Who inspires you professionally or personally?  And why?

My mom, Dolores Pendarvis, is the person who I aspire to emulate in my life, professionally and personally. She was a school teacher for over 25 years. Her students came back and thanked her for all the love and care she poured into them. She helped them academically but she also helped them grow as human beings. The last few years of her career, she was fighting a battle with stage 4 breast cancer.  She would teach half a day then go for radiation treatment in Jonesboro (an hour and a half drive) daily for weeks at a time. She would also work 4 days a week and spend every Friday in a chair in Jonesboro receiving chemotherapy for 7 hours. I watched her dedication and empathy shine through even as she was struggling herself. She was an amazing person. When I read Proverbs 31, I see my mom in every single verse.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love to read.I also like spending time walking outside. I love spending time with little ones.

What is your most treasured accomplishment?

The fact that all 3 of my daughters have grown up to be beautiful, strong Christian women is my greatest accomplishment. They love God, and they know the importance of serving others. They have learned about grace and love from their dad and me. By seeing how we handled mistakes, they learned that you can mess up and still keep going.

What do you do to treat yourself?

I love bubble baths and I love pedicures!

What is one thing you cannot do without?

I would have a hard time doing without coffee.  😂

Autumn is the perfect season to celebrate colorful, nutritious foods and connect children with where their food comes from. Fall produce, like apples, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and leafy greens, is packed with vitamins and minerals that support growing bodies and healthy immune systems.

This time of year offers great opportunities to bring nutrition learning to life. Here are some simple strategies to take advantage of fall's bounty: 

• Try simple taste tests with apples, roasted vegetables, or seasonal produce.

• Encourage children to describe what they see, smell, and taste to build sensory awareness and vocabulary.

• Introduce “eating the rainbow” with colorful fall foods like carrots, apples, spinach, and grapes.

• Use snack time to start simple conversations about healthy foods.

• Visit local farms, gardens, or farmers markets to explore how fall foods grow.

• Involve children in food prep, washing produce, stirring, or scooping, to build pride and curiosity.

• Highlight seasonal flavors and model healthy habits to make wellness part of daily routines.

Special Opportunity - FRESH Network!

If you’re located in Faulkner, Conway, or Pope Counties, you have the opportunity to join the FRESH (Farmers Reaching Every School through Health) Network pilot program. We’re preparing to deliver fresh, local produce to select early childhood programs and are seeking additional partners for our next phase.

Interested? Contact jessica@curriculaconcepts.com to learn how to get involved.

You don't want to miss the last Well-Being Wednesday of 2025 so be sure and mark your calendars for December 3, 2025! Join us on the Be Well Care Well Facebook page.

If you missed the previous Well-Being Wednesdays, you can check them out on our YouTube channel or our Facebook page!

Find Well-Being Wednesday!

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IMPORTANT REMINDERS!

Curricula Concepts Inc. is offering trainings in person and online via Zoom for families and educators! Go to our Training Calendar to sign up! Have questions or problems with registering for trainings? Contact Deborah below!

Childcare Provider Call Highlights! We know how busy you are and want to make it a litlte easier on you! Every month we email out a summary of highlights of the OEC's Childcare Provider Call. Make sure this is getting to you! If not, reach out to Deborah to stay connected!

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“Imagine what our neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered, 

as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person.”

— Fred Rogers