Fall/Winter

2014

YAAEYCs

The White Rose

York Area
Association for the
E d u c at i o n o f Y o u n g C h i l d r e n

Letter from the President...

Greetings YAAEYC friends!

Words of
Encouragement:
There are those who look
at things the way they are,
and ask why I dream of
things that never were,
and ask why not?
~ Robert Kennedy,
American Politician and
Civil Right Activist

It has been a busy summer as all of us are learning about the new
Professional Development registry. Please let us know how this
new system is working for you! We want to make sure we are
providing timely feedback from all of you.
Speaking of that PD Registry, a HUGE thank you to Wendy Latshaw
and Ashley Zurawski and their conference committee for putting
together a wonderful conference again this year. What a heroic
effort to manage the new requirements and still deliver a
wonderful experience for attendees!
We are excited as we look forward into 2015! Watch for a revamped and expanded Week Of The Young Child effort coming up
in April. Also watch for details about Networking Night this spring.

Inside this issue:

Membership

YAAEYC Conference

Tip of the Day

Pre-K for PA

4-5

Inspiring Spaces

6-7

Recognition Days

NAEYC Position Statement 9

Also, wed like your feedback. What are some of your best ideas
to engage families in the life of your program? How do you
connect with them? Please send your ideas to
[email protected]. We plan to use them in our next
newsletter.
If you are interested in getting involved, please let us know! We
are excited about the future of YAAEYC and want to represent,
understand, and meet your needs as members!
Have a great fall!
Debbie and Heather

The White Rose

Page 2

2014 YAAEYC Conference

Thank you to all the presenters, participants, board
members and committee members who made the
2014 YAAEYC Conference a success. We had 370
people register for a day filled with learning, networking and growing as professionals. Participant
evaluations are still being assessed but so far we
have had fabulous reviews for the 20 presenters
and 39 topics offered.
Did you know that YAAEYC members not only received a 30% discount on registration, but they also
had preferred check in, a more extensive breakfast
offering and a quiet lounge area to start their day
in. Just a few of the perks of being a member!
If you have any additional feedback or would like to be part of the planning for 2015,
please contact Wendy Latshaw at [email protected] or Ashley Zurawski at [email protected].

Thank you for Joining or Renewing your Membership!

Kyle Ashby

Dawn Gilbert-Brown

Helen Resto

Katelyn M Baker

Kristin Gould

Kaitlyn Rippetoe

Dania Beard

Leah Gurley

Heather Ryan

Angela Brockway

Constance Harness

Wendy Seifert

Lori Cannella

Elizabeth Howie

Mary Denise Sekeres

Lynne Elizabeth Ciepiela

Chelsea LaFranier

Rhianna Spahr

Mary Jane Cole

Shannon Leigh Lander

Kelsi Sprenkle

Stephanie De La Cruz

Debra Latzko

Elizabeth Sullivan

Jessica Deardorff

Ciara Lee-Sweeney

Carly VonStein

Beverly Ann Ebersole

Sarah Lehman

Aimee-Erin Walton

Malinda Fake

Carrie Martin

Kimberlee Wilson

Becky Frederick

Jacob Moritz

*Membership status varies between Comprehensive, Regular and Student. Please

encourage your fellow colleagues, classmates and friends to join YAAEYC and help make
a difference in the lives of children and families in York County!
For more information on Affiliation/Memberships, go to www.naeyc.org

Page 3

Tip of the Day: Water Safety at Home

The Hard Facts
Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between
1 and 4 years old. And its the third leading cause of death among children.

Top Tips
Never leave your child unattended around water. We know

it sounds strict, but there is no room for compromise on this

one. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
Put the cell phone away, forget about all the other things

you have to do and give young children 100 percent of your

attention when they are near or around water.
Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools

immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of

childrens reach.
Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks to prevent

drowning. Its also a good idea to keep doors to bathrooms

and laundry rooms closed.
Parents have a million things to do, but learning CPR should

be on the top of the list. It will give you tremendous peace

of mind and the more peace of mind you have as a parent,
the better.
Whether youre bathing your baby in the sink or splashing around with your toddler in the bathtub, water
is great fun for kids. But its also a place where safety must come first. For more information about
swimming and boating safety follow the Safe Kids Worldwide links below:
http://www.usa.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/swimming-and-water
http://www.usa.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/boating
Another resource you might be interested in is the Pool Safety Pledge. The Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) launched their new Pool Safety Pledge, an online commitment to water safety that
the CPSC is asking every adult and child in America to take. The pledge is designed to commit the
American public to being safe in and around the water this year. It will serve as a visual reminder of the
safety steps everyone should use with their families every time they are near the water, as well as an
opportunity for them to pass on these message to their friends and family via social media. To take the
pledge click the following link: http://www.poolsafely.gov/pledge/

The White Rose

Page 4

Pr e -K f o r PA
Theres a new quality ECE campaign in town! The goal of Pre-K for PA is to put out a vision of what
the early childhood system really needs, and to move advocacy for high-quality beyond the ECE
community. The campaign is engaging stakeholders throughout the stateproviders, parents,
businesses, school districts, educators, and other civic leadersto demonstrate broad bipartisan
public support for high-quality preschool for every three and four year old in the Commonwealth.

2014: Make pre-k a defining issue in the 2014 elections, so that whoever is elected feels
compelled to make this issue a priority.

2015: Follow up with significant legislative action, to provide the

resources necessary for every parent to be able to enroll their child
in affordable, high-quality pre-k.

4-year-olds in Pennsylvanias publicly supported pre-k programs achieved

dramatic gains in academic and social proficiency in 2012-13. Educational
investment must begin in the early years before the achievement gap is too
wide and very costly to overcome. Despite its benefits, far too many
families in Pennsylvania cannot afford to enroll their kids in high-quality pre
-k and often resort to programs that lack elements essential to their childs
success. Pre-k strengthens our schools. When children arrive ready for
kindergarten, classrooms are a more effective place for all kids to learn.

We know it
works. Access
to highquality pre-k
gives all
children the
opportunity

High-quality pre-k reduces grade repetition and special education

to learn.
costs.
Students who benefit from high-quality pre-k are more likely to
graduate high school, enroll in higher education and have increased
lifetime earnings.
At-risk youth with access to high-quality pre-k are less likely to commit crime later in life.

Pre-k is a critical investment in

Pennsylvanias success. Early
learning investment is a smart
choice during challenging
economic times.

Every dollar invested in early learning

generates over $2 in local economic impact
and up to $17 in long-term public savings
and benefit.

Other states have successfully implemented

pre-k investments with impressive results,
including Maryland, Oklahoma, Illinois and
others.

Page 5

The ECE system badly needs a new infusion of resources, along with
relief from some of the more rigid and burdensome rules under which
quality programs now have to operate. The Pre-K for PA campaign is
intended to provide both.

The Pre-K for PA Proposal

Access to quality pre-k for all three and four year olds by 2018, including the following basic
principles:

Public/private model
Roll-out phased to align with provider capacity, and reach highest need first
All funding aligned with research findings regarding the components of high-quality
Stable and skilled workforce seen as central
No shifting of funds away from infant/toddler support

Options for supporting quality in infant-toddler programs, such as:

Target all tax credits to high-quality 0-3

Higher reimbursement rate for high-quality 0-3

Options for measuring quality, such as:

Pre-K Counts, Head Start, STARS 3 and 4

NAEYC accreditation
Kindergarten readiness assessment
Other research-based standards/measures linked to outcomes, i.e., Classroom Assessment Scoring
System (CLASS)

Options for workforce support, such as:

Tuition support, via scholarships and/or vouchers, for the current workforce
Loan forgiveness, to incentivize new graduates to work in the ECE sector
Financial incentives for overall recruitment and retention

We will only get a system that effectively supports diverse high-quality ECE
programs if those in the ECE community who understand the importance of quality
are at the table.

ALL CHILDREN READY TO SUCCEED

Get involved.

Sign up at prekforpa.org.

The White Rose

Page 6

Inspiring Spaces of York County

All Aboard Child Care Centers Natural Playground
All Aboard Child Care Center opened in May
2013.
The Center required many
renovations and the playground was an
empty space with a fence and deteriorating
mulch. The Center is a privately owned
Center with a limited budget and they are
searching for ways to enhance the outdoor
space.
Upon suggestions and various
research, they decided to start the process
of offering a natural, upcycled playground
to their children. Staff attended the DVAEYC conference which was themed around
natural play spaces and they learned even more benefits to offering this space to their
children. They held fundraisers and even collaborated with a local Raiders Club
group. The Raiders Club of York donated funds, supplies and volunteers to the
playground.
They had a work day to build the outdoor natural playground which consisted of staff,
parents, and the Raiders Club volunteers. During this work day, they constructed an
outdoor easel, two water walls, two music walls, a stone garden, a mud kitchen, and tire
play space.
The playground construction took a community effort to design
and build.
The playground offers art, music, numerous sensory experiences,
and climbing areas in a safe, natural environment. In the spring, All Aboard Child Care
Center is going to add a sunflower house,
more gardens to use in their daily
cooking menu, a fairy garden, and a
scale for the stone garden to incorporate
more math into their outside play!

All Aboard Child Care Center, Inc.

4304 N. George Street Ext,
Manchester, PA 17345
(717) 266-5025
http://allaboardccc.com

Page 7

Top Left: A child uses her balance to navigate the tires.

Top Right: Toddlers enjoy making music on the music wall. The
children use wooden and metal spoons against different pots and
pans to crease an array of sounds.
Bottom Left: The Music Pole. This is a great place for budding
drummers to show off their skills!
Bottom Right: The Water Sensory Wall. Children are able to use
water and watch it flow through the different tubes and pipes.

The White Rose

Page 8

Be Aware!

Check out whats being recognized by the National and

Global communities this Fall/Winter and show your support!

November
Picture Book Month- Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print
picture book during the month of November. Join the celebration and party with a picture book! Check
out picturebookmonth.com for activities and more information.
American Education Week (Nov. 17-23)- Celebrates public education and honors individuals who are
making a difference in ensuring every child in the U.S. receives a quality education.
Young Readers Day (Nov. 11)- Schools around the country take advantage of this day to promote the
importance of reading. Use today to help and encourage our youth and learn to read, and open the door
to knowledge, information, success, and happiness.

December
Safe Toys and Celebrations Month The holiday season is a time for family, fun, and festivity, but it can
also be a time of danger. Each year, many children suffer from eye injuries caused by unsafe toys. Avoid
those toys in favor of age appropriate and toys.
Special Education Day (Dec. 2) This day marks the anniversary of the IDEA the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act. Take the day to honor progress and celebrate students with disabilities, and
their parents, teachers and schools.
National Hand-washing Awareness Week (Dec. 4-10) Teach your kids to practice safe habits when it
comes to washing their hands.

January
Book Blitz Month A month long campaign designed to promote reading. Libraries and schools can get
into action by recommending their favorite books to curl up with. Teachers and parents can also take
this opportunity to promote reading to their kiddos!
Global Family Day (Jan. 1) This is a day to celebrate peace and sharing with your family.
No Name Calling Week (Jan. 19-23) Believe in celebrating kindness while working to create safe
schools free of name-calling, bullying and bias. Whether you are a teacher, student, guidance counselor,
coach, librarian or bus driver, show you care by organizing a week of activities at your school at ending
name-calling once and for all.

February
National Childrens Dental Health Month Each February, the American Dental Association sponsors
National Childrens Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.
Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start
on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Page 9

NAEYC Position Statement

When the general public thinks of quality learning they think of colorful classrooms full of
intentional play, loving caregivers, and...well...mess! They generally do not understand, especially if
they have no young children, the dynamic intricacies that go into a teachers day so all children are
taken care of. They do not realize that once children enter your classroom in the morning, depending
on the age of the child, you must turn on your ADD switch (so that you can adapt quickly) and serve as a
hug enthusiast, nurse, nutritionist, play mate, librarian, glue aficionado, commode assistant, hand
washing devotee, and peacemaker, while intentionally creating an environment full of developmentally
appropriate exploration opportunities.
With PA Promise Month during the month of October and new changes in the mandated reporter
law going into effect January 1, 2015, I am reminded that although all of those abilities are essential in
quality early childhood teachers, there is also a less talked about absolute portion of our jobs that
involves the fundamental principal in NAEYCs Code of Ethical Conduct, Above all, we shall not harm
children. Not only should we be diligent in holding ourselves and our peers accountable, but we should
also be aware that 90% of all child abuse cases are perpetrated by immediate family members and
relatives. As mandated reporters, we are a line of defense in protecting the kids we care for during the
day but also in recognizing and reporting when there may be potential harm occurring outside of our
direct supervision. Is your program meeting best practices when it comes to preventing child abuse?
According to the NAEYC Position Statement on child abuse there are best practices one can take.
Consider each of these statements as you think about your own program.
1) Do you have enough staff to provide adequate supervision of programs staff and volunteers?
2) Are program environments designed to prevent hidden locations where abuse may occur?
3) Are program staff and volunteers trained annually on child abuse?
4) Do you have clear policies established so all parents and staff know what steps have been taken to
ensure the safety of children while in care? Do you know what they are?
5) Are teachers and caregivers who work alone with children often supervised by qualified personnel
and are parents encouraged to spend time in the facility?
6) Are staff screening procedures in place?
7) Does your center have a culture of family interaction in place to develop close partnerships with
families?
At this point, you are more than likely extremely confident or have developed some questions/areas of
improvements to work on. Either way, taking a moment to think about this most basic function of our
jobs is critical to success for all children and families. Please remember that if something seems wrong,
out of place, or your gut it telling you to make a call, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Childline: 1-800-932-0313
Article written by:
Sara Gray-Bradley, M. Ed.
Director of Education Initiatives
United Way of York County

The White Rose Spring 2013

Page 10

York Area Association for the Education of Young Children

Check us out on the web at
www.yaaeyc.org or on
Facebook!

Our Mission
~
The York Area Association
for the Education Of
Young
Children is committed to
providing exceptional
early education
experiences for every
child in our
community.

Board and Committee Chair Members

Sara Bradley

Accreditation
[email protected]

President
Debbie Riek [email protected]

Community Representative
Helen Lehman [email protected]

President Elect
Heather Miller
[email protected]

Conference
Wendy Latshaw [email protected]
Ashley Zurawski [email protected]

Sara Bosley

Treasurer
[email protected]

Alison Sheaf

Membership
[email protected]
Program
[email protected]

Lisa Young

Erica Heller

Secretary
[email protected]

Public Policy
vacant
Publicity
Lindsay Zeglen [email protected]
Recognition
Wendy Latshaw
Heather Miller
Sara Bosley

WOYC
[email protected]
[email protected]