WEEKLY COALITION BLAST | SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
WE EXIST TO GROW HEALTHY CHILDREN , PARENTS , AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM.

Lynne's Message 
Dear Providers - 

Even with Hurricane Irma approaching, the September Face-to-Face Meeting will be tomorrow, Thursday, September 7, at Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle in Sunny Hills starting at 9:00 a.m. There will be a lot of good conversation covering important topics for School Readiness and VPK providers.

Please bring your favorite dish to share! We look forward to seeing you there!


Lynne
Fundraiser at Javier's in Chipley - September 8 ALL DAY
On Friday, September 8, Javier's Mexican Grill in Chipley will host a fundraiser. TEN PERCENT of net sales from the ENTIRE DAY will be donated to the Coalition. Please see the flier attached for more information. Share this flier on social media and anywhere you can to promote this special event.
Hurricane Irma and Childcare Providers
We are beginning preparations for the potential of a major hurricane. Governor Rick Scott has declared all 67 counties of Florida in a state of emergency in anticipation of Irma’s threat. Attached you will find the Department of Children and Families Natural Disaster Fact Sheet to all child care providers, and we ask that you distribute as you feel appropriate.
Early Math Matters for Young Children
Many parents (and some teachers!) are intimidated by math. If this sounds like you, spend some time reflecting on how you use math in daily life. The two-page guide below was provided by the Child Care Resource and Referral team with the Office of Early Learning, and it includes information for providers and parents to become more comfortable with teaching and encouraging math practices in young children. If you are reading this article, send an email to redline@elcnwf.org with the subject line “Math Kit” to receive a free math kit from the Coalition. (The first 15 to respond will be awarded.)

If you provide your parents and/or teachers with a monthly or weekly newsletter, consider sharing these helpful resources with them. Email redline@elcnwf.org if you have additional questions about training or resources available for math education.
Middle School Parent Nights in Washington County
The Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) is holding important and informative parent workshops at Rouhlac Middle School and Vernon Middle School this fall. Because middle school can be a challenging transition in the life of many adolescents, PAEC is offering these workshops to help provide parents with best tips and expert knowledge from field professionals.

See the attached fliers for important registration and attendance dates for both Rouhlac Middle School and Vernon Middle School. If you have questions, contact Bonnie Wertenberger at 850-638-6131 Ext. 2259 or bonie.wertenberger@paec.org. (Her information is included on the flier as well.)
Reminders for Redline Email Submissions
When sending a question to the Redline, please include your full name, the name of your center, and a detailed message so we can better answer your questions or concerns. 
Jackson County IFAS Extension/FDOH 5K Walk/Run - September 16
The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) and the Florida Department of Health in Jackson County will host their 2nd Annual Heart and Sole 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, September 16, from 7-10 a.m. at Citizen Lodge Park in Marianna. Registration is FREE, and a T-shirt is included for the first 100 participants. Pre-registration is open online through Eventbrite, and it can be accessed here. You can also register the day of the event. Anyone is welcome to participate in this community initiative to improve personal health.

Please see additional information on the attached flier, and contact Marie Arick at jmarick@ufl.edu if you have questions.
Reminders for VPK Providers
Please review the contract documents submitted to ensure that the instructors listed on the OEL-VPK 11A are correct and that the form lists everyone who is in the VPK Classroom.

Changes to forms OEL-VPK 10 (VPK Director), OEL-VPK 11A (Classroom Instructors), or OEL-VPK 11B (VPK Calendar) must be made within 14 CALENDAR DAYS to be in contract compliance.

We will start VPK monitoring this month (September). 
Getting Vroom to Families in a NEW Way
If you have parents with little to no access to WiFi, consider sharing the attached flier with them. Vroom now offers brain-building tips via text messaging!
A Message About the Performance Funding Project
We are excited to start a new year of the Performance Funding Project (PFP). We are thrilled to have a mix of returning and new providers who have submitted an application to be part of PFP this year. 

PFP will look different for this 2017/2018 program year. Your tier is not based on how many years you have been a part of the PFP program. This year, the provider tier will be based on a composite score that is based on CLASS scores from last year. The first benchmark will not start until November 1, and there are only three benchmarks this year instead of four.

Providers will be notified of the date and time that an assessor will visit to conduct the pre-CLASS observation once that determination has been made.
OEL "Early Learning Parents' Pages"
Attached please find a link to OEL's September 2017 edition of "Early Learning Parents' Pages." If you would like to view any past editions of "Early Learning Parents' Pages," click here.
Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida | Phone: 850.747.5400 | Fax: 850.747.5450 | www.elcnwf.org
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Office of Early Learning