Week of the Young Child Kicks-Off at Alcova Heights Park
There will be a fun Scavenger Hunt with prizes at the Alcova Heights Park to kick-off the Week of the Young Child on Sunday, April 10, 2016 12-4 pm*. The park is located at 900 S. George Mason Drive, near the corner of George Mason and Columbia Pike. Children of all ages welcome, but this activity is best suited for 3-6 year olds.
*Raindate: Saturday, April 16
Arlington Public Schools and other partners are supporting a series of week-long events focused on young children. Additional Information
 Nominate a Connect with Kids Champion
Do you know an
exceptional teacher, custodian, neighbor, youth program leader, coach, youth
minister, foster parent, Scout leader or child advocate? How about a business,
team, club or group?
Nominate him, her, or them as a Connect
with Kids Champion!
Connect with
Kids Champions go out of their way to connect and build supportive
relationships with young people; a Champion can be a youth, adutl, group, business or an organization.
Since 2004, 97
Champions have been celebrated by the Arlington
Partnership for Children, Youth and Families as a way to recognize
individuals or groups who make extraordinary effort to build mentoring
relationships with young people, and inspire others in the community to do the
same.
Champions are
selected based on the length and depth of their relationship with youth, as
well as how the Champion inspires and supports young people to grow and thrive.
Nominations
are accepted now through April 18.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
Apr 11 9:00am Developmental Assets Committee, Sequoia Room A
Apr 12 4:00pm READY Coalition, Sequoia Room A
Apr 13 12:00 noon Communications Committee, Skype/GoToMeeting
Apr 14 6:30pm APS Whole Child Work Group, APS Ed Center
Apr 18 5:00pm Early Childhood Committee, Sequoia Room A
Apr 19 6:00pm Healthy Child Action Team, Sequoia Room A
Apr 19 6:30pm Teen Network Board, Central Library
Apr 25 8:30am Youth Homelessness Task Force, Sequoia Room D
Apr 26 4:00pm Mental Wellness Round Table, Sequoia Room A
Apr 27 6:00pm APCYF Meeting, Sequoia Room D
Apr 28 6:30pm APS Whole Child Work Group, APS Ed Center
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Additional Information for Parents & Families
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. It shouldn’t
hurt to be a child…learn more about Child Abuse Prevention at Child Abuse
Prevention in Arlington
Here are some great upcoming programs for parents and
families. Please share with other Arlington families.
Friday, April 8. Wear BLUE day! Join others in the Arlington community and wear BLUE to
support child abuse prevention!
April 10-16. APS celebrates the Week of the Young Child. The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration
sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education association. The purpose
of the Week of the Young Child™ is to focus public attention on the needs of
young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs
and services that meet those needs. Throughout the week of April 10-16th, APS
invites families to participate in a variety of free events for young children.
Many community organizations and businesses have donated time and resources to
make these events possible. To view the entire catalog, go to www.apsva.us/woyc or contact the APS Early
Childhood Office at 703-228-8632 or earlychildhood@apsva.us
to learn more!
Sunday, April 10. Party in the Park! Calling all young park explorers! Visit Alcova Park
for a scavenger hunt and win a prize! All children welcome, but most
appropriate for children ages 3-6. Alcova Heights Park, 901 S. George
Mason Drive (near Columbia Pike) 12:00-4:00 p.m. Sponsored by the
Fit Arlington Healthy Community Action Team Early Childhood Education
Committee. Rain date: Saturday, April 16.
Tuesday, April 12. Parent Workshop on Kindergarten
Readiness. Learn ways to prepare your child for starting kindergarten
in Arlington Public Schools. Kate Graham, APS Coordinator of Early
Childhood Education Programs, will provide practical tips on helping ensure
this is a smooth transition for your child. Additionally, participants
will gain some insight on ways to work with you child’s teacher in the first
few months to foster a great start for kindergarten and beyond. Childcare
available for children ages 3 & up. Reserve your seat at http://tinyurl.com/WOYCKReady
Discovery Elementary School, 5241 N. 36th Street. 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 12. Breaking the Silence. A documentary on child sexual abuse prevention.
Sensitive subject matter-event is appropriate for older teens and adults.
Panel discussion to follow documentary screening. 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Lee Recreation Center Auditorium, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA
22314. Sponsored by Child Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria.
Contact SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) for more information at info@scanva.org
Wednesday, April 13. Dyslexia Information
Session for Parents. Families and staff are invited to join us for an informational session to learn
more about dyslexia. This session will include an overview of dyslexia
designed to: define dyslexia, and identify characteristics of dyslexia, discuss
how parents can seek support for their children at school, provide parents with
tips and strategies for working with their children at home. And introduce
helpful resources available through APS Library and Media Services. 7:00pm to
8:30pm. Registration is required. Kindly register online, or contact the PRC at 703.228.7239. View
flyer
Thursday, April 14. Plant a Pinwheel Garden. Join staff from the Arlington DHS/Child and Family Services
Division and families from Arlington to plant a pinwheel garden to support
child abuse prevention. The blue pinwheel represents the fun and carefree
childhood that all children should have. 11:30 a.m. Arlington Mill
Community Center, 909 S. Dinwiddie Street, Plaza. For more information,
contact cfuentes@arlingtonva.us
Thursday, April 14. Moving from Crazy to Calm!
Building Self-Control in Ourselves & Our Children. Many parents have amazing problem-solving skills and
wonderful adult-child interactions. However, when faced with trying
misbehavior over and over it is difficult to maintain the positive attitude
they often have at the start of the day. In this session, parents will
learn more about changing feelings that lead to pro-social behavior. This
session, focusing on the framework of Conscious Discipline ®, will inspire
participants as we learn how to respond rather than react to perceived behavior
problems. We will explore evidence-based strategies that create an
emotionall/physically safe home environment as well as techniques to remain
calm in the moments of chaos. Speaker will be Kim Hughes, national expert
on early childhood education. Childcare provided for children ages 3
& up. Must pre-register at http://tinyurl.com/WOYCKimHughes.
Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street. 7:00-8:30
p.m. Sponsored by APS as part of Week of the Young Child.
Friday, April 15. Grow Your Own Snack Workshop. Calling all future gardeners! Bring your child to this
special workshop and learn all about growing your own food. All children
will get to taste delicious pea shoots and learn how to make salad
dressing. Eaach child will get to take home a small plant of their very
own. All ages are welcome with an accompanying adult while space
allows. 2:15-3:30 p.m. Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S.
Dinwiddie Street, Room 527. For more information, contact cfuentes@arlingtonva.us
Sponsored by Reevesland Learning Center, APS Office of Early Childhood
Education, and Arlington DHS/CFSD Project Family program.
April 15-17. Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale. Stock up on some good books! Central Library.
Get full details at http://arlingtonlibraryfriends.org/
Sunday, April 17. WalkArlington’s Shirlington
Walkabout. Spring into Shirlington for a Sunday afternoon Walkabout,
hosted by WalkArlington. From Signature Theatre to Barcroft Park, the
Animal Welfare League to the Arlington Food Assistance Center, WETA to the
Village at Shirlington, this guided recreational walking tour will highlight the
lively mix of cultural institutions, recreational facilities, transportation
options, and one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants that have earned Shirlington
its reputation as both a walkable small town and world-class destination.
For more information, contact info@WalkArlington.com
Free, registration not required. Meet at the Signature
Theatre/Shirlington Library Plaza, 4200 Campbell Avenue. 3-5 p.m. Rain or
Shine. Open to all ages (and dogs, too!)
Thursday, April 21. Project Family @ Night—Car Seat
Safety. For parents and children ages 18 months-5 years old.
Learn all about car seat safety from the Arlington Auxiliary Police
Department—and have your own car seat inspected to make sure it is installed correctly.
Activities for children while the parents participate in the discussion.
5:30-7:00 p.m. Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S.
Dinwiddie Street, Room #120. Must register in advance, space is
limited. Contact Cheryl at cfuentes@arlingtonva.us
or 703/228-1549.
Saturday, April 23. Teen Summer Job Expo. The Arlington Teen Summer Expo is an annual event that links
Arlington teens with summer jobs, internships and volunteer
opportunities. Wakefield High School, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn
more at Arlington
Employment Center Summer Teen Job Expo
Friday, April 29. Celebrate REEP’s 40th Anniversary
with a Community Celebration (Arlington Education and Employment Program). Fun for the whole family! DJ and dancing, food, games,
cake walk, prizes, raffles, face painting, and more. 6:00-9:00 p.m. Arlington
Mill Community Center, 909 S. Dinwiddie Street. Admission $5/adult and
$2/child. Learn more at REEP 40th
Anniversary Community Celebration
Saturday, April 30. Family Celebration: Día de los
Niños, Día de los Libros. Celebrate International Day of Children with Arlington County
Librarian Mariela Aquilar, Evan Pollack, a puppet show, crafts, snacks, and
more! Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S. Dinwiddie Street, Pop-up
Gallery Space, 2nd floor. 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sponsored by the
Arlington Public Library.
Saturday, April 30. Fitness Day in the Park. Come play with us! 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Alcova Heights Park. Enjoy some
family-friendly fitness fun including active games, an obstacle course, fitness
classes, nutrition demos, art activities, and more. $3 wristbands grant you
access to our moon bounce and rock wall inflatables & concessions will be
for sale, cash only. Sponsored by the Arlington Department of Parks &
Recreation.
RECOGNIZE SOMEONE BY APRIL 30: It is that time of year
when we solicit nominations for the National Alliance of Mental Illness
(NAMI)-Arlington's annual Recognition Award. Criteria: We are looking for
individuals or organizations in our community who have worked to ensure that
Arlington has a strong mental health program. We are asking your help in
identifying such an individual or individuals. We are talking about NAMI
members, members of Clarendon House, members of other nonprofit organizations,
a member of the Arlington Mental Health Bureau – anyone and everyone who has
contributed to the objective of making sure Arlington has the needed services
for people who have mental illness. If you have a nomination, please
provide a brief paragraph of your reasons why this individual or organization
deserves this award. Names only nominations will not be considered. Send all
nominations to Betsy Greer, bsgreer39@hotmail.com by
April 30. The award(s) will be given at the Annual NAMI-Arlington,
Friends of Clarendon House and Clarendon House members' dinner, Wednesday, June
15, 2016.
Contact Information
Chair: Devanshi Patel
Vice Chair: Dave Carlson
General Information: Kim Durand,
Coordinator 703-228-1667
Teen Network Board: Siobhan Grayson,
Youth Outreach 703-228-1506
Data Questions: Rebecca Hjelm, Data Specialist 703-228-1683
Website Updates and
Information: Sally
LaBonte, Website 703-228-1669
Developmental Assets: Michael Swisher,
Assets Liaison 703-228-1671
apcyf@arlingtonva.us
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