Volume 2/ February 2019
Dear First Start Partnerships Families,

What a wonderful second edition of our Family Connections e-newsletter! It's filled with ways to be involved in your child's education and your community. We hope that this new way of communicating with our families will give you NEWS you can USE!

Speaking of NEWS, you may have seen a newspaper article or Facebook post about our new name - First Start Partnerships for Children and Families . Be sure to check out our new website, www.firststartpartnerships.org .

Now we would like to hear from YOU. Please take a minute to tell us about your experiences so far this year with this brief survey .

We will use this feedback as we continually improve our services for children and families.

Yours,

Annette Searfoss, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Parents help shape our programs. That's what Policy Council is all about. Whether you give us suggestions or take a voting seat at our table, Policy Council wants to hear from YOU!  You can reach us through your classroom teacher or by sending an email directly to Policy Council at  fchs.policy.council@gmail.com .
Dear families,

I wanted to update you about our transportation status. We know how important your transportation plan is to your ability to participate in our program, and work or attend school.

Since November, our Transportation Coordinator has been driving a bus due to one of our drivers leaving the organization. The Transportation Coordinator acts as a substitute driver.

During this transition, if a bus driver was out, we did not have a substitute available, and we needed to cancel transportation services for a day. In every case except for one, families were notified at least a day and usually more than a day ahead about this change. In one case, there was a last minute, morning-of cancellation due to a sick driver.

We are in the process of hiring a bus driver to allow our Transportation Coordinator to resume her substitute role. This will take some time, and we appreciate your patience in this transition.

Please arrange for back-up transportation should we need to cancel transportation during this time so that your child can still participate in our program. If you need assistance with this planning, please contact your Family Advocate or Teacher.

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring each child arrives ready for kindergarten.

Annette
Kindergarten Registration events are “kicking off” across Franklin County. If your child turns five before September 1 st , 2019 then he/she may be registered for Kindergarten. Click here for the dates when school district registration is occurring in your area.
7 key phrases Montessori teachers use and why we should use them, too.

Montessori can be hard to sum up in just a few words—it is a philosophy on education and child development that runs deep. It's a way of seeing the world. I think one of the easiest ways to get an idea for what Montessori means is to listen to the language that Montessori teachers use.

Waynesboro availability is still open!  REGISTER TODAY!
Franklin County joins call to action to give kids the best chance at a good life

Franklin County leaders have signed on to a national call-to-action to ensure local children receive the support and care in their first three years of life that will drive them, and the community at large, to a successful future. Read more....


Have you heard of Macaroni Kid?

Each week, they send out an email sharing all the best events, activities and happenings in our community, along with a dose of parenting news, crafts, holiday happiness and other great info for you and your family. Check out their website HERE and subscribe to their newsletter!
Stepping Forward Works Training Program
Stepping Forward Works is a United Way of Franklin County initiative driven by workforce development needs in our county. For more information click HERE.

FREE courses beginning soon:
Celebrating 100 Days of School
Family Violence

Family Violence, also referred to as domestic violence, touches millions of lives across America each year.  First Start Partnerships for Children and Families would like to highlight the ever increasing problem of violence in the family and partner with our families in bringing about awareness, hope and help in the face of this recurring tragedy. Read more...

February 18 - No school (President's Day)
Each day of our lives
we make deposits
in the memory banks
of our children.
Charles R. Swindoll
We are a proud Keystone STARS Four Star Program, with funding from the Office of Head Start, Pennsylvania's PreK Counts, and Franklin County United Way.