Indy 500 Winner Scott Dixon visits Day Nursery Northwest

2008 Indianapolis 500 Winner Scott Dixon visited the Day Nursery Northwest Center yesterday thanks to our friends at PNC’s Grow Up Great program. Dixon read a story about counting with race cars followed by a question and answer session with the preschool and kindergarten classes. The students wanted to know how old Dixon is and why there was smoke coming from one of the race cars in the story. Dixon presented the center with a mini race car which the students will be able to take apart and learn more about how it works. The racing related activities are part of PNC’s initiative to bring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities to preschoolers across the country. The same group of students will get to tour the Target Chip Ganassi Racing facility on May 10.

Reggio approach inspires Day Nursery teachers

Day Nursery teacher Matt Miller shares with his peers his reflections of the morning session

Six of our staff members,  Marsha Lindsey (Chief Operating Officer), Shannon Garrity (Ruth A. Lilly Center Director), Sara McHenry (Lilly Center teacher), Jeannette Wrightsman (Lilly Center teacher), Matt Miller (Avon Center teacher) and Shanna Nowosielski (Northwest Center teacher) are in Kentucky today for a professional development opportunity: Building Continuity of Learning through Reggio Approach: Creating Excellence in Education. While we wish we could have sent representatives from every center, we know these six will bring back great information to share with our teachers. The Reggio approach to education isn’t an early childhood method or set curriculum, but rather a deep knowledge in theory and community-constructed values that have been and are continuously being translated into high quality early childhood practices.

Day Nursery IU Health students host successful MDA Hop A Thon

Thanks to Day Nursery IU Health Center parent volunteers as well as Day Nursery Auxiliary members for their help Friday with the MDA Hop A Thon.  All of the 3 to 5-year-old children participated and received a certificate made by Ms. Jannel for their participation and the number of hops that they completed.  It was a great lesson of accepting those with disabilities as well as doing something to help others.  The event collected $488.00 to donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  

Day Nursery Hendricks County center renews NAEYC accreditation

Congratulations to the staff of our Day Nursery Hendricks County Early Care & Education Center in Avon for marching through the NAEYC re-accreditation process with flying colors!

Quality child care matters and NAEYC accredited centers are the Right Choice for Kids! We are proud that all 7 Day Nursery centers have achieved this important status.

Visit the NAEYC For Families page for learning and development tips, resources for parents and music and activities for you to share with your child.

Day Nursery Indianapolis Official 2012 Turkey

Congratulations to Scarlett, age 4, a preschooler in Mr. Tim Tegarden‘s class at the Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center for having her handprint turkey selected as our official turkey for 2012.  Her artwork appeared on our Thanksgiving card sent to donors this month.

Day Nursery Indianapolis Annual Meeting

The Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis held its Annual Meeting October 23, 2012 at the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue.  During the first half of the meeting, new board members were elected, retiring board members were saluted and community volunteers and donors were honored. The second hour of the board meeting was filled with recognition of Day Nursery staff.  Here’s a recap of the staff who were honored.

Day Nursery Staff honored for 5 Years of Service Sherri Shidler* (Avon), Nichole Blackwell (Avon), Larissa Freeman* (Avon), Rhonda Ostrum (Avon), Vanessa Shenfeld (Avon), Gaye Ireland (Child Care Answers), Amy Cavin (IU Health), Tammia Sanders* (IU Health), Syretta Warren (IU Health), Rhonda Roberts (Lilly), Twannette Harrington* (State) *indicates they are included in this photo

Day Nursery Staff honored for 10 Years of Service Matt Miller* (Avon), Joslyn Hurm-Sullivan* (Child Care Answers), Cathy Johnson* (Admin), Kimberly Townsend* (Fort), Neila Raine (IU Health), Shelly Anderson* (State) *indicates they are pictured in this photo

Day Nursery Chief Operating Officer Marsha Hearn Lindsey was honored for 20 years of service to Day Nursery. She is pictured here with board member Ivan Hoffman.

Congratulations to Day Nursery IU Health Center Office Manager Melinda Memmer who was honored for 25 years of service

These staff members were recognized for 20+ Years of Service: Sally Coombs* (Lilly Center 21 years), Cheryl Knierim* (Avon Center 21 years) Eva Johnson (Northwest Center 24 years), Colleen White* (Avon Center 28 years), Teresa Carter* (Fort Center 31 years), Jesse McCloud (State Center 32 years), Jackie Williams* (Avon Center 32 years), Joyce Martin* (Nurse Practitioner 32 years), and Anita Jones (Lilly Center 38 years) *indicates they are included in this photo

These staff members were recognized for their Educational Achievements:
Shannon Ford, Master of Science – Education (Child Care Answers); Sylvia Harris*, Associate of Science-Early Childhood Education (Child Care Answers); Cassie Miller, Bachelor of Science-Elementary Education (Federal Center); Ana Maria Romero*, CDA (State Center); and Marissa Williams CDA (Northwest Center) *indicates they are pictured in this photo

These staff members were recognized for Staff Promotions: Keah Hilderbrand , Lead Teacher (Avon Center); Tomi Lessaris*, Lead Teacher (IU Health Center); Kia Fears, Lead Teacher (IU Health Center); Marissa Williams, Lead Teacher (Northwest Center); Natalie Wiseman, Lead Teacher (Northwest Center); Asia Carter, Lead Teacher (Lilly Center); Ana Maria Romero*, Lead Teacher (State Center); Ashleigh Smith, Lead Teacher (State Center); Dorresa Thomas, Lead Teacher (State Center); Sylvia Harris*, Administration (Child Care Answers); René Withers*, Coaching Coordinator (Child Care Answers); and Charity Jablonski, Center Director (IU Health Center) *Indicates they are included in this picture

Joslyn Hurm Sullivan was honored for 10 years of service to Day Nursery, most recently with our Child Care Answers program. She arrived after the group picture was taken.

Charity Jablonski was honored at the Day Nursery Annual Meeting for her promotion to Day Nursery IU Health Center Director.

Day Nursery Indiana State Center preschoolers kick off United Way campaign

Preschoolers from the Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center led by teacher Tim Tegarden, helped announce the campaign goal at the United Way of Central Indiana kickoff today on Monument Circle.

United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) volunteer leaders announced a goal to take last year’s record $40.6 million total even higher to $40.8 million to carry out its mission: helping people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives.  Preschool students from Day Nursery Early Care and Educuation Center in the Indiana State Government Center helped reveal the goal during the  program.

For the third year, United Way kicked off its fundraising season along with the Colts football season at a celebration on Monument Circle. So far, early pledges amount to more than $8.2 million or 20 percent of goal.

In addition to a financial goal, United Way is on track to recruit 1,400 ReadUP tutors, having reached 46 percent of that target so far.

Banking and investments executive Steve Schenck and local artist and philanthropist Marianne Glick are co-chairing United Way’s annual campaign. Their message calls on people to be super heroes by giving to create opportunities for a better life through Education, Income, Health and Basic Needs resources.

Ellen K. Annala, United Way’s president and CEO, said United Way invites people to act so they can be part of the change instead of focusing on discouraging economic indicators.

“United Way invites everyone to live united — give, volunteer, and advocate,” said Annala. “Give through your work or on your own. Volunteer to read at a child care center, tutor early elementary students, or mentor an at-risk child. Advocate for causes that improve the lives of families and children by getting involved with your children’s school, encouraging everyone to vote, supporting better mass transit so people can get to needed jobs, and much more.”

Jimmy Matis and Blue from the Colts

This year, the Indianapolis Colts will make a donation to United Way for every ticket purchased through United Way of Central Indiana to the home opener versus the Vikings on September 16, the Colts vs. Jaguars September 23, Colts vs. Browns on October 21, Colts vs. Bills on November 25, Colts vs. Titans on December 9, and Colts vs. Texans, December 30. Visit UWCI.org for details.

Returning incentives in the 2012 campaign include the Give Gleefully  video contest and a loyalty program called Caring Club that provides discounts at national and local businesses for people who give at least $150.

At the free community kickoff featuring a volunteer fair, live music, Colts Cheerleaders and free Colts posters, the Colts announced they are returning a third year with a chance to win a pair of Super Bowl tickets in a drawing for anyone who gives a new gift or increase of $150 to United Way of Central Indiana.

Today’s BIG KICKOFF punctuates a series of events promoting the LIVE UNITED season to encourage Giving, Advocating and Volunteering. In late August, more than 1,800 volunteers tackled 89 projects at schools, United Way agencies and child care centers in Central Indiana as part of United Way’s Day of Caring. Similar campaign goal announcements and kickoff celebrations have been happening in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks and Morgan counties.

On Tuesday, (Sept. 4), local television stations each aired stories about how United Way and its agencies are helping create lasting change in people’s lives and in the community. Visit www.youtube.com/uwci to see the stories.

United Way of Central Indiana helps people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives. United Way gets things done by mobilizing people and community partners in six Central Indiana counties to identify, advance and advocate the best solutions. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to be part of the change. Visit uwci.org to learn more.

It was steamy hot on the Circle but the preschoolers were good sports when we lined them up to practice before they went on stage.

Wooden blocks come alive with faces of Day Nursery children

Day Nursery IU Health Preschool 3 teacher Ms. Tomi Lessaris is already using some information she received last Saturday in our day-long Summer Institute training. One of the ideas she got during the Reggio-inspired environment session was to use photos of the actual children in the classroom attached to wooden blocks.  These blocks can be used by the children to play, pretend, and develop language skills throughout their learning centers.  These ‘block people’ give the children relative people to play with rather than plastic, painted figures that could be store bought.

Day Nursery Board Members Day of Caring

Members of the Day Nursery Association and Day Nursery Auxiliary boards gathered early Saturday morning to help build garden boxes on the preschool playground of our Ruth A. Lilly Center, 3522 N. Central Avenue.  Both the preschool and infant toddler playgrounds are undergoing a major transformation to turn them into a certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom.

Pictured here is one of 4 garden boxes that the volunteers built.  A second group of volunteers will construct the toddler garden boxes soon.  Children will have the opportunity to plant seeds in the winter and nurture them in indoor greenhouse environments, transplanting them to the boxes every spring.  A project approach to learning is used in these science lessons in that the classroom groups research and decide what they want to grow,  how to take care of the plants, and ultimately how to prepare the food when they harvest it.

One focal point of the preschool playground consists of 5 x 5 foot decking platforms that are at different heights and framed by round wooded trunk-like posts. Once this play area is built, children will be able to add fabric and other items to create, build and play using imagination and team building skills with other kids.  The different levels create rooms/spaces that are available simultaneously for constant play.  The toddler playground has another platform deck, built to scale for younger children. The project is being facilitated by Daryn Fair, President of Fall Creek Land Design.

Day Nursery IU Health preschoolers explore nature

Ms. Cyndi and Ms. Brenda’s Preschool II class at the Day Nursery IU Health Early Care and Education Center found this creature on their playground and captured it with a plastic jar. This is what the children had to say about the bug which they later found out is called a Dobson Fly.  It was about 6 inches long.  Thanks to Ms. Charity for sharing the picture and the documentation of the comments made by our student scientists.

Ruby– “The big bug has pinchers.”

Kristopher– “It has wings.”

De’Andre – “It flies.”

Hailey– “I has a lot of legs….16.”

Noah– “That bug tried to get my face.”

Aiden– “Sometimes they like to play around.”

Molly– “We saw the big bug on the sidewalk and Ms. Natasha got it for us.”

Sean– “I think it eats grass.”

Genesys– “We can put it in the thing we had for our worms.”