The School for Young Children at Saint Joseph College Hosts the 10th Annaul Keefe-Bruyette Symposium: "Investigation and Inquiry in Math and Science for Young Children"

The School for Young Children at Saint Joseph College will host its 10th annual Keefe-Bruyette Symposium on Early Learning in Math and Science on Monday, March 12, 2012. The event begins at 8:15 a.m. (registration followed by the keynote address at 9:00 a.m.) in The Bruyette Athenaeum’s Hoffman Auditorium, located on Saint Joseph College’s West Hartford campus at 1678 Asylum Avenue. Focused on “Investigation and Inquiry in Math and Science for Young Children,” the day-long symposium draws early childhood and elementary educators from throughout the state who participate in workshops led by their peers. View complete event details here:  

http://ww2.sjc.edu/syc/docs/professional-development/symposiumbrochure2012.pdf

The Keefe-Bruyette Symposium on Early Learning is made possible by the generous support of Gene F. Bruyette H’04, P’81, Kathleen Barry Bruyette ’49, H’04, P’81, the late Harry Keefe and his wife, Anita Keefe, longtime education philanthropists.

This year’s featured keynote speaker is Lori Paradis Brant, Education Director, Connecticut Forest & Park Association. In her address, “Discovering the Outdoors: The Importance of Environmental Education in the Life of the Young Child,” Ms. Brant will focus on the values of curiosity and awareness. She will discuss the developing relationships children have with nature and how that acts as an important foundation for learning in later years. Using stories, research and her own experiences, Ms. Brant will share how a holistic environmental education program can help young children understand their connection and importance in the world as well as develop a caring attitude about the environment.

Currently serving on the steering committee for the Connecticut Environmental Literacy Plan and as vice chair of the Connecticut Urban Forest Council, Lori Paradis Brant also works with the North American Association for Environmental Education as a Guidelines for Excellence trainer. She is a facilitator for Project Learning Tree, Project Wild, Project WET, and is trained as a NatureQuest instructor, among other national environmental education program. Ms. Brant holds a B.A. in Natural Sciences, Environmental Interpretation from Central Connecticut State University.

In addition to the keynote address, participants at the Keefe-Bruyette Symposium select a morning and afternoon workshop from an expansive menu. Topics include: Sustainability for Preschool Programs; Creating Math and Science Manipulatives Based on Books by Eric Carle; The Young Mathematician; Properties of Matter: Solids, Liquids, Gases – Oh My!; and much more. Registration is required. The price of the morning session, which includes Lori Paradis Brant’s keynote address, morning workshop and lunch, is $65. The afternoon session, which includes lunch, the afternoon workshop and a tour of The School for Young Children, is $65. Full-day price is $80; full-time students pay a discounted fee of $50.

To register, contact Diane Morton, director of the School for Young Children, at 860.231.5565 or dmorton@sjc.edu or Sue O’Donnell, teacher/grant coordinator at 860.231.5561 or sodonnell@sjc.edu.