Smart Start is an early childhood initiative designed to ensure that children are healthy and ready to succeed in school. We partner with many agencies in this initiative. Smart Start is supported by a grant and is administered through the Kansas Children’s Cabinet.

Janet Hamilton, Community Resources, Hutchinson Community College, is our grant writer.

Smart Start is administered by the Hutchinson Community Foundation.

 

Other sites of interest might include: www.naeyc.org

November 16-20, 2009 was designated, "Read to A Preschooler" week. Dr. Berger, President of Hutchinson Community College, read to the children at the HCC Child Care Center.

 

Terry Bruce, Kansas State Senator, read to children in the Kansas Preschool Program at Holy Cross Elementary School.

 

Speaker of the House, Michael O'Neal, read to children in the Kansas Preschool Program at Buhler Grade School.

 

Pat Starr read to the childen at Montessori Preschool. All of the readers read the book, Wiggle. All reported having a good time reading and interacting with the children.

 

 

Smart Start of Reno County is annoucing a new CDA class beginning in January 2010.  If you are interested in earning the CDA credential and would like financial assistance to make this possible, please contact:

 

Kathy Kappenman

 

or

 

Sharon Stephenson

 

 

 

Over 180 child care providers and early childhood professionals attended Kaleidoscope this year. Highlights included keynote speaker, Dr. Chuck Smith, whose presentation was called "A Noble Soul: An exploration of what a conscience is and how it emerges in the early childhood years and what happens when conscience fails to thrive." Participants chose from 18 breakout sessions. Kaleidoscope 2009 evaluations will be available on this website in January 2010.

 

 

 

 

Watch this website to find out what child care centers and family day care providers were 2009 minigrant recipients. We have started visiting sites who received awards. Today we visited Little Bird Day Care and Montessori Preschool.

 

Ramah Bird at her family day care.

 

A new basketball goal was one way Montessori Preschool and Child Care Center used the mini-grant award. Montessori was voted Hutchinson's best child care center. Congratulations!

 

Mama Lou's have new shades for the front windows at Mama Lou's Child Care Center. Mama Lou's is another 2009 Mini-grant recipient.

 

We enjoyed watching children at play at Central Christian.

 

 

Oh yes, Central Christian received a new window air conditioner.

 

 

Candy Lane Preschool has new carpet which really enhances the quality of their open play space.

 

HCC Child Care Center received a teepee to help with a change to a more natural outdoor playscape.

 

Check it out next spring as the vines climb the teepee.

 

Living Waters invested in materials supporting "Conscious Discipline." Many child care centers participate in Conscious Discipline training. Living Waters received a four star rating with KQRS. Congratulations on this accomplishment.

 

Tyrece purchased some new toys for her family child care.

 

Other grant recipients include Hadley Day Care, Rockin' Js,  and the YMCA.

 

 

 

 

 Time for School!  Kansas Preschool Program begins fall classes. Maria Newboles, St. Teresa PreK teacher, reads to her class on the first day of school, August 24, 2009.