The PreK Roundup is Coming

The Pre-K Roundup is returning on Tuesday, October 18th from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Varsity Gym-Alexander Central High School. Children who will be entering Kindergarten in August 2012 and their families are invited to attend. This is a drop-in event. The Pre-K Roundup is an opportunity for children and families to become acquainted with representatives from their school including teachers and other staff and make connections that will make an easier transition to Kindergarten for children.
Also participating in the Pre-K Roundup will be representatives from after-school care, the Exceptional Children’s Department, and other school programs. Children will have the opportunity to ride a school bus. The first seventy-five children in attendance will receive a Kindergarten Transition backpack. Each child attending will receive a book from the Ready Schools Committee. You will not want to miss this exciting opportunity being hosted by the Ready Schools Committee along with the Alexander County Schools and the Alexander County Partnership for Children.

Play to Learn Returns!!!

Back by popular demand is the Alexander County Partnership for Children’s Play to Learn group for parents and children. Play to Learn will begin October 13th and will be held at Alexander County Partnership for Children. The parent and child playgroup will meet the second Thursday of each month from 10am to 11:30am and is designed for children ages two, three, and four. Registration is currently being conducted for this FREE program. Interested parents are asked to register by calling the 828-632-3799 to receive a registration form or by emailing info@alexanderchildren.org.

Activities will be based on the Creative Curriculum for the children and help parents/caregivers by providing age appropriate adult/child interactions through play. Children will be introduced to visual arts, creative drama, creative movement, and music with a literacy enhancement component. Sessions will include themes that allow children to receive take home materials to extend the session into their home with parental support.

Participants will also have the opportunity to check out for take home use educational toys and learning materials from the Lending Library. The Lending Library contains thousands of exciting materials for children including puzzles, books, manipulatives, blocks, musical instruments, puppets, CDs to name a few.

You will not want to miss this exciting learning opportunity for children! Space is limited so sign up today. Children must be accompanied by an adult (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and caregiver).

ACPC Is Fueling Good!

ACPC has entered the Fueling Good contest by CITGO. Help support Alexander County Partnership for Children (ACPC). Participate in this campaign which would allow ACPC to receive up to $5,000 in gas for participants of The Nurturing Program- a 16 week program that helps adults learn to parent with empathy and positive discipline. Fueling Good will assist parents with the cost of getting to and from class which can often be a barrier to participation.

Voting begins September 29th and ends on October 27th! Please vote daily for ACPC and The Nurturing Program. Voting may take place from one email account daily. Show you support of our Alexander County families and ACPC by voting. Share this information with all your friends and families to help us make this funding a reality!!!
www.fuelinggood.com/rewardinggood?id=838492

Child Passenger Safety Week Observed

Child Passenger Safety Week is September 18-24, 2011 and is celebrated every year to remind parents and other caregivers of the need to keep children of all ages properly restrained in the seat that meets their weight and height requirements.
• Children grow at different rates and restraints should be checked frequently to ensure safety.
• Families are urged to have their child seat checked to be sure they are using the right restraint: a car seat, booster seat or seat belt. When it comes to the safety of a child, there is no room for mistakes.
• Make sure you are securing your children correctly.
Parents and caregivers should follow a few basic guidelines to determine which restraint system is best suited to protect their children in a vehicle.

Top Child Passenger Safety Tips
• For the best possible protection keep infants in a back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible—up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. Never turn a child forward-facing before age 1 and at least 20 pounds, although keeping kids rear-facing until at least age 2 is safer and preferred if the seat allows.
• When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in a back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular harnessed seat. Many newer seats exceed the old 40 pound weight limit.
• Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly.
• Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt rests on the shoulder or collar bone (usually when the child is between 8 and 12 years old, approximately 4’9” tall and 80 to 100 pounds)

For more information on child passenger safety visit the Alexander County Partnership for Children at 1565 NC Highway 90 West, Taylorsville-one mile past Food Lion on the left. Car seat inspections are conducted by appointment. Call 632-3799 to make an appointment for your child. Alexander County Partnership for Children is a United Way agency.

Andrea Little Joins Staff

Andrea Lail Little has joined ACPC as the new Child Development Specialist. A native of Hickory, Andrea is no stranger to Alexander County. From 2006 to 20008 she was employed by Alexander County Schools as an Exceptional Children’s Preschool teacher at Alexander County Head Start. For the past three years she has worked as a Preschool teacher in a NCPK, formerly More at Four, classroom at Jenkins Elementary in Hickory. Additional work experience includes assistant director in after-school program, summer camp counselor and teacher assistant in a preschool program.

Andrea is primarily responsible for the Partnership’s goal of increasing the quality of child care in Alexander County. Job responsibilities focus on the child care related components of grant funds through Smart Start, the Division of Child Development, and other sources. She serves as the primary CCR&R liaison with the child care community by providing technical assistance, consultation and child care provider trainings.

Welcome Andrea!!!