Pumpkin Power

Selena

Maliyah

Jackson

Sam

Because taking a center full of children 6 and under to a pumpkin patch would be a logistical challenge, each fall, Day Nursery brings the pumpkin patch to the children. Day Nursery Federal Center Director Sarah Parks shared these pictures with me from her center’s pumpkin patch last week.  She reported that many of the children had a hard time picking out a pumpkin and had to check them all out. Others, she wrote, knew exactly which one they wanted: Sam found his perfect pumpkin in our pretend pumpkin patch.  Sam was also very helpful in collecting the extra pumpkins and putting them in Ms. Sarah’s wagon to bring back inside for our friends who weren’t here today. Here are some of Sarah’s pictures from last Wednesday.

New photos posted of Day Nursery Auxiliary Style Show

I am on vacation this week but can’t stop blogging.  Just got through posting a bunch of pictures I took earlier this month at the Day Nursery Auxiliary Style Show and Luncheon.  The volunteers of the Auxiliary have been supporting Day Nursery since 1938.  You can see the pictures on the Auxiliary blog http://daynurseryauxiliary.wordpress.com.  The Auxiliary always welcomes new members.

Day Nursery staff Lives United

Thanks to our staff United Way of Central Indiana campaign coordinators for their hard work. We are proud to say we exceeded our goal this year.

Just got this email from Beth Rodriguez, Day Nursery Director of Development and coordinator of our internal United Way of Central Indiana campaign. As a UWCI agency, our staff sees the good United Way does in our community every day and our employees are committed to support the campaign personally.

 I want to thank everyone for working so hard to make this United Way campaign one of the best we have ever had! We raised $16,356 not counting the pennies that everyone collected. That means we surpassed our original goal of $16,000 by $356! This is amazing! I am so proud to work with such caring and generous people. We are truly blessed.  

This money will go to make not only the children and families of Day Nursery stronger, but to improve life for everyone in the whole community. Everyone had to work together to make this happen, and we are a great team.

Beth reported that the Day Nursery Ruth A. Lilly Center has claimed the ownership of the fabulous Day Nursery United Way Traveling Trophy for having the greatest percentage of increase in giving. The senior staff looks forward to preparing a home-cooked breakfast for the five centers who had 100% staff participation.

Honk if you support United Way

Mark Howell, President of Brightpoint, based in Hendricks County, is stepping it up today for United Way.  He is walking from Carmel to Plainfield to show his support of United Way.  Brightpoint has contacted their vendors and have secured pledges to support Mark’s efforts. Mark left Carmel very early morning and is heading down Meridian Street as I write this. He is stopping at the United Way offices near 38th and Meridian Street for breakfast on the front lawn. He will then proceed down Meridian Street at approx 8:45 a.m.  There will be a United Way van following him.  He will stop on Monument Circle to pick up a box lunch from United Way of Central Indiana Campaign Chair Gino Santini and then proceed to Washington Street and then out to Plainfield.  Along the way, many United Way agencies, including Day Nursery, will be along the route to cheer him on.  Look for Day Nursery to be standing with our friends from Family Services and the YMCA on the corner of Meridian and North Streets.  He is scheduled to walk by our location around 10:45. While on his walk, Mark will be cheered on by everyone from an elephant at the Indianapolis Zoo (he is estimated to be there around Noon) and the marching band of Washington High School. Once he gets on Washington St, Hawthorne Center will greet him with children playing maracas. Jameson Camp will be out on US 40 as he comes into Plainfield. When he reaches the finish line, he will be met by the Plainfield Police Dept, the Pacers Fan Jam van and many of his Brightpoint coworkers.  I will post pictures from Mark’s “Step It Up” walk later today.  If you happen to see Mark on his walk today, honk if you support United Way.

Update: Weather was perfect for Mark’s walk today.  Day Nursery and YMCA staff greeted him with signs and cheers. When he reached us, it was about 10:30 and he was almost at the halfway point of his walk.  Here are a few of my pictures

We finally spot Mark and Buddy the Bear from UWCI heading south on Meridian Street

Day Nursery grads Brianna and Claire joined Day Nursery Executive Director Carolyn Dederer and Amy Panetta of the YMCA in greeting Mark at Meridian and North streets.

Mark stopped to read our signs and meet everyone.

We’ve got your back

Cathy Johnson-Day Nursery Association

Sylvia Jackson is a Toddler teacher at Day Nursery Northwest. She is working on an Associates Degree.

Cathy Johnson , Human Resources Manager at Day Nursery knows first hand how hard it is to balance home life and work responsibilities when going to school. She graduated last year with a degree from the IU Kelley School of Business while keeping up with her two daughters and a new position at Day Nursery.  A big part of Cathy’s job is keeping track of the Day Nursery employees enrolled in school.  Currently, we have 46 staff enrolled in classes ranging from Child Development Associate certificates (CDA) to masters degree work. As nationally accredited early care and education centers, our requirements for staff education and training are carefully outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Last week, Cathy and Erin Slack, Human Resources Director created comfort kits for each of the 46 teachers to show them we all appreciate their dedication to the children of Day Nursery.  The gift included a fleece throw for snuggling up with a good (text!) book, a bar of chocolate, some microwave popcorn,  and a package of hot chocolate.  As a special treat, the package also included two movie tickets.

Picture Day

Six centers down, one to go for the Day Nursery picture day schedule.  We wrap up our fall student portraits next week at our Northwest Center on W. 73rd Street.  I have heard nothing but great comments from parents and staff about locally owned Dimensions Photography.  Thanks Apryl!

Picture day wrapped up Friday at the Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center

Special honor for a special teacher

Annie Terry (center) has been teaching at Day Nursery for 35 years. She is pictured here wth her husband, and good friend and fellow teacher Eva Johnson.

Tuesday night at the annual meeting, we  honored a teacher for a milestone that we believe no other Day Nursery teacher has accomplished in our 110 year history.  We honored Annie  Terry, of the Day Nursery Ruth A. Lilly Center for 35 years of service to our agency.  How cool is that?  Joining in the celebration was one of Miss Terry’s former students, Danielle Gillum Smith and her mother Thresa Steward.  Danielle spoke about the fond memories she has of her preschool experience at Day Nursery.  She especially wanted everyone to know that Day Nursery is where she discovered her love of color.  She is an instructor of fashion illustration at the Art Institute of Indianapolis and is often seen on TV and around our community in the role of a fashion commentator. Danielle’s mom was kind enough to pass on this picture of Miss Terry’s class in 1984,  Danielle is a bit taller but her smile was just as bright back then as it is today.  That’s her in the striped shirt standing on the far right side. And Miss Terry still looks exactly the same.  I guess hanging out with preschoolers all day is the secret fountain of youth.  Congratulations Miss Terry!

Thresa Steward listens to her daughter Danielle Smith talk about her fond memories of being a student in Annie Terry's class at the Day Nursery Ruth A. Lilly Center.

Kathy Klatte Professional Development Winner named

 

Day Nursery Executive Director Carolyn Dederer congratulates Matt following the annual meeting.

Matt Miller, lead teacher in the Preschool 4 classroom at the Day Nursery Hendricks County Early Care and Education Center was named the inaugural recipient of the annual Kathy Klatte Award for Professional Development. The presentation was made Tuesday, October 20 at our Annual Meeting held at the new Day Nursery Northwest Center. Kathy Klatte was a well loved staff member for 27 years (1980-2007) who passed away unexpectedly in March.  Klatte joined Day Nursery as a teacher and during her tenture also served as a Center Director and  Director of Center Administration. Throughout her service to Day Nursery, in all of these capacities, her greatest joy was seeing teachers succeed in in their work. The Kathy Klatte Award includes $250 for the recipient to use toward professional development.

Kathy Klatte Award Nominees (left to right) Patricia Britton, State Center; Day Nursery Foundation Board President Lloyd Lyons; Eva Johnson, Lilly Center; Matt Miller, Avon Center; Lee Ann Kidwell, Clarian Center; Tracey Wickware, Ft. Harrison Center; Shirley Williams, Federal Center and Elizabeth Schlueter, Day Nursery Associaton Board President. Not pictured: Christine Wirkner, Northwest Center

Weekend Wander: Where the wild things are is not a place for little ones

Maurice Sendak’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” was a favorite of both my children when they were in preschool. They loved when I roared a terrible roar and gnashed my terrible teeth. I am sure many parents are excited that the movie version of the classic picture book opens up tomorrow but I hope parents of preschoolers take the time to read the reviews of the film before they rush out to buy a ticket. The movie is getting great advance press but every piece I have read comes with the caution that this film is too scary for young children. Jane Horwitz, who writes a syndicated column called Family Filmgoer is one of the critics who says the film is okay for most kids 10 and older and certainly will be “interesting stuff” for teens and adults. Just a word of caution before the wild rumpus begins!

A better way of learning

“The Wonder of Learning — The Hundred Languages of Children” is an exhibit we’ve talked about in this space before which is about the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood learning that’s currently on view at the State House. David Hoppe wrote an article in this week’s issue of NUVO that does a good job of explaining what the exhibit is about and why you should try to visit it before it leaves Indianapolis in mid December.

On Sept. 25-27, Butler College of Education (COE) helped turn the Indiana Statehouse into a three-day “democratic forum” in which more than 100 educators explored young children’s rights to a good education. Titled “Dialogues for Quality in Education: Social Justice in Diverse Early Childhood Settings,” the professional development conference was presented in conjunction with the exhibit at the Statehouse. You can read coverage of the event on Butler University’s website.

PS-Just found out that Butler University Dean of Education Ena Shelley can be heard on the WFYI 90.1 FM program “Art of the Matter” Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. Host Travis DiNicola interviewed Shelley regarding “The Wonder of Learning” Reggio Emilia exhibit on display at the Indiana Statehouse through Dec. 18. A podcast of program will be available on the WFYI – The Art of the Matter – website for one week following the broadcast.