Tripletts Arrive at Christmas

MOBILE -- It was Christmas night when they arrived -- Morgan, Madelyn and Joseph.

The triplets, born at the University of South Alabama's Children's and Women's Hospital, are the first children of Joe and Amy Hill of Bay Minette.

At 33 weeks, they weighed 3 pounds and varying ounces when their parents welcomed them into the world.

Full Story at The Press Register/Mississippi Press

Amy and Joe Hill with their daughter, Morgan, on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at USA Children's and Women's Hospital. Morgan was among triplets born to the couple on Christmas night. Hill gave birth to two girls and a boy -- Morgan, Madelyn and Joseph.

Press Register by Photo by Bill Starling; story by Kim Lanier.

Town Hall Meeting Features Excel by 5

MOSS POINT -- Patrice McCullum will show residents what it means to give children a jump start on education during a town hall meeting Monday, Nov. 15, that will feature Moss Point's Excel by 5 program.

The district will officially receive its certification for the preschool program that is designed for children birth to 5 years old.

The Excel by 5 annual meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Moss Point School District Family Education Center, formerly Charlotte Hyatt Elementary School, on Welch Avenue.

Moss Point Becomes Certified Excel by 5 Community
gulflive.com/themississippipress

March of Dimes Silent Auction

PASCAGOULA -- A silent auction was held Aug. 16-17 at Singing River Hospital for the March of Dimes. The auction lasted six hours both days.

All of proceeds went directly to the March for Babies program of the March of Dimes.

Items up for auction included products from Bath & Body Works, May Kay, Shell Landing Golf Course and Aurthur Court, as well as PAA tournament rod, wine and cheese basket, kitchen basket, pottery, casino overnight stay, paintings, gift cards, hair cuts, oil changes, and more.

Trail for Early Learning at Pascagoula Beach Park

Local volunteers pose for a picture after installing the first Born Learning Trail on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at Pascagoula Beach Park. The trail is a partnership between United Way for Jackson & George Counties and Pascagoula.

By APRIL JORDAN

PASCAGOULA – Learning happens everywhere a child goes, but parents, grandparents and caregivers may not always know how to support that learning.

Thanks to a partnership between United Way for Jackson & George Counties and the City of Pascagoula, that will not be the case for children in Jackson County. When Mom and Dad, Aunt Amy and Grandpa take their favorite young child to Pascagoula’s Beach Park, they’ll be able to play fun games together that will help the child come to school ready to succeed.

Today, local community volunteers created an outdoor interactive early learning Trail at Beach Park in Pascagoula to help parents, grandparents and caregivers turn excursions into fun learning moments.

The Born Learning Trail is a series of learning activities that any adult can play with young children. It is sponsored by United Way for Jackson & George Counties.

Based on the latest early childhood research and approved by national early learning experts through United Way Worldwide, the Born Learning Trail is designed to help adults interact with children to boost language and literacy development and to help caregivers understand how to best support early learning in outdoor everyday moments.

United Way research has found that many parents and caregivers undervalue their role in preparing young children for school and do not know exactly what actions to take to prepare young children for this next step in their lives. It is United Way’s hope that having the trail will help make this process fun and exciting for all to enjoy.

There are 9 signs on the approximately half-mile Born Learning Trail, each including activities such as: Watch! Stop! Learn! Play!, which encourages the caregiver to follow the child’s lead, building the child’s curiosity and confidence, while reinforcing the learning already under way. Another sign reads Hop! Toss! Shake! Wiggle!, and includes a hand painted hopscotch court that gets children’s brains and bodies moving, building fine and gross motor skills as well as the thinking that is instrumental for kindergarten success.

“The Born Learning Trail promotes fun and games – important components of early childhood learning,” said Carolyn Moore, Chief Professional Officer of United Way for Jackson & George Counties. “Research tells us children are literally ‘born learning.’ That means five years of education take place before they ever enter kindergarten. We know that what happens in a child’s early years matter – for success in life and for school readiness. And we want to help parents, grandparents and caregivers use everyday outings – including trips to Beach Park – to support that learning.”

“We are proud to partner with the city of Pascagoula and offer the first United Way Born Learning Trail on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. As an organization aimed at improving the lives of individuals in our community, we believe in investing in early childhood development programs and helping children prepare now for successful futures,” said Ellen Cole, Board President for United Way for Jackson & George Counties.

Pascagoula is a strong supporter of the Born Learning Trail. “We hope the Born Learning Trail will help our community do even more to get kids off to the right start,” said Darcie Crew, Pascagoula Parks & Recreation Director. “We felt that United Way’s Born Learning Trail was a perfect tie in to the existing work being done on the Katrina Trail and wanted to be the first in South Mississippi to feature it.”

The trail will be featured as part of the City of Pascagoula’s Katrina Trail currently being built at the Beach Park site. It begins on the west side of the playground and meanders by the canal in the park before connecting with the existing sidewalks to the south. Signage along the trail will focus on fitness and active lifestyles with Hurricane Katrina facts from Pascagoula and decorative tiles from local art students along the way.

Parents who want Born Learning materials or information and resources about early learning programs can call 211, United Way’s statewide information and referral hotline.

For more information about the Born Learning Trail, contact the United Way office at 228-762-8557.

Community volunteers work to paint a hopscotch court, one of the nine activities, on the interactive Born Learning Trail installed at Pascagoula Beach Park.

Safe Sitters Learn Practical Skills, Business

PASCAGOULA -- Singing River Health System will conduct a Safe Sitter Class at its Pascagoula facility from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15.

The one-day class is for participants 11 to 13 years old.

Sitters will learn how to handle crises, how to keep children safe and secure, and how to nurture and guide young children. Practical skills taught will include how to diaper and feed a child, how to entertain children and how to call for emergency help.

Students also learn about babysitting as a business.

At the end of the day, participants will receive a certificate at a presentation ceremony.

There is a $30 fee to participate and spaces are limited. To register, call 228-497-7470 or toll free at 877-497-7470.

Construction of Learning Trail Postponed

PASCAGOULA -- Thunderstorms canceled construction of the Born Learning Trail scheduled for Beach Park.

April Jordan with United Way of Jackson & George Counties said construction will be set for next week, if the weather cooperates.

Born Learning Trail to Debut in Pascagoula

PASCAGOULA -- United Way for Jackson & George Counties and the city of Pascagoula will build an outdoor learning trail at Beach Park to help parents and caregivers support early education for young children.

The Born Learning Trail is the first of its kind on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Construction of the learning trail will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the site of the Katrina Trail at Pascagoula Beach Park.

The Born Learning Trail is a fun, easy way for Jackson County parents, grandparents and caregivers to use outings to build learning critical for school readiness, said Alice Jordan, communications manager for United Way.

"A series of signs offering educational games approved by experts will guide adults on specific ways to create learning games outdoors and suggest tips to use at home," she said.

Local volunteers will be install the trail, complete with painting, beautification work and sign placing, according to Jordan. Volunteers will also paint starfish and other marine life on the Katrina Trail in areas not occupied by United Way’s Born Learning Trail.

"According to national early learning experts, children acquire more than 50 percent of their cognitive make up before they are four years old and are most impressionable during their early childhood years. It is developmentally appropriate that children begin becoming fluent readers between 3-5 years.

United Way’s Born Learning Trail addresses these issues and helps boost language and literacy development while helping caregivers understand how to best support early learning in outdoor everyday moments.

Contact April Jordan at 228-762-8557 or ajordan@unitedwayjgc.org for more information or visit www.unitedwayjgc.org

United Way for Jackson & George Counties, 3510 Magnolia St., Pascagoula, MS 39567-3113, or telephone at 228-762-8557, or fax to 228-762-7669.