Childcare - EmBe

Kerra Wallace: Lead Teacher in 2C

Mikena VanLiere2021-01-20T10:58:38-06:00

Kerra Wallace is the Lead Teacher in 2C at EmBe South and has done amazing things to continue to evolve our curriculum and ensure our classrooms are a fun and safe environment for the children. Her job entails seeing over the children and daily activities of her classroom. Creating lesson plans, craft prepping, recording information about each child in KidReports and so much more! "I love seeing the kids explore through daily play and watching the lightbulbs turn on when they figure something out," Kerra said. EmBe has helped Kerra in my professional development by giving her the opportunity to [...]

Kerra Wallace: Lead Teacher in 2CMikena VanLiere2021-01-20T10:58:38-06:00

EmBe awarded Bush Foundation Community Innovation grant for collaborative project

Mikena VanLiere2020-12-22T09:33:29-06:00

EmBe has been awarded a Bush Foundation Community Innovation grant. The $200,000 award provides funding for a two-year collaborative project to develop a framework for a shared child and school age care substitute staffing pool. This pool of trained staff will meet day-to-day needs across multiple organizations. The project grew out of the Sioux Falls Childcare Collaborative, convened and facilitated by Sioux Falls Thrive. The group has been meeting for several years with a focus on advancing sustainable child and school age care. COVID has propelled the group into the spotlight as the essential work of childcare providers has affected [...]

EmBe awarded Bush Foundation Community Innovation grant for collaborative projectMikena VanLiere2020-12-22T09:33:29-06:00

The Challenge of Finding Childcare

Mikena VanLiere2020-08-10T12:56:57-05:00

Finding childcare can pose a challenge to any parent. Finding childcare that prioritizes children’s learning, health and safety is often much more difficult. Megan Koppen, a working mom, knew she wanted a center with these qualities and more. Koppen began her search for childcare with Google. “We literally did a Google search, and EmBe was the first one that popped up,” Koppen said. Koppen scheduled a tour and was impressed with what she found. “We really loved the security of it,” she said. “I’m kind of a neat freak, so cleanliness was a big thing. You could tell it was [...]

The Challenge of Finding ChildcareMikena VanLiere2020-08-10T12:56:57-05:00

Shelby’s Childcare Experience

Mikena VanLiere2020-07-06T13:59:12-05:00

Shelby Hartung noticed a difference in EmBe’s childcare from the moment she met the downtown location staff. “Everybody felt like friends. That was the biggest experience we had on our tour.” Hartung discovered EmBe shortly after moving from Bismarck, North Dakota. She began her search for childcare with Google, and EmBe’s name appeared at the top of the list. After scanning EmBe’s web page, Hartung called to set up a tour. On her tour, she met Desiree Wolfe, EmBe’s Downtown Childcare Site Manager. Wolfe led her through the facility, showing Hartung the spaces for learning and play. Hartung felt an [...]

Shelby’s Childcare ExperienceMikena VanLiere2020-07-06T13:59:12-05:00

EmBe Vehicle Fund Drive

Mikena VanLiere2020-01-21T11:59:22-06:00

Sioux Falls (January 13, 2020) -- Friday, December 13th held true to its reputation for EmBe, when two vans and a bus were disabled in the parking lot at EmBe South, just off of 69th and Louise in Sioux Falls. EmBe uses the vehicles to safely carry children on field trips, to transport them to EmBe for care, and to support programs like FIRST LEGO League, Girls on the Run, and swimming. That day, these vehicles were taken out of service through thefts of the catalytic converters. The vans were repairable, but the bus was not, creating a needless expense. The [...]

EmBe Vehicle Fund DriveMikena VanLiere2020-01-21T11:59:22-06:00

Preschool Partnership with Sioux Falls Hope Coalition

Mikena VanLiere2019-07-02T16:57:33-05:00

EmBe begins preschool partnership with Sioux Falls Hope Coalition EmBe is honored to join forces with the Sioux Falls Hope Coalition alongside six additional major partners, in a collaboration to bring affordable preschool education to everyone in the Sioux Falls area. EmBe serves nearly 1,000 children through childcare for infants through elementary school, providing enrichment and the security of safe, reliable child care for working families. South Dakota is one of only five states that do not financially support preschool development at the state level. “Joining the Hope Coalition’s efforts is a great fit for our mission. Opening educational doors to [...]

Preschool Partnership with Sioux Falls Hope CoalitionMikena VanLiere2019-07-02T16:57:33-05:00

Meet Our Twos Teacher: Miss Zhenya

Mikena VanLiere2019-03-07T10:28:38-06:00

Classical music drifts through the halls at EmBe Downtown. If you follow those notes to their origin, you’ll find yourself in the Twos - a bright, lively room full of culture and thoughtfulness. And at the heart of it is Miss Zhenya Lukyanova, the lead teahcer and person responsible for creating such a unique learning environment. Her Time At EmBe Miss Zhenya has been with EmBe since April 2013. She began as a float at EmBe South and since March 2016 has been the lead teacher in theTwos. She spent her years before moving to America as a Professor of [...]

Meet Our Twos Teacher: Miss ZhenyaMikena VanLiere2019-03-07T10:28:38-06:00

Engage Your Imagination with Dramatic Play

Mikena VanLiere2019-02-19T13:49:10-06:00

In the Dramatic Play Area children take on different roles and recreate real-life experiences. They use props and make-believe to deepen their understanding about the world they live in. The ability to pretend is very important to your child’s development. Children who know how to make believe develop a good vocabulary, which is important for reading. They learn to cooperate with others and solve problems, and are able to think abstractly—all important skills for success in school. When children pretend, they have to recall experiences and re-create them. To do this, they need to picture their experiences in their minds. [...]

Engage Your Imagination with Dramatic PlayMikena VanLiere2019-02-19T13:49:10-06:00

EmBe Kids Enjoy Intergenerational Activities

Mikena VanLiere2019-01-17T15:51:04-06:00

Little voices and laughter echo through the halls at Trailridge, the Senior Living Community located down the street from EmBe South. Those “little voices” are preschoolers who have the opportunity to build relationship with older adults and participate in fun activities. Some of the past events include crafts, story time and bounce house fun for the children. In 2019, classes will participate in several activities with Trailridge including a Valentine’s Day craft, an Easter egg hunt and snowman building. The children are always excited to see the “grandmas and grandpas” and the residents of Trailridge have stated that they love [...]

EmBe Kids Enjoy Intergenerational ActivitiesMikena VanLiere2019-01-17T15:51:04-06:00

Turkey Tom Teaches Kids to Give Back

Mikena VanLiere2018-12-10T15:50:31-06:00

Our annual "Tom the Turkey" food drive was a great success! This fun activity teaches our EmBe kids about giving back at an early age while raising important donations for Feeding South Dakota. This year, we raised 419 pounds of food! For every item of food the child donated, they got to color a feather to add to our turkey! As you can see, we had two very colorful birds when we finished! Children at both of our Sioux Falls locations participated. We are incredibly lucky to have EmBe families who understand the importance of giving to those who are [...]

Turkey Tom Teaches Kids to Give BackMikena VanLiere2018-12-10T15:50:31-06:00