Tri-County Parent Involvement Opportunities
Family Book Club 2009-2010
Sept. 8, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 9, and April 20
Family Fun Events are listed in the calendar section
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Community Events
From the Heart-Waterloo Home Enhancement Project
We are now seeking applications for qualified Owner Occupied Homeowners in Waterloo. The From the Heart: Waterloo Home Enhancement Project is a Co-Sponsor Agreement between various Waterloo Agencies, Community Members, and Group Workcamp Foundation. This partnership will lead to the repair and improvement of up to 65 homes in Waterloo, Iowa. Group Workcamps are weeklong home-repair projects involving volunteers from youth groups recruited by Group Workcamps.
(application)
Effective Black Parenting Program
Open to parents, grandparents, foster parents, and guardians of African American children. The 14 week program begins Wednesday, February 3, 2010 5-8 p.m at the YWCA 425 Lafayette Street Waterloo, IA. Please call to register/more information Marion Boggs, Coordinator (319)234-7600 ext. 21.
Los Niño’s bien Educados parent education program
Family & Children’s Council, YWCA and El Centroamericano are preparing to offer another Los Niño’s bien Educados parent education program!
The program will begin Feb. 9th at the YWCA from 5:OO TO 7:00 in the evening. Transportation, meal and child care are available. Call if you have any questions. Spanish speaking families can contact El Centro to register for the class.
(English flier) (spanish flier)
Living with Less Conference
Iowa State University Extension in Black Hawk County, the Catholic parish’s in Waterloo and the YWCA are sponsoring the second Living with Less Conference on Saturday Feb 20. The conference will be held at the YWCA, 425 Lafayette Street in Waterloo.
The conference is open to all families and will be of interest to anyone who finds themselves facing a new economic reality. The sessions will be lively, interactive and upbeat. The day will begin with a keynote-Avoiding Pitfalls on Living with Less. The keynote will be followed by workshops on the following topics: Budget Basics, Spend Smart. Eat Smart, Living ‘Green’ for families, How to get a job and keep it, Finding Help for Health Care, Remaining Positive in stressful times and Accessing the safety net.
The conference will begin at 9AM and child care will be provided free to participants by the YWCA beginning at 8:45AM. The Catholic parish’s in Waterloo will be hosting a free lunch at Queen of Peace Parish at 12:30. The afternoon sessions begin again at 1PM. The day will conclude at 3:30.
To register, contact the Black Hawk county extension office at 234-6811. Registration is $5.00 per person and scholarships are available.
event flyer
3rd Annual Parenting Fair
March 16, 2010 11-3:00 pm at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Earn Stork's Nest points for attending.
(flyer)
The R.J. McElroy Trust is sponsoring "Dollar Days"
at the Phelps Youth Pavilion , the Grout Bluedorn Imaginarium and the Grout Iowa Veterans Museum during spring break week! These are three of Iowa's premiere attractions for children and their families. Details:
- Dollar Days: Monday, March 15 - Sunday, March 21.
- Extended hours during spring break week: 9am - 5pm Mon-Saturday; 1pm - 5pm Sunday.
- All the sites are in downtown Waterloo and have great parking available.
- Admission is $1 per site for each child. Adults who come along with a child(ren) also get in for $ 1 per site. If you don't have kids at home, consider taking a neighbor or a child from your church to enjoy three of Iowa's best venues!
- This is a great value. Regular admission at the Youth Pavilion and the Imaginarium is $5 per person and $10 per person at the Iowa Veterans Museum. Remember you must bring a child to receive $1 admission.
- If you'd like to bring a group. Please call the venues in advance to schedule a time.
- Have a Dollar Days vacation! Book a room at the Ramada downtown Waterloo! They have an indoor pool/hot tub, complimentary parking, and shuttle service. Call 319-233-7560 and ask for the "Dollar Days" rate (just $69 plus tax!).
So, why such a great event? The McElroy Trust is sponsoring Dollar Days to honor the legacy of the Trust's benefactor, R.J. McElroy. "Mac" as he was known, would have turned 100 this year! Below, I've included a summary about McElroy's life and his impact on the Cedar Valley.
Community Parent Resources
 College Access Program
Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)
Program Services
- Free services & assistance
- Referrals to GED classes
- Career planning and counseling
- Help in completing admissions applications
- Help in applying for financial aid
- Assistance with college transfer
- Help in resolving student loan defaults
- Scholarship information
 Contact Kelli Beener, Educational Couselor for more information at 319-433-1220 or email kelli.beener@uni.edu
(EOC Flyer)
www.uni.edu/eop/eoc
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NAEYC Accreditation — The Right Choice for Kids
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Literacy
The National Head Start Family Literacy Center is pleased to offer this TIPS (Training, Information and Practical Strategies) family literacy newsletter. This issue explores the four components of family literacy as identified by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007:
- parents as primary teachers and full partners in their child's education
- interactive activities between parent and child
- parent training that leads to economic self-sufficiency and financial literacy; and
- age-appropriate education approaches that prepare children for school.
(Newsletter)
Family Book Club 2009-2010
Sept. 8, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 9, and April 20
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Healthy Snacks Recipe Book click here to view
Understanding your child's screenings & assessments brochure
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Parent Hand books for 2008-2009
Center Base, Home base, Spanish Centerbase
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Separation difficulties can happen with any child at any time during their preschool years. Whether this is your child's first preschool experience or a mid-year crisis, you have probably tried everything, including a few special treats, but he/she will not be convinced that preschool is the place where they should be. It is very important that you are ready for the separation, also. If you are anxious about your child starting preschool, they will pick up on that anxiety.
Drop-off routine to the rescue!
Whether this is your child's first school experience or a new phase, these meltdowns are difficult for everyone involved. What do you do when your child refuses to say goodbye and happily trot off to a busy day at preschool? What you need is a "drop off routine." Children like routines because they provide a sense of security. Just as a good bedtime routine helps in the evening hours, a consistent drop- off routine will help you at preschool.
Creating the drop-off routine should involve your child's teacher. Select a series of steps that you will take every day when you and your child arrive at preschool. The goal is not to delay the inevitable, but to ritualize the goodbye. The predictability may help your child remain calm as the "goodbye" approaches.
Keep it simple!
Your routine could be as simple as helping your child hang up his coat, reading two books in the reading corner and then waving goodbye at the door. Or you could decide to watch your child color a picture and take it with you when you depart. The routine can change over time and eventually you might not even need one.
A drop-off routine will not always keep your child from crying, especially at first. Some children cry for days or even weeks before they adjust. Once you have finished the activities in your routine, you may need the teacher's reassuring arms to help your child as you leave.
Helping children with separation is a large part of a preschool teacher's job. Often the teacher is more effective at calming down your child after the dreaded goodbye has passed. Believe your child's teacher when she says that your little one only cried for ten minutes or so.
Some simple steps for separation!
There are other simple steps that can help your child adjust to the separation. Leave a family photo in your child's cubby. Show your child that you trust and like his teacher with a happy greeting in the morning. Provide your child with an opportunity to talk about his feelings, but do not dwell on the issue. Try to relax and believe that this problem will pass. Before you know it you will be hearing "but I said I don't want to go home!"
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