For as long as schools remain closed, the Creative School for Children will distribute meals and snacks, as available, each weekday from 11 a.m. to noon to help support families whose children typically receive one of their daily meals at school.

鈥淲e understand this is a very difficult time for the families in our community, and we want to do our part to help.鈥� 鈥� Suzette Turner

鈥淲e understand this is a very difficult time for the families in our community, and we want to do our part to help,鈥� said Suzette Turner, director of the Creative School for Children.

The Creative School is an on-campus child care center and pre-kindergarten that enrolls children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Most are children of 麻豆原创 students and employees. With 110 children currently enrolled, the Creative School wants to do its part in making sure its students receive the nutrition they need during this difficult time. The service is also open to the community at large.

The Creative School regularly serves as a food distribution site for Second Harvest, particularly over summer breaks when children are out of school and in-need families may struggle to provide enough food. They also provide food to children in aftercare during the school year, as needed.

The safety and wellbeing of the community is the top priority at this time. Like all campus and community operations, the Creative School鈥檚 food distribution service will continually be evaluated and may change in the weeks ahead. Any operational changes will be communicated with the community at large.

麻豆原创鈥檚 on-campus childcare center 鈥� the 鈥� launched a tuition-assistance program this semester that pays anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of the cost of child care at its facility for 麻豆原创 students who are recipients of Pell Grants. The program is funded through a $3.7 million four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

If it weren鈥檛 for that program, Veclotch said this semester at 麻豆原创 would have been incredibly challenging for her.

鈥淗aving two children鈥檚 tuition and my own, even with my financial aid, has meant really stretching,鈥� Veclotch said. 鈥淲e have relied heavily on family to make it by these past two years. I think having this grant will encourage students to continue because it will help avoid too much financial hardship. I only wish this program had been around two years ago, when I first started.鈥�

Veclotch expects to earn her master鈥檚 degree in communication sciences and disorders with a focus in speech-language pathology in December.

“If students aren鈥檛 worried about paying for child care, they won鈥檛 have to work so many hours and then they can focus on school, succeed and graduate on time.” 鈥� Suzette Turner, the Creative School director

麻豆原创 is one of three Florida universities to get the grants to implement programs that help student parents complete their degree programs.

鈥淭he idea is that if students aren鈥檛 worried about paying for child care, they won鈥檛 have to work so many hours and then they can focus on school, succeed and graduate on time,鈥� said Suzette Turner, the Creative School director who landed 麻豆原创鈥檚 grant. 鈥淧arents who work less, attend classes regularly, and have greater study time are more likely to graduate.鈥�

The money covers the tuition difference for the families in the program and provides some funding to upgrade the child care facility, so all families benefit. Some of the planned upgrades include new sodding and playground equipment, new furniture and new learning materials.

Turner will track all the participants鈥� progress toward graduation and provide support. That means students will formally check in with Turner once a semester and provide transcripts and other academic material to show their progress toward graduation. She will provide them with referrals to services they may need such as tutoring. Turner will follow the families and publish her findings after the grant concludes in four years.

Undergraduate and graduate students with children at the Creative School are eligible for the program. They must have received a Pell Grant, be continuously enrolled and provide other documents to determine the amount of tuition that will be subsidized on a sliding scale.

Nine families are enrolled now and more will be added as spots open up at the school, which is full.

“I can honestly say that聽without聽this program, I would not have been able to pass my classes and may not have been able to continue my education.” 鈥斅燘rendan Chase, aerospace engineering major.

鈥淭he Creative School is so different from 鈥榗hild cares鈥� because it 100 percent is not one,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very day I drop my girls off, we call it 鈥榮chool鈥� because they go there to learn, not to just be babysat all day. All of the projects the children do are explorative, creative and hands-on. I adore the teachers and assistants in each class that my girls have had. This school feels like a home. It has been a truly wonderful experience.鈥�

Brendan Chase agrees. The aerospace engineering major has a 7-month-old at the Creative School. He describes the research-based educational program as outstanding, which is why the family has done all it can to keep his son there.

鈥淭he strain of the weekly child care tuition has been hard for us to overcome,鈥� Chase said. 鈥淲e were struggling to pay it.聽My course load is very strenuous, and because I had to work full time to pay for the child care expense, my grades began to decline and I fell behind. After聽receiving aid from the Tuition Assistance Program, I have been able to work less hours and catch up in my studies. Looking back, I can honestly say that聽without聽this program, I would not have been able to pass my classes and may not have been able to continue my education. We are so grateful and hope that other students in this situation can take advantage of this amazing opportunity.鈥�

That鈥檚 the idea, Turner said.

鈥淚 know this program works,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e had it at my previous center and that鈥檚 why I went after the grant here.鈥�

Turner joined 麻豆原创鈥檚 nationally accredited center in 2017. She was the director of a similar center in Illinois before moving to Florida. She has multiple degrees including a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the Saint Louis University in Missouri as well as degrees in early childhood education and childcare administration.

鈥淚聽 love being around children,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love being able to use the latest research to help educate our Littlest Knights.鈥�

Pugh is a graduate of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Leadership Empowerment Program where she created her own project to both help the university and encourage community building.

She works closely with WHPS鈥� FreshU nutrition initiative that gives students access to healthy food options on campus and provide sustainability for those items. She thought of a golden opportunity to meet both needs for her project and benefit WHPS when she heard about Lucky鈥檚 Market, which opened in June 2016 and is only about 10 minutes away from main campus.

Pugh and the WHPS staff took a field trip last December to see what they鈥檙e all about, and a month and a half later, the partnership began.

Every Tuesday and Thursday since February, Pugh has personally loaded her storm blue Nissan Altima with hundreds of food items to deliver to the Pantry. As of Nov. 14, Lucky鈥檚 has donated 3,319 food items 鈥� 1,709 this semester alone.

鈥淪tudents now have access to fruits, vegetables, baked goods, full meals, chips, peanuts, candied apples, juice, popcorn, cereals and more,鈥� Pugh said. Students can take up to five free food items per day at the Pantry with a 麻豆原创 ID.

In addition, WHPS and Lucky鈥檚 donate food items to the Creative School for Children.

Pugh also teaches a couponing class. 鈥淚 always love going to her couponing classes.鈥� 麻豆原创 student Jazmine Manriquez said. 鈥淪he makes the class engaging and fun. Apart from that you can tell she is really passionate for couponing, teaching others and helping them excel, too. She is sweet, funny and dedicated.鈥�

Pugh has a passion for health education and with this new partnership and her go-getter attitude, she has made a positive impact on the 麻豆原创 community.

I am forced outside, seeking a breeze, but I have found a certain peace, as well. I live in rural east Orange County and am surrounded by green forests and pasture lands. While I might prefer to view this from the comfort of my air-conditioned house, I need the view nonetheless.

Research abounds now regarding the healing power of green spaces.

Whether it is to alleviate symptoms in children with sensory issues or ADHD or to improve mental fatigue in adults, researchers are recommending more time in the outdoors. Children can improve their physical health, as well as their ability to focus and develop executive functioning skills. While research shows decreased rates of heart disease, stroke and depression in adults. Both children and adults who spend time outside have better coping skills for stressful situations. Researchers acknowledge the change in the sedentary American lifestyle in the past four to five decades and the rise of these health conditions.

As we spend more time on work and school, we spend less time on leisure activities. When we do relax, our leisure times more often find us inside watching TV, playing video games and using our electronics.

I am not an opponent of technology. I enjoy the usefulness and entertainment as much as the next person.

However, when I was a child, my recreation time involved playing outside with my neighbors and siblings. There was always a game of kickball, hide-and-seek or freeze tag to be found. If no one was around, we might ride bikes or climb trees.

Sitting inside the house was not a fun option. We were imagining, risk-taking and problem-solving 鈥� and needed the outdoors for this to happen.

Many of today鈥檚 children have lost the wonder of being outside, running free and exploring. Their green spaces are few. Homes are bigger; yards are smaller.

At 麻豆原创鈥檚 Creative School for Children, for pupils up to age 5, the staff tries to counteract this growing disconnect between children and nature. The school is committed to using the natural world as a component of learning by offering outside activities along with classroom programs.

Outside, the children can discover and explore at a variety of interactive elements such as butterfly and vegetable gardens, nature art, movement, climbing, and a dirt-digging and 鈥渕essy materials鈥� area. The school last year was certified as a Nature Explore Classroom along with more than 320 other programs around the country.

And as adults, we still want natural spaces. Otherwise, conservation lots 鈥� that help preserve an area鈥檚 natural beauty and minimize the impact of development 鈥� wouldn鈥檛 be sold for a premium. Builders are adding community parks to neighborhood designs, but are we using them? Children, and adults alike, need to spend time outdoors. Take advantage of these opportunities.

It will do us all a little good to be in a green space and slow life down. My hope is that you, too, will experience the tranquility of nature.

Kim Nassoiy is the interim director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Creative School for Children. She can be reached at Kimberly.Nassoiy@ucf.edu.

For outdoor lovers, the 麻豆原创 Arboretum on Friday will host its second-annual Spooktacular. The overnight event will feature a Trail of Horror throughout the Arboretum鈥檚 nature paths and boardwalk, an outdoor screening of the movie Sinister, photo booth, ghost stories by the fire, camping and other activities.

鈥淭his is a chance for students and the community to engage with the Arboretum in a fun and social setting,鈥� said Jacques Werleigh, program assistant at the 麻豆原创 Arboretum that鈥檚 known for its nature trails and community garden. 鈥淵ou just have to have fun 鈥� no volunteering or research is necessary.鈥�

About 100 people are expected to attend Spooktacular, Werleigh said. Costumes are encouraged, and those who plan on staying overnight should bring camping supplies and food. Festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, students, faculty and staff also can get in the Halloween spirit by attending one of numerous themed, group-exercise classes and events at the Recreation and Wellness Center. Here鈥檚 what鈥檚 coming:

To top off the holiday, those on campus at 10 a.m. on Halloween can witness a longstanding university tradition: About 120 麻豆原创 Creative School students up to 5 years old will trick-or-treat through Millican Hall and the Housing and Residence Life offices. The annual event has been held since at least 1998, said Creative School associate director Kim Campese.

鈥淭he Millican Hall and Housing staff thoroughly enjoy dressing up and seeing the littlest Knights in their costumes,鈥� Campese said.

As a result, the Creative School was recently named a certified Nature Explore Classroom by the national Nature Explore program, an initiative that recognizes schools and other organizations that make a commitment to use the natural world as an integral part of learning. Nature Explore Classrooms were developed by a team of educators, landscape architects and researchers in response to the documented growing disconnect between children and nature.

The school, on Gemini Boulevard just west of the 麻豆原创 water tower, offers not just inside classroom programs but now also presents a variety of outside interactive elements geared to create an environment of discovery, exploration and development.

Designated centers on the campus provide hands-on activities such as nature art, music and movement, climbing, butterfly garden, vegetable garden 鈥� and even dirt-digging and 鈥渕essy materials鈥� areas.

鈥淲e set out with a year-long initiative to transform our playground to a nature-based classroom,鈥� said Amy Hesse, director of the school.

And how do children learn in this environment?

鈥淭hrough observation, interaction, exploration, risk-taking, decision making, project-based learning 鈥� and play,鈥� she said.

The transition included training the staff about using nature in teaching, working with the 麻豆原创 Arboretum for landscaping and sustainability of the new gardens, enlisting volunteers to help install new equipment and materials, and arranging with Wellness & Health Promotions Services to offer gardening lessons and share harvests with families and 麻豆原创 students.

At the end of the year of redevelopment, the school hosted two workshops presented for the southeast region members of Nature Explore, which is a collaboration of Dimensions Educational Research Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation.

The school has about 150 children enrolled up through age 5 in seven classrooms, with additional programs during summer months.

鈥淲e integrate nature-based learning in our curriculum both indoors and outdoors and host family events in the outdoor classroom such as 鈥淎rt in the Garden鈥� and 鈥淚nternational Dinner,鈥� Hesse said.

This new certification networks the Creative School with more than 320 like-minded spaces nationwide.

鈥溌槎乖� Creative School for Children provides a model to other universities across the country,鈥� said Heather Fox, director of communications and outreach for the Nature Explore program. 鈥淭hese spaces inspire hands-on activity, creativity, play and plenty of time exploring the natural world.鈥�

In addition to offering educational experiences for the children, the school provides an opportunity for university students to gain experience and training in working with young children, and for faculty and graduate students to do educational research.

CEDHP associate lecturer and Read for the Record organizer Lee-Anne Spalding feels the event is beneficial for pre-kindergarten children and education majors.

鈥淩ead for the Record provides CEDHP students with an opportunity to interact with Pre-K children while teaching them the importance of serving the community. The event also creates a foundation for the children to become readers and successful citizens in our society.鈥�

More than 100 Pre-K children from the Creative School for Children, Grand Avenue School and Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church Preschool paired with 麻豆原创 education-student volunteers to read 鈥淣ot Norman: A Goldfish Story鈥� by Kelly Bennett, a book about a boy who realizes his goldfish Norman is a good pet.

The Creative School鈥檚 associate director Kim Campese says Read for the Record is 鈥渁 great learning tool and literacy experience for the children.鈥�

Education major Alexis Lambert had an energetic group of 4 year olds and appreciated the opportunity to 鈥渉elp the children with their reading skills and facilitate their learning.鈥�

The fun festivities included eight literacy activity stations associated with the book. Children counted goldfish crackers, wrote the number on a piece of paper and drew tally marks with an iPad app, scooped plastic goldfish out of a tub of water with a small net, learned the difference between service dogs and pets by Canine Companions for Independence and picked a perfect pet by writing their name on a cat, dog, bird, turtle or hamster picture.

Christy Vaughn鈥檚 4-year-old son Read attends Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church Preschool. She was impressed with Read for the Record.

鈥淭he event is exposing the children to different types of literature along with giving the 麻豆原创 students an experience with groups of children. The themed activities and hands-on activities also kept the kids engaged.鈥�

Her son Read had a great time and thought the 鈥渞elay with the goldfish was fun.鈥�

Read for the Record became a reality with the assistance of generous, local sponsors. PNC Bank bought the children鈥檚 books, donated goody bags and provided funding for the buses and other event essentials, and Publix manager Jay Farley donated a nutritious lunch with the assistance of employee and CEDHP student Amanda Harris.

Reading along with the interactive games educated children during a well-rounded, synergetic program.

鈥淚 love that children are not only reading a book, but connecting reading with physical movement, counting and social studies,鈥� says CEDHP Dean Pamela Carroll. 鈥淭he children were talking about what they were reading with their adult partners, which made it a full, literacy event for them to enjoy and remember.鈥�

The station鈥檚 鈥淕ood Day Orlando鈥� will be shooting live from a set located between the Reflecting Pond and Millican Hall, complete with a news desk for anchors John Brown and Amy Kaufeldt. FOX35 meteorologist Jayme King will roam the campus, doing weather reports from scenic spots. King鈥檚 weather reports will start at 6 a.m., and the news program will run from 7-10 a.m.

FOX35 wanted to visit 麻豆原创 for Homecoming Week, which culminates at noon Saturday when the Knights take on the Houston Cougars at Bright House Networks Stadium.

The station will feature a number of 麻豆原创-centered stories during the broadcast, from the new interactive playground at the Creative School for Children to an interview with the founder of Limbitless Solutions, the team of 麻豆原创 students who make 3D-printed arms for children.

The 麻豆原创 community is invited to come watch live. Join the 麻豆原创 Marching Knights, Knightro, cheerleaders and dance team members to cheer on 麻豆原创 on Friday.

麻豆原创鈥檚 early childhood center鈥檚 director Amy Hesse asked the children to guess what was inside the carts. Children shouted out 鈥渨ood鈥� and 鈥渢oys.鈥� When one child finally said 鈥渟hapes鈥� staffers pulled back the covers and the children rushed forward. They giggled and laughed as they started pulling out shapes that looked like giant puzzle pieces. Teachers told them to go build and have fun.

For more than an hour, the children hauled piece after piece and began to build, letting their imaginations soar.

One boy built what he called a rolling wall. Another group built a space shuttle train. Two girls discussed how they were going to 鈥渇ix the problem鈥� when they couldn鈥檛 roll a small ball through one section of their roller coaster masterpiece. Another group turned square, rectangular and circular shapes made of sturdy, but pliable material into a make-shift fire station. They sprayed each other with long tubular pieces and imaginary water. Sweat dripped off their tiny faces and backs as they ran to gather more pieces and continue to build.

The pieces make up the school鈥檚 new Imagination Playground, courtesy of a grant offered through a partnership between the beverage company Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) and the national non-profit KaBOOM! in collaboration with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). KaBOOM!, is an organization advocating for kids to have a childhood with plenty of play time. NAEYC is a professional organization committed to providing high-quality early childhood education and accredits centers that meet the group鈥檚 standards.

The grant is part of Let鈥檚 Play, a community partnership led by DPS to get kids and families active nationwide. Unstructured, child-directed play has been shown to help kids develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually, yet today鈥檚 kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation. As a result of expanded Let鈥檚 Play grants and projects, more than 1 million kids will benefit from new or improved playgrounds around the nation between 2014 and 2016.

鈥淧lay is key to a child鈥檚 development on a physical, emotional and cognitive level,鈥� Hesse said. 鈥淎nd this playground allows children to use their imaginations without being limited to one specific form. They can recreate it anyway they want every day. We鈥檙e so pleased that the children love it.鈥�