQ team, they get to see that you are more than just “babysitters”. Through working with the ASQ Team to analyze your program’s strengths and challenges, they gain insight into how your program enriches their children’s academic and social lives.
Children also have a place in ASQ. As part of the process all children complete a survey regarding their experiences in the program. Additionally, 2-3 older children act as student leaders, and provide suggestions for program changes when appropriate.
By having parents and children as part of your ASQ Team, you create and strengthen connections with families while ensuring that your program is evolving to meet the changing needs of families today.
For more information on ASQ, visit the PA Keys website or follow this
link.
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ERS Work Group with Amy Hoffman 8/2/17, 10:00-11:30, at Panera Bread, Carlisle Rd, York with Carrie - Amy Hoffman will be there to answer any questions you may have!
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Ready, Set, Go Back to School
- 8/5/17, 8:00-1:30 WITF
Birth to Five Committee 8/8/17, 10:00-11:30 at Adams County Head Start, 705 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg
ECE Coalition Meeting 8/9/17
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1:00-3:00 at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, 33 Springbrook Drive, Canton. RSVP
Desiree.Rockwell@memorialhospital.org
Opening of School Year Special Presentation: Nurturing the Resilient Child 8/22/17, 12:30 - 2:00 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 201 W.Louther Street, Carlisle with Marcy Witherspoon, MSW, LSW, Senior Training Specialist, Health Federation of Philadelphia
Transition to Kindergarten Conference at PATTAN Center, Harrisburg 10/26/2017 For Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lebanon County Educators! Learn the best transition techniques, ideas, and strategies to implement in the fall!
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Professional Development Updates
Register on the PD Registry
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CDA Renewal Amnesty Program Extends Deadline The CDA Council’s Renewal Amnesty Program allows anyone with a CDA credential expiration date as far back as January 1, 2007 to apply for renewal online. This amnesty opportunity provides a waiver of the CDA holder’s expiration date. It does not waive the five steps required to renew a CDA. All applications and payments must be submitted online by the Amnesty Program expiration date of December 29, 2017, with no exceptions or extensions.
Training Highlights
Mid-State Training List
Online Training Opportunities
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Seize the Summer
Beginning on July 5 and running through August 4, celebrate "Seize the Summer" with Read Aloud 15 Minutes, a non-profit organization that recognizes the benefits of reading aloud to children and encourages families and caregivers to read aloud every day for at least 15 minutes.
At readaloud.org new materials and resources have been added for you to share with others to inspire reading every day. Be sure to look at the parent handouts "Where Will Books Take You?" available for various ages and in both English and Spanish:
Use these resources to share with others to "Seize the Summer" and help promote reading aloud every day!
What’s New with T.E.A.C.H. for FY 2017 – 2018?
Join us for a webinar with Laurie Litz, T.E.A.C.H. Director to learn more about what’s happening with T.E.A.C.H. in the new fiscal year. In addition to basic information about the scholarship program, these webinars will provide more information on:
2017-2018 funding & scholarship availability,
- Current scholarship models and new scholarship offerings for Director’s Credential & Practicum/Student Teaching,
- New partnering colleges/universities & degree/credential programs available,
- Revisions to current scholarship models that reduce tuition contributions for both recipients and sponsoring employers,
- Changes to eligibility criteria to include Head Start and Pre-K Counts teachers, and
- More information on eligibility determination for T.E.A.C.H. and the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program.
PACCA will offer separate webinar sessions for Early Childhood Professionals and Program Administrators/Directors. A designated Q&A time will be provided during both webinars to help answer specific questions.
Find out everything you always wanted to know about the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA scholarship program. Learn how to make it work for you and/or your staff, and find out how to take advantage of all the benefits T.E.A.C.H. has to offer!
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA is administered by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA). T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA is a licensed program of Child Care Services Association. For more information call visit www.pacca.org or call 717-657-9000.
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Newsletters & Important Websites
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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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