New Parent Handbook

Attention Parents! The revised Parent Handbook is now available! This handbook outlines the details of our philosophy and procedures, includes hours of operation and rate information, and serves as the contract between you and LPLC. Please download a copy (click here) and return the last sheet to the center before May 1st, if you haven't already done so. Rates will be increasing beginning with the May bill by $1 capping at $3 in total, phased in over the next three months. After July, rates will remain the same and will be assessed in November/December. We appreciate everyone's input that attended the parent meeting in March, and especially appreciate those parents who have showed interest in being on the board!

Board Members Wanted!

Sadly, two of our board members have come to the end of their term. As hard as it is for them to move on, the board is excited to seek new members to keep the forward momentum going and take Little People's to the next level. What's the next level you ask? What does it mean to be a board member? Good questions. This is LPLC board membership in a nutshell... The LPLC Board requires a 2 year commitment to allow for consistency and quality assistance from our board members. Positions begin in June and December. Two positions will be open beginning this June - the board chair, and fundraising chair. We typically meet once a month, right now it's the third Thursday of the month from 5:30 - 7:30 PM, following the parent meeting. Discussion begins with old business, which includes a director report and a treasurer report, and is followed by new business which includes everything from a workshop we are planning to a fundraising event we've got coming up. Being on the board is a great way to see how LPLC, and non-profits in general, operates and how hard-working and dedicated the staff are. On the financial side, LPLC is a non-profit early childhood learning center that strives to offer affordable rates based on the families in our community. The Center stays open thanks to the generosity of the park's concessioners and through laws that allow the NPS to provide the building, rent, utilities, and money for supplies. We are on year two of a three year contract with most of the park's major concessioners (see the shout-out at the bottom of this page!), to assist with the costs of having an early childhood curriculum and separation of ages. We maintain a cooperative agreement with the NPS for supplies, snow removal, repairs to the building and other in-kind services. We could not keep our rates low, or our doors open if it weren't for the concessioners of Yellowstone National Park, or the National Park Service! We are currently working on revitalizing our playground to become a certified "Nature Explore Classroom." This endeavor would provide a unique outdoor classroom to inspire our "Little People" and encourage them to connect with the outside world. If you have any experience that you are willing to share with fundraising, budgets, running a business, website management, or know how to make a profit as a non-profit, please contact our board at littlepeoplesboard@gmail.com. Thanks to our major sponsors, our community sponsors, and the National Park Service for all you provide!

Attention Montana Parents!

Are you a Montana resident that has daycare needs, but can't afford it?    

Little People's may be located in Wyoming, but thanks to an out-of-state provider status we recently acquired, parents can now apply for the Montana Best Beginnings Scholarship!  To see if you qualify, and to get more information, click on the link below:

http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/childcare/bestbeginnings/index.shtml

Parent Meeting - February 9th 5:30 - 6:00 PM!

Please join us on Thursday, February 9th at 5:30 PM for our first parent meeting of 2012.  Jen will be presenting a new behavior report that will be prepared daily for kids ages 18 months and up.  This meeting will give parents the opportunity to see how beneficial this new report can be for the development of their kiddos!  Please stop by if you are interested in learning more or if you have any other issues or questions for the staff and board!

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting - Sunday, December 11th

On Sunday, December 11th, Santa will be making an appearance in the Mammoth Map room to take the gift wishes of all of the community's littlest people!

This annual event will feature a potluck, refreshments, music, Santa and his helper, and a silent auction of fine art created by some very talented young local artists!

We are still in the planning stages, so if you'd like to be a part of the big night, or volunteer, please contact littlepeoplesboard@gmail.com.

This event is co-sponsored by Xanterra, YPSS & Delaware North. Many thanks to our sponsors!

Photos?

Did you have your photo taken at the Little People's Halloween Fest? If so, please email littlepeoplesboard@gmail.com for a password to our photo sharing site!

THANK YOU!

Little People's Learning Center would like to thank everyone that helped make our inaugural Halloween Fest a huge success! The support from the community was amazing, the kids had a blast, and we couldn't have done it without you! Funds raised go toward our new Nature Explore Classroom equipment.

It's not too early to mark your calendar for Sunday, December 11th, for our next community event - the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting from 5:00 - 7:00 PM in the Mammoth Map Room.