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What do you think of when the word “summertime” is said? For children it’s swimming, sleeping in, and being outside. It’s a time when they don’t have to always follow a schedule and they can go with the flow. Summer is a time to relax!
For parents summertime can be stressful. Most parents continue with their daily responsibilities that include working, and taking care of a house and their family. On top of day-to-day activities, they have to make sure their children are not left unsupervised and that they don’t get bored a week into their summer vacation!
Fortunately, Butler County communities have many opportunities for children and families to take advantage of in the summer!
Libraries typically offer incentive reading programs for middle school age children and younger; story time for children of pre-school age; reading/crafts for elementary school age children; free internet services. Look for your local library’s information on page 3 and 4 of this newsletter.
City Pools or City Water Parks offer cool fun for all ages! And while water parks found in city parks are free, many city-run pools will offer discounted admission fees to families that meet the free and reduced school lunch guidelines.
Communities with recreation departments or YMCA’s offer organized team sports for children at minimal costs.
Many churches throughout the county offer programs free to children. These programs may include such activities as vacation bible school, weekly youth groups and/or projects, local mission work, and church camps.
Theatres often run afternoon matinees which are less expensive than an evening movie.
Your community may not have all the activities listed above, but with a little exploration and a couple of phone calls, you may find that there are lots of ways to keep your children engaged and active during the summer months.
Summertime By: Susan Harsh, LMSW - Bright Beginnings Coordinator
Friday, June 1, 2012
Volume 2, Issue 6
Butler Kids A Community-Based
Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Page 2
Smart Start KDHE Approved Trainings
Upcoming Trainings by Community Partners
Smart Start Lending Library
Page 3
4th Annual Dad & Me Events
Visit Your Local Library
Page 4
Meet a Butler County Early Childhood Professional from Rose Hill
Meet A Member of the Butler County Child and Family Development Task Force
Visit Your Local Library continued
Sponsored by Rainbows United, Inc.
Connect With Us On Line!
Did you know that Smart Start has a F a c e b o o k page? This page gives daily updates about community events, grant activities, and i n t e r es t i ng t i d b i t s o f information. It also provides a location for child care providers Butler County to connect with each other.
To find us just search for “Smart Start of Butler County” on Facebook!
Editor: Audra Kenneson, LMSW
About the Author: Susan Harsh has worked for Rainbows since 1993 and has been the Coordinator of Bright Beginnings since 1997. Susan volunteers at First United Methodist Church and El Dorado High School. She is pictured with Curren, one of her two grandsons.
“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”
~ Kay Redfield Jamison (professor of psychiatry)
Smart Start trainings are free to people who work with young children in Butler County. Trainings are also available for free to parents who live in Butler County. If you would like to schedule a specific training for 2012, please contact Audra at the Smart Start office.
Participants must pre-register to ensure a space in the class. To register, contact
Audra at 320.1342.
NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct:
Responsible Behavior in the Early Childhood Education Profession
When: Thursday, June 14
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Augusta Department of Public Safety – 2100 N. Ohio, Augusta
Who: Teresa Thompson & Audra Kenneson, LMSW
Heart Saver CPR/AED When: Saturday, August 25
Time: 8 am to Noon
Where: Augusta Department of Public Safety – 2100 N. Ohio, Augusta
Cost: Free—Paid for by Smart Start
Instructor: Troy Jellison
Note: Limited Enrollment—Currently adding to wait list
Heart Saver Pediatric First Aid
When: Saturday, August 25
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Where: Augusta Department of Public Safety – 2100 N. Ohio, Augusta
Cost: Free—Paid for by Smart Start
Instructor: Troy Jellison
Volume 2, Issue 6
Upcoming KDHE Approved Trainings for Providers
Child Start Trainings in Butler County
When: Monday, June 11 6:30 —8:30 pm
Title: Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos: Stories and Books
Where: Butler County Health Dept.; 206 N. Griffith
Cost: Member $12; Nonmember $20
Instructor: Amber Ives
When: Saturday, June 30 9:00— 4:00 pm
Title: Literacy Through the Day
Where: Butler County Health Dept.; 206 N. Griffith
Cost: Member $36; Nonmember $60
Instructor: Higbee, Husselman, & Garcia
For more information about Child Start
trainings contact 682.1853.
Day Care Orientation Training
Information about KDHE licensing regulations and what you need to do to become a licensed child care provider will be given at these free trainings held by the Bu t le r Coun ty Hea l th Department. For more information contact Jamie Downs at 320.0365. Upcoming dates of Orientation are: June 15, July 17, and August 20.
Upcoming Trainings by Community Partners
Page 2
Troy Jellison Lori McCune, Emily Broussard, Audra Kenneson, and Emily Amanda Keen at CPR/AED Training earlier this year. Lori, Emily, and Amanda are staff at El Dorado First Baptist Preschool and Child Care Center.
SAVE THE DATE!
KAEYC Professional Development Event
“Healthy Hearts & Healthy Minds”
October 12 & 13, 2012 Manhattan, KS
KAEYC is currently taking proposals for presentations. This event is expected to draw over 300 participants. Conference attendees work with children, birth through age twelve, and represent a variety of disciplines: family child care, early childhood preschool, infant-toddler, after-school, kindergarten, special education, health, psychology, teacher education, and administration. Professionals, students, and parents are encouraged to either submit a proposal to train or attend. Find out more
information at www.KAEYC.net.
Child Care Scholarship Parents!
As part of the agreement for your child’s “Smart Start Child Care Scholarship,” you must attend one, two-hour training. “Build Your Bounce” will be offered again on July 12. This class will start at 6:30 pm at EduCare in El Dorado. Free Child Care will be provided. To register contact Audra at [email protected] or
320.1342.
Smart Start Lending Library
Have you ever checked an item out from the Smart Start Library? It’s easy!
Email Audra at [email protected] or call her at 320.1342.
Officer Buckle and Gloria (Children’s Book) Officer Buckle knows more about
safety than anyone in the town of Napville. But whenever he tries to share his safety tips, nobody listens - until the day the Napville Police Department buys a police dog named Gloria, who has her own way of demonstrating safety tips.
Firefighter Ted (Children’s Book): Burning toast, a sizzling sidewalk, volcanoes erupting at a science fair... Danger lurks everywhere, and not a
firefighter to be found! Ted knows it is time to become Firefighter Ted. It's the least a helpful bear can do!
Each of these books will be given away to participants at the Butler Dads’ “Our Time: Dad & Me” events in June!
Volume 2, Issue 6 Page 3
Butler Dads is an initiative of Smart Start of Butler County and was created to be the Fatherhood Initiative in Butler County. The goal behind the “Dad & Me” events is to provide a fun way for male parent figures to spend time with the children in their lives and remind them that they can do things alone with their children and give Mom some alone time.
This June, Butler Dads celebrates Father’s Day with the 4th Annual “Our Time: Dad & Me” events.
This year the events will be held in Augusta and Rose Hill. Events are for children ages 2—11 and the special man in their lives (Dads, grandpas, uncles, and other male parent figures).
On June 23 at 10 am, members of the Rose Hill Fire Department will volunteer their time and join with the Rose Hill Public Library for the event at the Rose Hill Public Library (306 N. Rose Hill Rd). Children will get the chance to explore a fire truck, play in water, and hear a special friend read “Fireman Ted.”
On June 30 at 9 am, members of the Augusta Kiwanis will volunteer their time and join with the Augusta Police Department and the Augusta Public Library for the event at the Augusta
Public Library (1609 State). Children will get a chance to watch a presentation by Sergeant Chad McCluskey and his K9 partner, Rico. Children also get to hear a special friend read “Officer Buckle and Gloria.”
At each event, the “Dads” who come to the event with their children will be given a copy of the book read at the event.
To register for either event, contact the Smart Start Office at 320.1342.
4th Annual Dad & Me Events Scheduled for June
Visit Your Local Library
Libraries across the county have planned activities for children and parents to enjoy. Why not check them out?
Augusta Public Library
Sign up for Augusta’s summer reading program, “Dream Big, Read!” begins on May 30. Events for June include: June 1, 10:30 am, Movie - Valiant June 2, 7:30 pm, Cosmosphere June 5, 10:30 am - 3 pm, Make it/Take it June 7, 10:30 am Fireflies Children up to 36 mos. Shooting Stars 36mo-Kindergarten Star Gazers Completed K—2nd Gr Books & Cooks— Completed 3rd Grade-5th Grade June 8, 10:30 am Movie - Dumbo June 12, 10:30 am, Movie- (hint: golden ticket) June 14, See June 7 events June 15, Great Plains Nature Center 10 am Preschoolers 10:30 am Elementary June 19, 10:30 am Bingo June 21, Thursday-See June 7 events June 22, 10:30 am Movie- Whisper of the Heart June 26, 10:30 am Make it/Take it June 28, See June 7 events June 29,10:30 am Movie - Ratatouille June 30, 9 am, Butler Dads
For more information about activities at the Augusta Public Library, you can call 775.2681.
Bradford Memorial Library—El Dorado
Bradford Memorial’s 2012 Summer Reading Program for kids from birth through fifth grade starts June 4th. Come to the Children’s department to register beginning June 4. Ventriloquist, Kevin Horner, will be performing for our kick-off event, Tuesday, June 5th at 2:00, in the Clymer room!
There are opportunities to earn prizes this year. We also have a weekly prize drawing and two prize drawings at the end of the program.
Programming for elementary ages, Kindergarten through Fifth grade, will be on Tuesday afternoons at 2:00. On Wednesday afternoons at 2:00, the library is showing movies for all ages. Preschool Story Time, on Thursday mornings at 10:00 and 11:00, is for kids ages three through five years old.
All programs take place in the Clymer room on the lower level of the library. For more information you can call the library
316-321-3363. Lets READ!
Douglass Public Library
The Douglass Public Library summer program begins on Friday, June 1 at 7:00 pm with the Slumberland Party. When you attend that event, you can sign up for all of the summer activities. Story hour is Tuesday mornings: Lap-sitter-age (birth—3 years) at 9:00 am, preschool (4 years—5 years) at 10:00 am, and elementary school age at 11:00 am.
There will also be activities each Thurs-day—sign up is required before each activity. Activities include visiting the Fire/Police/EMT station, a kangaroo walkabout, making stepping stones, building bird houses, and a pool party.
There will be a new reading program with prizes every week. For more infor-mation contact Polly Bloom at 746.2600.
Continued on Page 4...
"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." ~ Frederick Douglass
My name is Michele Donaldson. I am a group licensed daycare provider in Rose Hill.
My husband, Daryl and I have been doing daycare in Rose Hill for 5 years. We feel blessed to be able to be a part of so many children’s lives.
I am currently going to school at Butler Community College to finish my Early Childhood degree. I had been away from school for over 10 years. Going back a year ago, and actually knowing what degree I wanted to achieve and why has been very rewarding! My projected semester to graduate is in the Fall of 2013.
My daycare is a home away from home for the children to feel safe and secure. I believe that children learn best through play and we sure do “play”!
I love working with children and their families! I love to see the children learning new things. To know that I had a hand in that learning brings a smile to my face! Children are the greatest joy!
We can’t thank Rainbows United Smart Start of Butler County enough for all that they do for our daycare and the families of the daycare! We have benefited from the grants, which have allowed us to put hands free equipment in the bathrooms and put in a playground outside.
Our families have received child care scholarships to help pay for their daycare expenses. We have also appreciated the free trainings offered by Smart Start! We are forever grateful!
My husband Daryl and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on May 20th. We have 5 children, Kristin – 14, Brianna – 9, Chase – 3, and Destiny and Jaydon, whom we adopted at birth, are both 7.
She is a member of the Butler County Child & Family Development Task Force which meets to address services to children and families in Butler County.
Barb and her husband Glen live in the country, south of Towanda, with a special kitty named Cricket. They both read a lot, so their house has shelves full of books as well as piles of books everywhere. Glen is a gardener so they both enjoy the flowers he grows and the vegetables produced in his garden.
Barbara Roths is a registered and licensed dietitian who has worked for 30+ years in community-based nutrition and wellness programs and with people of all ages. She currently works with K-State Research and Extension of Butler County.
As a Family Consumer Sciences agent, she presents programs and offers resources on healthy people, healthy food choices, healthy relationships, and healthy checkbooks.
Volume 2, Issue 6
Meet a Member of the Butler County Child and Family Development Task Force
Meet a Butler Early Childhood Professional from Rose Hill
Page 4
Licensed group home provider Michele Donaldson and her husband, Daryl.
Butler County Extension Agents: Lindsey Friesen, Larry Crouse, Barb Roths, & David Kehler.
Visit Your Local Library (Continued from page 3)
Rose Hill Public Library
Join us June 4 through July 31 for a reading program that will keep your kids reading during the summer! We will also have fun events to entertain the whole family! Through June and July the library will present Story time every Monday at 10:00 am and Craft Time (sign up required) every Wednesday at 10:00 am.
Other special activities include: Evening Story Time - June 14 - 7 pm Mr. Stinky Feet - June 20 - 10 am
Dad & Me Event - June 23 - 10 am Evening Story Time - June 28 - 7 pm Brandon Draper’s Drum Safari - July 12 - 7 pm Okee Dokee Brothers - July 18 - 10 am Evening Story Time - July 26 - 7 pm Barnes & Noble Book Fair - July 28 - 1 pm to 5 pm
To register for a spot in craft time or to learn more about the events, contact the library at 776.3013 or check out their Facebook page!
