Arizona PBS Community Events Spring 2023
Arizona PBS is here to help you connect with your community, be more informed and explore new educational opportunities. Here are the communities our team visited this spring!
Explore
Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash
March 2, 2023 • Misty Standeford, Program Manager, was at the 8th annual Parker Library Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash promoting reading and literacy. With various community organizations contributing resources, the event offered many fun Dr. Seuss-themed activities for kids. In just two hours, over 250 kids stopped by the Arizona PBS Educational Outreach table to make “Thing One and Thing Two” or a small “Cat in the Hat” hat! Little Noah had a wonderful time crafting and so did many others.
Matthew Hance Park Community Fair
March 4, 2023 • Senior Regional Coordinator Gordon Brown and Project Coordinator Miranda Bellah were at the Community Connection Fair at Matthew Hance Park. It was a beautiful day and our rebranded “AZPBSkids Learn!” team was proud to be there to spread the word about Bright By Text and hand out a little over 100 books to children and families.
Wilson Primary Kinder Round Up
March 7, 2023 • Senior Regional Coordinator Gordon Brown, Project Coordinator Miranda Bellah and Education Consultant Dawn Craft visited the Wilson Primary School Kinder Round Up. As parents and kids came in to register early for kindergarten, Arizona PBS was able to provide information on Bright By Text and the upcoming “Super Why” reading camps. Each child was also given “Daniel Tiger” activity books and parent and child reading books to take home. It was fun to see our early learners getting excited for school!
Geek’s Night Out
March 22, 2023 • Project Coordinator Miranda Bellah and Coverdell Fellow John Leos were able to attend Geeks’ Night Out at the Tempe Library complex. This was an incredibly fun science event where kids and families came out and explored different experiments and crafts. A little over 100 people visited the table to try some leaf rubbing and take home a free story book and activity book.
La Pera Elementary Super Why
March 29, 2023 • Over the summer, Arizona PBS helps launch many “Super Why” reading camps for kids who are getting ready for kindergarten. But summer isn’t the only time these camps are in session. Misty Standeford, Program Manager, and the amazing teachers at La Pera Elementary School in the Colorado River Indian Tribal Community run their camp once a week. The learning involves growing letters and shooting baskets of words! What a great way for young Arizonans to get ready for their first day of school.
Avondale KidFest
April 8, 2023 • Arizona PBS visited the Avondale KidFest in Friendship Park. Members of our team led by Senior Director Kim Flack enjoyed a great day celebrating kids! The overall theme of the event focused on superheroes, so the group helped over 200 kids make their own hero badges and trading cards. Everyone who visited the table also received a free “Anytime Activity Book” and Bright By Text resources were available for parents. It was amazing to see so many little heroes come out and play!
Yuma Early Childhood Education Conference
April 15, 2023 • Our team was proud to represent Arizona PBS and the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry at the Yuma County Early Childhood Education Conference. Not only were educators there to learn about new opportunities and share knowledge but to honor exceptional work in early childhood education. Senior Regional Coordinator Susie O’Brien was awarded the First Things First Champion of Early Childhood award. Susie has worked to spread opportunities and education to early childhood educators, to provide resources where they are needed and fight for the education of young children. Congratulations, Susie!
Yuma Professional Development Training Sessions
April 22, 2023 • Arizona PBS teamed up with Child and Family Resources, Child Care Resource and Referral, Department of Economic Security (DES) and the Child Care Administration to provide in-person professional development to DES certified family child care providers. This training session was held at the Yuma Department of Economic Security. Yolanda Banuelos and Maria Beltran were in attendance, as well as Alejandra Aguirre Garcia and Stephanie Horvat from Child and Family Resources. Senior Coordinator Susie O’Brien enjoyed the opportunity to make connections and help provide further education for these dedicated providers.
Patriotella 2023 Spring Palooza
April 28, 2023 • Ronald Reagan Elementary School in Yuma held their “Patriotella 2023 Spring Palooza.” Program Manager Yanira Martinez and Senior Regional Coordinator Susie O’Brien were there to support the event with a Delta Dental Healthy Smiles campaign booth. With the help of Marla Ford from the Crane School District, our team provided resources to 250 people including dental health goodie bags and dental hygiene education for parents and kids.
Dia de los Niños
April 29, 2023 • Senior Coordinator Gordon Brown and Project Coordinator Miranda Bellah represented Arizona PBS at the Roosevelt School District Enrollment Festival. The theme for the festival was Dia de los Niños, a day dedicated to celebrating children in Mexico. Our team helped kids make tissue paper flowers, or flores de papel, based on the beloved PBS KIDS’ show “Rosie’s Rules” and spoke to parents and caregivers about Bright By Text. Although it was a hot day, it was wonderful to spread joy with just some tissue paper, a pipe cleaner and a pair of scissors!
Family Fun STEM Night
May 11, 2023 • Program Manager Misty Standeford joined the Arizona SciTech Institute and other community organizations for a Family Fun STEM Night at Starline Elementary in Lake Havasu City. While Arizona PBS was there to help kids and families make “Cyberchase” pinwheels and to provide activity books, they were also joined by a robot friend. Rolo the Robot and Nova the Gecko represented the Arizona SciTech Institute and joined the fun. Many families received STEM activities and workbooks from AZPBSkids LEARN! as well as free books from the Mohave County Library. Whether human or robot, STEM night was fun for all!
The Gathering of the People
May 13, 2023 • The Fort Apache Heritage Foundation held the 22nd annual Gathering of the People. Arizona PBS partnered with Delta Dental and North Country HealthCare to provide dental resources and screenings for the community. Program Manager Misty Standeford and Senior Education Coordinators Tammy Lee and Mike Gaffney were there to hand out 250 Healthy Smiles bags and prizes. Special guest Molly of Denali was there to say hello to her friends in the Apache Nation. Molly had a wonderful time dancing with the Apache Crown Dancers!
AZPBS in Your Neighborhood
Our team participates in local community events around the state, handing out books and resources to families and educators.
Want to learn more about Bright by Text?
Bright by Text is a free parent and caregiver messaging service that sends tips and resources promoting child development via text message.
