Chadron State Child Development Center earns accreditation
The Chadron State College Child Development Center has earned national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children.
By News Channel NebraskaCHADRON – The Chadron State College Child Development Center has earned national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children.
According to a press release from NAEYC, the organization’s accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high-quality early learning environments.
“We’re proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” said Lona Downs, Center Director. “The center believes in play-based learning where children's work is their play, and their play is their work. All children can learn if given the opportunity to become actively involved in their world, supported by loving, caring adults who understand child growth and development.”
To earn NAEYC Accreditation, the CDC went through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors to verify and ensure that the program met each of the 10 program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. The NAEYC accreditation term lasts five years.
In the 30 years since NAEYC accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 6,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC. Less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition.
“NAEYC-Accredited programs have committed to a process that takes time, energy and dedication to complete,” said Alissa Mwenelupembe, senior director of Early Learning Program Accreditation. “The Chadron State College Child Development Center has demonstrated their commitment to young children and their families.”
April Theatre production takes audience to The Thin Place
CHADRON – The Chadron State College Theatre department will present the regional premiere of The Thin Place April 6, 7, 14, and 15 at 7 p.m. and April 16 at 2 p.m. in Memorial Hall’s Black Box Theatre.
Tickets are free and productions are open to the public, however audience members are encouraged to reserve their seats online at www.csc.edu/academics/theatre/seatreservation/. The production contains adult language and mature themes.
The play by Lucas Hnath explores the fragile boundary between the present world and the afterlife. A middle-aged British woman named Linda claims to be able to communicate with the dead, and if others believe, she can make them hear the voices, too.
Adeline Beason of Byram, Mississippi, portrays Linda.
“Linda and I both share a love for performance,” Beason said. “As you watch the show, you’ll notice how much she loves an audience’s attention on her.”
Trista Topil of Lincoln, Nebraska, plays Hilda, who thinks she may have the same abilities as Linda.
“It's easier to bring a new play to life because people have never seen it before, so you have the creative liberty to take the play and make it yours,” Topil said.
Halle Smith of Wheatland, Wyoming, plays Sylvia, one of Linda’s wealthy patrons.
“I am excited for this show because it is unlike any other show we’ve done here at CSC. There should be a lot of surprises that the audience will love,” Smith said.
Caleb Twite of White River, South Dakota, portrays Jerry, Linda’s American cousin.
Crew members include stage manager Jarret Buchholz of Arnold, Neb., assistant stage manager Isabella Ashley of Rapid City, S.D., lighting designer Christopher Lidgett of Norfolk, Neb., prop master Levi O’Dell of Chadron, sound board operator Reidun Hammer of Dubois, Wyo., and light board operator Riley Perry of Box Elder, S.D.
“Those of you who see the play will see how hard the crew is working on all of the effects and illusions that make the story possible. It is not an easy process, but they are going to make it a really interesting experience,” Beason said.