Play-Con 2011
Play-Con 2011 is a family convention for fun, play, creation, and more! You may find mud mixed with syrup…a do-it-yourself marshmallow launcher…a confetti cannon…paint…ribbon, blocks…and that’s just the beginning!
This event will be Friday, October 28, from 7 – 9 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary Gym in Miles City.
We are so excited to bring Jeff Johnson back for the third time to Miles City, and for the first time with a family fun night! This event is best for kids ages 2 and up. Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers – everyone is sure to find something to get their hands on!
Visit Jeff at www.explorationsearlylearning.com or search for explorations early learning on YouTube!
Click to download a registration form for Play-Con 2011~
Consumer Survey for Parents!
Our parent survey has been created and is ready for you at surveymonkey.com! Click the link below to be taken to the survey. It’s only 7 questions – we appreciate the time you take to give your feedback!
Interesting Article
If you’ve ever wondered what to do when kids pretend to use weapons, here’s an article you may find interesting by Jeff Johnson of www.explorationsearlylearning.com.
College Access Challenge Grant Program Coming to YOU!
The College Access Challenge Grant Program will be holding Open Houses in Glendive, Sidney, Miles City, Poplar, and Glasgow in July!
This Open House is for you if:
- You want to attend college.
- You don’t know where to start.
- You need help with your FAFSA.
- And more!
Open House Services include:
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Apprenticeship
- FAFSA Instruction
- College Financial Aid
- Tuition Assistance Programs, incluing GI Bill
- Rural Employment Opportunities
- Job Corps
- Job Service
- Computer Access
- College Representatives
To download the flyer, click CACG poster
Miles City Car Seat Check
It’s time to get your car seat checked! Visit Billings Clinic Miles City on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to get your car seat inspected for recall, proper installation, and correct fit for your child.
Reduced-price car seats will also be available for purchase!
Please bring your child to ensure proper fit and safety!
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Coming to Miles City
The Ronald McDonald Dental Care Mobile, which provides free dental care to children who have Healthy Montana Kids or no insurance, will be in Miles City on June 20-21.
For an appointment, more information, or additional Care Mobile dates or locations, call 406-238-6008.
Provided by St. Vincent’s Children’s Health Center.
Kids’ Kollege at MCC!
MCC’s summer Kids’ Kollege has some exciting events planned – Wildlife Adventures; Bugs, Bugs, Bugs; Spanish; and Model Horse Show!
Check out MCC’s Community Outreach Calendar here.
Small Procedural Change
The Child Care Education and Support office in Miles City has installed a lock box in the reception area for all dropped-off paperwork pertaining to any child care program.
The lock box will be checked at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. All items dropped off at 5 or later will be date-stamped the next business day! Procedures are in place to ensure the box is checked and items date-stamped according to this procedure when Child Care Education and Support staff are not in the office.
We prefer paperwork handed directly to us, of course, but the lock box is in place to ensure everything arrives directly to our program without being handled by anyone else. So rather than handing them to the reception person, just simply place your papers in the box. We’ll take care of the rest!
The lock box is light brown in color and has a bright blue sticker on it.
We welcome your feedback on this new procedure!
Preschool Screening Date Set
WHAT: Preschool Screening
WHEN: Thursday March 31, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: First Lutheran Church, Miles City (512 S. Cale)
WHO: All children 0-5 who are not attending kindergarten.
CALL: 234-3812 for an appointment.
SCREENING AREAS: Fine and gross motor skills, speech and language, vision, hearing, and concepts/reasoning.
SPONSORS: DEAP, Miles City Unified School District, Head Start
Legislative Testimony
Now is the time to contact your legislators. The Health and Human Services Committee will hear testimony on the budget for the Early Childhood Services Bureau on Tuesday, 2/2 at 8 a.m.
We need to rally our support for:
- Market Rate increase for Best Beginnings Scholarship payments to support small businesses in Montana and help MT parents remain in the workforce.
- SNAP scholarship eligibility streamlining (decision package 55146), which will save money by allowing your CCR&R to ease the scholarship application process for SNAP recipients.
- Support of quality investments such as STARS to Quality.
- Retention of all general fund money that has been directed to child care in the past.
The Bureau is what supports our programs. A Market Rate increase supports your business! SNAP express eligibility helps us qualify families quickly for the scholarship program!
Health and Human Services Committee: (meets M-F at 8 a.m.)
Session Contact : 406-444-4800
- Chair: Rep. Don Roberts (R-Billings)
- Vice Chair: Sen. Dave Lewis (R-Helena) davelewis@aol.com
- Rep. Tony Belcourt (D-Box Elder) tbelcourt@hotmail.com
- Rep. Tom Burnett (R-Bozeman) tburnetthd63@hotmail.com
- Sen. Mary Caferro (D-Helena) marycaferro@gmail.com
- Rep. John Esp (R-Big Timber) johnesp2001@yahoo.com
- Sen. Jason Priest (R-Red Lodge) jason@priest2010.com
- Rep. Trudi Schmidt (D-Great Falls) trudischmidt@q.com
Call with a message or send an email to one (or ALL!) of these committee members. It is with provider and parent support that our legislators know what is important to us. Do not let them make our decisions without our voices being heard.
Do you want to testify? Call Sarah at 234-6034. We’ll send you to Helena.
Another issue is SB 82, sponsored by Sen. Bradley Hamlett (D-Cascade) by request of the Department of Justice, to revise the laws relating to seatbelt and child safety restrait usage eliminating the secondary enforcement restriction. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee Thursday, 1/27, at 3 p.m.
We’d like to hear from providers–YOU are required by law to restrain children appropriately, but a parent isn’t. This issue failed last session due to fear of racial profiling of Native Americans. Let’s assure our committee members that we can help Native American families gain access to child safety seats rather than risk the lives of NA children and adult drivers.
Highways and Transportation: (meets T and Th at 3 p.m.)
Session Contact : 406-444-4800
- Chair: Llew Jones (R-Conrad) lcjones@3rivers.net
- Vice-Chair: Jon Sonju (R-Kalispell) sonjumt@yahoo.com
- Ron Arthun (R-Wilsall) ronarthun@gmail.com
- Anders Blewett (D-Great Falls) anders.blewett@gmail.com
- Edward Buttrey (R-Great Falls) ebuttrey@senate13.com
- Mary Caferro (D-Helena) marycaferro@gmail.com
- Jim Keane (D-Butte)
- Bruce Tutvedt (R-Kalispell) tutvedt@montanasky.com
- Gene Vuckovich (D-Anaconda) mt.sd43@gmail.com
- David Wanzeried (D-Missoula) daveew@gmail.com
- Ryan Zinke (R-Whitefish) ryanzinke@yahoo.com
