NVCC Hears About Parents As Teacher Program
Navidad Valley Community Connections had a great start to the holiday season at the Center this past Wednesday, with an awesome Thanksgiving lunch meal, getting to see and be with friends and a visit from the St. Rose Singers. All this excitement brings hope and anticipation of what is to come and of all the things that happen during this time of year.
Phyllis Venghaus, representing Parents As Teachers (PAT), was the Monday “Lunch and Learn” guest speaker and she informed members of the founding principles of the program. When children and parents have a good bond, then engagement can take place and a good foundation can be built that leads to learning and success.
The program is in its 19th year of operation. It is a “universal access” program which means no qualifying; it’s for everyone and helps build families from within by coaching parents, strengthening them and by providing developmental resources. The ultimate goal is to prepare children for school readiness.
The community is fortunate to have the PAT program and Phyllis explained that, once COVID-19 is past us, the Grandparents As Teachers program may be resurrected to provide another layer of reading readiness for students that need it most, so stay tuned for more information because they will need volunteers.
The center is open on Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. with a pot of coffee on or an iced drink ready for you to come in and get a game started as you see your friends coming in too. On Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, it will be a Chef’s Choice day and with bingo.
Looking ahead into the next week: on Monday, Nov. 30, NVCC will be serving a beef ravioli soup, a veggie, a green salad, bread and dessert and on Wednesday, Dec. 2, the entrée will be chicken spaghetti casserole, veggie, salad, bread and dessert. NVCC always serves a good, catered, nutritious lunch with some good company in a safe place, and it’s a social outlet during the day. The sharing of a meal is a pivotal moment of the day. A good will offering is suggested to help offset the cost of the meal.
NVCC continues to practice safe health protocols at the center. Temperatures are taken upon entry to the building, hands are washed and sanitized, and a cup of coffee or an iced tea or water is provided to you as you pick what game table to wander over to or to see which of your friends are here.
So many table chats take place, with members catching up and passing on information on who is doing good and who might need a ride or a meal taken to them, or sharing a new grandbaby, announcing a grandchild’s engagement, and other family happenings are just a few of the ways members interact and share with each other. We want our members to know that we miss them and we’d love to see them come back soon.
Navidad Valley Community Connections is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission “to provide a multipurpose organization that initiates, sponsors and promotes events, activities, and projects which enhance the quality of life for older adults in Schulenburg and the surrounding communities.” NVCC is located right next door to the Boys & Girls Club in Wolters Park.