Children's Village recently welcomed PNC volunteers, who led read alouds, seed plantings, and other activities to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the PNC Grow Up Great® initiative. |
PNC Grow Up Great® Initiative:
Planting the Seeds for a Lifetime of Opportunities
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On a recent morning in our 13 preschool classrooms, students scooped soil into pots, poked seeds into the dirt, and then watered their plantings, guided by their teachers and PNC volunteers. The activity reflected the aim of PNC Grow Up Great -- to support programs and experiences that plant the seeds for a lifetime of opportunities.
Children's Village hosted the volunteers as part of PNC's 19th anniversary celebration of its Grow Up Great initiative. PNC provided the seed-planting materials, books for read alouds, and donated books and craft supplies for every preschooler to take home and enjoy with their family.
"PNC has been an extraordinary partner and continues to enhance learning at Children's Village in countless ways. PNC representatives serve as Board members, students benefit from our PNC Grow Up Great® Lending Library, and PNC has supported business administration trainings delivered through our Learning Lab," says Mary Graham, Executive Director, Children's Village.
Additionally, a PNC grant is currently deepening our commitment to social-emotional learning (SEL). Teachers have noted an increase in challenging behaviors, which are attributed to pandemic-related isolation. To respond, PNC is funding classroom sensory kits, which include materials to help calm children, and a range of fun and engaging presentations by community partners on animals, arts, science, and music (see photo below!).
"We are so pleased to mark this Grow Up Great milestone with PNC and deeply appreciate PNC's investment in the lasting academic, social, and economic impact of high-quality early learning," says Ms. Graham.
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Preschoolers focus on planting seeds! | |
Preschoolers point with their drum sticks as they learn about rhythm during a special bucket drumming program, funded through a PNC grant. | |
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As a Family Partnership Coordinator at Children's Village, Sim Loh (above, second from right) helps reduce cultural, financial, and language barriers that can prevent access to high-quality early education. Given her perspective working with families who often are marginalized and her efforts to promote equity — Ms. Loh was recently tapped to serve as a panelist on a symposium about investing in early childhood education.
Ms. Loh offered real-world insight on the ways in which well-intended policies, such as income limits to qualify for child care subsidy, often undercut children’s and families’ ability to thrive.
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She also emphasized that child care reimbursement rates must align with the true cost of care, which will better enable programs to adequately compensate — and therein attract and retain — teachers.
Hosted by Vanguard and the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC), the event showcased the long-term impact of investments in young children. Keynote speaker Dr. Jack Shonkoff, founding director, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, highlighted the Center's latest research on the long-term outcomes of quality early childhood services, specifically regarding lifelong health.
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Joining Sim Loh (second from left) at the symposium are: Sharon Mullings-Neilson, Early Care and Education Consultant for Reinvestment Fund/BUILD Initiatives; Mary Graham, Executive Director, Children’s Village; Otis Bullock, Jr., Esquire, CEO, Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance; Shante Brown, Deputy Secretary, OCDEL; Omari Baye, Manager, HopePHL’s Building Early Links for Learning Project; Carol Austin, Executive Director, First Up. | |
Raising Awareness of
Child Care Funding Needs
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(above) Artwork from Children's Village's students contributed to a mural to raise awareness of the need to adequately fund quality child care and ensure that it is within financial reach of all families. | |
The banner in bloom after its assembly in the home of Eleanor Levie, SEPECC Advocacy Workgroup volunteer. | |
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A Vibrant Reminder of
Child Care's Vital Role
Blooms at the Capitol!
Children’s Village students joined young learners from 14 area child care centers to ‘grow’ hundreds of flowers for the Southeastern PA Early Childhood Coalition (SEPECC)'s advocacy campaign.
To raise legislators' awareness of the pressing need for early care and education funding increases, SEPECC collected the 600+ blooms, created a banner (pictured), and recently unfurled it at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, PA.
During the special 'Capitol Caravan' advocacy event, SEPECC representatives also delivered additional colorful ‘blossoms’ to legislators. The artwork included reminders and other messages affirming ECE’s role in ensuring brighter futures for children, families, and their communities.
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Highlighting our Graduates! | | |
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Three Cheers --Several Teachers Earn Degrees!
Our teachers are the heart of Children’s Village—and central to our commitment to achieving the highest standard of excellence. Research affirms that program quality is directly linked to teacher compensation and education. Teachers must have the knowledge, skills, and values that foster children’s development, learning, and well-being.
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We are especially honored to highlight teachers who have advanced their education and earned degrees this past academic year: | |
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Adriana Estrella Perez - Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education*
Nancy Gerena Aponte - Bachelor of Arts plus Early Childhood Education Certification*
Mariecielo Gueco - Associate in Arts, Major: Ed Early Child-Birth-4th grade*
Jazmyn Lundy-Reid - Associate in Arts in Early Childhood Education*
Jha’Nyse Lundy-Reid - added 30 Early Childhood Education credits to her Associate in Arts*
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Theresa Mettee - Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education**
Ann Ng - Associate in Arts, Major: Ed Early Child-Birth-4th grade
Alex Panea - Master of Arts in Education - Teaching, Learning and Curriculum*
Olivia Siegel - Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy
Bernadette Sproul - Associate in Arts in Early Childhood Education**
Vivian Tai - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Childhood Studies Minor
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*Earned degree through T.E.A.C.H.** Earned ECE Certification through T.E.A.C.H. ***Earned a portion of credits through T.E.A.C.H. Scroll to learn more about T.E.A.C.H. | |
We are pleased to share photographs that some of the graduates shared with us! Clockwise from top left, Adriana Estrella Perez; Nancy Gerena Aponte; Jazmyn Lundy-Reid; Jha'Nys and Jazmyn Lundy-Reid; Theresa Mettee and proud sons; and Bernadette Sproul. | |
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T.E.A.C.H. helps pay for most of the cost of coursework at participating colleges/universities (toward a degree or credential in early childhood) during an individual’s part- or full-time service at Children’s Village (or other eligible child care program). T.E.A.C.H. also helps with tuition, books, travel, paid time off, and college counseling. Individuals become eligible for a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship after working 1,250 hours.
“Children’s Village invests in T.E.A.C.H. and the scholars—paying a portion of tuition, providing paid release time for classes and coursework, and issuing a stipend or raise at the end of each program year. And this investment pays important dividends. Our T.E.A.C.H. scholars commit to working with us at least one year after graduation. T.E.A.C.H. has helped Children’s Village diversify our teaching staff, including hiring several family members of students/former students,” says Mary Graham, Executive Director.
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A Special Expression of Appreciation to Some
Very Special Children’s Village Families!
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To express our gratitude, each family received a unique, framed certificate created by Children’s Village volunteer and artist Anthony Latess. | |
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Children’s Village recently presented hand-crafted Excellent Friend Award certificates to 15 very special families – those among the first to return when we reopened in July 2020 after the mandated pandemic closure and who remain with us today.
“I’ve thought of these families so often, and wanted to do something to symbolize how much it meant to us that they started back so soon, and are still with us,” says Beth Baker, Family Services Director, who organized the presentation.
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“When we reopened our doors after the shutdown, there were countless unknowns but one thing was clear: accessible, high-quality child care was never more critical to ensuring that children, families, communities, and businesses would continue to thrive. We knew we needed to resume our work but we had no script to follow during a crisis of such scale,” says Mary Graham, Ex. Dir. who joined Ms. Baker to present the certificates.
“We wanted to honor those families who entrusted us with the care and education of their children, despite so much uncertainty.
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"It seemed like everything was upside down – parents didn’t enter the building for our first year, school-agers learned through the computer screen that first year, and we even offered a virtual preschool option.
"These families embarked on a journey to unchartered territory with us and held out hope that we would figure it out together, which we did! Others then followed their lead, and today, Children’s Village’s enrollment has rebounded,” says Ms. Baker.
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(Left) Mary Graham, Executive Director, Children's Village, and (far right) Beth Baker, Family Services Director, pose with (second from left) Suwen Chen and Letty Nix at the certificate presentation. View more families who were among those honored here. | |
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The families’ responses to the gesture included surprise (why were they being called to the ‘principal’s office’?) as well as gratitude, stating:
You should be the ones getting the appreciation gift.
My family told me to keep the kids at home but I knew they would be safe and OK with you.
We love your program.
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Exciting Summer Programming
for School-Age Children
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Summer Program for
School-Age Children!
Play-Based with Academic Focus
Your child’s summer experience at Children’s Village will be brimming with fun-filled activities balanced with academic enrichment.
Our primary aim is to stem summer slide—the loss of knowledge in academic subjects due to the break from school. But it is SUMMER—and our caring, experienced, and skilled teachers lead play-based programming that will engage, interest, and delight your child!
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Summer Program for
Rising Kindergartners!
A Bridge to a Successful Transition
Entering elementary school in the fall 2023, your child is a rising kindergartner! This transition is one of the most significant in a child's life.
Our summer program serves as a bridge from preschool to elementary school, easing the transition to a new environment, classmates, teachers, and expectations. Preparing your child for this move can make a meaningful difference in their academic experience for years to come.
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Visit our website to see what's new! | | | | |
