Early Learning Update Week of February 8th 

Each week I will send out an Early Learning Update email.  These are meant to be quick updates on any relevant items for the week including resources, Professional Development, new health department info and more

Items Covered:

• Save the Date for Professional Development Day Friday, March 12^th
• Early Learning Fulcrum Grant Opportunity
• Licensed Program ONLY: Imagine Institute Substitute Pool
• Licensed Program ONLY: License Program Webinar Series: Thursday, February 11^th at 4:15pm DCYF Training Reimbursements and Education Awards

Please see this week’s professional development opportunities and news: https://mycatholicschool.org/for-catholic-schools/catholic-identity/early-learning/

Save the Date for Professional Development Day Friday, March 12^th

I am really looking forward to our Virtual Professional Development Day on Friday, March 12^th. An important reminder: I have sent a save the date to each of you. Can you please forward this save the date to all members of your early learning team. The day is meant for ALL Early Learning Staff in the Archdiocese. The day will kick off with a Vimeo message from Superintendent Kristin Dixon at 8:30am. We will then move to Zoom at 9:00am and have three 1 hour 45 minute sessions with breaks between each session and end the day at 3:00 – 3:30pm. For licensed programs ALL sessions will be eligible for STARS in-service hours so you will be able to get 6 of your 10 required hours during the conference. All of the sessions are appropriate for both licensed and non-licensed programs. Next week I will send you a link to have you and your staff register for the sessions so we have good rosters for our trainers.

 

Early Learning Fulcrum Grant Opportunity

On Wednesday, February 3^rd the Fulcrum Foundation released the first ever Early Childhood Education Fund Grant Application. Founded in 2002, the Fulcrum Foundation leverages financial assistance to support and strengthen Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle primarily through tuition assistance, school partnerships, and transformational leader training. Dick and Sharon Abrams established the Fulcrum Early Childhood Education Fund to increase awareness of Fulcrum and encourage broader support for Early Learning and their growing endowment. I sent an individual email to you and your principal last Wednesday with all the details to apply for the grant that can result in an award of up to $2,000 to support your program. Applications are due on March 5^th! The application is available through Foundant [grantinterface.com], Fulcrum’s online grant application system

 

Licensed Program Only: Imagine Institute Substitute Pool

In the past the DCYF substitute pool was only available for Early Achievers programs that were using the substitutes while they were doing Program Quality Improvement or Professional Development work. DCYF has recently contracted with the Imagine Institute to open the Substitute pool to ALL licensed programs. Early Achievers programs still have access to subsidized substitutes if they are doing the work listed above, but all licensed programs have access to the program in the private pay option. If you are interested in investigating this option for your program please click on the link below to get access to resources including a quick orientation video that gives great information. Please let me know if you have questions!

https://imaginewa.org/find-a-substitute/#facility-orientation-videos

 

Licensed Program Only: License Program Webinar Series: Thursday, February 11^th at 4:15pm DCYF Training Reimbursements and Education Awards

We are excited about the next installment of the Licensed Program Webinar Series that takes place on the 2^nd Thursday of each month at 4:15pm. Our topic this week will be a presentation on how to access Training Reimbursement and Education Awards through DCYF. Please see link below for the zoom meeting.

https://seattlearch org.zoom.us/j/92468101246?pwd=NmoySENJWk9uRHR3dm5ma0RtTksvQT09

 

Thank you and have a wonderful week!