Educare of Omaha, Inc. News
Summer 2024
The Hart Beat: We Do Better Together
Thoughts from Educare of Omaha, Inc. Executive Director Rafel O. Hart
Dear Friends,
One of my favorite quotes is “When you know better, you do better.”
It’s a key component of our strategy at Educare of Omaha, Inc. We use annual assessment data to inform our practices, always striving to do better and be better for the children and families we serve.
I’m excited to share with you that our evaluation report from the 2022-23 school year is now available on our website. You can read the full report here.
Some highlights include:
- Educare of Omaha, Inc. classrooms continue to be ranked within the top 10% of all Head Start programs nationally in the Emotional Support domain.
- Seventy percent of English-speaking preschoolers were within the average range or above in the area of vocabulary.
- Sixty percent of infants’ and toddlers’ social emotional skills were within the average range.
- 97% of parents would recommend Educare programs to a friend.
- This quantitative data is important, but more so are the people behind the data. Our teachers use assessments to make immediate adjustments for individual students and inform best practices long-term. This data is also shared with parents as we partner together to support the child. We also build relationships with community partners based on student needs. Each data point represents parents, staff and the community working together for a child.
The child is the core focus of what we do at Educare of Omaha, Inc. Thank you for being a part of the community keeping that focus strong as we learn, grow and do better . . . together.
Sincerely,
Rafel O. Hart
Executive Director
Did you know Educare of Omaha, Inc. serves over 650 children in Douglas County? Help toddlers and preschoolers at Educare of Omaha, Inc. have a great time outside this summer by collecting bubbles and sidewalk chalk this May! It’s easy and fun!
Drop off donations of bubbles and sidewalk chalk at:
Early Learning Center at Kennedy
3200 North 30th Street, Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68111
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can also shop online and send bubbles and sidewalk chalk directly to Educare of Omaha, Inc. by clicking here.
Do you know a high school or college senior who attended Educare Omaha at Kellom or Indian Hill? We want to celebrate their achievements! Educare of Omaha, Inc. has a small gift for Class of 2024 high school and college graduates who attended one of our schools.
Graduates can fill out this form and we will mail our best wishes and a surprise. We can’t wait to reconnect with our former students and families – please share this opportunity!
Educare of Omaha, Inc. News
Spring 2024
The Hart Beat: We Love Our Teachers!
Thoughts from Educare of Omaha, Inc. Executive Director Rafel O. Hart
One of the things that makes Educare of Omaha, Inc. amazing is our teachers. They are:
- Highly-credentialed. Over 90 percent of our lead teachers have a bachelor’s degree, and many have master’s degrees. The majority of these degrees are in the areas of early childhood education, early childhood special education or psychology. Our associate teachers and teacher aides are also highly-specialized in child development, having earned a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, or an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or education.
- Experienced. On average, our lead teachers have been teaching for 13 years or more, and have been with Educare of Omaha, Inc. for 8 years. This longevity with our organization helps to create close bonds between children, parents and teachers through continuity of care. We strive to keep children with the same teacher throughout key transitions in their early education.
- Curious. Our teachers aren’t done learning – Educare of Omaha, Inc. makes opportunities for continuous learning available as part of the teacher’s daily routines, so they can focus on new techniques, STEM curriculum or wellness practices.
- Partners. Our teachers recognize that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher, and they partner with families to build strong bonds with their children and better understand their children’s developmental needs.
Each year, we give ourselves the tremendously difficult task of selecting one individual from our amazing group of educators as the Pam Buffett Teacher of the Year. This award is earned by a teacher that goes above and beyond to provide outstanding high-quality early education at one of the five Educare of Omaha, Inc. schools.
I am happy to share that the winner of the 2023 Pam Buffett Teacher of the Year award is Associate Teacher Theresa Dodds. Theresa’s co-workers describe her as a team player, a lifelong learner, and patient. She started her career at Educare Omaha at Kellom over 20 years ago. Her dedication to children and the community is evident. Congratulations Theresa!
Teaching is hard work, and we are always finding ways to do it better, but we know that each of our teachers is making a difference in the lives of students and their families every day!
Sincerely,
Rafel O. Hart
Executive Director
Did you know Educare of Omaha, Inc. serves over 375 children under the age of 3? That’s a lot of diaper changes! To keep our students clean and healthy, we use 228,000 wipes a year.
You can help us take care of infants and toddlers by collecting baby wipes for Educare of Omaha, Inc. schools this February. Drop off packages of baby wipes at the following locations –
MilkWorks
10818 Elm Street
Omaha, NE 68144
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cardinal Point Counseling
17330 Wright Street, Suite 105
Omaha, NE 68164
Tuesday through Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – Noon
Early Learning Center at Kennedy
3200 North 30th Street, Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68111
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can also shop online and send baby wipes directly to Educare of Omaha, Inc. by clicking the here.
Nebraska growing readers initiative
Nebraska growing readers initiative
Nebraska First Lady Suzanne Pillen works with Indian Hill parent volunteers to display books donated through Nebraska Growing Readers Program.
Educare of Omaha, Inc. schools are doing their part to turn book deserts into book gardens!
The Nebraska Growing Readers Initiative aims to increase access to books for families across the state. Each of Educare of Omaha, Inc.’s five schools is a distribution site for the project. Schools receive new titles each month, and families can select books to take home and add to their collection permanently.
Families that encourage reading in the home and read with their children help children succeed in school and beyond. Having books at home helps parents play a direct role in building children’s vocabulary and strengthening early reading skills.
The Nebraska Growing Readers Initiative is a partnership between Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the Statewide Family Engagement Center, and Unite for Literacy. For more information, visit https://www.singasongofsixpence.org/news/nebraska-growing-readers/.
Join us on Wednesday, February 28 between 3-5 p.m. for a Data Walk!
We will be reviewing assessment data from our entire program for the 2022-2023 school year. Researchers from University of Nebraska Medical Center will be on hand to explain findings in an informal, open house format.
This event will happen at the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative at 3200 North 30th Street, 2nd Floor. Community members are welcome!
Educare of Omaha, Inc. News
Winter 2023
The Hart Beat: Thankful for 20 Years
Thoughts from Educare of Omaha, Inc. Executive Director Rafel O. Hart
Dear Friends,
Recently, we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Educare Omaha at Kellom with an open house for our community leaders, non-profit partners, and donors. What started with 4 preschool classrooms serving 78 children in 2023 has grown to provide early childhood education and family engagement to over 600 children and their families annually at five locations!
Tarnisha Phiseme-Diep, who was four years old when she attended Educare Omaha at Kellom, spoke at the event. She shared,
“The impact of my teacher during my preschool education supported me all throughout high school. I developed a love for reading, because you read to me. I am goofy, because you allowed my imagination to run wild. I crochet, I produce music, I paint, I sew, because you allowed me to dive into the arts. I am a teacher, because you taught me. Every little thing you did for me is what made me who I am today. Thank you for making a difference in my life.”
I am so THANKFUL for our staff, donors, partners and the community. THANK YOU for all you have done to help Educare of Omaha, Inc. grow, and further our mission. With your support, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of young children and ensure they have the best possible chance for success in school and life.
Sincerely,
Rafel O. Hart
Executive Director
#GIVINGTUESDAY402
You’re invited to join the biggest local giving day of the year – Giving Tuesday on November 28, 2023! Mark your calendars and support Educare of Omaha, Inc. as we work to eliminate the opportunity gap for young children and prepare them for success in school and life. You can learn more on our Share Omaha profile here.
Ready to give early? Click the button below and use the donation code GIVINGTUESDAY!
Sixpence Home Visiting Program
Sixpence Home Visiting Program
Educare of Omaha, Inc. partners with Sixpence Early Learning Fund to provide a family engagement/home visitation program. This free program is available for parents with children 0-3 years of age, as well as parents that are expecting a new baby.
Our experienced professionals meet with families in their home three times a month to help parents prepare for and guide the early development of their children. Home visiting specialists model techniques for nurturing relationships with infants and toddlers, and help parents become more effective at monitoring children’s health and other developmental needs using the Parents as Teachers curriculum. They also help the family set goals and work towards them, and can connect the family to other community resources as needed.
Families in Educare of Omaha, Inc.’s Sixpence Home Visiting Program also meet as a group monthly. The group has enjoyed outings to parks and farms, and in October celebrated autumn with a party at the Early Learning Center at Skinner. These outings help build community connections, socialization and fun memories.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining our Sixpence Home Visiting Program waitlist, contact Jessica at 402-561-6122.
Educare of Omaha, Inc. awarded funding
The Omaha Community Foundation recently awarded a grant from the Creche Childhood Education Fund for Educare of Omaha, Inc.’s Read & Play Program. Funds will provide books and materials to support children’s literacy skills at home. By reading at home, families engage with their children, build a library of literacy resources, and improve oral language skills necessary to become proficient readers by 3rd grade. Thank you OCF!
Educare of Omaha, Inc. News
Fall 2023
The Hart Beat: What's New This Fall
Thoughts from Educare of Omaha, Inc. Executive Director Rafel O. Hart
Dear Friends,
As August approaches, the signs of going “Back-to-School” are all around us – school supply lists, open houses and lots of paperwork. But at Educare, “Back-to-School” is not an entirely accurate phrase, because our students, parents and teachers are learning and interacting year-round!
What a new school year DOES mean for Educare is:
- New infant classrooms – we are excited to welcome our youngest students to our schools!
- New teachers for preschoolers and new students. At Educare, students stay with the same teachers from birth to age 3, and for ages 3-5. This continuity of care builds trust between teachers, students and families.
- New developmentally appropriate learning opportunities – Teachers may not change, but activities in the classroom do! Our teachers are busy making sure that classrooms have everything they need to match the ages and stages of our students.
- More professional development for all staff. Our schools are closed this week (August 7-11) as teachers, kitchen staff, health aides, and administrators prepare for students.
Open Houses will be held at two Educare schools and three Early Learning Centers on Tuesday, August 15. We look forward to showing our students and families what exciting things await this fall!
Sincerely,
Rafel O. Hart
Executive Director
Educare of Omaha, Inc. created a wish list of items needed in our classrooms this year. You can find it on our Share Omaha profile here, or by clicking the button below. The Shop For Good links will take you to Amazon, where you can purchase the exact item we need and ship it direct! Thank you for supporting the achievements of our students.
Read & Play: There's No App for a Lap!
Read & Play: There's No App for a Lap!
Did you know the building blocks for reading proficiency by 3rd grade are grounded in oral language developed in the first three years of life? Research shows that reading to children is a wonderful way to increase vocabulary and literary skills.
The Read & Play Program, created by Educare of Omaha, Inc.’s speech language pathologists, provides books, activities and parent strategies to support children’s literacy skills at home. By reading at home, families engage with their children, build a library of literacy resources, and improve oral language skills necessary to become proficient readers by 3rd grade.
The first book this school year available to all students is The Family Book by Todd Parr. Families will also receive bubble wands to enjoy together!
Childhood Matters: Peek-A-Boo
In this seven minute video, see how a game of peek-a-boo can change the world. Educare of Omaha, Inc. provides high-quality care to all the children we serve, and empowers and supports families in their parenting journey. From eye contact to playing peekaboo – little things make a big difference!