The Partnership invites you to its “Communicating Your Message: Effective Visuals, Press, and Social Media” workshop, the fourth training in our Tools You Can Use Series. This workshop will allow participants to interact with local industry professionals on how best to speak to your audience. The presenters will illustrate how to make a good impression through visuals, get results through print media, and create and sustain an active online community through social media.

When:  August 15, 2012 from 9 am – noon
Where:  Jim and Carolyn Hunt Child Care Resource Center, 1201 S. Briggs Avenue, Durham, NC 27703   

Space is limited.  RSVP to Kelly McCoy at kelly@dpfc.net or 919-403-6960 ext. 230 by August 8, 2012.

Entering kindergarten is one of the biggest changes a young child will encounter.  The Partnership and Durham Public Schools want to support you and your child to make sure this milestone in your child’s life is easy and rewarding.  By providing informational newsletters, activity kits, and hosting special events throughout the year, our collaborative Transition to Kindergarten Initiative prepares children and their families for success.

 
We encourage you to participate in the transition by:

1. Visit the Partnership’s Web site and the Durham Public Schools Web site to stay informed.
2. Attend our Countdown to Kindergarten event.  Held on Friday, August 3rd from 5:45 to 8 pm at the Museum of Life and Science, this event is free for rising kindergartners and their families to get off to a smooth start for 2012-13.  Participants will have the opportunity to ride a school bus, learn about bus safety, learn about school lunch programs and meet UNC-TV characters and Dottie (the DPS kindergarten mascot).  Parents will be able to complete lunch, bus and other applications, learn about before- and after-school care programs, obtain school calendars, sign up for a library card and learn about more free resources.
3. Join the Transition to Kindergarten Mailing List and receive a Blast-Off to Kindergarten Activity Kit and additional resources to help you and your child make a smooth transition into kindergarten. The kits encourage positive parent and child interaction around school readiness by providing hands-on activities and materials that children should have experience using before the first day of school: a story book, crayons, a pencil, child safety scissors, colorful, geometric stacking shapes, and a feelings chart with directions for fun learning games that parents and children can play together. To join, contact Pat Harris at (919) 403-6960 ext 224.
4. Complete “The ABC’s of My Child” activity before the first day of school. Parents know their child best. This worksheet helps parents introduce important information to their child’s new teacher. Download it from our Resources page or click here [English] [Spanish].

The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is supported through funding from the Morgan Creek Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Durham program recently celebrated a milestone anniversary – 40 years!  Since 1972, more than 1,000 experienced leaders have graduated from the six-month program (including one of the Partnership’s very own – Assistant Director, Angelica Oberleithner, class of 2010), which raises awareness about key issues impacting Durham.

Leadership Durham students are able to meet influential area leaders and visit local institutions to gain insight on community issues such as public education, human needs, local government, law enforcement, economic development and health care.

At the 2012 40th Anniversary Luncheon for the program, Mayor Bill Bell, a 1972 Leadership Durham graduate, gave the program welcome while graduates from past years spoke about the opportunities provided to them through their experience.

The Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award was presented to former GlaxoSmithKline Director of US Community Partnerships, Bill Shore.  Shore has been a respected visionary of the Triangle community for many years, currently serving on many boards and as Chairman of the Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) Board of Directors at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  In that capacity, Shore has been an outspoken voice for young children.

A longtime advocate for the work of the Partnership and early childhood professionals, Shore has encouraged corporations to invest in birth to five, emphasizing the early years as critical to developing our nation’s human capital. Through participation in the 2012 National Smart Start Conference and State of Durham’s Children events, Shore has advocated for quality early care to prepare children for success in school and life, thus preparing a competitive workforce for corporate America.

We congratulate the Leadership Durham Program for 40 years of supporting local leaders, and we recognize Bill Shore for his countless contributions to the community. 

To learn more about Leadership Durham, click here.

View the Leadership Durham 40th Anniversary Video here.

Nancy Wykle, director of DSS Volunteer Programs with the Volunteer Center of Durham, said it best in the Herald-Sun guest column “Backpacks for Kids provides crucial help to students” when describing children who receive school supplies from the Backpacks for Kids program:

“We owe it to these kids and to ourselves to help level the playing field. Every child deserves to walk through the school door on the first day feeling like they have the basic tools to succeed in the coming school year.”

This year, more than 400 DPS and charter school students have been referred to the Backpacks for Kids program, meaning their families face significant obstacles to equipping them with basic learning tools – things like pens, pencils, notebooks and a backpack.

That is 100 more children than were identified during last year’s Back to School Supply Drive.

The Backpacks for Kids program provides school supplies and backpacks for about $20 per student to these children, but because of growing needs, will only be able to meet that demand with private donations from the community.

This is a unique opportunity to reach out to children in need and benefit the entire community.  Research shows that children who grow up in poverty are more likely as adults to have low earnings, engage in criminal activity, and develop chronic health problems later in life.

If you wish to contribute to this program, visit www.thevolunteercenter.org or call (919) 681-1835 to make a donation or for additional information.  Donations need to be made soon.  Backpacks and school supplies must be ordered by July 25th.

» 
Check out the Backpacks for Kids page here.

Year-round Durham Public Schools start today, and schools on the traditional calendar start on August 27th. The Partnership’s vision is that every child in Durham is physically, cognitively, and emotionally prepared for this momentous first day of kindergarten. Our collaborative Transition to Kindergarten Initiative with Durham Public Schools provides supports to prepare families and young children as they shift from pre-k classrooms or the home to the elementary classroom.

Hopeful that these young learners are settling comfortably into their new desks eager to absorb knowledge, we want to share the importance of how attendance patterns affect academic outcomes.

According to a 2011 Attendance Works report, “Attendance in Early Elementary Grades,” that questions the role that attendance plays as a predictor of student success, there is a dramatic difference between students who miss less than 4 percent of school days and students who are chronically absent, or miss more than 10 percent of school days.



The difference is seen in third grade performance.  Students who miss less than 4 percent of school days across kindergarten and first grade had significantly higher third grade scores on both reading (average of 50 points higher) and math (average of 76 points higher) tests than students who miss school moderately and chronically.

The other consideration in the study was if the association between attendance and later outcomes depend on the readiness skills that students possess when they enter kindergarten. In other words, is the impact of poor attendance different for students who are prepared upon kindergarten entry?

Study results showed that students who had a combination of strong readiness skills in both kindergarten academics (shapes, numbers) and self-regulation (interpersonal skills and a child’s knowledge of their own feelings) were particularly likely to perform well on their third grade tests, and were more than three times as likely to be performing at grade level in reading and math.

But, even children who have strong readiness skills as they enter kindergarten will perform worse by third grade if they are chronically absent from school.  School attendance is a key predictor to academic success.
 

 
» Click here to download the Attendance Works report, “Attendance in Early Elementary Grades.” 

» Click here to learn more about the Partnership's Transition to Kindergarten Initiative.

According to the YMCA, a swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child 4 or under.  Yet, most drownings are preventable.  New evidence shows that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4 years.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents should decide whether to enroll an individual child in swim lessons based on the child’s frequency of exposure to water, emotional development, physical abilities, and certain health conditions.  They encourage parents to participate in all activities and remind us that even a child who knows how to swim needs constant supervision. The AAP Web site offers some helpful swimming safety rules as well.


Formal swim lessons available in Durham

» YMCA Swim Lessons (Visit the YMCA online)

Parent/Child Swim Lessons:  Available for children ages 6 months to 2 years.  The Parent/Child class is designed to teach parents how to safely deal with their child in the water, as well as to teach the child to enjoy the water experience while beginning to learn many basic swimming skills needed for future classes.

Weekend Sessions at the Downtown YMCA
Sessions are on Saturday, August 11 – September 15.   9-9:35 am or 9:45-10:20 am or 10:30-11:05 am.
Cost is $51 for YMCA members and $72 for non-members. Registration ends Aug. 6.

Weekend Sessions at Hope Valley Farms YMCA
Sessions are Saturday, July 21 – August 25 from 9:45 to 10:20 am.  Cost is $64 for YMCA members and $78 for non-members.  Registration ends July 14.

Weekday Sessions at Hope Valley Farms YMCA
Cost is $64 for YMCA members and $78 for non-members. 
Monday – Thursday, July 23-26 or July 30-Aug. 2.  Session Times: 5-5:35; 5:45-6:20; or 6:30-7:05 pm. Registration ends July 16. 
Monday – Thursday, Aug. 13 – 16 or Aug. 20-23.  Session Times: 5-5:35; 5:45-6:20; or 6:30-7:05 pm.  Registration ends Aug. 6.

Click here to download the YMCA swim Registration Form.


» Durham Parks and Recreation (Visit Durham Parks and Rec online)

Indoor pools
Beyond lap swim, unstructured swim time, aerobic classes, and lane rentals, there are also parent tot and toddler swim lessons available through August.  You can register on-site or online.

Edison Johnson Aquatic Center: 500 West Murray Ave., (919) 560-4265
Campus Hills Recreation Center: 2000 South Alston Ave., (919) 560-4444

Parent Tot Swim classes
This class teaches parents basic water skills and child safety in and around the water. Learning is done through water exploration, play, and songs. Age: 6 months-3 years. Prices range from $42 - $56.

Edison Johnson Aquatic Center
Session #7820 is Monday – Thursday, July 30 - Aug. 9 from 8 - 8:30 am.

Campus Hills
Session #7914 is Monday and Wednesday, July 16 – Aug. 8 from 5:15 - 5:45 pm.
Session #7918 Monday – Thursday, July 30 – Aug. 9 from 9:20 - 9:50 am.

Preschool Swim classes
Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) begin with water adjustment and progress to basic water skills and swimming. Prices range from $42 - $56.

Campus Hills
Session #7923 is Monday – Thursday, July 16 - July 26 from 8 - 8:30 am.
Session #7927 is Monday – Thursday, July 16 - July 26 from 8:40 - 9:10 am.
Session #7924 is Monday – Thursday, July 30 – Aug. 9 from 8 - 8:30 am.
Session #7928 is Monday – Thursday, July 30 – Aug. 9 from 8:40 - 9:10 am.

Outdoor Pools
Outdoor pools are open seasonally now through August 17th. Daily Admission Fees range from $2 - $4. Children ages 3 and under are free of charge.
Hours of operation are:  Monday - Friday from 1-5:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday from 1–5 pm.

Long Meadow Pool: 917 Liberty St.
Hillside Pool: 1300 S. Roxboro Rd.
Forest Hills Pool: 1639 University Dr.

» Download the Playmore Summer 2012 guide here.

There are just 2,000 days between the time a baby is born and when that child shows up for the first day of kindergarten. Investing in those 2,000 days is essential to the success of our future learners and leaders and to North Carolina’s prosperity. With quality early childhood education, children will be school ready, have higher graduation rates and grow into productive citizens and valuable employees.

Today is the launch of the North Carolina Partnership for Children’s new Web site, www.first2000days.org, which will help give people a shared understanding about the critical nature of a child’s earliest years.  This site will engage people on the value of early education by telling us:

• Why the first 2,000 days matter
• What is the return on investment of early education
• What leaders from across the state and nation are saying
• How we can take action

What you can do:

• Visit the site, www.first2000days.org.
• Like the 2,000 days Facebook page.
• Sign-up to receive 2,000 days alerts.

What science tells us about bonding with infants is that strong ties between parents and their child provide the baby's first model for intimate relationships and foster a sense of security and positive self-esteem.  The way that parents respond to an infant's signals can affect the child's social and cognitive development.
 
Though the bonding process begins at birth – sometimes even before birth – it is not uncommon for mothers to experience difficulty in bonding with their babies, particularly if they are exhausted, dealing with prolonged pain from delivery, or dealing with postpartum depression.

We know that it is much easier for parents to bond with their baby if they are surrounded by a strong team of support.  See below for a few of Durham’s local resources for new parents.
 
UNC Support Group for Women during Pregnancy & Postpartum: The Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program offers a free support group for women with depression or anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. This group meets on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month, 6:30 to 8 pm.   For more information or to register, contact Chris Raines at (919) 966-3115.
 
Teer House: Provides community, patient and family education as part of Duke University Health System's Department of Education Services. Classes include New Mothers Class, Baby Care, Breastfeeding, Infant and Child CPR and more.  Contact information:  www.dukehealth.org or call (919) 477-2644.
 
El Centro Hispano: Community center for Latino families that provides a women's support and information group as well as parenting workshops. Check out Circle of Parents/Circulo de Padres. For more information call (919) 687-4635 or visit http://www.elcentronc.org/index.html.

Care Calendar:  A web-based system that provides a free tool for organizing meals and other help for families during life changing events such as the birth of a baby. http://www.carecalendar.org/

Durham Connects: A home-visiting program for parents of newborns in Durham County that connects them with community supports.  Call (919) 419-3474 ext 232 or visit http://www.durhamconnects.org/index.html.

Welcome Baby: Provides free parenting education and support to families with young children, including developmental guides, newborn discussion groups, and Motheread B.A.B.Y. parenting classes. Call (919) 560-7150 or visit http://www.welcomebaby.org/.

Healthy Families Durham Program:  An intensive home visiting program designed to improve parent/child interaction and increase parenting skills.  Call (919) 419-3474 or visit http://www.ccfhnc.org/.

» Read more about symptoms of baby blues and postpartum depression in the June Faith newsletter, Congregations & Early Childhood.
 
» Save the date: January 24, 2013 for a Faith Summit on Child Poverty!
 

The Early Childhood Faith Initiative is a collaboration between Durham's Partnership for Children and End Poverty Durham that recognizes the role that the faith community plays in providing support to young children and their families. Click here to learn more about this initiative.

July is here and so is the sunshine, beckoning our young children outdoors for playtime.  We agree – fresh air and outdoor play is an excellent way to encourage children to be active.  Yet, the rising temperatures serve as a serious reminder that illness and child death from hyperthermia does occur. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are three main types of reactions to hot temperatures: Heatstroke or Sunstroke (Symptoms include hot, flushed skin, high fever over 105° rectally, the absence of sweating, confusion or coma, and shock); Heat Exhaustion (Symptoms include pale skin, profuse sweating, nausea, dizziness or fainting, or weakness); Heat Cramps (Symptoms include severe muscle cramps in the legs and abdomen, no fever, tightness or spasms of the hands).

Infants are at added risk.  Because they are less able to sweat with heat stress, infants are at increased risk for these conditions.  Heat stroke usually follows exposure to very high temperatures, like being trapped inside a hot car or being confined to a crib near a radiator.

Keep a close eye on where your child plays. Cars – though fascinating to young children – are not safe places for play. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services stresses parent awareness on prevention of hyperthermia following the death last month of a 2-year-old Burke County child who was left in an unattended vehicle.  July is the peak time of year for child deaths in hot vehicles, officials say. 

Play outdoors if you must.  Durham Magazine recently featured “Made in the Shade,” a list of Durham community parks that offer ample shade for these hot days. Their list included Burch Avenue Park, Indian Trail, Piney Wood Park, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church playground (check online for availability), and Rockwood Park. Click here to view the list.

» Summer safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

» Click here to read prevention tips from Safe Kids North Carolina.