The snow is melted and I've seen a few flowers peaking through. The warmth of the sun and the fresh smells of summer are wonderful for the soul. I hope that you are having a great Spring.

As we head in to the last two weeks of our annual Partnership With Youth Campaign, I want to thank all of our volunteers who have been working hard to attain "Goal Buster" status. And of course, a BIG thank you to all the donors who have contributed to the campaign so far. Thank you so much for your gifts to kids and families of our community. We appreciate those of you who realize that it is good to be a part of    something bigger than yourselves and to be part of a movement for the betterment of our communities. If you have not been asked yet or have just not given, I hope that you will consider contributing. If you have not been contacted yet just stop by the front office and ask for a brochure. We would love to get you signed up as a contributor to the YMCA mission. You can make a difference.

We are excited about the opening of registrations for the new Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center. Our friends at Mathew's House have had the opportunity to get signed up, and now registrations are being taken from the general public. If you have an interest in sending your child to the new childcare center, please stop by the YMCA and pick up some information. We plan to open in June and are excited about the buzz going around. The YMCA has contracted with SWIFS to be the operator of the new center. We are excited to announce the hiring of Dianna Williams as the Director of the new childcare center. With her ample education and experience in childcare we feel she will offer our communities an excellent enrichment program for all children. She will be coming on staff this month to get things prepared for opening.  We want to welcome her to the YMCA family, so please stop in soon and congratulate her on her new position. If you or someone you know is thinking of signing a child up for the new center, you can save on the registration fee if you do so before April 15^th. See the Y for more details. If you need to combine childcare with Jack and Jill Preschool services, please let us know right away so we can arrange for that as well.

If you have a 3 or 4 year old needing preschool services from Jack and Jill Preschool please don't forget to contact Mrs. Haynes right away as well. The preschool spots fill up quickly. Also, don't forget that 4 year olds who are 4 by September 15, 2010 go to preschool for FREE. Get your spot reserved today by calling Mrs. Haynes at 243-3934. The Nishna Valley Family YMCA's Jack and Jill Preschool is 5 Star rated by the Department of Human Services.

SummerYers registration is going on now as well. Stop by Jason's room to learn more about the great summer planned for your kids in need of school-age childcare. Great character building activities, swimming, crafts, games, and Friday field trips are just part of the fun in store for kids this summer. Stop by the Y and find out about how great your kid's summer could be. Call Jason for all the details at 243-3934.