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| Board Member Profile | |
Name: Sudha Babu
Professional Position: Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education
Educational Background: Ph. D. in Curriculum & Instruction. Emphasis Area: Early Childhood Education.
Why I am involved in Smart Start: As a child advocate I believe early literacy is the key to children's growth and development. And, helping families reach that goal aligns with one of several Smart Start objectives. Being involved with Smart Start has been a great learning experience. It has created opportunities to meet professionals from a variety of disciplines, all committed to a common cause---empowering families and children of Centre County.
My Favorite Smart Start Projects: One Book, Every Young Child; Countdown to Kindergarten
My goals for Smart Start in the future: I think we are moving in the right direction, but we need to become a fiscally strong organization---generate funds to fulfill our goals. We need to create more awareness about our organization, try and reach out to culturally diverse families living in this area. Focus on enhancing better family-school and community partnerships. Also, provide incentives for new volunteers to join the team.
Where I live: I am originally from India, but I have been living in State College, in the Park Forest area for the past 25 years.
Family: We are a Penn State Family. My husband Jogesh and I have been married for 35 years. Two sons--Vinay and Vijay. I am a proud grandmother of Miraya who is 8 months.
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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
Action Committees
Early Care & Education
Early Childhood Mental Health
Health & Nutrition
Parenting & Literacy
Transition Team
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 | | |
Volunteers needed for Smart Start's participation in the the WPSU Live Membership Drive, Wednesday, June 8, 6:45 - 9:00 a.m.
All volunteers receive a free Smart Start T-Shirt!
T-shirts are also available to buy: adult sizes $15 kid sizes $12 |
| Resources | | Project Learning Tree offers environmental education grants: | |
GreenWorks! Service Learning Grants: Apply for a GreenWorks! grant! Do you have an idea for a service-learning project for your students but don't have enough funds to implement it? Why not apply for a PLT GreenWorks! grant? Grants up to $1,000 are available. |
| 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 Activities | |
Health and Nutrition Committe
--Newly forming committee - first meeting May 26, 9:30 - 10:30, Bennett Family Center, PSU. For information, call Smart Start at 238-0331.
Early Childhood Mental Health Committee
--To get involved in this committee, email Wendy Whitesell at wjw8@psu.edu. The next regular committee meeting is May 26, 9 - 10:30 at the Center for Child and Adult Development, 1315 W. College, Ste. 303, State College.
Parenting & Literacy Action Committee --planning delivery of the 2011-12 PreK Calendar
--To get involved in this committee, email Connie at ces11@scasd.org. The next regular committe meeting is TBA, 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 May 31, 8:30 - 10:00 at Child Development and Family Council, 2565 Park Centre Blvd, Ste 100, State College.
PCC conference call May 16, 9 - 10 a.m. Board meeting May 12, 5:30 - 7:00. |
| 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,
We hope you were able to participate in one or more of our April activities. See below for a report on the Art Show and next month we will feature the One Book project. We'd like to thank all everyone who made these two big projects a great success:
--Smart Start interns Kathy Le and Erin Rowley
--community readers
--early childhood programs who hosted community readers
--Smart Start volunteers who provided food for the Art Show reception
--The Honey Baked Ham Cafe and *ndulge Cupcake Boutique for donating food for the Art Show reception
--children and teachers from 20 early childhood programs who provided artwork for the Show
--Penn State child care program volunteers Gail Guss, Mandy Figard, and Karen Sankey who collected and displayed the artwork
Speaking of volunteers, we were so pleased to honor Jan
 | | Jan, her husband Bob, and friend Nancy Funk |
Lindsay, long time volunteer on our Parenting and Literacy Committee, at this year's Centre County Council for Human Services Annual Rose Cologne Volunteer Dinner.
If YOU are still looking for a way to participate, we are looking for a few volunteers to help us answer phones for the WPSU membership drive in June (see Volunteer Opportunities to the left).
With the Children's Art Show and One Book project finishing up for this year, we are ready for a break - but with an upcoming Board meeting, a new publication in the works, and a grant application due, we aren't getting one yet!
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.
May
May 10: Free Family Activities "Community Show & Tell" at Mount Nittany Preschool, 500 East Branch Road, State College, AM - 12 NOON. Construction & emergency vehicles, art, dance, health, music, and more. Visit www.mnpreschool.net or call 234-3938 for details.
May 14: Professional Conference: Collaboration and Leadership in a Difficult Economy: A Call for Urgency from Directors, Penn State Devorris Downtwon Center, Altoona. For information, email kjohnson@pennaeyc.org.
May 16: Free Parenting Workshop: Busy Parent's TIMECHOICE #3: Teaching Your Kids Self-Discipline and Respect. Matternville Preschool, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. To register visit www.ciu10.org or call Jeff Holter at 342-0884x3023.
May 19: Early Childhood Programs Final Scrapbooking Night - 6:30 - 8:30, Matternville Preschool. Free pizza, supplies, and more. Register by May 15 by email kelly@smartstartcc.org.
May 19: Professional Workshop: Multiple Intelligences: Teaching ALL Children the Way They Learn. Register by May 12 at www.pakeys.org or 1-800-346-3020x9513. Pleasant Gap United Methodist Church, 6 - 9 PM.
May 21: Professional Workshop: Integrating the Learning Standards for Early Childhood into Curriculum and Assessment, Bennett Family Center, Penn State. To register, visit www.pakeys.org. May 27: Parenting Plus Play Group - 12:30 - 2:00 pm, Bellefonte Youth Center, call 237-5731 for information.
June 3: Professional Workshop: Paperwork for the Family Provider. Paid registration $10 due by May 12. Penn State Extension, Willowbank Bldg, Bellefonte. Call 355-4897 for info.
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| Member Article: Another Intern's View |
 Kathy Le was a full-time intern with Smart Start for Spring semester from Penn State's Human Development and Family Studies Department.
I am truly grateful to be interning at Smart Start - Centre County. Not only I have met the friendliest staff, I get a chance to see how important this organization is to them.
My internship at Smart Start has been a great learning experience for me. After coordinating this year's "One Book" Community Project I realized it was important for children to enhance their literacy skills before they head to Kindergarten. I have stopped by one of the preschools this month to watch one of the volunteers read this year's "Whose Shoes? A Shoe For Every Job". I have never seen so many happy faces from the children! They were participating during the story and shouted out what types of shoes they are. When the volunteer told the children that they are getting a copy of "Whose Shoes?" to bring home, the children were screaming with enthusiasm and right away wanted to get their own book. This ensures me that I have accomplished my goals and that is very rewarding for me.
Smart Start - Centre County gave me an opportunity to connect with people who are motivated about what they are doing. They are enthusiastic to bring the best resources possible for children to be school ready. I give them credit because they are determined to make their vision possible. I am thankful to be a part of this organization through the semester.
As my last semester at Penn State University comes to an end, I would like to thank Smart Start - Centre County to be a part of this journey. My experience working here has improved my professional skills and I am ready to step out into the real world. I don't know what I would do without Smart Start!
This is not a good bye, it's see you later.
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| 2011 Children's Art Show and Reception |
This year, for the first time, Smart Start-Centre County welcomed the public to an opening reception for our annual Children's Art Show at the State College Municipal Building in celebration of the Week of the Young Child. Many of the young artists visited with their parents to proudly show their work. The Honey Baked Ham Café and *ndulge Cupcake Boutique generously donated food for the reception, as did several Smart Start leaders and volunteers. " I enjoyed volunteering at this event. The children's art work was amazing, and it was so nice to see parents, children, and professionals enjoying themselves together," Penn State volunteer Chelsea Marson commented in our guest book.
Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration created by the National Association for the Education of Young Children in 1971 to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
This year's Art Show featured artwork selected by each participating early childhood program. Children's and teachers' creativity was apparent from the wide diversity of artistic media on display, including woodworking, watercolor painting, collage, and much more.
Many years ago, members of the Centre County Association for the Education of Young Children took children's artwork to local businesses for display during the Week of the Young Child. CCAEYC did not last, but the Art Show did. For almost ten years, the Show has been held at the State College Municipal Building. Each year, more early childhood programs have participated by submitting artwork. Staff from Penn State's Bennett Family Center and Child Development Laboratory collect and display the artwork each year.
This year's participating programs: Abba's House; Bellefonte PreK Counts; Bennett Family Center; Cen-Clear Head Start at Bellefonte Elementary; Child Development Laboratory; Daybridge; Discovery Child Development Center; Easter Seals of Central PA; The Goddard School; Kidz Rainbow Center; Park Forest Day Nursery; Pine Glen School; Port Matilda Elementary PreK Counts; Rebersburg PreK Counts; Saint Andrew's Preschool; State College Friends School; State College Head Start; Wingate Head Start & PreK Counts |
| Local News | |
To submit items for "local news" email kelly@smartstartcc.org.
We were pleased to learn recently that Jo-Ann Fabrics offers their annual Teacher Rewards program to certified early childhood teachers and homeschoolers, with accepted documentation! Get 15% off of every purchase! Find out more at Jo-Ann Fabrics website.
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| Advocacy This Month: Proposed Federal Bill Supports Early Learning |
Casey Introduces Bill to Help States Invest in Early Learning
In March, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act, a bill that would establish an Early Learning Challenge Fund to help states build and strengthen systems of early learning, so that more low-income children ages zero to five have access to high-quality early learning and development opportunities that prepare them for success in school and beyond.
"Investing in early learning pays off. Economists have estimated a return on investment for early childhood education programs of approximately 16 percent," said Senator Casey. "This legislation will establish a one-time investment to help states raise the bar on program quality and provide more children with early access to high-quality education."
"Early education is a sound investment with a proven return on investment, which is why the business community supports early learning initiatives like the Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act that Senator Casey is introducing," said Jack Brennan, former Chairman and CEO of the Vanguard Group and member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission. "This bill calls upon states, in partnership with private entities, to invest in improving the quality of early learning."
According to a new brief released today by the Pew Center on the States, proven early childhood programs, like high-quality pre-kindergarten, are helping states like Pennsylvania close the educational achievement gap, which helps produce the qualified workers that the state-and our nation-need for a prosperous future. In order to ensure these improvements continue, Senator Casey introduced the Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act. Specifically it will:
ˇ Help states raise the bar on program quality, improve workforce qualifications and create a seamless system of early care and learning that working families and children can rely upon.
ˇ Make funds available on a competitive basis to states that have demonstrated the greatest progress in establishing a system of high-quality early learning, as well as states that demonstrate a commitment to building a high-quality system of early learning.
ˇ Give priority to states that establish public-private partnerships and that leverage federal child care funds for the purposes of the Act.
ˇ Require that states provide a matching rate of 15 percent and an assurance that new funding will supplement and not supplant current funding used to support early learning programs.
The Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act is cosponsored by U.S Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Al Franken (D-MN).
The bill is endorsed by the Center for Law and Social Policy, Children's Defense Fund, First Five Years Fund, First Focus, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Women's Law Center, Pre-K Now and Save the Children. |
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