The Key Connection Week of February 10, 2014

Look Whats in This

Weeks Edition

Mark Your Calendars

Professional Development At A Glance

ECELS February FREE Self-Learning Module Review Offer

Celebrate Dental Health Month and Chance to Win Resources

Infant/Toddler Project

What FREE On-Site Supports are available for child care programs from the NE Key?

Community Days Offered Monthly Throughout the Region

Community Days At-A-Glance

PD Registry Facts for PQAS Students

2013-2014 Northeast Key Exchanges

Calling All Directors

Core Knowledge Competencies and Big Ideas Framework

Core Knowledge Competencies and Big Ideas Framework Professional Development Schedule

5 Things to Know About the New PD Registry

Focus on Early Childhood Mental Health Emotional Development

PA One Book Invitation

Information for Families

Wellness Tip

February is National Childrens Dental Health Month

Kids Corner

Here are some important dates

to remember

February 2014

National Childrens Dental Health Month

14 Valentines Day

17 Bucks County Conference

Lackawanna County Conference

Lehigh/Northampton County Conference

26 Tell a Fairy Tale Day

March 2014

Music in Our Schools Month

2nd Week National Bubble Week

3 National Read Across America Day

17 St. Patricks Day

April 2014

1st Week Library Week

2 Childrens Book Day

20 Easter

27 Tell a Story Day

Professional Development Corner

Lackawanna College Professional Development Opportunities

February 27th Find Your True Colors March 10th One, Two, Three Magic: Following

Through for Effective Discipline March 31st Making Transitions Work

For more details and to register visit the PA Keys Website at www.pakeys.org

Find the flyer on the CSC website under the Professional Development section.

Professional Development At A Glance

Professional Development Events from

February 16, 2014 to April 19, 2014 are listed

in the Professional Development Calendar.

Get a full list of events and to register by

going to www.pakeys.org.

Lehigh Carbon Community College CDA Cohort

February 18, 2014 through May 6, 2014 Tuesday Evenings 6:00 to 9:15 pm

Riverview Christian Church 3301 Stoudts Ferry Bridge, Reading

Cost: $30.00 per student plus books

Please contact Deb Wanamaker in the LCCC in the Teacher Education Office at 610-799-1875 or email her at

dwanamaker@lccc.edu. Please include your name, home address, contact phone number, email address,

your STARS site location and fax number for registration information to be forwarded. Registration paperwork

must be received no later than February 17, 2014 in the Teacher Education Office.

Save the Date

Annual LANAEYC Conference

Saturday, March 29, 2014 8:15 am to 4:00 pm

Holiday Inn Express, 90 Kunkle Road, Easton, PA 18042

Keynote: Lois Wachtel aka Miss Lois

Topic: Through the Eyes of a Child - Interactive art, music, literacy, math, science workshops for infants through school-age. Lots of messy, interactive FUN!

Registration Information: Brochures is available on the CSC website under the Professional Development section and on the LANAEYC website

Northampton Community College CDA Specialized Diploma

March 11, 2014 through June 24, 2014 6:15 pm to 9:30 pm

NCC Main Campus, Bethlehem College Center 113

For more information go to http://www.northampton.edu/Early-Childhood-Education/Partnerships/Northeast-Key-Funded-

Classes.htm

Find the flyer on the CSC website under the Professional Development section.

http://www.pakeys.org/http://www.pakeys.org/mailto:dwanamaker@lccc.eduhttp://www.northampton.edu/Early-Childhood-Education/Partnerships/Northeast-Key-Funded-Classes.htmhttp://www.northampton.edu/Early-Childhood-Education/Partnerships/Northeast-Key-Funded-Classes.htmhttp://www.northampton.edu/Early-Childhood-Education/Partnerships/Northeast-Key-Funded-Classes.htm

ECELS February FREE Self-Learning Module Review Offer

During the month of February, ECELS is offering FREE reviews for completed self-learning modules submitted by early care and education practitioners. Use this special offer to gain knowledge, make health and safety program improvements and earn professional development credit. All ECELS self-learning modules meet the STARS Level 2 Performance Standard for Health and Safety. Choose from 30 self-learning modules listed at our website, www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org. Select Professional Development and then select Self-Learning Modules. Be sure to use the current self-learning modules posted on the website. Here are two ECELS recommendations: ASTHMA - Did you know that cold and flu viruses can trigger asthma flare-ups? Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses of childhood. February is a great time to learn about asthma and how teachers/caregivers can safely care for young children with asthma. The asthma care plan used by many health care providers to guide asthma care at home and school is explained. The ECELS Asthma Self-Learning Module includes easy-to-understand information about asthma and a link to an on-line video. This self-learning module has an online self-assessment that you can complete and submit without sending any documents by mail. (ECERS-ITERS: Program Structure. Personal Care Routines. K7-C2-84 (2 hours credit) MODEL CHILD CARE HEALTH POLICIES- Using the new, 5th Edition of Model Child Care Health Policies, develop customized health and safety policies for your center or home-based program. Model Child Care Health Policies is posted on the ECELS website. Complete self-assessment questions and review selected policies. Submit one policy of your choice to ECELS for review. (ECERS ITERS: Program Structure. Parents and Staff. K7-C3-76 or K8-C3-92 (2 hours credit)

Contact ECELS with any questions at ecels@paaap.org or 800/243-2357 (PA only) 484-446-3003

Celebrate Dental Health Month and Chance to Win Resources Celebrate National Childrens Dental Health Month in February 2014! The PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) Healthy Teeth Healthy Children program and Early Childhood Education Linkage System are working together to bring awareness to oral health in early care and education programs in Pennsylvania. We need to work together to prevent dental decay, a common and avoidable health problem. You may address oral health by changing what and how you serve foods or drinks. Or, you might include oral health education in your program. There are many ways to help children and families develop good oral health habits. The Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies address oral health in Knowledge Area 7. 3 C1 C3. We invite Pennsylvania early care and education programs to let us know what your program is doing or is planning on doing in the future by completing the brief survey below. The first 25 individuals who complete this oral health survey will receive a Happy, Healthy Teeth book. This colorful and informative hardcover storybook integrates oral health awareness in a fun and interactive way. In addition, from those that respond to the survey, the PA AAP will choose two centers to receive a FREE onsite two hour professional development oral health workshop. Cavity Free Kids is a nationally recognized oral health curriculum that is being offered in Pennsylvania as a professional development session for early care and education programs, which provides exciting curriculum ideas, helpful tools and information for parents. This workshop meets the STAR Level 2 Performance Standard for Health and Safety. If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Orsini at 484-446-3071 or lorsini@paaap.org. Survey Link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T6TTWPR

http://www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=35&qid=9258mailto:ecels@paaap.orgmailto:lorsini@paaap.orghttp://www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=36&qid=10924

COMMUNITY DAYS OFFERED MONTHLY THROUGHOUT THE REGION

Recently, STARS Managers throughout the Northeast Region have been offering a Community Day in the counties they work in. No need to come to our office we will come to your county! A Community Day is a day that the STARS Manager is available in a public meeting space (such as a library, church, community room, etc.) to meet with Early Learning and School Age practitioners at any time throughout the day. This is a perfect time to review grant applications, enrollment calculation tools, career lattice, STAR level worksheets, discussing clarifications on a specific standard or documentation. In some counties the STARS Manager will offer a Learning Community or discussion group that day as well. You can make an appointment (to ensure you have a meeting time) to meet with your STARS Manager next time they are in your county or you can walk in! Check out the Community Days at-a-glance listed weekly in our Key Connection.

What FREE On-Site Supports are available for child care programs from the NE Key?

For more details on these supports or information on how to request any of these services, contact Diane Milia at the NE regional Key dmilia@cscinc.org, or at 800-528-7222 ext 2329

Infant Toddler Project

You can receive free on-site technical assistance for your infant or toddler classrooms if you are a STAR 2 program! Environments Resources Relationships Qual