November 2022 ECE Newsletter

YMCA OF GREATER LONG BEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

NOVEMBER 2022

WALKING GROUP - KICKING OFF! This fall we completed our first of three 12- week walking groups, 8:30 ? 9:30am, at C. David Molina Park! Congratulations to those who participated and took steps to get healthier while looking for bunnies, turtles, and birds on the nature trail. The last of this series will be on December 3rd and we will pick back up in mid- January 2023, so plan to join us! Bring your water and comfortable shoes to prepare for some nature therapy, led by Maria Perez & Andrea Sulsona.

STAFF SOFTBALL GAME Recently, members of our Early Childhood Education programs battled it out on the softball field to raise funds for Love Beyond Limits. This organization provides exceptional enrichment and leadership development opportunities to local youth. They offer youth an opportunity to create and mold their own unique experiences through a wide range of educational and leadership activities and resources!

PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC) RETURNS Parent engagement at our preschools has grown exponentially since the introduction of our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) four years ago. Each preschool has a site- level PAC where monthly meetings provide parents with education, opportunity for feedback and engagement, and community resources. This year's kick off welcomed a brand- new cohort of PAC parents to get the school year started.

PARENTING WITH LOVE Feeling overwhelmed by your child?s behavior? Wish parenting came with instructions? On Saturdays, October 29 ? December 10, from 10am- 12pm in English or 1- 3pm in Spanish, we are hosting our first of three six- week Parenting with Love Classes, at YMCA Creative Beginnings Preschool. If you missed this session, look out for the next session happening in the Spring 2023.

STAFF APPRECIATION IS A STRIKE! On September 28th we hosted our second annual bowling night for all our wonderful preschool employees, giving them a rare opportunity to unwind, have fun, and bowl! Our preschool staff are among the most dedicated, and we know they deserve some time to relax with coworkers and get to know each other outside of work. All six of our preschools and some of their family members all took part in this fun night out. A good time for all, full of strikes, spares, gutter balls, laughs and delicious pizza.

SAFETY AROUND WATER SPLASHES AWAY Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children. Since we have direct access to pools, we knew we had to be part of the solution for families enrolled our preschools. This school year, we have continued our initiative of providing all preschool children with free Safety Around or SAW curriculum and swimming lessons as part of a partnership with the Fairfield Family YMCA. Each child is offered transportation, education about water safety, and a total of 8 lessons over the course of a month. This fall, children from YMCA First Friendships, 70th Street and Creative Beginnings preschools completed the SAW program and developed the lifesaving skill. Later this school year, Mayne and Play & Learn preschool will both participate in SAW.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY On October 10th, we hosted the second all- staff professional development day of the year. Agenda topics included safety tips, building emotional intelligence, receiving self- care, and participating in a creative painting project. These training's provide the opportunity for staff to engage with each other on a more personal level, and create a feeling of community among our six preschool staff.

KABOOM PLAYGROUND BUILD November 12, 2022, was the official playground build day, celebrating a months- long collaboration between YMCA and Kaboom! With more than 150 community volunteers working together, all the playground equipment assembled and installed at YMCA 70th Street Preschool. ?Most of what children need to learn during their early childhood years cannot be taught: it?s discovered through play. That is why making opportunities for play, such as this Kaboom playground, accessible for all children in all communities is so important,? said Andrea Sulsona, Executive Director of YMCA of Greater Long Beach Early Childhood Education. Playgrounds are an iconic part of childhood. They?re not only where kids collect some of their best memories, but also where crucial skills are developed that nurture their physical, mental, and emotional well- being.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS Throughout the fall months, five of our preschools held Back to School Nights. These events are to welcome parents back into our preschools as well as provide them with the opportunity to meet their child's teachers. During these events, parents are provided opportunities to learn about the curriculum, goals, and development of their child.

BOARD MEMBERS' SPOTLIGHT Recently two of our board members, Dr. Eddie Quan, pediatrician, and Keji Sojobi, rocket scientist, volunteered their time to play guitar and sing songs, sharing their musical talents at YMCA Play & Learn Preschool. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts! Our 13 board of managers enable the YMCA ECE Programs to accomplish its goals by: providing oversite and monitoring activity, seeing that it has the resources to conduct its work, representing the organizing in the community, assessing results, and taking corrective action to ensure attainment of desired outcomes. Board members are chosen for their individual attributes including character, capacity for leadership, expertise, professional experience, fund raising, and community influence. If you or someone you know is interested in joining our board, please connect with our executive director Andrea Sulsona.

MUSIC TO OUR EARS This November marked the beginnings of The Camerata Children?s Music Academy at YMCA First Friendships, to teach fundamental music concepts to YMCA?s 3- to 5- year- old students there. These include melody, harmony, tempo, dynamics, singing and music appreciation. The program consisting of three workshops per week, from the period October 31, 2022, through July 31, 2023, provides an expert to evaluate the program at three intervals during the year: beginning, mid- term and at the end. CCMA instructors are degreed, professional musicians and are employees of Long Beach Camerata Singers. We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to our little ones and look forward to watching their love of music blossoming.

FAMILY CAMP One of the greatest opportunities we provide families in our program is the chance to visit and enjoy the weekend at YMCA Camp Oakes in Big Bear. Full of wonderful activities, families can choose to jump on the zip line, canoe through the lake or stargaze while roasting marshmallows.

Fifty of our families were lucky enough to enjoy an all-expense paid weekend trip including lodging, activities, and meals. For most of our families this is an opportunity uniquely available through their connection with our YMCA preschools. A huge thank you to our donors, you made this possible and look at for the next Family Camp weekend coming December 9-11!

YMCA of Greater Long Beach Early Childhood Education 3605 Long Beach Blvd. 210F Long Beach, CA 90807

The mission of the YMCA of Greater Long Beach Early Childhood Education Programs is to passionately serve communities to develop a stronger future; to provide children with access to quality child care programs that help them develop school readiness skills, while supporting their families to be active and engaged members of their communities.

70t h St reet Preschool 700 70th Street Long Beach, CA 90805 562.634.4924 Creat ive Beginnings Preschool 5600 Linden Ave. Long Beach, CA 90805 562.422.2616

Mayne Preschool 9630 Mayne Street Bellflower, CA 90706 562.804.1976 Play & Learn Preschool 2179 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90806 562.218.4693

First Friendships Preschool 6650 Orange Ave. Long Beach, CA 90805 562.984.2358

Downt own Preschool 820 Long Beach Blvd Long Beach, CA 90813 562.283.3454

MAIN OFFICE 3605 Long Beach Blvd 210F Long Beach, CA 90807 P 562.279.1624 | F 562.279.1705

www.LBymca.org/ece

Execut ive Direct or Andrea Sulsona

Associat e Exec. Direct or Alex Izaguirre

Board of Manager Mary View- Schneider,Board Chair Vivan Ainis, Secretary Chris Petit, Treasurer Dr. Gabriela Cervantes Joey King Vivian Malauulu Jeanette Polk Dr. Eddie Quan Nina Richardson Morohunkeji Sojobi Melanie Steele Colleen Triesch Paula Tripp Victor