Greetings!
The spring semester at Head Start of Greater Dallas is in
full swing. It is an exciting time and we do our best to keep you abreast of
all of our initiatives.
On March 27th, we held our third annual Head Start
Heroes Celebration, honoring the sponsors of our Math & Science
Project, now in its fifth year. I would like to personally recognize and thank
Citigroup Foundation, Dallas
Mavericks Foundation, ExxonMobil Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation, and The Rees-Jones Foundation for their support of this
one-of-a-kind program for our preschoolers.
In these tough times we are truly blessed to have the
continued dedication of our sponsors and supporters like you. Thank you for your continued support of Head Start of
Greater Dallas.
Wanda J. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
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 Head Start of
Greater Dallas, along with its supporters, honored the corporate and
individual heroes of the year for their support of the Head Start Math &
Science Project at its Head Start Heroes Celebration Saturday, March 27, at Park
Lane Ranch, Dallas.
The 2010 Corporate Hero Awards went to Citigroup Foundation, Dallas Mavericks Foundation, ExxonMobil Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation and The Rees-Jones Foundation for their
commitment to math and science in an early childhood setting.
The Individual Hero Award went to Ann F. Minnis, an Independent Educational Consultant and volunteer who
has served as an integral part of Head Start of Greater Dallas' educational
effort since 1989.
"Being
a part of the lives of children in our community through the programs
Head
Start has implemented has been a wonderful testament to the benefits of
investing in our children's future," said Minnis.
Funding support from Corporate
Heroes of nearly $400,000, helped Head Start launch its pre-math, pre-science
curricula in 15 treatment classrooms to 300 students in 2005. Now in its
fifth
year, the program has expanded in 59 classrooms and reaches nearly 1,200
Head
Start children.
"Children
enrolled in our Math & Science Project at Head Start have met more
than 60
percent of the science skills criteria expected for preschool children
and more
than 70 percent of the math-related criteria. These results indicate the
benefits of exposing children to these subjects at a young age, and we
are
hoping to expand our program to an additional 2,300 children who are
currently
without access to this beneficial curriculum," said Head Start of
Greater
Dallas CEO Wanda
Smith.
A special thanks to our Hero Sponsor Care Options 4 Kids, Major Sponsors AT&T, Baylor Medical
Center, Care Providers, Connect Care, Dallas Housing Authority, Humana, K&L|Gates LLP, Therapy for Kids, as well as many Table Sponsors.
Guests danced the night away and bid on silent auction items
from numerous local businesses. Thank you
to each of you who attended and supported our event. Visit our Facebookpage for more pictures of this annual event.
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 37th Annual National Head Start Conference Comes to Dallas
This year, there will be over 200 education sessions designed to
address key topics and common challenges for programs, panel discussions on hot
topics, and a host of meetings, giving you a chance to brainstorm and network.
A series of pre-conference special tracks to help your programs meet your
training needs are also available for additional fees. For more
information and to register, please visit the event website.
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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference
Grandparents Raising
Grandchilren originated from
partnerships, including Child Protective Services (CPS) and Parkland,
referring
families to Head Start almost daily for help getting in touch with basic
services to meet basic needs. More than 200 HSGD children are under the
guardianship of a relative, and most of these children were in high-risk
living
environments as identified by CPS.
It became apparent to Head Start staff that grandparent
caregivers were unaware of services available to them such as child support
services and Children's Health Insurance Program. At the event, attendees were able to hear presentations from
experts regarding topics they had suggested in a survey. Topics included
protecting our children, support, parenting the second time around and staying
healthy and were presented by both Head Start staff and local vendors. They
were also able to visit with individuals from places like Parkland, CPS, WIC,
Easter Seals, North Texas Job Corps and get information on legal aid.
The result of this first event was more informed
grandparents who felt empowered to get the help they needed for their families.
With new resources now at their fingertips, they are able to give better care
to our HSGD kids! Thank you to the Head Start staff who initiated this
innovative event and empowered caregivers!
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Singapore Educators Learn About Head Start
In December of last year, Head Start received a visit from a
delegation of nearly 20 early childhood professionals from Singapore. The group
was in the States for a 0-3 Conference and wanted to learn about different
child care programs offered in Texas.
The guests visited Lakewest Head Start and Early Head Start
as well as Margaret H. Cone Head Start and Early Head Start during their
two-day stay. Among the delegation was a regional director and seasoned
teachers, some of whom were moving towards directing a center. They were
interested in our programs, systems and curricula and particularly enjoyed
learning about Head Start's classroom activities.
Although Singapore is nearly 10,000 miles away, the teachers
from this small island city-state located off the southern tip of Malay Peninsula
teach students in similar circumstances to our Head Start children. They focus
on giving them the resources they need to be successful in school and life as
we do. They even teach math and science subjects in English!
Overall, it was a wonderful learning experience for all
parties and an opportunity to showcase what Head Start does best. A special
thanks to our Head Start and Early Head Start staff at Lakewest and Margaret H.
Cone for being gracious hosts to our special guests.
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 Children Celebrate Black History Month
In honor of Black History Month, the Brookhaven Head Start
Center staff and children celebrated the contributions of African Americans
throughout the years. From skits and dances to poems and songs, the children
took a look back at the individuals who made an impact on American culture to
this day.
The children introduced African American inventors such as
George Washington Carver, and the first African American astronaut, Robert
Henry Lawrence, Jr. They paid special tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
and President Barack Obama through song and poetry. The teachers were treated to
African rice by one of the parents while the children sang songs and performed
a rhyming chant to drums in the classroom. Each child had the opportunity to
say the famous words, "I have a dream" and end it in what they want to be when
they grow up.
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Parents Help Clean Up on Saturday
On Saturday, February 20th, a group of 55 parents gathered at Robbie Wilkerson-Jones Head Start to
donate their
time and efforts on "Saturday Volunteer Clean-Up Day". There were
parents waiting outside before 8am, anxious to get in the center
and get
started.
Parents started walking in with buckets, mops, vacuums and
carpet
cleaners. They quickly divided up into groups and started working, sanitizing toys, dusting, moving furniture, vacuuming, and washing
the
carpets. Two parents also took the time to paint the new health office.
Parents also organized and cleaned the janitorial and kitchen storage closet.
We
deeply appreciate the great efforts of each parent!
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Fusion Brings Holiday Magic to Children
Fusion Performance Marketing hosted their Christmas party at the Marriott Hotel in Plano and included making the wishes of five Head Start children come true. Staff members worked in teams to assemble bicycles, and wrapped the presents with special notes of holiday wishes to the Head Start families. The children and their parents opened their gifts, met with Santa, and rode their bikes around the lobby hotel for the very first time.
"This really sums up our season of giving and allowed all of us to come together and give back something more meaningful this Christmas," said Stephanie Hopper, Director of Program Operations.
The children of Robbie Wilkerson-Jones presented a special Thank You card to the staff along with lots of hugs.
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Support Head Start - Volunteer Today!
Head Start of Greater Dallas' mission is to provide children with the foundation of skills and knowledge they need to be successful in school and life and fosters self-reliant families and communities. The agency receives 80 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Head Start of Greater Dallas generates the remaining 20 percent or nearly $8,000,000, through contributions, grants, community donations, and volunteer hours each year. Your time volunteering is valuable. We can't reach this goal without the support of the community.To become a community volunteer, contact Deneeco Young at 972.283.6457. Community contributions of time, leadership, finances and other resources are much appreciated and allow us to serve the growing demographic that needs us so much. With your support, Head Start families are able to receive a range of services that are far beyond the scope of the program. To learn more about our mission and comprehensive services to more than 4,200 children in Dallas County, please visit our website at www.hsgd.org. | |
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Brookhaven Head Start |
American Awareness Education Week
 Safety Awareness Talk
 Thanksgiving Luncheon with Parents
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Sunnyview Head Start
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Holiday Canned Food Drive
 Golden Hearts Foundation donates teddy bears, members of the JR ROTC from Skyline and
A Maceo Smith High School volunteer with kids.
Bring Dad to School Day
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Gannon Head Start
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Mardi Gras Parade!
Young News Journalists
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Roseland Homes Head Start
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Texas Winds Musical Outreach plays for children
DART Partnership - Christmas Luncheon
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Early Head Start |
Reading a book with Mom
 Dad Volunteer Day  Winter activity with Dad
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