June 12, 2023 Restaurants Add Books to the Menu with Summer Reading Programs Millie’s Ice Cream and Pizza Hut are sponsoring summer reading programs to keep children engaged and learning while school is out and to inspire a love of literature by rewarding reading. Millie’s Sweet Reads Summer Reading Program serves K-12 students, while Pizza Hut’s Camp BOOK IT serves Pre-k-6th grade students (ages 4-12), rewarding each with treats from their menus. About Millie’s Sweet Reads Summer Reading Program Sweet Reads is a summer reading program for K-12 students that began in 2021 as a partnership between Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream, the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA), and White Whale Bookstore. The program aims to support local bookstores and libraries while also serving children. How does it work? Participating in Millie’s Sweet Reads Summer Reading Program is easy. Simply: Obtain a physical bookmark at any Millie’s location or select libraries across the county or print a digital copy from the Millie’s website. Have your child read five books (or read the books to them). Any book or periodical will do. Validate the bookmark at your local library. Please note: the library does not have to be a participating Sweet Reads library. Just ask your favorite librarian to sign the dotted line. Bring your validated bookmark to one of eight eligible Millie’s locations for a free scoop of your child’s choice. Find a list of participating libraries and eligible Millie’s locations on the Millie’s Ice Cream website. When will bookmarks be available? Physical bookmarks will be available at any participating library or Millie’s Ice Cream location during operating hours, all summer long. Digital bookmarks can be printed at any time. Which Millie’s locations will redeem my free scoop? You can redeem your free scoop at any of the eight Millie’s brick and mortar shops. Free scoops are not redeemable at the Kennywood location or at any other Millie’s third-party licensed location or seasonal kiosk. When does the program end? The program expires Monday, September 4, 2023, so be sure to visit a Millie’s and redeem your child’s free scoop before then! Can I redeem more than one time? Millie’s asks that you only redeem one free scoop per summer, but encourages your children to read as many books as they like. The Sweet Reads redemption model operates on the honor system. What if my child can’t eat ice cream or dairy-free gelato? What if I can’t get to a Millie’s? You may redeem your bookmark for a free sticker in the store or via snail mail. Just email hello@millieshomemade.com and Millie’s will be sure to mail you one. About Pizza Hut’s Camp BOOK IT! Since 1984, the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program has been dedicated to encouraging reading nationwide. Camp BOOK IT! is open to all families with Pre-k – 6th grade students (ages 4-12). The goal of the program is to get children excited about reading and to turn “have to read” into “want to read.” How does it work? To participate in Camp BOOK IT!, parents utilize a digital dashboard to set goals, track reading, and reward their students. Interested in involving your child in Camp BOOK IT!? Simply: Enroll your child on the BOOK IT! website. Please note: Only one enrollment per household (for up to five children) will be accepted. Duplicate enrollments will be voided. If a change needs to be made to your enrollment after you have submitted, for example you have moved, please call 800.426.6548. Have your child read books, magazines, eBooks, and anything else fun. Enter your child’s reading progress in Pizza Hut’s digital dashboard for June, July, and August. When your child meets their goal, move the slider all the way over to receive their certificate for a Personal Pan Pizza in your email. Use the serialized code on your child’s certificate to redeem! You’ll find more instructions about how to redeem on the certificate. When does the program run? Camp BOOK IT! runs from June to August. You can enroll your child at any time during these months. How many reading certificates can my child earn through Camp BOOK IT? BOOK IT! is a monthly rewards program, so students may earn and/or redeem one Reading Award Certificate per month. How do I redeem my child’s reading certificates? Once you receive their certificate in your email, take the printed or digital certificate to a Pizza Hut near you or use the redemption code to order online. The certificate must be used to reward the student who earned it. How long do I have to redeem my child’s reading certificates? The summer reading certificates for June, July and August all expire on September 15. Learn More To learn more, visit the Millie’s Ice Cream and Camp BOOK IT! websites.
April 21, 2023 PNC Foundation to Match Donations to Pre-K and Head Start Requests The PNC Foundation is partnering with DonorsChoose—an online nonprofit that allows individuals to fund classroom projects and teacher requests for resources and materials—to help early childhood educators obtain quality resources and experiences for students in public pre-K, public charter, and Head Start classrooms. By committing to match “dollar-for-dollar” any DonorsChoose donations that support pre-k and Head Start projects, the foundation hopes to encourage others to fund child care and early childhood education. The duration of the match is undetermined and subject to restrictions and a maximum dollar amount. DonorsChoose Educator & Project Eligibility Who can participate? Pre-K teachers in every state, subject area, and grade level can use DonorsChoose. If you are an educator at a public school, public charter school, or Head Start program, are employed full-time by a school or district, and work directly with students at least 75% of the time, you are eligible to post projects. What is eligible for funding? You can request anything you need to enrich your students’ experience at school. Sports equipment? A classroom library? Furniture? Musical instruments? DonorsChoose can help. If you can imagine it, you can post a classroom project request for it. How does it work? The process is simple: Create your project in DonorsChoose. Receive donations from friends, family, and supporters through the DonorsChoose website. Receive your request. DonorsChoose orders everything for you and ships it straight to you or your school. How long does it take? The average project takes about 25 minutes to create and submit. Once your project is funded, DonorsChoose takes care of the rest. Participate in the Match To utilize the match from the PNC Foundation and better fund your pre-k or Head Start classroom project, add it to the DonorsChoose website by following the step-by-step instructions on the “How it Works” page. Results from Past Partnerships Between the PNC Foundation & DonorsChoose Previously, the PNC Foundation flash funded almost $2 million dollars in requests from 3,054 pre-k teachers across 30 states through DonorsChoose. As a result, almost 89,000 pre-k and Head Start students and their early educators received support for materials and projects. Throughout greater Pittsburgh, 126 pre-k teacher requests were fully funded. Learn More PNC’s support of DonorsChoose coincides with the launch of this year’s “Great Month” at PNC—an annual celebration held each April to raise awareness of PNC Grow Up Great® and the importance of high-quality early childhood education. Launched in 2004, the $500 million, bilingual initiative supports programs, resources, and experiences that help to prepare children from birth through age five for success in school and life. To learn more about PNC’s partnership with DonorsChoose and how to participate, visit the PNC Bank website or view the flyer.
April 12, 2023 Applications Open for PA Farm-to-School Grant Program The application period for the Pennsylvania Farm-to-School Grant Program is now open. Through the program, any school, program, or center with a pre-kindergarten through 8th-grade classroom can apply for up to $15,000 in funding for healthy foods. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 19. About the Farm-to-School Grant Program The Pennsylvania Farm to School Grant Program aims to bridge the gap between children and the food system by connecting them to the fresh, healthy food available from Pennsylvania agricultural producers in their community and the surrounding areas. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (DOA), it can change food purchasing and education practices at schools and early childhood education sites, and help children become more aware and engaged with their local food system. Farm-to-School Grant Program Details Eligibility All public school districts, charter schools, or private schools with pre-kindergarten classes, kindergarten classes, or elementary school classes through the eighth grade, and all center-based pre-schools located and operating within Pennsylvania may apply. However, school districts wishing to submit multiple applications must have individual schools apply. This means that the applicant information must reflect the individual building, not the district or an individual person. Grant Limitations $500,000 is available for the Pennsylvania Farm-to-School Grant Program. Grants will be awarded on a funds-available basis. Projects must be completed no later than June 30, 2025. Grants will be funded as reimbursement grants. A single grant shall be limited to 75% of the cost of the project. Grant recipients must fund at least 25% of the project with a minimum 25% match cash or in-kind. Each school may receive no more than $15,000 annually. Recipients may use the value of in-kind support to match the amount granted. Grant Uses Grants can be used for: training for teachers and staff procuring local foods for school cafeterias food supplies educational opportunities: classroom curricula experiential learning family and community involvement field trips to local farms or other agricultural operations school gardens for the purpose of education or to supply the cafeteria Apply for a Farm-to-School Program Grant Interested applicants must submit an application through the Single Application for Assistance online application between system before 5 p.m. on May 19. The DOA will not consider or review applications received after that time. Applications Requirements Interested applicants must: read the Application Instructions thoroughly, and follow them meticulously complete the Application Template prior to accessing the Single Application for Assistance complete the budget on the Budget Template upload both the completed Application Template and Budget Template as addenda in the Single Application for Assistance Learn More To learn more, visit the Farm-to-School Program Grant webpage, the Pennsylvania Bulletin website, or contact Patrick Andrews at RA-AGFARMTOSCHOOL@pa.gov or 717-772-1429.
November 25, 2020 Research Study for Pre-k Classroom Teachers Are you a teacher currently working in a pre-k classroom in Pennsylvania? If so, participate in the “Social and Emotional Learning in Pre-K Programs” research study conducted by Cynthia Speer, a Ph.D. Candidate at Waynesburg University. About The purpose of this proposed study is to sample educators from both public and private pre-k programs in Pennsylvania to ascertain information regarding their perception of and experiences with social and emotional learning (SEL). Study participants will provide personal and school-based demographic information and complete a survey of social and emotional learning (SEL) perception and experiences. Completing these surveys will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. All responses will remain anonymous and no identifying personal information (such as name, email address, or IP address) will be collected. Sign Up To Participate If you are interested in signing up as a participant, complete this online form. More Information For questions regarding the research, contact Cynthia Speer at spe1961@student.waynesburg.edu or 412.952.4469. For information regarding rights as a research subject, contact Dissertation Committee Chair, Dr. Michelle Steimer at msteimer@waynesburg.edu or 412.722.7602.
November 24, 2020 ECE Job Openings: 11/26 – 12/2 Are you looking to start or transition your career in the early childhood field? You’re in luck! Early learning programs in Pennsylvania are currently looking to fill positions. To view this week’s featured job descriptions, see the list below. Featured Jobs Education Program Supervisor The Children’s Home is seeking a Full-Time Education Program Supervisor for Child’s Way, a child care center for medically fragile children. This professional will be responsible for the supervision of all educational activities led by the teachers and will be a resource for teachers as well as families. This professional will also be responsible for ensuring that developmentally appropriate programming is provided for children, optimizing their growth and development. To apply, complete the online application. Infant and Toddler Teacher Love, Learn, and Play is looking to hire an Infant and Toddler Teacher who is able to work Monday through Friday. This professional will be responsible for coordinating the curriculum and managing a fun classroom. To apply, email llpchildcaredirector@gmail.com. Submit a Job Description Each week, Trying Together publishes a news post that features employer-submitted job positions from early learning programs across Pennsylvania. Trying Together shares these posts online through our website, social media channels, and newsletter. To make it into next week’s post, please submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form no later than Tuesday, December 1. This form is intended for positions in the early childhood field. Job descriptions not related to the early childhood field will not be included. All job descriptions submitted after December 1 will be published in the next week’s news post. Please note that news post publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. For questions, contact Lainey Yockey at lainey@tryingtogether.org. Search Additional Jobs Are you interested in starting or shifting your career in early childhood care and education? Visit the ECE Hire website or sign up for their weekly newsletter for current job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. To stay up to date on our featured positions and more, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.
November 19, 2020 ECE Job Openings: 11/19 – 11/25 Are you looking to start or transition your career in the early childhood field? You’re in luck! Early learning programs in Pennsylvania are currently looking to fill positions. To view this week’s featured job descriptions, see the list below. Featured Jobs Part-Time School Age Teacher Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking a part-time Assistant Teacher to help coordinate enrichment activities for a small classroom of school-age children who are participating in distance learning. Candidates should have a minimum of a high school diploma and at least two years’ documented experience working with children. To apply, complete the online application. For questions, contact chcc@carriagehouse.org. Early Childhood Education Teacher Angel’s Place is seeking an Infant/Toddler Teacher. An ideal candidate would have a Bachelor’s Degree and experience working with at-risk families. To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and references to angelsplacepittsburgh@gmail.com. For more information, visit their website. Lead Educator The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh is seeking Lead Educators for their Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms at their Squirrel Hill and South Hills locations. Lead Educators would be responsible for classroom oversight and the implementation of approved curriculum in the Early Childhood team. Interested applicants should have knowledge of the Pennsylvania STARS program, the Reggio Emilia approach, and constructivist social learning theory, or have a willingness to learn! Ideal applicants would have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood with 30 Early Childhood credits. Individuals with non-related Bachelor’s Degrees may also apply. However, they must be enrolled in an accredited Early Childhood program have the willingness to earn a minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood. To apply, complete the online application. Assistant Educator The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh is seeking Assistant Educators for their Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms at their Squirrel Hill and South Hills locations. Assistant Educators would be responsible for assisting the Lead Educator in classroom oversight and the implementation of approved curriculum in the Early Childhood team. Interested applicants should have knowledge of the Pennsylvania STARS program, the Reggio Emilia approach, and constructivist social learning theory, or have a willingness to learn! Ideal applicants would have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood with 30 Early Childhood credits. Individuals with non-related Bachelor’s Degrees may also apply. However, they must be enrolled in an accredited Early Childhood program have the willingness to earn a minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood. To apply, complete the online application. Weekend Daytime Therapeutic Child Care Staff Jeremiah’s Place, Pittsburgh’s ONLY Crisis Nursery, is seeking Therapeutic Child Care Staff for their weekend overnight shift (Friday – Sunday; 7 p.m. – 7 a.m.). Staff are responsible for caring for the children at the 24-hour center during these shifts as well as completing housekeeping tasks. If you are a responsible employee who has experience working professionally with children, apply to join Jeremiah’s Place as they strive to maintain the safety of all children in this region! To apply, submit your resume to Jordan Shoenberger at apply@jeremiahsplace.org. Weekend Overnight Therapeutic Child Care Staff Jeremiah’s Place, Pittsburgh’s ONLY Crisis Nursery, is seeking Therapeutic Child Care Staff for their weekend daytime shift (Friday – Sunday; 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.). Staff are responsible for caring for the children at the 24-hour center during the weekends, providing enriching activities and structure for them. If you are a responsible employee who has experience working professionally with children, apply to join Jeremiah’s Place as they strive to maintain the safety of all children in this region! To apply, submit your resume to Jordan Shoenberger at apply@jeremiahsplace.org. Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher Heritage Community Initiatives is seeking a Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher to provide high-quality programming within their assigned classroom of three- to five-year-olds. This professional must be committed to best practices according to Pre-K Counts regulations and guidelines, and must be passionate about the early care and education field and working with children. The Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher must be able to develop and facilitate developmentally, individually, and culturally appropriate practices and intentional teaching. All lesson plans must be based on each individual child’s goals that come from the GOLD assessments and daily observations. To apply, send a cover letter and a copy of your resume to humanresources@heritageserves.org. For additional information about Heritage Community Initiatives, visit their website. Lead Toddler Teacher Crafton Children’s Corner is seeking a Lead Toddler Teacher who is able to work full-time, Monday through Friday. The Lead Toddler Teacher will be responsible for coordinating the curriculum and managing a fun classroom. Interested applicants must have a Childhood Development Associate (CDA) Credential or better. Experience is a plus. To apply, submit your resume to childrenscorner3@verizon.net. For more information about open positions, visit their website. Infant-Pre-Toddler Caregiver Crafton Children’s Corner is seeking an Infant-Pre-Toddler Caregiver who is able to work full-time, Monday through Friday. The Infant-Pre-Toddler Caregiver will assist the Lead Teacher with the curriculum, as well as daily activities and routines of the room. To apply, submit your resume to childrenscorner3@verizon.net. For more information about open positions, visit their website. Toddler Teacher Assistant Mount Washington Children’s Center is seeking a Toddler Teacher Assistant who will share the responsibility of carrying out lesson planning, diaper changing, and helping to prepare a socially, emotionally well-developed toddler. This professional will work with a Toddler Teacher. This position is 40 hours per week and includes benefits. To apply, submit your resume to mwcc15@yahoo.com. Assistant Group Supervisor Fifth Avenue Family Child Care is looking for a dynamic Assistant Group Supervisor with experience working with infants to preschool-aged children to join their team full time, starting in January 2021. They value creativity, child-led exploration, reliability, patience, and building an inclusive community. Providing a safe and enriching environment for play-based learning is a vital aspect of the position. Also included in the responsibilities for this role are: following COVID-19 mitigation protocols, changing diapers, assistance with toilet learning, light food prep, meal assistance, and day to day communication with parents. To apply, email your cover letter and resume to Leah Thompson at thompsonl@theellisschool.org. Submit a Job Description Each week, Trying Together publishes a news post that features employer-submitted job positions from early learning programs across Pennsylvania. Trying Together shares these posts online through our website, social media channels, and newsletter. To make it into next week’s post, please submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form no later than Tuesday, November 24. This form is intended for positions in the early childhood field. Job descriptions not related to the early childhood field will not be included. All job descriptions submitted after November 24 will be published in the next week’s news post. Please note that news post publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. For questions, contact Lainey Yockey at lainey@tryingtogether.org. Search Additional Jobs Are you interested in starting or shifting your career in early childhood care and education? Visit the ECE Hire website or sign up for their weekly newsletter for current job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. To stay up to date on our featured positions and more, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.
September 18, 2020 What We Can Learn from Children About Mindfulness Are you interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how to practice mindfulness together with young children? Join Gryphon House on October 14 for their webinar, “What We Can Learn from Children About Mindfulness to Transform Our Learning Environments.” About During this webinar, Dr. Elizabeth Joy Erwin, Professor of Education at Montclair State University, will discuss why we have so much to learn from children, especially the youngest ones; how to develop and maintain a culture of mindfulness; and simple mindfulness practices to engage in starting now. By discovering how to integrate simple ideas and practical strategies to calm the body and quiet the mind, educators can select the exact tools they want to ensure all children learn and thrive. This webinar is best suited for PreK-5 teachers, librarians, therapists, and school and district leaders. Time for questions will be provided. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
September 14, 2020 CelebratED: 2020 Virtual Celebration Join the Grable Foundation on World Teachers’ Day to celebrate the wonderful educators of the Pittsburgh region and explore the future of education. This is a one-hour virtual event. Multiple viewing times available. About During the CelebratED: 2020 Virtual Celebration, the Grable Foundation will highlight the voices of educators, students, and parents as they describe the importance of educators and share their thoughts on how our communities can remake education. Highlights of the virtual event include the following: a keynote address by Deepak Ramola of Project Fuel; a DJ set by Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK-5 Teacher Joseph Wilk; storyteller Shannon Reed, author of “Why Did I Get a B?”; a performance by Alumni Theater Company; and soaring ideas, hard questions, and good thoughts expressed by innovators, agitators, and provocateurs. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
July 10, 2020 Remote Learning for Early Learners with Autism Are you interested in learning how to help early learners with autism engage with remote instruction through evidence-based practices? Attend the webinar “Remote Learning for Early Learners with Autism” on July 16. About While remote learning allows students to continue their education, it can be challenging for young students with autism and other developmental disabilities to attend to the screen and engage with the curriculum. In this webinar, STAR Autism Support Training Specialist Elizabeth Curtin will discuss strategies to help early learners with autism engage with synchronous remote instruction through evidence-based practices. A focus of this presentation will be on teaching skills in receptive language, expressive language, social and play, and pre-academics. This webinar will include video examples of teachers coaching caregivers to provide consistent instruction to their students. Participants will also learn strategies on teaching students to be more independent in daily functional routines. This webinar is best suited for pre-k through elementary teachers and school leaders. Time for questions will be provided. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. Registration to attend the live presentation is limited to 2,000 people. A recording of the session will be available to those who sign up to receive it via email and to those who attend the live event.
July 6, 2020 Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms Are you interested in learning how institutional racism becomes present in early childhood environments? Sign up to receive a recording of the live webinar “Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms: A Response to Racism in America” on July 8. About In this webinar, the lead authors of the newly released book, Don’t Look Away, Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms, will participate in a roundtable discussion on how to explore and address issues of bias, equity, low expectations, and family engagement to ensure culturally responsive experiences. Equipped with the tools and strategies to promote classroom change, educators will be empowered to do the following: learn how institutional racism becomes present in early childhood environments; discover how implicit bias, microaggression, and white privilege can play a role in undermining the learning experiences of marginalized Black and brown children and those who teach them; embrace anti-bias and anti-racist teaching approaches; and implement best practices for creating culturally-rich and supportive classroom environments that protect children from social-emotional and psychological trauma by affirming personal healing. This webinar will be of interest to pre-k through elementary teachers; school and district leaders; coaches; trainers; and child care providers, owners, and administrators. Registration Live access to this event is sold out. Sign up to receive the event recording by visiting edWeb.net.
