| Smart Start
On-Line
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Spread the word and help us get 100 fans on Facebook. Fan number 100 will get a special prize!
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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 Nicole Murray, Intern Joyce Wrigley, Intern Stefania Casalinuovo, Intern Action Committees Early Care & Education
Early Childhood Mental Health
Health & Nutrition
Parenting & Literacy
Transition Teams
Board of Directors
Charlene Friedman, Chair
Rebecca Ardoline, Secretary
Sudha Babu
Patricia Best, Vice Chair
Melissa Clark, Chair-Elect
Doug Coatsworth, Vice Chair
Linda Duerr
J. Hugh Dwyer
D. Richard Francke, Treasurer
Rob Huffard
Levent Kaya
Denny Nau
Roxie Nestlerode
Joseph Webber
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| Resources | Toddler Movement/ Motor Development - Ten Red Flags
Children's Slides Recalled by Landscape Structures due to Fall Hazard: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of
the following consumer product. The Slalom Glider, made by Landscape Structures, Inc. of Delano, MN is a playground slide that lacks a transition
platform on the top and sides of the chute. Children can fall when moving
from the ladder to the slide and when descending the chute. For additional information, contact Landscape Structures
toll-free at Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
CT, or visit the firm's website at |
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MEET OUR INTERN
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Name: Nicole Murray
Position: Communications Intern
Educational Background: Strath Haven High School, The Pennsylvania State University, Major: Public Relations, Minors: English & business
Why did you get involved with Smart Start?
Bob Martin, the College of Communications' Assistant Dean for Internships and Career Placement, helped me find the right internship for my last semester at Penn State. He researched various opportunities that would allow me to continue working with children while utilizing and sharpening my skills. I was offered positions at three different organizations and ultimately decided to join Smart Start. I wanted more exposure to event planning and knew that Smart Start has quite an extensive event calender during the spring semester.
Favorite Smart Start Projects: We are working on the Community Cafe project which aims to generate healthy conversations with community members about important current issues. I think this is a very different project that has the potential to really make a difference in our area.
What are your goals for Smart Start in the future?
Since I began working at Smart Start, I have really been trying to keep our facebook page updated. This is an easy way for us to network with other United Way agencies as well as other companies in Centre County. Most importantly, our facebook page is an easy and fun way for local families to stay up to date on Smart Start happenings as well.
Where you live: I am from Wallingford, PA, which is about 15 minutes south of Philadelphia. Go Phillies!
Family information: My dad, Jack Murray, owns an international logistics company that is based out of Sharon Hill, PA, Seko Worldwide. My mom, Laura Murray, is an occupational therapist assistant in a local school system. My brother, Ryan Murray, is a graduate of The University of Pittsburgh and is currently finishing up his first year of law school at Temple.
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| 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 | |
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,
The Children's Art Show this year is full of color, inspiration, creativity, and rainbows, butterflies, and caterpillars! We hope you get a chance this month to stop by and see it at the State College municipal building. In case you can't make it, our facebook page has lots of photos. Please tag and/or comment!
This Spring we are also busy with our Parent Advisory Group meetings (email ces11@scasd.org if you'd like to join), grant writing and reporting, One Book, Every Young Child activities (keep an eye on the Schlow Library website for details), and more. We are also celebrating the Week of the Young Child and 10 years of the Keystone STARS quality initiative program. We hope you have lots to celebrate this Spring as well, and we hope to see you in person or online soon!
For the children,
Smart Start Staff
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| Join Us For These Smart Start Activities |
All month: Visit the Children's Art Show at the State College Municipal Bldg., 243 S. Allen St.
April 10: Health and Nutrition Meeting, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m., Bennett Family Center, Penn State, contact kbahnsen@homenursingagency.com. We will be celebrating the successful completion of 2 of our major goals for this year with some special treats, prepared by members of the committee. We will also discuss what we would like to accomplish in the future. Please feel free to attend even if you haven't before or for awhile. Please also invite anyone who is interested in young children's health and nutrition.
April 16: Parent Advisory Group 9:30-11:00 am at Schlow. Parents of children birth through age 8 are welcome. Childcare and light refreshments are provided to children and adults. RSVP to Connie Schulz at ces11@scasd.org or 231-1070.
April 24: Early Care and Education/Transition to Kindergarten Meeting, 8:30-10:00 a.m. at Child Development and Family Council Office, 2565 Park Center Blvd., Ste 100, State College, contact awible@cenclear.org.
Visit our website calendar for details on these upcoming community events:
April 20 - free vision and dental screenings for 3 - 18 year olds
April 25 and 26 - pediatric first aid class
April 25 - directors' webinar
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Smart Start in Action: Art Show & Reception
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Left: Kim Fike, Assistant Director of Discovery Child Development Center, admires artwork by children from her program.
About 50 people stopped by the State College Municipal Building to check out the children's artwork at our opening reception Monday afternoon and evening. Several artists got to show their art to their parents and have their photos taken, including Harper House below. We were pleased to have a photographer from the Centre Daily Times and a reporter from the Centre County Gazette in attendance. Click here to see the photos on the Centre Daily Times' Website. Thank you to Honey baked Ham, Ndulge cupcakes, and Board Members Sudha Babu and Patricia Best for refreshment donations. To see more photos of the artwork and visitors, go to our facebook page.
 
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| Local News | |
To submit items for "local news" email kelly@smartstartcc.org.
Discovery Space Musuem and Website is offering discounted prices for school field trips. Find out more: Discovery Space Children's Museum Facebook page and website.
APRIL is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month Now, more than ever, it is important for Centre County to pull together and raise awareness about these violent and serious issues. Contact Centre County Women's Resource Center for more information or awareness resources.
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| Advocacy This Month: Understanding Early Education in Centre County |
Young children in Centre County are at low risk of failing in school, with approximately 33% participating in publicly-funded quality early education programs, according to a recent report published by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Of the 6,771 children under age five in the county, 54% live in economically at-risk households, making them more likely to have poor nutrition, chronic health problems, and difficulty in school. Also, 10% live in families where the mother has less than a high school degree, making them more likely to have weak reading skills. These and other risk factors can lead to a child who is less prepared for school and more likely to need special education services. Access to quality early education programs is a critical piece to preparing young children for success in school and helping working parents continue to work. It is important that each community understand the need for quality early education and the services available to plan a brighter future for all of its residents. Families in Centre County benefit from these publicly-funded initiatives: - Keystone STARS, a voluntary quality rating and improvement system in child care, which serves 1,106 young children in Centre County
- Approximately 272 children under age five receive Child Care Works child care assistance to help pay for child care as their parents work or earn new job skills
- 157 children under age five participate in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, while 625are served by Early Intervention
- Head Start, a federally-funded program which provides comprehensive early learning services to children and families who are most at risk, serves 240 children in Centre County
- Nurse-Family Partnership helps low-income first time parents experience healthy pregnancies, learn how to care for the babies, and plan for the future. 75 children participate in Centre County.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning's 2010-2011 Program Reach and Risk Assessment Report compiles information by county and school district on the number of children affected by risk factors for school failure, as well as the number of children served by early childhood programs. The complete 2010-2011 Program Reach and Risk Assessment Report and spreadsheets of county data are available online at www.ocdelresearch.org.
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