| Tip of the Week |
APPLES staff have helped hundreds of child care providers apply for their Credential. Take advantage of our experiences by taking a workshop and/or talking to one of our staff by phone or email. Contact us at help@applesforchildren.org. |
| Upcoming Events |
Register today!
A Day in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
Saturday, September 25th
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
$50.00
Solutions for Parent Partnerships:
Having Challenging Conversations
Saturday, October 9th
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Frostburg Library
$20.00
Domain Training: Mathematical Thinking
Saturday, October 16th
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
St. Ann's Manalis Center
$20.00
Applying for the MD Child Care Credential
Monday, October 11th
6:30 - 8:30 pm
$5.00
Options for Accrediting Your Program
Monday, November 8th
6:30 - 8:30 pm
$5.00 |
| Contact Us | |
6 West Washington Street, Suite 210
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
301-733-0000 or 800-924-9188
FAX: 301-733-0886
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Greetings!
Happy Wednesday - and Happy Fall.
Each year for the past nine years APPLES for Children has brought important early childhood education voices to Western Maryland. We've brought Dr. Jean and Jill Molli, Ella Jenkins and Vivian Paley, Mimi Brodskey-Shenfeld and Mr. Al - and numerous other national, state and regional leaders to share current trends in early childhood.
This year is no exception. At our annual conference this Saturday, you will hear several important voices, including Liz Kelley, MSDE/OCC's Director. Liz will discuss Maryland's Quality Rating Improvement System, or QRIS. In preparation for her presentation, we have been spotlighting the QRIS this month in this e-newsletter. Last week we looked at one component proposed for Maryland's QRIS: program accreditation. This week we will explore Maryland's Credential program as another proposed component.
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 "It does give you some pride in what you do for a living and it makes you feel that you are appreciated
in the early childhood community."
~Trina Johnson, Hagerstown Day Nursery
The Maryland Child Care Credential is probably not new to you. The Credential program began in 2001 and hundreds of Western Maryland child care providers have received their Credential since that time. The proposed QRIS will continue to recognize and reward individual child care providers through the Credential program.
If you have not applied for your Credential, now is an excellent time to do so. Staff at MSDE's Office of Credentialing are ready to receive your application and process it in a timely manner.
Trina Johnson, of Hagerstown Day Nursery, recently received her Credential (along with a financial bonus). She attended a workshop at the end of May to help her complete the application, sent in her application in June, and has already received both her certificate and her bonus. Trina says, "It was quite a painless process."
You may be unsure if the Credential is right for you. Trina thought the same thing: "I kept putting off getting credentialed - I never thought it was necessary. Once I took your workshop and saw that it wasn't that difficult of a process I decided to go for it."
Trina is happy to have her Credential. She is receiving the recognition she very much deserves - and she has a framework for continuing her professional development. She is also happy to take your questions at trinalynne@verizon.net.
If you have your Credential, be sure to keep it current by continuing your professional development each year. If you have been waiting for the right time to apply for your Credential - wait no more. Now's the time. Contact us at help@applesforchildren.org for help with your application. |
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