Spring 2016

News

Donna Rosati Peters: RECAs 2014-15 Educator of the Year

Donna Rosati Peters, RECAs 2014-15 Educator of the Year,
will serve as the facilitator of the April 12, 2016 RECA Spring
Dinner Meeting and Training. Donna developed a nature-based
classroom at the Weinstein JCC ,which was recognized by the
Southern Early Childhood Association in 2013 as Virginias Winner of the SECA Exemplary Outdoor Classroom Award. We
are all looking forward to the wonderful program and tours that
Donna and her staff have planned for us on April 12, 2016 on:
Creating Outdoor Learning Environments That Promote and
Enhance Childrens and Families Connection to Nature.
Donna Peters is the Director of Early Childhood Services at the
Dora L. Lewis Family and Child Development Center at the
Weinstein Jewish Community Center. She began working at the
JCC in 1981 as a Teacher in its preschool and childcare program, became the Director of Preschool and Childcare in l987,
and in 1995, she became the Director of Early Childhood Services at this Weinstein JCC program.
Over the years at the Dora L. Lewis Family and Child Development Center, Donna established
an inclusion program for children with special needs and integrated the Reggio Emilia childcentered approach into the program. She also launched the Parenting Forum Series at the JCC
and implemented An Ethical Start Program as well.

In this issue

Your RECA Board

RECA Educator of the

Year

Spring Membership
Dinner & Training

Healthy Kids Day @

The Y

Advocacy

In 1988, Donna led this JCC Program through the Accreditation process of the National Association for the Education of Young Children; the program was Accredited by
NAEYC in 1988, and Donna continues to maintain its
NAEYC Accreditation, one of the few programs in the
greater Richmond Area to continue to receive NAEYC Accreditation.
Donna has also served on the Richmond Early Childhood Association Board, has hosted numerous RECA trainings and
other training events for area early childhood educators at the
Weinstein Jewish Community Center. She has also hosted
Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education Conference tours across the years, affording those participants an
opportunity to observe a day at the Dora L. Lewis Family and
Child Development Center, which is an exceptional example
of an NAEYC Accredited Program.

Your
RECA BOARD
2015-16

COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Patsy Moon
Accreditation

Debbi Mintz
Susan Hill
Co-Presidents

Jeanne Jones
Mary Landis
Co-Historians

Jessica Cherebin
Joan Brennan
Co-Presidents-elect

Ginny Brenner
Tracy Walters
Co-Public Policy

Mary Landis
Jeanne Jones
Co-1st VPs, Programs

Latanya Alexander
WOYC

Latanya Alexander
2nd VP, Membership

Cindy Hutchinson
Patsy Moon
University Reps

Debbie Lickey
3rd VP, Community

Jessica Hendricks
Webmaster

Alyson Williams
Corresponding Secretary
Jessica Cherebin
Recording Secretary
Margina Grow
Treasurer
Sarah Verno
Paula Davidson
Alex Strabley
Members-at-Large

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EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

NOMINATION FORM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beginning with the 2010-11
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
school year, the Richmond
Early Childhood Association
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
has presented the RECA
Educator of the Year Award.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This award has been given to
RECA Early Childhood
Educators ~~~
based on their
outstanding commitment and
contributions in the field. In
addition
to having
careers
Beginning
with the
2010- in
the
ECE
field,
the
recipients
2011 School Year the Richmond
of this
awardAssociation
have also been
Early
Childhood
has
active
volunteers
in
the
presented the RECA Educator of
Community and in ECE
theProfessional
Year Award. This
award has been
Organizations

given
to Richmond
giving
of theirEarly
timeChildhood
and talent
Educators
based
on their
outstanding
to serve
young
children,
their
commitment
and
contributions
in
families and others in thethe
field.
The recipients have also been
field.
active volunteers in the Community
2015-16
Educator
of the
andThe
in ECE
Professional
OrganizaYear
will be
presented
the
tions
giving
of their
time andattalent
RECA
Spring
Membership
to serve
young
children,
their families
andDinner
others inMeeting
the field. and Training
event. If you have someone
you would like to nominate
for this
award, please
refer to
Nominations
are currentthe RECA Educator of the
ly being
accepted for and
the RECA
Year Information
Nomination FORM listed on
the RECA web site. The
Educator of the Year
Nomination FORM must be
completed and returned with
two letters of support by
March 1, 2016, in order for
your nominee to be
considered.

Nominee for the Award:

(must be a current member of RECA)

Address:
Nominated by:
Contact information (address and phone number):
Reason for selection of this nominee
(Please give details specifically to the early childhood profession and advocacy for children):

Other awards held by nominee:

Professional recognition (include offices held at the local or

state level):

Additional information that supports the nominee:

Signature: ___________________________
Title: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Please send this form along with two (2) letters of support no
later than March 1, 2016 to:
Debbie Mintz
Huguenot UMC Preschool
10661 Duryea Drive
Richmond VA 23235

The Richmond Early Childhood Association

Spring 2016 Membership Dinner Meeting and Training

When:

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where:

The Weinstein Jewish Community Center at 5403 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226

Training: Creating Outdoor Learning Environments That Promote and Enhance Childrens and Families Connection to Nature

5:30 - 6:00

Pick up name tags and information pamphlet at the registration table in the hallway
outside the auditorium. An information session will follow in the auditorium during
which participants will be given details about the Scavenger Hunt tour and led outside to the playgrounds and gardens.

6:00-6:55

Weinstein JCC Outdoor Learning Environment Scavenger Hunt and Tour.

7:00-7:30

Dinner and RECA Business Meeting in the Auditorium.

7:30-8:30

The Indoor Presentation will follow dinner in the Auditorium. It will consist of a history of the Weinstein JCC Playground phases and stages including: overall purpose and
importance of connecting young children to the natural world, community involvement and fundraising. The presentation will conclude with a slide show - to answer
and educate the participants using the information from the scavenger hunt as a
guide and to explain the relevance and purpose of each area.

Notes:
1. Participants should dress for the weather as we will be going outside for the Tours even if it rains.
2. For Registration Questions Contact: Mary Landis (272-9266) or Jeanne Jones (272-9575)

_________________________________________________________________________________________
REGISTRATION FORM: The cost of this event is $5.00 for RECA members or PACED or RAD Directors and $10.00 for those who are
not RECA members or PACED or RAD Directors. Please complete this Form, detach AND return it along with you Registration
Check made payable to RECA by April 5, 2016.
Name

Circle your Membership below:

RECA member, PACED or RAD Director. If you are a RECA member, list your NAEYC ID #
School or Organization
Address
Telephone No._

City

zipcode

e-mail address
Please detach and return this completed Registration Form along with your check to: Jeanne
Jones
9103 Whitaker Circle
Bon Air, Virginia 23235

Looking for ways to inspire kids and families to be active and live a healthy lifestyle?

Check out the great ideas at Healthy Kids Day sponsored by The Shady Grove Family YMCA!
April 30th from 11am-2pm.
Join the Y and RECA at this family event!
The admission is free and open to the public.

Activities to include:
Food demonstrations, bike rodeo, 1K family walk/run, inflatables, games, face painting,
balloon art and much more!
Register to win door prizes throughout the event, including 3 month family membership!
Check out the new Tommy J. West Aquatic Center while you are there.

Please contact Margina Grow growm@ymcarichmond.org for more information.

c/0 Alyson Williams

VCU Child Development Center
1128 Floyd Ave.
Richmond, VA 23284

www.recava.net

Advocacy Action Item

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