Kiwanis Supports Early Ed through Easter Egg Hunt

A number of LVCC infants, toddlers, and preschoolers discovered there really is an Easter bunny... and he's a Kiwanian!

The Kiwanis Club of Allentown Northeast sponsored the annual egg hunt for nearly 70 children enrolled at LVCC on Union Boulevard in Allentown. Our benevolent friends hid all the eggs, then helped in the search. Even the crawling infants discovered a few eggs.

Although the weather didn't cooperate for the egg hunt to be held outside, the children had just as much fun pursuing the colorful, candy-filled treats indoors. And the playground equipment in the gross motor room offered some pretty tricky hiding places. Just Born, Inc. generously donated candy and marshmallow Peeps for the event.

All the activity searching for the eggs wore out this toddler, but only for a minute before he hopped away.

Kiwanis International performs service projects and raises charitable funds for local communities and all over the globe. Their partnership has brought happy smiles to many tiny faces at Lehigh Valley Children's Centers. Thank you, Kiwanis!

Healthy Snacking with Allentown's Fruits & Veggies Mobile

Preschoolers and school-age students attending LVCC's Judith Chase Early Learning Center got their first taste of summer. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowksi and the Allentown Health Bureau invited the children to the 2013 opening of the city's fruit and vegetable truck.

Fruits & Veggies on the Move is designed to promote access to and interest in fruits and vegetables among children. LVCC was the first stop on the city's list of destinations throughout the summer.

Among the favorite fruits served, cherries and mangoes!

View Photo Album of the Event

A Day of Caring with Lehigh University

LVCC's Campus Center received a new storage shed thanks to the hard work of Lehigh University volunteers. Our new friends spent half a day constructing the shed. The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley partnered LVCC with Lehigh University for the Day of Caring project.

Although the day was bitterly cold, the volunteers geared up and toiled through the weather. With a few more hours of work, the shed will soon be completed.

We greatly appreciate the hard work of our engaged volunteers and the generosity of our community partners.

Pre-K Counts Culinary Journey into Nutrition

What do strawberries, blueberries, bananas, yogurt and wheat tortilla shells have in common? A deliciously healthy power snack for both children and adults, of course! Pre-K Counts from LVCC's Judith Chase Early Learning Center made the fresh fruit wraps during their cooking class with Randy Levan, LVCC's Central Food Service Manager.

After donning their new cook's hats, the children practiced fine motor skills by spreading yogurt and/or cream cheese and sprinkling an assortment of fruit onto the tortilla. While tasting their yummy creation, the children answered questions about the fruit's colors. When asked why we want to eat healthy foods, many children responded, "To keep from getting sick."

View More Photos of the Pre-K Counts cooking class at ELC

Kiwanians Bring Holiday Cheer with Annual Party

The preschool and Pre-K Counts classes from LVCC at Walnut Street had a jolly good time at our annual holiday party. Our gracious hosts, the Kiwanis Club of Allentown, held the festivities in the banquet hall of the Allentown BrewWorks. "Melody" Mike Maiatico, an accomplished pianist, led the group in a holiday sing-along with his electronic keyboard. The children sang and danced while playing tamborines.  As soon as we started singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, guess who appeared? Santa Claus! Each child had the opportunity to sit next to Santa, told him what was wanted for Christmas, and had photos taken. The Allentown Central Catholic Key Club officers played Santa's helpers by singing and handing out gifts. Following the fun, we had a delicious lunch to fill our tummies.

Thank you Kiwanians for making our spirits bright!

View Photos of the Holiday Party

 

 

Hurricane Sandy Relief Drive

While many of us were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, there were many families throughout New York and New Jersey that lost their homes through water and structural damage. In November, LVCC at South Mountain held a drive for families in need. Over 50 LVCC families and staff contributed clothing, hygiene items, non-perishable food, toys, and pet items. On Friday, the older toddlers and kindergartners from LVCC at South Mountain helped staff fill the van for delivery to the Iron Pigs Coca-Cola stadium. From there, the Iron Pigs staff distributed the donated items to families in Lakewood, NJ.

To all the families and staff involved in this relief effort, thank you for all your help!



Fall Fest Fun at Campus Center

Although the weather outside was frightful, the annual Fall Fest at LVCC's Campus Center drew a large crowd.  Children of all ages enjoyed having their faces painted and creating at the arts 'n crafts table. Families attempted to "guess the teacher" by matching baby pictures with LVCC's teachers. Practicing motor development skills, children played bean bags, participated in the ring toss, and fished from the "duck pond."

Many families went home with an armful of giveaways and prizes. Cops 'n Kids provided books for children and adults in every family. Lehigh University Police Department handed out whistles, pens, toy badges, and information about the police academy. Lucky winners of the basket raffle took home prizes for a movie night, a spa basket, early childhood books, games, and infant toiletries.

View More Photos of Fall Fest

Seiple Farms Pumpkin Picking

The preschool and Pre-K Counts classes from LVCC at South Mountain discovered life on the farm at Seiple Farms. Mrs. C., the farm educator, explained the different types of pumpkins and gourds, along with the machinery and crops found on their farm. She then led the children on a journey into the corn fields, through the hay maze, on a hay ride, and finally ending at the pumpkin patch.  During the visit, the children explored the barn full of cows, pigs, and llamas. They also picked out their very own baby bear pumpkins. By the end of the exciting afternoon, the children boarded the bus tuckered out with their pumpkins.

 

View More Photos of LVCC at Seiple Farms

Cedar Crest College Leads Nutrition Demonstration

Students enrolled in the nutrition program at Cedar Crest College will hold a series of healthy food discussions and cooking demonstrations for families and staff at various LVCC locations throughout the year. The latest presentation was held at LVCC's Fowler Center on Main Street.

The presenters offered tips on how to get your picky child to try new foods, such as involving your child in the kitchen to interest them in what they are eating. Don't praise your child for finishing their meal; instead praise him for trying different foods. Introduce foods twice to children because our tastebuds change as we age.

During the cooking demonstration, families tasted yummy peach oatmeal, southwestern-style kidney beans, and banana-carrot-oat muffins. The attending families also received parting gifts, including free vouchers for a fruit and a vegetable, nutritious recipes to enjoy at home, and a bag of ingredients to make the recipes.

TechStars Brings Robot Legos Alive at LVCC

LVCC partnered with TechStars, a division of Computer Explorers, to provide hands-on robotics classes for the school-age students attending LVCC at Wilson School, LVCC at Lower Nazareth School, LVCC at Alburtis School, and LVCC at Lincoln School. Throughout the five-week after-school sessions, the children had the opportunity to learn computer programming using colorful Lego blocks, small motors, motion sensors, and laptops.

The students, working in teams, followed step-by-step directions to build a number of moving objects like chomping alligators, sliding soccer goalies, propelled airplanes, and tilting boats. If a step was missed, the children would use problem solving and counting skills to work out the problem. Lego programming helped spark interest in technology and engineering.

The sessions were led by Wendy Buchanan and Hans Wagner, Computer Explorers Teachers.

VIEW PHOTOS & VIDEOS

Bricks 4 Kidz Makes Engineering Fun

Bricks 4 Kidz after school labs have joined LVCC at Lincoln School for LEGO Engineering classes every Wednesday in October. From 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., the children will use science, technology, engineering, problem-solving skills, and teamwork to build mechanical LEGO creations based on different themes.

This week, the children were introduced to an energy theme while constructing an oil pump jack. They learned the difference between a renewable energy source (i.e. sunlight) and a nonrenewable energy source (i.e. fossil fuels). Other models in the energy theme include solar panels and windmills. Another theme the children may explore is space. Using LEGO components and creativity, they will build satellites, centrifuges, or the Discovery space ship.

 "These programs are educational and fun," explains Erik Wright, Bricks 4 Kidz Educator, "working with gears, motors, and simple machines may spark an interest in science."

United Way Volunteers Complete Projects for Day of Caring

Volunteers from KGB painted a child's block for the parade float. 

Four LVCC locations received special visitors on Thursday for the United Way's annual Day of Caring. Day of Caring is a day for volunteers from area businesses to connect with local non-profits and witness first-hand how their contributions provide service to those in need. While at LVCC, the volunteers toured the centers, then completed various maintenance projects for six hours.

LVCC on Union Boulevard's gymnasium (gross motor area) looks brand new thanks to our new friends at Aetna. They spent the day painting the gym. Representatives from Thermo Fisher Scientific painted and organized a room at LVCC on Walnut Street for LVCC staff to have their own lounge. At LVCC's Fowler Center on Main Street, Lehigh University volunteers planted bulbs and cleaned up the center's playground.

Employees from Aetna and KGB painted colorful flowers and butterflies, along with other creative art projects. Their efforts helped to build a parade float at LVCC's South Mountain. LVCC is presenting the float in Allentown's 250th anniversary "Points of Pride" parade tomorrow, September 29th.

LVCC would like to thank the United Way volunteers and their employers for making a positive contribution to our organization. All the volunteers did a fantastic job!

This event was coordinated through the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.

Computer Explorers Returns to LVCC

School-age students attending LVCC at Wilson School began their five session after-school Computer Explorers program. Wendy Buchanan of Computer Explorers is leading the hands-on robotics classes.

This past week, the children listened attentively as Wendy instructed the course. They really got a kick out of creating an alligator and making its mouth open and close. To make the Lego pieces actively move, the students used computer programming, collaboration, creative thinking and problem solving.

The Charles A. and Leona K. Gruber Foundation provided funding for Computer Explorers at both LVCC at Wilson School and LVCC at Lower Nazareth School.

Holiday Family Fun

Festive holiday events took place at many of our centers this week. LVCC Alburtis held a Holiday Family Fun Night starting with a visit from Colleen Heimbach, Shafer and Nazareth Intermediate Center Director, and some canine guests. Ms. Heimbach, along with her seeing-eye trained dogs, gave a presentation on how to properly approach dogs.

A representative from the Lehigh County Humane Society spoke about importance of taking care of your pet.

Afterward, parents and children snacked on goodies, made crafts together, and finished the night with an active dodgeball game - parents vs. children.

Click Here to See More Photos from Alburtis Holiday Family Fun

LVCC St. Luke's held a grand holiday event at St. Luke's Hospital. Children and their parents enjoyed festive foods, face painting, and creative crafts. The sounds of holiday singing and stories echoed through the halls.

Special guests, Santa and Mrs. Claus brought presents for all the children!

Click Here to See More Photos from St. Luke's Holiday Party

We Salute the Veterans

LVCC's Fowler Center on Main St. has our very own army veteran, Joel Buskirk. Mr. Joel is our Preschool Teacher. To honor Mr. Joel and the many other military veterans from the area, all the classrooms at Fowler Center created thank you cards and posters to give to Mr. Joel.

The students participated in stimulating activities centered around Veteran's Day. Through drawing, painting, and listening to stories, the students learned that a veteran is a person who has served in the armed forces, which includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard. The students also learned that veterans are special people because they protect us and they deserve to be honored with a holiday. So, thank you Mr. Joel and the veterans of the Lehigh Valley!

Stop, Drop, and Roll

LVCC St. Luke's had a special visitor on Wednesday. Fire Chief David Boehrer from the Fountain Hill Fire Department brought his nicest firetruck for the children to explore. After Fire Chief Dave taught the basics of "stop, drop, and roll", he allowed the children to ask questions. The children asked very good open-ended questions that demonstrated their excellent communication skills (and fascination with firetrucks). Fire Chief Dave rewarded the children with their very own fireman helmuts for being such attentive listeners.

Ms. Natasha from the Preschool class volunteered to try on the fireman's uniform. Once completely suited up, Ms. Natasha was carrying 120 lbs. of gear! All the children agreed, they liked Ms. Natasha in the suit.

Fire Chief Dave was so informative and he even gave the center a "Sparky the Fire Dog" video to watch. Now all the preschoolers and older toddlers should know what to do in case of a fire and that they should not hide from the fireman when he comes to save them.

To see more photos of this event, click on this link to Flickr.com
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Halloween, Parades, Stories, Oh My!

All the LVCC students were busy this week preparing for the Halloween festivities. Many of the activities centered around pumpkins, black cats and creative costumes. LVCC Campus Center paraded around historic Bethlehem in their costumes, while parents proudly played paparazzi. The youngest representation of the toddler group must have sent each other memos in advance. They were a roaring hit as a cub pack. Ms. Adams and her creative after-schoolers at LVCC Forks School decorated their class with Halloween artwork and created signs for their "Halloween Costume Show". Every child took home an award for their imaginative costumes. Ms. Dana at LVCC South Mountain Pre-K Counts read a story about an astronaut during reading circle time. Afterward, a number of students wanted to be an astronaut and wear a helmet for trick-or-treat! The Toddler Room stirred with anticipation as everyone took turns mixing a batch of Halloween brew on one side of the room, while the other side of the room learned about creepy bugs, yuck!

To see more photos of the exciting happenings this week, log on to www.flickr.com/photos/LVCC or like us at www.facebook.com/LVCConline.