We Have New Staff Members!

Just Kids is happy to welcome some new staff members to our family!  Erin is teaching with the Suncatchers, Nicole is joining the Ladybugs, and Lois will hop into the Leapfrogs.  We are also pleased to welcome Georgia, Summer, and Abby as teaching substitutes.  Welcome to Just Kids!

United Way's Day of Caring a Success with Deere and Co. and the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend!

Our thanks goes out to Deere and Co., the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and the United Way of the Quad Cities Area for their hard work on United Way's Day of Caring.  On September 12th, volunteers from Deere came to Just Kids to do maintenance and landscaping work.  They also put up a brand new fence for an additional play space for our students.  Funding for this project was contributed by the Community Foundation.  The day was a huge success as the group did tremendous work!  To see photos from Day of Caring, click here.

A Running, Jumping End to the Summer

The Pre-K students had quite an active summer at Just Kids.  Literally...ACTIVE!  In addition to the field trips, special guests, and summer programs, these students got weekly visits from Sarah, an area personal trainer.  With a degree in Exercise Science, Human Performance & Fitness under her belt, Sarah was able to teach each child about the importance of health and fitness through discussions and physical activity.  Families even got weekly newsletters with activity ideas, recipes, and more!  We were glad to have Sarah here, and we hope to continue this program next summer.  If you have any ideas on how to improve this program, or if you have any questions, call Just Kids at (309) 787-6303.

Just Kids Receives Community Foundation/National Automobile Dealers Grants

Just Kids has received funding from the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation.  The $700.00 grant from the Community Foundation will be used to secure fencing for an outdoor "Fitness Yard" at our main facility.  Funding from the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation was gifted to Just Kids through the organization's Ambassador Program.  NADCF Ambassador, Darrell Reynolds from Eriksen's Chevrolet Buick in Milan, designated the $1,500.00 gift to Just Kids.  Thank you Mr. Reynolds!

3 Degree Guarantee

Just Kids was fortunate enough to be the "WQAD 3 Degree Guarantee" recipient for the month of May.  Just Kids was nominated by Eriksen's Chevrolet Buick in Milan, and received $540.00 from the car dealership through the "3 Degree" program.  Our thanks goes to Eriksen's and WQAD for their support of children and families in our area!

 Picnic at the Park a Success!

The Pre-K students and their families were invited to a special event on May 16, 2007.  Busses took the kids and teachers to the playground at Camden Park that afternoon.  Parents were then able to pick their kids up at the park and join other families for a meal and activities coordinated by Parent Educator, Anna Morrison.  Children and parents had a great afternoon playing, eating, and participating in family-friendly activities.  Click here to see photos from the event.

Staff Members Attend Education Rally in Springfield

Just Kids staff members teamed up with other area teachers, administrators, and education advocates on Wednesday, May 2nd for Rally Day 2007 at the Illinois State Capitol.  Thousands marched the streets of Springfield advocating increased funding for educational programs in Illinois.   

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Be informed of events, happenings, and news at Just Kids by signing up for our FREE E-Newsletter.  Enter your name and email address at the bottom of this page and click Subscribe.  We're still in the process of developing this communications tool, so look for the first newsletter to arrive in your email inbox in early May.

We Have a New Parking Lot!

Work was completed in late 2006 on the parking lot expansion for the Main Building. The expanded lot provides additional staff parking on the South end of the building which gives parents more space, closer access to the entrance, and less hassle and traffic when dropping off and picking up their child(ren). We are appreciative of the work that was done to improve the safety of the families we serve. This project was made possible through the wonderful support from Brandt Construction – Mad Dog Concrete, Collinson Stone, the John Deere Foundation, and Modern Woodmen of America.