Indiana’s Early Education Advocates get update from NAEYC

Carolyn Dederer

Today’s post is written by Carolyn Dederer, Executive Director of the Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis.

Jerlean E. Daniel, Ph. D.

Last week I attended the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children’s semi-annual Public Policy Academy along with early education advocates from all over Indiana.  We met courtesy of the wonders of webinar teleconferencing and our guest speaker was Jerlean E. Daniel, Ph.D, newly appointed Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Dr. Daniel speaking from Alexandria, Va, reported NAEYC’s standards for programs and professional development have been aligned with its policy stances in order to lead to improvements in children’s development and learning.

 

Here in Indiana, the new Paths to Quality initiative is using these standards to measure individual programs.  Did you know that 1,901 or 51.9% of eligible providers are already enrolled?  To date, 148 of these programs have achieved a “4”, the highest, NAEYC accredited level.  The others are diligently working their way up the scale.  Benchmarks include health and safety standards, classroom learning environments, and planned curriculum.

 

Weekend Wander: July 4 Indianapolis Concert on the Canal

If you are heading downtown for the fireworks Sunday night, come a bit early and take your children to a free concert on the Canal.  Our friends at the Indiana Historical Society, 450 West Ohio Street invite you to enjoy a fun summer evening along the downtown canal at this popular outdoor summer concert series.  As a special holiday bonus, admission to the Indiana Experience is free from noon to 5 on July 4.  For the concert, you may rent a table on the Terrace or bring your own chair or blanket and sit on the grassy hill across the Canal. Café and outdoor grill are available by Hoaglin To Go. Attendees may bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages to the concert.  The concert features bluesy rock-and-roll, and patriotic tunes performed by Tad Robinson and the Indianapolis Muncipal Band performing on the Kruse Family Stardust Terrace from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m (Five-time blues music award nominee Tad Robinson takes the stage from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m). Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:47 pm from the top of the Regions Bank Tower.

 

Friday Faces-Hat Day at Day Nursery Hendricks County

Day Nursery preschoolers have fun while learning healthy habits

It’s summer so that means a field trip to the Ruth Lilly Health Education Center by the Day Nursery preschoolers.  The students from the Day Nursery Clarian Center didn’t have far to go this week when it was time for them to make the trip.  They are so close to the center, they don’t even need a bus.   Since 1989 the RLHC has been delivering unique, age-appropriate health education programs. It’s a hands-on, high-tech, must-see learning experience.  Students enjoy learning about the importance of personal health and safety practices. Here are a few pictures the preschooler teachers snapped during their visit.

A student learns about the importance of flossing from Sheriff Tuffy Tooth

Day Nursery students have fun repeating the healthy messages they learned back to their teacher.

This is one of theatres used for high tech health education.

Remember last week, when it was sunny?

Shake the cobwebs out of your head after last night’s fitful sleep due to a long night of thunderstorms.  Think back to last week.  Thursday June 17.  It was sunny and plenty warm and a perfect day for the two-year-olds at the Day Nursery Ruth A. Lilly Center to enjoy their weekly Splash Day fun.  Thanks to Center Director Shannon Garrity for sharing these pictures and for teacher Sally Coombs for being a good sport.

Day Nursery receives grants for tuition assistance and teaching staff

Thanks to Day Nursery Director of Development Beth Rodriguez, for guest writing today’s blog post!

I wanted to tell you about three special grants that Day Nursery received recently. Two grants, $13,500 from the Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation, Inc. and $10,000 from Star Media Season for Sharing were awarded in support of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

TAP provides a sliding scale fee structure that removes the barriers of poverty or limited income and levels the playing field enabling all families to choose high quality, accredited early care and education for their children.

The Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation, Inc also granted Day Nursery $10,000 to hire and retain quality lead teacher candidates. At the heart of Day Nursery’s excellent early care and education program is our professional and loving teaching staff. Without the highest caliber of teachers in our classrooms, little else matters. This special investment ensures that the children in our care will have the highest quality education professionals preparing them for success in school and far into the future.

All of these gifts further the mission and core belief of Day Nursery to assure excellent early care and education for young children in central Indiana. Both the Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation and Star Media Season for Sharing have given the most important gifts that the children and their families as well as the staff will ever receive– the opportunities and tools with which to build a successful future. We are truly grateful for their generous investment and belief in the mission of Day Nursery.

Happy Birthday Ms. Jackie

Day Nursery Avon Assistant Director Jackie Williams had quite a surprise waiting for her on the lawn of the center when she arrived for work this morning.  Hope it was a great day Jackie!  Happy Birthday and many more!

Day Nursery Doughnuts for Dad

Thanks to Day Nursery Hendricks County director Joy McCall for sending along these pictures from last Friday’s Doughnuts for Dad Father’s Day event.  Check out the good looking neckwear in some of the pictures.  The two-year-olds in Ms. Marla Amarasinghe’s and Ms. Sheila Johnston’s classroom made special ties for their fathers and grandfathers.

What’s outside your window?

An email via the Childcare Exchange caught my eye last week.  It contained quotes from the late Jim Greenman, a highly respected leader in the field of early childhood education who spent his career advocating for young people.  Greenman, who passed way in April 2009,  had a passion for children and for creating spaces that delighted, stimulated and piqued the curiosity of early learners.  Day Nursery Executive Director Carolyn Dederer was lucky enough to attend one of his workshops at Harvard when we were preparing to build our Clarian center at 21st and Senate. 

“It is a strange time. We live in an age when our children may know far more about bizarre people we care nothing about or a cartoon world than the workings of their own back yard — that marvelous ecosystem teeming with life.  They may know more about, or rather have more information on, exotic zoo animals and farm animals than the snails, squirrels, birds, worms, and bugs that live outside their windows.”

We love to hear from parents

Phoenix and Mom April 2007

Dear Susan,

As you may remember, Phoenix was a student at Day Nursery from 2004 till 2007. He received such good care and a wonderful education. This was proven when Phoenix was awarded the Top Student Certificate during his First Grade Graduation. My husband, Chris and I are very proud. I believe that the excellent education and care that the Clarian Staff showed really set him on the track to success. Thank you to all the staff!!!!!

— Stephany Bedolla