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.
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.
Mr. Tim’s Shining Stars of PS3 of the Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center led their preschool graduation ceremony yesterday. Teacher Tim Tegarden shared a few thoughts about their program when he sent this picture…..”All my stars shined brightly on stage. This is the American flag we made for our honorary graduate Ms. Amy. She received this flag at our ceremony presentation. My class said the Pledge of Allegiance and told the guests what they learned about the number of stars on the flag and what city and state our school is in. The children sang the song by John Lennon “Beautiful Boy” in sign language.”
In the shadow of the Indiana State Capitol building, Mr. Tim’s preschool class is learning valuable life lessons through lemonade. Students in this and our other 6 Day Nursery centers have been working on becoming entrepreneurs through the national Lemonade Day program. 
Although the Lemonade Day officially is Saturday, our teachers took advantage of the curriculum materials that come with the bright yellow Lemonade Day backpacks to bring the lessons into their classroom and make it a group learning experience. From learning new vocabulary words (can you say customer service?) t0 learning how to count change, Day Nursery students have been busy with preparations for their sale. Yesterday I had a chance to see Mr. Tim Tegarden’s class in action and taste their product (delicious!). Tim shared pictures of the process his class went through to launch their business and even included documentation boards behind his stand so the customers might appreciate the valuable lessons his students learned this week. Judging by the smiles on the faces of the students (and the amount of money they had stuffed in their bank), Lemonade Day was a success. And, for Mr. Tim, it was a great day for him too. “This is why I love to teach,” he said.
Last Friday, while most of the city of Indianapolis was heading to the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the preschoolers in Mr. Tim Tegarden‘s class at the Day Nursery State Government Center talked their teacher into a march of another kind. Walking in the sunshine along the freshly tinted green canal, the children went in search of leprechauns. Here are a few pictures Mr. Tim shared with us.
The Earth Day pictures are still rolling in from the centers. Special thanks today to Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center teacher Toni Hayward for going the extra mile to share these pictures with us when the PreK class, accompanied by lead teacher Tim Tegarden and Day Nursery Director of Center Administration Patty Fisher, walked over to Military Park to pick up trash. We are happy to report that they didn’t find much trash to pick up, but they did have a lot of fun running around the park!
Day Nursery joined forces this morning with several organizations including The Villages and Prevent Child Abuse Indiana to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month in Indiana. This year’s theme is “Cherish Children, Affirming Families.”
More than a dozen preschoolers, led by their teachers Tim Tegarden and Toni Hayward from the Day Nursery in the Indiana State Government Center took a short walk along the canal to the Indiana State Museum to be a part of the press conference. Several television stations were as well as WIBC-FM 93.1. I just found this link to the story on Channel 13 WTHR. I hope to catch the coverage tonight on the news. The Day Nursery children sang a song about Abraham Lincoln to start the conference (what TV news crew could resist covering that?).
For more information on Kids Can’t Wait, or if you are a parent looking for guidance, call 1-800-CHILDREN or visit Indiana Kids Can’t Wait.
Here are some pictures from our walking field trip today.
Today Day Nursery honored past presidents of our association, Foundation and Auxiliary boards at a brunch at the Indiana History Center in a room that overlooked the Day Nursery State Government Center.
To get our guests in the Presidents Day spirit, we invited the preschool classroom lead by Tim Tegarden and Day Nursery Director of Center Administration Patty Fisher, to share with us their knowledge of President Lincoln. We were treated to Abe Lincoln trivia and a song by the children. I will post pictures of the grown-ups attending this event a bit later today, but first, here are a few pictures of the children from this morning.
All the students did a great job with their Lincoln trivia
The children helped each other get prepared before their big performance.
Day Nursery State Government Center students gathered in the Gibson Boardroom before their performance.
Mr. T shows his students a picture of young Abe Lincoln without a beard.
Preschool students from the Day Nursery at the Indiana State Government center made a visit to the Statehouse today at the invitation of Tina Mahern, President of the Indiana Coalition for the Arts Foundation.
The children had front row seats for a performance by the Griot (GREE-ah) storytellers of Africa who pass on the history of their people through storytelling and the Griot Drum Ensemble led by Young Audiences storyteller and musician Khabir Shareef, who plays a dynamic mix of West African and African Diaspora percussion music.
The group of 15 preschoolers, ages 3-5 were accompanied by their teachers Tim Tegarden and Theresa Jameson as well as center director Deanna Saylor. When Deanna shared this picture with me today, she reported that the children were enthralled with the story-teller. “He told a story about the snake in the grass and the kids sat so quietly. I don’t think I have seen them sit so still.” Preschool students are very honest and we have to say that they didn’t love every part of the program. Sophia told her teacher the “drums are too loud.”
Arts Day at the Indiana Statehouse is an annual arts advocacy event presented by the Indiana Coalition for the Arts where the diversity of arts in the state is promoted and honored.
Day Nursery Association has been active in the arts and assisted Young Audiences in launching their “Young at Arts” preschool program several years ago.
Today is the first day of national Step Up for Kids Week. In Indiana, it was kicked off at the State Capitol with remarks from advocates for children. It was a “blue eyed Indiana day” for the march that followed the speeches. This second annual non-partisan event was coordinated nationally by the Every Child Matters Education Fund, a whose mission is making children a national political priority. Locally the event was coordinated by Kristin Effner Children’s Coalition of Indiana. I walked with Day Nursery teacher Tim Tegarden, “Mr. T” as his students call him, and a handful of the preschoolers from his class. Their job was to lead the march up Capitol Avenue to Market Street and then around Monument Circle and back. Of course, they were adorable and the local TV stations couldn’t resist following us for several blocks. I saw crews from Fox59, WISH TV8 and WTHR13 there so watch for us on the news tonight. Step Up for Kids Week in Indianapolis wraps up Saturday, October 10 with a Community Fair at Municipal Gardens, 1831 Lafayette Road from 9:00 am-1:00 pm. This free event will include activities for children and displays by youth serving agencies.
