November 19, 2024 DHS Child Care Facility Regulations Now Available in English and Spanish Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is now providing its regulations for operating a child care facility in both English and Spanish. Learn More Each of the regulations that pertain to the operation of a child care facility can be viewed on the DHS website. The website also includes a brief description of each regulation and provides a hyperlink to the regulation. Information on the child care regulations website includes: Various regulations What to expect during a family child care site inspection Webinar on launching the new certification tool For more information, visit the DHS website.
Schenley Park Skating Rink Reopens Following Equipment Upgrade Schenley Park Skating Rink reopened for the 2024-25 season this week following an upgrade to its chilling equipment. Learn More The city planned to celebrate the opening of the outdoor rink with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 19. The city’s Department of Public Works encountered some issues during the upgrade of the equipment that prevented the 2023-24 season from taking place. The department completed the replacement of the aging chiller system, which was having difficulty keeping the ice viable. The total cost of the project was $3.5 million. Allegheny Regional Asset District contributed $2 million to the new chiller system. “The installation of the new chillers will ensure outdoor skating continues at Schenley Park for years to come,” said CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas, who added that the upcoming season marks 50 years of the rink. More Information Schenley Park Skating Rink operates seven days a week and offers a variety of public skating sessions as well as several special skating events. Upcoming special events include: Skate with Santa – 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 Mascot Skate – 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. (online tickets only) on Saturday, Jan. 25 Disco Night – 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (adults only) on Saturday, Feb. 1 Valentine’s On Ice – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (online tickets only) on Friday, Feb. 14 Family Skate – 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (one child skates free with a paying adult) on Thursdays Admission to the skating rink is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and veterans (with ID), and $3 for youth (17 years and younger). Skate rentals are available for $3 per skater. For more information, visit the skating rink’s website.
November 18, 2024 OCDEL Calls for Early Childhood Education Professionals to Take Survey Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is calling on early childhood education professionals to take a survey regarding staffing, retention, and professional development resources. Learn More The survey is being conducted by the Institute of State and Regional Affairs (ISRA) at Penn State Harrisburg on behalf of OCDEL and The Pennsylvania Key. The purpose is to learn about and identify solutions relating to staffing, retention, and professional development resources in the state. The survey is open to all Pennsylvania early childhood education professionals at any child care facility, including Head Start and Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. Those who should take the survey include teachers, assistant teachers, classroom aids, directors, owner-operators, administrative staff, and all other staff. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Those who participate can enter an optional drawing for the chance to win a $50 Amazon e-gift card. The survey is available in English or Spanish. It will close in January. For more information, email ChildCareResearch@psu.edu.
Registration Open for First Event at Pittsburgh Esports Arena Registration is open for the first event that will take place at the Pittsburgh E-Arena, a new esports forum. The CitiParks Office of Special Events will host a tournament featuring Rocket League area youths on Saturdays Dec. 14 and 21. Registration is now open and limited to the first 32 individuals. Learn More The tournament will be a double-elimination event that is open to youths between the ages of 13 and 18. It will kick off with online-only gameplay on the first day of competition. This will be followed by in-person matches on the second Saturday, during which young gamers will have the opportunity to compete for the title of “Best in the City.” Participants will form teams to compete in doubles mode in preliminary rounds to determine the final teams for the in-person event, which will be held at CCAC Allegheny. All participants are invited to attend the final round and will receive a commemorative T-shirt, complimentary food, and access to activities sponsored by Tech 25, a local workforce development nonprofit that will also provide the use of Legion Gaming PCs for finalists. The esports forum will hold year-round community program offerings. It is designed to unite local gamers in competitive environments and provides a platform for youth to showcase their gaming talent while exploring educational opportunities in tech and digital careers. For more details on tournament regulations and requirements or to register for the event, visit the CitiParks Office of Special Events’ E-Arena website.
November 15, 2024 Child Care Job Openings in Pittsburgh Are you looking for open child care positions? Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are hiring! See featured jobs for this week. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh ASSISTANT TEACHER Heritage Community Initiatives is offering an opportunity for an education professional to utilize their talents and expertise at both of its Keystone STAR 4-rated, NAEYC-accredited, and affiliated programs – Heritage 4 Kids Early Learning Center and HOST (Heritage Out of School Time). The position, which reports to the leadership team, affords an educator the chance to impact the lives of both early learning and school-age students. Those interested should email a resume to HumanResources@HeritageServices.org. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mt. Alvernia Daycare and Learning Center is seeking an executive director as its key management leader. The executive director’s responsibilities encompass all aspects of child care center operation and management. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to mtalverniadirectorsearch@gmail.com. DIRECTOR Elizabeth United Methodist Early Learning Center is seeking a director who will be responsible for the general management of the facility, including finances, personnel, and overseeing the educational objectives of the center. The director must also maintain compliance with all county and state guidelines. Those interested should submit resumes to eumcearlylearning@gmail.com. ASSOCIATE TEACHER The University of Pittsburgh is seeking an associate teacher to support the head teacher and the University Child Development Center in the planning and implementation of an early childhood program. Associate teachers are responsible for helping to maintain the classroom, assessing and maintaining care, programming for the classroom, and ensuring the safety of all children. They are also required to maintain 12 hours of professional development annually and maintain all DHS regulations, NAEYC standards, and Keystone STARS requirements. Those interested should apply online. ASSISTANT PRE-K TEACHER Heavenly Daycare and Learning Center Inc. is seeking an assistant pre-k teacher to assist the lead teacher in creative curriculum. Those interested should email Sherry Walker at heavenlydaycare3@gmail.com. PART-TIME INFANT ASSISTANT TEACHER Providence Connections, Inc. is seeking a part-time infant assistant teacher who will be responsible for providing high-quality early educational experiences for children, aged 8 weeks to 12 months. The teacher will provide a nurturing, consistent, developmentally appropriate environment that meets the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical needs of young children in the absence of the infant teacher. The assistant teacher will develop and maintain parent relationships and collaborate effectively with other Providence staff. Send resumes to lwhite@providenceconnections.org. PK COUNTS LEAD TEACHER The Early Learning Center at Yeshiva is looking for a Pre-K Counts lead teacher for the 2024-25 program year. Candidates should be an enthusiastic Pre-K Counts teacher who can guide a classroom of children in a variety of educational activities. The teacher will work with a classroom team to plan and provide quality care and playfully and culturally relevant learning for 3- and 4-year-old students. The prime responsibility is to facilitate the fundamental concepts students need to know as they develop, socialize with others, and work in a classroom structure. Resumes should be sent to rmhartz@yeshivaschools.com. ASSISTANT PRESCHOOL TEACHER Presbyterian Day School is seeking an assistant preschool teacher to help with all aspects of preschool instruction. Available hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Resumes should be sent to dayschool.prescor@aol.com. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western PA is looking for a youth development professional, who will be hands-on with youth to implement curriculum and programming on a day-to-day basis. The role is responsible for the supervision and safety of all program participants as well as relationship building. The coordinator will also ensure that all DHS Chapter 320 Regulations and BGCA Safety requirements are met. While the Boys & Girls Clubs are short staffed, the coordinator might be asked to help with any of the following age groups: preschool, school-aged, and teens. Those interested should apply directly online. CLUBHOUSE PROGRAM MANAGER – TEMPORARY The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western PA are seeking a clubhouse program manager to oversee various programs within such areas as partnerships, recruitment, education, social recreation, arts and culture, vocational, health and physical education, PA DHS Certification Chapter 3207 regulations, Keystone STARS, and CACFP food programming. The position is responsible for planning, developing, overseeing, implementation, and supervision of programs and program employees. This position reports directly to the clubhouse director. Those interested should apply directly online. CHILD CARE ASSOCIATE NCJW Pittsburgh is seeking a child care associate to maintain a safe, trauma-informed, and stimulating environment for children and youth at NCJW Pittsburgh’s Children’s Room in the Courts. Those interested should send a resume to info@ncjwpgh.org with the subject line “Childcare Associate.” EARLY CHILD CARE TEACHER The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is looking for a early child care teacher who can provide developmentally appropriate early childcare programming through activities and opportunities that encourage curiosity, exploration, and problem solving based on development levels and learning styles of children. Those interested should submit an application through the YMCA’s job listings website. BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL LEAD SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE COUNSELOR The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is seeking a fun and energetic before/after school lead school age child care counselor who can make a difference in the lives of youth. Counselors are responsible for the day-to-day operations of all activities for youth, ages 5 to 12. This includes supervision of youth, homework help, program curriculum implementation, family engagement, communication with guardians or parents, and working with fellow staff. Experience working with children is preferred. Those interested should submit an application through the YMCA’s job listings website. LEAD TEACHER Bright Light Academy is looking for a lead teacher to join its 2-year-olds’ teaching team. The ideal candidate will have an Associate’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Children & Families as well as at least two years’ experience working with young children, preferably toddlers. Candidates should be team players and have a passion for early learning. Supervisory experience is a plus. Those interested should apply online. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Bright Light Academy is seeking a mature, experienced individual to fill the role of assistant director. The ideal candidate will have an Associate’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Children & Families as well as two years of early learning work experience and some administrative or supervisory experience. Applicants must meet all of the requirements to be considered. Those interested should apply online. ASSISTANT/LEAD TEACHER London Bridges Child Development Center is seeking a passionate and dedicated early childhood lead or assistant teacher to join the team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for creating a nurturing, stimulating, and safe environment for young children to thrive. Applicants should develop and implement lesson plans and activities that promote physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to londonbridgescdc@yahoo.com with the subject line: Assistant or Lead Teacher Application INFANT AND TODDLER SUPERVISOR The Court Time Foundation is seeking an infant and toddler supervisor who will assist the director with supervising the infant and toddler programs. Applications should be submitted to mandy.courttime@gmail.com. PRESCHOOL TEACHERS Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking preschool teachers. Full-time and part-time positions are being offered between 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The position offers benefits and a competitive pay range of $16 to $18 per hour. Candidates with early childhood education, elementary education, child development, and related degrees are preferred. Applicants should email their resume to Debbie Welch, Program Director, at chcc@carriagehouse.org. MONTESSORI TODDLER TEACHER Namaste Montessori is looking for an aspiring Montessori toddler teacher to lead a classroom of children between the ages of 17 months and three years. The position will include a sponsored training for a Montessori certification. It offers competitive pay and room for growth. Those interested should email info@namastemontessori.com. Submit a Job Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form. All jobs submitted after Tuesday each week will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. Unrelated jobs will not be included. For questions, contact Elizabeth Lennox at elizabethl@tryingtogether.org. Other Jobs in Early Childhood ECE HIRE Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood education job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. SUBMIT A JOB TO PACCA Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a Job Board for its members to post jobs for free and sends out submitted jobs via their Facebook page and e-newsletter. PACCA members can submit jobs online after signing into their membership account. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
November 13, 2024 Kindergarten Here I Come Releases November Books for Preschoolers Kindergarten Here I Come has released a list of November books for preschoolers that cover a wide variety of topics. The List The list breaks the month’s selections down into four categories. Under Language and Literacy Skills, the list included two titles – “The Relatives Came” by Cynthia Rylant and “Neighborhood Mother Goose” by Nina Crews. For Social and Emotional Development, the month’s titles included “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz and “The Pout-Pout Fish” by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna. The Science Thinking and Technology category included “Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake” by Michael Kaplan and “Bread and Jam for Frances” by Russell Hoban. For Mathematical Thinking and Expression, the selections were “Stripes of All Types” by Susan Stockdale and “Elmer” by David McKee. Additional Activities In its monthly newsletter, Kindergarten Here I Come pairs the reading selections with other activities for parents who are reading them to their child. For its Language and Literacy Skills selections, it suggests using stuffed animals, action figures, or dolls to retell a story or utilizing a sock puppet as a storytelling device. For the Mathematical Thinking and Expression choices, it suggests using objects to make patterns with preschoolers and to see if their preschooler can tell what comes next in the patterns. The Science Thinking and Technology selections can be paired with a Guess the Taste game that involves placing different foods on a plate. Preschoolers should close their eyes, taste the food and try to guess what it is. Then, get them to guess the foods by smell. And for the Social Emotional Development books, it suggests viewing people’s faces in magazines and asking children to talk about the expressions and emotions they notice. Use signs, words, and photos of emotions to reinforce language development. . Kindergarten Here I Come’s full November booklist is available online.
Nonprofit Organizations Encouraged to Apply for a Gateway Grant Nonprofits that focus on STEM Education and various specialty areas are encouraged to apply for Gateway Fund grants this month. Learn More The Gateway Fund supports 501(c)3 designated public nonprofit organizations located and operating in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The grant focuses on STEM Education as well as Technical Workforce Development, Human Health and Wellness, and Environmental Stewardship. In 2025, the Gateway Fund will support five chosen programs with a $10,000 grant. About Gateway The Gateway Fund operates on an ongoing, annual basis with a fixed timeline that begins with applications and concludes with grantee reporting. Organizations that qualify for grants may be consecutively funded for up to three years. Timeline Grant applications must be received no later than Sunday, Dec. 1. Any applications received after that date will be disqualified. Organizations selected will be notified and announced in January. The chosen organizations will receive funds from the grant in February. The application for the grant is available on Gateway’s website.
GivingTuesday Donations Help Trying Together to Advocate and Increase Access to Early Childhood Programs With a donation to Trying Together on GivingTuesday, you are shaping the future and making a lasting impact by ensuring every child has access to high-quality care and education. By supporting the work of Trying Together, you will be joining with others who are passionate about advocating for the needs and rights of children and those who care for them. What is GivingTuesday? This year’s GivingTuesday will be on Dec. 3. It is a global day of giving that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. GivingTuesday is meant to encourage people and organizations to donate their time and money to charitable causes. The day was created in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation and New York City’s 92nd Street Y. It is meant to balance the days focusing on retail shopping that take place before it – such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. How to Give Gifts to Trying Together will be accepted from Tuesday, Dec. 3 through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Donations made for GivingTuesday will also support Trying Together’s end-of-year giving goals. Donating to Trying Together on GivingTuesday is easy – simply complete the online donation form. Please consider setting up a recurring donation at an amount that works for you – whatever level you choose makes a difference. Recurring donations are a generous and easy way to sustain our mission. Monthly giving programs are cost-effective and eliminate the need for repeated solicitation efforts, reducing costs for the organization and our carbon footprint. Automatic recurring donations can be set up by credit card or electronic funds transfer. How Your Donation Helps When you donate to Trying Together, you are supporting a number of initiatives, including: The Buzzword literacy initiative Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Resources Series Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center Diaper & Formula Banks Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways Pediatric First Aid/CPR Facilitation and Instruction Home-Based Child Care Business Cohort Community-Based High School Child Development Associate (CDA) Program Rapid Response Team Month of the Young Child campaign To donate, visit Trying Together’s GivingTuesday donation page.
November 12, 2024 Duo’s Treehouse to Offer Bilingual Play Experience for Children on Fridays Duolingo and La Escuelita Arcoiris are inviting children – birth to age 5 – and their caregivers to spend time with them on Friday mornings at The Kingsley Association. Learn More This bilingual – Spanish and English – free program aims to foster healthy development for children and support the adults who care for them. The first Duo’s Treehouse event will take place on Friday, Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The event will be held at the same time each Friday through Dec. 13 at The Kingsley Association, located at 6435 Frankstown Ave. in Pittsburgh. Duo’s Treehouse Duo’s Treehouse is an early learning community initiative designed for children, from birth to age 5, and their caregivers. It offers a high-quality immersive environment that fosters development through play. The program is grounded in the belief that joyful, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate experiences lay the foundation for lifelong learning. It is designed to offer a weekly bilingual learning experience to children and families who may not be enrolled in traditional child care.
Sesame Street Provides Resources for Children on Parental Addiction Sesame Street in Communities is sharing a series of new resources to help children and families affected by parental addiction. Learn More Sesame Workshop notes that when a parent struggles with addiction, the entire family struggles. Answering a child’s questions on the subject takes effort and conversation. Sesame Street in Communities’ resources on the matter include: A series of questions and answers to common questions that children might have about addiction A portrait of provider Cynthia Galaviz, who talks about strategies for working with and supporting children affected by parental addiction Karli’s Coloring Quilt, a game for children to learn about the seven “Cs” that includes a handout that can be printed and colored to give children a little extra comfort or encouragement The resources are provided in English and Spanish. For more information, visit the Sesame Street in Communities’ web page on parental addiction.
