| Smart Start
On-Line |
Spread the word and help us get 100 fans on Facebook. Fan number 100 will get a special prize! |
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| Intern Profile | |
Name: Erin Rowley
Professional Position: Communications Intern
Educational Background: About to graduate from PennState with a bachelor's degrees in journalism and history
Why I am involved in Smart Start: Smart Start gives me a good opportunity to hone my communications skills.
My Favorite Smart Start Projects: I really liked publicizing and then working at the Countdown to Kindergarten event
My Goals for Smart Start in the future: I hope it continues to do everything it can to help young children reach their potential!
Where I live: State College
Family: My parents live in Reading, Pa., and my 20-year-old brother is a sophomore at PennState.
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| Smart Start Is ... | |
Smart Start-Centre County is a network of early care and education professionals, parents, and community leaders committed to giving children in Centre County the best possible start in life through education, information, activities, and outreach.
Staff and Interns
Eileen Wise, Executive Director
Kelly Johnson, Project Manager
Kathy Le, intern
Erin Rowley, intern
Action Committees
Early Care & Education
Early Childhood Mental Health
Parenting & Literacy
Board of Directors Charlene Friedman, Chair Rebecca Ardoline, Secretary Sudha Babu Patricia Best Melissa Clark Doug Coatsworth Linda Duerr J. Hugh Dwyer Doug Erickson, Treasurer D. Richard Francke Rob Huffard Denny Nau Roxie Nestlerode Jack Raykovitz Joseph Webber |
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| Volunteer Opportunities | | |
All volunteers receive a free Smart Start T-Shirt!
T-shirts are also available to buy: adult sizes $15 kid sizes $12 |
| State Legislators | |
State Representatives
Kerry Benninghoff
Boroughs and Townships served: Bellefonte, Centre Hall, College, Gregg, Harris, Millheim, Penn, Potter, Spring, State College, Walker kbenning@pahousegop.com, 355-1300
H. Scott Conklin: Boroughs and Townships served: Ferguson, Halfmoon, Huston, Patton, Philipsburg, Port Matilda, Rush, South Philipsburg, State College, Taylor, Worth 238-5477/ 342-4872
Michael Hanna: Boroughs and Townships served: Benner, Boggs, Burnside, Curtin, Haines, Howard, Liberty, Marion, Miles, Milesburg, Snow Shoe, Union, Unionville 353-8780
State Senators
John Wozniak: Boroughs and Townships served: Philipsburg, Rush, South Philipsburg 266-2277
Jake Corman: Boroughs and Townships served: all other than Philipsburg, Rush, South Philipsburg 355-0477 | |
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| Committee On-line Reporting Forms |
Advocacy Actions:Report any advocacy actions such as legislator contacts, signing petitions, or writing to the media.
In-Kind/Volunteer Time:Report your volunteer time spent on Smart Start projects and committees. Transition Activities:Report any meetings, activities, publications, etc. with a goal of making connections for improved transition to kindergarten. |
| Disclaimer | |
Acceptance of advertising, announcements, and postings does not represent Smart Start's endorsement of any product, program, or service, nor is Smart Start responsible for representations made by others. | |
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Dear Smart Start Supporter,
Please plan to join us for a very special event this evening from 5:30 - 7:00. We are hosting our first public Opening Reception for our April Children's Art Show at the State College Municipal Building. Come on out to see the artwork and celebrate the wonderful programs and children who participate! And please support our generous sponsors, The Honey Baked Ham Co & Cafe and *ndulge cupcake boutique.
We have a final scrapbooking session for childcare and preschool programs scheduled: May 19 at Matternville Preschool - register by May 15. We also have two transition to Kindergarten meetings coming up: tonight for Bald Eagle area and April 13 for Penns Valley area. For more information, or to register, email kelly@smartstartcc.org.
Wouldn't it be nice to go to one place to learn able to learn about ALL preschool and childcare options in Centre County? We are considering adding this feature to our website. Before starting, we'd love to have your ideas about what information would be most useful. Please email kelly@smartstartcc.org with suggestions.
To make a contribution in support of our work, visit our Causes page on Facebook.
For the children,
Smart Start Staff |
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| Public Events and Meetings | |
Smart Start Committee and Board meetings are listed under the 'Committee Activities" section below.
APRIL
April 4: Opening Reception for Children's Art Show, State College Municipal Bldg., 5:30 - 7:00 pm.
April 8 - 10: Bill Coleman Fine Art Photography Spring Clearance Sale, benefitting Centre County United Way, Holiday Inn Express, Waddle Road, State College. 8th 12 - 6; 9th 10 - 5; 10th 11 - 2.
April 9: School Age Child Care Conference, 7:30 - 4, Toftrees Conference Center, $40/person, For information call Claudia Hunold at 800-346-3020 ext 9726.
April 11: Public Reading of "Whose Shoes" by Anita Ditz, Children's Librarian, State College Municipal Building, 10:30 a.m.
April 11: Free Parenting Workshop: Busy Parent's TIMECHOICE #2: Connecting and Communicating with Your Kids. Matternville Preschool, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. To register visit www.ciu10.org or call Jeff Holter at 342-0884x3023.
April 13: Maternal Child Health Sympsium. Sessions by doctors on drug use and addiction during pregnancy. 7:30 - 4:00. The Casino at Lakemont Park, Altoona. $60 ($30 for students) including breakfast, lunch, and breaks. Register by April 4. Email kelly@smartstartcc.org for a PDF of the brochure.
April 14: Global Connections World Affairs Forum: From Tiger Moms to Helicopter Parents: Parenting for Success Across Cultures, panel of parents from around the world, Schlow Library 7:00 pm, FREE
April 18: Professional Workshop: Annual Child Abuse Training for Mandated Reporters, Calvary Baptist Church, State College, 9 - 12. Contact CYS to register, by April 12.
April 20: DEADLINE to register for "Give Kids A Smile/Vision for the Future" day - free dental care, vision and hearing exams for Centre County children age 3 - 18 without dental or vision insurance. Call 231-4043 to make appointment for April 29.
April 21: Free Professional Webinar "College 101 for Afterschool and Youth Work Professionals" Comprehensive overview of the steps new or returning college students need to take and the important questions to ask along the way. For information, click here.
April 29: Parenting Plus Play Group - 12:30 - 2:00 pm, Bellefonte Youth Center, call 237-5731 for information.
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| Member Article: An Intern's View |
Erin Rowley is an intern this semester from Penn State. See her profile and picture in the left column of this enews.
As a Penn State student, the closest I usually get to children is watching a line of them walking through campus, holding onto a rope, as an adult leads them around like a mother duck leading her ducklings.
Penn State is a world of its own, a world that is made just for those aged 18-22, with those kids-on-a-rope, professors, landlords, and occasionally parents being the only outsiders allowed in.
But this semester, through my work as an intern at Smart Start - Centre County, I have been able to burst out of that Penn State bubble and learn more about what life is like for the non-student residents of Centre County.
Through attending events like Countdown to Kindergarten, which brought together resources for families whose children will soon be entering school, I saw the excited faces of the kids, who weren't as interested in the major life transition they'd be making as they were in the event's crafts, story times and magic shows. I also saw the timid looks on the faces of their parents, who were anxious about sending their kids out into the world for the first time.
At Smart Start, I also had the opportunity to be around people who really care about what they're doing. So many people are just working for the weekend, staring at the clock all day, hoping that, in defiance of the laws of physics, it will suddenly start moving faster.
But everyone at Smart Start is excited to be helping young children be all that they can be. That kind of devotion to creating a better community makes for a very rewarding work environment.
As I head out into the real world (which happens to be a job at the Centre County Community Foundation, a stone's throw away from Smart Start's office) I'm thankful for my experience working at Smart Start - Centre County because it's given me the chance to improve my professional skills while learning more about the world outside my College Ave. apartment's front door.
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| Local News | |
To submit items for "local news" email kelly@smartstartcc.org.
Smart Start would like to congratulate the following Centre County programs who moved up in the Keystone STARS quality initiative:
STAR 3: Abba's House, State College
STAR 3: Mt. Nittany Preschool, Lemont
STAR 2: Vicky Henry Family Child Care, Philipsburg
STAR 1: Busy Bees Daycare, Blanchard
STAR 1: ABC Children's Center, State College
For a complete list of programs participating in STARS, visit PA's Promise for Children website.
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| Committee Activities |
Early Childhood Mental Health Committee--To get involved in this committee, email Wendy Whitesell at wjw8@psu.edu. The next regular committee meeting is TBA, 9 - 10:30 at the Center for Child and Adult Development, 1315 W. College, Ste. 303, State College.
Parenting & Literacy Action Committee --One Book projects.
--To get involved in this committee, email Connie at ces11@scasd.org. The next regular committe meeting is May 2, noon - 2:00 at Schlow Library, State College.
Early Care & Education Action Committee
--Evaluating kindergarten parent surveys.
--Hosting advocacy scrapbooking sessions. --To get involved in this committee, email Amy Wible at awible@cenclear.org. The next regular committee meeting is April 26, 8:30 - 10:00 at Child Development and Family Council, 2565 Park Centre Blvd, Ste 100, State College.
PCC meeting April 18, 9 - 11 am, Child Development & Family Council, 2565 Park Centre Blvd., Ste 100, State College. |
| Advocacy This Month: ECE Action Day |
ECE Action Day is April 12th
Join hundreds of ECE supporters in Harrisburg on April 12 for the 2011 Early Childhood Action Day.
Last year, over 500 advocates filled the capitol rotunda calling for continued support for high quality, early childhood programs - Pre-K Counts, Head Start, Child Care Works and Keystone STARS. Their voices could be heard throughout the capitol gaining the attention of policymakers and staff!
We have a new governor and many new members of the state legislature. This year more than ever, Pennsylvania policymaker are facing hard choices about how to allocate precious few resources.
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