Dear YWCA Families,
We are so pleased to bring you the first edition of Persimmon Grove, our new monthly enewsletter for parents of Persimmon Early Learning (formerly Children's Alley). This has been a tumultuous year and all of our lives have been disrupted. We know how important it is for families in our community to have a safe and affordable option for their childcare, and it is our honor be your choice. Our staff has been working hard to provide the same loving care as always, and to go above and beyond to keep our center clean and disinfected to the rigorous standards set by Boulder County Public Health.
We are also thrilled to see the exciting changes taking shape around the YWCA and Persimmon Early Learning. Our outdoor areas are in the process of being completely redone and part of our building is being remodeled so we can EXPAND and begin offering 24 new spots for permanent care beginning this fall. Enrollment has already begun for those new spots!
This is a difficult time for our community and for the families we work with. We want you to know that we are here for you now, and will be here for you in the future. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or are in need of child care.
Together in the journey,
Kate Hise, Director, and Staff of Persimmon Early Learning
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- Friday, June 26 - We will be closing at 4:00 p.m. for a staff meeting.
- Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3 - Persimmon Early Learning and the YWCA Administrative Offices will be closed for July 4th Recess, returning on Monday, July 6
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Construction is Underway for our Expansion
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We’re thrilled that construction has begun on the expansion of our child care center Persimmon Early Learning of the YWCA (formerly Children's Alley)! The updates to our outdoor learning spaces and demolition on the interior spaces are scheduled to be done by the end of this month.
The renovated space at the YWCA will add two new classrooms and 24 additional spots to our learning center for permanent care. The program will provide an emphasis on parent engagement and education through a two-generation approach; health equity emphasis through scheduled activities and active play time; good nutrition modeling and activities including a diverse and healthy meal plan; and all of its teachers are certified in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and trained in social/emotional skills to help with behavior management.
Persimmon Early Learning will include the same drop-in care YWCA Boulder County has always provided, plus the addition of two new permanent care classrooms now enrolling for fall 2020.
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Start the enrollment process today
to secure spots for permanent care starting in September 2020. We will offer permanent child care for children ages eight weeks to 4 years old.
Online Parent Info Sessions will be held virtually every other Wednesday, starting with:
- Wednesday, July 8 from 11:30 -12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 22 from 11:30 -12:30 p.m.
Visit our
website
and fill out our
Interest Form
to sign up for an Info Session, be notified of Virtual Tours (coming soon!), and begin the enrollment process today.
We’re happy to share our expansion and enrollment news with you, and we’ll keep you updated on our progress. Thanks as always for your support – we couldn’t have done this without you!
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Finger Paintings from the Preschool Room
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Infant Development Center (IDC) News
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Learning to eat at the table.
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Several of the children in our IDC program have recently transitioned from eating in highchairs to eating at the table!
This transition will help prepare them for an upcoming move into our toddler program, and allows them to feel more independent at mealtimes. Whether in a highchair or at the table, all of the infants who are ready for table food in the IDC are offered a variety of nutritious food for each of the three meals we serve daily. Children can decide themselves which foods to eat, how much to eat, and are encouraged to feed themselves if they are able.
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The children in our toddler program are fascinated with bubbles right now, and frequently ask for "more bubbles!". They have recently enjoyed chasing bubbles outside, observing and popping bubbles in the classroom, and making bubbles with soap while they wash their hands. Follow the links below for an easy bubble recipe you can make at home and ideas for common household materials you can use as bubble wands. Also, try singing our toddlers’ favorite hand-washing song while you help your child wash their hands!
Hand-washing Song
(to the tune of “Frère Jacques”)
Front and back,
Front and back,
In between,
in between.
Rub them both together,
Rub them both together,
Nice and clean,
Nice and clean.
Make some bubbles,
Make some Bubbles,
On your hands,
On your hands,
Rinse them in the water,
Rinse them in the water,
Now you’re done!
Now you’re done!
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Adventure collection bags.
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The children in our preschool classroom have been busy exploring the great outdoors and collecting natural objects in their creatively decorated "adventure collection bags". Natural objects found on a walk, such as leaves, acorns, rocks, flowers, or pinecones, can be easily turned into learning materials. Try these STEAM activities at home with materials you and your child find outside!
Science: Observe, magnify, or dissect your objects. Talk about where the objects came from, or how they might be used by animals.
Technology: Photograph your objects or look up more information about them. If you have friends in other parts of the country, try comparing the objects you find around your house to what they can find around their house.
Engineering: Use your objects to build a sculpture or a structure using glue, clay, or mud to hold them together.
Art: Make your objects into dolls with faces, use them to make prints or rubbings, trace them, or paint them.
Mathematics: Sort your objects into groups, count them, or use them as counters to do addition or subtraction.
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In Need of Donations of Items due to COVID-19
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Since our phased reopening in May, our teaching staff have been going above and beyond to ensure we are meeting the new cleaning and disinfecting protocols set by Boulder County Public Health.
$800 -
Plexiglass Window for our Front Desk
$475
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New Dishwasher for the Infant Development Center
Disinfecting Wipes: These are difficult to find in-stock in stores, so if you have extras, donations would be greatly appreciated!
If you have items you would like to donate, we are looking for:
- Cleaning Towels
- Dish Towels
- Dish-washing Gloves
- Cleaning aprons
These items will help our staff clean more efficiently since the disinfecting protocols will be in place for the foreseeable future. Thank you!
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Farm to Early Care and Education Harvests of the month are:
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Kale
Why Eat Kale?
Fiber: Keep your gut healthy and active.
Iron: An essential part of any healthy diet. Assists with cell growth and liver support, as well playing a key role in delivering oxygen to various regions of the body.
Vitamin A: Kale is rich in vitamin A, which promotes healthy vision, and it may play a role in cancer prevention.
Vitamin K: Kale contains over 1,000% of your daily value of vitamin K. Vitamin K is often overlooked, but it’s essential in preventing blood clots, maintaining bone health and providing energy to the body.
Vitamin C: is an essential vitamin for many of the body’s vital functions. This vitamin helps the body produce collagen, promotes brain and nervous system function and, of course, helps stave off colds and other illnesses.
Antioxidants: While antioxidants may sound like a buzzword to make certain foods seem healthy, they’re the real deal. Antioxidants help counteract oxidizing free radicals inside the body, which can cause inflammation, early signs of aging and even cancer. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, as well as quercetin and kaempferol, substances also found in kale. Bottom line — eat your greens to stay healthy.
Indole-3-Carbinol: Okay, the name sounds a bit chemical, but this substance can aid in cancer prevention and can be found in high concentrations in all cruciferous vegetables.
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Strawberries
Why Eat Strawberries?
Strawberries are full of nutrients that can aid in digestion, cancer prevention, good heart health, help decrease inflammation, increase mental functioning, stabilize blood sugar levels, decrease obesity (high in fiber, keep you full), and overall provide great nutrient intake. Strawberries are high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C (160% of your daily value).
If you wish to incorporate more fruits into your diet or your child’s diet, try making a fruit salad with a variety of fruits, or different types of smoothies!
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Recipe of the Month:
Strawberry Pizza
Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- 8, 10” Whole Wheat tortillas (GF: rice cake, GF tortilla, corn tortilla) cut into quarters (1/4 tortilla per child)
- 8 oz cream cheese (DF: no cream cheese)
- 16 strawberries
- Cinnamon
- Vegetable oil/spray (optional)
Directions:
1. Wash and dry strawberries and remove leaves/stems
2. Optional: brush/spray tortillas with oil. Bake in oven/toaster oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 min until crispy.
3. While tortillas are baking, dice the strawberries into small cubes.
4. Spread cream cheese on the tortilla and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top.
5. Place strawberries on the tortilla like a “pizza” topping.
6. Cut tortilla into quarters
7. Enjoy the yummy snack!
Note: another option is to not bake the tortilla, and you can add more fruits to the pizza like the picture above!
Helpful links:
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YWCA Events
- Being an Antiracist - Virtual Training Series (now accepting wait-list registrations for future sessions): We have designed a three-part training and discussion series called "Being an Antiracist", for individuals who are committed to learning more about the personal, interpersonal, institutional and structural systems of racism that can lead to informed action and transformation of a community determined to end racism.
- We have currently reached full capacity for the first round of this training series. Please add your name and contact info to the wait-list so that we can contact you about future sessions.
Community Events
- Women's Wilderness is excited to announce that, starting in July, our summer backpacking, rock climbing and hiking COURSES FOR GIRLS ARE ON! We have never been more ready to get outside together...carefully. We’ve significantly adapted our programs in collaboration with our course physician to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19. To learn more about how we’re addressing health, from both a physical and mental perspective, read our COVID-19 Guidelines for Families and Participants. We will be updating this to adhere to all CDC, State and local requirements.
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- Early Childhood Toddler Teachers. Early Childhood Teacher or Director qualification required.
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Thank you Program Funders
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Thank you City of Boulder Housing and Human Services Department for your grant funding for Children's Alley!
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Thank you City of Boulder Youth Opportunities Program for your grant funding of Latina Achievement Support (LAS).
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Thank YOU for your support!
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Here are several ways to support the YWCA - all without touching your bank account:
- Give from your Donor Advised Fund: If you have a Donor Advised Fund, you have already set aside those dollars to support nonprofits you love. These tumultuous times are the biggest "rainy day" our society has ever experienced. Make a gift today to YWCA Boulder County and your other favorite nonprofits.
- Amazon Smile: Shop at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to your favorite charitable organization at no cost to you. After logging into your Amazon account, go to Account & Lists, look under My Account to select Your AmazonSmile, and search for YWCA Boulder County. Then, remember to always start your shopping at smile.amazon.com when you purchase from Amazon.
- King Soopers Community Rewards: Earn money for your favorite community organization when you use your loyalty card. Log in or create an account at kingsoopers.com, go to My Account, click Community Rewards along the left menu, and then select YWCA Boulder County.
- Donate your vehicle through Vehicles for Charity: Instead of selling, trading, or storing your vehicle, you can donate your vehicle to the charity of your choice and receive a tax deduction.
- Donate some or all of your state income tax refund through ReFUND: Visit refundwhatmatters.org to learn more and to find the nonprofit registration number to enter on your tax return. When you complete your state tax return, enter registration #20023006070 for YWCA Boulder County.
And, of course, you can also support YWCA with a cash contribution by donating
here.
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Our work would not be possible without the support of passionate individuals and businesses like you, how support our programs and services.
Contact us
to learn more about donating stock or other assets, donating through your employers giving program or becoming an event sponsor.
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