Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit #325 Newark, DE N e w s 921 Barksdale Road Newark, DE 19711 e t t e r Spring 2010 A not-for-profit center serving Newark families for 49 years L Playground Renovations Completed: Enrolling Now! Capital Celebration/Open House Full- and Half-Day Kindergarten Held May 20 On May 20 we celebrated our successful “Investment That Will Last a Lifetime” Campaign. The campaign was completed in 2009 and raised $782,862, exceeding To Educate, Enrich, and Inspire our goal. Completed renovations on two of our playgrounds last month concludes the majority of capital renovations focused on NDNCC serving children for Website Upgrade another 50 years. The celebration Go to our brand new, improved NDNCC website at and open house to view the www.newarkdaynursery.org. You may now make a various improvements at the center donation online as well as gain information on our were held on May 20 from 5–6:30 services. p.m., with formal ceremonies at • Early Childhood Education 5:30 p.m. • Full-Day Kindergarten • Before- and After-School Care Our toddler and pre-school • Summer Camp at NDNCC playgrounds are filled with new • New Castle County Head Start–Newark Site bright colors, expanded shade structures, age • Community-Based Outreach Services appropriate play equipment to stimulate healthy Join DE Coalition for Early Accredited by the National Association for the physical and social development, safer play surfaces, Learning (DECEL) Education of Young Children and a new “free play” turf area. DECEL, a new advocacy organization to promote Major capital renovation projects to modernize the 921 Barksdale Road quality early education and after-school programs, center started in November 2008, and continued Newark, DE 19711 is now recruiting members. DECEL represents the over the next 19 months. The range of projects (302) 731-4925 voices of early learning providers, early learning and Fax: 738-8441 included facility room additions, renovated after school professionals, and community advocates www.newarkdaynursery.org classrooms, new flooring, cost efficient lighting, to government officials and policy makers on safer handrails, new kitchen equipment, expanded The Newark Day Nursery and Children’s Center decisions impacting on children. Organizational and entrance, and other items in addition to the is dedicated to providing the highest quality early individual memberships are available. Join today. childhood and school age services to educate, enrich, playgrounds. These improvements were made and inspire children and youth from culturally and possible by the generous donors listed in the Capital Go to www.decel.org for information or email economically diverse families. 1 Campaign report enclosed. [email protected]. NDNCC Honors Staff Muralist Adds Beauty and “NDNCC Cares” Completes NDNCC Highlights One of the many ways NDNCC is a special place Learning Christina Cleanup • Singer/storyteller, Clem Bowen, was here in January for children is the number of staff members who to the children’s delight. have worked at our center for a very long time. Well-known naturalist artist, Dan Gotel, has been On April 10, 2010 NDNCC helped the Earth by DE Museum of Natural History provided programs Congratulations to Ms. Janet Watkins, (20 years) our working for weeks to create several murals on the volunteering to clean the litter and trails near • about Bats, Birds, and Backyard Animals. Our Enrollment Coordinator, Ms. Gene Dammann (20 walls at our center. Children especially are enthralled Wedgewood Road in White Clay Creek State students have also visited the museum for “Super years) who recently retired from our infant room, Ms. Park. This project was the second task completed Crocs” and “Attack of the Bloodsuckers.” Cookie Barbour (10 years) in our infant room, and by NDNCC Cares, a youth and family volunteer organization that is just getting off the ground. Ms. Julia van de Veur (5 years) has been Head Teacher • The pre-kindergarten and kindergarteners anticipate Thirty individuals from 10 families woke up early on in our pre-school room. They were recognized at the their annual trip in May to the Adventure Aquarium that Saturday to pitch in and give back. Everyone NDNCC Annual Meeting. Below, Ms. Janet shares in Camden, NJ. some of the more humorous “awards” with some had a wonderful time and we all look forward to of our children for her notorious love of cheese and more events in our community. Thank you to all our • Through PNC’s generosity, our pre-kindergarten and regular loss of cups. volunteers and to the Christina Watershed group kindergarteners had an opportunity to go to the DE (www.christinarivercleanup.org). Children’s Theater to see the show, “Winnie the Pooh.” • NDNCC is sponsoring the City of Newark’s Spring Summer Concert Series. Please stop at the corner of Academy/Main Streets on Thursdays during May/June to enjoy. to watch as the murals develop into extraordinary • NDNCC families donated generously color and realism. Parents as well as staff have been to the Food Bank of DE during our amazed at the transformation of our walls. In addition partnership with the Newark Lions to wall murals, Dan completed and donated a Club! canvas painting for our center to use as a fundraiser to support our tuition scholarship fund. The murals • Our school age and kindergarten Summer Camp bring not only new beauty, but also new learning classes loved a field trip to the After a long, hard winter, summer is once again upon opportunities for our teachers to use when teaching Brandywine Zoo during their Spring us. Summer Camp at NDNCC has been planning for environmental science and other curriculum areas. school break. Summer 2010 since, well, Summer 2009. We are very Thanks Dan for sharing your talent with our children! • NDNCC and New Castle County excited this year for many new ideas and faces, as well Head Start pre-schoolers bubbled as the favorites and returning friends. With the success with excitement as they entered the of our Delaware Museum series over the last two visiting mobile PNC One World, One summers, we will be trying a new trip this year. We are Sky planetarium to learn about the extremely excited and lucky to have been invited to take Students Meet “Geography stars and planets. a cruise on the Kalmar Nyckel, Delaware’s tall ship. Visit www.kalmarnyckel.org for more information Challenge” on the ship. Many favorites will be returning from NDNCC students in our after-school classroom last year, and we cannot wait for Stars On the Acts of Random Kindness at 1 engaged in a voluntary “Geography Challenge.” Move’s Traveling Planetarium to visit after a two-year It challenges students to locate ten countries on NDNCC absence! The camp will also be revisiting the Adventure a globe in less than three minutes. The students Aquarium in Camden, NJ during our “20,000 Leagues” • Ryan Scotton, a student of our School Age Care who successfully complete their challenge construct week. Summer Camp at NDNCC will continue to use program, graciously donated his birthday money to an achievement plaque, which is placed on the our Summer Curriculum, literacy program (L.I.F.E.), relief efforts in Haiti. classroom wall. The students and teachers believe the and the Lt. Governor’s Challenge to ensure a fun, fit, Geography Challenge is important as it introduces • Mother and daughter team, Lisa and Maggie and educational summer for everyone. them to people, places and ideas that construct our Blake, had their hair cut and donated it to 2 *All events and themes are subject to change multi-cultural and increasingly globalized world. the Locks of Love organization. 3 Newark Day Nursery & Children’s Center Capital Campaign Final Community Report — 2007–2009

President and Executive Director Message It is with deep gratitude we celebrate NDNCC’s successful completion of its “Investment That Will Last a Lifetime” Campaign. Our campaign raised $782,862, exceeding our goal. With the generous support of Newark area citizens and businesses, the City of Newark, New Castle County, Delaware foundations and corporations, we are able to celebrate the success of this campaign and the outcomes listed below. The results will bring lasting benefits to our children, their families and our community. In our 49-year history as a not-for-profit center, NDNCC had been dependent on our community’s support to be able to meet our mission of providing high quality early education and school age services. At the same time serve the full range of economically and culturally diverse families in our community by providing services on a sliding-fee scale based on family income. When we started our campaign in March 2007, we had no idea we would be facing a major financial recession during our campaign adding an extra challenge. But meet and exceed our goal we did, because of the dedicated campaign volunteers, expert professional advisers, and support from our community! Please take time to review the outcomes that grew from your investment listed below! Also take time to look at the children’s pictures throughout our newsletter, knowing that your caring, generous support has contributed to their bright smiles and exciting growth. It has allowed us to continue our commitment to “educate, enrich, and inspire” each child that comes to our center. Thank you for trusting us and believing!

Michael Rasmussen William Carl President Executive Director

Capital Projects Completed To Date — Serving our Children Every Day!

New children’s reading rooms and New energy efficient lighting installed in meeting rooms—allowing private reading and all rooms—reducing energy usage and cost. assessment time with children. Kitchen renovation—meeting profes- Renovated classrooms and new sional standards to provide 160 nutritious classroom furniture to improve learning breakfasts and lunches for children each day. environments. Toddler and pre-school playgrounds Expanded reception area to improve modernized for higher safety and new physical customer service and administrative efficiency. and social skill development. NDNCC Capital Campaign Committee Charlene Benson and Cathy Wojewodzki, Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Committee Members Honorary Members Lee Allen Erin Knight The Honorable Steven Amick, Co-Chair Deborah Auger Autumn Labanoski Jeff Benatti Caroline Barlow Eric Nelson The Honorable Chris Coons Alyssa Collins The Honorable Paul Pomeroy The Honorable Vance Funk Bobbi Budin Bonnie Porter The Honorable John Kowalko Bill Carl Mike Rasmussen The Honorable Jack Markell, Co-Chair Jonica Clay Carol Rudisell The Honorable Stephanie McClellan Gene Danneman Sonia S. Sloan The Honorable Teresa Schooley Michael Diesner Jasen Sylvester Sara Spaulding Lily Fendell John Tobin The Honorable Liane Sorenson, Co-Chair Cathy Franceschini Marie Vacca Ryan German NDNCC 2007–2009 Capital Campaign Thank You To Our Donors Benefactor ($25,000 & over): Donor ($500 & over): Ruth T. Kranz Lewis & Mary Collat Bank of America Dexter & Charlene Benson Bertram & Rochelle Levin Katie Collins Chichester duPont Foundation, Brian & Nancy Blackney Alan & Joy Lynam Frances Dammann Inc. Chanel Bryant & Michael Hyer David & Beverly Malatesta Bene L. Durant City of Newark CDBG Bobbi Budin Dr. William & Elaine Markell In memory of Hattie Ives Durant The Laffey-McHugh Foundation William Carl & Ruth Kranz-Carl The Honorable Jack A. Markell Timothy English Longwood Foundation Chris & Erin Knight The Honorable Stephanie Nicole Frey Marmot Foundation Edward Ortolano McClellan George Godden New Castle County CDBG The Schultz Family George Mills Louise Godden Welfare Foundation Kelly Sherretz Jeanne M. Nardone George Harding, Jr. John Sinclair Eric Nelson Timothy & Christine Herman/ Patron ($10,000 & over): Bryan B. Sullivan Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert K. Nichols Herman’s Quality Meat Shoppe Crestlea Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Joseph N. Tabasso Stephen & Charlene Nichols John Herring Delaware Community Foundation For Sean & Danny Callihan Marta Pacheco Charles & Judith Holmes DuPont Ann D. Wick Christopher Penna Mr. & Mrs. David Holmes Wallace H. & Nancy McCurdy Miriam & Dudley Willis Paul J. Pomeroy Jahara Hooker Wilmington Trust Company Kevin Wilson Bonnie Porter David Hutton Ronald Wollaston Butch & Elizabeth Read Carol Jackson Sponsor ($5,000 & over): Anonymous (1) Victor & Donna Reyes Wayne & Judy Kling Borkee-Hagley Foundation Daniel & Nancy Rich The Honorable John Kowalko Donald & Ann Franceschini, Sr. Friend ($100 & over): Tom Rocek & Karen Rosenberg Shiselle Lopez Thomas & Cathy Franceschini Steven H. Amick Carol A. Rudisell Ashley Mack Milton and Hattie Kutz Mr. & Mrs. Flournoy L. Anthony Gail & Robert Russell The Honorable Pamela S. Maier Foundation Robert Ashby Laura Salsini & Douglas Tobias David & Donna Mitchell New Castle County Head Start David J. Athey Terry Schooley Dineen Nash The News Journal/Gannett Caroline A. Barlow Judy Scollon NDNCC Children’s Penny Foundation Richard & Mary Beardsley Tamara & Gary Smith Campaign PNC Bank Robert & Nancy Black Mr. & Mrs. William F. Smith Greg Nolden Bowman Printing Company The Honorable Liane M. Sorenson Crystal Pini Contributor ($1,000 & over): Shirley Branden Len & Sara Jane Spaulding Mary Ann Price Deborah Auger Kristin Brewer Jasen Sylvester Barry Scollon Jeff Bergstrom & Betsy Perse Mike Castle Jean Tucker Richard & Jane Sharf David Brown Jim & Alexine Cloonan Cecilia Viering Rachel Strickland Jeffrey & Diane Collins Daniel & Tamara Corey Elizabeth von Frankenberg Jennifer Sylvester Elaine & Vance Funk Jean & Gary Correy Jody Williams Jessica Turner Haggerty & Haggerty Rachel A. Davidson & Robert Wolf Anonymous (1) Alice Vernier Roy Kaplan Steven Dewberry Willa Wing & Paul Lagasse Newark Rotary Club Barbara B. Dowling NDN Circle (under $100): Anonymous (9) Michael & Janessa Rasmussen Paul & Karen Evenson Dr. Arthe Anthony Paul & Amy Romagnoli Bill Furry I. Arroyo In Kind: Liz & Pete Ross The Germani Family Lee Balinski Caffé Gelato William Walker Deborah Gottschalk & Carolyn George Basalla Dan Gotel Michael & Sharon Willis Donofrio Rodney Beres Sonia S. Sloan Wilmington Flower Market Betty Hutchinson Thomas W. Brockenbrough Catherine & Robert Wojewodzki William & Mary Kirby The Honorable Thomas R. Carper Anonymous (1) Vicky Kleinman Jessica Chairamonte