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BACK TO SCHOOL AND ON TO A NEW ROUTINE
By: Jenny Cox
As the Mississippi summer heat blankets the last days of August, the 2019-2020 school year is in full swing for students across Mississippi. From preschool to Pre-Med students, the lazy days of summer are long gone and being replaced with busy days of routines, homework and fall activities.
For parents, the daily demands make most of us feel like we are on a hamster wheel of endless spinning from one task to another. Our mornings begin with predawn alarms, followed by cooking breakfast, preparing school lunches, and then on to frenzied morning commute through congested roads to arrive to school and work all before 8:00 a.m. As the day continues, it is full of to-do tasks and routines and it seems finding a balance in the middle of the chaos to enjoy moments in these fleeting days is hard to grasp. Consider these four tips to make this school year more enjoyable and easier for you and your family. Read more...
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EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY
Provided by
Mississippi Community Education Center
MCEC's Families First programs work directly with the Mississippi Department of Human Service and the Mississippi College Board to support families across the state by providing early childhood services that help parents and caregivers identify high-quality childcare services and learning experiences.
Through this partnership, Mississippi Early Learning Standards and Guidelines have been revised and updated to ensure that childcare providers have up-to-date and research-based resources for use in individual childcare centers.
The Early Childhood Academy (ECA) through MCEC's Families First provides customized support. The mission of Early Childhood Academy is to provide families and child care providers with ongoing, high-quality technical assistance and professional development through resource and referral services, thus ensuring a nurturing learning environment that promotes readiness. The ECA provides on-site instructional coaching and technical assistance. Early Childhood Coaches and Professional Development Specialists are located throughout the state of Mississippi, and work directly with childcare providers and families to provide customized support.
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MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD'S EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY WORKSHOP
Mississippi Community Education Center is hosting the MCCB's Early Childhood Academy Workshop this past week at our State Street center location in Jackson. MCEC's Families First Program works directly with the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the Mississippi Community College Board to support
families across the state by providing early childhood services that help parents
and caregivers identify high-quality childcare services and learning experiences.
The theme "coaching and powerful interactions" is just one of the many topics the coaches will learn this week. The coaches were impressed with all the amazing resources and tools MCEC's new location on State Street has to offer.
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MCEC'S FAMILIES FIRST
"BACK-TO-SCHOOL" PARTY
The city of Durant hosted a back-to-school party on August 1, 2019, using the theme "Thomas the Train", children's books, and family literacy. This event was hosted by the City of Durant, Sharron Cauthen, Durant Excel By 5 and many other organizations in and surrounding Durant.
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MCEC'S MERIDIAN CENTER COALITION MEETING
MCEC's Families First Meridian center recognized partner Reverend David Schultz , Executive Director of the Wesley House Community center in Meridian. He has generously provided space for us to teach parenting and life skills classes at the Wesley House Community Center on Wednesday mornings. Mr. Schultz goes above and beyond to accommodate the MCEC team and community. MCEC's Coalition team is extremely grateful to be able to take advantage of the networking and resources available to them.
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MCEC'S VICKSBURG CENTER
COALITION MEETING
MCEC's Families First 4th Quarterly Coalition meeting with our special guest speaker Tameka Eatmon, Americorps, NCC, addressing to the coalition group.
Families First Vicksburg center is collaborating together in partnership to find ways to enhance the community.
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MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY PATROL RECOGNIZED AS THE "SPOTLIGHT" PARTNERS FOR THE
1ST QUARTERLY STATE STREET CENTER COALITION MEETING-JACKSON
MCEC's
Families First for Mississippi
in Hinds County held their 1st Quarterly Coalition Meeting. The meeting was held at the State Street center location in Jackson. The spotlight speakers were (L:R) Corporal Kervin K. Stewart, Captain Johnny A. Poulos, and Master Sergeant Criss M. Turnipseed of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
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MCEC'S FAMILIES FIRST AND LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS DONATED BACKPACKS TO THE CHILDREN OF THE RANKIN COUNTY TRUSTEE PROGRAM INMATES
MCEC's
Families First for Mississippi donated backpacks with school supplies to the inmates in the Rankin County Trustee Program. MCEC donated backpacks and teamed up with the local community to fill them with the appropriate school supplies per age group. The inmates in the trustee program were thrilled to be able to contribute to their child's first day of school by giving them the donated backpacks and supplies, and have the opportunity to get them started off right! Over 30 backpacks filled with school supplies were donated.
Pictured below are workers in the Rankin County Detention Center, Trustees and MCEC employees Jon and Tomeka Weeks.
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MCEC'S FAMILIES FIRST RECOGNIZED FOR THE 2019 COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD AT THE LAUREL HOUSING AUTHORITY
MCEC's Families First for Mississippi was recognized as the receipent of the 2019 Community Partner of the Laurel Housing Authority. Laurel Housing Authority offers a wide variety of programs ranging from affordable public housing, housing projects, and subsidized housing all over Laurel, Mississippi. The staff's goals include afffordable housing in a safe environment, while providing a high level of service. MCEC's Families First partners with Laurel Housing Authority to provide family financial classes, parenting skills development and encourage positive family involvement.
Pictured below: Felicia Jackson-Laurel Housing Assistant Director, Elisha Barnes-Booth-Hattiesburg Center Coordinator, and Alrick Young-Laurel Housing Director
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A SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
AT THE MCEC'S FAMILIES FIRST HATTIESBURG AND LAUREL CENTERS
MCEC's Families First Hattiesburg center, Field Educator, Jennifer Culpepper, began a support group for parents and caregivers of children on the Autism spectrum. All of the caregivers enjoyed spending time talking about their experiences, sharing stories, and telling the others about their children. In future groups, we plan to have guest speakers, as well as talking about how to deal with the impacts on the entire family. We ask that parents R.S.V.P., and childcare is provided. Groups are the 3rd Wednesday of every month in Hattiesburg, and the 3rd Friday of every month in Laurel.
Our next support group for Hattiesburg will be Wednesday, September 18, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., and our first support group in Laurel will be Friday, September 20, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
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MCEC'S FAMILIES FIRST PARTNERS WITH INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
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MCEC'S FAMILIES FIRST ATTENDED THE 155TH ARMORED BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM POST YELLOW RIBBON EVENT IN BILOXI
The
155th Armored Brigade Combat Team Post Yellow Ribbon Event-Gulf Coast held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Convention Center in Biloxi. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program does trainings, gives resources and provide services to help Service members and their families plan ahead for deployment and/or mobilization. Subject matter areas may include financial preparation, emotional health, household support, deployment safety, and other strategies to help you and your family transition into the deployment phase.
Pictured below are the MCEC Workforce Coordinators: Roy Balentine, Bubba Weir, and Kyle Noble
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