Cindy Becker, affiliate co-chair, Lou Abruzzese from the Aramark Corp. and Cheryl Chavis, adjunct in ECE chat about food services to the Camden City Schools where Lou serves as coordinator of the food service program.

Later during the event, we heard exciting ideas from Lou on how to get kids to try new foods including presenting a colorful plate and planting gardens at the city schools.

Florence Churchill , ECE student with her display.

Workshop A:
Dee L. Bailey-Gittens, a national trainer/educator with 15+ years of experience working with children and families in educational and non-profit settings, presented a workshop titled "Oh, the Places You'll Go Through Books, Rhymes and Story Time!" where attendees learned how to take a journey to many places with children by exploring books that embrace and include diversity, traditions and culture.

Workshop B:
“Literature Connections to the Seasons” There are leaves in the air and the weather is getting chilly. Attendees of this workshop explored the new season through literature with Rosie Hymeriling presenting. Rosie is a PreK/Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire who frequently presents at the Discovery Museum to a packed house.

Rosie said "Attention all turkeys!"

Journeys
Little Faces/Going Places

“Young children are perpetual tourists without much life experience, truly strangers in a strange land. They are developing their minds and bodies at such a rate that they are literally new people with each sunrise. Their backlog of life experience is so slight that each day, each new place, brings surprises.” 

— Jim Greenwood

It is up to us to be the tour guides on this special journey…

Are you ready?
The journey begins now!

NEWS FROM THE KICK-OFF EVENT
2nd Annual “Kick-off” is in the History Book!

For the second year, NJAEYC partnered with Camden County College’s Early Childhood Program and its Human Services Club to present our Kick-off Mini-Conference. This year’s theme centered around “Journeys”…with a thought-provoking keynote address by Leslie Eslinger of Becker’s School Supplies. She shared her journey from classroom teacher to product development specialist in her talk exhorting audience members to keep up with the field, think outside their own comfortable box and to take risks. You never know where you will end up.

Vince Baehr, an audience member, shared how he is a prime example of this philosophy. After the service, he entered college with the goal of being an addictions counselor. After attending our Kick-off last year and listening to Bob McGrath, he was inspired to become a pre-K teacher, at age 46. We certainly wish him the best, especially as he was a beneficiary of our scholarship donation last spring. After the talk and a tasty light breakfast, participants broke into 4 sessions.

Denise Bouyer of SPAN, shared tips for navigating the waters of special education. Her audience was clamoring for help with the delicate task of talking to parents about learning differences and how to be on the “child’s team.”

Robin Waddell of the Rutgers Extension shared tips for healthy snacks and instilling good nutritional habits in the talk entitled “Ride the Magic Culinary Carpet”. Robin certainly looked the part with her bright apron and her classroom kitchen set-up in Madison Hall!

Cindy Becker, our co-president, inspired participants to take “Field trips Without Buses” relying on the bounty of the neighborhood, the riches to be shared from families in the program and outside guests such as The Discovery Museum’s traveling program.

Finally, Karen Marinoff asked workshop participants to “Pack their Bags” for an imaginary journey to far off places, sharing videos of trips to Africa and Italy involving art, music, literature, and math skills along the way.

The mini-conference was attended by nearly 100 participants, many being students from the college program. We hope to have many join us at future events and become members. Guests enjoyed gift card prizes from Beckers, gifts from PINJ, the membership committee of NJAEYC Southern and our chapter board. We appreciate the help of Liz Ramos from PINJ with registration once again this year.

Here are some pictures taken at the event.

Kathryn Nicholls, Chapter Advocacy Chair chats with Fatemah Sedighi, Program Chairperson from the college.

Left to right: Bright eyed an bushy tailed on an early Sat AM... Judy Salmon, Marge McElroy, Chapter Treasurer and Cindy Becker, Co-President

Two students enjoy continental breakfast

Lots of folks registered with Theresa Caputo, Beth Nork and Dian Morrow.

Leslie Eslinger of Becker School supplies shared her professional journey from classroom teacher to product specialist for a major school supplier.

The audience was inspired by early childhood student and club member Vincent Baehr who shared his unlikely path to early childhood education. Vince was the 2010 Early Childhood Scholarship winner for the Human Services Club...and our chapter helped raise the funds.