Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1982)
Center benefits parents Childcare program helps teach youngsters By Shelley Ball Of The Print In order to better meet the needs of its pupils, the Child Development Center at Clackamas Community Col lege has divided the children' into two groups, according to Supervisor Myra Lunn. The two groups are In- fant/Toddler (six months to two and a half years) and Preschool (two and a half to five years) according to Chairperson for Family and Human Services Carolyn Knutson. Knutson explained that because of budget and staff cut backs the Early Childhood Education Program was drop ped, in order to still meet the needs of students, the Childhood Development Center altered the drop-in center for more flexible hours, after which it was merged. “Before, younger children were getting lost in the shuffle of older children, and we felt we were not meeting their needs,” Lunn said in regards to the change. Lunn explained that hav ing the children separated into two groups enables each group to learn skills geared to the age of the children. Parents of infants or tod dlers can expect them to ex perience sensory stimulation through touching, language development by listening to music and being talked to by the teachers and motor development, according to Lunn. Preschool children will have exercises to improve hand/eye and balance coor dination, lessons in problem solving and will be involved in cooking projects to learn measuring principles. Both groups will be begin ning socialization and will be taught by a staff trained and ex perienced in early childhood education, according to Lunn. Fees are $1.25 per hour for inf ant/toddlers and $1.00 per hour for preschool. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. for infants and toddlers, and 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. for preschoolers. Lunn estimated involve ment of 35 families and enroll ment of 40 to 45 children in the center currently. Parents of children range from college students to cam pus employees and even off- campus community families, who wish their children to be enrolled in preschool. “We are not babysitting children, we are teaching children,” said Lunn. Feedback for the center in previous years has been ex cellent and there are currently waiting lists for students and off-campus parents, which Knutson attributes to the more flexible hours of the program. When asked for her feel ings on the center, student/parent Leeann Skelton replied, “I trust them.” Skelton is a full-time student at the College and has one son she brings to the infant/toddler group. “When I bring him in there, it’s like I don’t exist; you can usually tell by kids if they like something,” she said. Good organization and a likable curricular program are additional reasons why Skelton approves of the center. “I’m pleased with the staff,” Lunn said. “They’re brand new, have a lot of positive energy and commit ment, and that’s what makes a great center.” Staff for the center consists of five new teachers, and a variety of work-study students. Two of the new teachers, Karen Robinson and Linda Dorzweiler, are in charge of the infant/toddler group. Their jobs consist of planning ac tivities, changing diapers, feeding and rocking children to sleep, as well as taking them on walks around the College. Robinson came to the center from Portland Com munity College after graduating from their two-year program of early childhood education. She works six and a half hours, five days a week and plans to stay until the end of the fall quarter. Dorzweiler started work at the center after working for Headstart in Clackamas Coun ty for five years. She chose to work here because “I didn’t want to work full time.” At the center Dorzweiler works 25 hours a week and is able to have her own daughter with her on the job. Anyone interested in volunteering time for the center or registering a child can con tact Myra Lunn (ext. 378), or drop by her office in the Child Development Center located in the Orchard Center for applica tions. Staff photo by Duane Hiersche ASG sets goals for year By Kari Gassaway dent is welcome to apply, Nastari said. Many of this year’s ASG officers were Senators last year. Of The Print Pleasing students is the goal of this year’s new Associated Student Body of ficers, according to ASG Presi dent Paul Nastari. “We want to serve the needs of the school,” Nastari said. Nastari feels the slimming down of government positions will create a closer working group with less inner conflicts. The number of Senators has been reduced from 20 to 10; consequently ASG offices have also been combined. All the members of ASG, plus two advisors, will get together on Oct. 15 to decide what they are going to achieve this year and how. They will meet in Menucka, a church retreat near the Gorge. Nastari feels there are some misconceptions about ASG. “It is unfortunate that some feel that ASG is just given money to play with,” he said “We want to provide activités and events which students can participate in and enjoy,” said Nastari. The new ASG officers were chosen last April. Presi dent Nastari and Vice President Jay Schaller were put into of fice by student vote, while Assistant to the President Em ma Espinal and Activities Director Stephen Vohs were appointed by a committee. The office of Administrative Assistant will be filled Oct. 5 to complete the circle of ASG of ficers. Ten student senators will also be a part of ASG. These senators will be elected through an application process. The last date for acceptance of these applications is Oct. 7. Any stu "THE MOST SUMPTUOUSLY PHOTOGRAPHED FILM I’VE SEEN THIS YEAR." william A rnold Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff photo by Duane Hiersche CHILDREN Enjoy the sunshine at the College child care center. page 3 Wednesday, October 6, 1982