Tag: KinderCamp
United Way of Northern Arizona — ‘My Baby Girl Learned So Much’
Summer always is a special time, and for me one of the biggest highlights of the season is visiting KinderCamp classes.
It is always magical watching four- and five-year-olds gaining the confidence and skills they need to make a successful start in kindergarten.
KinderCamp is one of United Way of Northern Arizona’s signature programs to Step Up for Our Youth, and judging from the parents’ comments you’ll see below, it is making a huge impact in the lives of our students.
Many thanks to our partners – and to individual donors like you – who make this program possible.
Education Spotlight — Supporting KinderCamp. See more local, state and national education news here
Supervisor Vasquez along with other County Supervisors helped support KinderCamp this year in response to a Coconino County Community Initiative (CI) application from KinderCamp. Supervisor Vasquez had the opportunity to tour Thomas Elementary School’s KinderCamp Program. KinderCamp is a crucial learning opportunity for new students entering Kindergarten. Students who participate in KinderCamp are ready to go day one in Kindergarten. Students who don’t get such prep take one to two months to acclimate to school. We are so lucky to have KinderCamp provided by a partnership between UnitedWay of Northern Arizona and the Flagstaff Unified School District. Thank you!
Education Spotlight — NAU News — Putting the care in teaching. See more local, state and national education news here
Megan Norrish always knew she wanted to be a teacher. It wasn’t just that her father was a teacher or that, at 5 years old, she didn’t know what other career options were out there. It was that she fully embodied everything it meant to be an educator.
“I always enjoyed helping my friends with their schoolwork when they were confused, and they said I explained it well. Plus, I have always been drawn to creative ways of thinking, an important skill for any elementary school teacher,” she said. “Even in high school, I was voted for the superlative of ‘most likely to become a teacher,’ so I’m excited to finally be living up to that now.”
United Way of Northern Arizona — KinderCamp™ – KinderCamp™ Helping Preschoolers (and Parents) with Transition to Kindergarten
Plans are underway now for this year’s KinderCamp™ in northern Arizona, which will give preschoolers the foundational, social and academic skills needed to successfully transition into kindergarten.
However, as you’ll learn below from KinderCamp Coordinator Sara Owen, this effort to Step Up for Our Youth is as much for the parents and families as it is for the kids who will attend this summer.
Education Spotlight — A quick word from the (CCC) President. See more local, state and national education news here
Three feet of snowfall aside, my first few weeks as President for Coconino Community College have been marked by the gratitude I feel at the welcome I received from faculty, staff and the community. My family and I feel right at home.
My focus these first couple of months is to meet with as many of CCC’s internal and external stakeholders as possible and to take a lot of notes to get a sense of the educational needs of our students and the communities we serve. I will then compile a report of “The First 100 Days,” focusing on mid- and long-term planning, highlighting what was heard, what we’re planning to do and how the College will likely move forward. I’m excited to get busy.
United Way of Northern Arizona — How You Make KinderCamp™ Possible
For more than 15 years, KinderCamp™ has ensured that hundreds of preschoolers were ready for that vitally important first day of school. That they stepped into their kindergarten classrooms confident and eager to learn. That they were prepared – academically, socially, and emotionally – to make their first school year a phenomenal success.
This signature program, which takes place every June in schools across northern Arizona, is how United Way of Northern Arizona is supporting early childhood development. It’s also a great reason to donate to UWNAduring the annual campaign going on right now.
Take a look at the smiling faces in this video to see the love of learning in action.
United Way of Northern Arizona — KinderCamp™ 2022: ABCs and Basketball
After two years of being impacted by the pandemic, 2022 was when KinderCamp™ returned to normal.
“It felt like the kids got to be kids again,” said Sara Owen, a teacher with the Flagstaff Unified School District and the coordinator of the early education program. “They got to experience the school environment; their parents got to be part of it and we had lots of visitors.”
Those visitors included a pediatrician from North Country Healthcare, who taught the students how to use a stethoscope; firefights just back from battling local wildfires; a nutritionist; and basketball players from Northern Arizona University and Flagstaff High School.
United Way of Northern Arizona — From Fire Recovery to KinderCamp™ – We Need Volunteers
On the surface, you wouldn’t think the post-Tunnel Fire recovery efforts and the KinderCamp™ program have much to do with each other. One is about cleaning up the debris so families can rebuild after a devastating fire; the other is about making sure children entering kindergarten are ready for their first day of school.
The common thread? Both require volunteer support, and we’re hoping you can spare a few hours in the coming days and weeks to help.
United Way of Northern Arizona — KinderCamp™ Events Celebrate Special Summer
The classes were a little smaller, the program was a little shorter, and smoke from wildfires sometimes made getting outside for recess difficult. Despite those challenges, the return of KinderCamp™ last month was a great success.
More than 130 students from Flagstaff, Williams and Pinetop-Lakeside took part in this year’s collaborative project, which prepares pre-school age children academically, socially and emotionally for kindergarten.
“It was great,” said Sara Owen, the coordinator for the project. “The families were excited to be back in person, the kids were happy to be in school, and the teachers were appreciative for a chance to help them grow.”
Education Spotlight — Awarding artistry: At 2021 Viola Awards, Lumberjacks recognized for art, science and education. See more local education news here
For Edith Copley, receiving a Legacy Award at the Viola Awards was a journey back through her three-decade career—a chance to relive the choral concerts in Africa, Europe and Asia; directing at Carnegie Hall in New York City; the musicians with whom she has collaborated and conducted; and the thousands of students who passed through her classroom in preparation for a career as musicians, music teachers or simply people who want music to be a part of their lives.
Also see:
Arizona Daily Sun — 2021 Viola Award winners announced
Flagstaff Arts Council — 2021 Viola Awards Finalists
Flagstaff Arts Council — Find out more about all the winners
