tion a c u d E d o o h d il h C WCCC Early r Program Newslette Volume 3, Edition 3 October 5, 2011
Westmoreland County Community College Inside this issue: Save the dates!
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New ECE 181 Course
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Westmoreland County Food Bank Food Drive
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PAEYC 5K
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Nickers ‗N Neighs
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Volunteer Opportunity Early Literacy Conference Information
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Become a PAEYC member 6 Professional Development
Early Childhood Education Program Beth Hoden Office Phone: 724-925-4013 Email: hodenb@wccc.edu
Nancy Rustic Office Phone: 724-925-4035 Email: rusticn@wccc.edu
ECE Support Vicki Hricik Office Phone: 724-925-4013 Email: hricikv@my.wccc.edu
Got ECE News? Email Vicki at hricikv@my.wccc.edu
The mission of this newsletter is to keep all ECE students informed of ECE Club activities, volunteer events in the community, ECE professional development opportunities, and anything related to the ECE field.
“Achieving Early Learning Standards Through Play” New ECE three college credit course to begin Tuesday, October 11
REGISTER TODAY! Save the Dates for Upcoming Events! Oct. 15 ~ Student Role Model Conference ~ 12 noon—6 PM Registration is FREE to all WCCC students! Email Kayla West for more information at westka@my.wccc.edu. Oct. 23 ~ PAEYC’s 5 K Race for Learning and 1-Mile Walk ~ It would be great to form a team of WCCC ECE Club members! Nov. 18 ~ Early Learning Literacy Conference ~ 8:30 AM –3:30 PM Digital Media Literacy and Young Children Cost ~ Full time students $20 for PAEYC members $25 non-members
New ECE College Course Begins October 11th The Early Childhood Education Program is pleased to announce a new three college credit course is being offered. The course code and title is ECE 181, “Achieving Early Learning Standards Through Play.” This course is open to all interested students. Course Description: Leading scholars in early childhood education have all recognized that play is the basis of good early childhood pedagogy and practice. Moreover, play is THE fundamental cornerstone for children‘s development. In recent years, early learning standards have been developed, identifying what children need to know and be able to do. Standards are the ends of ECE; the means or process to meet these standards is play. This course is designed to provide comprehensive investigation of how we maintain fidelity to all domains of development and play and still meet the early standards for all children ages 3 to 8 years. Site visits are required. Instructor Bio: Dr. Ernie Dettore is currently a Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Pittsburgh, a Consultant to numerous early childhood programs, a Play Expert with the Early Head Start program, an Advocate for issues relating to children, a Teacher Mentor, and Founder of the P.L.A.Y Academy. He has 17 years experience in higher education, teaching at Edinboro University, Duquesne University and Westmoreland County Community College. While at Duquesne, Dr. Dettore designed the undergraduate and graduate Early Childhood Programs and served as the Director of Early Childhood Education. He earned a Doctorate in Education in Instruction and Learning from Pitt in 1993. In February 2007, he co-edited a book titled ―To Play or Not to Play: Is It Really a Question.‖ The course will meet every other Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The dates are as follows: October 11, 25, November 8, 15, 29, December 13, January 10, 24, February 7, 21, March 6, 20, April 3, 17, and May 1. Some of the topics covered in the course include:
Approaches to Learning through Play Constructing: Organizing & Applying Knowledge
Scientific Thinking & Technology : Exploring, Inquiry & Discovery
Language and Literacy Development: Early Literacy Foundations: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening
Facilitating Children‘s Play.
To register, call the WCCC registration center at 1-800262-2103, ext. 4204. Please give the course code ECE 181, Achieving Early Learning Standards Through Play.
Volunteer for the Fall Food Share Food Drive
The Westmoreland County Food Bank is looking for individuals and groups to help them during the upcoming Fall Food Share Food Drive at participating Giant Eagle Supermarkets. Volunteers support this drive by handing out a "most-needed" items list to customers and encourage them to purchase a few extra items to donate to the Food Bank. Please register to help a couple of hours on Saturdays or Sundays between Oct. 20 and Nov. 16. This volunteer experience is family-friendly and young children are welcome to volunteer with the adults in their family or group. Create a group by asking friends or family to join you. Schedule is filled on a first come, first serve basis. To schedule to volunteer at your local Giant Eagle store, contact Louise Wilhelm at (724) 468-8660 ext. 13 or email her at louise@westmorelandfoodbank.org.
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WCCC Early Childhood Education Program Newsletter
PAEYC’s
& 1-Mile Walk
Let’s join the fun and form a team! We could represent the WCCC ECE program at this special event. We could participate and help to raise awareness about the importance of play, physical activity, and education for our youngest learners. Whole families are welcomed and children’s participation is encouraged. Entry fees are as follows: non-PAEYC members $20, PAEYC members $17, registration day of event $25, 1-mile walk $10 family fee. Register now at www.pghaeyc.org. Let’s go out and play!
Volunteer Opportunities Volunteers are needed at Nickers ‗N Neighs, a non-profit therapeutic riding center that uses equine activities to promote the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well being of people with disabilities. The riding center‘s address is 260 Mountain Trails Lane, Acme, PA 15610. It is located on a 54 acre farm not far from the crossroads of Route 31, 711 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike‘s Exit 91. They are currently accepting volunteers, students, monetary donations, supplies and services from the community. If you are interested in participating or supporting the program, please contact them by calling 724-7711099 or 724-593-8121. Check out their website for more info at www.kidsonhorses.org.
Volume 3, Edition 3
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WCCC Early Childhood Education Program Newsletter
Become a Member of PAEYC The Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC) is the professional membership organization for those involved with the early care an education of young children. Doctors, lawyers, and other professionals have membership associations which provide a unified voice on behalf of their members. In the same way, PAEYC serves as a community resource, and advocate for quality, and a voice for those in the profession of early care and education. PAEYC currently serves over 1000 members and is governed by an elected board. Members and those interested are encouraged to serve on a committee and take an active role in PAEYC programs including Membership Services, Advocacy & Public Policy, and Professional Development.
Benefits of Membership Become a Member!
Membership in national, state, and local affiliates 6 issues of Young Children, NAEYC's journal Exclusive access to PAEYC Newsletters Reduced rates to PAEYC and NAEYC conferences Career advising services Meets STARS 3 Requirements Borrowing privileges with PAEYC's early childhood resource library Voting rights and eligibility to hold office in PAEYC, Penn AEYC, and NAEYC Opportunity to participate in insurance plans offered through NAEYC
Professional Development Opportunities To earn Pennsylvania DPW hours as required, check out the PA Keys website, www.pakeys.org, for professional development opportunities. Westmoreland County Community College sponsors affordable ECE workshops made possible through Southwest Regional Key funding. Scheduled workshops at WCCC - Fayette County Education Center in Uniontown, WCCC - Greene County Education Center and WCCC Youngwood Campus are already posted. Please email Vicki Hricik for more information, hricikv@my.wccc.edu.
----------------If you have any ECE news and volunteer opportunities that you would like to share, please email Vicki at hricikv@my.wccc.edu.
WCCC Early Childhood Education Newsletter
At least two ECE Club representatives are needed to attend the Student Organization meetings. Please see Beth or Nancy.