Community engages in Head Start Awareness
Published 10:15 am Thursday, November 7, 2024
Lowndes County District Judge Adrian Johnson reads to students at Central Head Start.
The Lowndes Signal Regional Editor Lanell Smith reads to Classroom 3 students at Fort Deposit Head Start.
Retired teacher Evelyn Lambert reads to Head Start students.
Head Start alumna Carolyn Harris reads to children.
Lowndes County District Judge Adrian Johnson reads to students at Central Head Start.
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During the month of October, Lowndes County community members engaged in an effort to highlight Head Start Awareness. The emphasis, which brought adults from the area into Head Start classrooms, was aimed at highlighting the pre-K programs educating children between the ages of three and five years old.
Lowndes County District Judge Adrian Johnson visited Central Head Start on Oct. 17 to read to a group of preschool children. He was one of the many parents, advocates and alumni who participated in activities to raise awareness of Head Start’s impact on young learners.
Margie Harrison, a teacher at Fort Deposit Head Start, spoke of the importance of local leaders taking time to visit classrooms.
“It helps the children be exposed to different people,” Harrison said. “They see the way other people read to them, and they ask questions, too. The children get the feel of someone else reading to them, other than their teacher.”
Aundrey Fountain, family advocate practitioner at the Fort Deposit program, helps to coordinate the classroom visits and said the emphasis not only raises awareness of Head Start programs, but also enhances the children’s connection to the community.
“I try to go out and get parents or people that work in the community to come in and read to the children or come in and tell them about their community or group,” Fountain said. “It helps keep the experience interesting for the children.”
Fountain said Head Start programs welcome community members willing to volunteer their time to read to children or partner with classroom teachers throughout the year. Some ways local residents can partner with schools include donating snacks or supplies as well as volunteering time to engage with students.
“The Lowndes County Board of Education would like to thank Judge Adrian Johnson, retired staff member Evelyn Lambert, Head Start alumna and community partner Lanell Downs Smith for reading to the students and providing a healthy snack,” said Family and Community Partnerships Manager Laura James-Hunter.
For more information about Head Start programs call (334) 548-2145 or visit www.lowndesboeheadstart.org.
