YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Post

Summer is a time when many children may not have access to the free and reduced-price meals they get during the school year, and households might need a little extra help putting meals on the table. This year Pennsylvania will launch SUN Bucks, Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT program, a new grocery benefits program that provides households with a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy food while school is out. Benefits can be used at local participating retailers to purchase groceries. Many children will get these benefits automatically, but some households will need to apply. The benefits will be added to an existing SNAP/TANF EBT card or a newly issued Summer EBT card. https://ow.ly/LgsV50SbBvj

It's a stark reality: the postcode lottery dictating the quality of school meals. 🍽️📍 Recently, the issue came into sharp focus and touched a nerve. Katie Wigley, a business manager at St Saviour's Primary School, shed light on a prevailing concern. "It's primarily an issue with funding," she explained. The challenge is undeniable; schools grapple to secure adequate funding for quality meals. It isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a recurring topic that resonates with teachers and students alike. When educational professionals raise red flags, it's a clear sign that we must pause and reassess. "All of the time," Ms. Wigley says, the quality of school meals surfaces as a pressing issue. Children within the same country, possibly even within the same city, experience wildly different standards of school meals. And it's not based on needs or merits but rather the luck of the draw - or more accurately, the location of their school. This postcode lottery isn't just unfair; it's a barrier to proper nutrition and equal opportunity in education. When teachers voice concerns, it should spur us into action. Nutrition is foundational to learning, and if we're serious about equipping the next generation for success, we need to revisit the drawing board. Quality school meals should be a given, not a gamble. It's time to rally for change, to unify voices across the spectrum, and demand a solution that eliminates this postcode lottery. Children's health and educational outcomes are too precious to be left to chance. 🍏✨⚖️ #SchoolMeals #EducationEquality #HealthyFutures (Note: The hashtags added at the end of the post are intended to enhance the visibility of the post within relevant LinkedIn circles and discussions.)

At STCU, we believe in the power of saving from a young age. That’s why we created Fill 'er Up, a program that rewards our youth members (17 and under) for regularly depositing into their First5 Savings Account. How It works: Each month, we randomly select a Fill 'er Up winner. If chosen, we top off your First5 Savings Account to $500! For example, if you have $200, we’ll add $300 to reach $500. How to enter: Be 17 or younger and have a First5 Savings Account. Make at least one deposit of $1 in the last 90 days. Submit a signed Fill 'er Up enrollment form. That’s it! Keep saving and stay eligible for our monthly drawings. ✨ Encourage your kids to save and watch their accounts grow with STCU’s Fill 'er Up program! Learn more: stcu.org/fillerup

Building a payment culture into the fabric of your community is the best way to set families up for school fee success. Read how you can develop a payment culture at your school, right from the start. Read More: https://postly.app/3NsB #coleschoolexperts #schoolbusinessmanager #independentschools #educationmanagement

It is a sad state when a Pre-school defrauds you. We got our son enrolled in Hello Kids, Marathalli , founded by Pritam Kumar Agrawal We were asked to pay the fees and they didn't even give the uniforms and stuff which was still ok. But then without any prior notice, they shut down the premises and asked us to send our children to some other place which was around 2kms from where the original school was. This was because "the owner was charging a high rent". The problems are- 1. The rent was pre-determined so the question of changing premises should've been informed at the beginning of the term. 2. They didn't even provide the books and other things saying that it needed to stay in the school so there goes that money which was paid towards books and uniform. 3. If we were to know of the change in premises, we would've preferred other, better schools which we didn't consider because of the proximity of this school. More importantly franchisee owners should be careful before doling out franchisees to anybody without doing any due diligence. And since they failed to do that, we now have to change schools mid-term which affects the kid mentally. It takes time for kids to adjust in a certain place and these people don't take that into consideration. Mr Pritam leads the Early Childhood Association but has no regard for early childhood as such. I don't really care that we lost all the money but the fact that my 2.5 yr old has to suffer because of the greed of these people who milk money from people like us who think it would be good to send to a reputed school. It is indeed sad when a Pre-school runs away with your money leaving you rethink the whole education system in this country. Some of the parents have started sending to different schools but sadly we have to repeat the whole year since we don't want to put him somewhere mid term and without due diligence. I don't know if I can trust another school. #fraud #scams #hellokids

Don’t get us wrong … we’re happy states are passing legislation to mandate one class in personal finance for high schoolers. BUT … overwhelmingly, we know children learn about money from their parents more than any other source. BY FAR. That’s the singular reason we focus on tools to help parents be the best money teachers they can be: https://lnkd.in/erj4axJJ #financialliteracy #financialliteracyforkids #financialliteracymatters

A privileged lottery. Passing through mountain villages perched above Kathmandu, donned in school uniform and beaming smiles, children proudly waved as I paused to take in the view. Though, my lasting memory now is much more than the stunning scenery. What struck and has remained with me is, what is such a privilege to some, is also such a bolder-some burden to others. Isn’t it quite absurd that so many societies, and children in those societies, have grown to perceive schools as such a heavy weight on young lives, sapping the creative life out of potential and enthused young minds. Except, this perception is not without foundation. Education should be simple. Forge positive relationships. Build trust. Trust in choice. Ability. Responsibility. Trust in children. The privileged lottery education has grown to become must be more than a period to endure. It must become a privilege for all, not a lottery of experience. Societies and schools together should stop and think…is education a privilege for all, or only for those with a winning a lottery view.

Schools out for half-term but that doesn't mean the learning has to stop.  Were you taught about money as a child? Here's why it's so important to teach good money habits early on. #BetterWithMoney #FInancialEducation #HalfTerm

💼🎓 When it's time to withdraw funds from your RESP to support your child's educational journey, the Direction of Payments Form becomes a crucial document. Rather than providing proof of acceptance into college, proof of enrolment is required as a vital step to ensure a smooth and hassle-free process of extracting the money from the RESP. By submitting proof of enrolment, you can confidently access the funds to fuel your child's educational dreams. So, are you familiar with the Direction of Payments Form and its significance in RESP withdrawals? Let's discuss how RFS can guide you through this essential process and make sure your child's future remains secure. Reach out to us today and invest in your child's education with peace of mind! 🎓📝 #RESP #InvestInEducation