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TRANSCRIPT
The Key Connection Week of November 24, 2014
Look What’s in This
Week’s Edition
Mark Your Calendars
Professional Development Corner
Pediatric First Aid and Health & Safety Course Opportunities
Northeast Regional Key Environmental Rating Scale Sessions for December 2014
CSC Weapons-Free Workplace Policy
Professional Development Registry Corner
Northeast Regional Key and Keystone College Special Partnership
Directors!
How’s Your Certificate?
CSC is a Smoke Free Campus
Community Days At-A-Glance
Pre-K Counts Expansion Grantees
Be A Germ Stopper Poster
Information for Families
Product Recall – Graco Strollers
Security Tip
Thanksgiving Craft
Previously in The Key Connection
Infant Toddler Saturday in Tioga County
Northeast Key Staff Contact List
Here are some important dates to remember
November 2014
Child Safety Protection Month
27 CSC/NE Key Offices Closed
28 CSC/NE Key Offices Closed
December 2014
14 International Children’s Day
13 Ice Cream Day
13 Infant Toddler Saturday – Tioga County
27 Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day
January 2015
15 National Hat Day
18 Winnie the Pooh Day
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
29 National Puzzle Day
Happy Thanksgiving!
From the
Northeast Regional Key
Professional Development Corner
Professional Development At A Glance
Professional Development Events from November 30, 2014 to February 14, 2015 are listed in the Professional Development
Calendar. Get a full list of events and to
register by going to www.pakeys.org.
Save the Date
Bucks County Conference
President’s Day February 16, 2015
Lackawanna County Conference
President’s Day February 16, 2015
Keep watching The Key Connection for more
information regarding both of these Conferences coming soon!
Upcoming Child Care Professional Development Workshops
Ow-I hurt my noggin! Saturday, January 17, 2015
8:00 am-10:00 am Penn State Extension-Columbia County, 702 Sawmill Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Learn about traumatic head and brain injury in young children (K7). Head injuries occur commonly in childhood. This workshop discusses the risks and prevention techniques for head injuries in young children.
10:00 am-12:00 pm Using Observation to Support Individual
Children's Development (K4)
This workshop will help you learn how to use your observations to learn about and support an individual child’s development.
Cost: $7 each. To register by January 10, 2015 go to www.pakeys.org (PD Registry)
With assistance in registration: Contact Sheila Rapchak - [email protected]
1-800-528-7222, ext. 2311
Director’s Professional Development Day
January 22, 2015 8:15 am to 3:30 pm
Blast IU#17
33 Springbrook Drive, Canton, PA 17724
8:15 – 10:15 - The Confident Professional 10:30 – 12:30 – The Coaching Game Plan 1:30 – 3:30 – Employee Moral Boosters
Up to 6 hours of Professional Development
Cost $7 per session or $21 for the full day
Register on the PD Registry at www.pakeys.org
Strengthening Relationships with Children, Families and Colleagues
January 31, 2015
9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Includes 1 hour lunch on your own)
Penn State Extension – Columbia County 702 Sawmill Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
6 hours of Professional Development Hours
Cost: $21.00
Register on the PD Registry at www.pakeys.org
Pediatric First Aid and Health & Safety Course Opportunities
Now is a great time to take advantage of these Pediatric First Aid and Health and Safety Courses before the winter weather starts. Check out the list below to see when one is coming to your area.
County Date Course Day Time Facility Address
Lackawanna 11/25/14 Immunization Overview for Child Care Practitioners
Tu 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
YMCA of Carbondale
82 North Main St. Carbondale, PA
Carbon Reschedule from 10/21
11/25/14 AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid with Child-Infant CPR, Choking (FBAO)
Tu 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
Emerg Mangament of Carbon
1264 Emergency Lane Nesquehoning, PA
Northampton 12/2/14 AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid with Child-Infant CPR, Choking (FBAO)
Tu 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
NCC Fowler - FWLC 507
511 E. Third St. Bethlehem, PA
Berks 12/4/14 Asthma Th 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
St. Joseph's Creative Beg
2390 Bernville Rd. Reading, PA
Lehigh 12/4/14 AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid with Child-Infant CPR, Choking (FBAO)
Th 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
LVCC Union Blvd
1621 Union Blvd. Allentown, PA
Luzerne 12/6/14 AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid with Child-Infant CPR, Choking (FBAO)
Sat 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Luzerne CC - Bldg #9 Room 925
1333 South Prospect Street Nanticoke, PA
Monroe 12/9/14 AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid with Child-Infant CPR, Choking (FBAO)
Tu 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
NCC Monroe - Kapp 201
Rt 715 at Warner Rd. Tannersville, PA
Bucks 12/11/14 Oral Health Th 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Chandler Hall 99 Barclay St Newtown, PA
Wayne 12/13/14 AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid with Child-Infant CPR, Choking (FBAO)
Sat 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Ventures in Learning
17 Moore Rd. Lake Ariel, PA 18436
Register now on the PD Registry at www.pakeys.org.
Northeast Regional Key Environment Rating Scale Sessions for December 2014
Register on PD registry Log in at www.pakeys.org
The ERS Foundations course provides an overview of the structure and scoring of the ERS Tools and is a prerequisite for the tool specific course.
Tool Specific Courses: ITERS = Birth to 37 months, ECERS = 37 months to date child enters 1st grade, SACERS = 1st grade to age 15 years, FCCERS = used to assess all family child care homes as well as some group that are located in a residence.
If unsure of the scale you should attend please consult with your STARS Manager.
The practitioner that completes the ERS Self Assessments for a classroom to meet the Keystone STARS Standard needs to have taken the age specific scale as well as the Foundations to ERS.
Directors of a Center who participate in Keystone STARS need to have taken each tool specific course for every age group served in their care.
Owner Operators of Family and Group who participate in Keystone STARS need to have taken tool specific courses as well.
NOTE TO PROVIDERS: Please reflect upon your ERS PD needs through December 2014 and register early for events. Request for PD are often received just several weeks after a session was cancelled in the
requested area due to low enrollment.
County Scale Date Time Location Berks County FCCERS
(Spanish) Dec. 3, 2014 5:30 – 8:30 pm BCIU (River’s Chase)
1111 Commons Blvd, Reading
Northampton County Foundations Dec. 6, 2014 9:30 – 11:30 am Easton Hospital 250 South 21st St, Easton
Northampton County ECERS Dec. 6, 2014 11:45 am – 1:45 pm Easton Hospital 250 South 21st St, Easton
Northampton County Foundations Dec. 13, 2014 9:30 – 11:30 am Easton Hospital 250 South 21st St, Easton
Northampton County ITERS Dec. 13, 2014 11:45 am – 1:45 pm Easton Hospital 250 South 21st St, Easton
CSC Weapons-Free Workplace Policy
Community Services for Children is committed to providing a safe and secure workplace and prevent exposure to gun violence. With this in mind no person, including employees, contractors, temporary workers, parents, guardians, vendors, volunteers or visitors will be allowed to enter CSC’s premise in possession of any form of weapon even if the individual is licensed to carry a concealed or unconcealed weapon. CSC defines dangerous weapons as, but is not limited to, all
firearms, knives, cutting instruments, explosives, or any tool, instrument, or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury. Please share this information with your staff. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation regarding this matter.
Source: CSC Personnel Policies and Procedures, page 132, Weapon-Free Workplace Policy, Effective Date, August 20, 2014
Northeast Regional Key and Keystone College Special Partnership
The NE Key partnered with Keystone College to offer a unique college course experience for directors in the northeast region. Students who enrolled in this course have been traveling to various high quality early learning programs in New Jersey, Maryland and Washington , D.C. They have visited the Abbot dual language public school, serving 150 three year olds and 150 four year olds; a Montessori school serving three year olds through fourth grade; and an international provider of childcare offering child services for children infancy to school age for hospital employees at the Overlook Hospital in New Jersey. The directors are observing classrooms, writing down observations and debriefing after each visit. They have been inspired and recharged to plan quality improvements in their own programs! This course can be used for their renewal course for their Director Credential.
PD Registry Tip of the Week: Registering and Paying for Sessions Yourself:
DIRECTORS/Owners: In the new PD Registry, the registrants must register themselves, this means that owners or directors cannot register their staff. This may change your process for paying and/or registering for professional development for your staff. Here are some hints from other directors who are navigating a new way of doing business:
“ Give staff opportunities to log in at the center”
“Using a staff development day to go over the new registry and on-line self assessment process”
“I have a few tech-savvy staff who have agreed to mentor others in the program”
“We’re implementing a Professional Development Reimbursement Policy- staff will pay upfront but will get reimbursed when they bring in the receipt and certificate”
Directors!
The Northeast Regional Key has several ways for you to participate and keep up to date on what is going on in the Region in regards to Keystone STARS, Professional Development, and the Regional Key.
Northeast Key Exchange Webinars
The Exchange webinars are a way for Directors to find out what is happening within the region and get your questions answered. The Northeast Key Exchanges will take place on the 1st Monday of the Month from 1:00 – 2:00 pm with the exception of September and April due to the holidays. Registration to participate on the webinars is required. However, you do not have to commit to attending every Exchange.
To register for future Northeast Key Exchanges click on the link next to the date you would like to attend. Here are the dates until the end of the year. We will add more dates and registration links in future editions of The Key Connection.
December 1, 2014 - https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/962726622 January 5, 2015 – https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/976017606
February 2, 2015 – https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/976025094 March 2, 2015 – https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/976028454 April 13, 2015 - https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/976034422
Director Advisory Meetings
The Northeast Regional Key values the input from Directors regarding new policies and procedures and to learn about the needs of your community. Directors who participate in the Director Advisory are asked to commit to attending 4 meetings per year. All meetings are held via webinar. If you are interested in participating on the Director Advisory, please complete the application and return it to Beth Gambone at [email protected] or fax it to 610-432-5700.
CSC is a Smoke Free Campus
The Campus of Community Services for Children/Northeast Regional Key is smoke- free! This means that the entire property is smoke-free, including the parking lots and areas around all the buildings. Our campus is a Smoke-Free Workplace for staff and for any visitors. Please remember, if you are visiting our campus for a professional development event, for a meeting with Regional Key Staff or for any other reason that there is no smoking anywhere on our campus. We would like to serve as a role model to the children in the Head Start Classrooms located on the CSC and to those who visit our campus on a daily basis. Thank you for your understanding!
How’s Your Certificate?
When was the last time you checked your DPW Certificate of Compliance and Keystone STARS Certificate to make sure you have
the most recent one posted?
Take a minute and check to make sure your Certificates are:
Up to date Are in good condition Posted where your families and visitors
can see them
If your Keystone STARS Certificate is about to expire and you have not completed your Renewal paperwork, contact your STARS Manager today!
Community Days At-A-Glance
County STARS Manager
Location Day Time
Berks Nancy Panera Bread 4395 Perkiomen Ave, Reading (use the outdoor patio entrance)
12/18/14, 1/15/15, 2/19/15, 3/19/15
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Bradford Dana Blast IU 17 33 Springbrook Dr, Canton
1/26/15 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Lackawanna Kathleen (Even months) Infant Care at Covenant Presbyterian (Odd months) YMCA of Carbondale
12/11/14, 2/12/15 1/15/15, 3/19/15
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Lehigh Alli Wegmans - (Food Court near Pub) 3900 W. Tilghman St., Allentown
12/17/14, 1/22/15, 2/11/15, 3/11/15
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Lycoming Claudia JV Brown Library – Winters Room Williamsport
12/16/14, 1/20/15, 2/14/15, 3/17/15
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Learning Community 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Monroe Kathleen Pocono Services for Families and Children, 212 W. 4th St., East Stroudsburg Coolbaugh Township Municipal Bldg 5580 Memorial Highway, Tobyhanna
1/14/15 3/11/15 12/17/14, 2/11/15
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Northampton Rochelle Wegmans (Enter at Market Café, located on left in café area before the divider) 3791 Easton/Nazareth Hwy, Easton
12/23/14,1/13/15, 2/17/15, 3/25/15
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Pike Kathleen Pike County Library, Milford 1/20/15 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tioga Dana Tokishi Training Center 124f NYPUM Drive, Wellsboro
12/2/14, 2/24/15 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wayne Kathleen CCIS Office of Pike/Susquehanna & Wayne 54 Main Street, Hawley
12/9/14, 2/10/15 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wyoming Dana H.A.N.D.S of Wyoming County 41 Philadelphia Ave., Tunkhannock
3/10/15 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Continue to check the listing of Community Days for updated information.
“Children learn as they play.
Most importantly, in play
children learn how to learn.”
~O. Fred Donaldson
Pre-K Counts Expansion Grantees
Governor Tom Corbett recently announced that more than $9.8 million has been awarded to 32 early education providers in 27 counties across the state through the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program.
Pre-K Counts provides half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten services to Pennsylvania children who are: between age three and the beginning age of kindergarten; at risk of facing challenges in school; living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($67,050 for a family of four); and who may be English language learners or have disabilities or developmental delays.
Congratulations to the following programs who were awarded the Pre-K Counts Expansion grant in our regions!
Lehigh County
Community Services for Children Inc. (Head Start of Lehigh Valley) Lehigh Valley Children's Centers Inc. (also serves Northampton County)
Luzerne County
Child Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc.
Lycoming County
Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP Inc.)
Schuylkill County
Child Development Inc.
Tioga County
Stepping Stones Preschool Inc.
For a complete list of the grantees visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.
Source:
BUILD ECE News, October 22, 2014 Pennsylvania Department of Education,
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7234&PageID=1005857&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/no_workflow_requried/news_and_media/articles/governor_corbett_announces_more_than__9_8_million_in_pre_kindergarten__early_learning_grants.html&utm_source=Build+ECE+News%2C+October+22%2C+2014&utm_campaign=Build+news&utm_medium=email
Product Recall – Graco Strollers
Graco has recalled 11 models of strollers due to potential fingertip amputation hazards. The folding hinge of the sides of the stroller can pitch a child’s finger, posing a laceration or amputation hazard.
This recall includes eleven Graco and Century-branded strollers with model names Aspen, Breeze, Capri, Cirrus, Glider, Kite, LiteRider, Sierra, Solara, Sterling and TravelMate. All models are a single-occupant stroller with an external sliding fold-lock hinge on each side and a one-hand fold release mechanism on the handle. Strollers with a manufacture date from August 1,2000 to September 25, 2014 are included in the recall.
For more information and instructions on what to do if you possess one of these strollers, please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/Graco-Recalls-11-Models-of-Strollers/
Security Tip
Do you find yourself running late some days and you’re just going to
quick drop your children off that your child care center and run off to
get to work? Do you sometimes think I’m only going to be in the
building for a few seconds, no need to lock my doors?
Well, did you know that burglars have been targeting cars left
unattended at child care programs? Cars left unattended are an easy target. It’s easy to see when the
drop off and pick up time is at the local child care center. So, the next time you are dropping off or picking up your children at child care think
twice and be sure that you turn your car off and lock your doors you don’t
know who might be watching and targeting your car next.
Thanksgiving Craft
Here is a cute craft that you can do with your children. You can use them as a place holder or decoration for your Thanksgiving table.
Pinecone Turkeys Supplies Needed:
Pinecones – expand the learning and go for a walk with your kids to find the pinecones. Talk to them about other things you see on your walk.
Felt
Feathers (colorful)
Wiggly Eyes
Glue
If you don’t have felt, wiggly eyes or feathers use construction paper to make the eyes, beak and feathers.
Instructions:
Cut feathers in half,
With the wide end of the pinecone facing you use a small about of glue to the feathers to the pinecone towards the narrowest part of the pinecone
Cut a triangle for the beak out of the felt (or construction paper)
Glue the eyes and the beak to the widest part of the pinecone
Source: A Pumpkin & A Princess, http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2011/11/pinecone-turkeys-and-winner.html
Here is some information that already appeared in the Key Connection that may still be of
interest to you!
Northeast Regional Key Staff Contact List
Community Services for Children/Northeast Regional Key Office Phone: 610-437-6000 or 800-528-7222 Fax: 610-432-5700
Last Name First
Name Position Email Ext. Office Cell
Armbruster Erica Race to the Top Recruiter [email protected] 610-703-8617
Bastian Kim AD Quality Initiatives [email protected] 2330 Breech Tonia Mentor Manager [email protected] 2320
Cohick Shannon Infant/Toddler Prof. Dev. Manager [email protected] 610-762-1470
Deane Rochelle STARS Manager [email protected] 610-703-8596
DeVito Dana STARS Manager [email protected] 610-763-6265
Engelman Schelly ECMH Consultant [email protected] 610-703-8591
Gambone Beth Community Engagement Manager [email protected] 2391 George Sue ECMH Consultant [email protected] 610-763-6256
Greene Allicia STARS Specialist [email protected] 2317 Hackenberg Allison STARS Manager [email protected] 610-393-3235
Harris Siyheda STARS Manager [email protected] 610-703-8602
Hunold Claudia STARS Manager [email protected] 610-674-9200
Klaus Victoria STARS Specialist [email protected] 2315 Levin Masha Infant/Toddler Prof. Dev. Manager [email protected] 610-703-8604
Mahar MaryKay Race to the Top Manager [email protected] 610-763-6263
Marcano Carmen Northeast Key Specialist [email protected] 2383 Mastriani Mary Jo ECMH Consultant [email protected] 610-703-8590
Maurer Nancy STARS Manager [email protected] 610-703-8597
McCabe Kathleen STARS Manager [email protected] 484-764-5223
Milia Diane TA Manager [email protected] 2329 Neal Raine Northeast Key Director [email protected] 2303 Rapchak Sheila PD Specialist [email protected] 2311 Reynolds Ivy AD Practitioner Support Serv. [email protected] 2328 Ritter Susan PD Coordinator [email protected] 2316 Roth Sheri STARS Designator [email protected] Ruch Amber STARS Manager [email protected] 610-703-8612
Scarpa Kathy NE Key Grants Manager [email protected] 2343 Somogyi Angela STARS Manager [email protected] 610-674-9363
Stahler Sue Grant Specialist [email protected] 2307 Stair Elizabeth STARS Manager [email protected] 610-674-9095
Tressler Leah ECMH Consultant [email protected] 610-763-6264
Vazquez Dolores STARS Manager [email protected] 610-703-8606
Waddell Sandra N.E. Keys Specialist [email protected] 2309