Christmas Boxes Packed and Delivered

Did you know that each year the school provides a special Christmas box to each child's family?  The box is packed full of food (including a turkey), clothing, toys, and gifts.  Financial contributions from our supporters, and help by our volunteers to pack the boxes, make these gifts possible.  The Christmas boxes are just one of the ways that the Park Forest Day Nursery Preschool serves at-risk children and their families in the State College area.  The slide show below shows the this year's boxes being packed by teaching staff, director, and volunteers.

01/12 

   

New Board Chairperson:  Gail Guss

Marylove Guillard stepped down as Chairperson of our Board this past summer and we were fortunate to have her capable leadership for over a decade.  We welcome Gail Addison Guss as our new chairperson!  Below is a message from her.

"I am delighted to be able to provide leadership for the Park Forest Day Nursery Board.   I have spent the summer meeting with our director, various board members and Pastor Lee of the Park Forest Village Methodist Church.

I grew up in State College and graduated from Penn State many years ago.  I migrated north to graduate school in Connecticut where I continued my work in early childhood education.  Following this, we made our home in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and I pursued my career through work in Head Start, Child Care, my own nursery school, as Early Childhood Director at an independent school, and finally as Director of the Lower School at a small independent school in Williamstown, Ma.  I taught at our local community college throughout our twenty-eight years in this area.  My husband and I moved back to State College in 1999 and I become Director of Daybridge Child Development Center moving in another year to become Assistant Director at The Bennett Family Center, the laboratory school for the College of Health and Human Development.  I also teach in the College.  It has been a wonderful, growth filled ride.  Along the way, I have served as Chair of several early childhood program boards in the Berkshires.

My husband Dan and I have three grown children who remain central to our lives.  I also enjoy quilting, reading, walking, and traveling.  I look forward to retirement in several years.

I am delighted to become a part of this truly remarkable experience for families and children who benefit so much from being part of the PFDN Preschool.  The commitment of the director and teaching staff are markers of the strong nature of this program.   I look forward to working with the many volunteers and local congregations and civic groups who all contribute to make our Preschool a success.

I appreciate the support we receive from the community and welcome your input."

Preschool Needs Financial Support - Article in the CDT

PFDN Preschool Director, Gloria Horst Rosenberger, wrote an ariticle about the financial needs of our program and lists some of the service providers.  Click here to read the full aricle which was published in the Centre Daily Times on Dec. 28, 2010.