Child Care Now- December 2016

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December 2016

In the news:

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January 9-20, 2017 GSA Annual Survey

January 17, 2017 -  Board Network Call

January 20, 2017 - Inauguration Day


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The GSA Annual Survey will available for input January 9-20, 2017. 

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Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. If clean, running water is not accessible, as is common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.               

When to wash your hands:

  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • Before and after caring for someone who is sick
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • After using the toilet
  • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
  • After touching garbage

How to wash your hands:

  • Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  • Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  • Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
  • Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  • Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

An alcohol based hand sanitizer can be used but not on any child under the age of two.  This should be reserved for parents.  Handwashing is always preferred.

For more information please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

Quote of the Month:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them".

-John F. Kennedy

Find out more about GSA Child Care:

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Farewell to one of our Own

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Congratulations to GSA Child Care’s own Jacki Fling who will be retiring at the end of this year.  Jacki has over thirty-six years of public service as the Rocky Mountain Region 8 Child Care Coordinator, as well as the national program’s Budget Officer. Her expertise and commitment to quality has been invaluable to us all!  On behalf of the Child Care Program we extend our sincere appreciation to Jacki for her dedication, teamwork and willingness to share her expertise through the years.  We wish Jacki the very best as she begins full time recess!

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Region 8 Center Directors share their appreciation and memories:

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1995 GSA Philadelphia Conference

Jacki has been a welcoming force since I started here at Colonnade ten years ago. I love how she has had my back and supported me at the center.  She will be missed!!   Kim Boronda, Colonnade Child Care Center

Custom House Children's Center would like to say a big "Thank You" to Jacki Fling!  

  • With all her dedication, hard work and support, we are NAEYC accredited
  • Support with obtaining new classroom equipment
  • Assistance with obtaining our new playground
  • Support with new CDHS regulations
  • Assistance and support with center renovations to meet the needs of the children
  • Support with new employees to receive background clearance and get paperwork in order

We appreciate all the hard work and support from Jacki Fling over the years!  She has been an asset and we will miss her.  We wish her the best of luck and to enjoy her retirement!   Shelley Sanchez, Custom House Director

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Clever Kids NAEYC Award, GSA San Diego 


Clever Kids began with Jacki in August of 1992 and it’s been an adventure.  Jacki has always been diligent in securing projects that enhance the safety and learning environment for the children. We will all miss her very much!  Deb Wolf, Clever Kids Director

Board Business: December Reminders

As you prepare for the holidays, Boards should keep in mind the following about staff gifts and bonuses:

There are differences between holiday bonuses and a holiday gifts for staff.  A holiday bonus is money given by a Provider to employees to celebrate a successful year, and is commonly practiced.  A holiday gift is an item or money that is given to teachers by parents and is generally a surprise.  Some centers leave it up to each parent to decide whether or not to recognize a staff member with a gift, and some centers attempt to collect money from parents to give group gifts. Certain types of gifts, depending on the circumstances, are not subject to tax, although bonuses are subject to different tax rules.  A free, concise resource for Boards about this is available from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.  It is titled “Bonuses, Gifts, Prizes and Awards:  What’s Taxable and What’s Not”, available only by e-mailing info@aipb.org or by calling 1-800-622-0121.

BOARDS- Please save the dates!

January 9th -20th:  The GSA Annual Survey is sent out to all GSA child care centers each January.   Survey information is used to report out on the program’s effectiveness and overall performance.  There is a section on fundraising and tuition assistance programs managed by the Board.

Please be prepared to share this information with the Center Director. Your help is needed to ensure we achieve accurate data on the survey.  We will send a separate email with further instructions to all Board Presidents in January.  Please complete the applicable sections and forward your response to your Center Director. Remember the Board can ask the Center Director for a copy of the completed survey- it is a valuable source of information about your center.

January 17: The next quarterly Board Networking call will be Tuesday, January 17th from 2:00 to 3:00 pm EST. The topic is “Marketing Your Child Care Program”. Please mark your calendars and save the date.  If you have marketing ideas to share with the group, please contact Jill Rhea at jill.rhea@gsa.gov or Sandy Axelrod at sandra.axelrod@gsa.gov