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Chesapeake Energy monies have been put to good use by some local child care centers, enriching their programs in numerous ways. One of the most recent was a family Christmas event at Great Beginnings Kiddie College in Pauls Valley.

A representative of a local dentist's office teaches an unidentified toddler about dental hygiene during a family Christmas event Dec. 5 for more than 100 children, parents and grandparents at Great Beginnings Kiddie College in Pauls Valley. The Pauls Valley Police Department set up a table for fingerprinting identification and free parenting resources were distributed with the help of a Strengthening Families grant through Smart Start South Central.
A representative of a local dentist's office teaches an unidentified toddler about dental hygiene during a family Christmas event Dec. 5 for more than 100 children, parents and grandparents at Great Beginnings Kiddie College in Pauls Valley. The Pauls Valley Police Department set up a table for fingerprinting identification and free parenting resources were distributed with the help of a Strengthening Families grant through Smart Start South Central.

With the help of a Strengthening Families grant through Smart Start South Central, Great Beginnings was able to host more than 100 children, parents and grandparents on Dec. 5 [SATURDAY]. The Pauls Valley Police Department set up a table for fingerprinting identification, a local dentist's office taught children about dental hygiene, and free parenting resources were distributed to all parents.

In addition, Santa was present and children were able to have their pictures taken with him and receive goodie bags.

"This was a wonderful chance for parents to get together and visit, and for center workers to talk in an informal setting. It wouldn't have been possible for us to do this without the help of Chesapeake and the grant money," said Debbie Welborn, center director.

The center also purchased Second Step and Woven Word, programs that teach bullying prevention as well as emergent reading skills. The programs will be implemented at Great Beginnings after Christmas.

Several other centers in Garvin County have reaped the benefits of Chesapeake funding. Delta Head Start centers in Lindsay, Pauls Valley, Maysville and Stratford have adopted theWoven Word early literacy program. This program emphasizes a range of skills from learning patience, manners and emergent reading skills. Each child using Woven Word takes home a book to read with their parents to help reinforce these skills.

"Woven Word provides a wonderful partnership between center and school. It helps parents to be a part of this early learning process, and, since parents are their children's first and most important teachers, we want to do whatever we can to help them," said Cindy Byrd, Smart Start South Central projects coordinator.

Smart Start South Central is housed in the Center of Continuing Education and Community Services at East Central University in Ada. Chesapeake Energy and Smart Start Oklahoma have a history of collaboration and benefitting families and young children. For more information about this program and Smart Start South Central, contact Trish Little or Cindy Byrd at 580-559-5872.

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