Submitted by Kris Landrum Mar 4, 2020

Franklin News Post 

New early childhood education registration process introduced during recruitment fair

A new opportunity for parents to more easily access registration to early childhood education and/or daycare for their young children will kick off in Franklin County with a recruitment fair on Saturday, March 14 at the Rocky Mount Farmer’s Market.

Called Smart2Start, the program offers “one-stop shopping” for parents to apply to enroll their children for the 2020-21 school year using a single form for public schools, early education programs and private providers.

Parents can visit the farmer’s market between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to learn more about the program and fill out the application to enroll their children in Franklin County pre-K, the YMCA Land of Wonder, private child care or Head Start and Early Head Start through STEP, Inc. (Solutions That Empower People).

Items needed for enrollment include birth certificate, proof of address, recent income source, insurance information and immunization records.
Smart2Start was created by United Way of Roanoke Valley as a means to streamline the application process for parents who previously had to fill out a separate application for each provider.

The application will enter a portal where United Way and its partners can evaluate the family’s needs and preferences to find matches that have open spots at nearly 150 providers in Botetourt, Franklin, Craig and Roanoke counties and in Roanoke and Salem.

Community partners also will be available during the recruitment fair with information about resources available to families. In addition, there will be face painting, balloon animals, age-appropriate games, treats and giveaways.

Signing up through Smart2Start is free. An online application is available at smart2start.org.
STEP’s Head Start/Early Head Start programs include child developmental screenings and assessments, health assessments, family support, community engagement, qualified staff and full-day services, along with early childhood education.

Options include home-based services for pregnant mothers, infants and toddlers and classroom options for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Rocky Mount, Va. (January 6^th, 2020) At the last meeting of the Franklin County Family YMCA’s Board of Directors they took a moment to recognize departing board members for their service to Franklin County through the Y.

The Y, like most non-profits, relies on a volunteer board of community members to provide leadership, fiduciary responsibility and advocacy.

Mary Helm, who has served on the Y board since September of 2015, distinguished herself by being an advocate for the Y in the community. She not only was a member of the Y board as a whole but also served on the nominating committee.

Matt Huff joined the Y board in 2014 and has served on numerous committees, advocated for the Y, been an avid member of the Y and even served as the president of the Y board. Matt works in the area of commercial real estate with Poe and Cronk.

Jill Hume, CFO of Interactive Design Group, an architecture firm in the Roanoke area, joined the YMCA board in 2016 and has served on its fundraising and finance committees during that time. She helped plan several YMCA fundraisers and lent her considerable financial knowledge to the Y during her time on the board.

“We are so grateful to Mary, Matt and Jill! Their work on the Y board has helped change lives in Franklin County and made a lasting impact in the community we serve,” says Kevin McAlexander CEO of the Franklin County Family YMCA.

Rocky Mount, Va. (January 3, 2020) – Food insecurities affect more people than we know. Hunger exists in every state, county, and community in the United States and the Franklin County YMCA is working hard to make a difference in ours.

This month, the Y is sponsoring a Friends and Family Food Drive. As part of the food drive, anyone wishing to join the Y in January can do it for free with a donation of at least three canned goods. Current YMCA members are also encouraged to donate food items and, when referring new members to join, will receive their next month free.

“You can help feed the hungry! We are asking Friends and Family of the Y to drop off non-perishable food for our canned food drive between now and the end of January,” says Jessica Thomason, Rocky Mount Branch Director, “We know people are going to join the Y for the amazing facilities and great programs. So, it was a great time to make a difference in our community while offering great perks such as no joining fee or first month fees for new members and a free month for current members who refer their friends to join the Y!”

Drop boxes are located in the lobby at each location of the Franklin County Y – Rocky Mount, Smith Mountain Lake, and Ferrum College. Food items needed include spaghetti sauce/pasta, peanut butter, jelly, canned/boxed soups and meals, canned vegetables/fruits, tuna fish, and other canned meats. Donations will be given to our local food banks and soup kitchens.  With support, community members and the Y can help hundreds of families.

For more information on this and other membership programs at the Franklin County YMCA please contact Jessica Thomason at (540)489-9622 or jthomason@franklincountyymca.org

Rocky Mount, Va. (December 12, 2019) – Along with offering 2^nd Grade Swimming, a program that teaches important water safety skills to every 2^nd grader in Franklin County, the Y now offers swim lessons as a part of the curriculum at the Y’s Land of Wonder Preschool. These lessons are being offered to all preschoolers, ages 3 to 5 years old. Each class participates in 8 sessions in the fall and then another 8 sessions in the spring.

“Swimming is a lifelong skill and we believe that starting them as young as possible gives them the advantage of being prepared.” says Hope Vaccaro, Childcare Director of the Franklin County Family YMCA’s Land of Wonder Preschool. “Many of our Y kids start lessons in the preschool, then continue on and advance their skills at Y Summer Camp once they are school-age. By the time they're in middle school, they have been given the skills needed in order to be a confident and safe swimmer!”

Each group has seven to ten preschoolers and two groups go per morning with a total of 14-20 children, split between two instructors, participating in a 45 minute lesson. The fall sessions have been completed, but lessons will resume in March when preschoolers will complete eight more sessions.

“These swim lessons, not only teach water safety skills and confidence, but also open up opportunities for the future. The Y’s Riptide Swim Team is mostly made up of children who got started in the Y’s swim lessons at a young age and have grown a love for water and for competing. Swim team participants also have the opportunity to compete for scholarships as they work their way up through school,” says Kameron Kitts, Aquatics Director and head coach for the Riptides swim team.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Land of Wonder Preschool please contact Hope Vaccaro at (540)489-9622 or hvaccaro@franklincountyymca.org. For more information on this and other aquatics programs at the Franklin County YMCA please contact Kameron Kitts at (540)489-9622 or kkitts@franklincountyymca.org.

Rocky Mount, Va. (November 13, 2019) – On Saturday, November 2^nd 12 swimmers on the Riptide Swim team attended their first swim meet of the season. The meet was held at the Bedford Family YMCA against teams from Alleghany, Altivista and Bedford.  Two swimmers qualified for the Upper Southeast Regional YMCA Meet, Landon Akers qualified in the 100 Breast and the 100 Fly; Brayden Shirley qualified in the 50 fly and he cut time in all three of his individual events. 

On Saturday, November 9^th The Riptides took eight swimmers to Eden competing in the Veteran’s Day Invitational.  Overall the team came in sixth out of seven teams.  The Riptide boys came in third overall and the girls came in fifth.  Landon Akers, Chase Davis, Alec Dow and Brayden Shirley cut time in all three events while competing. 

"The team has been working very hard in the pre-season practices, I am glad that the athletes are seeing that work pay off,” says Head Coach and Aquatics Director for the Franklin County Family YMCA, Kameron Kitts,  “we have several kids who are close to Regional times, it will be exciting to see how many qualify this year."

The next meet is being held on November 16^th at the Danville Family YMCA for their Pilgrim Plunge Invitational attending this year is Eden, Southside, Martinsville, Altivista and Danville YMCAs. For more information on this and other aquatics programs at the Franklin County YMCA please contact Kameron Kitts at (540)489-9622 or kkitts@franklincountyymca.org