The ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 Early Intervention (EI) Preschool Program provides a variety of programs and services for children from their third birthday until entry into school. Services for children during the preschool years are provided at no cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Individual Education Programs (IEPs) are written to define the services that will be provided to those eligible children.

Preschool Services may include:

• Screening and Evaluation
• Support in Early Childhood Environments
• Specialized Instruction
• Speech
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Hearing
• Vision
• Specialized Classrooms
• Transition to School Age Programs

Green = Student Classes in Session

Yellow/White/Purple= No Student Sessions

Kindergarten Registration is right around the corner! Check out your home district's website for more information!

Armstrong County:

Apollo-Ridge (Click here for a paper form to print and complete)

Armstrong School District:

• Dayton Elementary
• Elderton Elementary
• Lenape Elementary
• Shannock Valley Elementary
• West Hills Primary

Freeport Area School District

Leechburg Area School District

Indiana County:

Homer-Center School District

Indiana Area School District

Marion Center School District

Penns Manor Area School District

Purchase Line School District

River Valley School District

United School District: Please call the elementary office at 814-446-5615 Ext. 1312 for more information and an enrollment packet.

Not sure which district you live in? Visit the Department of Economic Development’s Find Your Municipality Website. Enter your street address, city and zip code, and click “Find Municipality”. The name of the municipality, county and school district will appear on the screen.

Please join the Buffalo Elementary School Kindergarten teachers and staff on Tuesday, January 14, at 6:30 pm to learn what Kindergarten readiness is all about!

Pennsylvania State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) invites families of children currently receiving Early Intervention (EI) services and parent co-chairs of the Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICC) to join the SICC Family Meet and Greet on Thursday, February 6th, 11:30am -12:30pm. This event takes place through Zoom. Please note the meet and greet is designed exclusively for families of children currently receiving EI services and parent co-chairs of LICCs.

The SICC Meet and Greet is an opportunity to connect with other EI families, learn more about the purpose of the State Interagency Coordinating Council and how families can be involved. See attached flyer for registration details. After registration, the Zoom details will be sent a few days prior to the meet and greet to the email chosen to register with.

Winter means keeping kids warm, but did you know young children in car seats should NOT wear puffy coats or snowsuits when in their car seats? A coat or snowsuit can compress under the harness of a car seat, sometimes up to four inches! This compression can cause your child's car seat straps to not fit properly, leaving a dangerous situation.

How should you keep your young child in the car seat warm when it's cold?

Try these tips to keep your child warm and safe while in their car seat:

• Dress your young child in snug layers, like t-shirts and leggings. Add long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat, shoes, and socks. You can even include a jacket.
• For preschoolers, after securing them in the car seat, turn their coat around and put it on backward (arms through the armholes) so the coat is on top of the harness, or use a blanket in the car.
• Make sure your preschooler is in the safest car or booster seat appropriate for their age, height, and weight.

Want to make germs disappear? Try this!

1. Put a small amount of hand lotion or petroleum jelly on your hands. This represents body oils.
2. Sprinkle with a little bit of cinnamon. This represents germs.
3. Then have your child try to wash with just cold water (no soap), and…
4. Then just warm water (no soap).

What happens when you wash with cold water and no soap?

What happens when you wash with warm water and no soap?

Now add soap and warm water, then scrub, ensuring all parts of the hands are washed—the backs of hands, between fingers, etc. Watch the germs disappear!

Sing the ABC song or Happy Birthday while washing. When the song is finished, it’s time to rinse!

Armstrong County Community Action:

Phone number: 724-548-3408

Facebook Page

Website

Indiana County Community Action:

Phone number: 724-465-2657

Facebook Page

Website

Email: mfaught@iccap.net

The SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) helps individuals and families in need by providing funds for purchasing nutritious food. If you're interested in learning more or would like to apply for SNAP benefits, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank offers a simple referral form. Once submitted, their staff will contact you within 2-3 business days to assist with the application process and answer any questions you may have. This service ensures that eligible residents can access the food support they need.

For more details, visit the https://pittsburghfoodbank.tfaforms.net/4834451...

Click here for more pintables and downloads to encourage reading in your home!

Jan. 8th at 10:30AM

Jan. 15th at 10:30AM

Jan. 22nd at 10:30AM

Jan. 29th at 10:30AM

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now accepting applications. LIHEAP is a federally-funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides assistance for home heating bills so those Pennsylvanians meeting eligibility and income guidelines can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for renters and homeowners.

Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us or can complete an application in person at a county assistance office.

Do you know about Power Library, Pennsylvania's electronic library? With Power Kids, you and your child can access things like:

• BookFlix: Watch videos and read books
• CyberSmarts: Learn how to be a safe, responsible and smart citizen with eBooks
• TrueFlix: Learn about people, places, nature, history and science from videos and eBooks
• Chat with a Librarian

In addition, many libraries throughout Pennsylvania offers their members access to downloadable or streaming eBooks and audiobooks through Axis 360 and Hoopla. Enjoy new bestsellers and old favorites on your compatible digital device! Check with your library for additional info.

Looking for a fun, free activity to do with your child(ren)? Check out your local Lowe's for the January 18th workshop! You can either complete the activity at the store, or get it to take home and complete!

Spark imagination with DIY-U kids' Firehouse Dog Bank workshop! Budding architects and future firefighters alike will delight in assembling this charming bank, complete with a firehouse facade and a friendly Dalmatian peeking out. Not only will mini builders enjoy the thrill of creating their own savings companion, but they'll also learn about fire safety and the role of firefighters in our communities. Join us for a day of building, bonding, and crafting memories that will inspire young minds to dream big and save with style!

Click here to register for the workshop! Change your store to the Lowe's location closest to you!

Check availability in your area!

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides books free of charge each month to children from birth to age 5. Wondering how it works? See below!

Sign up for the FREE monthly Kindergarten, Here I Am eNews!

Each month get activities, tips and resources you can use to help your kindergartner prepare for and have a successful Kindergarten year.

January: We're Learning in the Kitchen!

Each month offers activities families can do together in a variety of settings. The activities within the Learning is Everywhere Calendar and on the website are aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards (ELS).

These guidelines can be used to determine what infants, toddlers, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten children may know or be able to do within specific age ranges.

While your preschooler helps set the table, help them count the number of plates needed. How many forks will be needed? How many different ways can they fold a napkin? Does one person get a tall glass and another person a small cup? Once your preschooler has finished setting the table, have them assist with the meal. Encourage them to look at the recipe and say the numbers as you point to them and count the steps to make the meal. (Approaches to Learning through Play)

Have your preschooler close their eyes and guess what different smells are. Items to smell might be vanilla (extract), lemons, oranges, apples. Have them open their eyes and smell them again. Do they smell different or the same? What happens if they smell two things at once? Next time you fix a meal, see if they can guess what you’re cooking by its smell. (Scientific Thinking and Technology)

Explore a set of kitchen tools – strainer, turkey baster, potato masher, potholder, garlic press, spatula, slotted spoon, rolling pin, etc. Have your preschooler guess what the items is for, then tell them. After they have looked over the items, place one in a bag, and have them reach in and try to guess which one they feel. Ask them to describe what they feel—is it hard or soft? Is it cold or warm? Is it big or little? Does it move? Is it made of wood or plastic? How do they know? (Approaches to Learning through Play)

Sing up for the FREE monthly Learning is Everywhere eNewsletter!

Print the book list! 12 Books for in the Kitchen.

• The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
• • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle
  • The Kids’ Multicultural Cookbook by Deanna F. Cook
  • Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
  • We Eat Dinner in the Bathtub by Angela Shelf Medearis
  • Lunch by Denise Fleming
  • Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
  • A Chocolate Moose for Dinner by Fred Gwynne
  • The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza
  • Jamberry by Bruce Degen
  • Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up by Mollie Katzen

• Each month Learning is Everywhere provides a list of books that compliment the activities. What can you do with this list?

  • Make a short video of your child reading or giving a book review of one of the books on the list. What was their favorite part of the book? Share the video with family and friends. Tag PA's Promise for Children on Facebook or Instagram!
  • Share the list with your friends who have children.
  • If you are a teacher, print this list and give it to the families of your students, or post this list where families can see it. They'll know which books are being read in your classroom.
  • If you are an early learning community partner, host a special reading event for families using the monthly book lists. Each month has a different focus--find them at PA's Promise for Children. Include an activity from the monthly list to engage families.
  • Print the list and take it to your local library. Your librarian can help you find the books on the list. Then read the books with your child. Help your child circle or cross out the books on the list as you read them.

  
  

  How do you use this book list? Share on PA's Promise for Children, the Facebook page, or send it to Mary at marhal@pakeys.org.

Parent to Parent matches parents of children with special needs or disabilities with other families who've had similar journeys. A new diagnosis for your child might feel overwhelming, but P2P wants to ensure that you don't feel alone. By being matched to another family, they can provide emotional support, advice, stories of their own experiences, or just a listening ear!

Click here to complete a new match intake form

Want to become a Peer Supporter? Click here!

For more information, call 1-888-727-2706