February 16, 2022
Thank you to all the Providers who joined us for the first installment of the Quarterly Provider Network Meetings. Click below for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.
While we have moved to the quarterly cadence vs. the monthly meetings, we will still continue to provide information and data in the monthly Network Meeting PowerPoint format.
New VPK Director Credential Requirements for Private Providers.

All private VPK Providers must have a director with a current VPK Director Credential to be eligible for contracting in the 2022-2023 program year. The attached memo and flyer provide information regarding this requirement and identifies the five training courses that a director must have completed in order to obtain or maintain a VPK Director Credential.

If you have any additional questions regarding the VPK Director Credential requirements for private providers please email VPKQuestions@oel.myflorida.com.
IMPORTANT: Increased Emergent Literacy Training Requirements for VPK Instructors

Florida law now requires every prekindergarten classroom to have at least one prekindergarten instructor who has completed three five-hour emergent literacy training courses. Prior to the passage of House Bill (HB) 419 and HB 7011 in 2021, only one emergent literacy training course was required. Thus, continuing prekindergarten instructors, who have already completed one five-hour emergent literacy training course, must complete two additional courses. Any new prekindergarten instructors must take all three classes.

This legislative change became effective on July 1, 2021. Through this memorandum, the Department of Education, Division of Early Learning (DEL), is giving notice of this new requirement, and is identifying ten emergent literacy training courses that meet this requirement. Given the importance of this training, DEL is setting a deadline of July 1, 2022, for all prekindergarten providers to meet this requirement.
After completing the first three emergent literacy courses, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) instructors must complete one emergent literacy course every five years.

Instructors will receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion of each course, and the completed courses will be added on the instructor’s training transcript.

VPK instructors are encouraged to begin taking the emergent literacy courses in order to complete the three five-hour emergent literacy course requirement by July 1, 2022.  
Activity Plans based on the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards 4-Years-Old to Kindergarten

The Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards 4-Years-Old to Kindergarten is a comprehensive document containing age-appropriate information and reflections about how young children explore, create and think. Lesson plans are available to help develop the skills that 4-year-old children should know and be able to do by the end of their prekindergarten year. There are targeted standards for 4-year-old children included in each lesson plan.
 
To find these lesson plans, click the button below: 
Spring 2022 Registration Flamingo Early Learning Courses 
Spring B 2022 Term: 3/28 – 5/31
  • Direct Enrollment: 3/2 – 3/20
  • Late enrollment requests: 3/21 – 4/1, pending course availability 
  • Hosting courses or need statewide seats with blended model supports (i.e., CoP or Coaching): rosters and course selections/modalities are due by 2/25
Flamingo Early Learning VPK Emergent Literacy Training Courses. Click HERE
Florida Prepaid Information for Families

Florida Prepaid is encouraging families to start saving for college by joining them in the journey. When parents enroll in a Florida 529 Prepaid Plan now through April 30, 2022, they'll earn $125 for each year of college or university purchased - up to $500 total.
 
Prepaid Plans are the risk-free, stress-free way to save for college – allowing them to lock in future tuition costs for less.
 
  • Covers tuition and most fees; optional dormitory plan available
  • Choose the plan to fit your budget; Florida Prepaid manages the rest
  • Risk-free plans are guaranteed by the State of Florida
  • Set payment schedule (monthly, 5-year, lump sum)
Please print and distribute to your families
Getting preschoolers to do nice and kind things for others is a great way to teach the concept of kindness. Talk to children about what it means to be kind to others. Talk about how it feels when someone is kind to them.  To celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day tomorrow, brainstorm ways to be kind to others and make a list.

Here are a few random acts of kindness that you can suggest to your children in the classroom:

  • Tell someone in the class something that you like about them.
  • Help a friend clean up what they are playing with.
  • Open the door for your friends on the way outside.
  • Say hello to someone you haven’t talked to today.
  • Let a friend go first in a game.
  • Play with someone new today.
  • Tell someone “Thank you.”
  • Smile at someone.
  • Help your teacher clean up after snack time.
  • Let someone go ahead of you in line.
  • Throw away garbage that you see.
  • Write a nice note to a friend.
  • Tell someone a funny joke.
  • Give your teacher a compliment.
  • Make “Be Happy” notes and pass them out to everyone.

Download a free printable HERE with some Random Acts of Kindness. You can cut and laminate them into cards and have children pick a card to complete.
Start your FCCPC Credential

Register now for C Session (March 2 – May 6, 2022)

*EEC1319-14018: Portfolio/Supervised Work Experience
*EEC1701-14107: Child Development
EEC1732-14247: Infants and Toddlers
*EEC2523-11589: Leadership and Management of Child Care Programs

*FCCPC Classes
CONTACT AN EEC ADVISOR:
Dr. Robert Saunders
Chair, Social Sciences Division
850-872-3826
rsaunder2@gulfcoast.edu

Gulf Coast State College
Division of Social Sciences
5230 West U.S. Highway 98
Panama City, FL 32401
Nine Ways to Promote Literacy at Your Child Care Center

Here’s the bad news: literacy in the United States is declining. In fact, 43 million Americans fall into the “functionally illiterate” category, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And here’s the good news! As a child care provider, you can help reverse that trend with activities to promote literacy in your child care center’s classrooms! Let’s take a look at nine ways to promote literacy in your child care center, from babies to school-age kids.
There’s no other business quite like yours because no other business has your unique vision, identity and spirit. Ten years ago, the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest was created to put the spotlight on small businesses just like yours. One of a kind and exceptionally different.
 
In celebration of the contest’s 10th anniversary, we’re giving you even more chances to win big by awarding more than $360,000 in prizes.
 
The entry period is now open, so be sure to enter before the February 28 deadline. You could win big and empower your business to do more of the things you do best.
 
Enter for a chance to win one of these prize packages:
 
·   Grand Prize: Three winners of $50,000, plus $4,000 credit for FedEx Office® print services
·   First Place: Seven winners of $20,000, plus $1,500 credit for FedEx Office print services
 
All winners also receive priceless business-building consultation and learning opportunities.

Entry Deadline: February 28, 2022
Entering Is Easy:
 
1. Have your FedEx account number available. You will need your FedEx account number to enter the contest.
 
2. Write a short profile of your company. Tell us about your business and what makes you unique and stand out from the competition. Why did you start this business? What does your company do? What do you do differently or better than your competitors? Are there any social causes that are important to your business? How would you use the winnings to enhance your business?
 
3. Upload your company logo along with some photos. You’ll need a digital version of your current logo and several photos that best represent your business. Be sure your photos are formatted horizontally.
 
4. Create a video. (optional) Make a two-minute elevator pitch video about your business. Be authentic and show us the things that make your business unique.
 
Learn more at fedex.com/grantcontest. 
Quarterly Frog Street Training is available now
 
These recurring trainings will be for new staff coming on board or current staff needing a refresher.

  • Frog Street roll-out training is available for providers needing beginners training for their current staff.  
  • This can be completed virtually or on-site at your center.  
  • 80% of providers, currently using Frog Street Curriculum, has received this roll-out training for staff, but if you feel you need additional training, please email the redline.
HiMama Helps – Childcare Webinar Series

Now, more than ever, the early childhood community has to come together to figure out life during a global pandemic. The HiMama Helps Webinar series was created as a platform for ECEs and child care experts to share stories and practical tips with each other.
Join your hosts, Ria Simon and Kiah Price every Thursday at 2 PM, to explore different topics, offer practical strategies, and have your questions answered. Click below for the library of past webinar recordings.
Conference-Quality Professional Development by Early Childhood Experts

Early Childhood Investigations offers free webinars to early childhood educators. The series is produced by Engagement Strategies, LLC., and presented by leading authors, experts, and leaders. Now, you can participate in conference-quality training without leaving your home, classroom, or office.
We are looking for parents to join the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

Download a copy of the flyer by clicking the button below. Please make sure all parents in your center receive a copy of this flyer. You can print to send home with each of your children, or you can simply post the flyer on your social media page.
Florida KidCare

In a time when the health and safety of our community are most important, help keep the children in your center insured.
Encourage families in your centers to contact ELCNWF for information and assistance applying for Florida KidCare. Call 850-747-5400 X 108 or request CCR&R via the link below!
Teach your way during the 2021-22 school year with this timely new collection from PBS Kids, of flexible resources aligned to monthly themes and skills for PreK-2 students. Use the monthly Teach Your Way calendar and teacher planner to integrate media in creative and developmentally appropriate ways, all year long!
Big Heart World is an initiative produced by Sparkler in collaboration with Noggin that enables parents and educators to help children explore what it means to have a “big heart” and how to grow one. This means:

  • Learning About Me — Awareness of self: identity & belonging, feelings and self-regulation
  • Learning About You — Awareness of others: empathy, appreciation of diversity
  • Learning About Us — Relationships with others: interpersonal strategies

Have your kids listen, sing, and dance along to "Share A Smile", the next song from Noggin’s Big Heart Beats album. And be sure to follow their site as they will release a new video every month.
February Special Dates
 
National Cancer Prevention Month
American Heart Month
Black History Month
National Children's Dental Health Month
Burn Awareness Week (February 6-12)
National School Counseling Week (February 7-11)
Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 13-19)
February 16
National Pancake Day

February 17
Random Acts of Kindness Day

February 18
National Caregivers Day

February 20
National Love Your Pet Day
February 21
Presidents Day
 
February 23
National Banana Bread Day
 
February 26
Tell a Fairy Tale Day
 
February 27
National Polar Bear Day
 
February 28
National Tooth Fairy Day
We exist to help grow healthy children, parents,
and the relationship between them.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning