Bloom Buzz February 2023

Executive Director's Corner

In my first 7 months as executive director of Bloom Early Learning, I've been so grateful to meet donors who financially support the important work we do at Bloom and for our amazing group of talented teachers and staff who engage our kiddos in the critical work of learning. Without our donors and our staff, Bloom cannot exist.

In 2022, Bloom's Board of Directors made a significant financial investment in teacher salaries, aimed at reward and retention. This strategic move was made at a critical time when the childcare sector is seeing an enormous shortage of teachers and staff, both nationally and regionally. I am so proud of Bloom's Board for seeing the need to invest in our teaching staff so that we can continue to serve as many families as possible and provide the excellent care that makes Bloom so special.

The cost of childcare is daunting and often unaffordable for families. Bloom commits 50% of its openings to children from low-income families and we are able to do this because of generous donors who invest in our children through the Shirley Robinson Scholarship Fund and through key partnerships with Interfaith Outreach Community Partners Caring For Kids program, Messiah United Methodist Church and Plymouth Presbyterian Church.

There are larger-scale efforts being launched at the state and federal levels that are aimed at helping families pay for the cost of childcare. Just last week, the MN State House passed two bills, HF 150 and HF13. These bills focus on increasing funding for early learning scholarships, provider stabilization funds, and increasing the reimbursement rates for providers. Both bills have now moved to the Senate floor for debate and vote. We are watching the progress of this proposed legislation carefully as it could provide critical financial investment in Bloom and other early learning centers.

Thank you for your generous and continued investment in Bloom Early Learning. I am looking forward to all we can do together to provide more children the opportunity to thrive and grow at Bloom Early Learning.

Rachelle

If you would like to advocate for this legislation, we invite you to contact your representatives and senators. You can find out who they are and how to contact them by clicking on box.

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Inside the Classroom: The Virtue of LOVE

Bloom utilizes a virtues-based curriculum in all of its classrooms. Each month, a virtue is taught, experienced and celebrated. February's virtue is LOVE! A virtue that is in our lives in many ways and has a memorable symbol for our little ones. The heart shape is recognized by many of our age groups, and the sign for love is used in all of the classrooms. How we show our love is unique to each family; hugs, nicknames, and little sayings just to name a few.

Love is expressed daily through positive interactions in the classrooms between staff and children and child-to-child. Our staff model the virtues to provide a positive example. Common demonstrations of showing love between the children are helping a friend find a toy, cleaning up, and making pictures. These acts build the foundation for the little ones to practice the virtue of love each day. Each classroom has wonderful activities each month that focus on the virtue and learning skills to demonstrate that virtue.

I was able to see this virtue in action with our preschool room last week. I was giving a tour of Bloom to one of our new board members and a little girl came up to me and said hello. We started talking and within a minute, a crowd of preschoolers were standing around us. The little girl introduced me to each of her friends by name and shared something unique about each friend. This is love in action -- helping another feel connected, noticed and important -- and something that the classrooms work on together. I think this little girl is going to change the world!

Something New At Bloom!

This month, we are beginning something new for Bloom Early Learning with the launch of our blog, “Bloom So Bright”. We’ve chosen to begin by talking about The Virtues Project which is a very important tool in our curriculum at Bloom. Our blog will focus on sharing tips, tools and resources to help you identify and use developmentally appropriate practices to build social and academic success with the little ones in your life.

Bloom Early Learning’s Virtues Project emphasizes basic values and encourages children to find virtues within themselves and use them as they interact within their world. A new virtue is introduced monthly through experiences like puppet shows and stories and demonstrated throughout each school day. January’s virtue focused on celebrating our differences.

We hope you enjoy reading about what our children are learning at Bloom and invite you to stay tuned for more relevant topics in the area of early learning.

Read Our Blog

Accepting Applications for Center Director at our Bloom Dunkirk location (Plymouth Presbyterian Church)

We have an opening for Center Director at our Bloom Dunkirk location. This position provides direct management and day to day operations of our early learning center. Applicants must have a BS/BA in Early Childhood Education or related field and meet DHS and NAEYC requirements. In addition, this person must have a minimum of two years of experience directing a licensed early childhood center and a minimum of two years teaching in an early childhood classroom.

If you know of someone who loves kids, is passionate about early learning, is looking to join a mission-oriented organization like Bloom and has this kind of experience, please have them contact me at rachelle.holm@bloomearlylearning.org.

Save the Date - Friday, September 29, 2023

Bloom So Bright - our annual fall fundraiser

Stay tuned for more details! Hope to see you all there!

Bloom Early Learning is committed to building and fostering a culture that reflects our core values of access, individualization, quality and community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, belonging and inclusion in all that we do.

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