Urban Day School: Welcome, Parents and Family! 

For each week that a child 14 and under reads for at least 15 minutes a day, Half Price Books will reward him or her with a $3 shopping card. Just stop in the store and pick up a weekly log (or download here), and then turn in the completed log at the end of each week.

The store also includes some reading tips, such as setting aside a designated time each day for reading. It also suggests including other rewards, such as family walks in the the park or cookouts when the reading goals are met. 

Half Price Books is located at 8514 W. Brown Deer Road in the Highland Plaza.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel recently reported that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found two instances of fraud at two Head Start operations in Wisconsin.

The GAO will not name which operations these are until July, but Head Start Director Gail Porath said at a recent City-Wide Policy Committee Meeting that it was unlikely that the fraud occurred at an SDC site. Admitting families that don't meet income requirements is grounds for immediate dismissal, she said, adding that there are more than enough families in need of Head Start services that meet the low-income requirements.

The article also stated that Dale Shuster, communications coordinator for the Social Development Commission, said his organization already stresses ethical behavior and has policies in place to ensure that staff members don't admit ineligible families.

A big thanks to Half Price Books for their donation of 150 books through its Half-pint library giveaway! The books will be used in classroom libraries and to giveaway during Head Start's yearly Star Light, Star Bright, a Family Reading Night activity.

Help Head Start win $5,000 to put toward Star Light, Star Bright, A Family Reading Night and classroom libraries! Vote once a day, every day in April here: http://www.refresheverything.com/urbandayheadstart.

Goals

• Distribute 300 literacy baskets; increase multicultural library books
• Narrow the achievement gap between African-American and white students
• Encourage all families to read together
• Foster a love of reading in students
• Promote reading at home, not just in school

Overview

Head Start hosts a family night every month. Every year in October, students, families, and staff participate in "Star Light, Star Bright" - a family reading night. Each classroom transforms into a book, with the door as its cover and the students as the characters. For example, this year a classroom read If You Give a Moose a Muffin. Reading came alive as students traced their hands to make "antlers" and helped bake muffins.

Star Light, Star Bright helps Head Start children SOAR out of povery through reading. Students SOAR by...

Sounding-out words (listening to audiobooks, reading books outloud)
Opportunities for play (connecting activities with books)
All-family reading (dedicating reading time, creating emotional connections)
Repitition (reading same books to foster word recognition)

Your vote will help us give families reading materials to take home, as well as provide supplies so students can practice writing at home and school.  

How will the 5K be Used?
$ 3,000 Literacy baskets
$ 1,000 Multicultural books for the library
$ 1,000 Supplies

For updates on criminals' whereabouts and happenings -- if they are about to be released from jail or the status of their case -- vinelink.com is a service that will notify victims or concerned citizens automatically via a method of their choosing. The blue states (above) are states that have vinelink.com up and running. For peace of mind, click on the map to begin receiving notifications.

If you make less than $54,000 annually, you are eligible for a free e-filing of your taxes. In addition, VITA tax preparers will help determine if you are eligible for tax credits, such as Earned Income Tax or Wisconsin Homestead Credit.

Food Stamp screenings, energy assistance help and many other services will also be provided. For locations, all services, and what to bring, look at this flyer.

Electricity disconnection notices will begin going out soon for customers who haven't paid their heating/electric bills. Utilities will be disconnected on April 15.
Because of Wisconsin's harsh winters and safety concerns, We Energies will leave your heat and electricity on from November 1 to April 15.

Phyllis Eckles, Low Income Coordinator at We Energies, is a community representative on SDC's City-wide Policy Committee for Head Start. She urged parents to seek out energy assistance soon, while waiting times are relatively shorter. Eligibility for energy assistance, locations to apply, and documents needed can be found on this flyer.

If your power is out and you need it restored before April 15, please call We Energies 24-hour customer service number: 800-242-9137

The Salvation Army and the Marines' Toys for Tots are providing new toys, free of charge, to families with children ages 0-15. Parents must register at 5880 N. 60th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53218.

The application registration schedule is:

• Wednesday, Dec 2, 9am-noon and 1pm-3pm
• Thursday, Dec 3, 9am-noon; 1pm-4pm; and 5pm-7pm
• Friday, Dec 4, 9am-noon and 1pm-3pm
• Saturday, Dec 5, 9am-noon

Parents must provide proof of identity, proof of their Social Security number. For each child receiving toys, they must also provide proof of the child's birth date and proof of the child's social security number. The Salvation Army requests that you don't bring your children to the application sign up or the Toy Shop.

The dates for picking out toys at the Toy Shop are Dec 17-21, at various times from 8am-5:30pm. Toys are arranged by gender and age group.

The Toy Shop Information line is 414-459-3930.

If you've been putting of a medical treatment for your child because it is economically infeasible, even though it would significantly improve the quality of his or her life, UHCF wants to give you a $5,000 grant. The criteria? You must have:

• a commercial insurance plan that won't cover enough of the cost of the procedure, or the co-pay is a financial burden
• a child under the age of 16 who needs treatment that will improve his or her quality of life, e.g., eyeglasses, hearing aids, physical therapy, or speech therapy
• an adjusted gross income of less than $20,000 per individual

For more information and to apply, visit the foundation's website.

At both campuses' Parent Committee Meetings, parents elected executive officers, learned about healthy marriages and relationships, and enjoyed snacks, beverages, and a sense of community.

The elections for Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sargent-at-arms went smoothly at both locations, with parents volunteering for positions before being elected via motions. The Chairperson and Vice-chairperson positions are exceptionally important, because they present the meetings minutes to the policy committee, as well as attend city-wide parent trainings and meetings.

Next, Richard Johnson from the Social Development Commission's Healthy Relationships & Marriage Enhancement Program visited UDS and spoke about the need to understand our own expectations of a relationship before we can expect someone else to fulfill these needs. He also promoted the free programs and workshops the SDC program offers to build family connections and strengthen children that benefit from healthy relationships.

A good amount of fathers turned out, and Mr. Johnson spoke to them about the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative and other ways to get involved citywide and take pride in being committed fathers.

At the 12th Street campus, a teacher spoke about the upcoming events at the school and the importance of parents working with their students on materials they send home. At the 24th Street campus, another teacher spoke about UDS' homecoming celebration and inclusion of breast cancer awareness into this day, with all of the staff asked to wear pink.

Finally, the dads, moms, and grandparents' sheer attendance showed support for all the children in the school, and, while it wasn't easy to attend an 8:15 a.m. meeting, they all did so unselfishly.

The next Parent Committee Meeting at 12th Street is October 6 at 8:15 a.m..