S T O R K Delivery

Supt. Adkins and Early Childhood Director Anna Shepherd visited Highlands ARH in Prestonsburg for a special delivery: Start Today for One Ready Kindergartner (STORK) collaboration. This project is about being part of a support system from birth for our students. Every baby born receives a packet from Highlands ARH with information for new parents and now our part in the packet is a onesie and a book, I Love You Like Sunshine, and inside the front of the book is a QR Code that will give parents more than twenty resources. There’s a video about how important the first five years are, a welcome to our school district video and how to access our early childhood website that houses resources and invitations to free events.

Anna Shepherd, comments, “We believe if families have a support system from the beginning then the family and the child have better long term outcomes.”

Thank Highlands ARH and the Floyd County Community Early Childhood Council for partnering with us!

** STORK (L to R) Anna Shepherd (Director of Early Childhood), Kim Grubb (Early Childhood Consultant), Superintendent Danny Adkins, Tim Hatfield (CEO Highlands ARH), Michelle Hall (Director of Obstetrics), Susan Ellis (Chief Nursing Officer) and Danielle Franklin Harmon (Manager of Community Outreach).

Parent Cafes

Floyd County parents and caregivers are helping each other strengthen and build resiliency in their families at Parent Cafes sponsored by Gear Up, Eastern Kentucky Strengthening Families, FRYSC/YSC directors, family advocates, FCS family liaison and volunteers. Betsy Layne High School, Prestonsburg High School, and South Floyd Elementary hosted the second parent cafe on November 7th. Several parents and caregivers attended to receive information and discuss various parenting topics, including school, digital and personal safety, screen time and technology.

GROWING WITH GOOGLE

Floyd County Early Childhood Office Staff attended a hands on Google Sites training offered by one of their colleagues, Jason King, on November 8 at the Early Childhood conference space. Jason King demonstrated how to create a site, update and personalize the site, and how to preview and publish site for others to view.

Turkey Trouble

Michelle Goble, Environmental Educator, with the Floyd County Conservation District visited early childhood classrooms during the month of November. During her visit, she read the book, “Turkey Trouble” by Wendi Silvano. She also brought in various turkey artifacts and recordings of different turkey sounds.

Early Childhood Staff Attends ECERS-3 Training

Four Floyd County Early Childhood staff: Ashtin Bolden, Amanda Sturgill, Rikki Gibson, and Krista Brown attended an ECERS 3 training in Hazard sponsored by Ashland Regional Training Center. ECERS-3 evaluates how teachers use materials to enhance interactions with students. It also observes safe and healthy learning environments and how personal care routines are managed. Staff took a deep dive into materials and equipment needed in an ECERS-3 compliant preschool classroom and participated in question and answer sessions on the ECERS-3 sub scales. ECERS-3 is required for environmental rating of each classroom within the 5 STAR quality system.

STORK (Start Today for One Ready Kindergartner) COLLABORATION PROJECT

In pursuit of helping more children enter kindergarten ready to learn, Floyd County Schools and Floyd County Early Childhood department are continuing a partnership with Highlands ARH Medical Center. This partnership includes each new family upon birthing a child to receive a onesie and a book, “I Love You Like Sunshine,” inside each birthing packet given upon exit from the hospital. The book includes a QR code for parents to can scan that links them directly to the Early Childhood website, a host of resources, video clips about the importance of the first five years, and a welcome video from Superintendent Danny Adkins.

For more information check out this link: https://www.facebook.com/1577159539216438/posts/2375223052743412?sfns=mo