Winter Wear: Tips for staying warm
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Finland:
CREDO:
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Upcoming retreats
PAGEs 8-9
N A S SIG O N E L L A
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January 20, 2017
Vol. 34 No. 2
Child and Youth Programs Garners Top Score By Nicole Ybarra NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – The NAS Sigonella Child and Youth Programs (CYP) recently received a CNIC unannounced inspection of its Child Development Center (CDC), Child Home Development, School Age Care (SAC) and Youth Programs. From Dec. 12 – 16, a two-person team conducted a thorough inspection which included 100% verification of staff background checks, an audit of the Child and Youth Management System (CYMS) information and in-class observations of the programming and staff interaction. The inspectors also surveyed parents, staff and teens, as well as walked the facilities and playground areas. The NAS Sigonella CYP garnered the highest score in the region. “The inspection team said you could just feel the camaraderie not just with the management, but with the team as a whole,” said Jennifer Hodges, Youth Programs Director. “Everybody is here because they want to be here. We have great chemistry and a shared work ethic. We all put in what we need to put in to ensure that the program is successful.” Hodges speaks with pride in her team, noting that the oldest staff member has only been with CYP since June 2016. “It is pretty remarkable to have such a successful program with relatively new staff. Approximately 82% of our staff were hired just last year – that speaks volumes to the
caliber of our people,” said Jennifer Hardy, Child and Youth Programs Director. “Anybody can put together paperwork, but what is really telling is the interaction amongst the teachers and the children. You
can have the most wonderful tools and toys in a classroom, but without the interaction, your program won’t succeed.” This year the CDC will undergo accreditation by the National Asso-
ciation for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Hardy is confident in her team noting, “We work well together because no job is too big, but also not job is too insignificant. We have a really great team."
Children from the Child Development Center (CDC) play during afternoon free play time. The Child Youth Programs recently received the highest score in the region on a CNIC unannounced inspection. (U.S. Navy photo by Nicole Ybarra/Released)
U.S. Naval Hospital Welcomes First New Baby of 2017 By Lt Tammy nguyen USNH Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – New baby girl, Elena Isabella Guzman, couldn’t wait to kick off 2017 by arriving a week earlier than her expected due date. Sofia and Bernardo Guzman welcomed their second child on Jan. 3 at 12:12 p.m. European Standard Time. Commanding Officer Capt. Kim Lefebvre congratulated the family and welcomed the newborn as the first baby born at U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Sigonella, IT for the year. Sofia laughed that, “Elena wanted to be the first baby born!” Hospital Corpsman Third Class Bernardo Guzman is assigned to the Radiology Department at USNH Sigonella and is a native of New York City, NY; Sofia is from California. Sofia would like to thank everyone on the Labor and Delivery team that helped bring Elena into the world. Elena weighed five pounds, eight ounces. Both mom and baby are doing well. Overall, USNH Sigonella recorded Commanding Officer Capt. Kim Lefebvre (right) welcomes the first baby born at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella in 2017. Proud 94 total births in 2016, an average of ap- parents Sofia and Hospital Corpsman Third Class Bernardo Guzman are excited to bring home Elena Isabella. (U.S. Navy photo by Hospital Corpsman Third Class Charisma Forrest/Released) proximately five per month.