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Coordinator Corner

It’s beginning to feel like fall out there, and with the season’s changes, back to school has everyone at the MECC office busy. We have hired a new part-time School Readiness Coach, Sahara Thurston, who has lots of energy, fresh ideas and experience that will benefit not only the classrooms she works with but the larger early childhood community as well. Tricia has been certified reliable again in the ITERS, ECCERS and FCCERS environmental rating scales – yay! We are planning monthly family nights, an event for family, friend and neighbor (FFN) providers, a Kids Count presentation by the Colorado Children’s Campaign, and are helping to plan the second annual SW Colorado Early Childhood Conference. We are applying again for Health Integration funding through the Colorado Trust and a public will building grant through The Colorado Children’s Campaign. So much good work is going on - I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with the children, families and professionals in this community!


-Vangi

Introducing MECC's New School Readiness Coordinator!


We would like to introduce to newest member of MECC's team, Sahara Thurston.  She will be joining us as a school readiness coach.


Sahara began her career in an after school program.  After about a year, she taught kindergarten enrichment and decided to move into the mental health field.  Sahara spent 10 years working as a behavior specialist in a children's mental facility and became a supervisor shortly after.  During that time, she also facilitated a high ropes course and served as a camp counselor.

Sahara got married and moved to Denver to work as a teacher and group counselor at a residential mental facility.  After a year there and a 3rd trip to the hospital, it became too dangerous, and Sahara realized she needed to seek out a safer position.  She became the dean of a Christian school.

After Sahara's dad became ill, she relocated to be closer to him.  With no mental health positions available in the small town, Sahara started working as a preschool teacher and loved it!  She served as the director until the economy forced the center to close.

It was after this time that Sahara become a mother to two amazing children, Bryce, 3 1/2. and Chloe, 2 and 3 months.  Sahara, her husband Brandon, and children recently moved from Montana as Brandon is the new high school principal at Dolores.  It is wonderful to have Sahara join MECC!  Drop Sahara a line to welcome her at:    saharathurston@rocketmail.com


For Parents and Providers
Foliage Buddies!
Use your imagination (and some paper, glue, and a pen or pencil) to turn ordinary backyard leaves into a whimsical menagerie.

Materials
  • Autumn leaves from your yard
  • Paper
  • Glue
  • Pencils, pens, or crayons


Instructions
  1. Go outside and see what kinds of animals are hiding in your leaf piles. Below are some possibilities. When you've found leaves in your yard whose shapes you like, glue them to pieces of paper and use pencil, pen or crayon to make your creatures complete. To preserve your creations, press them between two books.

  2. Foliage Friends - Step 2MAPLE:These leaves have three main points and lots of smaller ones; count them as they flutter by.

  3. Foliage Friends - Step 3ROSE:The rounded shape of this bush's leaves makes them look a lot like little shields.

  4. Foliage Friends - Step 4BIRCH: As big and tall as this white-bark tree can get, its leaves are as small and as light as feathers.

  5. Foliage Friends - Step 5GERANIUM: You might flip your wig if you find one of these wild-looking leaves in your yard.

  6. Foliage Friends - Step 6BARBERRY:While this plant doesn't live underwater, its leaves resemble raindrops.



 

Courtesy of familyfun.go.com
DINNER IDEA: Vegetarian Stuffed Zucchinis

Get Recipe at: http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2012/08/vegetarian-stuffed-zucchini-rice-beans.html

Also check out: for some great family and provider ideas, http://www.makeandtakes.com/

On Display
Karl Looff's "Anicient Forests", a fossil wood display, is currently at the Cortez Public Library.  There is also a display of Christian iconography owned by Danny Roberts.  Both are on display through the month of September.  You can also stop by and enjoy Douglas May's cartoons on the wall as well, which will be on display through October.  The Cortez Public Library is located at 202. N. Park Street.

Save The Date
Free upcoming training on  "Strategies to Promote the Social Emotional Competence of Young Children and Address Challenging Behavior: The Pyramid Approach - Module I & II."  The first session will be October 26 from 9am-12pm at the Church of Christ Annex.  This training will be followed by 4 additional trainings spread throughout the year and covers all material in the Module I & II.  For more infomation contact: pwilderson@sjboces.org or 970.570.7749

Weight of the Nation
LiveWell Montezuma, SW Memorial Hospital and Cortez Heart and Soul preset a series of engaging and eye opening films about obesity, the causes, the impacts on us all, the role our food system plays and the solutions other communities are empowering to reverse this trend.  
Cortez, Methodist Church, September 17, October 1, 15, 29
Mancos Community Center, September 24, October 8, 22, November 5
Dolores Community Center, September 25, October 9, 23, November 6
Times: 5:45-6:30pm, local food potluck, bring food to share
            6:30-7:30pm, Film Showing
            7:30-8:30pm, Community Discussion, World Cafe
There is no charge to attend.  Come with friends and neighbors and learn more about how our culture of cheap and fast food is severely impacting our health!

 For more information contact lwmontezuma@gmail.com or like us on Facebook!
 Sponsored by:  Livewell Montezuma, Colorado Trust, Heart and Soul of Cortez and Southwest Memorial Hospital
september
19

Reading Family Night!

5:30pm-7:30pm at the Church of Christ Annex, includes dinner.  Please RSVP to telybely2@yahoo.com by September 17 so we can plan for dinner.


September 27
Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) Care Workshop
This workshop is designed for anyone who watches children other than their own in an unlicensed setting.  The workshop will be from 6-8pm at Trinity Lutheran Preschool.  Dinner included and childcare provided.  There is a $20 stipend and a children's book for participants who are FFN providers in their home (not licensed homes).  Please contact Vangi McCoy at 749-7017 or mecc.coordinator@gmail.com for more information.  Click here to read the article behind FFN.
September 25 Children's Growth Awareness Day
For more detailed information, visit: http://www.magicfoundation.org


September 28 "It's About Kids" Kids Count Presentation

11:30am-1:00pm at the conference room at Axis Health System.  Lunch is provided.  RSVP to liz@coloradokids.org by September 24th.
October 13
2nd Annual SW Colorado EC Conference

Southwest District CAEYC
2nd Annual Conference
Fort Lewis College
"It's All About Relationships"

Conference Schedule
9-9:30am: Registration and Welcome
9:45-1145am: Workshop Session 1 (2 Training  hour)
11:50-12:15pm: Lunch
12:15-1:15pm: Keynote Speaker, Dr. Gail Joseph (1 Training hour)
1:30-3:30pm: Workshop Session 2 (2 Training hour)
3:45-5:15pm: Workshop Session 3 (1.5 Training hour)
Registration due by October 1st!!!  Space is limited!
For registration forms email: mecc.coordinator@gmail.com
Sponsored by Fort Lewis College and Montelores Early Childhood Council
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