Giraffe Laugh has a new cloud based information tracking system!  Our office personnel are busily working on getting the database up and running for everyone involved in our organization.  We are encouraging all our parents, donors and volunteers to click here to create sign up & create a member profile.  

After creating a profile, guests have control over the accuracy of their contact information that we keep on file.  They can find volunteer opportunities, and track their volunteer hours.  Members can also find upcoming event information as well as event registration links and forms needed for event participants.  Account holders can also view event calendars and make donations!

Please keep watching for updated posts on this process!  

Giraffe Laugh is the beneficiary of the Payette Brewing companies, Kegs 4 Kauses Event Monday March 26th from 5:00pm-10:00pm.  50% of the proceeds from sales that evening will be donated to Giraffe Laugh Early Learning Centers. Tell your friends and family and join us for beer and fun!  Payette Brewing Company offers four different selections of brew for your enjoyment, and there is ping pong, corn hole and other fun games in the game room.   If we can get enough people signed up for the event there will be a food truck there that night as well.  To sign up for this event please click here to RSVP on our Facebook Events page. Please drink responsibly!

Join us for a day of fun, laughter and fundraising on Saturday, April 14th at 1:30 p.m. at Westy’s Garden Lanes in Garden City. Don't forget to sign up for our upcoming Bowlathon: Click here to RSVP on our Facebook Event; or click here to sign up via our new tracking system.

_FINALLY, it’s beginning to feel a bit like winter!  We hope you’re staying dry and warm in this recent cold and storm spell and please remember to acquaint yourself with the snow day policies that are also posted on our website.

We have a favor to ask anyone that is a parent.  It matters not if you’re enrolled at Giraffe Laugh or just someone perusing our page.  We need input on what parents want and need to learn about parenting and the best way for us to get that information to you.  This is part of a grant through the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund in partnership with the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children.  We are working together to build a parent program that will satisfy your thirst for knowledge and to help prevent child abuse.  Click here to take the survey, and thank you in advance for taking a moment to fill it out.

The 6th Annual Bowlathon is approaching quickly! Check out our events tab for more information.  Help us raise money for kids in need and have fun all at once.

The Love and Logic parenting classes through our partner agency The Family Advocate Program are going strong each Tuesday and Thursday evening.  If you’re interested in joining the next round of classes please contact us and we’ll put you on the list!

Ballet Idaho is offering ballet classes to our preschoolers and we are certainly excited about spending this next semester learning about dance and the ballet.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for our children and families and culminates in a trip to the ballet Cinderella.  Last semester they were able to attend the Nutcracker with their families thanks to Ballet Idaho.

Here’s hoping that we get plenty of snow-pack for our farmers!

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As we usher in the holidays we are reminded daily how fortunate we are to have so many wonderful families and supporters involved with Giraffe Laugh!  We just had our 10th Annual Fall Friendraiser and it was an amazing success with 130 people in attendance and a positive response to two new video’s we showed that evening.  Thanks to all of you who attended and all those that sent items for the world’s best silent auction!  Thank you also to our title sponsor, Macy’s!  Click here to view videos.

At the Fall Friendraiser I was presented with a lovely tribute with a poem written by Neile for my 20 year anniversary of working with Giraffe Laugh.  At the event we didn’t have much time and it was a surprise so I really didn’t get much of a chance to provide a proper thank you.  So here goes…
I am so thankful for the many families that allowed me to be a part of their lives the past 20 years.  I am incredibly thankful to all of the wonderful teachers that I’ve been blessed with and how they made my job easier and made me look good!  I am so grateful for the many board members that I was able to work with and that helped make my job go smoothly while providing me with perspective, advice and their various talents.  I am appreciative of the many volunteers we’ve had over the years that did things that never would have been done without them.  I am mightily obliged to many donors, community partners and businesses without whom Giraffe Laugh would not exist.  I give thanks to God for His many blessings on my experience.  I cherish countless memories of so many children, some now grown bringing children of their own to Giraffe Laugh. I know, without a doubt that it isn’t possible to get anywhere without the uplifting time, talent and treasures of so many.  Thank you for a wonderful ride and here’s to 20 more!

Please be sure to subscribe to our Google calendar so you can keep up on current events at the centers. Click here to subscribe.

We are finishing up parent/teacher conferences in November and will move on to Thanksgiving baskets, (distributed 11/22) Christmas adoptions, and Christmas food baskets (distributed 12/20).  If you would like to be a recipient of any of these wonderful programs, or a contributor please contact Amber at amber@giraffelaugh.org.

Upcoming Breaks: Thanksgiving Break will be:  Thanksgiving day and the day after, November 24th and 25th.  Christmas break will be:  Friday, December 23rd close at 3:00 p.m. and closed on Monday, December 26th for Christmas.   New Years Break will be:  Friday, December 30th close at 3:00 p.m. and closed on Monday, January 2nd.

Santa will be visiting the centers on Tuesday, December 14th.  9:30 @ GL1 and 10:30 @ GL2.  Bring your cameras!

We have entered a Gingerbread house for the Family Advocate Program Gala.  Many thanks to Shari Fernandez for all of her hard work on this project!  We have also created a wonderful tree for the Festival of Trees.  St. Al’s is raising money for a mobile breast care unit, so our theme is “Every woman deserves good breast healthcare” and the tree is covered with many different varieties of Barbies.  Thanks to the many volunteers that helped put this together!  To check out pictures of both items, go to our Facebook page and “like” us at Giraffe Laugh.

January will bring the Love and Logic parenting classes with our partner agency The Family Advocate Program.  The cost is minimal $10 and if you can’t afford it, we will assist with payments!  The classes are four weeks on Tuesday, January 10th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at GL2.  Childcare is available on site.  Please sign up as soon as possible by emailing Amber at amber@giraffelaugh.org.

We are beginning our Tripod of Trust trainings and focus groups in January!  We will have more information on this exciting program soon!  This is a multi-level approach to educating children, parents and staff about child abuse.  Stay tuned for ways to learn how to prevent child abuse and get involved in the opportunity that is available thanks to the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund!

Welcome to a new school year!  We are excited about all of our new families and can’t wait for the new season to unfold.  We have many exciting things coming up to include events such as Hyde Park Street Fair Sept. 15-18 where parents can get volunteer hours while having fun, and our Fall Friendraiser on Friday, November 4th, 2011.  Please read on for more details about those events.  We’ll also have our annual Halloween Parades at each center, holiday parties and more as the fall continues into winter.
 
If you haven’t signed up or received an invitation for one of our google calendars to keep track of events, please email us or log onto our Giraffe Laugh Facebook page, like us, then go to the link.  We also have links for the events there as well.  Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers who help us make things happen around here!  We can’t do it without you.

Hyde Park Street Fair Children’s Area:  is one of our biggest fundraisers that supports our programs that benefit children and their families in need giving them access to quality early care and education through scholarships.  This event runs throughout the fair dates Sept. 16-18 and requires a set up day on the 15th that also gives parents an opportunity to volunteer if they can’t be there on the weekend.  The hours the Children’s Area is open are:  Friday 9/16 5:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m., Saturday 9/17 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  We have several opportunities for parents and friends of parents during the fair.  You can sign up on line.  You can also support Giraffe Laugh by attending the fair and purchasing tickets at the Children’s area for things such as face painting, a carnival, bounce houses, a giant slide and more!

Fall Friendraiser 2011, Building Futures for All Kids:  This year’s event will be held on Friday evening, November 4th, 2011 at the Student Union Building at BSU in the Simplot Room.  We will have our usual fabulous auction items and a wonderful new film to share with you about a day in the life of a preschooler.  We hope you and yours will join us once again to celebrate our past year.  Our theme this year is Building Futures for All Kids!

We will soon have ticket purchases available online for your convenience.  However in the meantime remember to Save the Date!  November 4, 2011.
 
Preschool Open House:  On Thursday, September 22nd at 6:00 p.m. both centers will be holding an open house for the preschool rooms.  ALL parents are invited to attend however if you need childcare you will need to sign up so we know how many people to expect.  Childcare will be free and this is an opportunity to explore your child’s future or current classroom and to get information about what we do in the classroom that makes preschool so special!  We hope you can join us for this hour of information and fun.  It’s a great way to meet the teachers and other parents as well.

Become a permanent part of the new walkway leading into our original building at our Giraffe Laugh I location by purchasing a commemorative brick or artwork done by your child. Build a dream & leave a lasting legacy. Bricks can be purchased by families, individuals, businesses, alumni, groups, teams, etc. They also make a memorable gift. Bricks start at $50.

Download brochure with further details + order form: