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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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Free Resources!!
In last week's newsletter, we highlighted the Mentoring program and provided applications to apply. If you choose to be part of the program, and are working with a Mentor to move up in STARS, you are eligible to receive lots of free resources. Some items that we have provided in the past include the Early Learning Standards, PAS/BAS books, FLIP It, Building your Bounce, and Calendar keepers.
We hope that you consider attending our STAR 1 Move Up events, where these resources will also be available. The next event will be held on November 18th at Nook Sports in Manheim. We will be scheduling these events monthly in different locations.
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Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework
Strengthening Families™ is an approach to working with families that builds upon family strengths, rather than focusing on deficits. It is not a curriculum or a program, but instead offers a framework of five research-based Protective Factors that give families what they need to parent effectively. When these protective factors are robust in families the likelihood of child abu
se and neglect is reduced. This approach benefits all families, not just those experiencing stress.
In Pennsylvania this approach has been adopted throughout several family-serving systems. The Strengthening Families Leadership Team provides professional development, coordinates messaging and offers networking opportunities for providers implementing the approach.
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MSRK invites you to be part of the After-School Quality Project!
Facilitated by your SACC TA; program leadership, staff, families, children, school representatives, and community stakeholders form the ASQ team. Each member of the team plays a part in assessing the School Age program and comes together to form a shared vision of quality. Then the team develops a plan to make the vision a reality! Programs that participate in this initiative will receive FREE resources, expert technical support, and ongoing professional development.
Apply Today!
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STARS Renewal Process
If you have not submitted your renewal paperwork to your
Quality Coach
, please consider doing so. The following 3 documents complete your renewal:
Steps for completing an ECT (Enrollment Calculation Tool):
- You must enter every child enrolled in your program (if they were absent a day in the week you chose, you would still count them for every day they are ENROLLED.
- Use one tab for each age group/classroom (it is helpful if you enter the children in the SAME order that they appear on your classroom/center attendance sheets.)
- Enter date completed on the top of each tab
- Enter date you are using on the first tab (what week?)
- Enter classroom name & teacher’s name on the top of each tab
- Enter age group of child (one tab for each)
- Use table on the right to determine the number you enter.
- You must use a week of enrollment from July 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018 that reflects a NORMAL week in your program (no inflated summer numbers).
- You must submit your CCIS attendance from the month that you used.
- You must submit attendance sheets from the week that you used.
- You must submit any IEP/IFSP cover sheets (with child’s name & date) for any that you used to meet 10% eligibility.
- EVERY program must complete this. If you have already submitted your renewal, please submit this to your coach ASAP. If you have not yet submitted your renewal, send this with your renewal paperwork.
- Click here for the ECT Instruction pages
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Tuck in your Child by 8 -
Kim Alloway
from
Time Magazine; Special Edition, The Science of Childhood, 2017.
Score one for early bedtimes: preschoolers who go to bed by 8:00 PM are about half as likely to be obese teens as kids who stay up past 9 PM, according to a recent study in the
Journal of Pediatrics. Having a regular bedtime seems to be part of the credit: another recent study found that 3-year-olds with inconsistent bedtimes were nearly twice as likely to be obese as those with regular ones. That may be because children who have a regular early bedtime are more likely to get enough sleep and less likely to stay up late watching TV and snacking, says Sarah Anderson, author of both recent studies and an associate professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University. “Not getting enough sleep can result in changes in the hormones regulating appetite and metabolism”, she says.
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Homework in After-School Part II -
Rhea Simmons
Last week’s article focused on examining your program’s vision as a starting point for developing homework policies. Understanding the needs of the community is also key to having a homework policy that is aligned with your philosophy and that meets the needs of the families you serve.
Determining how much time, if any, to devote to homework completion should be based primarily on the needs of the children in your care, and the families that you serve. Low income children and children whose parents don’t speak English need homework support in different ways and for different reasons than children who are headed for ballet practice when they are picked up. And
all children need opportunities to play or engage in hands on learning experiences, including and perhaps especially, those who live in less safe neighborhoods and are struggling with low achievement.
Similarly, parents do want homework to be completed after school for some of the reasons stated above. This is not always the case however. Sometimes an opportunity for their children to get physical exercise and/or social interaction is equally (or more) important to parents. And some parents have admitted that after a long day, don’t have the time or energy to deal with homework struggles.
Responding to the needs of children and parents around homework can take many forms. Providing direct homework support in the program is one way. Indirect support by ensuring active children have an opportunity to play during your program so that they are more able to focus at home is another way to support homework. Providing articles and resources to parents on how to help their children with homework, or directing them to resources for academic help also supports parents and children in reaching their academic goals. Communicating your policies around homework in your parent handbook helps families to know what they can expect in this area.
Staff capacity and creating an environment conducive to study are critical pieces to consider when establishing homework policies. These will be discussed in the next article.
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Registration open for the 2017 Family Engagement Conference
Now is the time for families to register for the Family Engagement Conference 2017
Supporting Strong Partnerships for Children's School Readiness and Achievement
. This one-day, free Conference is focused on family engagement strategies and innovative practices. It is informed by families and professionals, for families and professionals. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in engaging workshops, café conversations, networking and access resources.
The conference will be held at two different locations: November 14 in Harrisburg and November 15 in Scranton and is open to all prenatal through 3rd Grade (P-3) stakeholders including: Family and Community Leaders, Administrators and Educators, Early Intervention staff, Home Visitors and Family Support professionals.
Share this information with the families in your program and encourage them to attend. Scholarships are available to support family participation (reimbursement for mileage, lodging, and childcare).
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Child Care Exchange Articles
Exchange Press offers over 40 online courses for directors and teachers on a wide-range of important topics, including leadership, child development, curriculum, environments, families, and more.
1. Download a set of articles to study at your leisure.
2. Take an online exam when you're ready.
3. Receive your CEUs from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
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ERS Training Sessions Scheduled!
These will be held on February 10th at Giant on Linglestown Rd.
Foundations: 9:30 – 11:30 am
ECERS-R: 11:45 am – 1:45 pm
ITERS-R: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
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Moving to STAR 2
October 17th from 6:30-8 at Lebanon CCIS
- with Stephanie Spitz
ERS Workgroup
October 19th from 10-12 at Lewistown Children's Center
- with Michaelle & Beth Simon
PD Registry Workgroup
October 24th from 9:30-11:30 at CAECTI
- with Corrie & Paula Alcock
Church Based Workgroup
October 25th from 9-11 at First Church of the Brethren in York
- with Carrie
POI Workgroup
October 26th from 10-12 in Lycoming Co (location TBD) - with Erica & Patty Carroll
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Other Community Meetings & Events
Clinton County LICC
October 25 at 9:30 at Infant Development Program
Kindergarten Transition Conference
October 26
in Harrisburg
Register Here
PennSACCA Conference
November 10 & 11 in Harrisburg
Register Here
Family Engagement Conference
November 14 in Harrisburg
Register Here
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Professional Development Updates
Register on the
PD Registry
Professional Development Highlights
Credentials & Higher Education
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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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