| Smart Start
On-Line |
Spread the word and help us get 100 fans on Facebook. Fan number 100 will get a special prize! |
| JOIN OUR LIST |  |
| Intern Profile | |
Name: Julie March
Professional Position: Intern, Smart Start-Centre County
Educational Background: I am acquiring a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism, with a minor in Ethics, from Penn State University.
Why did you get involved with Smart Start? Education is the basis for survival in today's society, and it is fantastic that this organization pin-points such a necessary skill and works to promote its importance from an early age. When I saw that there was an internship position available, I jumped at the chance to aid a cause so signifcant and to earn school credits in the process.
What are your favorite Smart Start Projects? Countdown to Kindergarten is a brilliantly thought-out and extremely enriching project that Smart Start holds annually. Not only are parents benefiting by the extensive information professionals offer, but it also gives children a chance to prepare for the big life change that is about to take place.
What are your goals for Smart Start in the future? As Smart Start continues to create and inspire such positive action from the community, their name and cause will grow. I can only hope that, in the future, Smart Start is able to gain the resources to reach all families that need their services.
Where do you live? I have a temporary home in State College for the school semesters, but I am from Pheonixville, PA.
What would you like to share about your family? I am the youngest of three girls, Kristy, Kim, and Julie (me). The wonderful people to thank for that are Dennis and Kate March. The smallest members of our family are our pets: two dogs, Kori and Bruce, and a cat named Zulu.
|
| 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
Julie March, Intern
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, Vice Chair
Melissa Clark
Doug Coatsworth
Linda Duerr
J. Hugh Dwyer
D. Richard Francke
Rob Huffard
Denny Nau
Roxie Nestlerode
Jack Raykovitz, Vice Chair
Joseph Webber | |
| Resources | |
www.kidsmeds.info
KidsMeds is a service provided to you by the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPAG). PPAG is a professional non-profit association dedicated to improving medication therapy in children. Their sole purpose is to promote safe and effective medication use in children through communication, education, and research. To advance that mission, they have developed the KidsMeds website, a source for pediatric medication and health information.
Information on this site has been provided by the members of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group. Their members are the pediatric medication experts and are equipped with the training and knowledge to help. Their members have advanced training in the areas of pediatric pharmacy, pharmacology, and therapeutics.
KidsMeds provides kids and their families useful and pertinent information about their medicines. | |
|
| 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 | |
|
| Committee On-line Reporting Forms | |
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. | |
|
|
|
|
Dear Smart Start Supporter,
We are so pleased to present our newest publication, the  "First Letter to Baby" booklet, created in conjunction with The Fathering Initiative. Inspired by a letter written by Mick and Cheryl Trombley to their first baby, this booklet encourages parents to think about and discuss their goals and plans as parents, and then write a letter to their newborn sharing their thoughts. Mick and Cheryl's original letter can be seen at http://www.centredaily.com/2011/06/19/2785384/love-patience.html in a Centre Daily Times article from Fathers' Day. 1,700 copies of the booklets will be available in Centre County, free of charge, thanks to funding from Centre County United Way. The booklets will be distributed through local medical offices and parenting groups. To request a copy for a new parent, call or email us at 238-0331 or info@smartstartcc.org.
For those of us who are further along in the parenting adventure, we are pleased to be hosting Dr. Cheryl McNeil from West Virginia University on Saturday, October 22, for one workshop for parents and one for professionals on her innovative and effective method called Parent Child Interaction Therapy. Please save the date and watch for details coming soon.
For the children,
Smart Start Staff |
|
| Public Events and Meetings | |
Smart Start Committee and Board meetings are listed under the 'Committee Activities" section below.
July
July 18: DEADLINE to register for the National Autism Conference, August 1 - 4, Penn Stater Conference Center. For details, click here.
July 19 - 21: Professional Conference: A Brighter Tomorrow: Cultivating Infants' and Toddlers' Social Emotional Development. The Blair County Convention Center, Altoona. www.abrightertomorrowsymposium.com
July 29: Parenting Plus Play Group - 12:30 - 2:00 pm, Bellefonte Youth Center, call 237-5731 for information.
|
| Member Article: Kindergarten Registration for Late Summer Birthdays |
 Connie Schulz is co-chair of Smart Start's Parenting and Literacy Action Committee and Family Outreach Specialist for State College Area School District. She wrote the following article for Smart Start's monthly "For the Children" column in the Centre Daily Times.
Q: I am still not sure if my child will be ready to start kindergarten in the fall due to a late summer fifth birthday. Some days I think we are ready and other days I am not sure. When is it too late to register and how should I decide? How can I prepare my child for either situation?
A: While registration is open year round, registering early assists everyone involved to prepare: school districts can plan an adequate number of classrooms and staff; families can anticipate related adjustments needed. Earlier registration also ensures receiving information about orientations and other school events that help ease the transition to school.
Parents who are not sure if their child's maturity will indicate readiness after summer's extra time to learn and grow are advised to register early. It is possible to withdraw the child before school starts if a parent becomes certain that it is not the right time.
Preparing future kindergarten learners starts early, and parents can refer to this event in the future without specifying an exact age or date. Not all children begin at age 5, for a variety of reasons. As their children's first and most important teachers, parents know their children the best and should make the ultimate decisions.
Children arrive at school with a range of abilities and experiences. Your child is showing signs of kindergarten readiness when she:
ˇkeeps her hands to herself while in line and during circle time.
ˇsits quietly while attending a short story.
ˇparticipates in cleanup activities.
ˇuses appropriate bathroom skills.
ˇdresses herself.
ˇsays her first and last name and is able to identify them when she sees them written out.
ˇcompletes a two-step direction.
ˇengages in socially appropriate conversation.
ˇcounts to six by rote.
ˇcounts as many objects as her age.
ˇidentifies the eight basic colors (red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, black, white).
ˇidentifies general body parts.
ˇjumps, hops and skips.
ˇgrips a crayon and scissors correctly.
ˇtries to write her first name using lower case letters with a capital at the beginning.
ˇcopies, draws and reasonably traces a line and circle.
ˇhas had experience with puzzles, clay, block building, and painting.
It is the school's job to meet the needs of each child who arrives. Your responsibility is to love, nurture and provide learning experiences through everyday situations. Children who have the support of their parents during the transition to school will usually be ready to learn when they begin.
Visit the Smart Start website at www.smartstartcc.org; refer to the "Kindergarten Information" section for helpful information. Your school district's website may also provide some helpful guidelines. Feel free to contact your child's future school office to ask questions. Your confidence and reassurance will assist your child's adjustment to the start of school. |
| Volunteer Opportunities | | |
Check out our newly revised "Get Involved" page on the website for details about our volunteer opportunities.
|
| Website Scavenger Hunt - WIN A PRIZE! |
We've been busy over the past few months making big changes to our website, and we'd like you to take a look. As an incentive, we've created a website scavenger hunt. The answers to the ten questions below can all be found somewhere on our website at www.smartstartcc.org. Everyone who correctly answers all 10 questions will be entered in a drawing for a dozen cupcakes. One winner will be selected on July 31. Submit your answers to kelly@smartstartcc.org. We would also appreciate any comments and suggestions about the website.
1. When did Centre County Sheriff Danny Nau write a letter to the editor of the Centre Daily Times calling for funding for early childhood education?
2. How many publications does Smart Start currently have?
3. When is the next free child screening at Schlow Library?
4. What business provides accounting services to Smart Start?
5. What program provides free half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten programs for 3 and 4 year olds who qualify by income and other special needs?
6. What is the name of the little girl who sent us a thank you card and photo after winning a door prize at the 2010 Countdown to Kindergarten event?
7. Name three businesses that provided funds for the 2011-12 Pre-K Calendar or the Class of 2024 T-shirts.
8. What is the number one thing local parents recommended to help get children ready for Kindergarten?
9. Who was the first Board Member profiled in the monthly enewsletter?
10. What is Smart Start's mission statement?
BONUS QUESTION: Which way are you most likely to get involved in Smart Start?
|
| Local News | |
To submit items for "local news" email kelly@smartstartcc.org.
|
| Advocacy This Month: State Budget Approved |
Excerpted from the enewsletter of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children:
With the announcement of an agreement for a 2011-12 state spending plan, the governor and House and Senate Republican leaders drafted a budget that has included some supports for early childhood care and education even in such difficult economic times.
Though this is not an ideal budget, what has now been agreed upon does reflect investments in early education. Financial support was held level for Nurse Family Partnerships (NFP) and only minor reductions were made to programs such as Pre-K Counts ($836,000) and Head Start ($377,000).
While the governor initially called for the complete elimination of the Accountability Block Grant line item, the budget agreement now includes a partial restoration of these early childhood funds as well. The vast majority of Accountability Block Grant (ABG) funds have been used by school districts to support pre-K and full-day kindergarten.
Partial restoration for Community-Based Family Centers also was included in the budget agreement at $3.258 million, something that the governor had previously proposed to eliminate.
Other early learning programs were drastically reduced. Child care services and child care assistance lose over $38 million state funds ($17.455 million and $21.320 million respectively). In addition, low-income families receiving child care subsidy will see an increase in their co-pays.
For a spreadsheet from Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children showing the details of the budget regarding investing in children, click here. |
|
| Committee Activities |
Health and Nutrition Committee Next meeting: July 6, 1:00 - 5:00 to write a grant proposal. Next regular meeting is August 16, 9:30 - 11:00, Nurse Family Partnership office, 450 Windmere Drive, Ste. 175, State College
Early Childhood Mental Health Committee
Next meeting: July 28, 9 - 10:30, Center for Child and Adult Development Office, 1315 W. College, Ste. 303, State College
Parenting & Literacy Action Committee
Next meeting: TBA, noon - 2:00, Schlow Library, State College
Early Care & Education Action Committee
Next meeting: July 26, 8:30 - 10:00, Child Development and Family Council Office, 2565 Park Centre Blvd, Ste 100, State College
Board Meeting, July 14, 5:30 - 7:00, Patton Township Building |
|
|
