Address Service Requested
Board of Directors
The Pre-K Counts
students hand painted
their names in Korean.
Do you think we made a mistake in the headline?
We didn’t.
In Korean, it reads “Pre-K Counts.”
Pre-K Counts Head Teacher Steph-
anie Pacifico is leading her class
in an electronic cultural exchange
with young English-language
learners studying at the Choral
English College in Hanshien, Goy-
ang City, South Korea.
The South Korean The Choral English College is
students shared pictures
of their favorite foods.
a private school, translated in
English as an “academy.” South
Korean students go to the Choral
English College after their regular
school day to learn English under
the tutelage of American Robert
Fioretta. The children in the South
Korean exchange class are 4 - 7
years old.
The American and South Korean
students have been exchanging
videos via a password-protected
Both classes shared YouTube channel. During the
drawings of their homes. course of the project, the students
in the Pre-K Counts class shared
their favorite animals, foods and
activities. In addition, they de-
scribed and drew pictures of their with students enrolled at the Choral English College in South Koria via a
homes and families and even
learned a few Korean words
and phrases (like “hi” and
“thank you”) from their new
South Korean friends.
According to Miss Stepha-
nie, or as the South Korean
students call her “Stephanie
Teacher,” the Pre-K Counts
class is gaining an enhanced
cultural awareness. Through
their drawings and video
correspondence, “They’re
learning that they have a lot in
LVCC’s Pre-K Counts students (top photo) have been communicating
private YouTube channel.
Introducing
common with children around
the world. They all learn, laugh,
and play. In addition, I’m
thrilled to be able to expose
my students to new verbal and
written languages.” At first, the
students thought all language
was expressed as either English
or Spanish. Korean was truly
a foreign concept! Now, the
American students understand
that their new South Korean
friends greet them by saying
“Annyeong” – not “hi” or “hola.”
officers
J. Michael Lee, Ph.D., Chairperson
Hospital Central Services, Inc.
Sally J. Bird, Vice Chairperson
Sovereign Bank
Susan C. Schupp, Treasurer
Fulton Financial Advisors
Samuel Berrios, Secretary
Aetna, Inc.
members
Keith Domalewski
Just Born, Inc.
David Drake, AIA
W2A Design Group
Mark S. Fisher, Esq.
Worth, Magee & Fisher P.C.
Mary Ellen Gamble, M.Ed.
Allentown School District
Laura Kinsey
Allentown School District
Richard Lemak
MINTEQ International, Inc.
Ageliki Nicolopoulou, Ph.D.
Lehigh University
Ernesto Ortiz, Jr.
Allentown School District
Founded in 1970, LVCC is celebrating 40
Scott Sheeler
LVCC Parent Representative
Suzanne K. Stianche
Air Products & Chemicals
James M. Waters
You can follow LVCC’s year-long birthday
Meals on Wheels
Susan P. Williams
Aetna, Inc.
HONORARY DIRECTOR
Linny O. Fowler, Ph.D., Honorary
Fowler & Pena, Banana Factory
President/ ceo
Susan M. Williams, M.Ed.
Benefits of a Keystone
Guess who’s turning 40!?!?
years of dedication to early education.
celebration by visiting
thisweekatLVCC.com
Pennsylvania’s
Keystone Babies
Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers
(LVCC) has been awarded grant
funding, through the Pennsylvania
Office of Child Development and
Early Learning (OCDEL), to operate
three Keystone Babies classrooms.
The grant, totaling $266,400, will
fund the program for 16 months
through the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act.
Keystone Babies is a research-
based, state-initiated pilot
program that provides high
quality early care and education
for approximately 200 infants and
toddlers across the state. LVCC
is proud to serve as the only
provider in the Lehigh Valley;
we received funding for three
classrooms with eight stu-
dents enrolled in each class –
or 12% of the state’s allocated
spots.
According to OCDEL, “The
Keystone Babies approach
integrates what is known from
research on child develop-
ment into high-quality day-
to-day practices with infants,
toddlers and their families.”
Research shows that through
early relationships with fami-
lies and caregivers, babies and
toddlers develop confidence,
trust, and curiosity – the build-
ing blocks for successful early
learning.
Who is Eligible for Keystone
Babies?
The Keystone Babies program
targets low-income families. To
be eligible for the program, a
child must be under three years
of age (under two preferred for
initial enrollment) and eligible
for or receiving a Child Care
Works (CCW) subsidy. Families
are still responsible for their
CCW co-pay.
Keystone Babies classrooms
are operating at the following
LVCC locations:
ALLENTOWN
540 Chew Street
610-434-1456
1621 Union Blvd.
610-820-5304
BETHLEHEM
410 E. 5th Street
610-865-6444
Babies classroom
Family Groupings
Each classroom consists of a family
grouping -- a mix of infants, young
toddlers and older toddlers being
cared for by nurturing, professional
teachers. Family groupings provide
students the opportunity to learn
from one another in a mixed age-
group setting. Because children
might be enrolled in the same
Keystone Babies classroom through
the infant and toddler years, they
can form close knit relationships
with a few trusted adults. In addi-
tion, it is also possible for siblings,
of varied ages, to be together in the
same class.
Family Involvement
The program also emphasizes the
central role of family members in a
child’s early learning and provides
parents with a variety of opportuni-
ties to provide input and become
involved in their child’s education.
Additionally, families receive refer-
rals to community resources and
supports, such as Early Intervention
and health services.
Do you need help paying
for child care…
LVCC can help!
LVCC has received funding
through the Com-
munity Action Committee of the
Lehigh Valley, under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA), to provide child care
scholarships for families impacted
by the recession.
The ARRA Funds were put in place
to help people get back to work,
and at LVCC, that is exactly what
they are doing! To date, LVCC has
been able to provide scholarships to
over 30 local children.
One Family’s Success Story
“Chris and Dana” never imagined
that their family of four would
become homeless. They were both
educated and hard-working. But,
when the economy tanked, they
both lost their jobs. With both
parents suddenly out of work, the
family was unable to keep up with
their mortgage, and soon, they lost
their home. The family was able to
find temporary housing by mov-
ing in with family members on the
other side of the Valley, but they
wanted their school-age child, “Da-
vid,” to finish out the school year in
his home school.
The school happily accommo-
dated the family’s request; however,
David’s transportation to and from
school required that he arrive at the
school long before school started
and leave long after the final bell.
David’s principal contacted LVCC
and asked for assistance. With the
help of the ARRA funds, LVCC was
able to scholarship the family’s
before- and after-school care. While
at LVCC, David receives a nutritious
breakfast and afternoon snack, fun,
supervised activities, recreation and
ample homework help.
Since the scholarship has been in
place, Chris and Dana have both
found work and are currently look-
ing for a new home for themselves
LVCC on the Move
Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers’ food delivery
trucks have received a much-needed makeover by
the Identity Group in Slatington. Two LVCC delivery
vehicles transport nearly 12,000 lunches a month!
vehicle
Today’s Lesson: Collaboration LVCC Closes
Students enrolled in LVCC’s summer school-age programs are in College Hill
store for a jam-packed summer filled with active learning -- all Location
thanks to the support of our neighbors. Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers
and Lafayette College have been 1501 Lehigh Street, Suite 208
An Ooey-Gooey Experience
working together for over 28 years
to offer top-quality child care on the
Allentown, PA 18103-3892
(610) 820-5333 (800) 258-3737
www.LVCConline.org
College’s campus. Although respectful
Thanks to the generosity of our friends at the TD Charitable Foundation and the of that long-standing, cooperative
LVCC at ALBURTIS SCHOOL
222 West Third St., Allentown
Wachovia – Wells Fargo Foundation, 100 kindergarten through 5th grade students en-
rolled at LVCC programs in Palmer Township and Allentown will be spending their sum- relationship, LVCC and the College LVCC’S at ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL
and their children – truly, a happy mer with a scientist-in-residence from the Da Vinci Science Center. The scientist will have mutually agreed to a change in 106 North 17th St., Allentown
ending! visit the centers once a week for seven weeks to teach students to think like scientists -- the management of the College’s child LVCC at CAMPUS CENTER
to inquire, observe, predict and experiment. The summer will culminate with a science 410 East 5th St., Bethlehem
care center; to that end, on June 11th, LVCC on College Hill closed its doors.
fair where the children will demonstrate and discuss the concepts that they learned.
Who can apply? LVCC’S JUDITH CHASE
EARLY LEARNING CENTER*
Working families earning less than “We are truly grateful for the deep-rooted support of the College Hill 540 Chew St., Allentown
200% of the federal poverty level, community,” said Susan M. Williams, LVCC President / CEO. “And, we’re LVCC at FORKS SCHOOL
parents attending GED or career pleased to continue to offer the community highly effective early care and 1709 Richmond Rd., Easton
training classes, may apply for an education at multiple Easton-area locations.” LVCC operates a full-service LVCC’S FOWLER CENTER on MAIN ST.
938 Main St., Bethlehem
LVCC Scholarship. Families must center, with extended operating hours, on William Penn Highway and
be enrolled or enrolling in a Lehigh
So, You Think You Can Dance? LVCC at LINCOLN SCHOOL
The Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) has received funding from the Dexter and Doro-
before- and after-school programs at Forks and Wilson Elementary Schools. 233 Seem St., Emmaus
Valley Children’s Centers location.
thy Baker Foundation to provide an exciting summer dance experience to children at- LVCC at LOWER NAZARETH SCHOOL
tending LVCC’s Judith Chase Early Learning Center and South Mountain locations. The 4422 Newburg Road, Nazareth
Scholarship aid is available for multi-cultural instruction will include a variety of dance styles, such as hip-hop, jazz
infants through school-age children.
Aid is based on family income and
and ballet. Children will learn to express themselves through movement and choreo-
graph their own routines.
Picture Perfect LVCC at MUHLENBERG SCHOOL
21st & Washington Sts., Allentown
helps you pay for child care until a
Child Care Works subsidy becomes
LVCC at William Allen High
School recently partici-
pated in ArtsQuest’s newest educational
LVCC at NAZARETH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
355 Tatempy Road, Nazareth
LVCC at RITTER SCHOOL
740 N. Plymouth St., Allentown
available or the family’s situation initiative, the Photo Documentary Project
stabilizes. - an innovative, high-tech job skills pro-
LVCC at SHAFER SCHOOL
49 South Liberty Street, Nazareth
One Fish, Two Fish gram that helps build a brighter future LVCC at ST. LUKE’S*
Speak to your Center Director or call
Once again, LVCC is teaming up with our friends at Swim-In Zone Swim Academy in through the art of photography. 729 Delaware Ave., Bethlehem
610-820-5333 for more information. Center Valley to provide free swimming lessons for LVCC students. With the help of LVCC at SOUTH MOUNTAIN
a grant from the Make-a-Splash Foundation, approximately 75 students will be trans- Through classroom instruction and
2002 South Albert St., Allentown
ported from LVCC’s Union Blvd and Chew Street locations to Allentown’s Waldheim LVCC at STONE’S CROSSING
Pool. During the weekly lessons, Swim-In Zone staff will separate the children into in-the-field experience, economically 401 Village at Stone’s Xing Rd., Easton
disadvantaged young adults learn digital
small groups based on their specific swim abilities and make learning to swim a safe, LVCC at TRUMAN SCHOOL
fun and enjoyable experience. imaging, desktop publishing and pho- 1400 Gaskill Ave., Allentown
tojournalism. Erin Rodriguez, one of two LVCC on UNION BLVD.
aspiring photojournalists who worked 1621 Union Blvd., Allentown
Special thanks to our partners: on the LVCC project, is a 2005 graduate LVCC on WALNUT STREET
of William Allen High School who utilized
1145 Walnut St., Allentown
Would you like to attend LVCC’s services to care for her infant while LVCC at WESTERN SALISBURY SCHOOL
3201 Devonshire Rd., Allentown
an LVCC Science Fair? still a student at Allen!
LVCC at WILSON SCHOOL
301 S. 21st St., Easton
TM Call Debra at 610-820-5333 x203 Erin’s photos, along with others, will be *Accredited by National Association
for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Former LVCC Customer Erin Rodriguez participates in included in a book featuring images of
or email info@LVCConline.org
advertising a photojournalism project at LVCC’s William
Allen High School location.
programs and projects supported by the
Photo Courtesy of Charles Stonewall. United Way.