Early Head Start News March 2016

Congratulations to the Baxter-Campbells! After nearly two years, the Baxter-Campbell family is finally living in their new Habitat for Humanity home!

We caught up with them in their new home and had some questions for them:

EHS: How long did it take from start to finish for you to get into your new home?

BC’s: We applied almost two years ago and there were several rounds of questions, interviews and then a

home walk through. Finally, we got the call that we were chosen and then it was all about the volunteer

hours.

EHS: You mentioned that there were over 500 volunteer hours involved.

Tell us a bit about those.

BC’s: We were blessed by family and friends helping with up to 150 of the

hours. Volunteering for us, included working on the house, doing things

like painting, helping at the Restore site, and taking a required financial

class, and talking about Habitat for Humanity to other people. All hours

had to be done before we could move in.

EHS: What do you love most about owning your own home?

BC’s: It’s ours. We got to pick out our colors, and make decisions about it.

Plus, we saw it built from the ground up so we have some ability to make

our own repairs if we need to.

EHS: Do you have any wise words for anyone else wanting to apply?

BC’s: It can happen to anyone! Just apply!!!!

Mountain States Early Head Start, serving Kootenai, Bonner, and Shoshone counties in Idaho, is a program of Jannus, Inc.

“It can happen to anyone!

Just apply!”

In This Issue:

Congratulations to Baxter-

Campbell's

Letting out children know

they matter

Policy Council News

Nutrition News

Baby Birthdays

News & Events - Welcoming

our new Director

Learning is

Best done together!

Athena (11 mos.) and brother, Wyatt.

This week my youngest son begged me to sit with him while he did his school reading. He’s old enough to do it on his own and rarely asks this of me. And, he was insistent.

I didn’t feel like it. I wanted to be doing other things, like watching TV or doing the nightly chores— anything besides getting caught up in the frustration that I sometimes feel is homework.

But, I sat with him. As we snuggled and he read, I reminded myself that someday I won’t be able to do this because he is growing up so very fast.

The next day, I read a quote from Kent Hoffman’s website. Kent is one of the founders of our Circle of Security class that we teach at EHS. I love Kent’s heart. It’s raw, deep, and honest. He quoted Mark Brady, who wrote:

“[From our earliest moments on planet earth] there’s one question that all brains want answered and they want it answered “Yes.” And they don’t want a lukewarm “Yes” or a “Maybe Yes,” ... When the answer is something other than “Yes”, a confusion and uncertainty begins to take shape in our brains. The question our brains ask is: Are you there for me? Do I matter enough that you’ll put me first when I need you to? Do I truly and deeply matter to you?”

It hits me that in a real way, my son was asking me that very question. “Do I matter to you, mama?” He wanted me to be with him because he needed to know he mattered. He needed to know it deeply.

A few minutes later I called him and I read the quote to him, letting him know that I understood that what he was really asking last night during homework time.

I could hear tears in his sweet little voice as he softly said “Thanks, mom.” He was crying because he felt heard and understood, and because in a very real way I “got” him! It was a precious moment.

Life can get busy. But I want my kids to know that they matter, and they matter deeply! Those moments of connecting with them are the juiciest, most wonderful part of parenting and they are moments I treasure!

Arla Markael

Mom/Family Consultant

Sometimes I forget that my kids need to know they matter…

Carsyn & mom making

handprints

Crystal and dad do science

experiments

Mackinzie

Charlie,

and mom

play with

Oobleck

Kassidy sorts beans

with mom

I SPY!

It’s St. Patty’s day this

month. Let’s celebrate

spring and all things green

by finding the pictures of

little green Shamrocks

throughout the

newsletter. All together

there are 8.

Ideas for making yummy greens part of a healthy lifestyle:

by Lisa Hooper

March is National Nutrition Month! It also means the first day of spring and

food that is green. Green fruits and vegetables offer great health benefits.

Here are five super stars to try:

Kiwi. Eating one kiwi provides 230% of the recommended daily

allowance of vitamin C, which is twice that of an orange, more potassium

than a banana, and also vitamin E and folate. Try them sliced into cereal,

yogurt, or green salad.

Brussel sprouts. These, like broccoli, provide vitamins A & C, birth-defect

fighting folate, and blood pressure balancing potassium. Try them split

and oven roasted or sliced and pan sautéed.

Kale. A member of the cabbage family, it contains cancer fighting plant

compounds and vitamins C, K, and A. Add it to green salads, or sauté like

spinach.

Green Beans. Loaded with fiber, which can help lower cholesterol and

stabilize blood sugars, these can be one of the easiest of the green

vegetables to get our children to try. Use them as a side dish, or pickle

them, or add them to a green salad.

Green Bell Peppers. These are a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene

(a type of vitamin A), folate, and vitamin K. Add them to salads, stir-fry’s,

and omelets.

Congratulations to

February’s “Refer a Friend”

Raffle winner:

Amanda Linarte

Every time you refer a friend to Early Head Start you have

one chance to win an incentive prize focused on

school readiness activities to enjoy with your child.

Drawings are held monthly, usually during Policy Council

meetings.

Policy Council News Highlights: This month members shared about attending the Idaho Head Start

Association Conference, where they met with State Legislators.

Council members approved new hires for the Child Development &

Disabilities Specialist, and the new CDA Center Manager.

Council members were involved in the grant planning process.

Thanks to our parents who serve on Policy Council. Your input is critical to

Early Head Start. Here is what’s happening next :

Policy Council meeting, March 28, 10 to noon at the CDA center , meeting

about governing body certification. Everyone is welcome to attend PC

meetings. Let your FC know if you are interested.

March’s prize:

A Basket of fun activities to do with your child!

Our Mission:

*Promote healthy pregnancies and

babies.

*Enhance the development of very

young children.

*Promote healthy families.

News & Events

EHS Coeur d’Alene 411 N. 15th Suite 200 Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 208-765-6955 EHS Sandpoint 137 McGhee Rd. Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-263-2569

EHS Rathdrum 14790 N. Kimo Ct. Rathdrum, ID 83858 208-712-3152 EHS Shoshone 208-446-4158 or 208-784-5581

Contact Us To apply for the program

call 208-765-6955 & request an application.

Or print one up at www.msehs.org.

Return the completed application to the EHS

center in your area.

You can also fill it out right over the phone!

Mathew F. turns 3 on March 5.

Ezra P. turns 1 on March 11.

Lexus P. turns 1 March 11.

Asher L-J turns 3 on March 11.

Taylee turns 3 on March 12.

Peytin B. turns 1 on March 16.

Alice T. turns 1 on March 20.

Henlley P. turns 1 on March 20.

Zariah M. turns 3 on March 22.

Miya C. turns 3 on March 24.

Birthday Celebrations Welcome to Our New Director,

Kimberley Seitz

We are beyond pleased to welcome Kimberley Seitz as our new director!

Making a difference in the lives of others has always

been at the heart of Kimberley’s work. Kimberley

previously served as an EHS operations manager and

we are excited to have her return to our team,

especially bringing the additional strengths and

perspective of working with both the national

technical assistance team and as a consultant to a

variety of Head Start and Early Head Start programs

across the country.

In her spare time, Kimberley enjoys being with her

friends and family and her two crazy (but loveable)

German Shepherds.

And many thanks to Sheila Farmin-Aumick who

served as Interim Director! We were in great hands!

Bentley Feeds his

Baby doll with mom’s

help

Ashley & Dad

exploring rice

Zaylah plays pretend

with mom and babies

Jasper and dad make a

heart collage