February 11, 2020 • Page 10 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Federal Grant Brings Early Education Option To Rural South Dakota 4-Year-Olds (Pierre, SD) — South Dakota families now have a new way to prepare their children for kindergarten at home thanks to a large federal grant. The United States Department of Education awarded the nonprofit organization, Waterford.org, an Education Innovation and Research Expansion (EIR) Grant with a goal of bridging the early learning gap for rural preschool-aged children through the Waterford UPSTART program. Rob Monson, executive director of School Administrators of South Dakota, is excited to see this pilot program help rural South Dakota families, saying, “This is a unique opportunity. Parents will be able to get their children ready for kindergarten at home using the Waterford UPSTART program. When parents are given the tools and knowledge to support their children, everyone wins. Every parent is empowered as their child’s first teacher right in the home.” This $14.2 million grant will bring the Waterford UPSTART program to five Western states. The pilots began in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Idaho last year—now South Dakota and Montana are enrolling for 2020. Waterford.org was awarded the EIR expansion grant after successfully serving rural families in Utah. “We’re grateful to be recognized for the important work we’ve been doing in Utah for a decade,” said Benjamin Heuston, CEO of Waterford.org. “Across the country, some 2.2 million 4-year-olds lack access to early education, and we’re eager to put this grant to use helping students in five more states prepare for a successful academic career, no matter their location or socioeconomic background.” Families can register by going to www.waterfordupstart.org. Spots are limited and enrollment ends June 8, 2020. Rural restrictions apply. Waterford.org Waterford.org is an early education nonprofit with a mission to achieve universal literacy for children through equity, access, and parent empowerment. Waterford develops educational tools that guide students along adaptive, individualized learning paths toward fluent reading and lifelong learning. We empower parents as a child’s first teacher, and we support teachers in taking the right actions at the right time for their students. In total, Waterford.org serves more than 300,000 children every year through all of our programs, and that number is continually growing. Waterford UPSTART helps four-year-old children prepare for school at home and at no cost. Children develop foundational reading and social-emotional skills, and parents are empowered to become their child’s first and most influential teachers. The children use adaptive software just 15 minutes a day, five days a week in the year before they start school. Waterford UPSTART also fuels family involvement in their child’s early education through parent coaches and fun educational activities parents can complete with their children offline. Waterford UPSTART has been rigorously tested and proven, earning the program a federal EIR grant and the title of a TED Audacious project. Independent research shows the average Waterford UPSTART graduate enters kindergarten reading at nearly a firstgrade level and maintains those gains through the fourth grade. Art Forms A Busy Month In The Arts Looms BY JULIE J. AMSBERRY Yankton Area Arts Yankton Area Arts hosted a fun and full class called Creative Lettering on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The class was led by Parker artist and owner of Wild Goat Designs, Terra Cypher. A special thank you to the class participants who donated to Julie help purchase supplies for our Summer Kids Art Camp! There will be more information regarding the Kids Art Camp at a later date. The exhibit currently on display at the gallery combines photography with woven fiber paintings. “Phases” is an aptly named exhibit for our two artists, Cheryl Peterson Halsey and Phyllis W. Packard. Ms. Halsey, of Springfield, has dabbled in a variety of art forms including whimsical columns, zentangle, and leather jewelry. Her next phase of artistry is traveling the world with camera in hand and capturing moments, “looking for what I hadn’t seen.” The subject matter of Halsey’s abstract photos is a single piece of organza folded in a method popular in couture fashion. Packard is from Vermillion. Patrons will see three phases of her work. “One phase includes my search to provide paintings through woven fiber of the South Dakota prairie atmosphere and landscape,” she said. “The second phase pieces play with the many phases of the moon and the habitat of Monarchs. The third phase, in some way is an extension Mountain Mystery.” Apof phase two, providing a whimsical search of childhood plications will be available memories.” in May through the City This exhibit will be on display through Feb. 25 with a of Vermillion Parks and Recreation website. Fees special reception honoring the artists on Friday, Feb. 7, are $35. Rehearsals will be from 5-7 p.m. All exhibits are free and open to the public. 1-3 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Yankton Area Arts will host its annual meeting on MonMonday through Thursday. day, Feb. 24, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at G.A.R. Hall, located at Actors will be assigned a 508 Douglas. All patrons of YAA are encouraged to attend rehearsal time based on as the organization’s leaders reflect on the past year and their part. Friday, all actors set goals for the future. will be needed from 1 p.m. Applications are now open for the Summer Arts Festival until after the performance. held in conjunction with Riverboat Days. Fine Artists and Rehearsals and the perforFine Craftsmen interested in participating in the arts activimance will be at the Vermil- ties at Riverside Park are encouraged to visit YanktonArlion High School Thomas H. eaArts.org and apply for a booth space. Applications are Craig Center for Performing due March 1 at which time the selection process will take Arts. Tickets are $5 availplace. Artists will be notified of their acceptance by May 1. able at the door. Looking for more art experiences? Check out the art Information about all of exhibit on display at Bede Art Gallery located on the Mount these programs can be found Marty Campus. “Lancers through my Lens” features phoon the website: vermiltography by Rich Loftus. It can be viewed through March lioncommunitytheatre.org. 25. Opportunities for volunteers While at Mount Marty, check out the comedy, “A Coupla can be found there also. All White Chicks Sitting Around Talking” Feb. 7-9. Limited VCT programs are made tickets are available. possible through the help of Celebrate Yankton High School Fine Arts on Feb. 10. The very generous supporters evening will start with the Fine Arts Hall of Fame Induction and with funds from the State Ceremony followed by performances all evening long. For of South Dakota, through the more information about these events and others in the Department of Education community, find the YAA Arts Calendar at YanktonAreaArts. and Cultural Affairs, and the org/event, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. National Endowment for the Arts. Yankton Area Arts is a non-profit arts organization located at 508 Douglas Avenue in Yankton. The G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery is open to the public Office Furniture Option free of charge Monday-Friday 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 1-3 1803 4th St., Sioux City, IA p.m. There is a ramp into the Over 20,000 sq. ft. gallery located on the south east side of the building. The of Cubicles, Desks, gallery bathroom is wheelChairs, Conference chair accessible. For more information, call the YAA Tables and More! office at (605) 665-9754 or email info@yanktonareaarts. org. AMSBERRY VCT 2020 Season To Include ‘The Sound Of Music’ VERMILLION — The Vermillion Community Theatre Board of Directors has announced the 2020 season. The summer mainstage production will be Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway musical smash hit, “The Sound of Music.” Performance dates are July 10-13, 2020. VCT President, Anthony Burbach, says, “VCT has wanted to stage this show for many years but has just now obtained the rights.” The show recently came off a national tour celebrating its 50th year. Matt Nesmith will direct and Anthony Burbach will be musical director. Auditions will be April 29 at 7 p.m. and May 2 at 3 p.m. Audition forms and information will be available in April on the website. Rehearsals will start June 1. Auditions, rehearsals and performances will be at the Vermillion High School Thomas H. Craig Center for Performing Arts. Also, VCT is sponsoring “Vermillion’s Got Talent” for the second year on Feb. 8. Those interested in performing should check the website for application information. There are prizes with the grand prize being $500 cash. The show is at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door. Kids under 5 are admitted free with an adult. This event will be at the Vermillion High School Thomas H. Craig Center for Performing Arts. Profits from this event will benefit the Craig Center. This year’s summer children’s workshop will be held June 20-24 with a performance at 7 p.m. on June 24. This event is held in cooperation with Dakota Players, an outreach of the Black Hills Playhouse. The show is “The Missing When You Want Comfort...You Want Kalins When You Want Comfort… You Want Kalins! Vermillion: 605-624-5618 *Rebate offer only available to Vermillion Light & Power customers. 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