WEEKLY COALITION BLAST | OCTOBER 4, 2017
WE EXIST TO GROW HEALTHY CHILDREN , PARENTS , AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM.

Lynne's Message 
Dear Providers,

The Face-to-Face Meeting will be Thursday, October 5, at Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle in Sunny Hills. Please bring a dish to share. We will see you at 9:00 a.m.

In your service,

Lynne
VPK Providers MUST Update VPK Calendar for Storm Closures
The Coalition has received guidance from the Florida Office of Early Learning on how to update the VPK calendar for the most recent state-of-emergency closures. Attached are those instructions shared during the VPK conference call. Each of our 85 VPK providers will need to complete this process prior to October 15. Although you have submitted paperwork in a timely manner, the updates to the VPK calendar must be completed. Since guidance is just coming out, we have a few days to get into compliance.
Information About At-Risk Enrollments
For new at-risk enrollments, an email will be sent from Coalition staff to providers to inform them of a new BG1 child who will start at their facility. Providers should respond by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the BG1 child's enrollment start date to let the Coalition know whether the child has started. The Coalition is required to inform case managers whether the child shows up to their new center. Confirmation emails and questions should be sent to redline@elcnwf.org.
Beef O'Brady's Fundraiser in Marianna - Tuesday, October 24
Our next fundraiser event will be at the Beef O'Brady's in Marianna. TEN PERCENT of sales on October 24 will be donated to the Coalition. From 5-7 p.m., kids 10 years and under eat free. There will be a costume contest for a special prize.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

  • Download the attached flier (below) and share with your friends, family, and customers.
  • Visit our Facebook page to share the event on social media. (Note: You must be signed into Facebook for the link below to work properly.) Click "Going" so your friends and family know you plan to attend. Even if you cannot attend, click "Going" to help others know about the event.
OEL "Early Learning Parents' Pages" for October 2017
Attached please find a link to OEL's October 2017 edition of "Early Learning Parents' Pages." If you would like to view any past editions of "Early Learning Parents' Pages," click here .
NEW Edition of "VPK Snapshots"
Attached please find a link to the newest edition of "VPK Snapshots." Included are articles about technology recommendations for children as well as information regarding the Florida Early Care and Education Professional Development System.
OEL MEMO: Hurricane Irma Closures of VPK Providers
Attached please find the memorandum from the Office of Early Learning regarding VPK closures due to Hurricane Irma.
Holiday Ornament Sale to Raise Match Funding
At the October Face-to-Face Meeting on Thursday, October 5, Provider Jeanne Hitchcock (Along the Way) will bring several beautiful hand-crafted holiday ornaments to sell.

All money raised during the ornament sale will be donated to the Coalition for match funding. Ornaments are $10 a piece, so please bring cash.

REMINDER: For every $1 raised by the Coalition, the grant matches with $16.
Early Learning Scholastic Book Fair - SAVE THE DATE!
From November 6 - 10, the Coalition is sponsoring an Early Learning Scholastic Book Fair! Scholastic fliers will be distributed during the October Face-to-Face Meeting on Thursday, October 5, at Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle. You will be able to purchase books through the on-site fair at the Panama City Coalition office or online. Online purchases will be available from October 29 - November 18.

The on-site fair will open on Monday, November 6, during the November Face-to-Face Meeting that will be held in the Panama City Coalition office. Providers will have the first opportunity to shop at the fair. There will be a family night on Thursday, November 9, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

For centers who raise the most money through the fair (either on-site or online), Scholastic dollars will be awarded to help toward book purchases.

If you have questions, please send an email to redline@elcnwf.org. Scholastic and fair informational fliers will be distributed at the October Face-to-Face Meeting, so make plans to attend.
VPK Student Attendance and Parental Choice Certificates
As you may recall, each provider must maintain VPK Student Attendance and Parental Choice Certificates (OEL-VPK 03 (S) or OEL-VPK 03 (L)) for each child in the VPK Program. Please turn these in with your September Enrollment/Attendance Certification.  Parents are required to sign  and date this form  on the  last school day or after  verifying attendance during the prior month. 
 
As a reminder, please upload the OEL-VPK 03 (S) with sign-in/sign-out sheets or OEL-VPK 03 (L) for the month of September 2017 with the September Rosters.

  • Reimbursement Folders: Please create a new folder each month to upload your attendance documentation. Do not upload your documentation on the first page. 
  • Documentation: Documentation such as doctor’s notes or Rilya Wilson must be submitted at the same time as the attendance rosters (before 5:00 p.m. on the third business day). If not, an adjustment must be submitted through the Child Care Payment Adjustment Form (via Survey Monkey) and the Coalition Document Exchange (formerly provider portal).
  • Labor Day: If you closed your center for Labor Day, please mark your attendance rosters with an “H." As a reminder, Labor Day is included in the board-approved holidays.
  • Verify Uploads: Remember to always check what you upload to the Coalition Document Exchange to ensure that all the appropriate documentation is uploaded to the billing group. If you have any questions, please send a request to redline@elcnwf.org.
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