Science now tells us more than 85% of a child's brain develops prior to the age of 5, but did you know the number of incoming public school kindergarteners who attended preschool dropped to 58% in Hawaii this year? That's the lowest percentage ever reported. The time to place greater emphasis on early childhood education is right now!

That's why Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has partnered with our friends at Good Beginnings Alliance and the Hawaii Business Roundtable so that girls can learn about this critical issue and help educate the public during the 2012 cookie sales! Younger girls can learn to articulate a simple message while older girls may choose to implement larger Take Action projects that enhance the 5 Skills they have gained through their participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program or -- perhaps start a project in conjunction with a leadership journey or their Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards.  In this presentation we'll tell you about the campaign, who is participating; more about what tools will be provided and how so your girls can decide how to get involved.

We encourage everyone to take this to the next level!  Learn about what initiatives are already in place for early childhood learning in Hawai'i, who is involved, and what resources are available (see some listed below)!  Then, mark your calendars because you're invited to join Girl Scouts of Hawai'i at the state capital on Tuesday, March 13 as the House and Senate recognize Girl Scouts 100th anniversary and girls statewide advocate on behalf of this important issue. 

This Take Action project will not only demonstrate to others how one girl can make a difference, but how thousands of girls together can make the world a better place!

 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED WEBINAR

 

You can also acccess this webinar by visiting VIP eTraining via Cookie Central.

Resources:

Good Beginnings Alliance
808.531.5502
www.goodbeginnings.org

Be My Voice Hawaii
www.bemyvoicehawaii.org (coming soon)

Hawai'i State Readiness Assessment
http://bit.ly/hssra 

The Heckman Equation
www.heckmanequation.org

Early Childhood Learn in the News

November 27, 2011 Isle Preschool Enrollment Shrinks for Third Straight Year, Star Advertiser (PDF)
December 5, 2011 Preschool Decline must be Reversed, Star Advertiser (PDF)
January 17, 2012 Expansion in Pre-K Programs Curtailed in Recession
February 5, 2012 Officials Target Early Learning, Star Advertiser (Full article coming soon)