A recent visit from the Denver Fire Department prompted GSA Property Manger Aaron Rodriguez to share the following:
"As a Building Manager, you see/hear the sounds of the emergency response team, and we immediately express concern for our facilities in hopes a fire was not occurring, a false alarm was not activated (resulting in a full building evacuation) or a medical emergency is not happening within our facilities.
Well today the Denver Fire Department's presence at the Chavez Building was a very positive learning experience for our future leaders! The Colonnade Child Care Center at Chavez conducted an educational fire fighters visit for the children. It appeared the children really enjoyed the visit! "
Thanks for sharing.
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The children at the KIDazzle Child Care Center in Atlanta, GA are spending part of their summer learning about healthy eating. The center's nutrition plan
provides children with many servings of fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. The teachers and staff are teaching the kids about the importance of eating a balanced meal, in hope these lessons will turn into healthy habits. Research shows one way to help kids get the fruits and veggies they need is by making eating them fun. In the picture above the children had their own fun making fruit kabobs.
One question we get frequently from Boards is
about how to foster effective communication with the Child Care Provider. Research shows that collaborative
relationships work best in early childhood settings, so Boards have a
special obligation to encourage that kind of communication during all Board
meetings and interactions.
In the book "Art and Science of Dealing with
Difficult People", author David Brown identifies seven qualities that Boards
could use to create an atmosphere of collaborative and effective communication,
not only with the Provider, but with each other. These qualities are:
· Respecting other people's values, beliefs, and opinions.
· Having the courage to accept pressure and face conflict.
· Being open to new ideas.
· Seeking first to understand, then to be understood.
· Accepting that differences are okay.
· Building trust and/or credibility before seeking to bring about change.
· Judging other people's performance, not their character.
Brown's book is available for a free download
at:
http://bookereads.com/pdf1/free.php?asin=1616083638
As you work on your strategic plan for the
coming year, don’t forget to include something about communication, essential for successful boards and child care centers. If you have any communication ideas to share
in future newsletters, please contact Jill Rhea at jill.rhea@gsa.gov or
Sandy Axelrod at sandra.axelrod@gsa.gov |