Week Ending April 27, 2007

Pictured: (l-r) Front Row (SkillsUSA participants) Teresa Cochran, Amenia Boswell, Tefanie Mathews, and Richard Hammock. Back Row(Advisors) Peggy Braswell, Tony Criswell, and Swainsboro Technical College Interim President Dr. Glenn Deibert.

Swainsboro Tech Students Win In State Skills USA Competition

SkillsUSA students at Swainsboro Technical College participated in the annual state competition in Dublin, GA. and returned to Swainsboro with one 1^st place, one 2^nd place, and two 3rd place medals.

They were accompanied by Swainsboro Technical College Instructors Peggy Braswell, Tony Criswell and Michael Crumpler.

Most of the competition was held at Heart of Georgia Technical College on April 21^st. Swainsboro Tech students were in competition with participants from other Technical Colleges in Georgia.

Competing in Related Technical Math and winning 1^st place was Richard Hammock from Johnson County. The second place winner was Teresa Cochran from Emanuel County with Mindy Story from Emanuel County as the model in Nail Care competition. 3^rd place winners were: Amenia Boswell from Emanuel County in the Customer Service competition, and Cyndi Bishop from Emanuel County in the Job Skill Competition.

Other students that competed were: Tefanie Mathews from Emanuel County in the Customer Service competition; Jessica Stephens from Emanuel County in the Prepared Speech competition; Robert Cuyler from Emanuel County in the Technical Computer Applications competition; and Chris Cumbee from Emanuel County in the Welding competition.

The welding competition was held on Thursday April 19^th in Milledgeville, at the Georgia Power Southern Generation Development Center. The Nail Care competition was held at Central Georgia Technical College on Friday April 20; and the closing Ceremonies were held on Saturday evening, April 21^st at the DuBose Porter Center on the campus of Heart of Georgia Technical College.

The Georgia Postsecondary SkillsUSA Championships is a showcase of Technical College students demonstrating quality through participation in Leadership, Health Occupations, Trade and Industrial and Technical contests. First Place winners in this competition will represent the state of Georgia in the National SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Missouri.

Cutline: The Swainsboro Technical College Relay For life Team raised over $5000 to fight Cancer. Relay For Life Team members pictured are (l-r) Kay Wilson; Diane Claxton; Jessie Garrett; Karen Vereen; Susan Cross; Sonya Wilson (Captain); Gail Ware; Shirley Riner; Charlotte Neal; Beth Hendrix; and Monique Kornn. (not pictured) Nancy Bailes; Sammy Holton; Sarah Gross; Julie Tapley; Renee Bell; Randy Minton; Sherida McMillan; Anne Hostilo; Tammy Linder; Cynthia Cook; and Angie Moxley.

Cutline: The Swainsboro Technical College Beauty pageant was held in the Maurice Boatwright Auditorium on April 24^th. According to Leisa Dukes, Swainsboro Technical College Career Services Coordinator, "We plan for this to be an annual event."

Pictured: (r-l) 1^st runner up was Olivia Caraway from Emanuel County; Ms. STC 2007 & Winner of Ms. Photogenic Amy Archer from Emanuel County; 2^nd runner up Hannah Elaine Brannen from Jenkins County.

Pictured: (l-r) Honoree Tonya Williams, and Chairperson of the Swainsboro Technical College Board of Directors Pam Griner.

Tonya Williams Recognized For Service At Swainsboro Technical College

At the April meeting of the Swainsboro Technical College Board of Directors, Tonya Williams was recognized for five years of service. Pam Griner, Chairperson of the Board of Directors presented her with a monetary award from the Swainsboro Technical College Foundation.

Mrs. Williams is the Resource Room Assistant for Child Care Resource and Referral of East Central Georgia here at Swainsboro Technical College. She has held that position since she started in 2002 after graduating from Swainsboro Technical College with a Business Office Technology Diploma.

Mrs. Williams lives in Metter with her husband Preston Williams and their daughter LeeAnna who is 15 months old. She also has two sons Kevin 27 and Jonathon 22.

CCR&R Celebrates the Month of the Young Child

Governor Sonny Perdue on April 3, 2007 proclaimed April as the Month of the Young Child in Georgia. This month long celebration recognizes the importance of the fact that early childhood years can lay the foundation for adult success. Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) of East Central Georgia at Swainsboro Technical College sponsored and coordinated several events to celebrate this as well as to thank early childhood teachers and the many others involved in the education and care of young children.

As part of the Month of the Young Child activities CCR&R of Swainsboro Technical College along with the college’s Child Development Center held a balloon release in honor of the Month of the Young Child on Friday, April 20. The children gathered on the campus courtyard outside the CCR&R Office and released balloons which contained seeds to symbolize the nurturing and the growth that early childhood professionals provide to children. During this balloon release, Kay Wilson, Swainsboro Technical College Early Childhood Education Instructor, delivered a message about how all children deserve to be in a safe, nurturing environment and how the people working with children can have a positive impact in their lives.

"The Month of the Young Child" was also celebrated by the wearing of yellow ribbons. CCR&R staff, child care providers and many other individuals in the community wore the ribbons with pride as they reflected upon the care and education of young children.

In addition, CCR&R sponsored a free community wide concert featuring Dr. Thomas Moore, a national children’s recording artist and author. This concert was held at the Swainsboro City Auditorium on Friday, April 20, with child care professionals, parents and approximately 500 children in attendance. Then, on Saturday, April 21, CCR&R held its 12^th Annual CCR&R Child Care Conference for early childhood professionals and educators with more than 200 participating.

"Positive early learning experiences are vital to the growth and development of young children," said Angela Hines, CCR&R Director. "The Month of the Young Child is a time when we place a special emphasis on this."

CCR&R of East Central Georgia at Swainsboro Technical College serves seventeen counties: Emanuel, Candler, Treutlen, Johnson, Toombs, Montgomery, Appling, Wayne, Evans, Tattnall, Laurens, Wheeler, Dodge, Wilcox, Jeff Davis, Telfair, and Bleckley. For more information on CCR&R, you may call 877-495-9188 or visit the CCR&R website at http://ccrr.swainsborotech.edu.

Swainsboro Tech CCR&R Offers Nutrition Workshop

for Childcare Providers

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agency of East Central Georgia of Swainsboro Technical College is offering a Nutrition Workshop for child care providers on May 14 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the EMA Building on 10 Public Safety Drive in Hazlehurst.

Participants will receive instruction on how to prepare balanced nutritional meals and the proper procedures for handling food during process. Pre-registration is required by May 11 and there is a $5.00 registration fee. Participants will receive 2 State accepted credits.

You may pre-register and receive additional information by contacting Tonya at 1-877-495-9188 or Isabel at 478-274-1362.

Child Care Resource and Referral of Swainsboro Tech to Offer Parent Involvement Workshop

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agency of East Central Georgia of Swainsboro Technical College will conduct a "Parent Involvement" workshop on May 14. This workshop will be held at the Swainsboro Technical College Adult Learning Center on 25 West Daniel Street in Metter.

This workshop will provide information to parents and child care providers on different parenting styles, temperament traits in children, and being aware of cultural difference when working with children and their families. This workshop is open to the public and all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance, no state approved hours are given.

This is a free workshop and pre-registration is required by May 11. Child care is not provided.

To register for this workshop or to obtain additional information about other workshops or CCR&R child care referral services please contact Tonya at 478-289-2275 or toll free at 1-877-495-9188 or Isabel at 478-274-1362 or 1-800-300-2316.

CCR&R of Swainsboro Tech Offers Free Training on Temperament Traits for Toddlers

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agency of East Central Georgia of Swainsboro Technical College will offer Temperament Traits of Toddlers training to child care providers and parents on May 10 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The training will be held in the Swainsboro Technical College Johnson County Center on 250 Georgia Avenue in Wrightsville.

This workshop will discuss what temperament traits toddlers have and the effects on themselves as well as others around them. The registration fee is $5.00 and pre-registration is required by May 8. .

Childcare is not provided. The classes are being offered to regulated and unregulated childcare providers and participants will receive two State accepted credits.

For further information or to pre-register, you may contact Tonya at 1-877-495-9188 or 1-478-289-2275 or Isabel at 1-478-274-1362 or 1-800-300-2316.

CCR&R of Swainsboro Tech Offers Positive Guidance Workshop

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agency of East Central Georgia of Swainsboro Technical College is offering a 2-hour workshop on Positive Guidance from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on May 15 at the Tattnall County DFCS Office on 117 North Main Street in Reidsville.

The workshop is designed for anyone who would like to acquire additional parenting skills. The session and will cover areas such as these: communicating with children; dealing with difficult children; promoting positive behavior; and improving understanding while learning to effectively deal with children.

The registration fee is $5.00, and pre-registration is required by May 11. Childcare is not provided and participants will receive 2 State accepted hours.

You may pre-register and receive additional information by calling Tonya at 1-877-495-9188 or 478-289-2275 or Isabel at 1-478-274-1362 or 1-800-300-2316.