NEWSLETTER

January 2024

January Parenting Spotlight:

Spend your lunch hour with Vanessa Vidaurri, Family Engagement Specialist, to learn about what bullying is, the different types of bullying, and how to support children, whether they are the victim, the bully, or the bystander. Click here to sign up!

Resource Spotlight

Texas Health and Human Services' Turn To webpage provides resources for supporting a child, a friend, a family member, or yourself through mental health challenges and substance abuse.

Free Early Childhood Educator Training

Did you know that Bridges to Growth offers free high quality training classes for early childcare educators all year round? The spring semester training schedule is out now and includes classes on a wide variety of topics to benefit teachers working with all ages of early childhood!

In January, join us to learn all about incorporating sensory learning into your classroom! Click here for more information or to register.

Registration for each month's classes will open on the 15th of the month before on Eventbrite. Follow us there to be notified when new events are posted.

Click the image below to enlarge the flyer for the spring semester training schedule.

TGP Happenings

Many Thanks

Many thanks to the Southwestern Student Life Division for the donations from their holiday food drive. This student-led Holiday Food Drive was a service effort to help with food insecurity in Georgetown and the surrounding area.

Thanks to these amazing students, and the entire Southwestern University community, the many nonperishable food items will help to assure high school students at our NEST Empowerment Center have what they need this holiday season during the break from school.

Leslie Janca, CEO, attended to accept the donation from Bryce Stiemert, SU Student Government President. Joining Leslie for the celebration was TGP Board Chair Kimberly Garrett and Past-Chair Kent Huntsman, and TGP NEST Empowerment Center Coordinator Brigid Cooley. Also receiving donations of food items were our good friends at The Salvation Army and The Caring Place.

A heartfelt thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Georgetown for their generosity! Their donation of toys and clothes has made this Christmas extra special for a Bridges to Growth family.

We are grateful for the partnership of organizations like Kiwanis Club, who were able to jump into action when we reached out for help for a family in need. Thank you to President Denise White and her daughter Christianna for providing the donations in time for Christmas.

The Kiwanis Club's commitment to community service shines brightly. Together, we're making a positive impact and spreading joy during this festive season.

News from the NEST

Thanks to several community groups, we were able to supply 25 students with stockings stuffed with self care items, treats and over $150 worth of gift cards in each. These gift cards — most for places like HEB, Target, and some fast food establishments and restaurants — are especially important to our students, some of whom use the gift to ensure they are financially taken care of during the break. And for those students who have most basic needs met, the stockings are a wonderful way of showing them the community cares about their wellbeing and happiness.

Stockings were passed out during our NEST holiday party, which was made extra special thanks to the efforts of loyal volunteers from San Gabriel Presbyterian Church. In addition to providing dinner for us (with dishes all holiday themed), they also provided gifts for our NESTlings…packets of hot cocoa and marshmallows to be enjoyed over winter break and a set of Bluetooth earbuds for everyone.

And the generosity shared with us this month didn’t end there.

Students were treated to a Christmas Cookie party and BINGO night from the folks over at Christ Child Society, a Catholic group local to the area. And thanks to a warm clothing drive hosted by the Open Circle Sunday School Class at Wellspring United Methodist, our NESTlings had the opportunity to “shop” in our community closet for everything they need to stay cozy this winter.

I could write an entire novel about the kindness we’ve received this Christmas season and it still wouldn’t be enough to express my gratitude. Instead, I’ll leave you with a short anecdote:

Just an hour before sitting down to write this, I met with a class at Grace Episcopal School. With the guidance from their teacher, a group of four students (ages 4-5) put together hygiene kits for us to give to NESTlings who may need them. As I was accepting this thoughtful gift, one of the children noticed my nametag and asked why there were hearts in the TGP logo.

On the fly, I told them it was because our heart is where we store big emotions, especially love. Having hearts in our logo can serve as a reminder of why we do what we do here at TGP. This little student responded saying they were glad they got to share their heart with our NESTlings.

Thank you all for doing the same.

-Brigid Cooley

TGP NEST Empowerment Center Coordinator

The Buzz at Bridges to Growth

December was a very full, fun, and festive month at Bridges to Growth! We partied all month long, celebrating the holidays with our Creative Connections families, Spanish Kids Club, ESL classes, parent groups, and we even had a special visit from Santa during Toddler Time! He visited with the kids, read them 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and led a Christmas song sing-along. Thank you, Santa and Mrs. Claus!

As we turn the page on the calendar, we are excited for our 2024 programming. We feel settled in our new location for the Carver Center for Families and we are looking forward to trying some new things. We have a lot coming up, so click the flyers below to find out more information!

New Stay & Play Hours

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10:30am-12pm

Wednesday 2-3:30pm

Starting in January, our Stay & Play hours are changing. Kids aged 0-6 and their parents/caregivers are invited to stop by during these hours to play in our Discovery Zone playroom and visit with a parent educator. We hope to see you!

Upcoming Events for Kids

Click the events for more information or to register!

*NEW* Preschool Soccer - Thursdays, February 1 - March 7, 4:30-5:30pm

Kids aged 3-5 years old will learn soccer through games and fun activities. Click the flyer to enlarge. Brought to you by TGP and the Georgetown Family YMCA.

Toddler Time - Wednesdays, January 10 & 24, 10-11am

Free play, sensory play, story time, and songs for kids ages 1-4 and their parents/caregivers.

¡Hola! Amiguitos! - Wednesdays, January 17 & 31, 10-11am

Free play and sensory play, plus story time, and songs in Spanish for kids ages 1-4 and their parents/caregivers.

Spanish Kids Club - Tuesdays, January 30 - March 4, 4:30-5:30pm

Learn Spanish through fun and games! For 1st-3rd graders. Only a few spots left! Email alondra@georgetownproject.org for more information.

Creative Connections - Thursdays, February 1 - March 7, 4:30-5:30pm

Connect with your kids through expressive art activities designed to get conversations flowing! For kids ages 5 and up and their parents/caregivers. Led by Suzanne Wood, LPC-S, TBCH Hope Counseling Program.