The Week of the Young Child Is Recognized in Dalton

The week of April 14-20 is nationally recognized as the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) and the month of April was recently declared in Georgia by Governor Nathan Deal as the Month of the Young Child (MOYC).  The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus the public’s attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.  The Readers to Leaders Workforce Development Team worked together to commemorate the Week of the Young Child in Dalton-Whitfield.

 

The week began with Pre-K registration at the Mack Gaston Community Center on April 15-16.  Community members were invited to attend and sign their children up for Pre-K while the children enjoyed reading circles and crafts.  The parents received a resource packet in both English and Spanish which included information to help their child’s learning growth.  They also received a summer activity packet that included activities for them to do to help their children learn Pre-K skills.  After registration each child then received a free book.

 

The week concluded with a celebratory event at Rock Bridge Community Church on April 21.  Early childhood educators from throughout the county were invited to attend and receive a certificate of appreciation for their hard work.  Special guests Mayor David Pennington, Commissioner Mike Babb, Dalton Public Schools Superintendent Jim Hawkins, Whitfield County Schools Superintendent Judy Gilreath, and Commissioner of Bright from the Start Bobby Cagle attended and spoke at the event on Sunday afternoon. 

 

Commissioner Mike Babb speaking at the ceremony.

Early childhood educators along with Commissioner Bobby Cagle and local leaders pose for a picture.

Also, the newly hired Archway Education Professional, Katy Green, was introduced during the ceremony.  Special performances were given by students from Whitfield County Pre-K and Dalton Public Schools.  The event was concluded with a reception of refreshments and cupcakes baked by students in WCS and DPS culinary arts programs.  There were also booths set up with information about Readers to Leaders, the Northwest Georgia Regional Library, Jag the Blue Ridge School Reading Buddy  and Big Red Reads which gave out free books to each child. 

Archway Partnership Executive Committee member Dixie Kinard (Right) introduces the new Archway Education Professional Katy Green (Left) to the community.

 

Whitfield County Pre-K students dancing at the ceremony.

Children choosing their free book provided by Big Red Reads.

The weeklong celebration was a huge success! Big thanks to everyone who made it possible!  For more pictures during the Week of the Young Child in Dalton-Whitfield please visit our Facebook Page at http://bit.ly/DWArchwayPartnership .

“Four for the Future” Award Graciously Received

On Monday, April 15, 2013 members of the Archway Executive Committee and the R2L team along with Mayor Pennington attended an awards luncheon at the University of Georgia.  The group proudly received the “Four for the Future Award” presented by the University of Georgia and Georgia Trend magazine for the tremendous work that is being done in the Dalton-Whitfield community.

Four for the Future Award

Literacy Database Presentation: Yea or Nay?

On Friday, April 12, 2013 members of the Literacy and Early Brain Development Database Workforce Development Team gathered together to hear a trial presentation of the database to potentially be presented around the Dalton-Whitfield community.  Archway Partnership employee and Dalton State College student Jordan Manis began the presentation with a background and overview of the database and its uses for the community which included:

·        The database can serve as a resource for the community to learn about programs and services available, where they are located, and how to participate.

 

·        The database can help local nonprofits refer clients for additional services and collaborate with other organizations to ensure all of their clients’ needs are addressed.

·        The database can help organizations identify possibilities for partnerships that could increase their potential to receive funding from federal and private grants.

·        The database can help the local stakeholders and community members to determine service gaps and determine new ways to promote early brain development and literacy in Whitfield County.

Leize Marie describing the asset maps to the group.

University of Georgia Masters in Nonprofit Administration student Leize Marie Davis then broke down the data that was gathered and exhibited different ways that the information could be used within the community.  One of the examples Leize Marie displayed was an asset map displaying book distribution sites in the county.  The map showed that the majority of the book distribution sites were located in the Dalton area and were not dispersed across Whitfield County as a whole.  This could be helpful for site coordinators to see the gaps and help make provisions to fill those gaps.  This map could also show individuals where they could locate a book distribution site to receive books and expand their learning. 

Following the presentation the floor was open for discussion for any improvements that should be made.  The team made some suggestions which will be implemented into the presentation over the next few weeks.

Readers to Leaders Update: April

On Wednesday, April 10, 2013 the Readers to Leaders Workforce Development Team met at the Northwest Georgia Regional Library where the group discussed updates on their current projects.  The team was excited for the celebration of the Week of the Young Child that will begin on Monday, April 15, and Tuesday, April 16, with Pre-K registration at the Community Center.  The week will be concluded on Sunday, April 21, with a ceremony honoring Early Childhood Educators from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Rock Bridge Community Church with a reception to follow.

Marlen Rodriguez (United Way AmeriCorps Vista) and Pam Partain (Dalton State College) leading the R2L meeting.

An update for the Reach Out and Read program was given at the meeting and the group was very enthusiastic to hear that an application for the program has been started by White’s Pediatrics of Dalton.  A meeting will be held for the NGRL Board, White’s Pediatrics and Rock Bridge Community Church to determine the next steps on this project.

The Readers to Leaders literacy initiative has been continuing to grow over the last year.  The team commended one another on the Rotary Presentation, the Chamber of Commerce Greater DaltonToday program, and R2L’s presence at Day for Dalton at DSC.  The R2L team has also been asked to present to the Dalton Board of Education and to First Presbyterian Church.  This shows great progress and will provide opportunities for R2L to reach community members interested in the initiative.

To review the minutes from this meeting please go to the following link: http://www.archwaypartnership.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Agenda-April-Minutes.pdf

Readers to Leaders Receives the “Four For The Future” Award

Dalton-Whitfield’s Readers to Leaders wins the “Four for the Future” Award.  Check out the article from the April issue of GA Trend on the following link: http://www.archwaypartnership.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Four_for_the_future-4-1-20131.pdf

R2L Shines on Local TV Show

On Thursday, March 28, 2013, Readers to Leaders (R2L) was the focus of the Greater Dalton Today television show with host Brian Anderson, President of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce.  The featured guest was Marlen Rodriguez, United Way AmeriCorps Vista, who now coordinates R2L for the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership.  Barbara Ward, Chamber Workforce Development Director, joined Marlen on the set and shared the origination of the Archway Partnership’s 3E’s (Economy, Education, and Environment) work plan and the proclamation by local government officials and board of education members for a focus on literacy.  This emphasis on literacy resulted in the formation of R2L.  Marlen discussed her role with R2L and accomplishments thus far.

During the second segment, Karol Radovich, Children’s Librarian at Northwest Georgia Regional Library, joined Marlen and Brian to share literacy activities and events at the library.

For the final segment, Lisa Hackney, Coordinator of Gifted Programs at Dalton Public Schools, joined Marlen in promoting activities for The Week of the Young Child, highlighting the celebration at The Wink on Sunday, April 21.

Brian Anderson commended all of the participants for the activities focused around literacy as a means to improve the quality of life for individuals and to strengthen the future workforce for Greater Dalton.  The show will be airing in early April.

Archway Acknowledged By GGD 2.0

On Thursday, March 28, 2013 Archway Partnership Director Mel Garber and Coordinator of Operations Sue Chapman attended the Grow Greater Dalton 2.0 kick-off celebration.  At this event the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership was acknowledged for the hard work and accomplishments that Archway and local partners have achieved since 2009.  The community vision that was established by local stakeholders during the first year of Archway was described to the event participants.  This vision includes the 3E’s which are Economy, Education, and Environment (quality of life).  Archway will continue to focus on local initiatives to support this vision.

 

Archway Projects Presented to Rotary Club of Dalton

On Tuesday, March 19, 2013 members of the Readers to Leaders (R2L) Workforce Development Team presented to the Rotary Club of Dalton.  The team gave an overview of the Archway Partnership and its activities in Dalton-Whitfield since 2009.  A major step for Archway in the community was creating a community vision that addresses local needs.  In this vision education was listed as one of the top three concerns in the area.  Over the years, Archway has worked with community leaders and volunteers to help develop several projects to address educational issues, including the work of the R2L group. 

The first initiative that was described by Whitfield County Schools representative Caroline Woodason was the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) that was recently brought to Dalton-Whitfield through a partnership between the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (Whitfield County) and the local WIC (Women, Infants, Children) program.  EFNEP works by teaching families with young children how to prepare easy and nutritious meals on a low budget.

 

Members of the R2L Team.

United Way AmeriCorps Vista representative Marlen Rodriguez described another initiative that helps Whitfield County residents understand the importance of Pre-K and provides Pre-K opportunities to every family that desires that their child participate.  Marlen relayed to Rotary several facts concerning the importance of Pre-K which include:

·        11% of students in Dalton-Whitfield County receive no formal Pre-K learning.

·        Pre-K students continuously outperform children without any Pre-K experience in first grade reading and math, and are likely to continuously outperform peers in reading and language arts. 

·        Pre-K students are more committed to school at age 14.

·        Pre-K students have a lower truancy rate in later years.

·        Pre-K students are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers.

·        Pre-K students are more likely to be employed at age 40, own their own home, and have a savings account.

·        Pre-K students are less likely to be arrested for violent and drug crimes.

·        Pre-K students are more likely to be on grade level in Reading & Math.

·        Pre-K students are less likely to be retained or placed in Special Education during their K-12 years.

·        Pre-K students are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. 

Archway is currently in the process of hiring a Prenatal to Pre-K Archway Professional for Dalton-Whitfield.

A third initiative is to further education by making technology more accessible to students.  Providing Internet accessibility and technology to students outside of the classroom allows for equality for each child.  It is also more affordable to provide the students with electronic devices than it is to provide them with textbooks. 

Lisa Hackney of Dalton Public Schools shared the need to provide literacy awareness in our community.  Readers to Leaders is a growing initiative in our community.  Information about the initiative will be appearing around town on billboards and buttons.  There will also be celebrations for this initiative which include:

·        Pre-K registration on April 14 – 20

·        Early Childhood Educators Celebration  on April 21

·        Celebration of Literacy community event in July

·        Dalton Public Schools’ Big Red Reads

·        Whitfield County Schools’  Summer “Lunch n Learn,”

·        Reach Out & Read by the Healthcare Partnership

·        Various faith-based community volunteer activities

Archway and the community have partnered to make these initiatives successful in meeting community education needs.  A special thanks is extended to the Rotary Club of Dalton for presenting a Rotary district grant of $2,000 to “Readers to Leaders”.