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TAKE PRIDE - APRIL 2008
APRIL BRINGS REIGN AND STORM TO
UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY HOUSE
IN TIME TO CELEBRATE THE MONTH OF THE YOUNG CHILD.
Since 1971, April has been designated as the Month of the Young Child. During this month we focus primarily upon the needs of young children and their families while also 
recognizing the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) established this celebration of young children recognizing the importance of early childhood years and how they not only play a major role in the shaping of a child’s learning and development, but also on their success in school and later life. It is during this month that we--as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation--will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.
United Methodist Community House (UMCH) has provided an early childhood program that has been meeting the needs of children since 1936 and providing them with an enriching and loving environment. It is because of the success of this program that we now have two wonderful additions to UMCH, Reign and Storm.
We could always look forward to two neighborhood children riding their bikes in our parking lot, peeking into offices, and sneaking into the building for water. Often, parents would come to the teachers alerting them that two children had been left behind on the playground. We would then have to explain that they were our neighborhood children.
One evening, Fannie, the mother of these children, stopped Ms. Vicki, Director of Child and Youth Development, to inquire about child care for her son Reign. Being 4 years old and never experiencing child care or pre-school we knew immediately that he needed to be at UMCH. Reign is now enrolled and our teachers are preparing him for when he will
attend kindergarten. In the spring, Fannie and Reign along with Ms. Vicki will set off to Campau School to meet with Cynthia Jones, the principal. We feel Reign will be more than ready for his next big step.
Fannie is so pleased with UMCH that she stops by everyday just to express her love for the organization. As a result of the support and help that UMCH has shown towards her, she has taken another step forward by enrolling her 3 year old daughter Storm. Now instead of having Rain and Storm outside, we now have Reign and Storm inside with us at United Methodist Community House.
As an NAEYC accredited childcare program we pride ourselves on providing high quality early childhood care and education to the children and families we serve. In April we celebrate not just Reign and Storm, but all young children with many special activities. Here are some activities that will be going on at UMCH in April.
- Promoting the importance of healthy children and families
- Wearing purple ribbons in support of the Month of the Young Child
- A “Purple Parade” around the UMCH neighborhood to promote child awareness.
- Celebrating “Purple Week”, a week full of purple food and fun.
- Recognizing early childhood caregivers and teachers through the use of thank you cards and gifts.
We encourage everyone to celebrate with us because we all know; the young child of today will be the future for our tomorrow.