Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter! As we conclude the second month of the year, we want to take a moment to reflect on some of the exciting developments that have taken place recently.
Firstly, we want to acknowledge everyone who helped make our annual fundraising event a huge success. Your involvement and generosity helped to raise money to support the critical needs of our children. Early childhood education provides children with the tools they need to succeed in life. It helps them develop cognitive, social, emotional and language skills. It also helps them develop a love for learning and a curiosity about the world around them.
In other news, we want to thank everyone who attended our ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new additional location at Poinciana Elementary School, located at 2825 Airport Pulling Road North in Naples. Access to affordable, quality education is desperately needed in Collier County, and through this partnership with Collier County Public Schools (CCPS), the new center will accommodate up to 62 additional children.
Additionally, Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love and affection, took place earlier this month. Whether you celebrated with a significant other, family or friends, we hope it was a day filled with love and happiness. A special thank you to our friends at Christ Child who made a special visit to our center to assure a very special the children at Fun Time Academy.
As always, we are dedicated to keeping you informed and up to date on the latest news and events. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting content in the coming months.
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Annual Fundraising Broadway Event |
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Thank you for attending this magnificent event hosted at Royal Poinciana.
We raised approximately $600,000 between donations, live and silent auctions.
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Give Where You Live Collier |
Give Where You Live (GWYL) Collier is a nonprofit organization based in Collier County, Florida, that works to improve the lives of local residents through philanthropy and volunteerism. The organization's mission is to "connect people who care with causes that matter" by supporting a variety of charitable initiatives in the community, including education, health and wellness, hunger and homelessness, and the environment.
GWYL Collier collaborates with a wide range of partners (including local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals) to mobilize resources and support community programs and initiatives. The organization raises funds through charitable donations, grants and events and works closely with community leaders and volunteers to ensure that resources are directed toward the areas of greatest need.
Overall, GWYL Collier aims to strengthen the social fabric of Collier County by fostering a culture of generosity, collaboration and social responsibility.
We want to thank everyone who participated in GWYL Collier 2023. Your generosity will help us to continue with our mission to provide safe, quality, affordable education and care for children and parents from low-income working families and to prepare the children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn!
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New Additional Location
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Poinciana Elementary School
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Thank you for attending our ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new additional location at Poinciana Elementary School, located at 2825 Airport Pulling Road North in Naples. It was an exciting day for our organization.
Access to affordable, quality education is desperately needed in Collier County, and through this partnership with Collier County Public Schools (CCPS), the new center will accommodate up to 62 additional children.
Collier County has over 15,000 children under the age of five. Only 17% of early learning centers are five-star or accredited. The need for quality child care that is affordable for working families is greater than ever.
Our new center opened on February 6, and we are continuing to enroll children each day. We currently have a waiting list for the upcoming school year. We are grateful we can partner with CCPS to get more children in our community ready for kindergarten.
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Naples Lions Club Foundation Vision Screenings |
The Naples Lions Club founded in 1949, is a local chapter of Lions Clubs International, a global service organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism and community service.
The club's mission is to serve the local community through a variety of charitable activities and initiatives, including vision and hearing screenings, and providing eyeglasses and hearing aids to those in need.
Vision testing at an early age is vital to ensure children have the visual skills that they need to perform well in school.
Our students were screened for vision by the Naples Lions Club, and ten referrals were made for further testing. Thank you, Naples Lions Club Foundation, for doing vision exams on our students!
The Naples Lions Club is committed to making a positive impact in the local community by promoting volunteerism, supporting those in need, and fostering a sense of community and collaboration among its members.
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2023 Meet The Kids Day At Naples Winter Wine Festival |
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Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) is committed to supporting Fun Time Early Childhood Academy and other charities that improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.
Since its inception in 2001, the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised approximately $269 million for children in need.
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Rocking the Fun Time Way!
NCEF hosted its annual Meet the Kids Day, and guests had a chance to hear from some of the children who have received support from NCEF funds and see how their involvement has positively impacted the community.
Wynter and Jayden, VPK students at Fun Time Academy, joined Executive Director Jessica Campbell and Education Director Darlene Spano at the event this year.
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Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) |
The VPK program is a free prekindergarten program for four- and five-year-olds who reside in Florida. Participating children must be four years of age on or before September 1. Parents can enroll their children in the state’s free voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) education program that year or wait until the following year when their child is five.
You will also need to upload:
- Proof you live in Florida (utility bill, bank statement, etc.)
- Your child’s birth certificate or passport
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) gives children a jump start by preparing them for school and enhancing their pre-reading, pre-math, language and social skills. By developing the skills that children need to become strong readers and students at an early age, our students are more likely to be successful in school.
Our two VPK classrooms at Fun Time Academy offer a high-quality program that includes literacy standards, developmentally appropriate curricula, small class sizes, and qualified teachers. The school-year program includes 540 hours of instructional time and begins in August.
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During the month of February, the children learned all about seasons and weather. They learned to identify the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, fall and winter) and their characteristics, such as types of weather, changes in nature and typical activities associated with each season.
They learned about different types of weather, such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy and windy. Teachers taught them how to describe the temperature, using terms like hot, warm, cool and cold. Preschoolers also learned about the tools that meteorologists use to measure and track weather, such as thermometers, rain gauges, and windsocks.
Our students learned about basic science concepts related to seasons and weather, such as the water cycle, how clouds form and the effects of the sun's energy on the earth's surface. These concepts were taught through hands-on experiments and observations.
Overall, everyone learned a lot about seasons and weather through interactive and age-appropriate activities that engaged their curiosity and sense of wonder about the world around them. By learning about seasons and weather, children can develop a greater appreciation for the natural world and build a foundation for future scientific learning.
National Children's Dental Health Month is an observance held annually in February raising awareness about the importance of good oral health for children.
During National Children's Dental Health Month, teachers promote good oral hygiene habits among children, such as brushing their teeth, flossing regularly and eating a healthy diet. Promoting good oral health habits early in life helps to prevent dental problems and ensure overall health and well-being for children.
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Christ Child - Valentine's Day |
Christ Child Society of Naples (CCSN) is a non-profit organization that aims to provide basic necessities and services to underprivileged children and families in the Naples area.
CCSN volunteers visited us on Valentine's Day to celebrate our children's friendship and love! They brought cookies and strawberries and visited each classroom. Teachers and volunteers took children outside to play a fun game with the children on the playground.
CSSN is a dedicated organization that strives to improve the lives of underprivileged children and families in the Naples area by providing essential services and support. We appreciate their ongoing involvement with Fun Time Academy.
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If you are interested in learning more, please download the presentation. |
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Suncoast Financial
Credit Card Make Over and Getting Out of Debt
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Suncoast Credit Union hosted a parent training at the academy: Credit Card Makeover and How to Get Out of Debt.
Families learned the warning signs of credit trouble, how to create a budget, ways to control spending urges, deleting debt, improving credit standing and how the FICO score is calculated.
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Monica Reilly has been volunteering for more than six years at Fun Time. She comes every Wednesday to sing and play the guitar with the children in their classrooms.
Monica enjoys coming to the center and interacting with the children. "I love the children- they make me so happy. I previously owned a daycare, and let me tell you this. Fun Time Early Childhood Academy is AMAZING!"
Watch this video to see Monica play the guitar and help children develop important cognitive, physical and social skills. She exposes them to music and genres and helps preschoolers to develop an appreciation for music at an early age.
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Want to Get Involved with Fun Time? |
When you volunteer at our center, you directly impact student learning. We have everything you need to work with a child who needs extra support. Our children love interacting with our volunteers who help them read stories, complete academic activities and even head outside to our garden. If you are interested in volunteering, call us! |
Donate
Want to help support our mission?
Make a donation to provide safe, quality and affordable childcare.
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Legacy Society
Supporters who have a passion for Fun Time Early Childhood Academy's mission can ensure that their love of education will live on for generations to come. A pre-planned legacy gift is one of the best routes for leaving a long term impact. Through simple estate planning, you could enjoy the tax benefits of your gift before you have to make it!
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Next Early Release Day on Thursday, March 16, 2023
No School on Friday, March 17, 2023
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Your commitment to Fun Time Early Childhood Academy allows us to provide safe, quality, affordable education and care for children and parents from low-income working families and to prepare the children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn! |
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Fun Time Early Childhood Academy | [Website]
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