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Coordinator Corner, Feature Teacher, MECC Member, plus much more...

Coordinator Corner

Greetings! There is an incredible amount of action at the state level trickling down to us locally in the realm of early childhood. I would like to take this opportunity to share what some of that is. First of all, when you talk to someone in early childhood it may seem they are speaking in “alphabet soup” at times because there are so many acronyms. If an early childhood professional starts speaking in  “jargon-ese”, please ask them to explain what they are referring to – sometimes we forget.

You probably know that Colorado received Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant Funding. As a part of this, our statewide quality rating improvement system (QRIS) is receiving an overhaul. Our current QRIS is the Qualistar rating system. The new QRIS is called “Colorado Shines” and we are nearing its rollout. This new system goes from a four star rating system to a five star rating system. Level one is where all licensed childcare providers will enter the system and then be able to move up from there.

Another system being put in place as a part of this funding is a Professional Development Information System (PDIS). This system will be a place where all early childhood professionals can enter information such as work history and classes taken. The PDIS will track this information and as providers change jobs, their information will go with them. Additionally it will develop Professional Development Plans for individual teachers so they have goals set and know what courses are needed next.

The Early Learning Developmental Guidelines (ELDG) have been a long time in the making and give comprehensive information on children’s development birth through grade. The ELDG rollout is being funded through Race to the Top. The areas (domains) of development include physical health, social (interactions), emotional (expression of feelings), language and literacy (how children communicate and read), cognitive (how they learn), and approaches to learning. Within each age range, there is a description of what skills and abilities a child can typically do at a certain age and what adults can do to support the child’s growth and development. The guidelines are designed for any adult who interacts with young children to easily incorporate into everyday activities. Councils have been given funds to share the message about the ELDG website with their community, as well as offer informational sessions on them. To check out the website, visit earlylearningco.org . Be on the lookout later this year for an app utilizing the guidelines as well as the message: Play a role in getting children off to a great start. Learn more at earlylearningco.org appearing in various places around the community.

MECC will host  a summit on November 4th from 5:30 to 7:30 at First National Bank Cortez to share the latest information on the QRIS, PDIS and ELDG that we are calling “Putting the Pieces Together” for anyone interested in knowing more. A representative from CDE (Colorado Department of Education) and CDHS (Colorado Department of Human Services) with be in attendance to answer questions. To attend, please RSVP to me at vangim@monteloresecc.org.  

I hope that everyone has settled into their autumn routines and you are enjoying the change in seasons. With so many things going on, we try to keep you all informed about the various happenings in the realm of early childhood via this newsletter, Facebook, email blasts and flyers. If you feel you are missing information or want to become more involved, let us know and we will help make that happen

-Vangi
 
 

 

Meet a MECC Member



Trish Peters grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida but discovered a love for Colorado as a child through family ski trips and horseback riding adventures “out west”. She chose to attend college at University of Denver where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education in 1982. Trish landed a job as a kindergarten teacher and worked at a Kindercare in the metro area. It was in Denver  that Trish met her husband, Mark and they married in 1984  Life was fun and busy as Trish enjoys skiing, camping, and time on the water. Trish’s first daughter was born in 1985 and she recalls “I felt really fortunate to be able to start our family and stay at home with the baby.”
Our family grew , adding a son in 1987 and another daughter in 1989.  We enjoyed our days playing with friends and taking advantage of all that life in a big city has to offer..
 
“My youngest child, Erica, was born with Down syndrome. In 1989, there was a push in legislation to pass a bill that would provide for early intervention supports and services to start at birth. We were welcomed at the NICU by volunteers from the Mile High Down Syndrome Association, (MHDSA), They linked us to resources  and “school” for Erica started shortly after she got out of the hospital at 38 days old. “In retrospect it all seems as if it went smooth and easy, but with all of the joy and smiles and triumphs that our children bring to our lives, there were also many tears, frustrations, doubts. Trish found comfort in getting involved, serving as Parent Advisor for the board of the Sewall Early Intervention Program and serving on the Denver Interagency Collaboration Team. She and Mark became parent volunteers for MHDSA and also helped facilitate the state Parents Encouraging Parents conferences. Joining forces with other parents of children with disabilities, Trish helped to create a strong structure for Early Intervention that still exists today. She worked with Part H under the Colorado Department of Education in the Denver Area, and when her family relocated to Cortez in 1998, she connected with local players and strengthened the services offered to families in Montezuma and Dolores Counties.
 
When a family has a concern about their baby, they need someone to talk to – right away, that will help to steer them to resources for supports and services. It can be a lot to take in all at once, so its more about building a relationship, being empathetic, yet informed and persistent. My “baby” daughter is now 25 years old, and I still work in Early Intervention.  The driving force  is that I know that Early Intervention works to help each and every child be the best he can be. My role as an Early Intervention Coordinator is short – I get to work with families and children just until age three. But in those three years I can help a family know their rights and how to advocate for their child. I can coordinate services to match the family’s concerns, priorities and activities to best support their child in those every day routines.  I can make a difference!
Trish and her family have a small farm in McElmo Canyon where she enjoys time outdoors and tending to the animals and garden. Hobbies include hunting, fishing and hot air ballooning, but a more recently discovered passion is being a grandma! Trish works at Community Connections as the Early Intervention Referral and Services Coordinator. Anyone with concerns about a young child’s development is encouraged to give her a call at (970) 565-8389. For more information about Colorado’s Early Intervention program check out  http://eicolorado.org/

MECC note: Trish also serves as the Site Coordinator for the Montelores Family Leadership Training Institute providing inspiration, support and skills to community members who want to create change and advocate for better outcomes for families, children, and community. 
 

Meet a Provider


 

Kassy Gnas is the new Early Childhood Director at the Ute Mountain Ute Child Development Center in Towaoc, CO. Kassy is excited to bring her experience, knowledge and love for learning to our youngest group of learners. Building a strong foundation in early education is essential to future success in all realms of life.

Kassy previously taught in both the Dolores and Cortez school districts for a combined amount of 12 years. Prior to this, she taught and was a director in Durango and Pueblo while attending college. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in literacy, language and culture. Currently she is working on obtaining her doctoral degree in psychology with an emphasis in cognition and instruction. Kassy's Colorado teaching license includes: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Linguistically Diverse Education.

Kassy's family includes her husband of 16 years, two children, three dogs and one grumpy cat. They love to go camping, hiking, fishing, and four-wheeling in our beautiful mountains. Kassy enjoys reading when she has a spare moment to herself.

She is a life-long learner and it is her hope to instill a love of learning for every child who she has the opportunity to influence. "I am truly thrilled to begin my new role as the Early Childhood Director for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe!"

Send Kassy a well-wish in her new position!
 

For Parents and Providers

Want to serve a snack that's yummy and spooky? Grab some eggs, your go-to Deviled Egg recipe, and some black olives to create these spooky and tasty treats. Slice olives in haves to make the body and spider legs. Now that's a spider I could knowingly swallow. For complete details and recipe, check out Better Recipes.
Make these fun sensory bottles with your kids. We used Voss water bottles for their shape, but Gatorade bottles would be great for their thick plastic. We used glow-in-the-dark centipedes for one bottle and filled it with flat tonic water. Check it out under a black light. The other bottles we used various creepy crawlies, white yarn, and baby oil. For more great ideas check out Fun At Home With Kids.

 

 

MECC Meeting

The Montelores Early Childhood Council will hold their next monthly luncheon meeting on Monday November 3rd at 11:45 a.m., in the downstairs meeting room 110, in the Johnson Building, 925 South Broadway, in Cortez. The public is invited to these meetings, especially parents. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to Vangi by Friday, October 31st.
Our Spooktacular Family Night will be Thursday, October 30th from 5:30pm-7:00pm at 631 E. Empire (Church of Christ Annex). FREE, non-faith based event for families with young children and includes dinner!  Costumes welcome. Please RSVP by Tuesday October 28th at mecc@monteloresecc.org or 564-3211.

4th Annual SW CAEYC Conference

The 4th Annual SW CAEYC Conference is Saturday, November 1st at Fort Lewis College. If you haven't registered and want to come, don't wait - space is limited. And there is no easier way to get 7.5 hours of continuing ed so close to home. Click here for the registration form and return to Barbara Dodds by October 24th. 
Volunteers are still needed, if anyone would like to help.

Save the Date!

The 6th Annual Early Childhood Fair and Kidfest is Saturday, April 26, 2015. For more information or how to get involved, contact Tyra.

Red Ribbon Week

National Family Partnership created Red Ribbon Week Celebration in 1988. The Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. For more information check out redribbon.org.

Take the Red Ribbon Pledge now and be a part of the creation of a drug free America.

WHAT'S THE PLEDGE ABOUT?
  1. As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse.
  2. We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.
  3. We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.
  4. We will monitor our children's behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.
  5. We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse.
How do you talk to preschoolers about drugs?
Ages 3 to 5 (Below information courteous of Parents.com)

During the preschool years, children have strong ties to their family and seek their parents' approval. This is a great time to teach kids about good nutrition, proper hygiene, and developing a healthy lifestyle. It's also a good time to help children develop the decision-making and problem-solving skills they'll need later in life. 

  • Talk to your child about the joys of healthy living. Discuss how good she feels when she's eaten a nutritious meal, gotten enough rest, and taken care of her body. Talk about how a healthy child can run, jump, and play for hours on end.
  • Allow your child to make some decisions. Whenever possible, let your child make simple choices, such as what to wear or what to have for lunch. Even if his clothes are slightly mismatched, or he asks for peanut butter and jelly yet again, it's important now to reinforce his ability to make decisions.
  • Encourage your child to be responsible for her health and well-being. Turn chores such as brushing teeth, putting away toys, wiping up spills, and caring for pets into fun experiences your child will enjoy. Break down the activities into manageable steps so that she learns to develop plans and solve problems.
  • Teach your child about dangerous substances in his environment. Point out poisonous substances in your home, such as bleach or kitchen cleansers, and read the product warning labels out loud to your child. Explain that harmful substances don't always come with such "warnings," and that your child should only ingest a food or prescribed medication that either you, a relative, or other known caregiver has given him.

Take One Step

Protecting kids from secondhand smoke only takes One Step: Always step outside the home or car before smoking. There are four myths around secondhand smoke protection.
  1. The Distance Myth
  2. The Ventilation Myth
  3. The Odor Myth
  4. The Quit Myth
The only way to protect children from secondhand smoke is to smoke outside the home and car. Always take One Step! For more information, check out raisesmokefreekids.com.
Montelores Early Childhood Council
P.O. Box 1725
Cortez, CO 81321
970.564.3211