Attached please find a flier for Girls Night Out (GNO) in Washington County. Anyone is welcome regardless of the county in which they reside. Pre-registration is required, so please use the button below to email Traci Corbin with the Florida Department of Health in Washington and Holmes Counties. You can also call her at 850-638-6240 Ext. 121. 

The event will be held on Friday, May 19, at the First Baptist Church in Chipley from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. The guest speaker is Tosca Reno, and there will be food and shopping opportunities.  

It is hard to believe how fast things are moving for PFP providers. We are at the midpoint for completing the PFP post-CLASS observations, and they should all be completed by the end of May.

As we conclude the post‑CLASS observations, providers are working to gather data that are required for Benchmark 4. All deliverables must be uploaded by June 30, 2017, the deadline for Benchmark 4. Uploading materials on schedule gives you time for any corrections that may be needed. 

Attached please find a flier for the summer camps and special shows being held in the Calhoun County Public Libraries. 

Offering toddlers choices is important, but it can be a challenge. Two year olds must be limited to certain activities due to safety and/or health concerns, but this age is a critical time for children to develop a sense of autonomy. Finding a balance between the two is key. Children need to learn independence while they begin to navigate the world on their own. While it is easier for an adult to make decisions for a child, it is worth the effort to provide children with opportunities to make independent choices. Look for these opportunities in everyday life where your toddler can safely make selections or choose from a variety of options. Encouraging a child’s independence also enables opportunities for parents and caregivers to observe a child’s selection process.

Below is a link to a tip sheet developed by the Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) that can be shared with families for encouraging choice-friendly activities with children.

The next three classes in the four-part VPK Math Training series are registered on the DCF Child Care Training site, so please sign up today if you are interested. Suzanne Adinolfi recommends these courses be taken in order, but that is not mandatory. Below please find the course name, identification number for the DCF Child Care Training site, training date and time. This class is designed for preschool teachers and is not developmentally appropriate for your infant and toddler teachers. Please make sure only preschool teachers sign up for these trainings

• "Early Mathematics for Early Learners: Patterns, Measurement and Data"
   Thursday, May 18, 2017, from 2-5 p.m. CST (PC Coalition Office), ID: 7387
  
• "Early Mathematics for Early Learners: Shapes and Spacial Relationships"
   Tuesday, May 30, 2017, from 2 - 5 p.m. CST (Chipley Coalition Office), ID: 7388

If you have questions or have trouble signing up for these courses, please send an email to redline@elcnwf.org.

The 2016/2017 VPK Program year is getting close to having only 10 percent remaining. If you provide the VPK Program at your site, make sure there is still at least 10 percent (54 hours) or more left in the VPK Program before taking any new COEs from parents. If you have questions or concerns, please email redline@elcnwf.org.

The Coalition is requesting Written Confirmation of Intent to Contract for the 2017  Summer VPK Program. The public school districts are required to provide the 2017 Summer VPK Program. Please submit via fax or e-mail a simple summary which provides the following information:  

• Written Notification of Intent to participate in the 2017 Summer VPK Program
  
• Information regarding the Point of Contact which includes the Phone Number, E-Mail Address information, and a Fax Number
  
• For school districts, please identify the location currently anticipated for the 2017 Summer VPK Program.

This information will be used to create the 2017 Summer VPK Provider Profile which will be available to parents as they obtain their Certificates of Eligibility (COEs) online through the OEL Parent Portal. A response is required prior to April 13, 2017.

Please submit your Notice of Intent to Contract for the 2017 Summer VPK Program to:
 
Michelle Shadoan, Provider Support Specialist
Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, Inc.
703 W. 15th Street, Suite A
Panama City, Florida 32401
Phone: 850-747-5400  Ext 139
E-Mail: michelle.shadoan@elcnwf.org

A snapshot “Calendar” of which days/hours your program will run, including the potential start and end dates, would be appreciated by April 13 so that we may begin distributing information to parents who come to our offices to inquire.

A deadline for submission of the applications and required documents has not been established at this time. We will still require paperwork to register the program until the electronic system can be tested. You will complete the OEL-VPK 10 to register the classroom, the OEL-VPK 11A to set the classroom instructors, and the OEL-VPK-11B to set the class schedule. Additional documents include the VPK Prepayment Option Form and Classroom Capacity Form. All required forms and supporting documentation are required to be submitted prior to contract approval. (Copies of previously submitted paperwork will not be made.)

Now that spring is here and the weather is warming up, children want to go outside more often to play. There are many benefits of outdoor play time such as physical exercise, exploration of environment, and opportunities to make new friendships with peers. By teaching our children their name, address, and phone number, we can better equip them if they get lost or need help. Below is a link to a few tips on how to teach your child their name and address and who to go to in case of an emergency. 

The City of Panama City will be holding their Kids Fishing Workshop on Saturday, May 6,  on the Life Management Center main campus at Peace Pond. Attached is the official flier which contains details about this event. Please print the flier and share with anyone who is interested. If someone has further questions, please have them call Panama City Leisure Services at 872-3199.