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A message from Bright Beginnings Central VA
BBCV staff are transitioning back to in-office operations. Staff will be in the office on Tuesday and Thursdays, and Friday mornings. The majority of meetings will continue to be held virtually, although some in-person meetings will also take place.
We are evaluating the possibility of in-person professional development programs, including our annual conference. No decisions have been made at this time.
We appreciate the Early Care and Education Providers who have contacted BBCV and expressed their willingness to help the community during this crisis, especially as the need for childcare has grown.
We at BBCV, along with our community, country and the world, look forward to the complete end of this crisis and the return to normal programming. Until then, please stay safe and healthy.
Karen
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library through Bright Beginnings CV at the United Way of Central Virginia, is offered to children from birth through age five who reside in the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford or Campbell.
Registrations are temporarily suspended in the counties of Amherst, Appomattox and Bedford due to limited funding. We hope to resume registrations in these counties as soon as possible.
Bright Beginnings extends its sincere gratitude to the Watt Foster Family Foundation for its generous support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Campbell County!
Bright Beginnings CV is accepting applications for a Coordinated Enrollment Assistant.
Send letter of interest and resume to:
Director, Bright Beginnings CV
United Way of Central Virginia
1010 Miller Park Square
Lynchburg, VA. 24501
Bright Beginnings Central Virginia (SBCV) is a regional initiative, serving the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell, and the city of Lynchburg. BBCV is housed within the United Way of Central Virginia, which serves as its fiscal agent.
Our Vision: All Children are supported in getting ready for kindergarten, to lay the building blocks for third grade reading proficiency.
BBCV serves as a facilitator of conversation and action focusing on the needs of children.
Choosing High Quality Child Care and Preschool
High-quality care means that children are engaging in meaningful learning and play, guided by qualified caregivers in an enriched educational environment. Central Virginia is fortunate to have many quality early childhood programs.
High-quality Care does not always look the same. Quality programs don't all use the same curriculum or schedules, and classrooms aren't set up identically. Standards for evaluating the quality of a program can also differ. There are several "tools" for accreditation and while they may not be identical, they ensure program credibility and enable parents to make informed decisions when choosing a preschool or child care program for the children.
There are things that parents can look for when seeking high-quality care for their children.
What to look for:
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Education, training, and qualifications of staff
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Interactions between teachers and children
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Effective teachers have the warmth and sensitivity to engage children, fostering self-confidence
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Class Size: small class sizes and low child to teacher ratios allow for individual attention
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Environment and Instruction: age-appropriate curriculum is used
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Learning environment fosters exploration, has a variety of materials. Materials are accessible to children
Virginia Quality
The Virginia Quality Initiative is one process for improving program quality in childcare centers, preschools and family day home programs. Virginia Quality in Central Virginia is coordinated through Smart Beginnings. Virginia Quality is a voluntary process that offers the following benefits to programs:
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On-site program assessment at no cost to the provider
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Individual coaching offered by VQ trained Technical Assistants (TAs)
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Improvement plans with specific goals that meet the needs of each individual program
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Access to free or low-cost Professional Development / Education Training Hours
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Resources and materials that support quality improvement
Bright Beginnings CV Partner Programs
** Indicates a program participates in Virginia's Link B5 System
Center Based Programs:
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Amelon Early Learning Center**
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Aslan Castle**
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Appomattox Head Start (STEPS)
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Bashful Giraffe Early Learning Center**
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Caterpillar Clubhouse**
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Discovery Place (AltaVista Y)
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Elizabeth's Early Learning Center
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Faith Assembly: Lynchburg**
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Fishes and Loaves Ministries (Dominion Kids)**
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Five Star Academy**
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Goodview Elementary VPI
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Hyland Heights Child Development Center**
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Lynchburg Christian Academy Early Learning Center
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Little Light (the Life Church, Bedford)**
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Mary Bethune Academy**
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Madison Heights Head Start**
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Randolph College Nursery School**
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Saint Andrew's Preschool
Bright Beginnings CV Participating Family Day Homes
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Kathy Brown-Austin
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Sherry Gammon
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Vanessa Gunter
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Belinda Lewis
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Patricia Parrish