PBS KIDS host Miss Rosa comes to Arizona
Eight, Arizona PBS brings beloved PBS KIDS host Miss Rosa to Phoenix and Yuma April 26-27, for two days of interactive activities for kids, families and educators, including themed performances, interactive storytelling, meet and greets, and one of Eight, Arizona PBS's monthly institute sessions for early childhood educators.
The events take place April 26 at multiple locations in Phoenix, and April 27 at Arizona Western College – Main Campus in Yuma (2020 S. Avenue 8E, Yuma, AZ 85365, in the Conference Center, Building 3C).
The Phoenix events April 26 are part of the El Día de los Niños celebration, organized by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department's Latino Institute. Beginning at 9:15 a.m., Miss Rosa will perform a show for preschoolers, kindergarteners and first graders at Grace Lutheran Church (1124 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, 85004), followed by a meet and greet for children and adults.
Then the celebration moves on to Margaret T. Hance Park (1134 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 85004, near Second St. and Moreland), from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, where Miss Rosa will perform at noon, preceded by a meet and greet at 11 a.m. In addition to Miss Rosa's performance, which includes interactive storytelling for kids, El Día de los Niños will feature more than 50 booths hosted by schools, colleges, youth and nonprofit organizations, and city libraries will offer interactive games, hands-on art activities, a reading village, live entertainment and giveaways. Both events are free and open to the public.
"El Día de los Niños is dedicated to promoting the importance of literacy and education for children, honoring the joys and wonder of childhood, regardless of linguistic and cultural background," says Carmela Ramirez of the Latino Institute and City of Phoenix, Arts & Culture.
Additional information about PBS KIDS host Miss Rosa's appearance at El Día de los Niños is available by visiting www.azpbs.org/asset and clicking on Upcoming Events.
The Yuma event is made possible by a grant from First Things First and is part of the Yuma Region Community Based Professional Development project. The initiative is focused on implementing developmentally appropriate practice with Yuma County's early childhood educators, including teachers, administrators, daycare professionals, and those involved with home-based care. Miss Rosa will give the opening keynote address at 9 a.m. targeted to educators, child care providers, preschool directors & teachers. In addition to the featured appearance of Miss Rosa, there will be breakout sessions from 10 a.m. to noon on:
• Family Relationships/Partnerships
• Professional Ethics
• Leadership Principles
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Language Development for Infants
The event is free, including all workshops and a light breakfast. All early learning professionals and caregivers in Yuma County are welcome to attend the Yuma event, however, registration is required. Details and registration for the Yuma Region Community Based Professional Development event featuring Miss Rosa are available at http://azpbs.org/yumapd, or by contacting Mark Becker at mark.becker@asu.edu.
"Through this series of monthly institutes, organized by ASSET and Eight, Arizona PBS, strategies are being taught and practice is being strengthened in an atmosphere of learning and collaboration," says Becker, associate director at Eight, Arizona PBS. "This event is for all early childhood educators in Yuma County. Whether you are center-based, school-based or home-based, please plan on attending."
Childcare will be provided. Check-in is at 8 a.m. and includes a complimentary light breakfast. All participants also receive a copy of the book Developmentally Appropriate Practice, by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
"We are pleased to have Miss Rosa as our keynote speaker. She is popular with kids and adults," says Becker. "Miss Rosa is the lovable, bubbly, preschool teacher you always wanted!"
A teacher of Costa Rican and Puerto Rican descent, Miss Rosa is bilingual and comfortably switches back and forth between English and Spanish. Miss Rosa helps young children navigate the world around them through art, song, dance, storytelling, humor and advice, encouraging children to explore and learn. When she is not teaching, she can be found in-line skating, dancing, cooking or volunteering in community reading programs.