Archive for Volunteer

[RELEASE] Early Learning Coalition of North Florida Organizes Air and Wind Science Program

Posted by
May 19, 2022
Filed Under early learning events Media Release preschool Press Release providers Volunteer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORE PHOTO LINKS BELOW RELEASE

 

Early Learning Coalition of North Florida Organizes Air and Wind Science Program

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla., May 20, 2022 – The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) has been focusing on science and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programs this past spring. The ELC outreach staff launched a new science themed program specifically about air and wind.

Preschoolers became scientists and studied the science behind what air is and what makes wind. The outreach team dressed in lab coats and goggles and put on an interactive program featuring many science experiments that help explain these concepts. 

Kids were enthralled with the “keeping the ping pong ball in the air with a blow dryer” and “putting the paper towel into the water without it getting wet” experiments according to the outreach team. Balloons were used to demonstrate air; the popping of a confetti balloon was a big hit. Children waved scarves like sailboats to music and blew their own pinwheels. The students also learned about tornados and then made their own tornado in a bottle to take home. 

Each child received a book called “Wind” by Erin Edison and the teachers received a large bag of science resources to further teach this theme in the classroom. In March, the ELC also held a science project contest in which preschool classrooms sent in photos of science projects they did in their classrooms. Prizes were given to the top three projects. The winner was Island Prep West of St. Augustine’s Pre-K classroom, featuring their “Bees” project. 

“Focusing on STEAM promotes problem solving and thinking skills,” says Joan Whitson, ELC Outreach Manager. “Getting kids excited about science at an early age leads to a greater interest in later years.” 

The Early Learning Coalition is the leading voice in six counties for child care. ELC works with many other local agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. Their mission is achieved by leading projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and how to assist in ensuring quality child care for all families, visit us at www.elcnorthflorida.org.

Other Photos:

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/susan-and-coffetti-2.jpg

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Kids-making-their-own-Tornado-in-a-bottle.jpg 

Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and the state of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

 

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[RELEASE] The Cat in the Hat is on the Loose in North Florida for Early Literacy

Posted by
March 23, 2022
Filed Under early learning events Media Release preschool Press Release providers Volunteer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PHOTO LINKS BELOW RELEASE

 

The Cat in the Hat is on the Loose in North Florida for Early Literacy

ST.AUGUSTINE, Fla., March 23, 2022 – The Cat in the Hat was on the loose in North Florida during the month of March. In celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2, the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) selected several of its counties’ child-care centers and preschools to receive a Dr. Seuss program in their school.

The Dr. Seuss Program, led by ELC staff and volunteers, consists of a story time with special guest “The Cat in the Hat” followed by various activities relating to Dr. Seuss books. Each child receives a free copy of the book “Ten Apples Up on Top”. Teachers receive a resource bag filled with a set of eight Dr. Seuss books and other related teaching materials.

At the ELC’s Early Educators Conference January 29, 2022, ELC awarded the following schools with the program: O2bkids Palencia and O2bkids South location in St. Augustine; Kinder Care and Kids Campus in Orange Park, and Fleming Island High School Child Care in Fleming Island. (See photo links below.)

“Promoting early literacy is a priority mission for us at the Early Learning Coalition,” said ELC’s Literacy Outreach Manager Joan Whitson. “Getting children excited about books and making sure that all children have them can make all the difference in their success in school all during their lives. 

The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida would like to thank its many volunteers who come out and help with these themed literacy programs as well as read to children weekly in local preschools.”

The ELC of North Florida provides child-care assistance to families who meet certain income requirements and who are working or going back to school. This school readiness program is designed to increase a child’s chance of achieving future educational success. The ELC also administers and manages Florida’s FREE VPK (voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds). 

For more information about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and its programs and services, please visit, www.elcnorthflorida.org or call 904-342-2267.

The Early Learning Coalition is the leading voice in six counties for child care. ELC works with many other local agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. Their mission is achieved by leading projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. 

 

Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and the state of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

 

Photo Downloads:

St. Johns County:  

 

Photo #1 – Children from O2bkids South Preschool in St. Augustine with their teacher Diana Casillas and the Cat in the Hat were awarded a Dr. Seuss Program brought by the Early Learning Coalition’s Early Literacy Outreach Program in March 2022. 

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/group-photo-o2bkids-south-2.jpeg

 

Clay County: 

Photo #2 – Kinder Care in Fleming Island with the Cat in the Hat were awarded a Dr. Seuss Program brought by the Early Learning Coalition’s Early Literacy Outreach Program in March 2022. 

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinder-Care-Fleming-Island-Group-Photo.jpeg

 

Photo #3: Fleming Island High School Eaglets with teachers Ms. Vinson and Ms. Fish were awarded a Dr. Seuss Program brought by the Early Learning Coalition’s Early Literacy Outreach Program in March 2022. 

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Fleming-Island-HighSchool-Eaglets-Child-Care.jpeg

 

 

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[PRESS RELEASE] The Cat in the Hat Visits the Ravine Gardens for Early Literacy

Posted by
March 16, 2022
Filed Under activities early learning events Media Release preschool Press Release Volunteer

 

CONTACT:

Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Coordinator

904-342-2267

[email protected]

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PHOTO LINKS BELOW RELEASE

 

The Cat in the Hat Visits the Ravine Gardens for Early Literacy

 

PALATKA, Fla., March 16, 2022 – He’s back! The Cat in the Hat made a special visit to Ravine Gardens for a literacy event put on by the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) on Friday, March 11, 2022. Called “Dr. Suess at the Ravines,” thelocal Putnam County preschools event had a special story time program featuring the Cat in the Hat followed by an activity time centered around different Dr. Suess books. This event was in celebration of literacy week, held annually in the first part of March, in celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

Activities included making Fox in Sox puppets, playing in a Green Eggs and Ham Sensory Bin, stacking red and white cups for the Cat in the Hat, creating a personalized foot book and playing a fishing game to go along with the book One Fish Two Fish. Each child received a FREE Dr. Seuss book and each classroom received a teacher bag full of Dr. Seuss themed resources for their classroom.  The ELC of North Florida believes focusing on early literacy is the key to a child’s future success.

“Local ELC literacy volunteers running all the activities made the event happen,” said Joan Whitson ELC Outreach Manager.  Many of these volunteers also read regularly in local preschools.  For more information about volunteering with the ELC of North Florida, please contact Joan Whitson at [email protected].

 The ELC of North Florida provides child care assistance to families who meet certain income requirements and who are working or going back to school. This school readiness program is designed to increase a child’s chance of achieving future educational success. The ELC also administers and manages Florida’s FREE VPK (voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds).

For more information about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and its programs and services, please visit, www.elcnorthflorida.org or call 904-342-2267.

The Early Learning Coalition is the leading voice in six counties for child care. ELC works with many other local agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. Their mission is achieved by leading projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and how we assist in ensuring quality child care for all families, visit us at www.elcnorthflorida.org. Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and the state of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

 

Photo Downloads:

Putnam County:

 

Photo #1 – Angela Hough, director of God’s Little Creations Child Care Center in Palatka enjoys the Cat in the Hat Cup stacking game with her children as part of the Early Learning Coalition’s Early Literacy Outreach Program in March 2022.

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1-Angela-Hough-from-Gods-Little-Creations-and-cup-stacking-e1647446998698.jpeg

Photo #2 – Children enjoying the Cat in the Hat Story time at Ravine Gardens in Palatka  as part of the Early Learning Coalition’s Early Literacy Outreach Program in March 2022.

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2-Cat-in-the-Hat-at-the-Ravines.jpeg

Photo #3 – Beverly Robinson, director of A Child’s Safe Haven pictured with her children all decked out as The Cat in the Hat as part of the Early Learning Coalition’s Early Literacy Outreach Program in March 2022.

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3-A-Childs-Safe-Haven-in-Palatka-Group-Photo.jpeg

 

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Volunteer Training Sessions Offered in August

Posted by
August 9, 2021
Filed Under books early learning preschool Press Release reading Reading Pal Volunteer

Early Learning Coalition volunteers Jane Hafner and Carol White read the book “Mr. Seahorse” by Eric Carle to children at Children’s World in Palatka, Fla., Wednesday November 18, 2020.

VOLUNTEER FLYER: https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ELC-Volunteer-Recruitment-Flyer_July-2021_FINAL-PDF.pdf

Early Learning Coalition Needs Volunteer Readers in Six North Florida Counties

Training Sessions Offered in August

ORANGE PARK, Fla., August 9, 2021-  The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) is seeking new volunteers to read to children in local preschools and help them put on themed literacy programs. 

Reading volunteers read once a week or bi-weekly. Literacy program volunteers volunteer as needed, putting on themed programs in schools such as space, ocean, dinosaurs and more. Volunteers are part of a team that puts on the programs. 

Upcoming Training & Information Sessions: 

Thursday, August 19, 2021, 1 p.m.

ELC of North Florida Clay County Office

3620 Peoria Road, Orange Park, FL

Contact: Lacy Doss at [email protected] or call 904-342-2267 ext 202

Tuesday, August 31, 2021, 1 p.m. 

ELC of North Florida St. Johns County Office

2450 Old Moultrie Road, Suite 103, St. Augustine, FL 

Contact: Joan Whitson [email protected] or call 904-342-2267 ext 202

Thursday, September 2, 2021, 10:30 a.m. 

ELC of North Florida St. Johns County Office

3841 Reid St., Palatka, FL

Contact: Joan Whitson [email protected] or call 904-342-2267 ext 202

 

“Reading to young children sets the groundwork for a child’s future ability to read and learn,” said ELC Early Literacy Coordinator Joan Whitson. 

Volunteer Reading Pals are matched up with local preschool centers where they read once a week or bi-weekly to groups of children. The ELC has a specific need currently for more volunteers in Clay County.

Reading Pals volunteers will learn the following skills: how to choose age-appropriate books; child development, including the attention span of preschoolers; presenting books to preschoolers and promoting early literacy through phonetically reading.  

“It makes my day when I walk into the classroom and the children cheer ‘It’s the book lady,’” volunteer Reading Pal, Ellen Prest said.

Studies show that the best opportunity to influence our children’s lifetime learning is before kindergarten when their most rapid period of brain growth occurs. Instilling an early love for reading is crucial to children’s future success in school. 

The ELC has a well-stocked lending library with books and literacy materials for the volunteers to check out and use.  Readers are also able to create relationships with the children through their consistent appearances. Volunteers can read solo or they can share their assignment with a partner. The ELC has several husband and wife teams as well. Civic organizations have also adopted a classroom and members take turns reading. 

 For more information about becoming a reading volunteer contact Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Outreach Manager at 904-342-2267 x 202 or email [email protected]

 The Early Learning Coalition is the leading voice in six counties for child care. ELC works with many other local agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. Their mission is achieved by leading projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and how assist in ensuring quality child care for all families, visit us at www.elcnorthflorida.org.

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Sponsored by the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning. 

May 2021 Volunteer Newsletter

Posted by
May 26, 2021
Filed Under early learning Volunteer

Check out the Volunteer Newsletter for May!

Click to Access the May 2021 Volunteer Newsletter

 

The Early Learning Coalition is the leading voice in six counties for child care. ELC works with many other local agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. Their mission is achieved by leading projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and how we assist in ensuring quality child care for all families, visit us at www.elcnorthflorida.org.

Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and the state of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

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Early Learning Coalition of North Florida

[RELEASE] Flora and the Flamingo Return to North Florida to Teach Kids the Importance of Music and Movement

Posted by
April 27, 2021
Filed Under preschool Press Release providers Volunteer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Image/Caption: Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) volunteer Melanie Kent (AKA “The Flamingo”) with VPK student Jashanti Lyons and the children at God’s Little Creations in Palatka on April 22, 2021. They are dancing and acting out the story “Flora and the Flamingo” by Molly Idle.

Photo Link: https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_9370.jpg 

Image/Caption: Children from God’s Little Creations in Palatka on April 22, 2021 creating fans before they learn the “fan dance”.

Photo Link: https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_9390.jpg 

 Flora and the Flamingo Return to North Florida to Teach Kids the Importance of Music and Movement

PALATKA, Fla., April 28, 2021 – The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida’s (ELC) outreach team returned to North Florida for their celebrated music and movement literacy program by visiting God’s Little Creations in Palatka on Thursday, April 22. The event debuted in Clay and Baker Counties back in 2019 and took a hiatus last year due to COVID-19. Geared to 3-5 year olds, the program is meant to highlight the importance of music and movement as it pertains to a child’s learning and development.  

Books like “Rupert Can Dance” by Jules Feiffer, “Down by the Cool of the Pool” by Tony Mitten and “Flora and the Flamingo” by Molly Idle are highlighted during this program. During the reading of Flora and the Flamingo, one of the ELC volunteers dresses up as the flamingo then picks a child from the class they are visiting to join them in acting out the story. Whatever dance movement the flamingo does, Flora copies it. The children get to dance to different kinds of music and make music with bells.

Volunteers are the key to success for this program and the other themed programs that the ELC puts on, including: Space, Meet the Masters, Dinosaurs, Ocean Themed, Mother Goose “Rhymers are Readers” and Eric Carle’s World of Colors. Volunteers help the ELC in two main ways. The first is by being an outreach volunteer that assists in putting on programs. These volunteers read stories, sing songs, lead craft activities and maybe wear themed costumes – such as a shark for the ocean themed program. The second way volunteers help is by being a weekly reading volunteer to a group of local preschool children. Reading volunteers get the privilege of exposing the same group of children each week to great books and get to plant the seed of early reading.

Exposing children to the arts at a young age is very important to building their creativity.  Learning to dance or play an instrument builds confidence which is so important to early child development.  The ELC outreach team regularly puts on themed literacy programs in local childcare centers and preschool classrooms.  The goal of these programs is to expose children to quality literature and to reach important topics that children need to learn.  The children receive a FREE book relating to the theme of the program and the classroom receives a bag of teaching resources and books to further teach the topic at a later time. 

For more information about volunteering contact Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Outreach Manager at [email protected] or 904-342-2267. 

The ELC provides child care assistance to families who meet certain income requirements and who are working or going back to school. This school readiness program is designed to increase a child’s chance of achieving future educational success. The ELC also administers and manages Florida’s FREE VPK (voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds). 

For more information about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and its other programs and services, please visit, www.elcnorthflorida.org or call 904-342-2267.

 

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Sponsored by the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

Early Learning Coalition of North Florida

[PRESS RELEASE] Children Explore the World of the Ocean Through Palatka Daycare’s Early Literacy Program

Posted by
November 30, 2020
Filed Under Media Release preschool reading Volunteer

PALATKA, Fla., November 30, 2020 – The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida’s (ELC) outreach and volunteer team led an ocean-themed literacy program at Palatka’s Children’s World preschool on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. 

 

Their World of the Ocean literacy program introduces children to sea life while helping them improve vocabulary and engaging their imagination. Preschoolers learn facts about dozens of ocean creatures and find out what life is like living in a coral reef. The program begins with an interactive story followed by an age-appropriate activity. Story time shark ELC volunteer Jane Hafner helped children make their own ocean in a bottle, paint sea shell creatures and make colorful sand necklaces. At the event’s conclusion, each child received a free book about life in the ocean and the school received a resource bag of items to further teach the theme again in the future. 

 

This is one of several varieties of ongoing themed literacy programs that ELC leads in local preschools in the counties of Baker, Bradford, Clay, Nassau Putnam and St. Johns counties. 

 

“Promoting early literacy is a priority mission for us at the Early Learning Coalition,” said ELC’s Literacy Outreach Manager Joan Whitson. “Getting children excited about books and making sure that all children have them can make all the difference in their success in school all during their lives.”

 

Photo Download: 

https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/childrens-world-4-scaled.jpg

Photo Caption: Early Learning Coalition volunteers Jane Hafner and Carol White read the book “Mr. Seahorse” by Eric Carle to children at Children’s World in Palatka, Fla., Wednesday November 18, 2020. 

 

The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida is the leading voice in six counties for child care and parents with children from birth through 5 years. ELC works with many other local agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. Their mission is achieved by leading projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and how to assist in ensuring quality child care for all families, or to learn how to be a literacy volunteer, please visit us at www.elcnorthflorida.org.

 

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Early Learning Coalition of North Florida

Sponsorship by the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

ELC of North Florida Volunteers Making a Creative Impact

Posted by
April 14, 2020
Filed Under activities COVID-19 reading Reading Pal Volunteer

Image/Caption: Early Learning Coalition of North Florida Volunteer, Erika Bauserman St. Augustine creates videos to connect with preschool children. She is standing in front of the Lighthouse in St. Augustine, Fla. #ELCsTakeAction #Covid19UnsungHeroes

www.elcnorthflorida.org 

Photo Link: https://elcnorthflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lighthouse_erika.jpeg

 

ELC of North Florida Volunteers Making a Creative Impact

 

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., April 14, 2020 – Since preschool and child care centers are following CDC safety recommendations, volunteers are no longer admitted in local preschools for reading time. However, Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) literacy volunteers are finding creative ways to still stay in touch with the children they have been reading to all year. 

One of the creative ways volunteers are still giving back is through the use of digital communication, shared with the preschools. For instance, Volunteer Margo Locke who reads weekly at “A Fun Place to Be” in Northern St. Augustine is reading to children through Facebook videos. The teachers say it is reassuring for the children to see familiar faces like their reading volunteer and to keep to their normal routines as much as possible.  

ELC volunteer Erika Bauserman of St. Augustine, who reads at Brighton Day Academy is now making videos to share with the children. Her first video is called “Where in St. Augustine Am I?” Bauserman traveled around St. Augustine and took pictures of local landmarks giving short facts about each one. Her latest video is called “Compound Words Around Town.” She filmed items that are compound words like, butterfly, flowerpot, motorcycle and woodpecker.  

“The children love the videos and keep asking for more,” said Miss Donna, Brighton’s three and four-year old teacher.

“I miss seeing my kids so much and I want to stay in touch while at the same time teaching them something,” said Bauserman. 

Bauserman’s videos can be viewed at the ELC’s North Florida YouTube playlists page where their early education videos are featured.  https://www.youtube.com/user/ELCPSJ/playlists

It is challenging right now for child care centers and preschools to stay open (See state of child care article: https://elcnorthflorida.org/news-release-florida-governor-deems-child-care-as-an-essential-business-state-of-child-care-services-in-north-florida-during-the-coronavirus/) but it is necessary because they are serving the children of our essential workers and first responders. 

The North Florida coalition is so proud of it’s many volunteers who give of their time so freely to help our youngest citizens according to Literacy Outreach Manager Joan Whitson.  

For more information about volunteering with the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida contact Early Literacy Outreach Manager Joan Whitson at:  [email protected]. The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida’s website and facebook page has up-to-date resources for providers and parents in addition to their child care services, school readiness services and VPK programs. Please visit online at www.elcnorthflorida.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elcnorthflorida.

www.elcnorthflorida.org #ELCsTakeAction #Covid19UnsungHeroes

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VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER – December 2019

Posted by
December 12, 2019
Filed Under early learning Volunteer

WINTER 2019 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER

 

(This is the text version of our newsletter sent to our volunteers. Contact jwhitson@elcnorthflorida.org to learn more about our volunteer program.)

From Joan’s Desk

Dear Volunteers,
Tom Brokaw said, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” Every time ELC Volunteers read to children, or dress up as a character, or help with center activities, or load cars, or create make-and- take materials, or stuff bags with supplies for preschool teachers a difference is made in a child’s life.
Working with ELC volunteers is truly one of the biggest blessings of my life. I am inspired by the dedication and passion you have for reaching out to the children that this organization serves. The Outreach Program is exciting, informative, and creative because of you.
At the holiday season, my thoughts turn gratefully to you who make our programming possible. Thank you and best wishes to you and yours for a happy holiday.

Sincerely,
Joan

ELC Early Literacy Coordinator

Reading Conference

The annual Reading Conference was held at the Marywood Retreat Center in St. Johns, September 25th. Forty-five Reading Pal volunteers and sixteen preschool teachers attended. The conference featured guest speakers Sandra Dunnavant, Lisa Taylor and Susan Murphy who shared ideas and activities. Attendees were able to participate in Interactive reading stations featuring informative reading related topics.
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Sandi’s Corner

Dear Friends,
I will be retiring AGAIN in January. It’s time to read all those books that I’ve put on hold, enjoy mint juleps on the front porch, and discover ancestors that I didn’t know about.
I want to say a few words about my experience with the ELC organization and the Outreach Program.
I have loved working with the ELC staff and volunteers.
Dawn and her remarkable, dedicated, competent staff always provided me with the tools to make my job easier. Joan is one of the most enthusiastic, passionate colleagues that I have ever worked with. I enjoyed sharing ideas and performing programs with a cadre of caring volunteers.
Thank all of you for the kindness that you showed to me. I will always treasure my time with you.
Fondly,
Sandi
PS…Don’t forget to teach those children Nursery Rhymes!

 

Reading Pal Spotlight

Lisa Taylor

Lisa Taylor has a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Texas Woman’s University. She is an experienced public youth services librarian. Presently she is a librarian at Florida State College in Jacksonville. ELC is delighted to have Lisa volunteering at Lighthouse Prep in St. Augustine. Not only do preschoolers get the benefit of her vast experience but they also have the pleasure of listening to her play the ukulele during story time.
Lisa shared her passion for reading at the ELC Reading Conference in September.

Reading Pals Needed

Are you enjoying being a Reading Pal? ELC is looking for more Pals. We need your help. Spread the word about ELC to your friends, neighbors, associates, church buddies, and women’s club. Help us recruit. This program makes a difference in the lives of children. Please help us enlist more volunteers.

Literacy Themed Programs

Throughout the Fall the ELC outreach team put on four different themed literacy programs. The program themes are as follows: Ocean, Dinosaur, Dance and Eric Carle’s World of Colors program. The programs consist of a very interactive story time which includes drama, music, stories and sometimes activities. Each child receives a FREE book relating to the theme and the teacher receives a resource bag with books and materials related to that theme.

Reminders

Volunteer Hours

Please fill out and return the ELC volunteer hours worksheet each month. Sheets are available at all three lending library offices or they can be sent electronically.

Return to the offices or email or fax them to Joan. 904-342-2268 (fax) or [email protected]

THE FEW MINUTES THAT IT TAKES TO FILL OUT YOUR TIMESHEETS ARE SO VERY IMPORTANT TO ELC. PLEASE FILL THEM OUT MONTHLY!

Why Time Sheets Are Valuable
According to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the value of volunteer services can be disclosed in a nonprofit’s financial statements for grant proposals, annual reports and other purposes. FASB states that non-monetary information, such as the number of donated hours or services provided by volunteers, can be helpful in assessing the success and long-term viability of a nonprofit. Using this hourly figure, an organization can put a dollar value on the community support that it receives in the form of volunteer work.

Read For The Record
ELC participated in the nationwide event Read for the Record, November 7th. Each year a book is picked and a challenge is issued for all participants to read this book on the same day to as many children as possible. The goal is to break the world record. 2,643,000 children listened to Thank You Omu and broke the world record. The ELC provided a FREE copy of this year’s book and a packet of activities was given to 75 child care providers in our six counties. 5,500 children in our area listened to the book.

Coming Events
Quarterly Volunteer Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 17th 12:30 -2:00 pm St John Main Library in St. Augustine located at 1960 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Meeting includes FREE lunch, gifts and fun. Come out and meet and visit with other ELC volunteers. RSVP to Joan for St. Augustine meeting at: [email protected]

Wednesday January 15th 12:30 pm Work Day For Conference at the Clay Office
Volunteers are needed to help with organizing materials for the Conference

Saturday, January 18th 9:00-3:30 pm at the Thrasher Horne Center, Orange Park. ELC Early Educators Conference –
Volunteers are needed to help with registration that morning at 8:00 am. (If you volunteer you can stay and attend the conference for FREE.) RSVP to Joan [email protected]

ELC Days

ELC Days at the Amazing Grace Crop Maze in Green Cove Springs were held October 9th and 16th. Each year ELC sponsors this fun field trip for preschools. Preschoolers went on a hay ride, walked through the crop maze, got up close with farm animals, jumped on the jump pad, and had an agricultural lesson. The ELC staff and volunteers provided an extra Fall craft. Each child was given a FREE copy of the book Spookley the Square Pumpkin and teachers received a bag of FALL related books for their classrooms. This year 450 children attended. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped.

Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and Florida’s Division of Early Learning
Early Learning Coalition of North Florida | 904-342-2267 [email protected]| https://elcnorthflorida.org
Administrative Office: 2450 Old Moultrie Road, Ste. 103, St. Augustine, FL 32086

 

Early Learning Coalition of North Florida

Flora and the Flamingo Make Their Debut in North Florida

Posted by
July 12, 2019
Filed Under activities early learning events Volunteer

Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) volunteer Kathy Stawara of Orange Park (AKA “The Flamingo”) and ELC outreach assistant Sandi Dunnavant with children at Baker County Pre-K in Macclenney.

The Early Learning Coalition of North Florida’s (ELC) outreach team debuted their new music and movement literacy program in pre-schools this past spring and summer in Clay and Baker Counties. They will expand the program to include Bradford, Putnam, Nassau and St. Johns Counties in the Fall. The program, geared to 3-5 year olds, is meant to highlight the importance of music and movement as it pertains to a child’s learning and development.  

 

Books like “Rupert Can Dance” by Jules Feiffer, “Down by the Cool of the Pool” by Tony Mitten and “Flora and the Flamingo” by Molly Idle are highlighted during this program.  During the reading of Flora and the Flamingo one of the ELC volunteers dresses up as the flamingo then picks a child from the class they are visiting to join them in acting out the story. Whatever dance movement the flamingo does, Flora copies it. The children get to dance to different kinds of music and make music with bells.

 

Volunteers are the key to success for this program and the other themed programs that the ELC puts on, including: Space, Meet the Masters, Dinosaurs, Ocean Themed, Mother Goose “Rhymers are Readers” and Eric Carle’s World of Colors. Volunteers help the ELC in two main ways. The first is by being an outreach volunteer that assists in putting on programs. These volunteers read stories, sing songs, lead craft activities and maybe wear themed costumes – such as a shark for the ocean themed program. The second way volunteers help is by being a weekly reading volunteer to a group of local preschool children. Reading volunteers get the privilege of exposing the same group of children each week to great books and get to plant the seed of early reading.

 

Exposing children to the arts at a young age is very important to building their creativity.  Learning to dance or play and instrument builds confidence which is so important to early child development.  The ELC outreach team regularly puts on themed literacy programs in local childcare centers and preschool classrooms.  The goal of these programs is to expose children to quality literature and to reach important topics that children need to learn.  The children receive a FREE book relating to the theme of the program and the classroom receives a bag of teaching resources and books to further teach the topic at a later time. 

 

For more information about volunteering contact Joan Whitson, Early Literacy Outreach Manager at [email protected] or 904-342-2267. 

 

The ELC provides child care assistance to families who meet certain income requirements and who are working or going back to school. This school readiness program is designed to increase a child’s chance of achieving future educational success. The ELC also administers and manages Florida’s FREE VPK (voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds). 

 

For more information about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida and its other programs and services, please visit, www.elcnorthflorida.org or call 904-342-2267.

 

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Early Learning Coalition of North Florida

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