Team Day Nursery needs your help

We had so much fun last year, we’re going to do it again! Team Day Nursery will be competing again next month in the Indiana Sports Corp’s Corporate Challenge. The Corporate Challenge is a fun-filled community event that emphasizes healthy lifestyles and company camaraderie.  Leading up to the September 21 & 28 competition, Team Day Nursery will have a chance to earn points by participating in the Community & Compassion Events. One of the ways you can help us  earn team points is to donate sports equipment (trust us…we need all the help earning team points that we can get!!)

Donation box decorated by students at Day Nursery Northwest

Collection boxes will be available in the lobby of the 7 Day Nursery Centers until September 20. Check out the list below for the items that are most needed.

Indiana Sports Corp’s Geared For Health program collects and distributes donated sports equipment to help under served local young athletes have the equipment they need to jump start a more active lifestyle while encouraging a commitment to good health. The program collects new and gently-used donated sports equipment from manufacturers, retailers, institutions, events and individuals, and distributes it to not-for-profit, youth-serving organizations, sports leagues and sports clubs.

Geared For Health accepts:
– traditional sports gear (soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, football, lacrosse, hockey, tennis, golf, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, martial arts)
– yard games (badminton, croquet, bocce ball)
– playground and street sports equipment (rollerblades, roller skates, street hockey gear, Frisbees, jump ropes)
– water sports gear (masks, fins, kick boards, pool games, water guns)

Day Nursery Indianapolis names new President & CEO

Ted Maple, Ph.D.

Indianapolis – The  board of directors of Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Maple, Ph.D. as the President and CEO. He will succeed Carolyn M. Dederer who will retire August 2 after 15 years with the organization.

Maple comes to Day Nursery from United Way of Central Indiana where he led United Way’s education priority with a focus on early childhood and school-age initiatives.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Indianapolis, a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Butler University and his Ph.D., in, Early Childhood Education from Ball State University.

Carolyn Dederer welcomed Dr. Ted Maple to his new office at Day Nursery this morning. They will work together for three weeks until Carolyn officially retires on August 2.

He began his career in education as a kindergarten and first grade teacher in Pike Township. Following his time in the public schools, he served as Director of the Early Childhood Program at St. Mary’s Child Center where he led the nationally-accredited early childhood program for 200 at-risk preschoolers at two locations in Indianapolis. In 2005, Maple’s career in early childhood took a different turn, when he was selected as United Way’s Director of Success By 6. In this role, over more than eight years, he crafted United Way’s early childhood agenda that included programs, policy advocacy and community engagement. In 2012, he was promoted to Director of Education to oversee United Way’s two education priorities: children entering school ready to learn, and performing on grade level by sixth grade.

He lives with his wife and three children on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

ABOUT DAY NURSERY:
Day Nursery Association is the oldest and largest non-profit provider of early care and education in central Indiana. Founded in 1899, the agency has been educating the youngest children of Indianapolis for over 100 years. Serving more than 1,350 children annually ages six weeks to six years old in 7 locations in Marion and Hendricks County, Day Nursery believes that all children, regardless of a family’s income, should have access to the highest quality of care. Day Nursery is a United Way agency.

Thankful Thursday: Celebrating retiring CEO Carolyn Dederer

Since 1998, Carolyn Dederer has dynamically led the Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis. Carolyn will be retiring August 2, 2013 and we wish to thank her for leadership and service. Her untiring effort to grow Day Nursery and raise the bar for early childhood education in our community is truly commendable. Last night we celebrated Carolyn’s service with a party. Here are a few pictures from the event.

Carolyn sharing some thoughts with the guests.

Child Care Answers staff

Guests filled the Reuben Community Room at WFYI

Wanda Kaiser, Day Nursery CFO thanked Carolyn on behalf of the staff.

Susie Friend of United Way of Central Indiana and Carolyn

Carolyn and son Andrew

Carolyn with Board Chair Raven Buchanan

Long time board member Lloyd Lyons led off the evening’s tribute to Carolyn.

We know that her many gifts to Day Nursery and the Indianapolis community will continue to touch children’s lives for many years to come.

Sincerely,
Raven M. Buchanan
Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis Board Chair

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.  

Happy President’s Day

The Day Nursery downtown Federal Center and our Start Smart 4 Children center at Ft. Harrison will be closed Monday, February 18 in observance of President’s Day.  All other locations will be open.  If you have any questions, please call our administrative office at 317-636-9197.

Preschoolers from the Indiana State Government Center visited the Abraham Lincoln exhibit at the Indiana History Center on Friday morning.

Day Nursery Indianapolis students participate in earthquake ShakeOut drill

From the preschoolers down to the toddlers, over 50 students at the Day Nursery Federal Center in downtown Indianapolis participated today in the “Great Central US ShakeOut” earthquake drill.  Students learned to “Stop, Cover and Hold On.”  In the preschool classroom, teachers bounced balls on top of the tables to simulate the importance of finding shelter under a sturdy table to protect the children from falling objects.  Learn more about protecting your family in an earthquake by reading the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety.

Students in the Toddler 2 classroom practice their “Drop, Cover and Hold On” earthquake drill.

Day Nursery Thursday December 27

All Day Nursery Centers will open on their regular schedule on Thursday,  December 27, 2012.

Day Nursery Indianapolis December 26 2012

As of 11:00 am this morning, three of our centers remain open because they still have children whose families  still need care.  The centers that are open are IU Health, Northwest and the Indiana State Government Center.  The remaining 4 centers have closed for the day.  All centers plan to be open at their regularly scheduled times on Thursday morning.

Day Nursery Indianapolis

As of 11:00 pm 12/25/12…All Day Nursery centers are scheduled to be open at their regular time on Wednesday, December 26. If you would like to receive an email when the content of this blog is updated, please subscribe by submitting your email address in the column to the right of this post.

Day Nursery Indianapolis

All Day Nursery Indianapolis early care and education centers will open as scheduled today, Friday December 21. Please drive carefully.