ELSD In The News

The The Difficult Business Model for Daycare Providers



Kaya Klein

SD ECE Conference



This year's South Dakota Early Childhood Education Conference is hosting a business-focused pre-conference.

Eyes on Huron. They are moving and shaking...

WELCOME to Melissa Klinsky, the new lead for Early Learner SD, Huron. Melissa is a preschool teacher at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Preschool. Her center will be the first in Huron to complete the Levels of Excellence. Congratulations!

Huron preschool/pre-kindergarten providers and Huron School District Buchanan K-1 Center Kindergarten teachers and administrators will gather on Wednesday, March 2nd for a collaborative meeting. Staff from Community Counseling Service, the Community Health Nurse/Bright Starts Parenting and Huron HeadStart are also part of the attending coalition. The group gathers each year for roundtable discussions concerning curriculum and trends in early learning. Each group has an opportunity to share newsworthy items pertaining to their respective center. The group will receive an update from Huron School District Superintendent Dr. Kraig Steinhoff regarding the Huron School District McKinley Learning Center that

will open in the fall of 2022.

Early Learner Chamberlain

The Chamberlain Recreation Department, Rec Coordinator, Ron LaMie runs wonderful youth activities during the winter months including Cooking Class. The programs are open for children as young as 4. These younger kids learn from Ron and older children in the sessions who are learning too, and naturally help to lead in the class. These classes offer opportunities for the kids to learn cooking skills like measuring, stirring, pouring and more. Children make different foods to eat and share.  

Lake Francis Case Economic Development is working to support our local childcare providers in the Chamberlain-Oacoma area. With the help of the Barger Foundation, a local foundation, LFC wants to make an impact and help resolve the childcare crisis. The grant is called “Request for Childcare Provider Assistance” and it was designed to let the childcare providers let us know what they need. This grant is to be used for financial assistance towards needed items, toys, books, or projects to benefit children. LFC’s efforts are aimed to help improve the quality of care in early childhood programs in the communities. One received application is for a startup provider that just moved to Chamberlain and will open in March with 9 kids.

Lead's Annual Winterfest

Lead's Annual Winterfest pulled out all the stops to host a wintery wonderland for kids and adults alike! The kiddos received the most benefit from the President's Day weekend events. Activities were diverse and all over town. Local businesses and volunteers rallied to build a sledding hill right off of main street, a dance competition was hosted at the local bakery and all day arts and crafts were offered at the Miners Tin Cup. This event is one great example of how communities in SD are bringing a focus to the youth in a community during their annual events.

Early Learner SD Collaborations

CPCM is hosting a breakfast on April 1 in Sioux Falls to “kick off” child abuse prevention month and to raise awareness about how all sectors can work together to increase protective factors for children. One of the CDC’s strategies for preventing ACES is to “Ensure a Strong Start for Children” – a goal shared by Early Learners and stakeholders.

Tickets are available and sponsorship requests are being accepted. For either follow the link: 

Black Hills Gather to Grow | Family, Kids and Family Yoga Festival

BH Gather to Grow is a family-friendly, community-centered event that synthesizes literacy, art, yoga and fun. Visit Lead, April 22nd-24th this Spring to grow with us. The focus is on early learners, children of all ages, families, and the professionals who support them. By promoting a variety of intentional movement and educational sessions, we commit to building a strong foundation for children and community relationships.

Please email Cary: bhgathertogrow@gmail.com for inquiries.

If you would like to submit an event for your organization to our Collaborators Section, please submit details or a flyer to info@earlylearnersd.org by the 15th of each month for next month's newsletter.