YFO OPENS A NEW FACILITY: YFO WEST
October 2008
Youth and Family Outreach also has a brand new location on Danforth Street. October 1, 2008 marks the grand opening. The program will offer a large space for 20 preschoolers (2.5 years to school age eligible) with three qualified primary teaching staff and one foster grandfather. There will also be an infant program with 8 infants (6 weeks to 18 months) and a toddler program with 10 toddlers (18 months to 2.5 years). These classrooms will each have two qualified primary teaching staff and the infant program will have a foster grandmother.
NEW PARENT RESOURCE CENTER
September 2008
Renovations to our third floor through a grant from the JTG Foundation are finally complete. This area will serve as a new Parent Resource Center for families with children in our child development center. A social work intern from USM and a new AmeriCorps*VISTA member will oversee the activities and development of this new resource center.
An open house will be scheduled for some time later this year to showcase this new resource.
YFO PLAYGROUND GOES GREEN
August 2008
In order to prepare for the upcoming NAEYC re-accreditation process , the teaching staff are diligently working on their classroom portfolios and a very intensive self-study process to determine areas in need of growth. Maine Roads to Quality (MRTQ), which is our local professional development system for Early Childhood professionals, has been assisting us in this process. Through their accreditation facilitation program, we have determined a strong need for playground renovation.
In early April we formed a playground renovation committee comprised of teaching staff, administrative staff and a community volunteer with landscaping experience. We have embarked on an endeavor to create a natural playground. On the Preble Street side playground we will create an environment where children can actively engage with the process of growing things, learning about nature and how much there is in nature that makes our outdoor world so much fun. Stop by now and then to watch the transformation. It is sure to be a welcome change when completed.
