Head Start Family
Pretend Play Boosts Variety of Skills
Head Start teachers use dramatic play as a way to introduce and strengthen skills across many domains of learning. Each of our classrooms includes a dramatic play area which can be adapted as needed to complement the classroom study.
“When children are in ‘pretend’ mode, they are able to showcase the skills they have and educators are able to observe and build upon these skills,” said Education and Disabilities Specialist Diana Gifford.
Whether they’re pretending to run a pizzeria or a veterinary clinic, students enhance their language and problem-solving skills. They also have ample opportunity to grow their social emotional skills through cooperation, empathy and acknowledgement.
“By adapting their dramatic play areas, teachers can create the unique growth opportunities their students need,” Gifford said. “And the changes make coming to class even more fun!”
Growing Men’s Group Moving Around County
LCCAA Head Start’s Men Making a Difference group is gaining traction and moving around the program.
After a strong start to the year with a series of meetings at Griswold Head Start, the group moved to Central Plaza for the first time for its February 18 meeting. On March 18, the group will meet at 9 a.m. at Hopkins-Locke Head Start, 1050 Reid Ave. in Lorain.
For both April 17 and May 15, the group will return to Griswold at 631 Griswold Road in Elyria. Both meetings will be at 9 a.m.
Meetings include a free light meal, conversation with other parents and access to resources. The meetings are designed to support fathers and father figures.
For more information, talk to your child’s teacher.
Staff Spotlight:
Martha Evans Harris
What makes Head Start special?
I love how Head Start works with not just teaching the children but working with the families as well. There are so many ways for families to be involved in their child’s learning and have a voice in it too. From policy council, to parent meetings to family engagement nights, learning links and even volunteering in the classroom. We have so many ways to care for the whole child which I feel is so important to help a child thrive in today’s society. It’s a great way to empower families to be all that they can be
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I have been in the early childhood education field since I was 18. However, when I was much younger, I dreamed of being a choreographer and a fashion designer. I would make my Barbie dolls their own clothes. I also
Current Site: Griswold Current Position: Head Teacher Years with LCCAA: 8 years Years in Current Position: 8 years
took dancing and piano lessons. But it was being able to be at the same elementary schools where my mom taught and having great teacher support throughout my life that helped fuel my love for education and working with others.
What personal or professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am so proud of the fact that I stepped out of my comfort zone to write poetry and share it publicly at a time when I could have given up. Becoming a resilient person is not easy, but it is achievable. I believe that every day that you are given is a chance to do better than the day before - but you have to want to!
Managing Emotions is Part of Learning
In order for a child to be ready to learn, their brain needs to know the child’s basic needs are met. When children feel safe and cared for, they are able to engage at a higher rate and absorb new information.
LCCAA Head Start teachers and staff intentionally create an environment where all children feel safe to play and learn. At the same time, these efforts help children develop social and emotional skills such as learning to control their behavior and emotions as well as getting along with other children.
Many lessons are targeted to this learning domain. A Hopkins-Locke classroom is using the characters from the popular movie Inside Out to help children name and understand their emotions. “Feeling Buddies” from
Home-Based Events
Conscious Discipline are also available and each classroom has a safe space children can use when they are overwhelmed. Head Start also uses yoga and breathing exercises when children need to calm down.
At this age, children typically make friends easily as they learn to manage their feelings while recognizing clues to other children’s feelings. Teachers see growth in these areas when children work together on puzzles, projects or even in unexpected ways.
A recent example in a Griswold classroom showed students being kind and helpful to one another. One friend was walking around with sea animal toys when another decided to use MagnaTiles to build an aquarium for them. The architect was encouraged to ask the oceanographer to play and they filled the aquarium together.
If you have questions about your child’s social and emotional development, talk to your child’s teacher.
LCCAA Head Start is celebrating literacy this week with lots of fun book-based activities including kid favorites like Green Eggs and Ham - the book and the meal. Ask your child’s teacher for details!
Setting Records in Reading Great Books
LCCAA Head Start joined Jumpstart in celebrating two decades of reading aloud together.
On February 26, our students joined millions around the world reading
See Marcus Grow by Marcus Bridgewater, also known as the social media sensation “Garden Marcus.”
Books, Resources for Winter and Spring
Head Start recommends a variety of fiction and non-fiction books and many free tools can enhance your experiences at home.
INFOhio is a statewide Preschool through high school online digital library filled with educational materials for children and parents. The BookFlix feature is a perfect bridge between a child’s love of cartoons or video games because it is filled with animated books. BookFlix pairs a fiction book such as Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman with a non-fiction title like A Bear Cub Grows Up by Pam Zollman.
Many BookFlix selections are available in Spanish as well. Go to INFOhio.org and the “Parent” tab to create a free account.
about them makes them less scary.
Kari Percival’s How to Say
Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside is described as a “gentle how-to guide for connecting with nature.” The book relies on illustrations and minimal text to share the magic of gardening.
As the weather begins to warm, your child may notice worms, bugs, spiders or other things. Head Start encourages you to avoid passing on any fears of bugs you may have to your children. In Ohio, most bugs are not dangerous; learning
To foster more curiosity, take a picture of a bug you find outside and use the free apps Google Lens or Seek by iNaturalist to identify it and learn more about it. Children learn what to fear based on the reactions of trusted adults. Help them take the world head on by learning about things you have found frightening in your life – ask your teacher about a book that might help you or your child overcome a fear or discomfort.
Head Start Stirs Up Nutrition Every Day
LCCAA Head Start Nutrition staff provide more than meals to students. Through special events and demonstrations, they Stir up Goodness and help Head Start families Discover the Power of Nutrition.
“Our nutrition staff is so critical to the Head Start program,” said Head Start Director Stefanie Drew. “Shining a spotlight on them this month is easy to do. There is so much to highlight about their work to keep children fed and help families build lifelong healthy habits –and learn to cook!”
March is designated National Nutrition Month by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the week of March 15 is National CACFP Week.
LCCAA Head Start is a grantee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
From a central kitchen facility in downtown Lorain, the nutrition staff serves more than 115,000 breakfasts, lunches and snacks that meet exacting USDA standards and
Green Eggs and Ham
Yield: 2 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
4 large eggs
1/2 cup packed fresh spinach leaves
1/4 cup shredded cheese (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste 2 slices or 1/3 cup diced ham
Directions
1. Combine the eggs and spinach in a blender. Mix until well combined. It will be frothy.
2. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and spray with cooking spray. Add the egg mixture and cook, stirring occasionally until eggs are cooked through and fluffy.
3. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in cheese if desired.
4. Heat a small pan over medium-high heat. Add sliced or diced ham, sear 1 to 2 minutes per side.
accommodate unique dietary needs.
Try Days are multi-sensory experiences loved by children and parents alike. Every year, more and more families participate in the Out of the Box online cooking demonstrations which feature economical and delicious recipes.
Nutrition staff also often appear at center Parent Meetings to demonstrate recipes and share tips on shopping, preparation and encouraging children to try new things. Parent meetings in March will feature Creamy Pasta in a Jar.
This month, nutrition staff also prepared “green eggs and ham” during our Celebrate Literacy week. Try their recipe, below, at home!
Scan this code to view all these recipes on our Head Start recipe blog.
Scan this code to see the latest menu for most of our Head Start Centers.
Out of the Box Series Continues to Grow
LCCAA Head Start Nutrition Staff’s latest Out of the Box cooking demonstration series featured comfort cuisine.
The series continues to grow with two opportunities to view the demonstrations for each recipe and approximately 40 families attending on each date.
The video demonstrations feature Head Start Chef Luis Aguilar and Dietician Marge Robison from our partner Pisanick Partners.
The recipes for Ham and Potato Casserole and Easy Apple Crisp are available on our Recipe Blog.
A Firelands Head Start family recently shared
photos of their children (left) making the recipes shared in the fall series: Vegetable Barley Soup and No Knead Bread. The recipes are designed to be made with children and are economical and delicious!
Families who registered and attended the demonstrations received a box of ingredients and equipment to recreate the recipe at home. These events are supported by a Grow Ohio Grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Fathers Invited to Visit Head Start Classes
Fathers and father figures were welcomed to Head Start classrooms on Feb. 26. This quality bonding time brought sweet smiles to all faces! Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Upcoming Screenings
X March 9: Lead Screenings, Central Plaza
X March 10: Dental Screenings, Horizon East, Little Lighthouse, Central Plaza
X March 10: Lead Screenings, Griswold
X March 11: Lead Screenings, LaGrange and South
Elyria
X March 12: Lead Screenings, Firelands and Wellington
X March 13: Lead Screenings, Hopkins-Locke
X March 19: Lead Screenings Make Up Day
Game Nights Bring Families Together
Head Start families had an opportunity to learn new games and compete with each other at two game night events.
After being rescheduled from January to February
thanks to brutal winter weather, Game Nights were held at Griswold and Hopkins-Locke for all families in the program.
Game Night also featured food and door prizes.
Week of the Young Child Coming After Break
The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association.
LCCAA Head Start will celebrate a week later this year due to Spring Break. Activities begin April 13. Events include Music Monday,
Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday and Family Friday.
In addition to welcoming Ms. Izzy for music, students will try roasted asparagus, participate in a classroom puzzle challenge and create self-portraits. A special Family Friday activity is planned
We encourage all children, families and staff to celebrate early learning, young children, their teachers, families and communities.
Parent & Committee Meetings
X March 3: Firelands Parent Meeting, 9 a.m.
X March 5: Griswold Parent Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
X March 10: Hopkins-Locke Parent Meeting, 9 a.m.
X March 12: Central Plaza Parent Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
X March 13: South Elyria Parent Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
X March 13: LaGrange Parent Meeting, 3 p.m.
X March 13: Wellington Parent Meeting, 9 a.m.
X March 16: Policy Council, 5:30 p.m.
X March 18: Men Making a Difference, HopkinsLocke, 9 a.m.
X March 18: Recruitment Committee Meeting, Central Plaza or TEAMS, 1 p.m.
X April 15: Firelands Parent Meeting, 9 a.m.
X April 16: Griswold Parent Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
X April 16: Central Plaza Parent Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
X April 16: Hopkins-Locke Parent Meeting, 9 a.m.
X April 17: Men Making a Difference, 9 a.m., Griswold
X April 17: South Elyria Parent Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
X April 20: Policy Council, 5:30 p.m.
X April 30: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.
Winter Crisis Help in High Demand
Brutal cold and rate increases have combined to create higher heating bills this winter and LCCAA is seeing high demand for its Winter Crisis and other Energy Services programs.
Due to an extremely high volume of calls and applications this winter, response and processing times are longer than usual, said Director of Planning and Community Services Tosha Craighead.
“Demand for assistance is very high right now, and our team is working quickly to support households across the region,” she said. “For residents facing disconnection or an urgent heating crisis, coming into
the office is the fastest way to be seen and receive help.” Winter Crisis is for residents who are without heat or who have received a disconnect notice. If you make an appointment, LCCAA will work with your utility company to stop the disconnection until your eligibility can be determined.
If you are not in crisis, you may still qualify for the Home Energy Assistance Program or the Percentage of Income Payment Plan. Appointments are not needed for non-crisis programs.
You can apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov. Online applications can be tracked and can take up to eight weeks. If you download and mail your application, it can take up to 12 weeks. Mailed applications cannot be tracked.
You must be living at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for Energy Services programs.
Take Advantage of Agency Produce Center
Residents throughout Lorain County can take advantage of the LCCAA Produce Center every week.
Households living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($60,000 annually for a family of four) are eligible to order from the center.
Ordering windows are open from 8 a.m. Monday to 11 p.m. Sunday or until all appointments are full. Pickups are the following Wednesday and Thursday.
Appointments must be made via
the online system and honoring appointments is critical.
Those picking up are also asked to approach the Produce Center using Reid Avenue and West 10th Street and not cut through the parking lot at 936 Broadway Ave. Please follow all signs and staff instructions. Staff
will bring food orders to your car. LCCAA operates the Produce Center in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio and Food Forward Lorain. The center has also benefited from extra produce grown in Lorain by Solidarity Farms.
The Produce Center is staffed by youth assigned to LCCAA’s Youth Services program.
Visit our website for more information or to place your order. Contact Center Manager Deirdre Paynter at 440-457-0327.
Positive Test? Contact LCPHUB Right Away
LCCAA’s Lorain County Pathways HUB encourages women to seek quality prenatal care as soon as they know they are pregnant.
Registering with the HUB gives you access to a local Community Health Worker (CHW) who will support you through your child’s first birthday.
The HUB is a free program working to make sure more
Lorain County babies celebrate their first birthdays and to improve the health of at-risk mothers.
CHWs provide outreach, health education, care coordination and advocacy.
If you or someone you know is pregnant, visit our website to complete our referral form today!