Gingerbread Fun

Pre-K Counts students enrolled in LVCC on South Mountain (Allentown) honed their artistic skills while decorating gingerbread people with their families and teachers.

Science Rocks!

LVCC is set to begin another exciting partnership with the Da Vinci Science Center -- thanks to funding from the Harry C. Trexler Trust. Beginning in 2011, students enrolled in LVCC's preschool classrooms will enjoy regular visits from Da Vinci Science Center educators (and maybe some of their resident creatures, too!)

Yesterday, LVCC preschool teachers honed their science skills at an in-service training at the Da Vinci Center. Experiments reinforced the tools of the trade -- observing, questioning, hypothesizing, predicting, planning, investigating, interpreting & communicating.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

This week, students enrolled in LVCC's center at Alburtis School made snowman doormats out of carpet squares. The only problem is that they are too cute to wipe your feet on!

Holiday Celebration

Students enrolled in LVCC at Shafer School (Nazareth) hosted a holiday celebration for their families -- complete with an outstanding musical performance!

Warm Holiday Wishes

Best wishes for a jolly holiday season! Check out our holiday card -- Warm Holiday Wishes -- sure to put a smile on your face and a hop in your step!

Santa's Elves Spotted in Nazareth

Students enrolled in LVCC's program at Nazareth Intermediate School have decided to "adopt" the toddler class at LVCC's Stones Crossing (Palmer Township) location. For their first project, the school-age children made sensory bags for the toddlers to enjoy.

The sensory bags are made from reinforced Ziploc bags filled with water soluble paint and baby oil. The enthusiastic toddlers practiced drawing their shapes and letters, as well as mixed paint colors inside the bags. Great job, NAIS students!

Happy Holidays, Kiwanis!

The Kiwanis Club of Allentown threw a fun-filled holiday bash for preschool students enrolled at LVCC's Walnut Street (Allentown) location. Children were treated to a magic show, lunch and a visit from the big man himself. Key Clubbers from Central Catholic High School added to the merriment! Thank you for a warm and wonderful afternoon, Kiwanians!

Happy 40th, LVCC!

Lehigh Valley Children's Centers is celebrating 40 years of dedication to early education! You can help us celebrate. Join our birthday party... already in progress on YouTube.

Don't forget to leave your birthday wishes in the comment box!

Gobble! Gobble!

A feast was enjoyed by all, as the preschoolers, toddlers and infants dined together to celebrate Thanksgiving at LVCC's Stones Crossing (Palmer Township) location. Thank you to all the parents who donated food and the staff who worked so hard to prepare the special luncheon.

Helping Hands

Students enrolled at LVCC at South Mountain (Allentown) are collecting clothing and food to donate to the Salvation Army. They will be accepting donations until December 10th.

Yuck vs. Yum

Thanks to our friends at Moravian College, Pre-K Counts students at LVCC's Fowler Center (Bethlehem) enjoyed a lesson about poison control. Come back and visit us soon!

A Fairy Tale

The Pre-K Counts class at LVCC's Union Blvd location (Allentown) read several versions of the Cinderella story - the Disney version, a Vietnamese version, and an Egyptian version. After comparing and contrasting the stories, the students made masquerade masks and wands and went to the ball!

Halloween

More halloween happenings at Nazareth Intermediate School!

Happy Halloween!

Everyone at LVCC, including the infants at Stones Crossing and school-agers at Alburtis School, are in the Halloween spirit. And, we wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

Allentown's Destination Playground

Preschool and Pre-K Counts students attended the grand opening of Allentown's new destination playground at Cedar Beach. The playground is accessible for children who are differently abled and fun for all! Pre-K Counts Teacher Stephanie Pacifico said that she would take her students back in a heartbeat. "You can literally spend a whole day there!"

Reaching New Heights...

Students enrolled in LVCC's afterschool program at Nazareth Intermediate School are enjoying the school's new playground... including the climbing matrix! We'd like to thank the NASD for helping these students "reach new heights!"

Campus Center's Fall Festival

Pre-K Counts is back... and busy!

The Pre-K Counts program at LVCC's Union Blvd location (Allentown) is back from summer break and busy as ever! In the top pic, students are making puppets to represent themselves. In the middle photo, the students are making and enjoying friendship mix. And, in the bottom photo, the students are enjoying a puppet show about animal safety from our friends at the Allentown Health Bureau.

Our Playground is OPEN!

Students enrolled in LVCC's Stones Crossing location (Palmer Township) are enjoying a brand new playground! Special thanks to the Stones Crossing families and the Kiwanis Club of Palmer Township for their generous support!

Master Chefs

Students enrolled in LVCC's South Mountain location (Allentown) took a trip to Pizza Hut to create their own personal pan pizzas. Our students showed so much talent in the kitchen that many are hoping for their own Food Network show!

Visit from a Friend

Linny Fowler, philanthropist, honorary LVCC director, and best friend to children across the Lehigh Valley, toured LVCC’s Union Boulevard center in August. Although it was naptime for the younger ones, a group of wide-awake school-agers welcomed Mrs. Fowler to their classroom.

Another Busy Day

School-age students enrolled in LVCC's Judith Chase Early Learning Center (Allentown) had a busy morning Friday with visits from both the Da Vinci Science Center (top photo) and the Repertory Dance Theatre (bottom photo). Both organizations have partnered with LVCC to offer students a summer filled with active learning!

Congrats, LVCC Awardees!

LVCC honored 56 employees (just over 25%) who have been with the organization five years or more at our annual Staff In-Service Day on Friday, August 13, 2010. In addition, two individual employees and one team were awarded special honors.

Karen Nichols, who recently celebrated 29 years with LVCC, was given the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Management. The award is designed to recognize outstanding managerial leadership and achievements that have significantly improved the operation or productivity of LVCC. Karen serves as Center Director at LVCC’s largest center, the Judith Chase Early Learning Center on Chew Street in Allentown.

Sandra (Sandy) Haas was honored with the Founder’s Lifetime Service Award. This award is designed to recognize an employee who has served at least 15 continuous years at LVCC and who has demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication to advancing the LVCC mission. Sandy recently celebrated 26 years of service to LVCC and currently serves as Pre-K Counts Assistant Teacher at LVCC’s Union Blvd Location.

Members of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (Helen Ojeda, Ruth Loor-Barco, Janelle Rice, Jade Peters and Rosa Sabater) were honored with the Board of Directors Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Team. This award is designed to recognize exceptional performance. The CACFP team now monitors 651 family child care home providers in 19 counties, up from serving 164 in 2004.

All awardees were nominated by their peers. Award decisions were made by a committee of community volunteers. Congratulations, LVCC Awardees! You are all incredibly deserving!

Staff In-Service Video

Mobile Dentist

LVCC on South Mountain received a visit from the mobile dentist!

We Want Tacos! We Want Tacos!

Students enrolled in LVCC's Stones Crossing location (Easton) were disappointed to learn that tacos were not on the lunch menu in July. But, instead of sulking, they decided to make their voices heard! The school-age class wrote the kitchen staff a letter. The front of the card read, "Please, please, please bring back tacos!"

Randy Levan, LVCC's director of food services, was so delighted with the students' request, that he decided to pay them a visit personally. The students prepared a petition, detailing their reasons to "Bring Back Tacos" and elected a spokesperson for their growing taco movement.

With the help of their teachers, the students studied the food pyramid and based their argument on the nutritional value of tacos. According to their petition: 1) Tacos are healthy because there are veggies like lettuce and tomatoes. 2) They have protein in the meat 3) They contain dairy, protein, veggies and fruit 4) Taco shells are made of grain and wheat 5) Contains all elements of the food pyramid.

Congratulations Stones Crossing! All LVCC students will be enjoying nutritious and delicious soft tacos on August 11th!