Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers Holds Open House at New Location in Hanover Township, Bethlehem

Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers (LVCC) announces the September opening of its newest early education and child care center at Monocacy Manor, 395 Bridle Path Road in Hanover Township. The public is invited to tour the center and meet characters from Alice in Wonderland during family open house events on Wednesday, September 4th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 21st from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

LVCC at Monocacy Manor, located near Routes 512 and 22, can serve up to 86 children from six weeks of age through elementary school age. Full-time and part-time child care for all ages will be available Monday – Friday with hours from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

According to LVCC’s President / CEO Susan M. Williams, “LVCC programs are developed to accommodate key age ranges and include innovative teaching methods. Located in a picturesque country setting, LVCC at Monocacy Manor will provide children many opportunities for outdoor learning experiences, such as organic gardening. We take great pride in everything we do and look forward to providing service for families in the northern Bethlehem community.”

A not-for-profit organization serving the Lehigh Valley for over 40 years, Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers (LVCC) provides high quality early education and childcare to promote healthy child development, meet the needs of families and encourage children to discover the joy of learning at 21 locations throughout Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

For more information about LVCC at Monocacy Manor, families should call Center Director Cheryl O’Rourke at 484-225-3357 or visit LVCC’s website at www.lvcconline.org.

DaVinci Science Center Uses Gross Gunk As a Learning Tool

Making hand sanitizer.

If it stinks, oozes, crusts, or mushes, kids are fascinated. Thanks to a generous grant from the Dexter F. & Dorothy H. Baker Foundation, this summer the school-age classes at LVCC's Judith Chase Early Learning Center and LVCC on Union Boulevard discovered the captivating world of body functions with the help of DaVinci Science Center. Bringing their Science on the Move program to the classroom, the DaVinci Science Center explored the "impolite" science of the human body. For seven weeks, the children conducted hands-on experiments with sounds, smells, fluids and body parts in the "Grossology" lessons.

Want to know why you become flatulent after eating? Ask your child! Their exploration of gross sounds and smells had them belching into balloons and testing smell kits.

How can bodily fluids teach science? Children were introduced to biology as they searched for small animal bones, fur and feathers in regurgitated owl pellets. While making troll boogers and dragon toothpaste using household products, the children explored basic chemistry. An experiment with hand sanitizer led to a discussion about germs and microbiology.

Dissecting an owl pellet with toothpicks.

The older school-ages discovered the thrill of forensics. During the dissection of a cow eyeball (demonstrated by the DaVinci educator), a number of "that's so cool!" comments could be heard among the few "ews" and "yucks." After examining bones and simulated organ dissections, the children have a better understanding of anatomy.

The children also took a field trip to the DaVinci Science Center, where their gross exploration introduced them to interactive animatronics and imaginative exhibits. Where else can you make a giant cartoon character belch from a three-foot soda can?

View Photos of DaVinci Science Center Experiments 

Mr. Steve, DaVinci Science Center educator,
demonstrates a cow eyeball dissection.

Wells Fargo Supports LVCC Summer Enrichment Programs

Thanks to the generosity of the Wells Fargo Foundation, LVCC school-age students will have a fun summer of exploration. With this contribution, educators from Allentown Art Museum and Lehigh Valley Zoo will bring art and zoological discovery to the classroom. Students enrolled in LVCC's summer program will also take field trips to the museum and zoo. 

Wells Fargo store managers Armando Ordonez and Patty Scheirer stopped by LVCC's Judith Chase Early Learning Center for a photo op and a tour of the center.

Building Core Skills Through Gymnastics

To foster physical and emotional development, school-age children attending LVCC at Muhlenberg received gymnastics instruction. For four weeks, the Parkettes brought their nationally-known gymnastics routine to the after-school program.

The students experienced the importance of physical fitness, including strength, balance, flexibility and coordination. They gained physical benefits and confidence while tumbling and jumping. As the children became more familiar with the flips and cartwheels, their self-esteem grew. The trampoline was the most popular activity.

View Photo Album of Parkettes Gymnasium

The Importance of Reading

Reading is one of the most important skills a young child can learn. To foster interest in books, LVCC teachers conduct a daily reading circle. The subject matter may vary, but two things remain the same - the illustrations are colorful and the subjects expand a child's knowledge of the world.

LVCC at St. Luke's dedicated this week to the importance of reading with many reading-inspired activities. Bethlehem Library's child librarian visited with engaging, interactive tales. Staff invited the families to join their children for story time. The center held a week-long Scholastic Book Fair. Hundreds of affordable and educational books were available for families to purchase. Selling over $600 in books, the fundraiser was a success!

View more photos of LVCC at St. Luke's

Constructing a Social Network with K'NEX

Using simple K'NEX components and unlimited imagination, the school-age children from LVCC at South Mountain built innovative large-scale models as a team. Working together encouraged social interaction and collaborative problem-solving. Developing spatial thinking skills, the group structured problems, found answers, and expressed solutions to complete their project.

All this engaging activity occurred before school. Just think how much they will accomplish in the future!

Holiday Lunch with Allen Teens

To celebrate the holidays, LVCC at William Allen High School invited parents in the teen parent program to join their children for lunch today. Having the child care program inside the high school made it convenient for parents to visit during school breaks.

After a healthy meal, some of the infants and toddlers layed down for a long winter's nap. Others kept busy learning through play with all the colorful, interactive toys.

Happy holidays from everyone at Lehigh Valley Children's Centers!

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Experimenting with Elephant Toothpaste

Science can be foamy fun! Just ask LVCC at Nazareth Area Intermediate School. While experimenting (under adult supervision) with concentrated hydrogen peroxide, dish detergent and dry yeast, the kids discovered "Elephant Toothpaste." 

Food coloring was added to give the "toothpaste" a cool color. The yeast caused the chemical reaction, acting as a catalyst, to release the extra oxygen gas. And finally, the soap created all the foam.

Fourth and fifth graders, Olivia and Abbi, demonstrate the process.

 

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

 

 

A Lesson in Feeding Those Less Fortunate

The Nazareth Area Food Bank will receive a substantial amount of food to distribute for the holidays thanks to the children enrolled at LVCC at Shafer School and LVCC at Nazareth Area Intermediate School.

The students began collecting canned and boxed items on October 22nd. The goal was to collect 100 items between both locations by December 21st. The children exceeded their goal a whole month earlier than anticipated with a total of 130 food items.

One young boy brought in 16 boxes of cereal. When asked what prompted him to bring in so much food, he answered, "I told my dad we needed 16 more boxes of food to reach our goal. He said he would should get 30." What a great dad and what a thoughtful child!

The teachers and students kept track of the food collected with a progress chart. As the children brought in items, they filled in lines adding up the numbers on the chart.

"We didn't want to make this a contest," commented Ms. Candy, LVCC teacher. "We wanted the kids to give from the heart."

As a thank you for reaching the goal without any reward expectations, the LVCC teachers will throw a surprise pizza party for the Nazareth children in December.

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

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."

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!