>Family Concert & Early Childhood Conference Coming to New Bern!

>New Bern, NC – Craven Smart Start and Child Care Resource and Referral, with the support of Garber United Methodist Preschool, will be sponsoring a free family concert and an early childhood conference later this month. Dr. Jean Feldman, the nationally known speaker, early childhood educator and creator of engaging songs and creative activities will be the presenter at both events. Garber Preschool will host the conference and the family concert, both of which will be held in the Ministry Center of the Garber United Methodist Church, located at 4202 Country Club Road in Trent Woods.

The family concert will take place on Friday, March 25th beginning at 6:30pm. Letha Ricks, Schoolage Specialist for Craven Smart Start, says “the concert will be a night of interactive fun for parents and their children with “Dr.Jean”, as she’s known in educational circles. It will be upbeat and will offer many opportunities for parents to move, sing, listen, learn and laugh with their children. Although the focus of the program will be on birth to five, it can be adapted for older children.” Peggy Faulkenberry, Garber Preschool Director, encourages parents to take advantage of the concert. She says that “Dr. Jean will give parents useful tools which will enhance their children’s learning, all while making it fun for the children and their parents!” Dr. Jean’s CD’s will be available for purchase. The family concert is free, but parents will need to register by calling Child Care Resource and Referral at (252) 672- 5921. The deadline for registering is March 18th.

The “Rock, Rhyme, Write and Read Literacy Conference”, will be held on Saturday, March 26th from 9am – 2pm. The goal of this conference is to provide a day of quality training for child care providers, preschool teachers, More at Four teachers and kindergarten teachers. The fee for the conference is $20 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch and a participant bag. Attendees will receive five contact hours and have the option of receiving CEU credit through Craven Community College for an additional fee. The deadline to register is March 18, 2011.

Dr. Jean’s noteworthy educational career has spanned more than 40 years. She inspires teachers across the country with her engaging songs and creative activities that help make teaching and learning FUN. According to Ms. Ricks, “Many children in our community and their parents are familiar with her learning songs, especially Tooty-Ta. Dr. Jean has presented at conferences throughout the country, but this will be the first time that she has presented in our area. We are delighted, that with support from Garber Preschool, we can bring her to Craven County.”

Craven Smart Start, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit that administers the funding and programs of Smart Start, North Carolina’s early childhood initiative, in Craven County. The mission of the program is to insure that every Craven County child, birth through five, receives the education, health and family support necessary to arrive at school ready to succeed. Child Care Resource and Referral, which is operated by Craven Smart Start, works to improve availability, affordability, and quality of child care in Craven County. It also provides free child care referral services to families and operates a toy and resource lending library for parents, child care providers and the public.

For more information about the family concert or the conference, please call (252) 672-5921.

Submitted by: Pinkie Moore, Community Outreach Coordinator, Craven Smart Start, Inc.