Day Early Learning Archives - Early Learning Indiana

ELI Celebrates Abbi Segvich, Tanner Teacher of the Year

Ambar Pire — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 21:22:22 +0000

Every day, our teachers work tirelessly to provide children with the highest-quality early care and education. They don’t seek acknowledgement for their efforts, which makes it all the more special when they are recognized for their hard work and dedication. We are thrilled to announce that our 2024 Tanner Teacher of the Year is Abbi Segvich, team lead and 2s teacher at Day Early Learning at Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center in West Lafayette.

The Tanner Teacher of the Year is an annual award in recognition of an outstanding Day Early Learning classroom teacher. It is named after Gene and Rosemary Tanner, long-standing supporters of Early Learning Indiana, in honor of the endowment they started in 2019 to support teacher training and professional development.

Abbi is known and respected for her ability to create a calm and productive classroom learning environment, as well as her thoughtful and engaging teaching style. She excels at parent communication, always keeping them informed about what their children are learning and providing peace of mind that they’re well taken care of. As a team lead, Abbi is a team player who will drop what she’s doing to help her fellow teachers and make sure they feel supported.

“Not only is she an amazing teacher who creates a great classroom environment with her kids, but she’s also that team player who I can put in charge of the building. She’s just the full package,” says Abbi’s School Leader Jessica Walters.

Abbi joined Day Early Learning at Patty Jischke in 2022 from Day Early Learning at Purdue University Early Care and Education Center, where she started in 2017.

Today during a ceremony at Day Early Learning at Patty Jischke, Abbi’s family, friends, co-workers and students joined us as we surprised her with a plaque and cash prize.

Please join us in congratulating Abbi!

ELI Celebrates Jasmine Stewart, Tanner Teacher of the Year

Karrie Baxter — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:57:16 +0000

Jasmine Stewart, lead infant teacher at Day Early Learning Center for Infants and Toddlers, has a quick answer when asked what makes her successful at managing a roomful of infants. “Patience,” she laughs. “Lots and lots of patience and being organized.”

Jasmine was selected as the 2023 Tanner Teacher of the Year, an annual award in recognition of an outstanding Day Early Learning classroom teacher. The award is named after the Gene and Rosemary Tanner Family, long-standing supporters of Early Learning Indiana, in honor of their endowment that supports teacher training and professional development.

Jasmine was chosen for her exceptional ability to create a safe and inclusive environment for her students and their families. “Her contributions to the school culture are invaluable; she always looks for ways to help others and creates a positive and uplifting culture among the team,” said Kat Christian, School Leader

Jasmine will celebrate eight years with Day Early Learning this fall. She started as a substitute teacher, filling in at different centers, but quickly found her niche working with babies. She applied for an assistant teacher position at DEL’s Center for Infants and Toddlers and eventually moved up to lead teacher. Jasmine has cared for children since she was a teen, helping during children’s church and babysitting her nieces.

“The infant age is definitely my favorite,” she says. “Watching their development, being the person who helps them get started crawling and sitting up — it’s so much fun to see. I love being a person who they can feel safe with every day. That’s so important at this age.”

Her favorite classroom activity is anything art related, sharing that the babies love playing with paint and exploring the textures and colors. Jasmine also incorporates music often in her classroom. “The ‘Good morning, [Name]’ song is definitely one that gets stuck in my head,” she laughs. “I’ll find myself singing that one at home by myself sometimes.”

Jasmine says the Day Early Learning staff and administration have helped her grow and thrive as a teacher. “I feel heard here. If I need help or have a concern, the directors listen and try to understand and make changes.” She notes that her fellow teachers are some of her favorite people she’s worked with in her career. “My coworkers are so helpful and strong — we have a really solid team.”

Jasmine says communication skills are also key to interacting with parents daily. She prides herself on the connections she makes with families while caring for their babies and keeps in touch with many of them, even after their children have moved on. “I still talk to many of my past parents. It’s such an honor that they want me to be a part of their kids’ lives.”

Outside of work, Jasmine stays busy studying for her early childhood education degree at Indiana Wesleyan. She’s exploring options for the future but would like to work in child care administration or another capacity where she can work directly with families. She also enjoys bowling with family and friends and relaxing with a good Netflix show.

How did she react to being named Tanner Teacher of the Year? “I was shocked — I cried!” Jasmine said. “Just knowing that my work was noticed and appreciated makes me feel happy to be here. I really do love my job.”

Classroom Support Program Helps Teachers Feel Confident and Connected

Ambar Pire — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:35:40 +0000

Classroom support professionals (CSPs) are an integral part of the early learning teaching team. The work they do each day in partnership with the classroom lead teacher — from implementing daily classroom activities and lessons and developing nurturing and engaging relationships with each child to ensuring a safe and ready-to-learn classroom environment — supports children’s growth and development now and for years to come.

CSPs play a critical role — but who supports the support professionals? That’s where Early Learning Indiana’s innovative Classroom Support Work-based Learning Program comes in. The 13-week program is required of every new Day Early Learning (DEL) team member upon hire and acts as an orientation to the Day Early Learning way. The program utilizes an Explore, Practice, Apply instructional model that combines online instruction with real-time classroom application to build knowledge and skills with the support of a cooperative teacher. Graduates of the program feel connected, capable and confident in the classroom.

Jada Harris is a CSP success story as one of the original DEL team members to participate in the pilot program when she was an assistant pre-K teacher at Park 100. “My lead teacher encouraged me to take the course. Sometimes as a new teacher you wonder how much you are actually helping in the classroom. The program showed me all the ways I was helping and allowed me to increase my skills in so many areas.”

Jada’s program mentor, Michelle Arboe, provided support and advice along the way. “She was great at checking in on me to make sure I stayed on track,” Jada said. “It was so helpful to work with her to implement the lessons. For example, if I was learning about meal service, I would do the online part, then go into her classroom and shadow her before leading it myself the next time. She would help with coaching and feedback on each skill.”

Michelle’s support continued even after the course. “She keeps an open line of communication. I can go to her with anything in my classroom and get advice,” Jada said. “We have a great relationship.”

A self-described hands-on learner, Jada appreciated the mix of online and real-world lessons in the CSP program and the opportunity to “read it, see it and then actually go do it.” Jada said filming the practice videos could be tricky logistically — “every kid wanted to be in the videos!” — but it offered a unique opportunity to watch herself in action and reflect on areas where she did well and areas that could be improved.

Jada points to parent communication as a key skill she improved from the CSP course. “I always greeted the parents, but I started to be more intentional about connecting with each family in the morning. I’ll ask about the child’s day so far and any concerns and really make a point to build that relationship.”

Last fall, Jada moved into the lead preschool teacher role at Park 100 and says the CSP program was instrumental in ensuring she was equipped to succeed in the new role. Her class of 3- and 4-year-olds never ceases to amaze her with their creativity, imaginations and the funny things they say. Jada enjoys incorporating cooking and baking into the classroom and working on arts and crafts projects with her students.

Jada recently earned her Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential and plans to build those credits toward an associate degree and then a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Eventually, she’d like to work as a school leader and impact even more families.

Her advice to new team members embarking on the CSP course? “It can get rough at times, and it can be a struggle to balance everything,” she said. “But keep the goal in mind. You can see your progress in the classroom and that makes it all worth it. I tell new staff that I understand, that I’ve been through it — and that they can do it too.”

Investing in Early Learners Through a New Scholarship Fund

Ambar Pire — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:42:37 +0000

A search for a new volunteer opportunity paved the way for a scholarship fund for early learners, thanks to the work of one Day Nursery Auxiliary member.

Peggy Reising has been a member of the Auxiliary for two years, joining at a neighbor’s suggestion while seeking new opportunities to volunteer post-COVID. The Day Nursery Auxiliary is a group of more than 150 members who support Early Learning Indiana’s programs by raising money, providing volunteer services and serving as community ambassadors for high-quality early learning.

A strong proponent of the value of lifelong education, Peggy saw a natural fit between Early Learning Indiana’s philosophy and her own. “Their mission is my mission. I’ve been involved in education my entire life, from playing teacher as a child to actually becoming one as a high school math teacher. Education is the foundation of life, and early education is so important for a child’s success later on,” she said, pointing to studies that show access to high-quality early learning leads to greater academic and lifelong success, reduced rates of incarceration, higher graduation rates, less grade repetition and greater social-emotional wellbeing.

Peggy was instrumental in creating the Day Nursery Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, in collaboration with Early Learning Indiana. The Auxiliary fund is unique in that participants can donate stock or make a qualified contribution from an individual retirement account (IRA), in addition to donating in traditional ways. These options allow a greater range of flexibility and can provide tax incentives to the donor.

The idea for the fund began in 2023, when Peggy wanted to give a $10,000 gift of stock to Early Learning Indiana to be used to assist families with tuition, but realized there wasn’t a scholarship fund established that would allow her to do so. She took her idea to ELI’s development and leadership teams and was pleased to find that all were enthusiastically on board. “I wanted to find a way to directly impact families, and at the same time, this type of donation can have significant tax benefits to the donor,” Peggy said. Tax regulations and investment options can sound intimidating, so Peggy hopes that by sharing her story and promoting the Auxiliary scholarship fund, she can encourage more donors to think about non-traditional contributions.

While the fund is named after the Auxiliary, Peggy emphasizes that anyone can donate. “Any amount is appreciated, and it’s a great way to donate in honor or in memory of a loved one. All funds go directly to families for tuition support.”

Peggy was a longtime middle and high school math teacher in Indianapolis and continued to volunteer as a tutor in her granddaughter’s school after retirement. She loves the hands-on opportunities to engage in classrooms offered through the Auxiliary and spends most of her volunteer time at a Day Early Learning center working with the 3- to 5-year-olds. “During choice time, I’ll join a group of kids and incorporate some educational pieces into their play, talking about shapes, colors and numbers. Mostly, we try to help the teachers however we can!”

Outside of the Auxiliary, Peggy serves on the Board of Directors for the Holliday Park Foundation and chats excitedly about the new nature playground slated for the park. She enjoys gardening and spending time with her two children and three grandchildren.

Peggy hopes the fund continues to grow as more women, in particular, become savvier about investment options, creating a win-win situation for donor and recipient. And while the tax benefits are an added bonus, she says it’s ultimately the investment in early learners that will pay off the most.

“It’s simple — high-quality child care centers cost money, and teachers can’t teach and children can’t learn without support,” Peggy said. “If we can subsidize tuition for families so they can access these programs, we can help give kids the foundation of a great education.”

Meet ‘The Triplets,’ whose lifelong friendship began at Day Early Learning

Ambar Pire — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:40:58 +0000

Claire Davis, Morgan Watkins and Caroline Mages can’t remember life without each other. The three women met in the infant room at Day Early Learning Federal Building in 2000, where their similar blonde hair color quickly earned them the nickname ‘the triplets.’ The girls remained Day Early Learning classmates for several years before their paths diverged — but two decades later, their friendship remains. We sat down with them — now at the age of 24 — to talk about their time at Day Early Learning and where they are today.

Favorite memories from your time at Day Early Learning?

Claire: What I remember most is how much the teachers loved and cared for us. All these years later, there are still teachers who have reached out to check on me. Ms. Jill sticks out as a teacher who went above and beyond for us. I am forever grateful for the lasting friendships I made.

Caroline: My fondest memories are of the tricycle race before the Indy 500 and being wheeled outside in strollers to watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade. My friendship with Claire and Morgan is definitely the biggest thing I remember from my time at Day Nursery.

Morgan: I have been told a lot of memorable stories from my time there! Apparently, my mom tried to take home the wrong kid one day. We looked so much alike that she snagged either Caroline or Claire and only questioned it when she realized they were wearing a different outfit than what she had put on me that morning. We love to laugh about that story. We also had a great relationship with the two security guards that let us into the parking garage each day. They were always so friendly to the kids in the morning.

What makes your friendship special?

Claire: Early in our friendship, it was easy to stay connected because our moms also became friends and got us together often. As we got older and went off to separate schools, we made a point to celebrate birthdays, holidays and graduations together. Caroline was the best at keeping the three of us together. She always had the most elaborate birthday parties so there are many fun memories there. The beauty of our friendship is that no matter how long we are apart, we are always able to pick right back up where we left off.

Caroline: The most special thing about our friendship is how deeply rooted it is; we’ve been part of each other’s lives for almost 24 years. We have the kind of friendship that stands the test of time. They’ve known me at every stage of life, which is very rare. We have a connectedness that is not easily explained or described. I couldn’t imagine my life without them.

We’ve shared so many great memories over the years. I distinctly remember in high school when I was able to see Morgan at a cross country meet and then attend a Notre Dame football game with Claire the same day. Time together at that point in our lives was rare, so it was special to see them both on the same day. Now when we get together, we usually go out to lunch or dinner and catch up on each other’s lives.

Morgan: Our moms took us to shows and lunches together, set us up on play dates, coordinated birthday parties and sleepovers and summer camps. We had a lot of fun traditions like making gingerbread houses at Christmas. Even though we went off to different colleges far apart from each other and now live in different parts of the state, we have continued to call and text each other and get together a few times a year. I loved reflecting on my life with my two friends from birth. Not a lot of people have that, so I feel very lucky to have Caroline and Claire.

Claire graduated from Marietta College with a degree in political science then returned to her hometown of Fishers. She is currently substitute teaching and enjoying the flexibility to travel and explore, including a solo trip to Hong Kong in 2023. Morgan lives in Lafayette and is studying veterinary medicine at the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine, preparing to enter her clinical year. Caroline earned a degree in early education from St. Mary’s College and currently lives in Indianapolis, teaching second grade at her alma mater, Little Flower Catholic School.

According to Morgan, the triplet friendship was meant to be. “We are three very different people who probably would not have found each other if it weren’t for the Day Early Learning center, and now we are friends for life. We were all born exactly one month and one day apart. I like to think that our friendship was written in the stars.”

Early Learning Indiana’s Top 21 of 2021

Karrie Baxter — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 13:00:00 +0000

As we begin a new year, we take a moment to look back on the many highlights and accomplishments from 2021. This year we are reminded that early learning starts with all of us. Watch our highlight video here.

1. A Path for Career Growth – We reorganized our classroom-based teams and added career pathways through a new “Excel at DEL” program to help more educators advance their careers in the early learning sector.

2. Come Back Stronger Fund – With support from Lilly Endowment Inc., we launched Round 2 of the Come Back Stronger Fund, distributing an additional $10M to early care and education programs across the state to support their increased costs due to the pandemic and help sustain their operations.

3. Build, Learn, Grow Scholarships – On behalf of the state of Indiana, we carried out the Build, Learn, Grow Scholarship Program, awarding $30,978,517 in scholarships to help Indiana families that work in essential businesses with the cost of early care and education for their children.

4. Closing the Gap Report – We published “Closing the Gap: An Assessment of Indiana’s Early Learning Opportunities” to articulate the true state of child care access across Indiana and empower communities to explore solutions to their child care gaps.

5. Closing the Gap Grants – In conjunction with the release of the Closing the Gap report, we opened the Closing the Gap Fund and issued 17 Closing the Gap grants with the support of Lilly Endowment Inc. to create more than 900 early learning seats in high-need communities in Indiana.

6. Day of Impact – At our 3rd annual Day of Impact — sponsored byQBM, Resultant and many others — over 100 volunteers completed projects across all eight Indy Day Early Learning centers, including refreshing two staff break rooms, landscaping a butterfly garden, building a music wall, painting sensory paths onto playground areas and restocking lending libraries.

7. Modernizing the Industry – We drafted an Early Childhood Education Modernization brief, articulating a vision, framework and recommendations for the future of the early learning industry, which is sparking public policy discussions with invested stakeholders all across Indiana.

8. Reimagining Early Learning – We hosted providers and community partners at an event to “Reimagine” our state’s early childhood education system following the influx of federal stimulus funding.

9. Early Head Start Grant Recipient – We won a major grant for the expansion of our Early Head Start programming, enabling us to serve an additional 75 children.

10. Two New Day Early Learning Centers – We transitioned operations of the Purdue University Early Care and Education Center and Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center, welcoming 30+ new team members and 162 children to the Day Early Learning family.

11. Indianapolis’ South Side Expansion – In partnership with Christel House Academy, we raised $1 million in grant funds to support the opening of the new Day Early Learning at Manual on the city’s south side and received a $1 million matching grant from United Way of Central Indiana.

12. Early Learning Educator Solutions – Through the support of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, we launched the Classroom Support Work-Based Learning Program in our Day Early Learning centers, training 19 team members with credentials to advance their careers and improve their classroom practice.

13. Arago Honor Recipient – We received the Meridian Foundation’s inagural Arago honor in recognition of innovation through our Classroom Support Work-Based Learning Program. The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize.

14. Assessing Learning Success – Through the use of TS Gold assessments, we supported children in meeting or exceeding widely held expectations in literacy, mathematics and social emotional development. This initiative helps quantify the success of our mission: to ensure children throughout Indiana are empowered with essential skills to be successful in kindergarten and beyond.

15. Kindergarten Readiness Leadership – We trained 381 educators to serve as Kindergarten Readiness Indicator (KRI) assessors for the state of Indiana, empowering them to administer the new KRI assessment to their pre-K students. With the support of the Richard M. Fairbanks foundation, we also launched Getting on Track, an initiative to help children in our Day Early Learning centers build early math and literacy skills in preparation for the kindergarten readiness assessment.

16. Accredited by National Association for the Education of Young Children – Three of our Day Early Learning Centers renewed their NAEYC accreditation. We also achieved NAEYC accreditation for Day Early Learning at Eastern Star Church, officially making all Day Early Learning centers nationally accredited.

17. Strong Finances – Despite the impact of the pandemic on reduced enrollment and increased expenses, we were able to sustain our operations while keeping our workforce intact. We are well-positioned to continue our innovative, mission-related activities in 2022.

18. Enrichment Programs – Our Spirit of Philanthropy teams supported quarterly activities for each center, including providing family and child enrichments through the Summer Gardening Program and Week of the Young Child activities, as well as Fall-in-a-Bag and Holiday week gifts for teachers.

19. Stronger Together Grants — With generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc., we selected seven organizations to receive $100,000 grants to launch regional shared service hubs around the state. These hubs will allow local child care providers to streamline their operational services, saving money and allowing them to focus their time and energy on providing high-quality child care.

20. Tanner Teacher of the Year – Day Early Learning at Fort Harrison pre-K teacher Angie Laureano was named our 2021 Tanner Teacher of the Year in recognition of her consistent dedication to her center and students over the last year, especially, and her commitment to intentional learning through play.

21. State of Early Learning — Early Learning Indiana President and CEO Maureen Weber hosted her inaugural State of Early Learning in January 2021, outlining the impact of the pandemic on early childhood education and steps to improve early learning access, affordability and quality for Hoosier families and children. Mark your calendar for the 2022 State of Early Learning on Jan. 27 at 11:30 a.m. EST. Register here.  

Early Learning Indiana and Christel House Indianapolis announce new Day Early Learning at Manual

Karrie Baxter — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 21:41:00 +0000

$38,000 needed to secure $1 million match goal

INDIANAPOLIS (July 27, 2021) — Early Learning Indiana and Christel House Indianapolis are teaming up to create a new early childhood education center — Day Early Learning at Manual — on the south side of Indianapolis.

“Quality, licensed early care and education is one of the greatest unmet needs of south side Indianapolis families,” says Maureen Weber, president and CEO, Early Learning Indiana. “A new center at Manual will add 80 new high-quality child care seats for infants to 5-year-olds.”

Building upon the $5.5 million Christel House has invested into turning the previous Emmerich Manual High School facility into a community-serving campus for traditional K-12 students and adults seeking a high school diploma, the ambitious $2 million early childhood education center construction plan will require extensive renovation to convert office space at Manual into rooms appropriate for infants, toddlers and pre-K students. United Way of Central Indiana has committed to making a $1 million match for the capital project.

“To receive the match, we must raise $1 million by Aug. 30, 2021,” says Weber. “It’s a big goal, but we are confident the community will support this important need. We’re seeking private support to secure the remaining $38,000 needed to meet the match requirement.”

“Quality early childhood education makes a positive impact on everything from children’s future learning to family self-sufficiency and breaking the cycle of poverty,” according to Dr. Sarah Weimer, executive director, Christel House Indianapolis. “We’re turning Manual into a community-serving campus. The new Day Early Learning center offers a crucial opportunity to ensure Indianapolis’ most vulnerable residents get a great start in life.”

Donations can be made at https://earlylearningin.org/manual/.

About Early Learning Indiana
Early Learning Indiana is Indiana’s oldest and largest early childhood education nonprofit, providing leadership, advocacy and early childhood education services to continually improve the early learning landscape in Indiana. Today, Early Learning Indiana operates eight high-quality Day Early Learning centers, a network of premier community-based lab schools used to advance the science of early learning, train the next generation of teachers and leaders, and instill essential skills in the children we serve. Through regional and statewide programs, the organization enables early learning providers to build capacity, transform operations and improve learning outcomes. Learn more at EarlyLearningIndiana.org.

About Christel House Indianapolis

Christel House Indianapolis is a network of charter schools supported by Christel House International. Christel House Academy South opened in 2002 and was Indiana’s first charter school to receive the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform’s designation as a “School to Watch” and was recognized nationally as one of 10 MetLife Foundation–NASSP “Breakthrough Schools.” For more information, please visit www.chschools.org.

Kindergarten Registration

Karrie Baxter — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:47:23 +0000

It’s time to register for kindergarten! We know that many parents have questions and concerns about this process, and we are here to help. If you weren’t able to join our virtual kindergarten fair in November, you can check out a recorded version below. The recorded kindergarten fair webinar helps answer the most commonly asked questions about registering for kindergarten.

Virtual Kindergarten Fair Q&A Session

Many schools have started to host virtual and in-person open houses for registration. Here are a few ways to find information on a school near you:

Enroll Indy – A centralized registration website for many Indianapolis-based charter, innovative and IPS choice schools. Enroll Indy offers OneMatch, an application that allows families to apply for up to 10 schools in one simple application. Applications are due April 30.
Herron Preparatory Academy– Join a virtual information session offered during lunch and at 7 p.m. on various dates through May 26.
The Oaks Academy – Offering virtual presentations from school leaders for parents to learn more about their school and core values. Parents will also have an opportunity to ask questions. The next event takes place on March 25 from 7-8 p.m. Sign up to attend here.
H amilton Southeastern – Registration is now open. Parents can tour the building, meet the principal, network and learn about school programs on April 13.
Lawrence Township – Visit their website for resources and information on how to register.
Mt. Vernon – Applications can be emailed anytime and dropped off to your school on or after July 20.
Pike Township – Registration is open. Parents can attend a virtual kindergarten fair at a school of their choice on April 15 at 6 p.m.
Warren Township– Find more information and register online on their website.
Washington Township – Registration is open and parents can enroll online or schedule an in-person meeting.
Westfield Washington – Registration is open. Visit their site to find your child’s school based on your address.
Zionsville Community Schools – General information can be found on their website. To find specific instructions and information, parents will need to create an account here.

In addition to kindergarten, now is the time to register your child for extracurricular activities. Check out these options:

Girl Scouts Kindergarten Buddies
Cub Scouts Afterschool

Early Learning Indiana’s Inaugural Day of Impact Raises Awareness of Early Learning Need in Central Indiana

earlylearningin — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 20:57:45 +0000

More than 200 volunteers from Central Indiana businesses came out Friday to impact early learning and raise awareness of the need for greater access to high-quality early learning programs for Hoosier children.

“Just 10 percent of children under age five in Indiana spend some or most of their day in a high-quality child care program, though 70 percent need care of adults other than their parents,” said Maureen Weber, chief executive officer of Early Learning Indiana. “Additionally, there aren’t enough high-quality options for children and families across the state, which creates a two-generational problem: one, for the parents who must work to support their families, and two, for the children who aren’t in high-quality learning programs. We’re on a mission to change that.”

Early Learning Indiana’s Inaugural Day of Impact created opportunities for businesses and community partners to complete projects for Early Learning Indiana’s Day Early Learning centers, where the organization provides child care and education to more than 1,000 children ages six weeks to six years. Roughly half of Day Early Learning’s families qualify for financial aid. In the network of nine community-based lab schools, the organization advances the science of early learning, trains the next generation of teachers and leaders, and instills essential skills in the children we serve

Day of Impact projects included painting and equipping classrooms; building an outside reading cabana for early learners; landscaping a center to create opportunities for immersive, outdoor exploration; building numerous outdoor garden boxes and a new art easel; and collecting donations and supplies to ensure classrooms are equipped with the resources kids need to succeed.

“Early education makes a remarkable difference for children, families and our community,” said Jennifer Dzwonar, partner at Borshoff. “Today, we’re helping to create environments that drive skill development, giving us the chance to show that businesses can make meaningful investments of time, talent and treasure to champion educational access.”

One of the highlights of the day was a “Thank You” parade from children enrolled in the Day Early Learning centers at the volunteer sites, complete with handmade signs the children made in their classrooms as they learned about philanthropy earlier in the week.

In addition to the physical volunteering of time and talents, Early Learning’s Day of Impact also included a fundraising drive, with a goal to raise $5,000 to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for children and their families.

Center Celebrates 5 Years of Best-In-Class Infant and Toddler Care

earlylearningin — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 09:00:21 +0000

Day Early Learning Center for Infants & Toddlers celebrates 5 year anniversary.

A child’s mind and body are impacted by what happens in the first years of life. Five years ago, many donors acted on this truth and invested in the creation of a center dedicated to serving infants and toddlers. Donors gave generously not only out of kindness but also wisdom – knowing how important the early years are to a child.

Since the opening of the Center for Infants & Toddlers, nearly 200 children have been carried through the doors to play, learn, and explore a curious world under the watchful and responsive eyes of committed teachers. Thank you to donors who made this possible.

“Early Learning Indiana was the first and only center in town focused on infants and toddlers,” said Carolyn Dederer, former President of Early Learning Indiana. “The concept is great — it gives families a small start before they move onto a larger center.”

In partnership with the United Way of Central Indiana and local businesses, Early Learning Indiana began the process of creating the Day Early Learning Center for Infants & Toddlers in 2013. As the West side experienced revitalization, a building on 16th Street was donated to Early Learning Indiana by Howard Foltz and remodeled into a state-of-the-art early education center. Several donors, understanding the importance of providing high-quality early education to a community in transition, made significant contributions towards this project.

The Day Early Learning Center for Infants & Toddlers was designed to serve as a training site for modernized instruction in infant-toddler best practices. The center has strengthened the skills of teachers specializing in infant-toddler development throughout Day Early Learning.

The unique structure of the Center for Infants & Toddlers creates a warm and safe environment for our youngest learners. Leading the way in best practices for early care, this center was among the first in the city to embrace the principals of conscious discipline, which integrates classroom management with social-emotional learning, and one of the first Day Early Learning centers to launch LifeCubby, an online parent communication tool which allows teachers to document each child’s daily activities and development. This center is supported by an Early Head Start Childcare Partnership grant which means additional family support and engagement and coordinated health services are provided.

Early Learning Indiana is grateful to be part of the revitalization of Indianapolis’ near westside. High-quality early care and education continues to transform the landscape of communities through the state. Through innovative ideas, embracing best practices and investment by donors, Early Learning Indiana is ensuring that children throughout Indiana will have the opportunity for the highest level of early care and education. When we invest in high-quality programs like the Center for Infants & Toddlers, we are helping each child develop skills that beget skills, leading to a lifetime of learning and productivity.