Author: Melissa Willers
HOPE, JOY, AND A FUTURE THAT IS BRIGHT
give your voice
Talk to people about Early Connections and how we have worked tirelessly (125 years and counting!) to provide high quality care and education to the children of El Paso County, regardless of their family’s economic status.
In fact, 98% of the children who walk through our doors are offered tuition assistance. Additionally, nearly 78% quality for free and reduced lunch.
Educate yourself and educate others – share these important stats!
Watch and share the video below on social media and let people know how they can continue and contribute to our 125 year legacy.
The village that gathers around a child
With the color-changing of leaves, we are reflecting upon the upcoming ‘Season of Giving’ and the ‘village’ that gathers around in support of a child. In this video, our President and CEO Liz Denson highlights and expresses her gratitude for the many people who make up the Early Connections village – our knowledgeable teachers, our dedicated staff and Board, our generous donors – every single person plays an important role. For 125 years, our village has come together to support children and families in Colorado Springs, so they are both successful not only in school, but also in life. Watch this video, and we hope you’ll take the opportunity to introduce more people to Early Connections to grow our village.
Thank you!
Our 125th Anniversary Celebration was so special – thank you for being there! The outpouring of love and support for the children of Early Connections was powerful: it changes lives and our community.
Here’s a short message from our President & CEO Liz Denson. You might also recognize her special guest.
Your support makes a difference everyday. Thank you and have a great week!
Literacy Kits
Liz Denson, President and CEO of Early Connections Learning Centers, sits down with 2021 Terri lynne Lokoff Teacher of the Year Recipient, Ms. Mariah to unpack our literacy kits. These special kits provide a unique resource to help our teachers with the curriculum goals they set for students. Watch this video to learn what each kit includes and hear a few examples of they are used in the classroom to engage and delight our students.
Curriculum in Action
At Early Connections, our curriculum thoughtfully and intentionally guides everything from the activities we do to the language we use to support the healthy development of our children. Even art projects! In this video, our curriculum & instructor coordinator Brandi Bergh walks us through an open-ended art project with two of our children. These sorts of activities focus more on the process versus the final product. Through the process of open-ended art, our children learn how to enhance their creativity, problem solve, and develop a strong sense of self. Not only will you see how much fun they have in this video, but you’ll also discover how much they are learning.
Celebrate 125 years with Collective Groove
Dust off your dance shoes and be ready to shake a tail feather at our anniversary celebration! Early Connections only turns 125 years old once, and it wouldn’t be a celebration of historic proportions without a proper dance party. The 9-piece brass horn band Collective Groove, comprised of the finest musicians in southern Colorado, will bring their timeless horn-powered grooves from the Golden Age of Soul along with the funkiest modern-day beats to create an epic dance party. Even if you don’t dance, it’s going to be an over-the-top good time.
FUN FACT: The lead singer, TC Chavez, grew up in Colorado Springs and attended
Early Connections as a young child! He first started singing in second grade, and was
inspired by the sounds of Motown and artists like The Temptations, Smokey Robinson
and the Miracles, and the Chi-Lites.
Final Week of the Supply Drive,
ending August 12
Since we launched our Supply Drive on July 27th, we have received many Amazon boxes – thank you! It sparks so much joy for our teachers and students to see all the wonderful materials they’ll use in their classrooms to create, explore, think, and celebrate. Which items do you think students would be most excited to see? Watch this short video of a student helping open boxes and sharing what she finds inside.
This is the final week of our Supply Drive, and many items remain, including STEM kits, puzzles, beads, and bulletin board stickers. You can still shop our Amazon List to directly purchase supplies or make a monetary donation.
You Can Still Donate!
$150 provides all supplies for one child
$50 provides a puzzle, book, and paint pack
$25 provides one pack of rainbow-colored washable ink pads
Make sure to login to your Amazon account first to view our supply list and start shopping. Questions? Contact Nicole Schiff, 719-381-4803 or nschiff@earlyconnections.org
The theme at Early Connections this quarter is CURRICULM! Our new President and CEO, Liz Denson, shares how you’ll get a behind-the-scenes peek at the unique, high-quality educational program our teachers use in the classroom. In the coming months, hear directly from our team of experts how we meet the needs for all children in a way that’s developmentally appropriate for their age. Liz also invites you to a party of historic proportions – celebrate with us on October 1st!
Celebrating 125 years of paving the way for a bold and bright future!
Saturday, October 1, 2022
DoubleTree by Hilton, Colorado Springs
6:00 – 10:00 pm
Cocktail Attire
Become a sponsor and be front and center for the celebration.
Email nschiff@earlyconnections.org