Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc.

06/17/2026

📚✨ Partnership in Action! ✨📚

We are thrilled to donate our 8th Owlivia’s Book Nook to the UF IFAS Extension Pasco County One Stop Shop in Dade City, a program that empowers Pasco County families through education, support services, food assistance, tutoring, and more.

A special thank you to Simply Healthcare Plans for sponsoring this new literacy space and helping us expand access to books for children and families in the East Pasco community. Through this partnership, children visiting the One Stop Shop will now have a welcoming place to discover the joy of reading. Simply Healthcare's support extends beyond Owlivia’s Book Nook. 🤩

They have also sponsored our Kids Read Now: PK-5 In-Home Reading Programs initiative, benefiting 1,206 VPK children across Pasco and Hernando Counties. Kids Read Now is a nonprofit organization that delivers in-home book reading programs designed to – get kids reading more while at home. 📚

Through this partnership, participating VPK children will receive a free copy of On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe, featuring a personalized message from Simply Healthcare, ELCPH, and Kids Read Now.

To encourage family engagement, the book also includes customized discussion questions on the back cover, giving parents an opportunity to connect with their child about the story while supporting kindergarten readiness skills at home.

Extraordinary things happen when organizations come together with a shared commitment to children and families. Thank you, Simply Healthcare, for your partnership and dedication to early literacy, and thank you to the One Stop Shop for providing a space where young readers can grow and thrive.✨

06/15/2026

We love seeing our VPK grads and families participate in the literacy activities that we host at our Get Ready for Kindergarten events from loose parts, matching colors, journaling and more! 🤩

06/15/2026

More smiles and great engagement! Thank you to Caitlin from Hernando County Public Library System for the interactive storytimes for the families!

06/15/2026

🧡 We wrapped up our wonderful Get Ready for Kindergarten 2026 events in Spring Hill!🧡

Over the past few months, we’ve enjoyed connecting with many of our VPK families and supporting them as they prepare for kindergarten. This past weekend, we welcomed Hernando County VPK graduates and their families for a fun-filled day of backpacks, books, and literacy activities as they get ready for their next big step.

A special thank you to the Florida Department of Health in Hernando County for hosting our Get Ready for Kindergarten event in Spring Hill. We especially extend our thanks to our Get Ready Kindergarten sponsors for supporting these important events. We truly appreciate your partnership and commitment to helping children and families start Kindergarten in the new school year ready to learn and thrive!

💚Florida Blue
💚PNC Bank
💚Simply Healthcare Plans
💚TGH Brooksville & TGH Spring Hill
💚Humana Healthy Horizons
💚Emotional Vaccines

We also want to express our gratitude to our community partners: Hernando County Family YMCA, Hernando County Public Library System, Hernando Schools, Florida Department of Health (DOH) and Scouting of America for sharing your resources and services with our VPK families!

Together, we're building a strong foundation for school success and a bright future for our youngest learners.💚🧡

06/15/2026

Monday Storytime with Friends! Building Literacy Through Play: Personalized Name Puzzle

Make learning personal and fun with a name puzzle that includes your child’s picture!

How to Create the Puzzle:
1️⃣ Print a picture of your child and glue it to cardstock or construction paper.
2️⃣ Write or print their name in big, bold letters below the picture.
3️⃣ Cut between each letter (and optionally cut around the picture) to make puzzle pieces.
4️⃣ Have your child rebuild the puzzle, saying each letter as they place it in order.

Why Kids Love It:
Recognizes their own name and letters
Strengthens fine motor and problem-solving skills
Builds self-identity and confidence

Tip: Laminate your puzzle for repeated use, or create a new one each month to show your child’s growth!

Building Literacy Through Play: Personalized Name PuzzleMake lear...

06/15/2026

Please see flyer below about employment opportunities at Bright Beginnings Preschool.

06/13/2026

🎉👋🏼What a wonderful day in Spring Hill! Our Get Ready for Kindergarten event brought together Hernando County VPK grads and their families for backpacks, books, literacy fun, and lots of excitement. Huge thanks to the Florida Department of Health Hernando County and our sponsors Florida Blue, Humana, TGH Brooksville & Spring Hill. Stay tuned — more photos on the way!

06/12/2026

⛅The School Readiness (SR) program offers financial assistance to eligible families in need of affordable quality child care for children, age birth – 12 years old. School Readiness funds pay a portion of child care costs based on the family’s income and risk factors. Each School Readiness program provides a developmental screening for children and referrals to specific health and educational specialists, if needed.

Visit https://elcph.org/school-readiness-srpa/ or call our office at 727-233-8291 to speak to a Family Services team member.

06/11/2026

🤩We are proud to announce new grant awards that will provide literacy kits through the Nemours Reading BrightStart! program, along with training and professional development for early childhood educators.

These resources support early literacy development and help prevent reading challenges by providing research-based tools for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. This funding will expand access to high-quality materials and support children who are most at risk.

⚡️Thank you to the Community Foundation Tampa Bay for supporting the importance of early literacy in our community! The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay grant award will fund (19) Nemours' curriculum kits for Infant, Toddler and PreK classrooms for the 2026-2027 school year.

⚡️Thank you to Suncoast Credit Union this grant will fund (9) Nemours Reading Brightstart Literacy kits for PreK classrooms during the 2026-2027 school year!

These collaborative efforts help us close literacy gaps by identifying and supporting children who may be at risk of falling behind in their early learning journey.

06/10/2026

☀️Parent Promise Wednesday! Save the dates for the Summer START Initiative Parent workshops starting Monday, July 6th!

Family engagement is an opportunity to be supported and encouraged as parents and caregivers even in the summer months!
We invite you to learn more about our START Initiative: Circle of Security free parent workshops where you will receive tools and strategies for relationship-based parenting and support to help during these challenging times and beyond.

See flyer below and be a part of a wonderful and caring community of Circle of Security families in Pasco and Hernando Counties! ☀️
To sign up or to find out more details, please contact Dawn Espinoza at [email protected].