JUNE 4, 2009 ISSUE
Children’s Council Recognizes Local Childcare Workers
5th Annual Provider’s Dinner Held May 28
Lynn Miller and Mary Willis of Mary’s Montessori practice breathing exercises at the 5th annual Provider’s Dinner.
On the night of Thursday, May 28, childcare providers in the area gathered at the Broyhill Inn and Conference center for the annual Provider’s Dinner event. The evening is organized by the Children’s Council to recognize and thank the men and women who work tirelessly to enrich the minds and lives of children in our area.
After a Broyhill buffet, Doris Mattraw, Watauga Children’s Council executive director, welcomed the guests, and said, “We appreciate all you do for this precious natural resource, children.”
Next, Lee Marshall recognized the 12 childcare organizations that took part in the NAP-SAAC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child-Care) early health initiative. Those 12 participants took part in a fit camp to encourage healthy eating and exercise in the children they serve. Those 12 are Greenway Child Development Center, Lynnhill daycare, Merry Land Academy, Precious Gifts Home Care, Rainbow Preschools 1 and 2, Small Blessings home care, Small Ones home care, Someplace Special home care, Sugar Grove Developmental Day School, Western TLC Head Start and Watauga Head Start.
After that, the two winners of the Biggest Mover contest, a local weight loss and healthy lifestyle competition, were announced. The names of those winners will be released publicly at a later date.
The evening was part celebration and part training. After the meal and awards, Suzi Woodward of the Blue Mountain Center for the Healing Arts gave a presentation on stress management techniques. Attendees learned breathing exercises and ways of mentally organizing stressors so that their important work would not be negatively affected.
Dr Jack Shonkoff, a pediatrician and founding director of Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, said, “When we fail to provide children with what they need to build a strong foundation foe healthy and productive lives, we put our future prosperity and security at risk.”
The support the Children’s Council and local childcare providers give daily seem to indicate a bright and prosperous future for the children of the High Country.
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